Highway 13 is an east–west highway through central Alberta. It runs from Alder Flats, west of Highway 22, to the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, where it becomes Saskatchewan Highway 14. Highway 13 is about long. East of the City of Wetaskiwin, it generally parallels the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Prairie North Line.

Route description From the west, Highway 13 begins at Alder Flats before intersecting Highway 22. It continues east, passing south of Buck Lake and Winfield before crossing Highway 20. The highway then passes south of Battle Lake, the headwaters of the Battle River, before crossing the river between Highway 20 and Westerose. The Battle River drains approximately 30,000 km² of central Alberta and Saskatchewan and is the largest tributary of the North Saskatchewan River; it was named after battles between Cree and Blackfoot peoples along its banks. The highway continues south of Pigeon Lake, passing through the hamlets of Westerose and Falun prior to intersecting Highway 2 (Queen Elizabeth II Highway), approximately south of Edmonton.

East of Highway 2, Highway 13 enters Wetaskiwin as 40 Avenue and turns north along Highway 2A (56 Street). At the north side of Wetaskiwin, it turns east and passes north of Gwynne through Bittern Lake. After crossing Highway 21, it enters Camrose as 48 Avenue.

East of Camrose, Highway 13 travels generally southeast, passing by Ohaton, Bawlf, Daysland and Strome prior to an intersection with Highway 36 (Veterans Memorial Highway) in Killam. The highway continues southeast passing by Sedgewick, Lougheed, and Hardisty. East of Hardisty, it crosses the Battle River a second time. Hardisty is home to a major crude oil terminal that can store up to 16 million barrels and handles approximately 3.5 million barrels per day, served by several major pipelines including the Enbridge Mainline and the Athabasca Pipeline. The highway continues past Amisk and Hughenden, crossing Highway 41 north of Czar. The road travels by Metiskow, through Provost, and by Hayter. Upon entering Saskatchewan, Highway 13 continues as Saskatchewan Highway 14 to Saskatoon.

History The section of Highway 13 from Wetaskiwin to Winfield was originally designated as Highway 19, but was renumbered in the late 1960s. Highway 13 was extended further west to Alder Flats in when Highway 612 was renumbered, coinciding with the commissioning of Highway 22 north of Cremona.

Major intersections From west to east:Alberta Road Atlas (2005 ed.). Oshawa, ON: MapArt Publishing Corp. pp. 63, 64, 65, 66, 67.

Highway 13A Alberta Provincial Highway No. 13A is the designation of the following two current and one former alternate routes of Highway 13. Ma-Me-O Beach

From east of Westerose to west of Falun, the first segment of Highway 13A travels through Pigeon Lake Indian Reserve 138A. It provides access to the Summer Village of Ma-Me-O Beach on the southern shore of Pigeon Lake. This segment, which runs north of Highway 13, formed the original Highway 13 alignment prior to it being realigned to bypass the Indian reserve and summer village to the south in the 2000s.

Pigeon Lake covers and has a maximum depth of 9.1 m. Pigeon Lake Indian Reserve 138A was established in 1896 on the southeast shore of the lake for members of the Ermineskin, Louis Bull, Samson, and Montana bands, providing access to fishing and trapping. In 1923, 180 acres were removed from the reserve and subdivided for public sale to form Ma-Me-O Beach, whose name derives from the Cree wapiski-mimew, meaning "white pigeon." The community was incorporated as a summer village in 1948.

Camrose

The second segment of Highway 13A is a southern bypass of Camrose and is in length. Commissioned in 1989, the route follows 68 Street south from Highway 13 (48 Avenue) for and then turns east and becoming Camrose Drive, reconnecting with Highway 13 on the eastern ends of Camrose. Highway 13A serves as the main dangerous goods route through Camrose, as dangerous good are prohibited on Highway 13 (48 Avenue) through the centre of the city, and is maintained by the City of Camrose.

Wetaskiwin Highway 13A is a former alternate route of Highway 13 through Wetaskiwin. From the present Highway 13 (west) / Highway 2A intersection, Highway 13A used to proceed east along 40 Avenue for , then turned north and followed 47 Street for and reconnected with Highway 13 at the present-day Highway 13 / Highway 814 intersection. The route was decommissioned in mid-1980s.

Construction and improvements Alberta Transportation's 2023 and 2024 provincial construction programs included several projects on Highway 13. A widening project for the highway was in planning and engineering as of 2024. A roundabout at the intersection of Highway 13 and Highway 56, east of Camrose, was in design in both years.

Several sections were identified for repaving. A 20 km section between 1 km east of Highway 761 and Highway 20 was in design in 2023 and moved to construction in 2024. Additional segments in design included 16 km between 2 km east of Highway 814 and 2 km west of Bittern Lake, 2 km between Highway 2A and Highway 814 in Wetaskiwin, and 16 km between Highway 899 and 16 km east of Provost. A replacement cattlepass 4 km west of Camrose was also in design as of 2023.

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