ontario to bc road trip

The Ultimate Road Trip in Canada: Driving from Ontario to BC

Will you be driving from Ontario to BC on the ultimate road trip across Canada, and you’re feeling overwhelmed with all the planning? We’ve been there.

In August 2020, we packed our car and started this crazy road trip across Canada with our two toddlers . A road trip that would take us more than one month (one-way only), with more than 5000 km to drive.

In this post, you’ll discover an itinerary to make an amazing Canadian road trip with kids. The post includes the first part of the itinerary, from Ottawa, ON, to Victoria, BC, for a total of 4,369 km .

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GETTING READY FOR CROSS-CANADA ROAD TRIP

🧳 Pack the right gear . When traveling with kids, you’ll want to pack light (as much as you can). Having a good  carry-on suitcase  and  packing cubes  are a lifesaver. Depending on the age of your kids and the type of travel, you might be better with a  kid’s carrier  (perfect for adventure trips) or a  travel stroller  (ideal for city trips).

📱 Download a few apps to help you plan your trips . The  GoWhee app  has unique recommendations for kid-friendly activities, lodging, and restaurants.  AllTrails  is our app to look at trail reports and see if the trail is kid-friendly. You’ll also find recent information about the status of the trail. 

Cross Canada Road Trip Map: Best Route from Ontario to BC

The best route to drive from Ontario to British Columbia by car travel across Canada is along the Trans Canada highway . Of course, if you have more time, it’s always a good idea to go off the beaten path (aka getting off the Trans Canada Highway) and explore the smaller communities. Here are a few maps to show you the itinerary we did.

There are more details on each leg of the Ontario to Vancouver trip drive in the sections below.

👉🏻 NOTE: If you want to explore the East Coast, check out our 14-day itinerary from Toronto (Ontario) to Halifax (Nova Scotia) , where you’ll be driving into Quebec City, the Bay of Fundy and Halifax.

Driving From Ontario to BC: A 30-Day Sample Itinerary

No time to read? Driving from Ontario to BC takes you across Canada’s vast and varied landscapes. Start in Ottawa , then head to North Bay , where you can relax at Lee Park. Next, drive to Sault Ste. Marie , and don’t miss the Big Nickel in Sudbury. From there, it’s on to Wawa , with a stop at Chippewa Falls. Terrace Bay, Thunder Bay, and the Kakabeka Falls are next. In Manitoba, explore Winnipeg ‘s Human Rights Museum. Then, Saskatchewan’s open roads lead you to Regina and its Royal Museum. Alberta’s highlights include Calgary’s towers and Banff’s mountain views . In BC, Kelowna’s wineries and Vancouver’s Stanley Park await before you end with Victoria on Vancouver Island. It’s a trip full of Canadian icons from start to finish. 👉🏻 Traveling to Canada? Get your Canada Road Trip Guide for Families

Day 1: Ottawa to North Bay, a 358 km Drive

🚗 Driving distance : 358 km ⭐ Main highlight : Lee Park and Shabogesic Beach in North Bay

When driving from Ontario to BC, start your day one from  Ottawa . You’ll be heading  North . It’s  358 kilometers  to reach  North Bay , the Getaway of the North. On your way, stop in  Pembroke . You can also stop at Mattawa River Provincial Park for a picnic or a splash in the river.

In North Bay, you don’t want to miss Lee Park with the Getaway of the North sign . You might also want to enjoy the lake at Shabogesic Beach (which used to be named Marathon Beach).

🏨 Where to Stay in North Bay: Homewood Suites By Hilton North Bay

Day 2: North Bay to Sault Ste-Marie, a 436-km Drive

🚗 Driving distance : 436 km ⭐ Main highlight : The iconic Big Nickel in Sudbury and Bootleggers Bay Beach.

From North Bay, it’s a 436-kilometer drive to arrive at Sault Ste-Maire . On your way, stop at Duchesnay Falls , Sudbury , where you can see the iconic Big Nickel , Bootleggers Bay Beach , in Algoma Mills to stretch your legs and enjoy Lake Huron before arriving in Sault Ste-Marie.

During our trip, we made a quick stop at Bruce Mines. The mine museum was sadly closed, but we walked around the marina and grabbed a coffee.

When you arrive in Sault Ste. Marie, if you still have some energy, you can take a Self Guided Walking Tour of Waterfront Attractions . The kids also loved Bellevue Park .

We took an extra day in Sault Ste Marie on our second road trip across Canada. Marie to do the Agawa Canyon train ride . It was pretty cool.

🏨 Where to Stay in Sault Ste-Marie: Microtel Inn & Suites Sault Ste. Marie

Day 3: Sault Ste-Marie to Wawa, a 227-km Drive

🚗 Driving distance: 227 km ⭐ Main highlight : Chippewa Falls and the Trans-Canada Highway mid-point.

The drive from Sault Ste-Marie and Wawa is about 227 km . You’ll want to stop along the way at Chippewa Falls . The waterfalls are just right next to the highway. You can see them from the car or stop in the parking lot and walk on the pedestrian bridge. It’s also where the Trans-Canada Highway mid-point is. Then, you might want to stop at the Old Woman Bay, the “Scenic High Falls,” and the big Wawa Goose statue .

Day 4: Wawa to Terrace Bay, a 260-km Drive

🚗 Driving distance: 260 km ⭐ Main highlight: Winnie the Pooh statue in White River and Pebble Beach in Marathon.

On this day, you’ll drive for 260 km to arrive at Terrace Bay . On your way, stop in White River to see the iconic statue of Winnie the Pooh. Then you can make a few more stops including:

• Pukaskwa National Park,
• Pebbel Beach inMarathon, and
• Mink Creek Falls.

End your day in Terrace Bay, where you can walk up the Terrace Bay Lighthouse .

🏨 Where to Stay in Terrace Bay: Drifters Motel & Restaurant

Day 5: Terrace Bay to Thunder Bay, a 224-km drive

🚗 Driving distance: 224 km ⭐ Main highlight: Aguasabon Falls and Rainbow Falls Provincial Park.

From Terrace Bay to Thunder Bay , you’ll have to drive for 224 km. There are many stops to do, so I would recommend waking up early.

The first stop will be at Aguasabon Falls . A short 0.3-km out-and-back walk will bring you a fantastic viewpoint over the canyon. Then, you can stop at Rainbow Falls Provincial Park . At the gate, you can ask for a Discovery book for the kids. It’s another short 1.8-km out-and-back hike to the falls. Make sure to stop at the bridge. The trail continues past the bridge, but you’ll want to turn around.

The Paddle-to-the-Sea kids’ playground in Nipigon is a great stop for kids to burn off some of the extra energy. Before arriving in Thunder Bay, don’t miss the Terry Fox Memorial Lookout .

Day 6 and Day 7: Enjoy Thunder Bay

After 5 consecutive days of driving, it’s time to relax a bit and enjoy Thunder Bay . Thunder Bay is a beautiful town and has plenty to offer. We recommend visiting:

• Amethyst Mine Panorama,
• Fort William Historical Park,
• Prince Arthur’s Landing,
• Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, and
• Alexander Henry Icebreaker .

Also, make sure to stop at Hillcrest Park . There is a great natural kids’ playground. Plus, the view of the bay is beautiful.

🏨 Where to Stay in Thunder Bay: Delta Hotels by Marriott Thunder Bay

Day 8: Thunder Bay to Kenora, a 488-km drive

🚗 Driving distance: 488 km ⭐ Main highlight: Kakabeka Falls and the Roy Wilson Suspension Bridge in Dryden.

Today’s a long day, with 488 km to drive from Thunder Bay to Kenora , but … it’s your last day driving in Ontario (almost).

Stop at Kakabeka Falls, just outside of Thunder Bay. Then, you can grab a quick coffee at The Beaver Post in Upsala. The Kinsmen Park kids’ playground nearby is also a fun stop. Plus, there is a nice nature trail with interpretive signs about fire lookouts and fire safety.

Don’t miss the Roy Wilson Suspension Bridge in Dryden. In Kenora, check out Husky the Muskie or enjoy Norman Park beach and playground. Or book a Kenora and Winnipeg: Smartphone Audio Driving Tour here.

🏨 Where to Stay in Kenora: Super 8 by Wyndham Kenora

Day 9: Kenora to Winnipeg, a 210-km Drive

🚗 Driving distance: 210 km ⭐ Main highlight : Whiteshell Provincial Park and the Centre of Canada Park.

There are 210 kilometers separating Kenora from Winnipeg .

A little after the Ontario-Manitoba crossing, you’ll enter the Whiteshell area. I highly recommend spending a few hours in the Whiteshell Provincial Park. There are a few hiking opportunities. But it’s also nice to simply enjoy the lake and the sandy beach.

Then, you’ll want to stop at the Centre of Canada Park . It’s the center point of Canada. There is a parking lot and some picnic tables.

🏨 Where to Stay in Winnipeg: Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Winnipeg

Day 10 and Day 11: Explore Winnipeg

Winnipeg is a great city to explore with kids . On your first day, you’ll want to visit a few places:

• Human Rights Museum,
• Asisboine Zoo & Park (Don’t miss the Winnie the Pooh museum ),
• Mennonite Heritage Village , and
• The Forks .

On the second day, you can drive to Lake Winnipeg to discover the Icelandic and Viking heritage around Gimli. Or you can visit Saint Boniface, Winnipeg’s French Quarter, and FortWhyte Alive, a lovely outdoor area.

➡️ Explore and book your Winnipeg Tours here!

Day 12: Winnipeg to Regina, a 573-km Drive

🚗 Driving distance: 573 km ⭐ Main highlight: Delta Beach in Brandon and the Swinging Bridge in Wolseley.

It’s a long driving day in the Prairies , with more than 570 kilometers . On your way to Regina, enjoy the beach at Delta Beach in Brandon and walk on the Swinging Bridge in Wolseley. You can also make a stop at the Bell Barn in Indian Head .

🏨 Where to Stay in Regina: Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Regina

Day 13: Explore Regina

Regina is a fun city to enjoy. Most attractions are located near the Wascana Center. Don’t miss:

• the Royal Saskatchewan Museum,
• the Wascana Center,
• and the RCMP Heritage Center .

You can end the day at the Sandra Schirler Leisure Center playground and water park .

Day 14: Regina to Maple Creek, a 380-km Drive

🚗 Driving distance: 380 km ⭐ Main highlight: Tunnels of Moose Jaw and Chaplin Lake.

This 380-km driving day will be your last one before hitting Alberta. You’ll want to make a few stops:

• A tour of the Tunnels of Moose Jaw in Moose Jaw ,
• Chaplin Lake , where you can see salted lakes ,
• and Doc’s Town Heritage Village in Swift Current.

🏨 Where to Stay in Maple Creek: Cobble Creek Lodge

Day 15: Maple Creek to Brooks, a 209-km Drive

Today, you’ll be entering Alberta. On your way to Brooks, there are many stops you can make:

• explore the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, at the border of Saskatchewan and Alberta
• the World’s Tallest Teepee in Medicine Hat, and
• the Brooks Aqueduct .

🏨 Where to Stay in Brooks: Heritage Inn & Suites – Brooks

Day 16: Dinosaurs Provincial Park

Spend the entire day exploring the Canadian Badlands at Dinosaurs Provincial Park. There are five short hikes to choose from and an excellent little museum. If your kids love dinosaurs, it’s a great place to go. Plus, the landscape is so unique.

I really recommend going on a guided hike. That way, you can see unique dinosaur fossils like the one above.

📝 NOTE: If you have an extra day or two, drive to Drumheller , the Dinosaur Capital of the World . There are many things to do in Drumheller with your kids as well.

Day 17: Brooks to Banff, a 314-km Drive

🚗 Driving distance : 314 km ⭐ Main highlight : Calgary Tower and Policeman’s Creek boardwalk in Canmore.

From Brooks to Banff , you’ll drive for 314 kilometers. Try to leave early so you can spend some time in Calgary (don’t miss the Calgary Tower, Stephen’s Avenue, and Bowness Park), but drive to Banff in Daylight to admire the views. Stop in Canmore to walk downtown and maybe do the Policeman’s Creek boardwalk , one of the easiest hikes in Kananaskis , before heading to Banff.

🏨 Where to Stay in Banff : Banff Ptarmigan Inn

Day 18, Day 19, and Day 20: Explore Banff National Park

You can easily spend a week in Banff National Park , but three days will give you plenty of time to do some hiking and discover the beautiful park. With kids, do the following:

• Upper Banff hot springs,
• Johnston Canyon hike,
• Johnson Lake hike,
• Cave & Basin National Historic Site,
• Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
• Garden of Time , …

🚀 Looking For More Things to Do in Banff with Kids? Add this item to your list ! Or Check out this 2 days Fun Banff Itinerary with kids here!

Then, spend one entire day driving along the Icefields Parkway . It’s a 230 km drive from Lake Louise to Jasper. If you have extra time, spend a few days in Jasper . Otherwise, you can drive through the Icefields Parkway and turn around after visiting the Columbia Icefield glacier .

➡️ Here is a 7-day sample itinerary for a road trip from Calgary to Jasper .

Day 21: Banff to Revelstoke, a 283-km Drive

🚗 Driving distance : 283 km ⭐ Main highlight: The drive through Yoho National Park and the natural beauty of Emerald Lake.

This is a wonderful drive where you’ll drive through 4 National Parks: Banff National Park , Yoho National Park , Glacier National Park , and Mt. Revelstoke National Park . On your way, stop at the Spiral Tunnels , Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge , Takakkaw Falls , Golden BC , and the Giant Cedars boardwalk trail.

🏨 Where to Stay in Revelstoke: Ramada by Wyndham Revelstoke

Day 22: Explore Revelstoke

In Revelstoke, you’ll want to go to Revelstoke Mountain Resort and ride the Pipe Mountain Coaster and the Aerial Adventure Park . Then, you can enjoy the water at Lake Williamson .

Day 23: Revelstoke to Kelowna, a 198-km Drive

🚗 Driving distance: 198 km ⭐ Main highlight: Enchanted Forest and the Malaka suspension bridge

From Revelstoke to Kelowna , you’ll have to drive for 198 kilometers. On the way, stop at the Enchanted Forest and Malaka suspension bridge in Sicamous .

🏨 Where to Stay in Kelowna: Econo Lodge Inn & Suites – Kelowna

Day 24: Explore Kelowna

Kelowna is in the heart of the Okanagan Valley . You’ll want to visit a family-friendly winery, enjoy the Okanagan Lake, say Hi! to Ogopoyo , and visit the Kangaroo Farm .

Looking for the Best Things to Do in Kelowna With Kids? Add this item to your list! or Book your Kelowna Tours here !

Day 25: Kelowna to Vancouver, a 390-km Drive

🚗 Driving distance: 389 km ⭐ Main highlight: The scenic Coquihalla Highway and the Othello Tunnels near Hope.

Only 390 km left on this ultimate Canadian road trip before reaching the West Coast. On your way to Vancouver , you’ll want to stop in Merritt , Coquihalla Canyon , Alexandra Bridge , Clayburn Village in Abbotsford , the 1001 Steps in Surrey, and Fort Langley National Historic Site .

🏨 Where to Stay in Vancouver: Hampton Inn & Suites, by Hilton – Vancouver Downtown

Day 26 and Day 27: Vancouver

With two days in Vancouver, you can explore downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park, Kitsilano Beach, and Granville Island . Then, on your second day, you can drive to Capilano Suspension Bridge and Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge . Or if you’re planning to go back for a vacation in Vancouver, check out this 3 days Vancouver Itinerary, perfect for a family.

➡️ Explore and Book your Vancouver Tours here!

Day 28: Vancouver to Victoria

You’ll need to take the ferry to reach Victoria on Vancouver Island . The ferry takes about 3h-3h30. You should book your ticket in advance if possible (if traveling during the busy season).

The port in Victoria is a 45 drive outside of the city. On your way downtown, you can stop in Sidney-by-the-Sea.

If you have time in the late afternoon, wander around downtown Victoria . But there are so many things to do .

🏨 Where to Stay in Victoria: Quality Inn Downtown Inner Harbour

Day 29 and Day 30: Explore Victoria

Start your day with a hike at Mount Douglas . Then, relax by the ocean at Cadboro-Gyro Park (there’s a nice kids’ playground). After lunch, visit Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site and end your day at the Fisherman’s Whaft .

Looking for Fun Things to Do in Victoria with Family? Include this item to your list! or Book your Victoria Tours here!

F.A.Q Ontario to BC Road Trip

How long to drive from ottawa to vancouver through canada.

Driving from Ottawa to Vancouver through Canada is a total of 4363 km, of 43+ hours of driving non stop. I would take approximately :

• 5 days if you drive more than 1000 km per day
• 6 to 7 days if you drive more than 700 km per day
• 9 days if you drive more than 500 km per day
• 17 to 18 days if you drive approximately 250 km per day

How long does it take to drive to BC from Ontario?

Ontario to British Columbia by car for a non-stop drive can range from approximately 43 hours , depending on each starting and ending point. Please note that this estimate is based on ideal driving conditions and does not include rest stops, traffic, or road conditions, which can affect travel time.

How long does it take to drive across Ontario?

It depends on the route taken and the driver’s speed, but it would take approximately 24 hours to drive (nonstop) across Ontario.

Final Thoughts: Driving from Ontario to BC – A Cross Canada Road Trip Itinerary

The great thing about cross-country road trips is that you can tailor the journey to suit your interests and curiosities by adding stops, detours, and side trips.

To plan your own Ontario to British Columbia drive:

• take some time to research destinations of interest,
• create a realistic timeline and budget for the trip, and
• enjoy every unique twist and turn along the way.

There’s nothing like embracing Canada’s spectacular topography while exploring this country from one coast to another! So what are you waiting for?

Get in the car and go down the highway; driving from Ontario to BC will be an experience like no other.

Related Articles

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like to read the following articles:

• Driving Across Canada Tips
• Banff in Winter: Activities To Do With The Family
• The ULTIMATE Northern Ontario Road Trip for Outdoor Lovers

Emilie is the founder of Love Life Abroad. She helps moms plan epic road trips and outdoor adventures with their families. Because who said adventuring had to stop once we have kids? She’s based in the Canadian Rockies and shares her love for the region as well as other unique places in Canada & USA. She works with tourism boards and outdoor brands to inspire families to experience new unique destinations and outdoor activities.

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Toronto to Vancouver DRIVE Through Canada: MAP + Stops

Planning a cross-Canada Toronto to Vancouver road trip? So am I! Here are itinerary ideas for your Toronto to Vancouver drive through Canada, including a route map. Find the best road trip stops, things to do, where to stay, and side treks you might want to take.

The driving distance from Toronto to Vancouver is a whopping 4,400 kilometers (2,735 miles). Without dipping into the United States, the shortest and fastest Toronto to Vancouver drive will take you 46 hours. Whew! 

My recommended Toronto to Vancouver road trip route is slightly longer at 4,650 km, which will take 51 hours and seven days of driving. This route takes you through BC’s pristine Okanagan Valley. 

Plus, consider five mini road trips. One in Southern Ontario through Niagara-on-the-Lake. An 11-hour loop through Alberta’s Badlands and gorgeous mountain drive. BC’s Rocky Mountain hot springs. And then two road trips near Vancouver: Sea to Sky Highway and Vancouver Island. 

• MAP of Toronto to Vancouver Drive
• Toronto + Drive to Niagara Falls
• LEG 1: Toronto to Sault Ste Marie
• LEG 2: Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay
• LEG 3: Thunder Bay to Winnipeg
• LEG 4: Winnipeg to Calgary via Regina
• LEG 5: Alberta Road Trip (Badlands, Edmonton, Rocky Mountains)
• LEG 6: Banff to Kelowna
• LEG 7: Kelowna to Vancouver
• Road Trip Ideas NEAR VANCOUVER

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links to excellent travel-related products. This means that if you use the links below to make a purchase, we’ll receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

MAP of Toronto to Vancouver Drive Through Canada

Here’s a map of my recommended Toronto to Vancouver drive through Canada. The blue lines show your cross-Canada road trip route from Ontario to BC, plus side trip ideas. Red icons mark things to do. And grey icons mark great places to stay along the way.

To view map details: Click the top-left arrow to open legend. 

To customize the map: Click the top-right box “View larger map,” click three circles and “copy.” Add/delete places you’re planning for your cross-Canada road trip. 

Toronto to Vancouver Drive: Best STOPS, Things to DO, Where to STAY

This Toronto to Vancouver drive through Canada has seven driving legs. Each leg highlights the best stops, things to do and where to stay along the way. Sprinkled in are awesome little road trips you might want to include, too.

We’ll start with my favorite spots in Toronto, and end with my favorite spots in Vancouver. 

TORONTO + Road Trip to Niagara Falls

If you’re starting your Ontario to BC road trip in Toronto, chances are you’re from here. But if not, definitely give yourself a couple of days to enjoy the city before your Toronto to Vancouver drive.

We stayed outside of downtown for cheaper hotel rates, but the most convenient place to stay would be right downtown.

My favorite things to DO in Toronto:

• Medieval Times : SO much fun for all ages! Your ticket includes a large delicious dinner and two hours of medieval jousting. Come at least 30 minutes early to browse the shops, have a drink and get in the spirit. Be sure to wear your medieval best!
• Ripley’s Aquarium : A fantastic aquarium, with a shark tunnel, gorgeous jellyfish gallery and hands-on experiences. Buy your tickets online that morning to skip the line. For a quieter experience, come before lunch or after 7pm. We just parked in the parkade across the street. 
• CN Tower : A classic site to visit in Toronto, and for good reason! Take a glass-fronted elevator up to three observation decks, including a floor-to-ceiling lookout floor and glass floor walk. The world’s highest outdoor walk on a building. Award-winning dining at the revolving 360 restaurant.
• Toronto Island Park : This park has an excellent amusement park for young kids, splash pad, beautiful beaches, trails and restaurants. Take the ferry or hire a boat taxi at the port.

For Toronto tours or packaged trips nearby, check out Get Your Guide .

Where to STAY in Toronto:

• Chelsea Hotel (downtown): A lovely downtown hotel with two indoor pools, sauna, hot tub, onsite dining, wine bar and games room. Also excellent for families. Gongs, treasure chest prizes, waterslide, supervised Kid Centre, Club 33 Teen Lounge and onsite Market Garden with kid-friendly buffet options. 
• The Ritz-Carlton (next to Aquarium): An ultra-luxurious hotel with onsite dining, spa, indoor saltwater pool, hot tub and sauna. Rooms have deep soaker tubs and floor-to-ceiling windows with views. Also fun for families, with packages including in-room movies, tent and a liquid nitrogen ice cream-making class! Families get access to the Club Lounge with breakfast, lunch, snacks and board games. 
• Hotel X (waterfront): Luxury hotel in Toronto with a gorgeous rooftop pool, elegant restaurant, beauty boutique, spa and exclusive theaters. Rooms have oversized windows with amazing lake or city views. Some have balconies, too. For families: cribs, mini robes, age-appropriate bath products, and supervised Play Centre at Ten X Toronto Athletic Facility.

BONUS ROAD TRIP from Toronto to Niagara Falls:

If you haven’t been to Niagara Falls, consider squeezing it in as a day trip from Toronto.

The driving distance from Toronto to Niagara Falls is 130km, taking just over 1 hour. Niagara-on-the-Lake is about 30 minutes north of Niagara Falls. You could either return to Toronto for the night or stay in the Niagara area.

Things to DO on a road trip from Toronto to Niagara Falls:

• African Lion Safari : This safari gets fantastic reviews for things to do near Toronto! Some guests prefer driving through the safari in their own vehicles, and others on the bus where you get a guided experience. Includes a lake tour, terrific splash pad and eating options. Or, bring your own food. Plan for 2-3 hours.
• Niagara Falls : Of course I have to include this spectacular waterfall in Canada! Although it’s very touristy, you can get a quieter experience on the riverside walk. Horseshoe Falls is the most impressive of the three waterfalls. Check out the virtual tour .
• Niagara-on-the-Lake : Known for its vineyards, breweries and excellent drinks. Need I say more?! Plus, beautiful resorts and private places to stay right on a vineyard. 

Places to STAY near Niagara Falls:

• Vittoria Hotel & Suites (Niagara Falls): An elegant 3-star hotel with an onsite pool and restaurant, and an easy walking distance to Horseshoe Falls. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, with large walk-in showers.
• Best Western Plus Cairn Croft (Niagara Falls): A basic but comfortable hotel option for families. Features a large indoor courtyard with pool, play area and arcade games. Plus, onsite dining.
• Riverbend Inn & Vineyard (Niagara-on-the-Lake): A brilliant Georgian mansion … right on a private vineyard. All rooms feature a cozy fireplace, private bath and sitting area, and some have a balcony. Onsite dining and 1890s salon bar.

For more places to stay in the Niagara area including private cabins, check out Romantic Getaways in Ontario .

LEG 1: Drive from TORONTO to SAULT STE MARIE

This is the first leg of your Toronto to Vancouver drive through Canada. Driving west from Toronto through Northern Ontario gives you plenty of gorgeous scenery. You mostly hug the northern shores of Lake Huron and Lake Superior. And there are plenty of dramatic cliffs courtesy of the Canadian Shield to keep us happy!

Now, I will warn you: Plan in some patience. Much of the highway from Toronto to the Manitoba border is single-lane traffic. Which means it has Ontario’s painfully slow 90km speed limit. And it’s a main shipping route. 

The first leg of your cross-Canada road trip from Toronto to Sault Ste Marie is 700km and about 7 hours. I suggest a quick stop at Blue Mountain Village, which adds about 80km and 50 minutes to the drive. 

North of Barrie, stay on Highway 400 for the quickest and most scenic route. This hugs the lovely Georgian Bay on Lake Huron, and takes you through Parry Sound, Pickerel and French River. Enjoy the divided highway until Sudbury, where it narrows to single-lane traffic. 

Where to STOP on the drive from Toronto to Sault Ste Marie:

• Blue Mountain Village : A beautiful mountain ski resort community about two hours from Toronto. Stroll in and out of cute shops. Grab a bite to eat. Go on a short hike or start that road trip with a massage. It’s perfect for stretching your legs!
• Science North (Sudbury): An impressive hands-on science center with four floors. Includes an IMAX(R) 3D, nocturnal room, butterfly gallery and a roaming porcupine.
• Scenic stops : Killarney Provincial Park hiking and French River Provincial Park waterfalls. Both parks have excellent paddling options, too.

What to DO in Sault Ste Marie:

• Agawa Canyon Tour Train : Spend a day exploring the scenic Agawa Canyon Wilderness Park. It’s a 4-hour train ride in and 4 hours back, with a 1.5 hour stop for hiking to waterfalls and lookouts.
• Canadian Bushplane Museum : Coming from northern Alberta, I laugh at how Canadian this is! Reviewers love it, saying all ages could spend a few hours here. Fly in the simulator. Radio in fires from the fire tower. Followed by a waterfront picnic outside.
• Sault Ste Marie Boardwalk : A lovely place to stroll along the river. The boardwalk connects nice restaurants, pretty parks, a mall and the historic locks.

Where to STAY in/near Sault Ste Marie:

• Cabin at Big Basswood Lake : The perfect lakefront cabin in Northern Ontario! A quintessential Ontario experience to include on your Canada road trip. This cabin includes a large deck, gentle-sloping beach, sauna, fireplace and canoes. Just over an hour east of Sault Ste Marie, so you’ll need to add this to the next leg of your trip.
• Delta Waterfront : We had a great experience here, and it’s right on the waterfront and boardwalk. Has an indoor pool and restaurant. Rooms are clean and comfortable.

LEG 2: Drive from SAULT STE MARIE to THUNDER BAY

Driving from Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay is 700km and just under 8 hours. This scenic drive follows Lake Superior’s northern shore, with lots of beautiful parks to stop and enjoy the views on your Toronto to Vancouver drive.

I absolutely love Northern Ontario’s landscape. Dramatic cliffs and massive boulders of the Canadian Shield combine with thick woods and tumbling water for incredible waterfalls. This is camping, hiking and paddling country! If you don’t have a lot of time, my favorite hikes are at the Sleeping Giant and Silver Falls. 

Where to STOP on the drive from Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay:

• Hiking along Lake Superior : Lake Superior Provincial Park cliffs, waterfalls, pictographs, swimming, and incredible hiking and paddling. Pukaskwa National Park with towering cliffs, secluded beaches and a swaying suspension bridge over a waterfall. 
• Short stops : Pretty Rossport to stroll along the lake and get a snack at Serendipity Gardens Cafe . Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park for a nice short hike, and nearby Eagle Canyon for a suspension bridge and zipline adventure.
• Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is spectacular! There are SO many hiking options here. Some short and easy. But the best hikes are half- or full-day and challenging, so plan to stay here for the night. There’s a pretty lakefront campground with a decent beach and cabins, too.
• Terry Fox Monument commemorates where Terry Fox ended his cross-Canada run for cancer awareness. A short stop off the highway with panoramic views and a nice visitor center.

Things to DO in Thunder Bay:

• The Marina is a pretty park right on Lake Superior. Wander the pretty pathways past sailboats and fountains. Watch the boats go by at one of the onsite restaurants.
• Fort William Historical Park : Certainly one of the best preserved and presented historic forts in Canada, this is a fantastic stop for anyone who likes history. We loved the climb to the tower lookout, throwing an axe (don’t ask how well I did!), re-enactments and petting the farm animals. Good onsite restaurant and canoe rentals available. 
• Incredible hikes : Thunder Bay is surrounded by incredible scenery, and it’s easy to access! Favorite nearby hikes include Pigeon River overlooking Lake Superior (30 minutes south of Thunder Bay) and The Cascades (right in Thunder Bay).

Where to STAY in/near Thunder Bay:

• Yurt at Rossport : An elegant and super cozy glamping experience, with fireplace and access to sauna, hammock, gazebo, firepit and BBQ. Rossport is 2 hours east of Thunder Bay. It’s the perfect overnight stop before for hitting the trails at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park and then continuing onto Thunder Bay.
• The Courthouse Hotel : An elegant historic hotel overlooking the Sleeping Giant and Thunder Bay’s waterfront. Excellent service (I can testify!) and high-ceiling rooms. Upgrade to a room with a view! Many cute shops and restaurants within walking distance. Price includes wifi, breakfast and parking.
• Delta Waterfront : A lovely hotel right at Marina Park overlooking Lake Superior. Onsite restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor patio with views of the Sleeping Giant.

LEG 3: Drive from THUNDER BAY to WINNIPEG

Driving from Thunder Bay Ontario to Winnipeg Manitoba is 700km and about 7 hours. If you take the detour to explore Quetico Provincial Park’s back-country, it’s 760km and 8.5 hours from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg.

Where to STOP driving from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg:

• Silver Falls Provincial Park probably has my NUMBER 1 favorite waterfall ever ! You first get a taste of the dramatic cascading Dog Falls from a lookout. Then the trail wraps around and you can dip your toes … wherever you dare! I LOVE the drama of these waterfalls. Trail access is only 30 minutes from Thunder Bay and it’s about a 2-hour hike, so you could also do this hike while staying in Thunder Bay.
• Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park is the second highest waterfall in Ontario, and it’s a beauty! It’s easy to access right along Highway 17. The small visitor center is excellent, as are the wooden boardwalks. Has camping onsite and short easy hikes. Plus, the nearby town has excellent ice cream!
• Quetico Provincial Park is perfect for those wanting a back-country experience on a cross-Canada road trip. It’s world-famous for backcountry canoeing with over 2,000 lakes.
• Kenora is cottage country, with beautiful lakefront homes you can rent. Just passing through? Stop for lunch at 901 Westside, pick up some Lake of the Woods craft beer for later, and stretch your legs on a short hike in Rushing River Provincial Park . Need some in-car entertainment? Check out an audio tour guide .

Things to DO in Winnipeg:

• The Forks : A great hub for food, shopping and short walks along the river. Order food-to-go and enjoy it with a picnic blanket at the park.
• Canadian Museum for Human Rights : A moving, “carefully done” museum covers human rights issues in Canada and around the world in a beautiful 8-level building.
• Riel House National Historic Site : An insightful tribute to a significant part of Canadian heritage. A small building and quick stop, but worthwhile.
• Assiniboine Park : Spend the day exploring the zoo (complete with polar bears!), English gardens and paths, playgrounds, miniature train, museum, restaurants and theatre. In the summer, the park hosts free concerts and ballet!

Where to STAY in Winnipeg:

• The Fort Garry Hotel & Spa : Near The Forks and the waterfront, this super-elegant historic hotel and spa is the ideal place to stay in Winnipeg. Features an onsite restaurant with daily live jazz (LOVE this!). Plus, a spa, gym, indoor pool and bathrobes.
• Victoria Inn : Dinosaur-themed pool area with waterslides, onsite restaurant, and rooms with bunk beds. My kids love bunk beds! Only 15 minutes to the Assiniboine Park.

LEG 4: Drive from WINNIPEG to CALGARY via Regina Route

As much as I love my provincial neighbours of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, your Western Canada road trip from Winnipeg to Calgary will be rather boring. But the good news is that it’s mostly divided highway with a maximum speed of 110km/hr, so you zip along pretty well. Just get those playlists and audio books ready!

Driving Winnipeg to Calgary is 1,335 km and about 13 hours 20 minutes. I recommend stopping in Regina to break up the drive, which is 6 hours from Winnipeg and 7.5 hours from Calgary. Regina has some wonderful places to stay and interesting things to do on your Toronto to Vancouver drive through Canada.

Pass the time with audio driving tours for Manitoba , Saskatchewan and Alberta .

Things to DO in Regina:

• Stone Hall Castle Tours : A labour of love, culminating in a surprisingly fun lesson in history. This beautiful building is decorated with a thousand-year-old Greek limestone, tapestries, original Old Masters oil paintings, and furniture between the 16th and 18th centuries. Stop for a tour or spend the night. Guests love it!
• Saskatchewan Science Centre : A decent science centre with three floors of interactive exhibits. Experiments, stage shows and 3D IMAX theatre. Explore topics like space, light, gravity, nature, electricity, math and engineering.
• RCMP Heritage Centre : Explore the rich history and contributions of our Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) since 1873. 

Where to STAY in Regina:

• The Hotel Saskatchewan : This beautiful hotel has an onsite restaurant, fitness centre and hot tub. Rooms are comfortable, but I think I’d just want to sip coffee in the lobby and marvel at the elegant surroundings!
• Atlas Hotel : Comfortable and super-fun for kids! Water park has 2 water slides, hot tub, pool, toddler area and spray pad. Plus, an onsite pub.

Things to DO in Calgary:

• Calgary Zoo : A fantastic zoo, with proceeds helping to protect endangered animals. Visit almost 900 animals from around the world, including giant pandas, giraffes and penguins (my favorite!). Beautiful gardens, decent food and playgrounds.
• Explore Calgary’s beautiful parks : My favorite three are Prince’s Island Park downtown with Shakespeare in the Park and lots of buskers, Bowness Park with a boating lagoon, and Riley Park’s pretty gardens, large wading pool and fun playground.
• Wander Stephen Avenue shops and cafes, and have a picnic at the fountains of Olympic Plaza. Check out the incredible architecture of Studio Bell and the new Calgary Public Library. Then head to the old Simmons Building for a drink overlooking the beautiful Bow River.

Where to STAY in Calgary:

• Le Germain (downtown Calgary) and Hotel Arts Kensington (overlooking the river) are my two favorite places to stay in Calgary. Both are classy and very comfortable, have excellent onsite restaurants, and in excellent locations for seeing the best of Calgary on foot. 
• Sheraton Cavalier (NE just off the Highway) is a comfortable and fun place for families to stay in Calgary. It has a great pool and hot tub area with a waterslide, and it’s just off the Trans-Canada Highway. Plus, an onsite steakhouse, bistro, pub, Starbucks and fitness center.
• Kananaskis Mountain Lodge (1hour west of Calgary): If you’d rather head straight for the mountains, Kananaskis Mountain Lodge is pretty amazing. It has 5 restaurants, a spa, indoor heated pool and children’s area with activities. Also, the Lodge can arrange various activities, like cycling the nearby paths, whitewater rafting, horseback riding and ski trips. 

LEG 5: ALBERTA ROAD TRIP to Alberta Badlands, Edmonton + Rocky Mountains

Alberta has SO much to see and do on a cross-Canada road trip from Ontario to BC. The drive from Calgary to Banff is lovely, but you’d definitely be missing out if you didn’t do this Alberta loop.

This Alberta road trip from Calgary takes you north through the Alberta Badlands (aka where the dinosaurs roamed). Up to Edmonton (and the famous West Edmonton Mall). Over to Jasper (a quiet mountain town). And down the incredible Icefields Parkway route through the mighty Rocky Mountains.

If you take this Alberta road trip route down to Banff, it’s 1,085 km and about 12 hours. Plus many stops.

I recommend staying in Edmonton, Jasper and Banff. Then you’ll be ready to start the BC leg of your Toronto to Vancouver drive through Canada.

Things to DO on the drive from Calgary to Edmonton:

• Royal Tyrrell Museum : One of the world’s largest collections of dinosaurs, including those that walked Alberta’s Badlands. Well curated and laid out. 
• Hiking in the Badlands : Check out Horseshoe Canyon on your way to Drumheller. Head south a bit to marvel along the short Hoodoos Trail . Then, after visiting the Tyrrell Museum, check out Horsethief Canyon before heading north to Edmonton.
• Canadian Badlands Passion Play : If you time your visit right in July, I certainly recommend experiencing “the greatest story ever told.” When the angel chorus surrounds you from above the natural amphitheatre, it’ll take your breath away.
• Sylvan Lake beach : If you crave beaches and lakefront activities, Sylvan Lake Park is perfect! The beach is beautiful and has boardwalk huts selling ice cream, burgers and beach clothes. You also have nearby go-karts and pedal boats!

Things to DO in Edmonton:

• West Edmonton Mall : A massive mall with more than 800 stores, nine world-class attractions, two hotels, over 100 places to eat and drink, tons of unique shops and tons of things to do. Waterpark. Amusement park. Theatre. Shooting range. Golf range. Skating rink. Yep. It’s pretty great!
• Whyte Avenue : Cute area for boutique shops, restaurants and pubs.
• Legislature Building : Built in 1912 in the Beaux Arts style. Tours and the visitor centre are great, but locals come for the pretty gardens and fountains with river valley views.
• Muttart Conservatory : Four biome pyramids in the river valley with more than 700 plant species. Three are climate-regulated, home to arid, temperate and tropical. And the fourth changes 5-7 times during the year, with fun seasonal features, too.

Where to STAY in Edmonton:

• Metterra Hotel (Whyte Ave): Stay in the prettiest area of Edmonton, right next to the cute boutiques of Whyte Ave and near the river valley. Chic and lovely, featuring a library with fireplace and rooms with a spa bath and bathrobes. 
• The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald (downtown): An elegant historic hotel from 1915 overlooks the river valley, with luxurious rooms, spa, indoor pool and afternoon tea on weekends.
• Fantasyland Hotel (West Edmonton Mall): You can’t really beat the access to the massive West Edmonton Mall, by staying right in the mall. Plus, it’s right next to the theatre. I also love the theme rooms. Sure, some are rather cheesy. But the jacuzzi tub is fantastic, and the pirate ship looks so fun for kids! Price includes parking. 

Things to DO in/near Jasper:

• Miette Hot Springs with two hot pools and two cold plunge pools. Not too busy, good food onsite and surrounded by amazing mountain peaks. I stayed in the nearby bungalows, which were comfortable and cozy with a wood stove.
• Maligne Canyon is just 15 minutes east of Jasper. It’s a mossy limestone canyon with well-groomed trails past incredible waterfalls. And in winter, my uncle and aunt love ice climbing here.
• Athabasca Falls is 30 minutes south of Jasper and a gorgeous waterfall on the Athabasca River. If you take the highly recommended Rocky Mountain road trip from Jasper to Banff on Highway 93, you can add it as a stop then. But don’t miss it!

A helpful resource for visitors to Jasper National Park is the Parks Canada website .

Where to STAY in Jasper:

• Pyramid Lake Resort : A beautiful lakefront resort with a private beach, canoeing, fishing and hiking. Also has onsite dining, gym, hot tub and rooms with a fireplace. You’re across the highway from Maligne Canyon and 5 minutes from downtown Jasper.
• Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge : A luxurious hotel overlooking Beauvert Lake with a spa, outdoor pool, 8 restaurants and an award-winning golf course. Onsite activities include horseback riding in summer and skating and cross-country skiing in winter.

Things to DO on the drive from Jasper to Banff:

• Icefields Parkway road trip : Simply take your time driving the breathtaking Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) through the Rocky Mountains. In my humble opinion, this is the BEST Canada road trip (and I’ve taken a LOT!). It’s a slow-go, especially if you get stuck behind a camper, but you should go slow so you can quickly pull over to take in the zillion amazing views. 
• Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise : The perfect stop for high tea, lunch, spa therapy, a hike or gondola ride up a mountain. It’s after most of the jaw-dropping lookouts you’ll be stopping at along the way, so you’ll need a break! 

For more specific stops in the Rocky Mountains, check out my Solo Road Trip from Calgary to Jasper .

Where to STAY in Banff:

• Hidden Ridge Resort : Features a gorgeous outdoor hot tub area and private cabins with real wood fireplaces, balconies and lofts. Just on the outskirts of Banff, with a free shuttle into downtown. We loved staying here with our beagle.
• Fairmont Banff Springs : Built in 1888, this gorgeous National Historic Site is styled after a Scottish Baronial castle. Features a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, 11 restaurants and 14 shops. Even if you don’t stay here, it’s worth stopping for tea and to marvel at its beauty!
• The Rimrock Resort : Another fantastic property in Banff with unbeatable views. The suites are incredible, with a fireplace and large decks. But even standard rooms include a sitting area with views. Features a spa, indoor pool, hot tub and restaurant. Near the Upper Hot Springs.

Things to DO in/near Banff:

• Banff Gondola : Marvel at the six surrounding mountain ranges from the rooftop observatory. Enjoy a world-class meal at Sky Bistro, watch the sunset and gaze at the stars. Tip: If you take the Banff Gondola up after 5pm, you pay 20% less.
• Johnston Canyon : This short, easy and beautiful hike takes you along a pretty creek through a wooded canyon, filled with squirrels and chipmunks. At the end, you’re rewarded with a refreshing waterfall. I’ve only been to the first waterfall, but hikers say it’s worth it to continue to the upper falls and ink pots.
• Banff Via Ferrata Climb : This looks so fun… and slightly terrifying?! Make your way up the cliffs of Canada’s highest mountain range, with fixed anchoring cables, ladders and a suspension bridge. Up to phenomenal views of Banff. No experience necessary!
• BC hot springs road trip: Love Banff Hot Springs and want more? Take Highway 93 south to visit Radium Hot Springs, Fairmont Hot Springs and Lussier Hot Springs! They’re within an hour of each other and the farthest (Lussier) is under three hours from Banff. Each one is unique and special. Lussier is remote and completely natural. Fairmont is a lovely resort. And Radium is surrounded by towering peaks. Start at Lussier and work your way back, spending the night at Bighorn Meadows Resort near Radium.

You may also like:

• EDMONTON to VANCOUVER Road Trip: 3 Best Routes
• More things to DO near Banff: Romantic Getaways near Calgary
• More places to STAY near Radium and Golden: BC Getaways for Couples

LEG 6: Drive from BANFF to KELOWNA BC

I’ll start this next leg of your Toronto to Vancouver drive in Banff Alberta. But depending on your cross-Canada road trip route, you might start this leg in Calgary (add about 1.5 hours) or Golden (subtract about 1.5 hours). 

Driving from Banff to Kelowna is 480km and just under 6 hours. This route is incredibly beautiful, and incredibly busy . Plan for a lot of patience!

Before you leave Banff, check for road closures between Lake Louise and Golden. Temporary closures for avalanche control are fairly common. If it’s closed, detour along Highway 93 through Radium Hot Springs. This detour will add an hour to your drive (but it’s beautiful, too!).

Where to STOP on the drive from Banff to Kelowna:

• Golden : A mountain town for the adventurous! Golden is surrounded by three mountain ranges, at the point where two heritage rivers meet, and has easy access to FIVE national parks. Yep, you know it’ll be busy. Superb hiking, climbing and skiing. Incredible whitewater rafting and heli-skiing. 
• The Enchanted Forest : A fun family road trip stop in BC, perfect for kids to get rid of some energy. Climb BC’s tallest treehouse. Row a boat through beaver ponds. Spy fairies on your magical walk through a lush forest.

Things to DO in Kelowna:

• Kelowna Boardwalk : My favorite part of Kelowna! At the north end, enjoy quiet walks through Rotary Marsh Park and Tugboat Beach. Stroll past pretty parks, lakefront resorts, restaurants and marina. And then take in the action at Kelowna City Park , which often hosts buskers and festivals. The downtown shops and restaurants are fun, too! A special shout-out to Lost Together , a fantastic second-hand clothing consignment shop.
• Winery tours : Our favorite tours are Mission Hill and Summerhill. And while they both have excellent restaurants with amazing views, Quails’ Gate is really excellent!
• Kangaroo Creek Farm : I was surprised by how much I loved hanging out with kangaroos! Especially feeding those babies… Lots of friendly staff around to give you snacks to feed the kangaroos and to take pictures. Cash only.

Where to STAY in Kelowna:

• Delta Grand Okanagan Resort : A terrific resort right on the boardwalk, with easy walking distance to the best of Kelowna. Features in indoor/outdoor pool, hot tubs, spa, fitness centre, excellent restaurant, wine bar, lounge and adjoining casino and marina. 
• Manteo at Eldorado Resort : A more private resort experience, 10 minutes south of downtown Kelowna. Features a private beach, boardwalk, movie theatre, indoor pool, sauna, steam rooms, games room and restaurant. Enjoy meals and views from the lakefront patio. Variety of room options, including fireplace, balcony and 3 bedrooms. Price includes parking.

Find more awesome BC hotels, spas and cabins at BC Romantic Getaways .

LEG 7: Drive from KELOWNA to VANCOUVER

Welcome to the final leg of your Toronto to Vancouver drive through Canada!

The fastest driving route from Kelowna to Vancouver is 390km and just over 4 hours. This takes you through Merritt and down to Hope, where you meet up with the Trans-Canada Highway.

But if you can, head south of Kelowna through the beautiful Okanagan Valley. The views are breathtaking, with lovely towns, vineyards and orchards along the way. Ideally go all the way to Osoyoos before heading west, which is 520km and just over 6 hours to Vancouver. Or, shave off some time by taking Highway 3A just past Kaleden, which is 450km and 5 hours 20 minutes to Vancouver. 

Where to STOP on the drive from Kelowna to Vancouver:

• Penticton : Beaches on two lakes, and a canal in between for floating. Orchards and award-winning wineries. Skiing, hiking and art galleries. Penticton’s long, hot summers and dry winters make it a fun place to explore.
• Osoyoos : A small community of 5000 in the deep south of Okanagan Valley, known for its warm waters, orchards, vineyards and impressive peaks. 
• Harrison Hot Springs : Soak in the mineral pools and views of mountains and gardens. Or, stop for a quick walk along the lake and a bite to eat. Either way, it’s a great BC road trip stop before getting to Vancouver.

Where to STAY in/near Vancouver:

• Shangri-La Hotel (downtown): My favorite hotel in Vancouver, with a spa, outdoor pool and hot tub, private yoga and excellent restaurant. You’re right next to luxury shopping on Robson Street, and 3 blocks from Vancouver waterfront.
• Rosewood Hotel Georgia (downtown): An exquisite luxury hotel, with excellent family-friendly perks. Features the Rose Bud children’s program, 52-foot heated indoor saltwater pool, spa, dining and lounge. Beautiful spacious rooms include heated bathroom floors and bathrobes. Families can select connecting rooms or a family suite.

Things to DO in Vancouver:

• Stanley Park : 1,000-acre park at the west end of downtown Vancouver, with 5.5 miles of pathway right along the ocean. Also home to the Vancouver Aquarium, beaches, pools, restaurants and more. The perfect place for a picnic.
• Shopping , including luxury and boutique shops on Robson Street (downtown) and eclectic shops, galleries and tours on Granville Island . Both have a variety of great cafes, perfect for people-watching.
• Take a road trip up the northern coast to spectacular coastal and mountain scenery. And then hop on a ferry and explore Vancouver Island, the perfect place for all-things ocean getaway. See details in the next section!

Road Trip Ideas NEAR VANCOUVER BC

What’s the perfect way to end your Toronto to Vancouver drive through Canada? With two mini road trips near Vancouver! These two bonus road trip ideas from Vancouver offer some of the most stunning scenery you’ll see on your cross-Canada road trip from Ontario to BC.  

NORTH VANCOUVER: Sea to Sky Highway Road Trip

Follow the gorgeous coastline north of Vancouver for spectacular waterfalls and peaks that plunge into the ocean.

The Sea to Sky Highway (Highway 99) takes you through Squamish and onto Whistler. Driving from downtown Vancouver to Whistler is 120km and just under 2 hours. 

You can either return to Vancouver for the night or stay in Squamish or Whistler. Find beautiful places to stay in BC Romantic Getaways .

Things to DO on the drive from Vancouver to Whistler:

• Shannon Falls (Squamish): The third tallest waterfall in BC at 1,099 feet (335 meters) and easily accessible from the Sea to Sky Highway. Take the 200-meter paved path to the waterfalls and nearby hikes.
• Sea to Sky Gondola (Squamish): Take a year-round gondola up to spectacular views of Howe Sound, walking and hiking trails, a suspension bridge and restaurant. 
• Whistler Village : A pretty mountain village with incredible facilities from hosting the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. In winter, it’s all about skiing, ski jumping, snowshoeing, skating and sledding. In summer, you have hiking, biking, beaches, ziplining, mountain-top dining, and gondolas, including a glass-bottom and peak-to-peak ride!

Curious about Shannon Falls? Check out the video on Best Waterfalls in Canada .

VANCOUVER ISLAND BC Road Trip Idea

You won’t be disappointed if you add a Vancouver Island road trip to your Toronto to Vancouver drive.

Vancouver Island has Canada’s warmest climate. It’s known for its beaches, whale watching, sea kayaking, sailing, surfing and perfect sunsets. Plus, stunning gardens, giant trees, epic rainforests, caving and golf. And its spa resorts, treehouse cabins and enchanting inns will make you want to stay forever!

It’s the perfect place to conclude your cross-Canada road trip from Ontario to BC.

Access Vancouver Island by plane or ferry, to either Victoria or Nanaimo. Find incredible places to stay on Vancouver Island in BC Romantic Getaways .

Things to DO on your Vancouver Island BC road trip:

• Ucluelet and Tofino : A popular spot for all-things ocean, including beaches, surfing and rainforest hikes. Ucluelet has a variety of water tours, including sea kayaking (my favorite!). A 4-hour drive from Victoria and 2-hour drive from Nanaimo.
• Sooke : A beautiful coastal area with beaches, hikes and treehouse cabins! Plus, it’s less than an hour’s drive from Victoria.
• Victoria : Tour the boutiques in Fan Tan Alley. Soak in its maritime culture at Fisherman’s Wharf. Roam the beautiful parks, including Butchart Gardens, Beacon Hill and Abkhazi Garden’s tea house. And afternoon and high tea at the luxurious Fairmont Empress. 

So, what do you think? If you take this ULTIMATE cross-Canada road trip from Ontario to BC, it would take about 7,650 kilometers (4,753 miles) and 87 hours of driving. Wowee!! 

My recommended Toronto to Vancouver drive through Canada breaks this epic road trip into 7 days of driving (at minimum). Plus mini road trip ideas: 1 day to Niagara Falls, 3 days through Alberta, 1 day to BC hot springs, 1 day Sea to Sky drive near Vancouver, and 2 days on Vancouver Island.

Have you done the Toronto to Vancouver drive? Do you recommend other places to stop and things to do? Please share in the comments below!

• How To PLAN a Road Trip You’ll Love in 7 Steps
• EAST COAST Road Trip CANADA: Toronto to Nova Scotia
• Romantic Getaways in ONTARIO   and  BC Getaways for Couples

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8 Responses

We are intersted in coming back to Barrie ON, after our son s convocation at the trinity university. will start our journey on 7th november. so like EDNA said in November last year…we want to do pretty much the saame 4 adults and 2 sall children . We are scared that winter will have started and we might face too difficult driving conditions. in any case we do not want to drive more than what you have recommended per day. Will you kindly guide us privately on this trip. It will be so much better to be able to speak to you . thanks nooruddin daud XXX XXX XXXX cell

Thanks for your comment, Nooruddin! (Note: I edited out your cell number – I don’t want you getting any spam calls!)

It’s hard to predict what the weather will be like in early November, but often it’s still quite nice at that time. If you’re able to, shorten your driving time each day, especially as sunlight hours get shorter. You have a few narrow, single-lane drives to prepare for: from Sault Ste Marie to the Ontario-Manitoba border, and in the Rocky Mountains (Alberta-BC border). The prairies (between Winnipeg to Calgary) have a fast, double-lane highway, but because there are no trees, be prepared for blowing snow.

If you’re concerned about doing this drive safely on your own, I recommend reaching out to Intrepid Travel. They have an office in Toronto and may be able to arrange for a private option. I traveled with them in Southeast Asia and they were fantastic.

Wishing you a wonderful trip!

I’m on the west coast, so I want to start in vancouver. Is the described course easy to reverse?

Yes, it sure is! Each leg is a day’s drive and stops at the best places along the way, no matter which direction you’re heading. Enjoy your trip!

My son took the offer from UBC, so this year we wanted to take this chance and have a long road trip (had a train trip from Vancouver back to Toronto years ago). Your guide is REALLY REALLY helpful! Thank you so much for all the suggestions. We planned 15 days for this trip in Aug. Since we have been to Banff and Jasper before, this time we will focus on Yoho. Heard that’s a place well worth for a visit. Thanks again for your efforts in creating such an amazing and detailed guide.

Thank you for your comment, I’m so glad the post is helpful. It’ll certainly be a looong road trip lol, but I hope it’s a fun one!

Yes, Yoho is spectacular, and especially if you like whitewater rafting. Though you really can’t go wrong with any of the Rocky Mountain national parks!

Very helpful! About to embark on a trip across Canada in July 2021 (relocating to Vancouver from Toronto)

I’m so glad you found it helpful! Hopefully you get to enjoy a few spots along the (very long!) drive. All the best in Vancouver!

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Road Trip from Toronto to Vancouver – The Ultimate Itinerary to Explore Whole Canada

I searched for the same title – itinerary for road trip from Toronto to Vancouver, when we were planning our road trip for driving across Canada.

I was deeply curious just like you for the places to stop on Toronto to Vancouver road trip.

This article may be helpful for the people looking for,

• Toronto to Sault Ste Marie Road Trip Guide
• Toronto to Thunder Bay Road Trip Guide
• Toronto to Winnipeg Road Trip Guide
• Toronto to Regina Road Trip Guide
• Toronto to Calgary Road Trip Guide
• Toronto to Banff Road Trip Guide
• Toronto to Vancouver Road Trip Guide

To be honest, I hardly found any satisfactory results. With that being said, I know what you are looking for and you’ll find everything you need for such an amazing road trip from Toronto to Vancouver without entering USA.

Update: I feel flattered by the response this post has received from people planning for the same road trip. Thank you for all the comments, emails and Instagram DMs. If you manage to read this Toronto to Vancouver post in one sitting, I salute to you. Or else, consider bookmarking it and prefer exploring this post as you travel on road. I understand, it’s bit long (around 20 minutes read) but my goal was to be as much informative as possible. My next post is going to be on Toronto to Nova Scotia Road trip. Stay tuned. You can watch my Instagram highlights for video stories of all the provinces and amazing places I visited on this particular road trip.

The only thing I would like to suggest is, just go for this trip. There are some phenomenal places in Canada which makes your drive a worthwhile and memorable experience.

This is just for students planning to come to Canada:  https://unnitmetaliya.com/sop-sample/

While the route from USA saves you around 4 hours of time, it almost doesn’t have anything to explore. I would say that route is suitable for log truckers and transportation.

Saving those 4 hours will cost you the wonderful scenic drive of Canada. Go with the Canada route without thinking twice. You won’t regret it for sure.

And, the Google Maps don’t count the time required for immigration check at border. So, at best, you’ll be saving 3 hours counting at least 1 hour for border check. Mind that there’ll be two border checks. This should be enough to convince you for the Canada route.

You will have the chance to see and explore the beautiful lakes of Canada, the rocky mountains of Alberta, coast to coast driving in Ontario, some amazing roadside attractions in Saskatchewan and Alberta, numerous wonderful waterfalls in Ontario and British Columbia, canyons, peaks, beautiful views, horizons in Saskatchewan, some world’s largest landmarks, national parks, cheap campsites, free campsites, dams, Northern lights in Saskatchewan if you get lucky and many more amazing things which will make you feel awestruck.

I will present you with the ultimate itinerary for driving from Toronto to Vancouver. After all, you surely don’t wanna reach the Vancouver without visiting some awesome places which were 2 or 3 kms away from the highway you’ll be driving on.

I’ll try to cover things such as places to visit on TransCanada Highway, detours which are worth taking, exploring some hidden places which you wouldn’t find by Google search term – “places to see near me”, good and bad experiences we had, places to stay, free campsites and so on. Basically, everything which may make your Toronto to Vancouver trip a convenient and worthwhile experience.

Let’s begin our journey.

Day 1: Toronto to Sault Ste. Marie – 688 kms – 7 hours 21 minutes

I have never carried excitement like this for any of my adventures . None of us did. We were extremely excited for our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver.

We loaded the trunk with camping tent, clothe bags, blankets, winter jackets (Yes! In summer because it’s Canada my friend), and lots of snacks.

There were 3 of us so the rear seats also had some extra space to put few things. Basically, we tried and converted the car into a room. We even prepared meal items which may cover us for initial few days and save some dollars on restaurants.

We started early in the morning around 6 A.M in Toronto, Ontario. As per our plan, we were  going to take car-cool-down or lunch-break in Sudbury, Ontario.

Around after 50 minutes we took our first coffee break in Barrie OnRoute. That’s the last OnRoute we had seen on our whole trip. There’s no such thing as OnRoute in any other provinces except the Ontario. At least, not on the highway we took or you’ll be taking. However, Tim Horton’s and alike places were conveniently available.

We continued our journey after small break in Barrie. We researched about some places to see in Sudbury and decided to go to Lake Laurentian Conservation Area after seeing the reviews and photos of the place.

One of the must see places between Toronto and Sault Ste. Marie: Lake Laurentian Conservation Area in Sudbury, Ontario

The park entry as well as the parking are free at Lake Laurentian Conservation Area. This was the first place on our trip where we felt awestruck. The morning time was amazing and it felt like some portrait picture became live in front of us.

The lake was partially frozen. That’s something you don’t get to see usually. The water was flowing which made the ice on the water surface look mesmerizing.

We arranged our lunch on the bench right beside the lake. What an ambiance it was! The natural beauty of the place added some extra taste in our food and made the overall experience delightful.

After the lunch, we saw one look out area on the hill and decided to go there. It involved bit of hiking and trailing but was totally worth it. When we reached the lookout spot on the hill, the view was incredibly beautiful.

Lake Laurentian Coservation Area

Highly recommended to get some photographs when you are there.

After spending some time, we continued for Sault Ste. Marie.

We kept searching for free campsites near Sault Ste. Marie. Just be mindful that when you’ll be searching for free or cheap campsites, you will get suggestions for campsites in USA as you’ll be driving near to border all the way to Vancouver. Don’t put anything you get on GPS and proceed without confirming.

After some research on internet, we found out about one place named Shaw Dam Lake which could have been dangerous experience of our lives.

It was said by one person on the internet that it’s a free campsite. We put it on map and continued for it. After taking a right turn from highway, the road was totally graveled and dirty. The GPS was saying 10 minutes to reach the destination. After around 5 minutes, we arrived into nowhere in the jungle with no cell-phone coverage.

There were a couple of vacation homes and a cemetery in the beginning, but nothing except the jungle after sometime. With heart pumping crazily, we continued with a hope to find some people at the destination. During last 3 minutes, there was small dig on the road which I am sure our car was not able to pass without damage.

So, I and the other friend came out and filled it with stones making it passable by our car. We continued and when we were two minutes away, there was a right turn which was full of mud and water all over the area. Only I can imagine what could have happened if the car would have stuck in that mud.

Gravel Road in Jungle

We took the U-turn and decided to leave that jungle as soon as possible. No one was around and it was damn scary evening for all three of us. Don’t go for the Shaw Dam Lake free campsite. Don’t believe blindly what someone on the internet is saying just like we did. Always check your facts before going.

I guess that was the only bad experience on our whole trip from Toronto to Vancouver and coming back.

We searched for other campsites near Sault Ste. Marie and found out about KOA campground which seemed trustworthy.

We called them and inquired about the rates. It costed us 52$ to camp there for one night and the experience was totally worth it. We booked tent site as we had brought the tent along with us.

Me being excited for setting up the tent

It took a while to setup the tent. If you really wanna enjoy the camping, bonfire, the talk, the overall environment, then, it is recommended to arrive at your campsite early before it gets dark.

Camping at KOA Campground

Our Camping Tent

That was everything about the first day of our trip from Toronto to Vancouver.

Day 2: Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay – 700 km – 7 hours 44 minutes

After an amazing tent camping experience at KOA campground in Sault Ste. Marie, we continued our journey for the second day. KOA campground had all the facilities to get refreshed in the morning. We got freshened up and took breakfast-come-lunch there before leaving.

View from the Tent in Morning

We started the journey around 11 AM in the morning. For the second day, we were not worried about the places to stay at night in Thunder Bay as one of my good friend living in Thunder Bay was going to host us for the night.

Our first stop after leaving the Sault Ste. Marie was going to be Wawa Goose Statue in an Ontarian town, Wawa.

Tourist attraction between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay: Wawa Goose Statue, Wawa, Ontario

We didn’t stop anywhere in between except the gas and arrived to Wawa Goose Statue after two and a half hour of drive. While the place was officially closed, we parked our car roadside just like the other visitors did and proceeded to check out world’s largest Goose statue. It’s huge. And, the people living in town are trying everything they could to protect the Goose from legal obligations.

Wawa Goose Statue is visited by thousands of tourists around the world every year and it’s literally by the side of TransCanada highway. Wawa Goose Statue is one of the must see tourist attractions between Sault Ste Marie and Thunder Bay.

Wawa Goose Statue

After spending some time and clicking lots of photographs with the big Wawa Goose Statue, we pulled over in Tim Horton’s near by to have some coffee.

Around 3:30 PM, we were all set to continue for Thunder Bay, Ontario. We didn’t stop anywhere except the gas and little washroom break at KFC near Terrace Bay, Ontario. The strange thing I found in that washroom was the bathroom door was full of signs of hitchhikers, travelers, road trippers, log truckers saying they have been there. Crazy!

Roadside hotel near Terrace Bay (– KFC is inside)

We wanted to inform my friend about the time of our arrival, but, there was no cellphone coverage for around 3 hours as the highway passes through the mountains and hills and makes you drive coast to coast of Lake Superior.

After five and a half hour of drive, we arrived to my friend’s place in Thunder Bay at 9:15 PM. The great guy had already prepared delicious dinner for all three of us. We were crazily hungry to directly jump on the dinner without wasting much time.

As we were meeting after months of time, we spent some time chit chatting and called it a night around 11:15 PM.

The Day 2 of our trip from Toronto to Vancouver was really really wonderful.

Day 3: Thunder Bay, Ontario to Winnipeg, Manitoba – 703 KM – 7 hours 40 minutes

We woke up early in the morning around 7 AM. Prepared breakfast and cooked noodles to bring with us for the later time of the day. Got freshened up just like we do when being at our own home and were ready to continue our journey again.

We searched about places to see near Thunder Bay and found two places near Thunder Bay. Sleeping Giant and Kakabeka Falls. You must stop at Kakabeka Falls while leaving the Thunder Bay for the Winnipeg.

One of the must see places in Thunder Bay: Sleeping Giant

Sleeping Giant is not a particular place like Kakabeka Falls where you need to go and check it out. It’s a provincial park.

However, when you’ll be driving, keep your eyes on left side across the lake. You’ll find formation of rocks and mountains which will resemble like a giant is sleeping.

That is the reason behind the place being called Sleeping Giant.

Sleeping Giant is the wonder of Canada and it has beaten the Niagara Falls in the list.

Truly a wonder. But, you do not need to go there. If you want, you can pull over right beside the road. Keep staring across the lake and sooner, you’ll get the Sleeping Giant formation in your mind.

So, don’t forget to checkout Sleeping Giant before leaving Thunder Bay.

One of the must see places near Thunder Bay: Kakabeka Falls, Ontario

Kakabeka Falls is considered as the Niagara of the North and being just 30 minutes away from Thunder Bay, a beautiful place to see.

We left for the Kakabeka Falls around 9 AM in the morning and arrived at Kakabeka Falls after 30 minutes.

Just to let you know that parking at Kakabeka Falls is not free. We paid 5$ for 2 hours.

To get to the viewpoint for the falls, there’s no hiking or trailing. Just follow the stairs and you’ll arrive to the viewpoint within two minutes distance from parking.

Kakabeka Falls – the Niagara of the North

The falls was truly wonderful. It stood out as per its name – the Niagara of the North. There wasn’t much water flowing, still the beauty of the falls didn’t seem to be affected. There were two view points at the Kakebaka Falls and we had enough time to checkout the falls from both the view points.

One of the must visit places in Ontario – Kakabeka Falls

For the second view point, you’ll have to cross the bridge by walking for 4 to 5 minutes. There’s some arrangement of benches and a picnic area if you wanna take the lunch you brought with yourself.

Kakabeka Falls from the second view point across the bridge

If you find the washrooms on the first side of the falls be closed (which we did), there’s washroom on the other side of the falls which you can reach by crossing the bridge.

After spending 2 hours at Kakabeka Falls, we continued our journey for the Winnipeg. We were aware about the fact that we were going to cross our first of the three time zones in our whole trip to Vancouver. We were going to cross the Eastern Standard Time Zone and be in Central Standard Time Zone.

It’s amazing to get one more hour for your day, isn’t it? We noticed the hour going back on our phones and felt happy like kids. When it was about to be 12:57 PM, it became 11:57 and we arrived to the board of Central Time Zone and Eastern Time Zone. We pulled over our car as the Ontario government has made nice picnic area around the timezone to let the people enjoy their gifted one hour.

Extra hour for the day! Yayy!

Click as many photographs as you want with the board. You won’t be getting the same board with any other time zones you’ll be crossing on your way to Vancouver.

We took lunch at the time zone picnic area and made some changes on our initial itinerary of the third day.

Before, we planned to reach the Brandon, Manitoba at the end of the day. However, there wasn’t much to drive on 4th day, so we decided to stop at Winnipeg, Manitoba which eventually became the luckiest decision we made on our trip. Keep reading. 🙂

We continued our journey after the lunch keeping in mind the Kenora (the last city of Ontario) as next stop for a small coffee-break. We stopped at Dryden Tim Horton’s as one of us couldn’t hold the…. yes, you guessed it right!

The thing we noticed at Dryden Tim Horton’s and are still wondering to this date was, the place was fully filled with senior citizens. And, there were lots of them. Almost every single table of that Tim Horton’s. We couldn’t find a single young guy in whole Tim Horton’s. We don’t complain, but, this was certainly a strange thing. Let me know if you experience the same thing on your trip.

After having some poutine and coffee, we continued.

Two and a half hour later, it was time to celebrate our first milestone of our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver. The Ontario – Manitoba Border.

It’s on that moment you realize the Ontario is huge! Very huge!

Yes. It took us 2 and a half days to reach the border of Ontario from Toronto. It was an achievement on its own.

Good place to stop between Thunder Bay and Winnipeg: Ontario Manitoba Border

We pulled over the car near to Welcome to Manitoba board and jumped out with hefty amount of excitement. We were literally jumping and mind my words, you’ll do the same. Crossing the whole province by car is big deal.

Ontario Manitoba Border

We clicked lots of pictures in front of the welcome to the Manitoba board and were ready to continue again.

Drive for two more hours and you will reach the beautiful city on whole planet, the Winnipeg.

Winnipeg felt like a boon after leaving Toronto. The infrastructure, the people, the atmosphere. Everything was more than excellent.

Just like we did on our all the days of trip, we searched for free campsites near Winnipeg, but, there weren’t any options available this time.

And, in addition to that, we wanted to be on budget, so were least interested in any motels, hotels or lodges.

However, when you’ll be searching for free campsites near any place, you’ll get suggestions about Walmart parking lot, which is just right. People have been car camping at Walmart Parking Lot and they don’t care unless your luck is not in favor on that day.

If it’s just one person who is mentioning about Walmart Parking Lot then, that might not be trustworthy. But, there are numerous people in numbers of forums mentioning about camping in Walmart Parking Lot for free.

We decided to find the cheap parking in Winnipeg downtown and found something which costed us just 2$ for night. We parked our car and went to explore the night life in Winnipeg downtown.

And, sometimes you are just meant to be at right place on right time. Yes. It was the luckiest day for us to make the luckiest decision to stop in Winnipeg instead of Brandon.

Why? You ask.

There was a street party for the Hockey match between the famous Winnipeg Jets and Predators. Huge crowd dressed in whites and blues. I have never seen such a huge crowd coming out on street and cheering for their home team. The whole downtown was secured by police and paramedics because of the crowd. This street party is also known as Winnipeg Whiteout.

Winnipeg Street Party

Later, I got to know that the total cost for the Winnipeg Whiteout street party exceeded $2.1 million and attracted 120,00 Winnipeg Jets fans. How lucky we were on that day, man? Wow!

Winnipeg Whiteout

The people were happy like they were celebrating some festival. The city seemed beautifully wonderful. I & both my friends felt like, God! Where did you bring us? It’s crazy!

Street Screening of Winnipeg Jets and Predators

I will never forget the street party experience I had in Winnipeg. It was one of its own. It seemed like they were breathing for their team. They were passionately following their team and the sadness on their faces when the opposite team scored a goal was the living proof.

Winnipeg! Wow! Wow! Wow!

If you don’t get lucky just like we did, then, you do not need to worry. The reason is the downtown Winnipeg is just beautiful. You can roam around in night and feel extremely safe without worrying. The city is known for its friendly and humorous people.

After cheering for Winnipeg Jets for around one or two hours, we headed back to the Parking.

We took the dinner being half asleep as we were totally exhausted.

We prepared nice bed-alike structure on back seat and made the front seat fully reclined. It was more than a perfect setup to sleep conveniently.

I was writing my journal till late night while the other two friends of mine were in deep sleep. I called it a night at around 2-3 AM.

If you are thinking about car camping throughout the trip just like we did, this should be your rule.

The Golden Rule for going on Long Road Trip:

If it’s a sedan or an SUV car, at max 3 people.

If it’s a 7 sitter Van, no more than 5 people.

If anything above than this limit, be prepared for the motels or lodges. Alternatively, you can arrange an extra car.

That was all about our Day 3.

I will remember the Day 3 like it’s yesterday for the rest of my life.

Day 4: Winnipeg, Manitoba to Regina, Saskatchewan – 573 KM – 6 hours

The parking pass was valid for 6:00 AM in the morning. I woke up in the morning, paid parking fees and took our car to Walmart while my buddy was sleeping in back seat. The Walmart was going to open at around 7 AM. So, we parked the car and slept again for another 3 hours.

Around 9 AM, we woke up, got freshened up and were ready to start the drive. We were planning to take our brunch (breakfast+lunch) in Brandon which was 2 and a half hour drive from Winnipeg, around 215 KM.

We arrived in Brandon at 1 PM and pulled over in Tim Hortons along the TransCanada Highway. We brought lots of instant ready food packets with us which saved us lots of money on food and filled our tummies for the rest of the day. After having nice coffee and breakfast, we left for the Saskatchewan.

It was going to be 4 hours straight drive from Brandon, Manitoba to Regina, Saskatchewan. The road from Winnipeg to Saskatchewan is very flat and boring.

There are endless horizons on both sides of the roads and there’s almost nothing to see or pull over. Straight 4 hours.

Endless Horizon in Saskatchewan

If you are the one who is not going to drive, but going to be seated on front-seat, be ready to have some interesting conversation topics for the roads in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It’s very easy to fall asleep on this particular route from Saskatchewan to Manitoba.

Good place to stop between Winnipeg and Regina: Manitoba Saskatchewan Border

At 4 PM, we arrived to Manitoba – Saskatchewan border. Our second milestone. There’s big picnic kind of area at Saskatchewan border and we pulled over to click some pictures with “Saskatchewan, Naturally” board. The weather was windy but not bad.

Manitoba Saskatchewan Border

After spending some time at Saskatchewan border, we left for Regina. We were going to experience the timezone change and were going to get one more hour before we reach Regina, Saskatchewan. When it was going to become 4:33 PM, it became 3:33 PM and we cherished the extra hour.

Arrived in Regina downtown at 6 PM and parked our car in the cheapest parking available. We roamed in Cornwall Mall in Regina Downtown when it was the closing time. Roamed here and there in Regina downtown and entered in to Burger King to have some dinner.

Regina Downtown

After the dinner, the friend who was driving was all exhausted and wanted to sleep, while the other two went for wandering and exploring in Regina downtown.

Near Cornwall Mall – Regina Downtown

The weather was cloudy and the city was all empty. It was the peak hour and it was hard to feel we were in downtown of the capital of the province – Regina, Saskatchewan.

Best place to see in Regina: Victoria Park

Really, there weren’t many people and the ones we came across were threatening and drunk (No offence, Regina! Just an experience).

Meanwhile, the other friend of mine read some bad reviews about the city and we became more frightened as we were experiencing the same things which were mentioned.

However, if you have some time, spend it at Victoria Park which is at the heart of the Regina Downtown. You will get to know about the history of the Regina. If you want to feel the peace and think about your life, any bench at Victoria Park is recommended.

Victoria Park – Regina Downtown

Victoria Park at Night – Regina Downtown

I sat on the bench and wondered how beautiful my life is. We traveled all the way from Toronto to Regina and it was hard to believe my nerves. It was a big deal for me. 4 days of being in a car taught me some lessons which no book or teacher in any grade was capable of.

I was being emotional for our road trip.

We went back to parking and called it a night. The day four was relaxing as there wasn’t much to travel. We started the driving around 10 AM in the morning and reached the Regina at around 6 AM, even after taking numbers of washroom breaks and coffee breaks.

Day 5: Regina, Saskatchewan to Calgary, Alberta – 760 KM – 7 hours 40 minutes

The morning of day 5 was quite similar to that of day 4. We woke up at the end of parking hours, drove our car to Walmart parking lot and slept again for another two hours.

We woke up around 8 AM, got freshened up, bought some apples from Walmart and left for Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan.

One of the must see places between Regina and Calgary: Mac the Moose – World’s largest Moose

At Moose Jaw, we were going to see Mac the Moose, which is world’s largest moose. Being 32 feet tall and having weight of 10 long tons, it’s surely one of its kind and one of the must see places between Regina and Calgary.

World’s Largest Moose – Mac the Moose

70 KM from Regina, we arrived in Moose Jaw. Pulled over a little bit and, we were in front of giant, fat sculpture of Mac the Moose. The weather was way too windy, so we were not able to spend much time with Mac the Moose.

Mac the Moose Sculpture

We spent some time with Mac the Moose for a while, clicked pictures and went to near by Tim Horton’s to have some breakfast.

The wind was blowing all over the Moose Jaw and it was driving people crazy. The construction workers were helpless and continued their work regardless of heavy wind. I have never seen such a crazy wind.

After a while, we left for Alberta. Our next stop was going to be Medicine Hat in Alberta. It was 4 hours drive from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The drive from Saskatchewan to Alberta is not that boring.

You’ll find numbers of things on your way taking from Mooses wandering in the filed to oil factories and salt farms.

Moose Spotting in Saskatchewan

Moose wandering in farms of Saskatchewan

You’ll be seeing the hay farms which we usually see in Movies.

Hay Farms – Saskatchewan

Good place to stop between Regina and Calgary: Saskatchewan Alberta Border

My buddy drove for continuous 4 hours without any breaks and we arrived to Alberta – Saskatchewan border at around 2:30 PM. The border at Alberta was also huge and they made nice picnic area around the welcome board.

Alberta Saskatchewan Border

We spent some time at border, clicked lots of pictures and continued our journey for Medicine Hat, Alberta.

The other thing which we experienced right after entering into Alberta was, our iPhones kept prompting us with Emergency Alerts. We never experienced such thing in any other provinces. It was not something to worry about anyway. So, just keep going.

Emergency Alerts after entering into Alberta (to be ignored)

One of the Must see places between Regina and Calgary: Medicine Hat Tepee (also known as Saami’s Tepee)

After half an hour of drive, we pulled over to see world’s largest Tepee in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Medicine Hat Tepee, also known as Saami’s Tepee, it is a must see place between Regina and Calgary. If you got some time, read the history written on boards under the Tepee. The structure is huge enough to make you feel flabbergasted.

World’s largest Tepee – Medicine Hat Tepee

Don’t get confused between Saami’s Tepee and Medicine Hat Tepee. They both are same.

Medicine Hat Tepee – also known as Saami’s Tepee

It was nice to spend some time at Saami’s Tepee and we were yet to explore one more place near Medicine Hat, Alberta. The name of the place was Echo Dale Regional Park in Bow Island, Alberta. It was recommended by many people on travel forums and we decided to give it a shot.

We pumped up the gas and continued for Echo Dale Regional Park also known as Echo Dale Recreation Ranch.

One of the Must see places between Regina and Calgary: Echo Dale Regional Park

After some time, we arrived in rural area with speed limit of 30 kmph. The road was empty and zigzag. After some time, we recalled the feeling of Shaw Dame Lake experience in Ontario and got a thought to make a U-turn when the map was saying 10 minutes to reach. We continued anyway as it was the proper developed road and not jungle. 5 minutes later, we started seeing the views which we’ll not forget for lifetime.

Echo Dale Regional Park, Bow Island

The rocks, farms, lake, river and the over all driving experience was one of its kind. We also started coming across vacation homes and arrived into nicely planned tourist area.

There was no-one at the Echo Dale Regional Park apart from us and that made our experience more awesome. You would be surrounded by trees, mountains and there would be nothing but ultimate peace. The weather, the peace, the location, everything got combined and provided us an amazing experience to never forget.

Touching nature at Echo Dale Regional Park in Bow Island, Alberta

After spending some quality time in Bow Island, we left for Calgary. It was 3 and a half hour drive to reach Calgary from Bow Island.

The drive was good allowing you to pass through some mountains and jungles. The weather was also accompanying us on that day.

We took a little coffee break in Brooks, Alberta at around 6 PM and continued for another 3 hours to reach Calgary.

Why Calgary is the must see place in Alberta?

What can I say about Calgary? It was wonderful. I instantly fell in love with Calgary. You can consider the Calgary as a replica of Toronto.

Toronto have CN Tower, Calgary has Calgary tower. We have Harbour Front, Calgary has Prince’s Island Park. Toronto’s downtown is beautiful, Calgary’s is wonderful.

First thing, you’ll be checking out right after stepping in Calgary downtown is, Calgary Tower. The tower is similar to CN Tower except being lesser in height.

Beautiful Calgary Tower in Calgary, Alberta

I wish I could go on top to check out the night view of Calgary, but, after going on the top of CN Tower, we were not that much interested.

Calgary Tower

Some buildings in Calgary downtown seemed to have British infrastructure. The Calgary tower also seemed amazingly wonderful during night time.

Calgary Downtown

We roamed in Calgary downtown for like 2 hours in search of public washroom. We really were having hard time to find public washroom in Calgary downtown. Tim Horton’s – closed. Mac Donald’s didn’t have one. Starbucks – closed. Five star hotels – no luck. We tried everything and ended up at one bar which allowed us to feel free.

I don’t know but I was in love with Calgary already. It is one of the most beautiful city I have ever visited. One can definitely plan to live there if they need to. People seemed classic and the city was providing the pure Canadian feeling.

What exactly is the big head sculpture near The Bow building in Calgary?

While you’d be roaming around in Calgary downtown, you would find the gigantic face mask sculpture of some kind near The Bow building. It’s called Wonderland Sculpture.

Wonderland Sculpture in Calgary

This 12-meter tall sculpture head is named after a young girl called “Wonderland”. It was designed by the very famous Spanish sculptor, Jaume Plensa, who has also designed similar sculptures in other parts of the world like New York, Dubai, London, Brazil.

Wonderland Sculpture near The Bow building

After that, we wandered in streets of Calgary downtown, spotted some exotic cars in Courtyard Marriott five star hotel, explored beautiful buildings in downtown Calgary.

Beautiful Buildings – Calgary Downtown

Can’t get over with Calgary

One with the University of Alberta campus in Calgary Downtown

We headed back to the parking around 11 PM.

We ate apples and instant ready food as a dinner. We were exhausted enough to fall asleep at next moment. However, I was in mood to write some pages before calling it a night.

I started writing from where I left and arrived to describing the scary Shaw Dam Lake experience. Mind that the parking was all empty on that day and both my friends were in deepest sleep of their lives. I started getting haunting thoughts and got through describing the experience as fast as I could. I called it a night around 2 AM.

Our sleep got disrupted by the continuous noise of one cleaner’s floor cleaning machine. We changed the floor at around 4 AM and slept for another 2 hours.

That was all about Day 5. It was our last night in car as on our 6th day, we were finally going to reach the Vancouver.

5th day of our trip was amazing. We got to see some beautiful places and world’s largest landmarks, such as Saami’s Tepee in Alberta and Mac the Moose in Saskatchewan.

Day 6 – Calgary, Alberta to Vancouver, British Columbia – 1000 KM – 11 hours 30 minutes

The day 6 was the most memorable day of our trip. It was a long drive to reach Vancouver, but it was totally worth it. If you want, you can split the day 6 in two days as there are so many places to see and explore on your way to Vancouver from Calgary. You can spend one whole day at Banff in Alberta.

We wanted the Vancouver or the British Columbia as a whole to be our first priority on our road trip, so, we decided to reach Vancouver at the end of the day. But, if I do this trip again, then, I’ll surely spend at least two days at Banff National Park if not more. Or at Jasper National Park if you take the Edmonton route, which we did while coming back from Vancouver to Toronto.

Let me narrate the day 6 of our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver.

We didn’t go to Walmart after waking up like the previous days of our trip. We needed to start early in the morning as we were aware about the long drive to reach Vancouver.

We woke up around 6 AM and went to Tim Horton’s near by. Got freshened up and took breakfast.

Coffee was a bliss on whole road trip. I was the French Vanila with Coffee guy and the other two were steeped tea people. Fixed. Every single time.

We also brought instant ready Indian-tea packets along with us on our road trip. Just get warm water from anywhere, add the packets, and you’ll have the nice, tasty tea to drink and feel fresh.

You can get such kind of instant ready beverage packets of your choice from any grocery store. That may help you save some money on hot drinks or beverages.

The Main Tourist Attraction in Alberta: Rocky Mountains

We left Calgary for Banff at around 7 AM in the morning. The weather was foggy. While the other two of us were feeling heavenly, the other friend was having hard time driving through foggy atmosphere. But, we have seen worse on our Quebec road trip , so, it wasn’t a big issue for us.

Actually, we realized. It wasn’t fog. We were driving through the clouds.

Clouds so close that you can touch them. Wow!

Our car was going normally making us pass through normal mountains with jungles and trees. But, after a while…

WE BECAME MAD..

The most awaited part of our trip finally arrived. THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS IN ALBERTA.

Rocky Mountains in Alberta

Wow, Man! What a feeling! We were literally out of our minds when we saw the first rocky mountain on our way from Calgary to Vancouver.

It’s impossible to not exaggerate the beauty of the drive through rocky mountains. Trust me, the rocky mountains will make you feel detached from your normal life and will bring yourself into totally new world.

It should be law in Canada making people drive through rocky mountains in Alberta at least once in their lifetime.

It was 11 hours drive without any stop. We were very well aware about the fact of reaching Vancouver lately. I did not want to reach my friend’s place later in night causing him inconvenience.

However, we thought, let it be! We are never going to experience such beauty again for the first time.

We pulled over.

Came outside of car.

Became Mad.

Just pull over and get that shot. You ain’t gonna come here everyday.

Wow. Rocky Mountains You Beauty!

What a view! What a view! What a view!

Luckily, the weather was in our favor. And, the place where we pulled over was particularly designed to let people experience the beauty of Rocky Mountains. And, there was no one apart from three of us.

We spent considerable amount of time there being lost in the world of Rocky Mountains.

We have never been excited like we were on that day. The Rocky Mountains were surely one of the best experience of our lives.

If I or any of us three are given a chance to drive into Rocky Mountains, we will surely do it again and again.

Hey, Vancouver! I am almost there.

We shot films (..starring me) and clicked lots of pictures at Rocky Mountains.

You can check out the film we released on my Facebook profile.

Click here to watch  the film with Rocky Mountains .

Major Tourist Attraction in Canada: Banff National Park, Alberta

After enjoying the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, we left for Banff National Park where we were going to see the Lake Louise and the Moraine Lake.

Two of the most beautiful lakes in whole Canada.

The Lake Louise and the Moraine Lake are not only Canada’s beautiful lakes, but they are considered as the world’s most beautiful lakes and, are visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists from all around the world every year.

Lake Louise is known as the bluest lake of Canada and one of the major tourist attractions of the whole world.

We continued our drive after enjoying the beauty of the Rocky Mountains.

We arrived at the entry gate of Banff National Park.

Banff National Park was nicely structured and maintained by the Alberta government. There was toll plaza kind of setup where you are supposed to purchase the park pass. You may bypass the Banff National Park if you want, but, hey, I wouldn’t if I were you.

It’s only 19.60$ for the group of 2 to 7, and, I would say it’s under priced. Because, there are so many places to see and the Banff National Park is known as the number 1 national park of Canada.

Personally, I would say, one day is not enough for Banff National Park. You may spend one whole week doing activities such as camping, hiking, trailing, rock climbing, cliff jumping etc. If you are a wild-life lover, then, you may spend spotting wild-life anywhere in the Banff National Park.

However, we were determined about two must see places in Banff National Park. The Lake Louise and the Moraine Lake.

Must see place between Calgary and Vancouver: Lake Louise

We arrived at Lake Louise around 10 AM in the morning and God! The place was crowded like anything.

It was a weekday and you may see the number plates from Minesota, Montana, Yukorn, Ontario and even California, Georgia and Florida.

Lake Louise is the  very famous place in whole world.

Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait much for the parking as we were early in the day. But, when we left after two hours, it was the rush of cars, RVs, tour buses and trucks.

It is advised to arrive as early in the morning as possible to avoid being stuck in traffic for no reason.

We parked our car and proceeded to checkout the very famous, Lake Louise.

Lake Louise in May

Again, WOW!

Totally worth it!

The lake is situated between the high Rocky Mountains and the jungle. The view was amazingly wonderful.

Lake Louise – the most beautiful place in Banff, Alberta

The lake wasn’t blue and it was frozen even early in the May. However, it was undoubtedly wonderful.

Every season has its own reasons to let you experience the beauty of the nature.

What is the perfect time to visit Lake Louise?

I would say the perfect time to visit Lake Louise is June to August. Because, during this time, the lake will be in the bluest color possible.

If you are particularly interested in seeing the blue color of the lake during summer, then it is advised to go there in later May or early June. The best blue colored lake in Canada, the Lake Louise is not blue throughout the year.

Many tourists regret it after arriving to the Lake Louise. We didn’t as we were aware about the fact of lake being frozen.

As a suggestion, I would recommend you to add the time of year when you are searching about the pictures of any place you are planning to visit. Especially, when you are in Canada, my friend!

For example, don’t search for “Lake Louise Images”. Instead, search for “Lake Louise in May”.

Same way, don’t search for “Niagara Falls”. Search for “Niagara Falls in January” or “Niagara Falls in Winter”.

You’ll get different results and it will help you decide the right time to visit that particular place.

You may thank me for this tip in the comment section if you want. Ha Ha!

Back to describing Lake Louise.

While the Lake Louise was frozen, it didn’t fail to show its beauty to the numerous visitors watching it on that day.

We noticed travelers from numbers of countries enjoying the most bluest lake in whole Canada – the Lake Louise.

It’s like those who visit the Lake Louise during summer envy the ones who visited it during winters and the ones who visited it during winters envy the ones who did it in summer.

Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta

After all, there’s no perfect time to feel the nature. Ironically, correct!

I & my friends spent considerable time enjoying at Lake Louise and it was time for us to leave in order to reach the Vancouver on time.

We wanted to visit the Moraine Lake, but got to know it was closed for some reasons. Moraine Lake usually stays closed for some reasons and it’s advised to confirm the availability before visiting it. It’s the second most beautiful lake of Canada after the Lake Louise.

We took lunch at Lake Louise and left for British Columbia.

Good place to stop between Calgary and Vancouver: Alberta – British Columbia Border

We drove for one hour or less and arrived to Alberta – British Columbia border. We were about to complete our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver. But, wait. Not yet.

Alberta British Columbia Border – The Final Milestone

The picnic area at BC border was closed for maintenance, but there was nice area where we pulled over and went to click picture with Beautiful British Columbia board.

View at the British Columbia Alberta Border

It’s good feeling to click pictures with board when you cross the border and enter into different province, isn’t it?

One of the must see places between Calgary and Vancouver: Spiral Tunnels in Big Hill

After half an hour, we arrived at Spiral Tunnels in British Columbia.

Spiral Tunnel is also one of the 7 wonders of Canada.

There are only few spiral tunnels on the world and very few which are actually in use. It’s the proof of how awesome the engineering in older times was.

With that being said, Spiral Tunnel at Big Hill is a must see place between Banff and Vancouver.

Spiral Tunnels at Yoho National Park in British Columbia

Demo of Spiral Tunnels in Big Hill, British Columbia

It is said that train comes at every 20 minutes and it will take around 15 minutes to pass from the whole tunnel. People in past waited for 40 to 60 minutes with no luck.

However, it’s worth wasting one hour there if there are chances of getting luckier to see the train. If you do not, I have posted the full video on YouTube of Spiral Tunnels at Big Hill in British Columbia .

Spiral Tunnels – British Columbia – Yoho National Park

After two hours of drive, we stopped at Tim Horton’s in Golden, British Columbia (It’s name of the city!).

We continued our drive while passing through Rocky Mountains in British Columbia and enjoying the roads on the hills.

The driving in BC gets dangerous when you enter from Banff, Alberta. Be mindful for your surrounding and avoid driving during night time anywhere near to Vancouver or in whole British Columbia.

However, the drive is ultimately scenic. You’ll get to see the lakes, aggressive rivers passing through, peaks of mountains and alike. The legal speed limit in British Columbia is 120 kmph.

Scenic drive between Banff and Vancouver

But, I would like to mention it again. Be mindful while driving. If you are few people in Car, let the most experienced one drive on the roads of British Columbia.

Driving through the clouds in British Columbia, Canada

We continued our drive for another 4 to 5 hours and stopped at Kamloops, British Columbia for gas and coffee.

Rested for a while at Tim Horton’s while enjoying the coffee and steeped tea.

We were just 3 and a half hour away from our final destination, THE VANCOUVER.

We were recalling our whole trip and wondered about how far we made.

We informed my friend in Vancouver about our arrival time and continued the drive.

3 and a half hours later, we were finally in Vancouver.

Vancouver, British Columbia – The Final Destination – We made it!

Toronto to Vancouver Road Trip: Done

Seeing the Vancouver on boards of highway was the ultimate feeling all three of us experienced.

It was hard to believe for a while that we finally made it to Vancouver… by car.

6 days in car. 5000 KM. Places we stayed. Nights we spent. Views we saw. Everything.

Everything was totally worth it.

I would not trade this for trip for any flight with any class. Neither of us would.

Not even for billions of dollars.

This road trip taught me some unforgettable lessons.

This road trip taught me the importance of life.

And, I will surely do this trip again and again in future.

If you are too broke to fly to Vancouver from Toronto, go by car.

It took us 3 minutes on dinner table to decide to go by the road trip and 6 days to reach the destination, Vancouver.

We stayed at my best buddy’s place in Vancouver for 7-10 days and then returned back with slightly different route. Going to Jasper, Edmonton and Saskatoon instead of Banff, Calgary and Regina.

Don’t spend much time planning. Just get on that car, make the tank full and take the highway.

Everything will start falling into right place once you are on your way.

We weren’t sure about all the places to visit and we weren’t sure about where we will be staying. We just went for it and made it possible.

Canada is beautiful and it wouldn’t disappoint you no matter in which town, city or province you are in.

Go explore Canada.

Further Reading:

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52 Comments

Nice article. I drove Toronto – Vancouver every week for years as a long distance truck driver. My wife and I will hopefully be doing the trip at the end of this year with our 5th wheel. I found some interesting details in this article that I was never aware of. Thank -you

I’m glad Rick you liked this article.

To be honest, I envied the life of log-truckers and long distance drivers. Especially those who drive on TransCanada Highway. On the other hand, it’s risky as well. So, I respect them.

I wish best trip to both of you. Prefer June-July month as glacier lakes would be turning blue during that period of time.

Thanks for the interesting read. Will be planning this trip with the wifey and infant. I would just go to Banf and come back.

Awesome. Yes. That alone is worth it. I wish we had spent at least a week in Banff.

I single woman start april 1-22 the same route with a camper and may 1 -22 Toronto HALIFAX. Love your story

That’s really amazing. Hope you had a great trip!

That’s great!

From where are you planning to start?

If starting from Manitoba or Saskatchewan.

I would suggest to go from Regina to Calgary to Banff Route.

And, while coming back. Go from Banff to Jasper. And, then Jasper to Edmonton to Saskatoon Route.

There’s nothing much to see in Saskatoon unless you get lucky and see Northern Lights somewhere. However, in Edmonton, there’s North America’s biggest shopping mall.

Did you drive or fly back?

We did roundtrip. So, yes, drove back. Covering 10,000+ KMs.

Epic dude! I’ll be doing this trip with my gf this September. We have a bit more time so I need your advice. I have a feeling that the area between Thunder Bay and Calgary is not as epic as the rest. Would it make sense to spend more time at the places not between TB and Calgary? We won’t be camping, but using motels/Airbnb instead by the way!

Thanks man!

Yes. That totally makes sense and I 100% agree with what you said.

There’s almost nothing to see between Thunder Bay to Calgary. However, there’s a lot from Toronto to Thunder Bay.

Near to Thunder Bay, I wouldn’t miss out on checking Kakabeka Fallls. Once that’s ticked off, I would try to reach Calgary as soon as possible (while trying my luck during nights in Saskatchewan to see Northern Lights).

Have a great trip!

I’ll be doing this trip this August with my better half, adding the Vancouver Island to the itinerary. Thanks for the hints!

Sounds awesome!

Initially, Vancouver Island was in our plan and itinerary. However, giving ferry charges for taking our car to the Island was bit high and affecting our budget. Also, local friend suggested there are tonnes of other places you surely shouldn’t miss near Vancouver. For example, Squamish, Whistler etc.

Other than that, if I had time and little more budget, I would surely go to Vancouver Island. It’s pretty awesome I heard.

I am planning to do a return road trip (May 2020) from Vancouver – Toronto – Boston & vis-a-versa. Reason for choosing the road trip is to experience the Trans Canada 😊 Will be with my family (6 ppl). Shortlisted Ford Expedition for the trip…

You have really penned your trip fabulously well. Felt as if I have experienced the trip. Kudos…

We will require to be put up in lodges / vacation home at various locations. Would it be advisable to reach the locations & then search for a place to stay or book in advance?

Is there a way to search online for budget stay for a night at different locations of the route. Which all places will you suggest for overnight halts?

We may try & drive for 10 – 12 hrs per day. Starting time between 7-8 am from each location. Would like to reach the halt location by 7-8 pm.

Starting from Vancouver, we will halt at : Kamloops – 1night Banff – 2 nights Rest overnight halts for rest… Locations to be decided.

Look forward to hear from you at your earliest convenience.

Thanks Surajit Mukherji [email protected] Instagram: Soulful.Dreamz

Hi Surajit,

Thank you very much for your kind words and I’m glad you liked my article. I’ve put great amount of efforts for drafting this 9,000 words article.

When we did the roadtrip, our simple idea was to go “unplanned”.

However, we were three reckless like-minded young friends. If I were with my family, I would also think like you are thinking.

As far as your “book in advance or just walk-in” thing is concerned, I would say it depends on the popularity of location. Banff for example is visited by not only people around from Canada or USA, but also people from around the globe. Same with Whistler, British Columbia. So, it might be a luck-game for walking-in the motels. For Banff, I would definitely book something in advance if I am with family.

Apart from Banff, you can walk in to motels near Trans Canada higway in Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northern Ontario. You will get something for sure. All other places than Banff will get you something on arrival for sure.

Other than that, I would also suggest bringing high-quality tents and sleeping bags with you. There are countless camp sites by the side of Trans-Canada highway and the experience would be unforgettable while with family. Just check for the rain forecast if you plan on camping at site. If there’s rain, go for motels.

Ford Expedition is a great choice I must say. Given options, I would also go with that car for such a long family road-trip. The thought just came in mind that, be mindful about gas between the Manitoba and Saskatchewan. There’s almost nothing for 200-300 kms. Just plain horizons and fields. I would highly recommend getting gas(petrol) containers especially for Manitoba to Saskatchewan road. Also, for Manitoba to Northern Ontario border road. Just don’t ignore the gas-station-en-route fact. Be mindful about the E-F dial. We always fully filled the tank wherever we stopped.

Also, you mentioned May-2020. I would highly recommend if you can do June end or July beginning. It’s pure summer and you won’t have to deal with cold at night. During May, some places are still bit colder. And, Lake Louise won’t be as blue as you see in pictures. It becomes so in mid-June to July time period. I would suggest mid-June just for the wonderful marvelous glacier blue color of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.

You are gonna enjoy this trip and it is going to be such a wonderful experience for you and your family. If while on trip, you feel any trouble or need any help anywhere, feel free to comment here. I get comment notifications instantly and would provide any help I could.

All the best!

My daughter is leaving 1 Oct 19 for Vancouver from Toronto. She is unsure whether to go by plane or car.Her friend is going by car for sure from Quebec to Vancouver. What is your advice.

By leaving you mean, moving from Vancouver to Toronto?

Is she alone? Does she like traveling and exploring?

It’s 5000 KMs of distance. And, it will take her 5-6 days to reach Toronto by Car given that she will be resting at night and doing some exploration during day.

If I was at her place, I would definitely go by Car if I had time. It’s not easy but worth it.

i will forward your suggestion to her. She is going with her fiance. They have been given 10 days by their employer. They are starting a new job.

Thanks. She has already gone by car with fiance and dog. She should be in Calgary 5 PM today Sunday

That’s awesome to hear! They must have loved it. This time of year is perfect for this roadtrip.

hi I just wanted to ask how much money was used in this trip because me and my friends are planning a similar trip.

Hi if ur renting a car it means im ur dad

My daughter and her fiance (now a husband) took seven days to reach Victoria BC from Toronto. I did not ask how much it cost. But their cost would be higher as compared to Unnit Metaliya. They stayed two nights in a hotel in Banff Alberta. I plan to post their entire trip on Internet.

We have to make this journey from Toronto to Vancouver in December. Do you think it is safe and doable for 2 people in a sedan ? Any tips? We would be using motels for stays, but want to minimize the cost in other ways if possible.

We did a sedan and three people. It was more than comfortable for us.

Great read .Very informative . Thank you

First of All thank you very much for sharing your trip. It will be very very helpful.

I am planning a round trip with wife to Vancouver from Toronto for almost a month in my RV by 1st week of July. I am planning not to drive more that approx 400 km in one day. You really planned the trip very well, if you Can give me some idea that where and how to plan. Where should I spend more time (How many days). That will be appreciated.

Heyyy …. how much did you spend on this trip on the whole ?? Gas ( especially)

thank you so much for all the details about the trip. I went to Vancouver and Alberta two times and I did road trip between two provinces. This will be my first time to go to west coast from Toronto. I am so excited about my road trip from Toronto to Vancouver. Your post is perfect guide for my road trip. I will follow your instructions. I hope to write about my experience after I return. I know because of Covid 19 situation, it will be little bit harder. I still want to complete my dream trip. Thanks again.

What fabulous post! Just what I was looking for. I am planning this roadtrip from Toronto to Vancouver in July. Although we have just 4 days to cover the distance – Camping at night for rest and average of 11-12 hours driving in a day. I’m excited and scared at the same time. Hopefully on the drive back to Toronto I can go to all these wonderful places you’ve mentioned. Great suggestions on the jerry cans for extra fuel. Did you get a gas card for this trip? Also, how far in advance did you have to book the campsites for stay? Thanks for your input, someday I shall write such a post 🙂

Hi Ajoshi, Please reply here how was your trip. I planned to go in July but I changed my mind to go in Aug. I would like to know your experience in Corona time.

Hello Ajoshi,

If you have had a trip as per your plan of 4 days. However, in my opinion, that’s bit challenging. It’s certainly doable if you are in a rush to reach your destination. However, I think there’s a lot to see and explore on the way that 4 days won’t be enough. I would target minimum 6 and max 7 if possible.

Unless you have high end newer car, driving longer duration at once is bit risky. Sorry for jinx though but trust me you don’t want anything to happen to your car on roads of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Also, you would save 2 days for sure on your trip but at what cost? Some amazing sceneries, waterfalls, parks, campsites and some landmarks as well.

I found the story of your journey very interesting, I will be driving from Toronto to Vancouver with my husband in September, camping along the way , it seems the only way to visit with the grandchildren due to Covid travel and flight concerns. I liked that you put on the time and mileage achieved each day most helpful. Thankyou

I will write to you later. Currently I am in car. I haven’t seen myown article. Where is it?

I have been doing some on line research for an upcoming road trip ( my husabnd and I ) from Toronto to Vancouver. Yours is by far, the happiest, cheerful and most helpful trip report I have read yet. I am happy to report that we will be starting our journey at the end of June, so will likely get to see a blue Lake Louise ( did not know it wasn’t always blue and frozen in the winter) We will be stopping to camp or enjoy a hotel/motel along the way. Thanks for a such a detailed report full of great tips, excitement and good natured humour. Well done. Cheers and happy travels.

Hello Kerry,

Thank you for your kind words.

Yes. I do understand and feel every single word you said.

When we decided to do this trip, we searched for same thing all over internet, “Toronto to Vancouver road trip” and couldn’t find much details.

We didn’t let that be an obstacle though. We just checked in Google Maps, it was showing 48 hours if we drive straight to Vancouver and we said whatever, let’s just go and left on very next day.

Yes. Not seeing the Lake Louse in turquoise blue color was the only bummer in our trip. However, as they say “half visit is the excuse to visit second time” so credit to frozen lack. I will be doing the next similar trip in June or better yet in July-August time. Remember, June also doesn’t have guarantee for the Blue color, but July and August has full chances of blue colored Lake Louse and Moraine Lake.

Remember to full up the tank between Manitoba and Saskatchewan. If low economy car have a can full of gas in reserve. Always a good idea.

Have a safe trip!

Hey! Really nice and informative article.

Me and my husband are moving to Vancouver from Toronto and we are planning to go by road. We will have a small Uhaul trailer attached o our car (Honda accord). We haven’t ever done such a long trip amd I am a bit scared about the part you said that the roads in BC are dangerous…… why would you say that? Is it too dangerous?? As we will also be pulling a trailer

Hello Biya,

That’s great to hear you liked the article.

Also, talking about roads, I might have exaggerated on that part.

It’s not that dangerous to be honest. Little zigzag and steep. Don’t worry about it too much though. Depending on driver, it can actually be fun driving in BC.

Especially, the scenery will make you forget everything.

I might have mentioned as our personal experience because of the intensity of fogg on that day along with rain. If the weather is similar, I would be cautious. If it’s clear, it’s not that hard. As I have said, I exaggerated on that part a little bit.

Have a safe and great trip.

This Travel Journal is wonderful. Planning on doing this in May this year. Can I just ask if the travel time between destinations you posted included time for site seeing? Thank you in advance.

wow.. im so glad i found your article, I am moving from toronto to vancouver on april and we are also doing long driving with my dog. how much did u spent for the gas? we will be using rent a car ford edge, Im hoping it is not too much consuming for the gas. we are planning to stop for sure at banff and lake louise. is it possible to get to vancouver in 5 days?

Hello Sally,

Glad you found value in my article!

I don’t remember on top of my head but we had a Chevrolet Cruze and we took some detours to explore around.

It was roughly around 900$ for the roundtrip for us. Not bad actually since we were three! 😉

Also, 5 days would be slightly unrealistic if you want to explore like we did. Consider 6-7 days given you won’t be driving at night (I do not recommend night driving unless you are professional driver, maybe a truck driver or cab driver).

You will also have to encounter the poop & pee stops for your good boi! 😉

I would highly suggest not rushing this trip with 5 days in mind as it is one of a kind and there are so many places to see in between. And, you won’t be doing such trips regularly.

Hello UNNIT METALIYA, Thanks a lot for posting this wonderful experience. I’m planning to do Toronto to Vancouver trip by stopping around 450 to 500 Km each day and staying in hotel or motel in evening or night. Especially during CV19, what is the best way to find motel or hotel before hand on the way. Trying to start around Apr 26th. For me if it takes 10 days to drive, I don’t mind it . Will be having another driver too. Roughly can see bunch of motels/hotels as below, need to find out if it will be good to stay with family here in CV19 conditions.

1. Can see “Quattro Hotel & Conf. Centre, Ascend Hotel Collection 229 Great Northern Rd, Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6B 4Z2 ” with in 700 Km from Toronto like you mentioned for first day.

2.For second one “Ramada By Wyndham Thunder Bay Airlane Hotel 698 Arthur St W, Thunder Bay, ON P7E 5R8” – which is again around 8 hours drive from #1 – most likely do-able for us

3. Lakeview Inns & Suites – Brandon 1880 18th St N, Brandon, MB R7C 1A5 is more than 900 km from #2

Maybe check if “Super 8 by Wyndham Kenora 240 Lakeview Dr, Kenora, ON P9N 0H2” is open during CV19 then it will be 487 Km from #2.

will continue to look for better hotels along the hwy 17

4. Need to check the status of these motels/hotels – as with current situations, these may be open or ?.

Days Inn by Wyndham Moose Jaw, 1720 Main St N, Moose Jaw, SK S6J 1L4

Ramada by Wyndham Brooks, 1319 2 St W, Brooks, AB T1R 1P7 or “Super 8 by Wyndham Calgary Shawnessy Area, 60 Shawville Rd SE, Calgary, AB T2Y 3S6”

will continue to check about this one too “Ramada by Wyndham Revelstoke 1750 Trans-Canada Hwy, Revelstoke, BC V0E 2S0”

Glad the post was helpful about your Toronto to Vancouver journey.

I wish I could help you with selecting motels, however, we literally didn’t stay in any hotels or motels along the way.

Back in time 2018 COVID-19 wasn’t even a thing and we tent-camped and car-camped in car. Budget was a thing for us!

I would definitely recommend hotels/motels if budget is not a concern for you. Otherwise, experience sleeping in car. It’s joyful experience. Especially when you prepare your car that way before you leave for this journey. 😉

Thank you for this! My dad and I have been planning this trip, and its good to hear your experience with tents/sleeping in the car. We’re also going on a budget and I’ll be sure to visit all these places!!

You did a great job of articulating your travel and I could feel the excitement and joy that you had along your trip.

I moved to Vancouver in January of 1997 for work then in September of 1998 I moved back to Toronto. For the move back I shipped my things but I drove back. I did the trip on my own and like you thought it was an amazing trip. I will never forget the drive from Banff to Jasper through the mountains. At one point while up in the clouds I had to stop in the middle of the road as there were some mountain goats who decided it would be a good idea to hang out in the middle of the road. So all the cars had to wait for them to move on.

I did find the drive from Edmonton to the Winnipeg border long on my own as there really isn’t a lot to see on the Saskatchewan part of the drive except for big wide open spaces. It did give one the feeling of being very small in such vast open space.

I have done the drive from Toronto to Nova Scotia many times, but that it such a short drive by comparison, I usually do it in about 16 hours so really just an overnight drive. It has some really nice sights on the drive even at night when it seems like you can see every star in the universe shining down on you.

Thank you very much for sharing your experience. And, yes. I agree. Those ultra wide open spaced in Saskatchewan and Winnipeg are unique experiences on their own. Those drives need some country side music and you are all set to enjoy it.

Let me know if you are interested in writing a guest post on this website about Toronto To Nova Scotia drive experience. I would love to give you a platform to share the experience. You can reply to this comment if you are interested.

HI, Really liked your post and found it useful. My daughter is relocating and I am planning to help her by driving from Vancouver to Toronto – over 10 days allocated at the end of April/early May. I need to be in Toronto by 6th May. I cannot do tents/camps so will definitely look to hotels/motels. Still researching on potentially going partially via USA but not entirely sure. I also need to look at one way car hires.

If they are contacted at the right time for the right purpose, then it can reap a lot of benefits. Honestly, there are so many of them. Again and again, I will be reading this blog to get the tips in a good way. They seem to be pretty valuable.

Hey Buddy! It was an amazing trip and very beautifully written, I was surfing Facebook and in random Gujrati group I saw your comment and started following the links and see I ended up reading each and everything. Personally, I am exactly the same kind of guy as you (as per what I felt about you from this article) and it’s superb and very helpful!

Haha. Sounds awesome. please connect with me on instagram in that case. my insta is @unnitmetaliya

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The World As I See It

One Ontario lady with a passion for travel and inspiring others to get outdoors and explore more

• Canada / Travel

British Columbia Road Trip Guide & 4 Epic BC Road Trip Itineraries

by Bea · Published January 31, 2023 · Updated January 8, 2024

Vast landscapes, breathtaking natural beauties and abundant wildlife. The best way to experience it all is on a British Columbia road trip! British Columbia Canada spans an area of 944,735 km² and you likely won’t see everything in this westernmost province, so don’t even plan to. BC is bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. The province is dominated by forests and lakes and is too beautiful of a place to rush through.

In this travel guide you find all the British Columbia road trip tips you’ll need to know before you go. Plus, the best driving routes so that whatever time you have for your visit, you can make the best of it.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. By clicking through and purchasing through these links I may make a small commission to help run this blog, at no extra cost to you. Thx!

Which season is the best for a British Columbia road trip?

Lots of factors make the summer months the most ideal time for a BC road trip. British Columbia in the summer is generally between May and September.

Summer days are long and the weather is generally warm and dry. This lets you enjoy the outdoors more and makes driving is easy, without any extreme weather conditions. Summer is the season to access high mountain trails and those wonderful alpine lakes. However, this makes summer the most popular and most expensive season too.

Between late October and April, drivers should be more cautious. Snow, fog and ice can affect driving conditions and the accessibility of the roads. Driving in the mountains in the winter is not recommended unless you’re an experienced winter driver.

If you decide to drive, your car needs to be prepared for winter conditions. Winter tires are a must, chains are recommended, and you need to be prepared for unexpected delays and sudden change of plans.

With that said, winter is the high season to visit the wonderful mountain ski resorts in BC. But Vancouver and most of Vancouver Island doesn’t get much snow. Instead, they get an extreme amount of rain. While you can have beautiful days in coastal BC in the winter, summer (especially July and August) guarantees a much drier and sunnier visit.

Where to start your BC road trip?

You’ll likely fly into Canada and rent a car (or an RV) for your road trip. There are three straightforward cities to fly to, and only two of them are in Canada. You can fly into Vancouver, Calgary (in the neighboring province of Alberta) and Seattle (in the USA).

Every BC road trip isn’t complete without visiting Vancouver , so you should start there. But Seattle is only about two hours’ drive away.

So, starting in Seattle is great for a longer West Coast road trip. The Calgary to Vancouver drive is roughly 12 hours. The scenic drive takes you to many of the world famous national parks in the Canadian Rockies.

Which are the best British Columbia road trip routes?

So, let’s see where exactly to drive. If you only have a few days, drive from Vancouver to Whistler on the Sea to Sky Highway. Or opt for a Vancouver Island road trip.

If you have one or two weeks, you can take a loop around the lower portion of British Columbia. Or you can drive from Vancouver to Banff.

The northern portion of the province is scarcely populated and underdeveloped. Plus, it takes a long time to drive there from Vancouver. For one or two week long trips, I recommend sticking to the southern portion of British Columbia. This area offers amazing parks, mountains and lakes than you can visit in a few weeks.

4 Epic British Columbia Road Trip Route Options

Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler Road Trip Itinerary

The Sea to Sky Highway is aptly named, as it truly takes you from the sea to the sky. The drive takes visitors from the scenic ocean views of Howe Sound to the snow-capped peaks of the coastal mountains.

Even if you only have one day, you can enjoy this drive on Highway 99 from Vancouver to Whistler. If you have 2 to 3 days, you can complete some of the longer hiking trails in the area.

If you visit the attractions of Vancouver before you begin your trip, Whytecliff Park is an ideal first stop on the Sea to Sky road trip. Located in West Vancouver, this small coastal park has a beach and a few elevated lookout points. Keep your eyes open for seals as they like resting on the rocks here, especially on Whyte Islet.

Further north, Porteau Cove Provincial Park is another great stop. It has a rocky beach, a pier and views of Howe Sound and the mountains towering above. As you head further north, you reach Shannon Falls. At 335 meters high, Shannon Falls is the third tallest waterfall in British Columbia. Plus, it’s just a short walk away from the roadside parking lot. This makes it one of the best short stops along the Sea to Sky Highway.

The Sea to Sky Gondola is also right by the road. It takes you from the highway up to the Summit Lodge within a few minutes. There you can enjoy the panoramic views over Howe Sound from the viewing platform. In addition, you can walk across the Sky Pilot suspension bridge or even go hiking.

Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail is our favorite trail in the area. The trail is a 7 km return hike that starts from the Summit Lodge. It treats you with wonderful mountain vistas all the way.

Stawamus Chief Provincial Park is the next stop. And it’s impossible to miss the giant peaks towering above the highway! Here, you’ll find one of the top hiking trails in Canada ! Conquering the First and Second Chief Peaks is a relatively short, but steep, challenging and rewarding hike. If you don’t have the time for hiking, simply stop at the roadside parking lot. From here you can marvel at the mountains directly above you.

Tantalus Lookout is definitely worth a stop. But you can only access it when you are driving southbound from Whistler to Vancouver. A left turn is forbidden on the northbound route. So, save it for your journey back.

Garibaldi Provincial Park is a stop for those who have time for long, exhausting, wonderful mountain hikes. Two great hikes are Garibaldi Lake Trail or the Panorama Ridge.

Brandywine Falls is another easy stop. With a few hundred meters walk to reach the viewing platform you can see Brandywine Falls. It’s a 70 meter tall beauty that flows over lava columns.

After Brandywine Falls, it’s about a 10 minutes drive to reach Whistler. You can stroll around Whistler Village, swim in Lost Lake or marvel at the color of Green Lake.

Optionally, continuing your journey to Pemberton allows you to experience a pretty mountain drive. Be sure to stop at Nairns Falls Provincial Park and One Mile Lake.

Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler Road Trip Details

Recommended length of road trip: 1-3 days

Route: Vancouver – Squamish – Whistler – Pemberton – Vancouver

Estimated driving time: 4.5 hours, about 306 km (there and back)

Southern British Columbia Road Trip Itinerary

This loop drive in southern British Columbia includes the Sea to Sky Highway, but also much more! Allow at least 10-14 days to experience it, because the driving distance is long. And there are lots of worthwhile stops on the way.

This scenic drive in British Columbia goes from Vancouver to Whistler, with all the stops described in the Sea to Sky Highway road trip above. In addition, the road trip from Whistler continues to Kamloops through Pemberton and Lillooet.

The mountainous landscape turns into a near-desert. Kamloops as a city doesn’t offer much to see, but you’ll find over a hundred lakes nearby.

As you carry on to Revelstoke, you get the mountain scenery back. The 26 km long Meadows in the Sky Parkway takes you straight up to the peak of Mount Revelstoke.

Revelstoke offers plenty of outdoor adventure activities. A few fun activities at Revelstoke Mountain Resort include the Pipe Mountain Coaster, mountain biking, and skiing.

Golden is your next stop! Plus, it’s a gateway to the beautiful Canadian Rockies. And arriving here, you reach the furthest destination in this route.

Now it’s time to drive back, but not on the same way. However, if you’re looking to extend your road trip, consider staying at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden.

Continuing your southern British Columbia road trip itinerary head south to Kelowna by the Okanagan Lake. Here you can explore the Okanagan Valley which is the most famous wine region in BC.

The drive continues to Osoyoos to find a true desert and the warmest freshwater lake in the Canada. Lake Osoyoos has average summer temperatures of 24°C.

Finally, get back to Vancouver via Hope. You can also stop in the unspoiled mountains of E.C. Manning Provincial Park or in Harrison Hot Springs.

Southern British Columbia Road Trip Details

Recommended length of road trip: 10 -14 days

Route: Vancouver – Whistler – Kamloops – Revelstoke – Golden – Kelowna – Osoyoos – Vancouver

Estimated driving time: 20.5 hours, about 1647 km (loop drive)

Vancouver Island Road Trip Itinerary

Vancouver Island is just off the mainland of BC, and it’s bigger than you’d think. So, the route I recommend here is not about everything you can see on Vancouver Island. But rather includes highlights of the island that you can see in a few days.

Start in the provincial capital, Victoria! Take a walk in the Inner Harbour and visit the Butchart Gardens. The gardens is a National Historic Site and is one of the best places to find cherry blossoms in Canada ! So, this British Columbia road trip itinerary is ideal in the spring.

Then drive to Nanaimo and Parksville, and head west towards Tofino. There are plenty of picturesque stops on the way.

Stops include Little Qualicum Falls, Englishman River Falls and the Hole-In-The-Wall in Port Alberni. You’ll drive through Pacific Rim National Park which means even more tempting stops!

If you’re keen to stretch your legs, you’ll find plenty of the amazing Vancouver Island hikes along this stretch. Take a walk on Long Beach, hike the short Rainforest Trail loops and chill out in Cox Bay.

Tofino is a small coastal town at the end of the peninsula. It has a hippie vibe and many surfers. Walk around in the lovely town center and harbor.

One of the best things to do in Tofino is hike the Tonquin Trail. This beautiful coastal hike leads to secluded beaches and awesome views.

Since Vancouver has ferry connections with both Victoria and Nanaimo, you can arrive in Victoria, then leave from Nanaimo at the end of your Vancouver Island road trip.

If you’re want add whale watching to your British Columbia road trip, Vancouver Island is a great place to do so. Try this Whale Watching tour that cruises through the Haro Strait in search of whales and other marine life.

Vancouver Island Road Trip

Recommended length of road trip: 3-5 days

Route: Victoria – Nanaimo – Tofino – Nanaimo

Estimated driving time: 7 hours, about 525 km

Vancouver to Banff Road Trip Itinerary

Finally, the famous road trip that connects Vancouver with Banff. Plus, the rest of the national parks in the Canadian Rockies. If you rent a car, I recommend picking it up in Vancouver and dropping it off in Calgary so that you don’t have to do the long drive twice.

First, head to Whistler on the Sea to Sky Highway. It makes your trip slightly longer, but the views are absolutely worth it. Then explore Southern British Columbia as you drive through Kamloops, Revelstoke and Golden. You’ll arrive in BC’s portion of the Canadian Rockies and the first national park of the adjoining four: Yoho National Park.

Yoho National Park is smaller than neighboring Banff. However, it has easily reachable, wonderful roadside attractions. Rent a kayak to explore Emerald Lake, which is named after its incredible color. Marvel at the rock formations at Natural Bridge. And walk to the roaring Takakkaw Falls, which is 373 meters high, in the Yoho Valley. Then drive further to reach Banff National Park and its world famous lakes, like Lake Louise.

A few other great stops to add in Banff National Park include the Banff Gondola for epic views. Plus, Moraine Lake and Johnston Canyon. You can stop in Canmore or continue on. Both the Trans Canada Highway and 1A take you through the scenic Bow Flats Natural Area. Both roads have a variety of beautiful scenic lookouts to stop at before arriving in Calgary.

Vancouver to Banff Road Trip Details

Recommended length of road trip: one or two weeks

Route: Vancouver – Whistler – Kamloops – Revelstoke – Golden – Banff – Calgary

Estimated driving time: 12.5 hours (1039 km)

I hope you enjoyed this road trip guide to British Columbia and all of its essential travel tips. With so many great British Columbia road trips, these route options offer the best way to travel around BC and see the top sights!

About the author: Bea is a passionate traveler, hiker and founder of In Love With BC. Her blog focuses on traveling and outdoor activities in British Columbia.

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Tags: British Columbia Canada

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It’s my dream to do a Roadtrip in British Columbia. Thank you for sharing such a detailed blog post.

Thanks for sharing all this amazing road trip ideas! I am heading to Canada this fall and will definitely try to take one of these routes!

Fall is such a great time to visit! I hope you have an awesome trip!

The road from Banff to Vancouver is so scenic – I drove both ways a few years ago and was “wowed” the entire way!

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The Ultimate Cross Canada Road Trip Itinerary

Lately, I’ve become obsessed with planning the ultimate cross Canada road trip. And if my 10+ years as a travel blogger can tell you anything, it’s that I absolutely love organizing, planning and researching for big trips, even if I don’t have a definite date for when I will take them.

For most of my travel life, I’ve prioritized new, international locations over exploring my own backyard here in Canada. But during covid when international travel was restricted, I learned to appreciate travel in my home country. So much so that my husband, Colin, and I took an Atlantic Canada honeymoon!

It turns out: Canada is amazing! Or at least the 32 million people who visit my country each year certainly think so.

And so as a Canadian myself, I would love to spend more time discovering this country outside of the cities I’ve lived in and know well, Vancouver and Toronto. I love the idea of going from coast to coast, exploring cities and wildlife, visiting all 10 provinces on a cross Canada road trip!

Which is why I’ve put together an epic 34-stop cross Canada road trip itinerary from Vancouver to St. John’s!

When I was looking up an itinerary for a road trip across Canada, I noticed that many other posts only covered a fraction of the country. I get it, Canada is a big place. But I want to plan a route that drives across all of Canada (even if I can only drive it in small stretches at a time)!

Below I’m sharing my ultimate cross Canada road trip itinerary – from Victoria to St. Johns , from the Pacific to the Atlantic – and all of the stops in between. I’ll dive into the things you must see, what to do if you don’t have enough time to drive across Canada, how to get around and where to go in each destination.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

Table of Contents

Canada road trip FAQs

Is canada good for road trips.

Absolutely! Canada is one of the best countries for road trips. Many people have taken on a Canadian road trip so you’ll find lots of infrastructure like free and paid campsites, rest stops, paved roads, gas stations, restaurants and grocery stores throughout the country. If you’re an English speaker, you’ll have no problem getting around most of Canada.

Canada is also great for road trips because it offers something for everyone. Whether you’re into big cities, natural wilderness, water sports, hiking, biking, shopping, art, food or something else, you can design your Canada road trip around your interests.

How long would a road trip across Canada take?

Canada is a BIG country; it’s the second largest country after Russia. So driving across Canada will take a while! The main route of the Trans Canada Highway, which starts in Victoria, BC and ends in St. John’s, NF, is 7,821 km, making it the fourth longest highway in the world.

It would take 100 hours (4.2 days) of straight driving to complete this route across Canada , which doesn’t account for overnight stops, waiting for ferries, stopping for meals or any sightseeing.

Assuming you don’t want to drive 24 hours a day without stopping, you should give yourself at least three weeks to road trip across Canada – though I’d recommend a couple of months if you have the time . My itinerary below has 34 stops and would probably take 2-3 months to really enjoy.

Because the country is so large, driving across Canada can be daunting. But even if you don’t have time to drive across all of Canada, you can still plan an epic east coast Canada road trip, a shortened Canadian road trip (such as driving from Toronto to Vancouver), a road trip around Atlantic Canada or one on the west coast.

Short on time? Check out my suggestions at the end of this post for mini Canada road trips!   

When is the best time for a Canada road trip?

Despite our reputation, it’s not ALWAYS cold in Canada. In fact, our country gets really stinking hot in the summers! And of course, being such a huge country, the weather varies a lot from coast to coast.

That being said, I wouldn’t attempt a cross Canada road trip in the winter . While places like Vancouver and Victoria might be mild, other places will be freezing, blanketed in snow and no fun to explore – if the roads are even open to let you through!

Summer is a much better time for a Canadian road trip. While the weather will be hot in places, driving across Canada in the summer means you don’t have to worry about snow chains or snow tires. Parks will be open and camping outdoors will be comfortable (if you can find some shade).

Of course, summer is also Canada’s busiest tourism season, so prepare for crowds. Many popular areas, like Banff, will be teeming with people and campgrounds will book up in advance.

I would plan a cross Canada road trip for late spring or early fall . That way, you still get the best weather but hopefully with fewer crowds.

Car vs RV: How should you drive across Canada?

So you want to road trip Canada but now you have to think: how am I actually getting across this huge country?

Unfortunately, public transportation isn’t a great option. We have very limited passenger train routes in Canada and while you can basically cross the country by train with ViaRail, it will be slow, expensive and skip a lot of great stops.

Your choice will probably come down to driving a car with plans to overnight in hotels, motels, tents, Airbnbs, and the like or driving an RV across Canada (or other motorhome/converted van/trailer) that allows you to sleep and live in your vehicle.

Ultimately, I think this comes down to personal preference as there are pros and cons to both .

A car will be cheaper to buy/rent (if you don’t already have one) and fuel up, easier to drive and likely have fewer parts to maintain. But it can be costly to stay in hotels every night and annoying to constantly be packing and unpacking.

An RV will be more expensive to buy/rent (if you don’t already have one) and fuel, plus more cumbersome to drive, but can be convenient for road trippers who want to have their home with them.

When trying to decide, consider your comfort level with driving, how many people are road tripping with you, what kind of accommodation you prefer and, of course, your budget for your cross Canada road trip. If you’ve never RV-ed before, I’d recommend renting one for a shorter trip before trying to drive across Canada.

Need to rent a car for your Canada road trip? Check out Discover Cars! 

My top 5: What to see on a road trip across Canada?

A quick scroll down to my itinerary will show you that there is so much to see on a road trip across Canada. But here my top five picks for stops you can’t miss:

• Stanley Park in Vancouver, BC
• The stunning Banff National Park in Alberta
• Niagara Falls and the surrounding wine country in Ontario
• Old Montreal and Old Quebec City in Quebec
• The Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia

The most popular activities in Stanley Park

• Enjoy this Stanley Park Walking Tour with a guide
• Uncover the best sights of the city during this Stanley Park & Downtown Vancouver Bike Tour
• Experience the natural beauty of Stanley Park in Vancouver on this bike tour

And for everything else you’ll want to see, let’s dive into my full cross Canada road trip itinerary below!

Cross Canada road trip map

The ultimate cross Canada road trip itinerary

Through my extensive research, I found lots of posts that helped to plan a road trip in Canada, but on a smaller scale. Maybe it was just an east coast Canada road trip or a Toronto to Vancouver driving trip.

And while those adventures sound great, I wanted to put together an entire cross country road trip driving the entirety of Canada from east to west. While my road trip itinerary doesn’t cover every inch of Canada, it’s the most comprehensive one I’ve come across!

Below I’ll list every stop on my ultimate cross Canada road trip itinerary, including how long the drive is from the previous stop and what you’ll want to do there. I’ve broken the itinerary up into sections (west coast, prairies, eastern, Atlantic), but they all connect to each other so you can simply continue heading east.

Ready? Let’s drive across Canada!

West coast and Rocky Mountains: BC & Alberta road trip

This portion of the itinerary covers British Columbia and the first part of Alberta along the Rocky Mountains . Stops on this portion of the road trip are:

• Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island, BC

As you’ll see from the Canadian road trip planner map above, I actually start my cross Canada road trip in Vancouver. I live in Vancouver, so it would be a lot easier for me to pack up my car from home and start heading east, rather than back track to the Island.

Plus, I’d love to do a separate BC road trip around Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, like Galiano and Salt Spring Island (perhaps as a practice road trip before we try to drive across Canada!).

But if you’re not from Vancouver, have never been to the Island and want to complete the entire Trans Canada Highway main route, I highly recommend starting your cross Canada road trip in Victoria, BC .

I’ve visited Victoria a number of times and really love it. This charming provincial capital has a beautiful harbour, world-renowned gardens and great food. From there, you can keep exploring more of Vancouver Island.

Must do on Vancouver Island :

• Stroll through Butchart Gardens
• Try surfing in Tofino or check out more things to do in Ucluelet
• Go whale watching

Canadian fun fact: Vancouver Island is an island off the mainland of BC where the provincial capital, Victoria, is found. Vancouver is a city on the mainland on BC. There is no such thing as Victoria Island or a capital city of Vancouver. I know, it’s confusing! 

Vancouver, BC (3 hrs from Victoria)

If you skipped Vancouver Island, your cross Canada road trip will officially start in my home city, Vancouver! Otherwise, you can take a short and scenic ferry ride from Victoria to the mainland.

Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and a highlight of any trip to Canada. Even as a local since 2010, I’m constantly amazed that I get to live in a place with beaches, mountains, city life and incredible food!

Must do in Vancouver :

• Walk or bike along the Seawall to enjoy Stanley Park and city beaches
• Shop and dine on Granville Island
• Take a day trip to Whistler or another local ski mountain
• Eat delicious sushi!

Another incredible thing to do in Vancouver (and all of Canada) is discover our indigenous history and culture. My friend Melanie put together this awesome post with lots of ideas for enjoying Indigenous culture in Vancouver!

The Okanagan, BC (4.5 hrs from Vancouver)

From Vancouver we’re heading into BC’s interior to visit the Okanagan Valley. The Okanagan is BC’s wine country and lake country, known for beautiful wineries, water sports and, unfortunately, summer wildfires.

If you’re visiting this area in the summer, make sure you’re aware of any fire bans, water restrictions or other alerts. Other than that, kick back with a glass of vino and a beautiful lakefront view!

Lucky for us, we have family in Kelowna and have visited the Okanagan many times (we even got engaged in Penticton!). But even if you don’t have family to stay with, BC’s Okanagan is well worth a visit.

Must do in Kelowna & the Okanagan:

• Visit a local winery or join a wine tour
• Hang out on Lake Okanagan
• Take a day trip south to Penticton , Osoyoos or another South Okanagan town

Jasper, AB (7 hrs from Kelowna)

Many people skip Jasper, preferring to drive straight from Vancouver to Banff or Vancouver to Calgary, but I think a detour north to Jasper would be a highlight of any Canada road trip.

Jasper National Park is the biggest national park in Canada, home to glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, islands, forests and so much more. As soon as I saw a picture of Maligne Lake (above), I knew I needed to add Jasper to this itinerary.

Plus, because it’s a detour off the main Trans Canada Highway, Jasper is never as busy as our next stop, Banff. Fewer crowds? Yes, please!

Must do in Japser:

• Admire Maligne Lake and Maligne Canyon
• Witness the powerful Athabasca Falls
• Ride the Jasper SkyTram or walk the Columbia Icefield Skywalk

Short on time?  If you don’t have time to stop in the Okanagan or Jasper, you can do a Vancouver to Banff road trip in about nine hours, passing through Kamloops, Revelstoke and Glacier National Park. 

Banff, AB (3 hrs from Jasper)

Another reason to visit Jasper? Because the drive from Banff to Jasper is through Icefields Parkway, one of the most scenic drives in the entire world.

Once you tear your eyes away from the road, you’re in for even more beauty in Banff National Park, Canada’s first national park and visited by more than four million people every year.

Spend your days hiking, camping and admiring all of the beautiful scenery around you. Because Banff is so popular, make sure you book your accommodation ahead of time and wake up early to avoid the largest crowds.

Must do in Banff:

• Check out the views from the Banff Gondola
• Be wowed by some of the prettiest lakes like Emerald Lake, Morraine Lake and Lake Louise
• Soak in a hot spring or set out on any number of scenic hikes in the area
• Or check out this complete 4 day Banff itinerary !

Calgary, AB (1.5 hrs from Banff)

In case you didn’t get enough hiking in Banff, you can make a stop in Canmore on your way to Calgary for more beautiful mountain views. Then it’s time to enter Cowtown, aka Calgary.

As a Vancouverite, it’s almost mandatory for us to make fun of Calgary (apologies to my Calgarian friends and family!), but there’s actually quite a bit to enjoy in the city. If you time your road trip right, you could be in town for the annual Calgary Stampede , which happens every July. There are also parks, museums, sports arenas and more to visit in Calgary.

Many people choose to visit Banff on a day trip from Calgary, since it’s only 1.5 hours away. But because there’s so much to do in Banff, I think it’d be better to spend a few days there before moving onto Calgary. However, if you’re short on time, you could do a day trip to Banff while basing in Calgary.

Must do in Calgary:

• Don a cowboy hat at Calgary Stampede
• Stroll (or raft) along Bow River and check out the Peace Bridge
• Visit the Heritage Park Historical Village to learn some Western Canada history
• Try your hand at some winter sports at WinSport, home of the 1998 Winter Olympics

Canadian fun “fact”: Just to prove how great the Vancouver-Calgary rivalry is, when I asked my husband what someone should do in Calgary he suggested “complain that you’re not in Vancouver.” But we’re just kidding, Calgary is great! 

Prairies: Alberta, Saskatchewan & Manitoba road trip

We’re now moving into Canada’s prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Stops visited on this portion of your road trip are:

• Riding Mountain National Park
• Whiteshell Provincial Park

Drumheller, AB (1.5 hrs from Calgary)

From Calgary we are leaving the Rockies and officially entering prairie land. This part of Canada is known for being quite flat (and dull) but as you’ll see below, there are some great places to stop on your cross Canada road trip.

First up: Drumheller! Known as the Town of the Dinosaurs, if you have any dino lovers in your car, this is going to be a mandatory stop!

Must do in Drumheller:

• Check out fossils found in the area at The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology
• Spot hoodoos in the nearby badlands
• Take a day trip to Dinosaur Provincial Park (2 hrs from Drumheller)

Saskatoon, SK (5 hrs from Drumheller)

I was debating which of Saskatchewan’s major cities to include in this itinerary: Saskatoon, Regina or Moose Jaw. Ultimately I decided on Saskatoon as it’s the largest city, doesn’t have as much of a government feel as the capital (Regina), and is closest to Drumheller.

If you prefer to visit Regina, check out Stone Hall Castle, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum and the world’s largest moose statue.

Or if you prefer to check out Moose Jaw, don’t miss the Tunnels of Moose Jaw tours. These are interactive tours that take place in the tunnels below the city and look really fun!

Must do in Saskatoon:

• Visit Wanuskewin Heritage Park to learn about people’s sacred relationship with the land
• Stand up paddle board on the South Saskatchewan River
• Grab lunch at the oldest and largest farmer’s market in the province, the Saskatoon Farmer’s Market

Not into cities?  If cities don’t do it for you, skip Saskatoon and head south to visit Saskatchewan’s Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park or Grasslands National Park for forests, lakes, wide open spaces, wildlife spotting and stargazing. 

Riding Mountain National Park, MB (6 hrs from Saskatoon)

A great stop to break up the long drive across the Canadian Prairies is Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba.

This park is home to forests, grasslands and great wildlife viewing. It’s a top place to visit in the province and a nice change from city life if you’re driving from Saskatoon to (spoiler alert on the next stop) Winnipeg.

Must do in Riding Mountain National Park:

• Try out water sports in the summer or cross-country skiing in the winter
• Take in the view from the top of Bald Hill
• Go on a day trip to nearby university town, Brandon

Winnipeg, MB (3 hrs from Riding Mountain)

Welcome to The Peg! Affectionally called “Winterpeg” in the winter, you may want to steer clear of Winnipeg in the colder months. But in the summer, you’ll find lots to enjoy in this city. With a number of museums, markets, festivals and parks, you’ll have lots to fill your days.

And when you need a break from city life, head up to Lake Winnipeg. Enjoy the white sand dunes at Grand Beach or indulge in Icelandic heritage and Viking statues in Gimli.

Must do in Winnipeg: 

• Visit the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (I’ve heard it’s incredible!)
• Get to know the city by riding the Central Winnipeg Bike Loop
• Escape to the water on Lake Winnipeg

Whiteshell Provincial Park, MB (1.5 hrs from Winnipeg)

Our last stop in the prairies is Whiteshell Provincial Park, a park located on the border between Manitoba and Ontario. It’s a great introduction to the natural scenery that awaits you in western Ontario.

If you prefer to drive farther (since Whiteshell isn’t that far from Winnipeg), you could cross the border into Ontario and base in Kenora, a waterfront town with lots of beach activities.

Must do in Whiteshell Provincial Park: 

• Hit the beach at Falcon Lake
• Discover the Bannock Point Petroforms
• Visit West Hawk Lake, a crater lake formed by a meteor

Eastern Canada: Ontario & Quebec road trip

We’re now moving into the middle section of Canada and our two biggest provinces, Ontario and Quebec. Here we’ll be visiting:

• Thunder Bay
• Sault Ste Marie
• Manitoulin Island
• Prince Edward County
• Eastern Townships
• Quebec City

Thunder Bay, ON (6.5 hrs from Whiteshell)

From Manitoba it’s a long drive to Thunder Bay to begin the Ontario road trip portion of this Canada itinerary.

The city of Thunder Bay isn’t the most exciting place to be but all of the nature nearby is really worth visiting. They say it’s home to some of the best beaches, waterfalls and viewpoints in the province!

Must do in Thunder Bay: 

• Explore Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park (Canada’s version of the Grand Canyon)
• Admire Kakabeka Falls, the second highest waterfall in the province
• Check out the amethyst mines and find your own to take home , as suggested by my friend Lyn!
• Visit the Terry Fox Monument, commemorating the spot where Terry’s Marathon of Hope across Canada ended

Sault Ste Marie, ON (7.5 hrs from Thunder Bay)

It’s another long drive from Thunder Bay to Sault Ste Marie (pronounced Soo Saint Marie). What can I say? Ontario is a big province and you have a lot of ground to cover!

Luckily you’ll be driving along Lake Superior the whole time, affording you lots of places to stop and admire the view or go on a little hike to stretch the legs. Right on the US/Canada border, The Soo is a big port city with a splash of outdoor adventure for you to enjoy.

Must do in Sault Ste Marie:

• Kayak down or go fly fishing on St. Marys River
• Unleash your inner aviation geek at the Canadian BiPlane Heritage Museum
• Ski or mountain bike at Hiawatha Highlands

Manitoulin Island, ON (4 hrs from Sault Ste Marie)

You didn’t think a cross Canada road trip itinerary would include islands did you? Or at least not in Ontario! But it’s true, Ontario is home to a number of islands, such as Manitoulin Island in the middle of Lake Huron.

Manitoulin Island is actually the largest freshwater island in the world and an amazing place to explore Indigenous culture, scenic trails and even see the Northern Lights (if you’re lucky!).

Must do on Manitoulin Island: 

• Hike the Cup and Saucer Trail for epic views
• Explore some of Manitoulin’s 100+ lakes by canoe
• Visit Wiikwemkoong, Canada’s only official Unceded Indian Reserve

Tobermory, ON (2.5 hrs from Manitoulin Island)

To get from Manitoulin Island to Tobermory, you and your vehicle will load onto a scenic ferry. Now look at us; we’re island-hopping in Canada!

While technically not an island, Tobermory does feel like a world of its own. It’s absolutely one of the most beautiful, natural places in Ontario with hidden gems (shipwrecks, anyone?) and Caribbean-like waters waiting to be discovered.

Must do in Tobermory:

• Explore beaches, caves and grottos at Bruce Peninsula National Park
• Take a boat tour around Flowerpot Island
• Dive around 20 historical shipwrecks at Fathom Five National Marine Park

Short on time? Prefer cities? You can drive from Winnipeg to Toronto through the US (21 hours) rather than through the Canadian stops above (25 hours) and visit Minneapolis, Chicago and Detroit on the way. 

Toronto, ON (3.5 hrs from Tobermory)

Welcome to The Six, my hometown of Toronto (us locals drop the second “t” so it’s more like “Torono”). Arguably the best known city in Canada and the biggest, no cross Canada road trip could exclude TO.

Having grown up in Toronto, it’s hard for me to see it as a tourist locale. But besides visiting my friends and family, there really is so much to do in this bustling, diverse city. From museums, parks and islands to sports arenas, shopping streets and galleries, there’s something in Toronto for everyone .

But my favourite part of the city is all of the different neighbourhoods that each have a distinct culture and feel. My favourites are Chinatown, The Annex and Kensington Market. It’s also some of the best eating in Canada, no matter what cuisine you’re in the mood for!

Must do in Toronto: 

• Head up the iconic CN Tower for a view over the city
• Cruise across to the Toronto Islands and check out the skyline view
• Watch a major league baseball, basketball or hockey game
• See dinosaurs at the Royal Ontario Museum or admire art at the Art Gallery of Ontario
• Get your fill of delicious Portuguese, Chinese, Italian, Indian, Korean food and any other cuisine!

Day trip to Niagara Falls!

Having grown up in Toronto, I’ve been to Niagara Falls a handful of times and often stayed overnight. At just over an hour from Toronto, Niagara Falls is an easy day trip.

But if you have the time and budget, I do recommend spending a few days in the Niagara region. Or if you’d prefer to base in Toronto and just see the falls on a day trip , that works too.

Besides seeing the incredible Niagara Falls (and yes, the Canadian side is much better than the American side) you’ll also want to check out Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario’s charming wine country.

There are lots of wine tours through Niagara if you’d rather not drive or find wineries yourself. You can also visit Albion Falls just outside of Hamilton on your way to Niagara, kind of like a warm up for the bigger Niagara Falls.

Prince Edward County, ON (3 hrs from Toronto)

Despite having lived the first 18 years of my life in Toronto, I’m sad to say I haven’t been to Prince Edward County. Which is too bad because it seems like the cutest collection of small towns, beaches, wineries, galleries, shops and parks.

The County is an island in Lake Ontario (not to be confused with Prince Edward Island, which is also an island called Prince Edward, but a province in the Atlantic Ocean) home to farmers and makers, perfect for slowing down and enjoying local life.

Must do in Prince Edward County:

• Hit the beach at Sandbanks Provincial Park or North Beach Provincial Park
• Wine taste through local wineries (there are also cideries and breweries, if you prefer)
• Bike or hike the Millennium Trail or shop local in Picton or Wellington

For more suggestions of what to do, check out my friend Renee’s post with 16 things to do in Prince Edward County!

Ottawa, ON (3 hrs from Prince Edward County)

From Prince Edward County we’re heading north to Canada’s capital, Ottawa (no, Canada’s capital is not Toronto!). Ottawa is an incredible place to learn about Canada’s history and hear a mix of our national languages, English and French.

In the winter, don’t miss skating down the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s largest skate rink at 7.8km.

But there’s lots of fun to be had in the summer in Ottawa too! I’ve visited in both seasons and enjoyed skating in the cold and wandering Parliament Hill in warmer months.

Must do in Ottawa: 

• Visit a museum such as The Canadian Museum of History , The Canadian War Museum or The Canadian Museum of Nature
• Take a tour of Parliament Hill
• Stroll, skate or cruise along the Rideau Canal with a Beaver Tail!

Canadian fun fact: A Beaver Tail is a Canadian dessert that is essentially deep fried dough with toppings on it in the vague shape of a beaver’s tail. No actual beavers are harmed in the making of these treats! 

Montreal, QC (2.5 hrs from Ottawa)

Bienvenue à Québec! Ready to road trip Quebec? We’re crossing over from Ontario to French-speaking Quebec and stopping first in one of my favourite cities, Montreal .

I always say that if I spoke French fluently, I would move to Montreal. But don’t worry! You don’t need to be fluent or even rudimentary at French to visit Montreal (but it would be good to parlez français if you want to move there).

Montreal has incredible food , is diverse and bustling, and has a wonderful European charm to it. There are beautiful viewpoints, stunning churches, funky street art, world-class restaurants, and lots of festivals and events.

Montreal feels like a place unlike any other in Canada and is a city where you could never get bored. I’ve visited a handful of times over the years and always enjoy the city.

Must do in Montreal: 

• Wander Old Montreal and the Port of Montreal
• Go on a food tour of Montreal enjoying bagels, poutine, crepes and much more!
• Admire Montreal’s famous Notre Dame and St. Joseph’s churches

Eastern Townships, QC (1.5 hrs from Montreal)

Despite a few visits to Montreal over the years, I haven’t explored more of Quebec yet. One area I’d love to spend a few days in is the Eastern Townships, just an hour or two southeast of Montreal.

This area is Quebec’s natural wonderland, where many Quebec and Ontario locals have cottages to spend their summers. It’s the perfect place to golf, hike, bike, take to the water and stargaze. There are also wineries, local shops and festivals to enjoy.

Must do in the Eastern Townships: 

• Get back to nature at Parc National du Mont-Orford
• Visit the world’s first Dark Sky Preserve at ASTROLab in Parc National du Mont-Mégantic
• Climb one of the world’s longest suspension bridges at Gorge Park

My friend Renee is once again coming in clutch with her list of 13 villages to visit in the Eastern Townships!

Quebec City, QC (2.5 hrs from the Eastern Townships)

On your way to Quebec’s capital, it may be worth a detour to Beauce for a sweet treat, since this town is responsible for 20% of the world’s maple syrup production!

All sugared up, you’re off to Quebec City for a few days of culture, architecture and history. There are world-renown art galleries and museums, stunning churches, and North America’s only ice hotel!

Quebec City has always struck me as a very romantic place – in fact, Colin and I thought about including it in our honeymoon itinerary . I’d love to splurge on a stay at the Château Frontenac one day (the most photographed hotel in the world). You can tell how badly I want to visit Quebec City by all of the must dos I listed below!

Must do in Quebec City: 

• Stroll along the fortified walls of Old Quebec, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Explore the Citadelle de Québec, a military heritage site built between 1820 and 1850
• Admire Montmorency Falls (they’re actually taller than Niagara Falls!)
• Get your nature on at Jacques-Cartier National Park
• Shop from local artisans at Île d’Orléans
• Enjoy a day at Eastern Canada’s largest theme park , Village Vacances Valcartier, and stay the night at an ice hotel

Tadoussac, QC (3 hrs from Quebec City)

From Quebec City, you’ll drive along the St. Lawrence River to your last stop in Quebec, the historic, small town of Tadoussac. Tadoussac was founded in 1600 as the first French settlement in North America.

Despite being a small place, Tadoussac draws a good number of visitors thanks to its beautiful landscape and wildlife spotting opportunities (whales, bears and beavers!). Plus, it’s the perfect stop before you head to the Maritimes and Atlantic Canada.

Must do in Tadoussac: 

• Go whale watching and learn all about these mammals of the sea at Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre
• Hike around Saguenay Fjord National Park
• Sea kayak on Tadoussac Bay

Atlantic Canada: New Brunswick, PEI, Nova Scotia & Newfoundland road trip

Last but not least is the east coast of Canada! We’ll be visiting all of the Maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia), as well as Newfoundland. In this section, you’ll stop at:

• Fredericton
• Fundy National Park
• Charlottetown
• Annapolis Valley
• Cape Breton Island
• North Sydney
• Port aux Basques
• Gros Morne National Park
• St. John’s

Fredericton, NB (6 hrs from Tadoussac)

Ready to road trip the east coast of Canada? A big drive from Quebec has you in Fredericton, the provincial capital of New Brunswick.

While certainly not the most popular city in Canada, Fredericton is known for its colonial charm, military history, and arts and music scene. Since it’s such a long drive from Quebec into the Maritimes, why not spend a day or two in Fredericton?

Must do in Fredericton:

• Shop the Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market during the day and the Garrison Night Market in the evening
• Stop by the old British garrison where you can watch the changing of the guard, visit restored barracks and cell blocks, and take part in a soldier’s daily activities
• Visit Kings Landing (no, not that one!) to see what life was like in New Brunswick 200 years ago

Fundy National Park, NB (2 hrs from Fredericton)

I remember visiting the Bay of Fundy with my family when I was about 12 years old and being wowed by the changing tides. When the tides were out, we were able to walk all the way out onto the ocean floor. This really is a unique area of Canada!

The Bay of Fundy runs along the south coast of New Brunswick and you can visit a number of sites along it. St. Andrews, to the west, is a National Historic Site and when the tide is out, you can actually drive along the ocean floor from St. Andrews to Ministers Island.

Heading northeast you’ll hit Saint John where you can watch the Reversing Falls Rapids. Next you can visit St. Martins Sea Caves, which you can visit on foot or via kayak depending on the tides. From there, you’ll be into Fundy National Park where even more natural wonders await!

Must do at Fundy National Park: 

• Hike and visit beaches along the Fundy Trail Parkway
• Visit waterfalls from Alma such as Dickson Falls, Laverty Falls and Third Vault Falls
• Explore Hopewell Rocks at both high tide and low tide

Charlottetown, PE (2.5 hrs from Fundy)

The next stop on your east coast of Canada road trip is Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island (PEI). PEI is Canada’s smallest province and while there’s lots to see, Charlottetown is a great base to explore from since everything on the island is within two hours of the capital city.

The birthplace of Canadian Confederation, Charlottetown is a historic city full of charm, waterfront features and really delicious food (I could not get enough of their ice cream and fresh seafood!). PEI also has sand dunes, museums, Indigenous history, beaches and lots more to discover.

Plus, it’s the real home of Anne of Green Gables! You might know Anne from the novels written by LM Montgomery. Just outside Charlottetown, you can visit the home that inspired Montgomery’s writing. This was one of my highlights in PEI!

Must do in Charlottetown and PEI:

• Eat home grown Cavendish potatoes, Cows ice cream and fresh PEI oysters
• Visit the Anne of Green Gables Museum and walk through her home from the books
• Go beach hopping in PEI: sand dunes, red sand beaches and more!

PS: On your way from New Brunswick to PEI, don’t miss a stop in Shediac, the lobster capital of the world! 

Annapolis Valley, NS (5 hrs from Charlottetown)

From Charlottetown you’ll head back across the Confederation Bridge, down through New Brunswick and into Nova Scotia. Your first stop in Nova Scotia is the Annapolis Valley, the province’s wine region!

Historically an apple-growing region, the Annapolis Valley is now known for its acidic white wine and Méthode Classique sparkling wine, as well as ciders and spirits. Of course, there’s lots to discover in this area for non-drinkers too! The views are beautiful and there’s lots of nature, history and delicious food to enjoy.

Must do in the Annapolis Valley:

• Go on a wine tour to try the Valley’s best
• Visit a recreation of one of North America’s first settlements at Port-Royal National Historic Site
• Learn about the history and culture of the Mi’kmaw people at Kejimkujik National Park

Halifax, NS (2 hrs from the Annapolis Valley)

Next up is one of my favourite cities in Canada (and another one I’d consider moving to), Halifax. It was one of the highlights of our Atlantic Canada honeymoon .

Halifax is a really cool city with lots to do, great local seafood, an awesome waterfront and just a great vibe all around. I loved that the city had some awesome history to discover in really engaging ways, as well as lots of modern and multi-cultural offerings.

Plus, there are so many awesome day trips from Halifax along the coast of Nova Scoatia, like the famous Peggys Cove lighthouse and adorable town of Lunenberg.

Must do in Halifax:

• Get dinner at The Bicycle Thief, try Nova Scotian donair and other great eats in Halifax
• Have a moving experience at the Pier 21 Immigration Museum (probably the best museum I’ve ever visited!)
• Visit the Halifax Citadel and learn about Canada’s military history
• Walk along the Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk and take the ferry over to Dartmouth
• Go on a day trip to Peggys Cove , Lunenberg and Mahone Bay

Need more suggestions? Check out 22 things to do in Halifax! 

Cape Breton Island, NS (5 hrs from Halifax)

From Halifax you’ll head to the jewel of Nova Scotia: Cape Breton Island!

Depending on how much time you have, you can choose to drive the entirety of the Cabot Trail around Cape Breton Island, or just visit one or two towns. The entire trail is only 298 km (185 mi) long, so could be driven in a day. But I highly recommend spending a few days in this picturesque region!

Cape Breton was the most beautiful part of our 2021 Atlantic Canada honeymoon . We loved checking out beautiful coastal vistas, going on short hikes amongst the fall foliage, and discovering small town bakeries and restaurants. I’d definitely suggest prioritizing this stop on your cross Canada road trip!

Must do on Cape Breton Island:

• Visit the Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck
• Check out the stunning views at Lakies Head near Ingonish
• Hike the Skyline Trail near Cheticamp
• Eat breakfast at Salty Rose’s Periwinkle Cafe, have dinner at L’Abri and get fresh baked goods at Aucoin Bakery

For more details on where to stay and what to do on Cape Breton, check out my 5 Day Cabot Trail Itinerary on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia! 

North Sydney, NS (2 hrs from Cape Breton Island)

After your adventure around Cape Breton, it’s time to start making your way to Newfoundland, the most eastern province in Canada and the last one to tick off your Canadian bucket list.

The easiest way to road trip to Newfoundland from Nova Scotia is by taking a Marine Atlantic ferry from North Sydney to Port aux Basques. There is year-round ferry service, typically with two departures a day, and you can drive your car onto the ferry. A sailing takes about seven hours.

While waiting for your ferry to depart, you can enjoy Sydney’s waterfront, explore the nearby Fortress of Louisbourg and check out the world’s largest fiddle!

Port aux Basques, NL (7 hrs from North Sydney)

Welcome to Newfoundland, your final province on this massive cross Canada road trip! Depending on what sailing you took from Nova Scotia, you may arrive at Port aux Basques in the evening or early the next morning.

In case you get seasick like I do, or just need a break from being on the move, you may want to book a night in Port aux Basques before continuing on with your east coast Canadian road trip. While in Port aux Basques you can check out the Cape Ray Lighthouse, go for a stroll along the Grand Bay West Beach Trailway, or head out on a marine excursion.

Canadian fun fact: Despite its spelling, most people pronounce Newfoundland as NEW-fin-LAND and not new-FOUND-land. 

Gros Morne National Park, NL (3.5 hrs from Port aux Basques)

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gros Morne National Park is probably one of the most beautiful places in Canada. But because it’s hard to get to and lesser known, it doesn’t see the same huge crowds as Banff or Whistler.

All that means is you’ll have a lot of this beauty to yourself! Explore the rugged coast line and see where tectonic plates once crashed to form epic mountains, rocky tablelands, gorges, ponds, forests and more!

Must do in Gros Morne National Park:

• Be wowed by the view at Western Brook Pond Fjord
• Hike up Lookout Hills Trail or summit Gros Morne Mountain
• Depending on the time of year, you can go for a pond cruise, kayak on Trout River, bike through fall foliage, or ski and snowboard in Burridges Gulch

Gander, NL (4 hrs from Gros Morne)

Come from away to Gander, Newfoundland, the town made famous for hosting the “plane people” when air space was closed during 9/11.

On Sep 11, 2001, 38 planes with 6,500 passengers and crew members were grounded in Gander, which had a population of just 10,000. But Gander stepped up and showed the world what it means to be a good neighbour by welcoming and caring for everyone. This is all beautifully depicted in the musical, Come From Away, which I’ve been very fortunate to see in Toronto and Vancouver.

It’s because I’m such a fan of this musical that Gander is on my Newfoundland bucket list. But even if you don’t know the show, this is a pretty remarkable town to visit and an important place in history.

Must do in Gander:

• Visit the Gander International Airport, once the largest airport in North America
• Learn about Gander’s aviation history at the North Atlantic Aviation Museum
• Take a trip to the Appleton 9/11 Memorial where a piece of steel from the Twin Towers is located (passengers from the grounded planes donated money to help build the park where the memorial is located)

Elliston, NL (2.5 hrs from Gander)

We’re coming to the end of your east coast Canada road trip. On your way to Elliston, stop at Terra Nova National Park, Canada’s most easterly national park, and the Discovery Trail, home to sweeping views and coastal history.

Just before Elliston you can stretch your legs along the Skerwink Trail, once named one of the best walks in the world by Conde Nast, and the perfect place to spot birds and humpback whales.

Speaking of wildlife spotting, that’s why I added Elliston to this Canada road trip itinerary. Nicknamed Bird Island Cove, Elliston is one of the best places in North America to see puffins from land! If you’re visiting between May and September, a visit to Puffin Island in Elliston would be well worth it.

Short on time? Not into puffins? If you’d rather not stop in Elliston, you can carry on straight from Gander to St. John’s (3.5 hrs drive). 

St. John’s, NFL (3.5 hrs from Elliston)

Congratulations, you have officially made it to the end of the ultimate cross Canada road trip! From Victoria to St. John’s, from east to west, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, you have officially driven through every province and the entire length of Canada.

Give yourself a few days in Newfoundland’s artsy, historic and colourful capital to celebrate! Here you can dine out, enjoy Maritime music and discover what makes Newfoundland so unique.

Prefer to celebrate the end of your road trip out in nature? St. John’s has lots of options for that too. Hike the East Coast Trail, go puffin or whale watching, ferry to Bell Island, check out the gardens at Pippy Park or spot wildlife at Salmonier Nature Park.

Must do in St. John’s:

• Take in the views and learn some history at Signal Hill National Historic Site
• Push a little farther east to Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site, the most easterly point in North America
• Learn about the history, art and culture of Newfoundland at The Rooms
• Check out the colourful homes on Jellybean Row

Canadian fun fact: Don’t confuse St. John’s, the capital of Newfoundland, with Saint John, a city (but not the capital) of New Brunswick. 

Where to go after you finish driving across Canada

You did it – you drove all across Canada on the most epic cross Canada road trip! Now what?

From St. John’s, you can fly direct to a few places in Canada (like Halifax, Montreal, Toronto or Calgary) or internationally, to places like Orlando, Florida and London, UK . Of course, that would mean either returning your rental vehicle in St. John’s, which may incur an expensive one-way fee, or selling it there, which could take time.

If you’re keeping your vehicle, the easiest way to leave St. John’s is to drive to Argentia (1.5 hr drive) and ferry back to North Sydney . This overnight ferry boards at 5:00pm and arrives in North Sydney the next morning at 9:00am.

If a 16 hour ferry crossing doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, you could drive back to Port aux Basques (9 hrs from St. John’s) and get on the 7 hour ferry to North Sydney from there.

Or, you can put your most seaworthy road trip companion on the long ferry from Argentia while you hop a flight out of St. John’s (this is definitely what I will be doing – apologies to my husband who will get stuck with the car!).

Once back in Nova Scotia, you’re on Canada’s mainland and can continue driving to your final destination from there . Rather than reverse the Canada road trip you just did, why not check out our neighbour to the south and start a US road trip?

From North Sydney it’s only a 7.5 hr drive into Maine, where you can begin exploring the US. That may or may not be the next big road trip I’m planning!

What’s missing from this Canadian road trip planner?

Frankly, quite a lot! Canada is a huge country and while this road trip covers 34 places across all 10 provinces, that barely scratches the surface of what Canada has to offer.

I created this itinerary by researching places of interest in each province. Next, I plotted them on a map, which you can see above with all of the purple dots.

I then figured out a driving route that would link as many of the dots as possible without detouring too far from the most efficient east-west route. Sadly, some of the purple dots didn’t make it into the final road trip itinerary as they were just too far away.

The majority of Canadians live along the Canada/US border, so you’ll notice that my road trip route also stays quite far south. That means I missed a lot of central/northern Canada, including incredible places like:

• Haida Gwaii in BC
• The home of polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba
• All of the territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut)
• The capital of Alberta (Edmonton)
• Algonquin and Muskoka in Ontario
• Quebec’s Gaspe Peninsula
• Labrador, which makes up the province of Newfoundland and Labrador

All of these places are well worth visiting, but difficult to do on an east-west Canada road trip that’s primarily based in the south of the country. I hope to visit them all some day on separate trips!

How to plan a road trip in Canada if you’re short on time

The road trip itinerary I listed above covers 34 stops across Canada and would likely take 2-3 months to enjoy properly. But what if you don’t have 2-3 months to road trip Canada? No worries! There are lots of cross Canada road trips you can take if you’re short on time.

Obviously you can complete just a part of my road trip itinerary above if you don’t have time for the whole thing. But here are a few more suggestions for Canadian road trips depending on how much time you have:

1 week Canada road trip: Drive from Toronto to Quebec City

Toronto (3 nights) > Montreal (2 nights) > Quebec (2 nights) 

With one week, you could do a mini Ontario and Quebec road trip when you drive from Toronto to Quebec City, stopping in Montreal along the way.

You could also take a half or full day trip to Niagara Falls from Toronto . The entire drive is only 8 hours, making this an easy road trip to complete in a week.

2 week Canada road trip: Vancouver to Banff road trip

Victoria (2 nights) > Vancouver (3 nights) > Kelowna (2 nights) > Jasper (2 nights) > Banff (3 nights) > Calgary (2 nights)

Two weeks would be a great amount of time for a Vancouver to Banff road trip, seeing the best of the Rocky Mountains and Canada’s west coast. You can stop for wine in Kelowna and even push north to Jasper to really make the most of the area’s beauty!

With two weeks, you would even have time to add on Victoria on the west and Calgary on the east if you’re happy to move fast. Of course, if you wanted to slow down and spend more time at the national parks, you could cut these extra stops and add days in Jasper and Banff.

You can also drive from Calgary to Vancouver if you want to do this road trip in reverse.

3 week Canada road trip: East coast Canada road trip

Halifax (3 nights) > Annapolis Valley (2 nights) > Bay of Fundy (3 nights) > Charlottetown and PEI (4 nights) > Cape Breton Island (3 nights) > ferry to Newfoundland (1 night) > Gros Morne National Park (2 nights) > St. John’s (2 nights) > ferry to Nova Scotia (1 night) > return to Halifax 

When we went on our Atlantic Canada honeymoon , we had about 3 weeks to explore the Maritimes and it was a great amount of time.

I would highly recommend dedicating a three week Canadian road trip to one region of the country, whether that’s an east coast Canada road trip or west coast Canada road trip, rather than trying to drive across a few regions.

I’ve started this itinerary in Halifax, as it’s probably the easiest airport to fly into. After a few days exploring the city of Halifax, you can pick up a car and explore Atlantic Canada! You’ll start with wine tasting in the Annapolis Valley and then drive over to New Brunswick to check out the Bay of Fundy.

From there, you’re driving over to PEI for fresh seafood and then back to Nova Scotia to loop Cape Breton Island. Next, you’re on the ferry to Newfoundland where you’ll see the views of Gros Morne National Park and colourful homes of St. John’s.

Finally, you’ll board the overnight ferry and make your way back to Halifax where you can return your rental car and fly home.

1 month Canada road trip: Toronto to Vancouver driving trip

With a whole month, you can make a pretty serious dent in driving across Canada! Rather than stretching yourself to drive from coast to coast, save the Atlantic provinces for a future trip and just drive from Toronto (my old hometown) to Vancouver (my current hometown).

• Week 1: Toronto, Tobermory & Manitoulin Island
• Week 2: Driving across the prairies (see my recommended spots in the full itinerary above)
• Week 3: Banff & Jasper
• Week 4: The Okanagan & Vancouver

Alternatively, you could head east from Toronto and spend a month exploring Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. You probably wouldn’t have time to make it to Newfoundland, but you could tick off quite a few east coast provinces.

• Week 1: Toronto, Prince Edward County & Ottawa
• Week 2: Montreal, Eastern Townships & Quebec
• Week 3: Bay of Fundy and PEI
• Week 4: Halifax and Cape Breton Island

Wrapping up: 10 cross Canada road trips tips

Before you hit the road, keep these road trip tips in mind!

1. Safety first (car edition) : Make sure you’re comfortable driving the vehicle you’ll use for this Canadian road trip and that any necessary maintenance is taken care of. Follow the rules of the road, regularly service your car and have jumper cables available.

2. Safety first (human edition) : Stay safe and healthy on the road by staying in accommodation that you’re comfortable with, and keeping in touch with friends and family (particularly if you’re travelling alone). Make sure your car is stocked with water, a first aid kit and any other emergency supplies.

3. Book ahead in the busy season : Campgrounds, tours and parking lots fill up fast in busy Canadian tourist hot spots in the middle of summer! Make sure you do your research and book ahead when needed. While this might impact your ability to be spontaneous, it could save you a lot of stress and money.

4. Download all the apps : These days there are apps to help you find cheap gas, roadside attractions, free places to park, scenic campsites and so much more! Download the apps you need and be sure you have offline maps downloaded to help you navigate when you don’t have cell service. You may also want to join a roadside assistance or hotel loyalty program.

5. Consider a parks pass : Depending on how many national parks you’re visiting, you may want to buy the Parks Canada Discovery Pass for cheaper entrance to all of the national parks of Canada. Each province also has a pass for their provincial parks, which may be worth looking into.

6. Take it slow : If this is your first time to Canada or first big road trip, slow down. Give yourself time to get used to life on the road and schedule off-days so you can rest, do laundry, etc. Remember, Canada is a big place! You’ll enjoy your Canadian road trip a lot more if you aren’t driving 8 hours a day, rushing from one stop to the next.

7. Have a plan to stay connected : Depending on where you’re going on your road trip, you may not always have cell or internet service. And depending on where you’re coming from, you may not be able to use your home service in Canada. Look into options ahead of time, like buying a portable wifi unit, getting an e-Sim or stopping at wifi-friendly cafes, so you can stay connected.

8. Start preparing early : If you’re planning to be on the road for a couple of weeks or a couple of months, you’ll want to prep ahead of time. How far do you want to drive each day? Are you staying at campgrounds or hotels? Are you eating out or hitting the grocery store?

If you’re travelling with anyone else, make sure you’re having these conversations with them so everyone is on the same page.

9. Be respectful : Your Canada road trip will likely take you through lots of natural areas, so remember to Leave No Trace and be respectful of the outdoor environment. It’s also important to do your homework about whose land you’re travelling on, paying respect to Canada’s Indigenous peoples whose unceded land we live on.

10. Plan your next trip back to Canada! Whether you drive from Victoria to St. John’s or just a small section in between, make sure this trip to Canada isn’t your last. Hopefully you’ll be amazed by the natural wonders, history, culture, food and people here in Canada, and eagre to plan your next trip back!

Need to rent a car for your road trip? Get the best deal with Discover Cars!  

And there you have it, my ultimate cross Canada road trip itinerary. I hope this itinerary has gotten you excited for your own road trip across Canada. I’d love to know: Where in Canada do you most want to visit? 

Check out more adventures across Canada:

• 10 Things You Must Eat in Montreal
• How to Spend a Weekend in Penticton, BC
• Camping at Porteau Cove, BC
• 5 Day Cabot Trail Itinerary on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
• 22 Things to Do in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Save my cross Canada road trip itinerary for your future trip planning. Pin it!

Riana Ang-Canning is a travel writer who has been sharing her global adventures as the founder of Teaspoon of Adventure since 2012. In that time, Riana has travelled to almost 50 countries on 6 continents, including interning in Eswatini, working in Tokyo, road tripping New Zealand and living abroad in Prague. Riana helps everyday travellers discover the world on a mid-budget, proving that you don't have to be athletic, wealthy or nomadic to have an adventure!

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22 comments.

What a great trip you have to look forward to! I took 9 weeks to do this trip (return) the summer of 2019 and it was amazing — mainly staying in motels and AirBnBs (pre van life). You have many of the same stops on your itinerary. Just make sure to leave time for serendipity — those things you learn about from a sign on the side of the road.

-Lyn |www.ramblynjazz.com

Thanks so much, Lyn! So cool that you’ve been on this trip and great advice. Definitely have to leave room for some spontaneous stops and detours!

Yes to long-form content! Well done on pulling toegther this insanely comprehensive guide and road trip across Canada. This is content I’d love to read and indulge in. Your stops not only have a great distance to another to not overwhelm oneself and exhaust the driver, but I found all stops to be very engaging and of interest. It shows how much there is to do and see in Canada within reasonale distance, once you are here, why not check out this place, only 1.5h away and this makes a road trip interesting and long-lasting for me. I also appreciate the cafes recommendations along the way. Keep it up Riana!

Thanks so much, Carolin! You are definitely my inspiration for well-researched, long form content. I’ll have to commission you to do the cafe companion post to this one some day!

What an amazing trip ! I love that you provided a shorter version also. However, I would love to do the longer one. I worked in Toronto one summer when I was a student and travelled around by train a little. I visit Montreal regularly as have family living there. But I have only visited a fraction of Canada so would love to explore further especially the West coast and mountain provinces.

Enjoy the trip and safe travels,

Thanks so much! I hope you get to explore more of Canada one day!

After reading this, I am so ready for a cross-Canada road trip! Growing up, my family regularly drove Ontario to BC and back as our summer vacation, and we also drove one summer to PEI and one summer to Newfoundland, so I’ve done it all in sections. (We usually opted for the detour through the States to skip Thunder Bay, sorry haha, but I’d like to give it another chance.) I’d looove to do it all at once as you’ve planned here, and there are a few places I’ve havent seen yet (somehow we skipped Fredericton, for example, and I’d like to see the new Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg). I’d forgotten how beautiful Tobermory is. I appreciate the “What’s missing?” section because it’s impossible to see it all in one trip—we are too lucky in this country!

Aw thanks so much for checking out the post, Melanie! So cool that you’ve been all over Canada with your family and I hope you (and I!) get to do the full road trip soon.

Thank you for sharing your Canada road trip, which looks an epic road trip, I have wanted to visit Canada, but I wont be doing it all in one long road trip in stages would be lovely, this has certainly given me some ideas for the future 🙂

Thanks, Nic! I hope you have an awesome time when you visit Canada.

Great blog! I did road trips in other parts of the world but needed clarification about the itinerary in Canada. Now I know how to plan. Thank you so much!

Thanks for checking it out! Glad it was helpful.

This is an excellent read! I have visited most of the places mentioned (in parts, and before having kids) and I can definitely say this is very practical and comprehensive! Like you said, Canada is sooo big that it takes time to visit most of it. Thank you for all the tips and recommendation. I can definitely use them now that I am traveling with my family (ie kiddos).

Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy your next Canadian adventure!

We are planning to do the cross Canada trip this summer. We are really excited about it and appreciate you spending time describing different places to visit. We are really excited about it and now even more so.

That’s so exciting! I’m glad my post was helpful. I hope you have a great time this summer!

Good day Riana

We are planning to self drive in Canada on early fall but we have only 3 weeks to explore . We are from Asia country and we know probably is not enough to explore everything according to the itinerary you recommended . Possible can advise us which is most and must visit from Vancouver to toronto by driving . Really appreciated

Hi Stephanie, thanks so much for checking out my post and how exciting that you’ll be visiting Canada this fall! I would actually suggest two smaller road trips to make the most of your time and see some of the best of Canada. First, driving from Vancouver to Calgary with stops in Kelowna, Jasper and Banff (apx 10-12 days). Then from Calgary I’d fly to Montreal or Quebec City and road trip through Montreal/QC, Niagara and Toronto (apx 8-10 days). Both of those would be one-way road trips, so you’ll likely incur an extra cost for a one-way drop off. You’d also be missing out on the east coast, which is a shame because it’s beautiful. But maybe you can add that to your next trip. I hope that helps and happy adventuring!

Really thanks for the recommendation but may I know the place I will be missing out for the east coast maybe I can adjust for extension

No worries! I actually have a post with my recommended Atlantic Canada itinerary: https://teaspoonofadventure.com/atlantic-canada-honeymoon-itinerary/ . I’d say the main places to see would be Halifax, PEI and the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton. I think you could do that in about 7-10 days, though more time wouldn’t be bad. That could also be a round trip drive if you pick up and drop off your car in Halifax.

Wow, this article really got me excited to plan my next road trip! The diversity of landscapes and destinations mentioned here is truly inspiring. I’ve been to a few of these places, but there are definitely some hidden gems I can’t wait to explore. Thanks for putting together such a comprehensive guide with helpful tips and recommendations. Can’t wait to hit the road and create some unforgettable memories! Right now I’m exploring campsites with my toddler.

Thanks for checking it out, Caroline! Enjoy camping with your little one!

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Incredible Toronto to Vancouver Road Trip Across Canada

Are you driving from the Greater Toronto Area to the West Coast and need help planning the ultimate trip across the country? We are here to help guide your trip!

Some families hesitate to take a road trip across the country as they feel it can be overwhelming. However, remember that life is short, so why not make the most of it and enjoy this road trip worthy of many bucket lists?

It can be a great gift to give to your kids as they will remember the memories that are made for life, and Toronto to Vancouver is one of the Best Canadian road trips you can take!

Distance on Drive from Toronto to Vancouver:

How long do i need to drive from toronto to vancouver:, best time of year to drive from toronto to vancouver:, day one toronto to sault ste marie – 700 km (8 hours driving time), day two sault ste marie to thunder bay – 700 km (7.5 hours driving time), day three thunder bay to winnipeg – 700 km (7.5 hours driving time), day four winnipeg to regina – 572 km (6 hours driving time), day five regina to calgary – 758 km (7 hours driving time), day six: calgary to revelstoke – 408 km (4.5 hours driving time), day seven: revelstoke to vancouver – 565 km (6.5 hours driving time), more tips for road tripping from toronto to vancouver.

It is a long journey from Toronto to Vancouver as you will drive the Trans Canada Highway for approximately 4,265 km, passing through 3 provinces. Along the route, you will pass through Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta before reaching your destination of British Columbia. 

Route 1 – Trans Canada Highway

There is only one route from Toronto to Winnipeg, which takes about 22 hours and navigates around the Great Lakes until you reach Manitoba.

Once you reach Winnipeg, you have the choice to take the Northern Route and explore Saskatoon and Edmonton or take the more scenic Southern Route that takes you through Regina, Calgary, and Banff.

Along the scenic Southern Route, you can explore lots of untouched natural areas, visit National and Provincial parks, and enjoy the views of the mountains and lakes.

Route 2 – US Route via I-94 W and I-90 W

An alternative route is to cross the Canada-United States Border to Seattle and then pass across the border again to reach Vancouver. Some key locations to include in your road trip are Detroit, Chicago, Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Billings through Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Washington, and Seattle. Be prepared that there are tolls on this route. 

The total trip is about 42 hours of driving time, which ideally should be split up into a minimum of 5 days to avoid fatigue and to enjoy the beautiful Canadian landscapes, natural areas, cities and towns, as well as a variety of fun attractions.

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There are so many beautiful places along this Canadian route that you will want to stop and enjoy and visiting attractions is a great way to get out and stretch your legs. 

A good goal is to plan to drive between 5-8 hours a day, depending on the age of your passengers. An important part of this road trip is the destinations between Ontario and British Columbia, not just the final destination.

Realistically, to make memories and enjoy the Canadian road trip across the country, you will want to plan to take a week. You can definitely take longer to truly enjoy all of the amazing Parks Canada spots, unique landscapes, attractions and cities.

The most popular time of year to drive across Canada is in the summer, from June to August when the roads are clear and dry. However, this is peak tourist season, so it will be very busy with tourists.

If you have some flexibility, you may enjoy viewing the fall foliage along the Trans-Canada Highway during the early Fall (September to October), or you may enjoy the awakening of nature and wildlife in the Spring (Mid-April to May) due to rapidly changing weather and road conditions you want to avoid driving the Trans-Canada Highway from November until Mid-April.

Best Stops on a Toronto to Vancouver Road Trip:

Start your day exploring all the typical Toronto attractions found in our things to do in Toronto guide , and then hit the road to begin your road trip. As you head north from Toronto, you will head towards the beautiful cottage country in the Muskokas.

Muskoka is a great place to enjoy outdoor activities, including hiking, boating, and paddling. If you are looking to enjoy the area by hiking, then check out Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve , Hardy Lake Provincial Park , or the Muskoka Wharf Trail, which offers various difficulties of hiking. Enjoy fishing or water sports on the scenic lakes of Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau, and Lake Joseph.

If you’re travelling in the summer, then be sure to check the dates as Muskoka hosts various festivals and events throughout the summer, such as the Gravenhurst Dockside Festival of the Arts , Bracebridge Fire and Ice Festival, and the Muskoka Ribfest.

If you love the outdoors, then you may want to stop and check out all the amazing things to do in Algonquin Park , including lots of wilderness areas and wildlife viewing. On the way to Sault Ste Marie, the largest city you will pass is Sudbury. 

Sudbury has so many cool attractions to visit, including the Big Nickel, which is great for photographs, an interactive science museum called Dynamic Earth, where you can experience underground mining, and lastly, kids will love the hands-on exhibits at Science North.

As you get closer to Sault Ste Marie, you will enjoy the beautiful rugged coastline along Lake Superior, and you can stop to watch the boats pass through the Soo Locks. 

Northern Ontario has a vast array of beautiful landscapes, so plan to stop multiple times along the way and take some breathtaking photos. If you have some extra time before leaving Sault Ste Marie, then take the Agawa Canyon Tour and enjoy taking photos of the natural areas in the canyon.

Along this stretch of the drive, you will want to stop at the halfway point of the Trans Canada Highway at Chippewa Falls , which is a famous waterfall that was painted by the famous Canadian painters The Group of Seven.

Continue further and stop at Pancake Bay Provincial Park and enjoy the sandy beach on the shores of Lake Superior. The landscape in the North of Ontario is beautiful including the cliffs of Old Woman Bay.

If you are travelling with kids, you may want to stop at Paddle-to-the-Sea kids’ playground in Nipigon to give the kids a chance to burn some energy.

While it is a detour to the east of Thunder Bay, if you enjoy hiking, the outdoors and spectacular views you can’t miss stopping at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park . Hike to the Top of the Giant Trail and Thunder Bay Lookout and enjoy viewing the geological features and breathtaking views of Lake Superior.

Along this route, there are some unique sculptures, including the Winnie the Pooh sculpture in White River, as well as a museum in the birthplace of this famous children’s character.

On the outskirts of Thunder Bay, you may want to stop to see the famous sculpture of Terry Fox, who was a Canadian hero who ran a Marathon of Hope to raise awareness for cancer.

The drive from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg takes you through a scenic portion of northwestern Ontario and southern Manitoba known as the Canadian Shield . A small town along the route that you will want to stop at is Atikokan, which is home to Quetico Provincial Park .

In the park, you can enjoy canoeing on the pristine lakes, hiking rugged terrain, or viewing the scenic railway trestle bridge.

Once you reach Manitoba, enjoy a day at Falcon Lake by spending the afternoon swimming, boating or fishing and then spend the evening viewing the shops and restaurants at Falcon Lake Townsite.

Another cool attraction to visit is the Pinawa Dam , which you can explore as you walk along the dam and learn more about hydroelectric power and how it’s used in Manitoba in the visitor center. Those who enjoy history may want to stop at the Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site to see a fur trading post and learn more about the area’s past fur trading history. 

Enjoy the Canadian prairies and all the interesting stops along the way, although there are some long stretches of highway between Winnipeg and Regina, so stock up on snacks before hitting the road.

A major attraction in Winnipeg is Assiniboine Park . Kids will love visiting the zoo, and parents can enjoy the beautiful walking trails and gardens. Another unique stop along the route is the small town of Ste. Agathe has a cool artsy vibe as you can stretch your legs, stroll through town and enjoy the murals that teach about the history of the area.

There is not much to see between these two locations other than the Doll Museum in Brandon, the heritage Swinging Bridge and walking trails in Wolseley. 

Before leaving Regina, head to Sandra Schmirler Leisure Center playground and spray pad if you are travelling with kids. After leaving Regina, one of the first stops you can make on this leg of the trip is the Tunnels of Moose Jaw which is an hour-long tour that gives you insight into the prohibition era in Canada.

The Tunnels of Moosejaw has three different guided theatrical tours to choose from including Chicago Connection, Bunker 24 and the Passage to Fortune.

A few other great stops before leaving Saskatchewan include the interpretive nature trails at Chaplin Nature Centre, the historic museum in Swift Current and the sand dunes at Great Sandhills Ecological Reserve.

As you enter Alberta and head towards Calgary, there are a few stops along the way that you will want to make, including the Medalta in the Historic Clay District , which is a ceramics factory, the interpretive trail at the Brooks Aqueduct, and the tranquil Japanese gardens in Lethbridge at Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden .

Learn more about the true history of the area at the Unesco World Heritage Site (Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump), where you can learn about the buffalo hunting techniques used in the past by the Plains People.

The best part of this entire drive is this section of the trip that takes you from Banff to Calgary, as the landscape is one of a kind, featuring the natural beauty of mountains, wildlife, historical sites and clear turquoise lakes.

Check out our detailed guide on the drive from Banff to Vancouver , however, some major stopping points include the popular tourist attraction of Moraine Lake which is a beautiful glacial-fed lake that has a magnificent view but is always super busy during the peak tourist season.

If you or the kids are not in the mood for hiking, consider riding the Banff Gondola to the upper boardwalk, where you can enjoy the fantastic vistas of Banff town and the nearby mountains.

There is so much to do in Banff with kids, including Upper Banff hot springs, Johnston Canyon hike, Johnson Lake hike, Bow Falls, and Cave & Basin National Historic Site . At the summit, you’ll discover a restaurant offering delightful food and beverage choices. If you are looking for some quiet lakes to visit then checkout Peyto Lake and Lake Minnewanka.

Some stops you will want to make as you travel through the Canadian Rockies include Lake Louise, Emerald Lake and the Spiral Tunnels at Yoho National Park , as well as Glacier National Park. All of these stops offer scenic views, hiking trails, and lots of opportunities for outdoor exploration.

If you enjoy history you may want to stop at the Rogers Pass National Historic Site to see the exhibits that explain the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway and its impact on Canada before stopping in at Revelstoke for the night.

• See our favourite winter destinations in Canada – including the magic of Banff & Lake Louise covered in snowy glory

Revelstoke has rugged mountain summits, tumbling waterfalls, picturesque lakes, and lush cedar woodlands. It offers numerous exciting, family-friendly adventure opportunities to explore. 

Revelstoke is a small town with a thriving outdoor tourism scene, as you can enjoy hiking and biking some of the popular trails, including Mount Revelstoke Summit Trail , Eva Lake Trail, and the Frisby Ridge Trail for biking. 

Make sure if you’re travelling with kids to check out the two different mountain coasters at Mount Revelstoke . Kids will also enjoy becoming a River Pirate as they experience a pirate adventure on the Columbia River with Wild Blue Yonder Rafting Adventures , where you will experience pirate stories sing-along-song, all while floating down the river and taking in views of the wildlife.

Lastly, don’t miss seeing the Enchanted Forest , which is home to British Columbia’s tallest treehouse. 

Arriving at your destination of Vancouver which has an extraordinary setting, surrounded by mountains and the sea. Vancouver offers an experience for families of all ages, providing a blend of breathtaking scenery, exciting tourist attractions, and vibrant city life.

Check out our guide to spending a day in Vancouver .

• If you can’t decide which route to take, then take the shorter route on the way to Vancouver and then take the scenic route on the way back to Toronto.
• Travelling from Central Canada to the West Coast means changing time zones, so be aware that Vancouver is 3 hours behind Toronto.
• Book your attraction tickets ahead of time, as during peak season, activities can fill up early, and you don’t want to be disappointed.
• Need help deciding what to pack? Use the printable Road Trip Essentials List .

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Canada Road Trip Planning + 12 Epic Itinerary Ideas

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Canada is filled with stunning landscapes and driving through provinces and national parks is the best way to explore this massive country (by area). We will share an epic Canada Road Trip Planning Guide here, packed with ready-made itineraries to follow.

Table of Contents

Canada Road Trip Planning Guide

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Decide where you want to go in Canada

So, your first step is to make a bucket list of places you want to see or the route you wish to embark on for your Canada road trip. Being a diverse country of landscapes, terrain, and 4 different time zones, it might be a tough choice deciding on where to do. You can browse our Canada Destinations list, or use one of the itineraries mentioned below to get started!

What to see on your Canadian Road Trips?

It all depends on your travel style. There are mountains and pristine lakes in western Canada, pretty central coastal drives in the Maritimes, chasing Northern Lights in the Northwest Territories, or specific attractions like Toronto’s skyline/Niagara Falls, Gros Morne National park in Newfoundland to check out fjords, also a UNESCO world heritage site to polar bears in Manitoba. 

So you see there is tons of explore in Canada, just take it slow, stop along the way to make the most of your visit. Also give yourself enough time to hike, eat and drive.

Budget for your Canada road trip should be as follows 

• National Park Fees: $20 CAD per vehicles ($15.50 USD)
• City Attractions: Many museums have entry fees start at $7.99 CAD ($6.20). CN Tower or any type of observation towers in major cities, starts at $30 CAD ($23 USD)
• Food : Minimum $30 CAD ($23 USD)

When are you planning to travel for your road trip?

Whether it is a city-bound road trip or a journey through our national/provincial parks, it is important to make note of the seasons. Canada experiences all four seasons, and each season is beautiful in its own unique way. 

• Summer – Summers are a great time to embark on a road trip. We recommend choosing the country-side to escape the crowds . If you are hitting the popular national parks like Banff (from Calgary or Edmonton), ensure you start early to beat the traffic rush.
• Winter – Driving in winters can be tricky. Ensure you follow provincial winter driving regulations. Also add additional travel time due to the road conditions, poor visibility, etc. on certain routes. 
• Spring and fall – These are off season months in Canada. Fall is our favorite time to visit as the weather is still warm, and attractions not too crowded. Spring is a tricky situation for visiting Parks, as many of the sightseeing spots may not be open. Finding accommodation in cities and small towns this time will be easy, minus fewer crowds.

Where to stay on a Canada road trip?

When you are road tripping in Canada, there are tons of options for accommodation.

• Hotels, Airbnbs & Lodges : You can book a hotel, Airbnb, lodge, or a cabin for your accommodation in Canada. Book them ahead of time, especially during peak seasons. 
• RV & Campervan : One of the popular ways to explore national parks in Canada is on a campervan or an RV, and save money on hotel accommodation. It is also a nicer alternative if you do not own a lot of camping gear, and planning to explore on the go. 
• Camping : If you are planning to camp overnight, ensure you reserve camp-sites when bookings open for the season. You do not need to reserve for day campsites (like picnics as part of your road trip), especially in provincial parks. 

Pin the spots on Google Maps

Use Google Maps plan and plot your road trip itinerary. And don’t forget to download offline maps on your phone, so that you can access that from the car. 

Important Driving Tips in Canada Highway & Parks

• Carry your driver’s license (Canadian, US or International).
• Must be at least 21 years of age to rent a vehicle.
• The most common cars on the road in Canada are left-hand drive vehicles, and cars are driven on the right side of the road.
• Canada uses kilometres and metres to measure the distance (unlike miles used in the USA)
• The typical speed limit in most provinces is 100 km/h (62 mph) or 110 km/h (68 mph). 
• When you are driving to national parks speed limits will differ, depending on major routes (90 km/hr max.) and secondary routes (60 km/hr max.)
• Gas/Mileage: 8.9 litres of gasoline per 100 kilometres (62 miles)
• Be mindful of wildlife corridors and posted wildlife signs along the highways

What to pack on a road trip in Canada?

Here is a list of items to pack for your road trip in Canada!

• Clothes & Comfortable shoes – Comfortable shoes are a must, they are helpful while you are behind the wheel or while taking rest stops
• Warm clothes (for winter) – While driving in Canadian winters, don’t forget warm clothing
• Hand warmers are great little items to keep inside the car
• Travel Mug – Coffee and tea lovers, pack your travel mug, and refill it on the go!
• Water bottle – Super important, carry your water bottle. Stay hydrated!
• Healthy snacks – LOVE this care package , and they are healthy snacks to carry on your road trip. Munch them if you are hungry, whilst feeling light!
• Medications
• Flashlight – Super handy if you are camping or even driving overnight
• Emergency car kit – An emergency car kit is essential should things happen on the road. You can create one from scratch or buy one pre-pack from Amazon . 
• Emergency first aid kit – Check the first aid kit inside the car (check for expiry dates). If you don’t have one, here is one that you can buy from Amazon.  
• Dashboard mount for phone or GPS – Use a dash mount to keep your phone or GPS for navigation. 
• GPS or navigation system – Don’t forget navigation systems or Google maps (offline) on your phone. Prepare it with your routes prior to your trip. It is also important to keep TomToms (or any navigation system) updated. 
• Charging cables – Unless your car has cable-free charging, it is important to pack one for your road trip. We do have wireless charging in our car, but it can only charge one at a time, so we also carry charging cables (to charge the second phone and to charge inside the hotel). Buy yours here
• Playlist – No road trip is complete without an amazing playlist.
• Cell-phone – Don’t forget your cell-phone. Stay connected with family, store the hotel or campsite contact information, plus roadside assistance number for emergencies. 
• Car freshener
• Road trip games – License plate, sing-along, card games (for kids)
• Travel insurance – Car insurance is essential, so is travel insurance if you are traveling from overseas. For the car, you can also secure insurance with the rental company when you pick up the vehicle. 

12 Canada Road Trip Itinerary Ideas

Canadian rockies road trip itinerary, alberta .

• Number of days – 10 to 14 days
• Route –  Edmonton – Jasper National Park – Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise – Banff National Park – Calgary  (Alberta) 

This Canadian Rockies itinerary will allow you to explore all the best of the mountains and cities in Alberta. It covers the capital city, the largest city in Alberta, two national parks in the Canadian Rockies (Jasper being is the largest one), visit the pretty Lake Louise, explore our provincial parks at Pembina, and also check out small Prairie (Edson, Entwhistle) and mountain towns (Banff, Jasper) in one single trip.

A fast paced version of this road trip itinerary can be done in 10 days. But 2 weeks will be perfect! 

Fly to Edmonton , pick up a rental car, and explore the capital city of Alberta. Visit the Legislature Grounds and the neighborhood of Strathcona. (If you have time on your hands, visit Elk Island National Park, located about 50 minutes away from the city, known for bison conservation and is a dark sky preserve). Spend one full day in Edmonton to experience the culinary and city centre delights, along with museums and art galleries. 

From Edmonton, drive to Jasper National Park (it takes 4 hours). Stop by the small Prairie towns of Edson, Entwhistle, or Pembina Provincial Park for a picnic. You will arrive in Jasper town by evening. Stay at the Pocahontas Cabin for the night. 

Spend 2-3 days in Jasper . Hit trails, Pyramid and Patricia lakes, Athabasca falls, soak in mountain views, eat, and visit a local brewery. 

From Jasper, head to Lake Louise, via the Icefields Parkway (with a quick stop at Sunwapta Falls). Non stop drive is 2.75 hours. You can also add Athabasca Glacier Adventure to your road trip itinerary and stay in Lake Louise for the night. 

Set aside 8-10 hours to explore Lake Louise , and then head to Banff in the evening (50 minute drive). 

Spend 3-4 days in Banff National Park . There are tons to see and do here, from lakes – Vermillion, Two Jack Lake, Minnewanke, to hiking trails , exploring Banff Avenue, Cave & Basin Site, Cascade Gardens, Minnewanka Lake Cruise, and Johnston Canyon.  Stay at Elk + Avenue Hotel .

After exploring Banff, head to Calgary, and spend one day or two. Explore downtown city highlights like the Calgary Tower, wander the Stephen Ave Walk, visit Calgary Fort, Heritage Village, etc. 

Drop off your car rental at Calgary International Airport, and fly back home!

Icefields Parkway, Alberta 

• Number of Days – It is possible to drive the Icefields Parkway in 2.5 hours if you don’t get out of your car, but it would be a travesty not to take your time to enjoy the sights along the way.
• Route – Lake Louise to Jasper in the province of Alberta passing through Banff National Park and Jasper National Park.

One of the most famous road trips in Canada is the Icefields Parkway , which is a 230km (144 miles) journey through some of the country’s most magnificent landscapes. With vistas of mountains, valleys, glaciers, rocky cliffs, forests, and lakes, there is a lot to see along the way.

Take a tip and start early in the morning to avoid traffic, and you will enjoy the experience so much more if you are not rushed. The Icefields Parkway has so many incredible places that you will want to explore. 

Early morning is a good time to spot wildlife that usually make an appearance when you

least expect. When you’re driving, keep your eyes peeled for bears, deer, elk, moose and bighorn sheep. Depending on what you might see by the side of the road, you may need extra time to linger and take photographs.

On your first road trip along the Icefields Parkway, make sure you allow time to see Columbia

Icefield, which is some of the largest glaciers outside the Arctic Circle, or“fields of ice” straddle and are the largest south of the Arctic Circle. 

Another awe-inspiring attraction is the Glacier SkyWalk, where you can walk on a glass-floored platform 280 metres (918 feet) above the stunning Sunwapta Valley.

Besides glaciers, this Canadian road trip is also known for its beautiful lakes. The two most famous ones are Bow Lake, which is the best place to gaze at the Crowfoot Glacier, and Peyto Lake, which is a must-do to fill your Instagram stream with stunning photos. Also, visit Sunwapta and Athabasca Falls; both are places of natural beauty.

Stay at Mountaineer Lodge in Lake Louise or the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise .

By Christina from Travel2Next

Sea to Sky highway – Vancouver to Whistler

• Number of days – 2 days
• Route – Start in Vancouver, stop in Squamish to Whistler (British Columbia)

The Sea to Sky highway is one of the most scenic roads in Canada. Also known as Highway 99, the section that connects Vancouver to Whistler is known as the Sea to Sky . 

Although the total journey time from Vancouver to Whistler is just 2 hours, there’s plenty to see and do along the way as well as further afield. This road trip can be amended for families or adrenaline seekers. While it’s easy to drive from Vancouver to Whistler in a day, splitting it up into several days is recommended. 

After leaving Vancouver , one of the first points of interest in Whytecliff Park, this is somewhat of a hidden gem in Vancouver and a nice scenic spot to stretch the legs. When the tide is low you can walk across the rocks to Whytecliff Islet.

Your drive along the Sea to Sky highway will then bring you through the town of Lions Bay and Britannia Beach. Here is where you’ll find Porteau Cove Provincial Park and the Britannia Mine Museum, which is a great stop for families. 

Soon after Britannia Beach is the town of Squamish, many people bypass this town but it’s definitely worth a night’s stay at least. There are so many amazing restaurants here, some of our favourites include the Wigan Pier for fish & chips and Sonny Chibas for Mexican and fried chicken. 

There are also several craft breweries here that are worth checking out. Squamish is famous for its hiking and rock climbing. The Chief is a granite monolith that towers above the town and is a bucket-list hike in the area. If you aren’t feeling up to hiking, you can take a ride on the Sea to Sky Gondola. 

The town of Whistler is usually people’s main destination when taking this route. This mountain town is home to Whistler Blackcomb ski resort and bike park. There are tons of things to do for every season in Whistler. Although it’s famous for skiing, other activities include snowshoeing, snowmobiling, dog sledding and hiking and biking in the summer. 

Nita Lake Lodge is our favorite hotel in Whistler , it’s the only lakefront hotel in the resort town. It’s far enough away from the main village that you’ll get lots of peace and quiet here. 

There is plenty to see and do further afield too! Less people visit Pemberton and Lillooet but they are just as beautiful and the rest of Highway 99. Joffre Lakes is one of BC’s most beautiful hikes in BC. 

Seton Lake near Lillooet is one of our favourite places in all of Canada, and the short hike to the lookout is breathtaking! 

By Rachel from A City Girl Outside

Vancouver – Kelowna – Banff

• Number of days – 2+
• Route – Starting in Vancouver British Columbia to Kelowna, BC to Banff National Park, Alberta

While driving from Vancouver to Banff is technically possible in one day, a stop in Kelowna not only breaks up the trip, it’s also more scenic. The mountainous Highway 3 is the best way to get to Kelowna in terms of scenery.

In Kelowna , be sure to enjoy the waterfront parks, hiking in the hills outside of town, shopping around Bernard Ave, and wine tasting at local vineyards.  If staying overnight in Kelowna, treat yourself to The Royal Kelowna hotel for views of the water and proximity to downtown and the cultural district.

From there, you can take the spectacular drive through Glacier and Yoho to Banff on Highway 1. The biggest highlight on this leg is simply looking out your window!

Two points of interest along the way are quite close to each other: Three Valley Gap and the town of Revelstoke. Three Valley Gap is a big hotel on the shore of a large lake, visible from the highway. There is a bit of a ghost town to visit and just one restaurant, inside the hotel.

For more dining options and amenities, make your next stop 20 minutes down the highway, in the little town of Revelstoke. Whether it’s to stay the night or even just to grab a bite to eat, it’s a nice place to visit.

Next, you’ll pass through Glacier and Yoho National Parks , both of which are worthwhile places to visit for hiking, camping, scenic drives, and more.

Finally, saving the best for last, you’ll arrive in Banff National Park. Take the tram to scenic overlooks, hike to a tea house, admire the emerald Lake Louise, bike, look for wildlife, camp, or relax at an upscale inn. From Banff, you can take countless scenic drives to extend your road trip in different directions, like Yoho or Jasper National Parks. This is a true outdoor wonderland and worth staying for several nights.

By Michelle from Intentional Travelers

Nanaimo to Tofino, British Columbia

• Number of Days – 1
• Route – Nanaimo to Tofino, British Columbia

While not the longest by any means, driving from Nanaimo to Tofino on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island is one to add to your to-do list!

Tofino is still a hidden gem, even for many Canadians, and the stops along the way make it the perfect West Coast road trip.

There is only one main road that takes visitors from Nanaimo to Tofino (HWY BC4). While summer is traditionally Tofino’s high season, this rugged part of Canada sees storm watchers venture to the coast to watch the full power of the Pacific Ocean hitting land.

Along the 3 hour route, there are a few essential stops. Coombs is a little detour, but it’s popular market and goats on the roof are a delight for all visitors. 

Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Provincial Park is right along the route. You will literally drive through an amazing old growth forest right on the highway. If you stop at Cathedral Grove, you will find a small parking area and a trail that takes about 30 minutes to see some of the oldest trees in British Columbia.

Ucluelet is the last stop you should make, before the final stretch to Tofino.  Take the time to walk the Wild Pacific Loop. It is less than 30 minutes from Ucluelet to Tofino, you can always add this to a day trip activity while you stay in Tofino. 

The last stretch of drive will bring you past Pacific Rim National Park where the strong Pacific Ocean waves crash on the sandy beaches. There are plenty of places to stop along the way if you want to take a closer look. Tofino is home to stunning sandy beaches, you will have plenty of time to enjoy the waves and the sand.

Two of the best places to stay are Pacific Sands Beach Resort and Long Beach Lodge . Both offer beachfront accommodations and are perfect for couples and families. 

By Lindsay from Uncovering British Columbia

Dawson City (Yukon) to Tuktoyaktuk (North West Territories) 

• Number of days – Minimum 3 days one way
• Route – Dawson City (Yukon) to Tuktoyaktuk (North West Territories) 

Starting in the historic Klondike Gold Rush town of Dawson City and ending on the edge of the Arctic Ocean, this Canadian road trip is a must do for adventurous travelers. The main part of the route (737km of 875km total) follows the Dempster Highway , a legendary rough dirt road traversing tundra and limitless wilderness. 

The Dempster is the only road in Canada to cross the Arctic Circle. Consequently, travelers who visit in summer will be accompanied by the Midnight Sun (24 hours of daylight). The long days allow for endless exploration. It’s disorienting yet exhilarating and ensures this road trip experience to be like no other in Canada! 

Tombstone Territorial Park, located around 110km from Dawson City, is a real highlight. Here, the expansive landscape is backdropped by impossibly jagged mountain peaks. Be sure to stop at the interpretive centre before heading out onto one of the established hiking trails. Keep your eyes peeled for some of the local residents, including grizzly bears, moose, caribou, porcupine and black foxes. 

Epic as this road trip may be, there is some caution needed. This is a truly wild area, with almost zero phone signal along the entire route. The elevated dirt road is rough in places and can become very slippery after rain. A good spare tire is absolutely essential as is a puncture repair kit, air compressor and jack. Most importantly, the drive should not be rushed. 

Facilities are few and far between (all part of the adventure!) but one of the most convenient places to stop on this road trip is Eagle Plains. 

There is a campground, hotel, gas station, and restaurant here. Inuvik has the biggest choice of services and places to stay, with the Arctic Chalet being a top choice. While in town, be sure to check out the Igloo Church and Community Greenhouse (built in an old ice rink), 

Tuktoyaktuk is your final destination; a place where you can dip your toes in the freezing Arctic Ocean and reflect on your incredible journey through Canada’s northern wilderness!

By Gemma from Off Track Travel

Saskatchewan Road Trip 

• Number of Days – 5-6 
• Route : Regina to Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park (Centre Block) 

Saskatchewan often isn’t the first place that comes to mind when planning a Canada road trip . Most people head straight to the Rocky Mountains, Vancouver Island, or Niagara Falls. While these destinations are all very much worth a visit, so is Saskatchewan!  

This underrated Canadian province features two beautiful National Parks, several Provincial Parks, cute little towns and rolling hills covered in rippling grain as far as the eye can see. If that’s not enough, Saskatoon and Regina are two lively cities with a relaxed vibe, plenty of restaurants and lots of worthwhile sights. Plenty of reasons for a Saskatchewan road trip ! 

Start your road trip in Canada by exploring Regina, the capital city of Saskatchewan. Spend two days here and visit the Provincial Legislative Building, stroll around Wascana Lake, and learn about history in the Royal Saskatchewan Museum. A nice place to stay is the Ramada by Wyndham (Emerald Park). 

Hop in your car and drive to Grasslands National Park (West Block) in approximately 3.5hours. This National Park is a great place to see rare native wildlife such as the bison as well as an excellent stargazing location as there is very little light pollution. Hike the 70 Mile Butte Trail and take one of t 

After spending a day (or if time allows, two days) in Grasslands National Park, drive to Eastend and visit the T-Rex Discovery Center to marvel at one of the few T-rex skeletons ever found. Continue your road trip and drive to Cypress Hills Provincial Park.  

This Provincial Park is perfect for swimming, camping, and hiking. A must-do is visiting Bald Butte and Lookout Point. The views from both viewpoints are breathtaking, you can see for miles and will really come to appreciate the vastness of Saskatchewan.  

By Lotte from Phenomenal Globe Travel Blog 

Road Trip from Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) to Winnipeg (Manitoba)

• Route – Saskatoon – Yorkton – Langenburg – Russell – Portage La Prairie – Winnipeg

Saskatoon to Winnipeg takes about 8 hours 10 mins by car if you drive non-stop. Both cities are located in two Prairie provinces of Canada. Start from Saskatoon Saskatchewan, and pretty much along the way you will find small Prairie towns, mom & pop shops, cute barns, and farms.

Saskatoon is nicknamed as the ‘Paris of the Prairies’, due to the many bridges found here. From Saskatoon, make way for Yorkton (in about 3.50 hours). Yorkton also has a Western Development Museum, just like Saskatoon which is worth visiting. 

If you wish to stretch your legs, head to the York Lake Regional Park for a quick stroll. From Yorkton, arrive at Langenburg, and this is where you can break for lunch. 

Up next on the road trip is Russell, located about 15 km (9 miles) from the Saskatchewan border. The town is known for the Manitoba’s Beef and Barley Festival, which is held annually in October. 

From Russell, the next stop is Portage La Prairie (in 3 hours). In case you didn’t know the Prairies are home to the some of ‘world’s largest’ like Tomahawk (Cutknife, SK) or Easter Egg/Pysanka (Vegreville Alberta). So Portage La Prairie has the world’s Largest Coca-Cola Can. Don’t forget to stop by, and snap a few photos!

From here, Winnipeg is another hour’s drive. Spend 2 days in Winnipeg, exploring some of the iconic attractions like the pedestrian Esplanade Riel Bridge, named after the 1848 revolutionary Louis Riel. 

Wander the French part of Winnipeg – St Boniface. Eat out, and hang out at the city centre. The Forks is a must visit in the city. This site is a National Historic Site of Canada. 

Assiniboine Park also deserves a place in your itinerary. It is a beautiful park with tons of walking trails, river views, and more. Finally, visit the Royal Canadian Mint, and go on a guided tour to learn about coins, and maybe take some home with you!

East Coast City Delights – Toronto – Montreal – Quebec City

• Number of days – 3 days + 
• Route – Toronto – Montreal – Quebec City

This classic road trip starts in Toronto and travels through Eastern Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick, before ending in Halifax, NS. From start to finish, this road trip will take about 18 hours of straight driving. 

You could do it all at once, but you’d miss out on so many fantastic places! Instead, we’d recommend stopping a few times along the way, making this road trip into a 3 to the 5-day trip, and taking the time to explore a few places along the way. We will cover Toronto to Quebec City, as one road trip, followed up by Quebec City to Halifax (and of course you can combine both).

Beginning in Toronto, follow Hwy 401 east from Toronto until you reach the border of Quebec and it becomes Autoroute 20. Stay overnight in Montreal – the Old Town is much more scenic, but the downtown section has more dining options. Alternatively, you can pass through Montreal and continue another 2.5 hours to Quebec City.

On day 2, drive Hwy 40 along the north shore of the St. Lawrence, or 20E/TransCanada via the south shore. Either way the drive is close to 3 hours. Arrive in Quebec City mid afternoon, and you’ll have plenty of time to explore the Old Town, marvel at the Chateau Frontenac and soak up the European feel of the city. 

There are plenty of hotels to choose from – you can splurge on a stay at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac or choose more moderate options like the Quebec City Marriott Downtown .  

By Erin from Three is Us

Quebec City to Gaspésie

• Number of days – 5 – 7 days  (return)
• Route – Quebec City – Forillon National Park – Gaspe – Perce Village – Matapedia – Quebec City

One of the epic Canadian road trips is the one around Gaspesie . Gaspesie is a peninsula in the province of Quebec. It’s a loop route that starts in Quebec City and also ends there. You’ll need about 5-7 days to get the most of the area.

Set out from Quebec City early in the morning and take the QC- 132 road towards the east. Enjoy the ride along the picturesque coast, make frequent stops at viewpoints. In the evening you should reach Forillon National Park where you stay overnight.

Spend the next day hiking in the park. There are many trails to choose from, so pick the ones suitable for your level of fitness. The park administration will provide you with a map. Move to the town of Gaspe, where you’ll spend the night and the next day exploring local sights and museums such as Haldimand Beach, Gaspesie Museum, and Micmac Museum.

The next stop is in Perce Village where you can catch a boat to Bonaventure Island which is the main local attraction. This small uninhabited island is home to the largest Atlantic seabird colony in North America. After hiking on the island, check out Perce Village and try some local food and beer.

From this point, the road trip will return to Quebec City, but around the southern shore. The south offers amazing viewpoints, several lighthouses, Micmac village, and a beautiful Philomene Waterfall. The one-stop you shouldn’t miss is the Miguasha National Park that is also a UNESCO World site for its valuable fossil site and museum.

In Matapedia, take the QC-132 towards the north. Before you reach Quebec City, the sights worth seeing are Pointe-au-Pere Lighthouse and Jardin de Metis Botanical Garden. Do stop in one of the local ‘fromagerie’ to buy some delicious cheese sorts.

By Slavka from On2Continents

Quebec City – Fredericton to Moncton, via Hopewell Rocks to Halifax

• Number of days – 4 days + 
• Route – Quebec City – Fredericton to Moncton, via Hopewell Rocks – 251km,  Moncton to Halifax – 260km

You can start this road trip from Toronto , and follow the itinerary above to stop in Montreal and Quebec City. From Quebec City, follow the TransCanada Hwy north along the St. Lawrence River to Rivière-du-Loup, then head south-east to New Brunswick. 

*Note* As you cross the border into New Brunswick, the time changes and clocks go back an hour. 

Although there isn’t much to see in Edmundston, if you prefer a shorter drive today or just in need of a rest and stretch break, it is a good stopping point around 3 hours from Quebec City. 

If you prefer to keep on driving, Fredericton is another 3 hours south. Along the way, be sure to stop for a quick visit to Grand Falls about 45 minutes south of Edmunston and farther south, the Covered Bridge in Hartland. Continue on to Fredericton where you’ll stay the night.   

Continue your drive through New Brunswick and be sure to take a slight detour off of the Trans Canada Highway south to the Hopewell Rocks.

Just an hour south of Moncton, the Hopewell Rocks are a remarkable place to experience the highest tides in the world! Happening twice a day, be sure to check the tide tables to be aware of high and low tides. 

The final stretch of this road trip heads into Nova Scotia. After crossing the border, it’s about 2 hours to Halifax. **There is a toll on this portion of the highway. It’s approximately $4 CAD. 

An hour after the border lies the town of Truro, which is a good spot to stop, have a rest and if the timing is right, to watch the twice daily tidal bore. If you’re adventurous, try Tidal Bore Rafting on the Shubenacadie River, close to Truro. 

Another hour’s drive and you’re in Halifax –  stay here for a few days in Halifax, and enjoy the East Coast. While you’re in Halifax, be sure to visit Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg, Halifax Waterfront, and Dartmouth.

There are many hotels to choose from, whether you’re looking for something close to the waterfront (which are more expensive) or something a little further away. Clayton Park, just off Hwy 102 is a good option, with hotels such as Coastal Inns and Future Inns – both highly recommended from our family!

Maritimes Magic: Fundy Coastal drive from Campobello Island (NB) to the Confederation Bridge (PEI) 

• Number of days – 5 days
• Route – New Brunswick and the Fundy Coastal drive from Campobello Island to the Confederation Bridge at Prince Edward Island (PEI)

Coastal New Brunswick and the Fundy Coastal drive from Campobello Island to the Confederation Bridge at Prince Edward Island makes for a scenic and less traveled area of Canada. In five days, you can cover the highlights in the Maritimes , along with the iconic Hopewell Rocks.

Start from Campobello Island, the only International Park in the world and summer home of the U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. 

On day 2 head to Saint Andrews. An old fishing village, on the Bay of Fundy, where the most dramatic tides in the world shift daily, Saint Andrews has lots of restaurants and cute shops. It is also a great take-off spot for whale watching and kayaking trips. Don’t miss the Huntsman Marine Science Center and Kingsbrae Gardens.

On day 3 and 4, drive to Saint John and explore the city. Stay at the St. John Hotel & Suites . A must-see is The Reversing Falls, where the Bay of Fundy tides overtake the flow of the Saint John River, a UNESCO GeoPark. Then, make the quick 3-minute drive to Carleton Martello Tower located high on a hill overlooking the Bay of Fundy.

The New Brunswick Museum is a great way to get some history on the area with exhibits on the region’s lumber, shipbuilding, farming industries.

City Market of Saint John is a vibrant and bustling market with stalls of fresh produce, meat, seafood, even local art and souvenirs, and restaurants. 

Another must-see destination, Hopewell Rocks is a unique landscape, where you can walk along the ocean floor and see the towering sandstone sculptures with trees on top thanks to the Bay of Fundy’s dramatic tides

From there, you can continue winding along the Bay of Fundy Highway to 15E. Crossing the Confederation Bridge is an adventure in and of itself — it is the longest bridge (8 mi/12.9 KM) that crosses ice-covered waters in the world.

By Lori from Maps, Memories and Motherhood

Cape Breton Highlands National Park: Cabot Trail East Coastal Drive

• Number of days – 3+ days
• Route – Halifax – Cape Breton Island along the Cabot Trail

The Cabot Trail is a scenic driving route on the island of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. Cape Breton is the largest island, and is home to 14% of the population. 

Cabot Trail offers one of the best scenic views along Canada’s Atlantic Coast. Cabot Trail is over 300 km, and can be easily completed in one day. However, we recommend stopping along the way to make the most of your trip, including exploring the great outdoors of Cape Breton Highlands National Park and soaking in the views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 

You can start from Halifax (fly there), and then head towards the Cabot Trail (3.50 hours).  Do make a stop at the Highland Village. This village has re-created the life of Gaelic settlers in Cape Breton and is beautifully set on the Bras d’Or lake. 

Set a day aside for Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Camp, picnic or go on a hike. Check out the Cape Breton Highlands Lookout, and capture sunset on Skyline Trail Hike. 

Whale watching is popular here, so seafood including lobster treats! Being a coastal drive, do stop at the Margaree Harbour or Enragee Point Lighthouse. 

Final Thoughts on Road Trips in Canada

You see, it is impossible to squeeze everything in Canada on a single trip (be it week or 2 weeks long). But you can always come back, and check off these wonderful road trips from your Canada bucket list. 

Pick one that speaks to you the most – mountains, cities or culture, or food – pick your car rental (check gas, your licences, insurance) – and let’s go!

Where will you head to first? 

Pin: 12 Canada Road Trips to take this year: Explore Canada by road trips

Mayuri Kashyap is an Indian Canadian traveler, writer and photographer based in Alberta. She moved to Toronto as a student in 2009, and has been calling Canada home ever since. She started the blog - Canada Crossroads - to share her travel and living experiences in the Great White North!

A History graduate and an MBA, Mayuri is a destinations marketing expert. She loves traveling with her husband, Salil and soaking in experiences across Canada, India and Europe.

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Road Trip From Toronto To Vancouver

Travel across canada.

Many Great Stops On Our Road Trip From Toronto To Vancouver

Our fall trip to Western Canada started with a long road trip from Toronto to Vancouver. We had many interesting stops along the way.

We did the trip between Toronto and Vancouver before. On our first trip we travelled through the U.S.A. in the late summer. And returned on a similar route as winter set in.

On this trip west, we planned our travel through the Canadian provinces – Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia (BC). We did a mix of one and two night stops until we arrived for our extended stay in BC . Our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver by the numbers:

Days:                            10 Stops:                           3 one night, 3 for two nights Distance:                    4,500 km (~2,800 miles) Hours Travelled:   62 hours (includes driving and stops along the way)

We Started Our Road Trip Through Northern Ontario

The alarm went off at 5am. So we were on the road by 6am and escaped the Toronto rush hour traffic. We had our first break when we were well out of the city.

The forecast for our stay in Sault Ste Marie was rain and thunder storms. On our first visit to Sault Ste Marie , we drove through blinding rain for much of the drive. And did not want a repeat adventure. So all of our stops along the way were quick ones.

While we hit some rain on the drive north, we arrived at the Delta Sault Ste Marie earlier than planned. And even managed a walk along the waterfront before rain came again. We knew when we planned just a one night stop that we would not do much exploring.

Not every stop on our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver was a fun one.

The Waterfall Route Out Of Ontario

It was another early start the next day. We planned an 8 hour drive and several waterfalls stop along the way to Thunder Bay . On our first visit to the Sault Ste Marie area, we enjoyed several of the waterfalls close by .

On this trip, our first waterfall stop was along the Magpie River in Wawa. We saw Silver Falls from the hiking path. And then wandered along the shore for another view of the lower falls.

Our research showed us the spot to park to view the Mink Falls. This local spot was not easy to find. But we were glad we did our research before we arrived.

Our final waterfall stop on the way to Thunder Bay was at the Aguasabon Gorge and Falls. We walked to the viewpoint and got a view from above of this steep canyon.

We were so glad we planned the waterfall route from Toronto to Thunder Bay . So many great outdoor spots along the way. We were sure that these stops would be even more spectacular with fall colours. But heading out on our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver, we were still a bit early for fall colours in Ontario. But we sure got some great fall colour displays on our travels when we explored BC in the fall !

A Great One Night Stop In Thunder Bay

We planned only one night stops on the three day trip out of Ontario. When we checked into the Delta Thunder Bay and got a large suite that overlooked Lake Superior, we wished we planned a longer stay on our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver. This was the first of many great sweet suite upgrades our loyalty status got us on this trip.

With a late arrival and early departure, we enjoyed the hotel and the great restaurant on-site. It was a lovely rest from being on the road.

But we never explored the area around Thunder Bay. It was a good nudge to plan a longer stay on our return trip from Western Canada .

A Short Stop In Winnipeg

The next day we finally left Ontario and arrived in Manitoba. Winnipeg was the first of our two night stops. We enjoyed our upgraded suite at the Delta Winnipeg . But we had a full day planned for our short stop in Winnipeg .

We wandered to the Manitoba Legislature Building and enjoyed the sights along the way.

From there we followed the walking path along the Assiniboine River to The Forks in Winnipeg. We found a large area with food markets, walking paths and much to see.

We got a quick view of the sights on our short stop in Winnipeg . Although we did miss out on enjoying the vast open spaces at the Assiniboine Park ,

A Luxury Break In Regina

We planned another two nights stop in Regina in the next province of Saskatchewan. We had a couple of options for accommodations but chose the elegant Hotel Saskatchewan . There was little planned for our luxury stop in Regina . We fully intended to enjoy the upgraded suite and beautiful hotel.

But when the sun came out, we headed off and explored a little of Regina. We headed for Wascana Lake and the Saskatchewan Legislative Building . The Queen Elizabeth gardens and the various statues decorated the space.

Green spaces and gardens in bloom greeted us as we wandered along the path by the lake. Statues and even a totem pole gave us stops along the path.

When we wandered around Regina, we were delighted when we found such an interesting display of street art and murals.

We had a great road trip break in Regina and left refreshed.

First Mountain View On Road Trip From Toronto To Vancouver

We left Regina and the path continued west on our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver. The flat plains changed to rolling hills and oil rigs appeared in the fields with the cattle.

We arrived on the outskirts of Calgary and stopped for one night at the Element Calgary Airport . There was a steak house on the property. So of course we had Alberta beef for dinner.

It was a quick trip through Calgary and into the Rocky Mountains. The sun shone on the great mountain views. Banff was our coffee stop. Everywhere we looked the town was ringed with mountain views. A short walk worked out the driving kinks before we headed back on the road.

The mountain scenery drew us forward on our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver.

A Great Outdoor Stop In Revelstoke

The mountain views and bright sunshine continued until we crossed the border into British Columbia. By the time we went through the Rogers Pass, clouds started to gather.

Our 2 night hotel stop at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Revelstoke gave us a great view of Mt Revelstoke. When the weather cleared, we headed up to the summit of Mt Revelstoke . We got amazing views at the lower viewpoints. And then ran into a snowstorm as we climbed.

We waited out the snow and went for a walk to the summit with snow on the ground. Our persistence was rewarded with great views. And when the sun set, we got an even better show.

The mountain views in Revelstoke were stunning. We were so glad we headed high to the summit of Mt Revelstoke and got that different perspective.

Revelstoke  Waterfalls  On  Road Trip From Toronto To Vancouver

We had four waterfalls sights on our list of things to see in Revelstoke. Advance research provided us with maps and some idea of where to find the waterfalls around Revelstoke . Not all of them were well marked.

First we headed towards the Revelstoke Dam. We watched for a small dirt road and found the Moses Creek Falls. We were glad we had our SUV for the drive down the dirt road.

Next we headed back south towards Blanket Creek Provincial Park. We drove down through the park and found a sign that got us to the Sutherland Falls.

The last waterfall on our plans for the day was at Begbie Falls. We found the hiking path and set off for many different views of these waterfalls.

We missed the chance to visit the Akolkolex Falls on our tour of the waterfalls in the Revelstoke area . It would be a new treat if we went back to Revelstoke.

Checking out waterfalls was something we did a lot of on our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver.

Heading Into Vancouver

We were not yet finished with waterfalls. When we passed by Bridal Veil Falls on our drive into Vancouver, we did not resist the chance to see yet one more waterfall .

As we drove through British Columbia, we got more great mountain views in all directions. Gradually they got rounder and lower. By the time we hit the Fraser River Valley, we were finally back down to sea level.

But as we approached Vancouver, the peaks along the coast appeared. And we even saw Mount Baker in the U.S. at a distance.

On the back end of our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver, we got so many amazing mountain views.

Finishing Our Road Trip From Toronto To Vancouver

It was a long drive from Revelstoke with stops along the way. But we finally arrived at our AirBnb in Port Moody outside of Vancouver.

Port Moody was the first of many stops on our extended visit in BC . We had a mix of places planned – enjoying the False Creek area , North to Whistler on mainland BC, over to the Sunshine Coast and from north to south on Vancouver Island . And we were excited when we began our explorations.

Have you done a road trip from Toronto to Vancouver? What did you discover along the route?

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76 Comments

This is super cool. I’m first gonna send this to my friend living in Toronto. It is a good idea indeed to start that early to avoid peak hour traffic. A road trip with so many waterfalls on the go? The Waterfall route of the trip sounds awesome. Love those mountain views as you reach Vancouver. Perfect finishing touch.

There were indeed so many amazing sights on our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver. A long trip but worth it.

This looks like a neat 10-day road trip with a lot of waterfalls and different weather conditions. Blue skies in Winnipeg and snow in Revelstoke. I love the architecture of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights – I bet the exhibition is quite interesting too!

We loved all the different things we saw on our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver. Overall we were surprised at how great the weather was on the way to Vancouver. And most of our trip back home later in the fall. So many places to stop along the way.

I have travelled small parts of this 10 day route on a trip to Canada in the 1980s (as a kid, with my parents) but I really want to do those bits again plus the rest of it , with my husband. I suspect it’ll take us a few different visits to cover the whole route, along with off-shoots! I’d love to self drive it though so it’s rally helpful to read your suggested overnight stops and info on distances, and your accommodation choices too.

I hope you do get back to do this road trip one day. We sure loved all the stops we found along the way.

Wow, what an ambitious road trip! It certainly looks like a great way to experience so many beautiful stops along the way. I really loved that you stayed in better hotels – I bet that would be rejuvenating after a long day on the road without creature comforts. I especially liked your accommodations in Delta Thunder Bay with the view to Lake Superior.

We were glad we picked better hotels to really relax when we stopped. A great way to enjoy the many lovely stops along the way.

This is a part of the world I am totally unfamiliar with. It is breathtaking! Someday….

I am glad to introduce you to some views of road tripping through Canada.

We haven’t gone all the way to Vancouver, but made it out as far as Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan last summer. It was incredible watching the landscapes change. We also drove from Calgary to Jasper to Edmonton, so we have enjoyed the mountain views as well.

All of the sections of this road trip from Toronto to Vancouver were interesting. And the different segments can be done on multiple trips. Lots to see all along the way from Toronto to Vancouver.

Great pics and destinations. If you can, I think any trip should be planned along a waterfall route. Thunder Bay looked amazing.

We were definitely amazed with all the natural beauty we found on our stops along the route from Toronto to Vancouver. And there were indeed so many amazing waterfall stops!

While the whole trip seems amazing, my favorite is the nature and waterfalls near the beginning. Sadly I have only been to the Niagara Falls area of Canada, but the whole country looks so beautiful.

There is so much to discover in Canada. We loved all the new spots we found on our road trip across the country. Hope you get to see more one day.

What a fun Canadian road trip! I’ve been to Toronto before, but have no explored much of Canada other than that. I’d love to visit Vancouver, this seems like a great itinerary for seeing Canada between the two spots. Thanks for sharing!

The last time we did this trip we travelled through the US. So this time it was great to road trip from Toronto to Vancouver in Canada. Lots of great spots found along the way.

Whoa – what an amazing road trip! I love seeing all your photos and how the terrain changed as you travelled across the country. I would love to take a road trip like this through Canada one day, I still haven’t even visited. I feel like this would be a great way to see the country. Thanks for sharing!

Taking a road trip across Canada is definitely a great way to see the diverse nature of the country. We were glad we had the time to do this trip.

We are actually planning to go on a road trip in this route. We’d love to take the Waterfall Route as this is really beautiful. Thank you for this wonderful idea. Will check family if we can do 10 days. It would be nice to maximize the trip and have these stopovers. Bookmarking your as reference.

A road trip is always a great way to see so many new sights. Hope you get a fun one planned for the summer.

What a beautiful road trip! Definitely I enjoyed all the waterfalls stopped you made along the road. My favorite are the Aguasabon Gorge and Falls and Sutherland Falls. And the towns around the Rockies reminded me of mountain towns in Colorado.

It was great to see such a variety of sights and natural beauty on our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver. We sure did find some amazing waterfalls along the way.

I haven’t been to Canada yet but once I go, I’ll probably go on a road trip. I think that’s the best way to explore such a huge country full of amazing nature and sceneries. Your itinerary is such an amazing inspiration – it shows that it comes from a couple – literally – of experts 😉

A road trip is a great way to explore Canada and see the variety of sights and natural beauty that we have. We do love to explore!

An impressive road trip of 4,500 km. I was also thinking about a similar route. I would gladly use your tips because I do not know Toronto and this part of Canada.

If you had more time – and energy – there are so many other stops along the route from Toronto to Vancouver going through Canada. Our trip home was a faster one so we did not pick up many new spots. But lots to discover along this great route.

I love road trips and this one sounds great! I love that it begins and ends with waterfalls, Aguasabon Falls and Bridal Veil Falls look gorgeous. It is nice to see information about Winnipeg, I don’t know much about the city.

It was indeed fun to start and end this trip with waterfalls. So many lovely stops along the way that we got to learn more about.

So many beautiful waterfalls and amazing architecture! You make me want to pack my bags and start a road trip!

It was indeed a great road trip from Toronto to Vancouver. Loved all the stops along the way.

Another great itinerary! I loved Winnepeg and would like to visit again but now you have me interested in the Thunder Bay area! Looks amazing. I love Vancouver too, being from Seattle have visited many times and expect to again soon. Thanks for the great tips.

We loved all the great stops on our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver. We too need to go back and spend more time in Northern Ontario. Sadly the weather was really bad there on our return visit and we did not hang around. Hope you get to do some parts or all of this trip one day.

This was such a beautiful journey. Haven’t been to Canada as yet but when we do we would certainly plan for this road trip. Waterfalls are so beautiful anyways and a route with so many just can’t be missed. Thanks for this guide.

I hope you do get to plan a long road trip when you finally get to Canada. It is a wonderful way to see the vast diversity across this country.

Wow, I would absolutely love to do this road trip. Canada is definitely on my travel bucket list but I never considered doing a road trip. Great idea stopping in nice hotels along the way, that would definitely break up the journey a bit.

Canada is a great place to do a road trip. But they are often long road trips. A great way to see how different the country is. We loved stopping along the way to enjoy some of the places along the path.

This is a lifetime adventure! A fantastic road trip! I had the chance to make some road trips but not so long! Canada has so many gems and places to discover! very inspiring!

I hope you get to visit Canada and explore by road. So many amazing spots. But it is a large country so you can even break the trips up for more than one trip.

Oh my goodness 60+ hours in the car, but what a cool experience to see SO much! All those waterfalls alone would be enough motivation for me. I’d love to do a cross country trip sometime. It’s truly the best way to see everything and take your time to really enjoy it. Beautiful post!

It was indeed a great trip and a wonderful way to see Canada. We were glad we planned a slower pace with shorter days and some longer stops.

You have so many amazing photos! I loved the details you provided about this trip. It sounds incredible 🙂

Thank you so very much 🙏 We sure loved our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver and the great stops along the way in Canada.

Wow, that is a lot to pack into 10 days! Revelstoke looked stunning, especially the sunset. We are going in about a month and are super excited. We should be arriving in town in the late afternoon and we will see how tired we are, but we might have to see if we have time to make it up there for a sunset. Only one night there, so makes sense to make the most of it.

One night will be a short time to visit. But if you get in and have time, the drive up to the summit is lovely. The waterfalls in the other post all need a bit longer to see. But that will be a tease for a longer return visit.

Wow the trees along the Waterfall Route are stunning – this is a great roadtrip itinerary! Thanks for sharing 🙂

This was indeed an amazing road trip itinerary. We were glad we planned so many great stops. And left enough time to add new ones as we drove along.

Woooah that is a road trip and a half! What an epic (and long) adventure! I have also visited a lot of those waterfalls along the way (on various road trips) it looks like you found so many good uns! I love your style of stopping off for mini adventures along the way.

It was great to have the time to do some stops along the way on our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver. Lots of great small detours that made each day fun.

What a fantastic road trip this looks! So much packed into 10 days! I love the mountain views you get as you cross into BC – stunning! I’d love to do a roadtrip in Canada one day and this certainly sounds like a great itinerary so I shall be saving this to refer back to 🙂

Doing a road trip in Canada is a great way to see so many different things. We were glad we planned to drive for this visit to the west coast of Canada.

Wow! What an epic road trip! I read with interest as I am returning to Canada next year. Skiing with friends in Vancouver & looking for tips on what else to do while I’m there. Your photos are stunning as always & got me excited to plan my trip. And obviously some of those waterfalls will be included too!

I am sure you will have an amazing visit to Vancouver. Lots of new blog posts coming up about our most recent visit to BC and much more on the site as well. Waterfalls and outdoor sites are everywhere in BC!

Great post and details on your road trip, very helpful. We used to road trip from Victoria to Edmonton every month, but haven’t done this in about 4 years. We’re road tripping to Calgary in the next two weeks (via Edmonton to see family and hockey playoffs hopefully) and are really looking forward to it. There’s something about the casual nature of driving, stopping every so often to take in the lovely views all over Canada. Thanks for sharing!

We were definitely happy that we chose to drive for our longer visit to the west coast. The trip out was quite peaceful. The trip back a little more challenging as winter approached. But it was great to meander and stop when something interesting was on the path. Enjoy your road trip to Calgary. So many great spots to enjoy on that trip.

Your trips are always so interesting! I was actually contemplating doing a cross-Canada road trip at some point this year, so this post has made me very excited!

I hope you do plan a cross Canada road trip. We did the east coast on one trip and then headed west a few weeks later. Our visit to BC was in the fall so we left before the snow hit. But the trip home was still a little rougher.

One of my favorite things about your blog are your photographs, and this article is no exception! You make it so easy and inviting to imagine taking a similar journey. And wow what a journey this 10 day road trip is. I would love to get to see Canada like this, especially your stops at waterfall and gardens. Thanks for another helpful and inspiring article!

I am glad this post gave you some great ideas (and images) about travelling across Canada from Toronto to Vancouver. We sure were glad we chose to drive for this visit.

I love all the waterfalls you got to see on your stop! How was the availability in the hotels? Ideally it would be nice to be able to book as you go then you wouldn’t have to worry as much about weather.

On the way there and most of the way home we booked all our hotels in advance. On the way home we left a few open bookings because we were worried about weather.

Great article this has given me lots of ideas for a road trip we want to do across to New Brunswick from Vancouver. We can’t wait to go through Vancouver and revelstoke to enjoy the waterfalls and views. Especially bridal veils

It would be an awesome road trip from Vancouver to New Brunswick. So many amazing things along the way.

Every time I read your posts, I feel the urge to head to Canada! There are so many great places on your road trip from Toronto to Vancouver! I’d love Thunder Bay, Banff and Revelstoke for sure!

I hope you do get to visit Canada one day. A long road trip is a great way to see the country.

We have roadtripped in both eastern and western Canada’s but not the middle. So it is Winnipeg and Regina that are the stops. And there is nothing to see between these two?

There were indeed more detours and stops to do in the middle of Canada. If we planned a slower trip we would have tried to see more of the prairie treats.

I would love to get to Toronto one day to do this road trip as I love seeing lots of different things in one trip. The waterfalls, gardens and street art would definitely seal it for me and as for those mountain views, well they speak for themselves.

We sure loved our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver. It was great to plan enough time for some great stops along the way.

Wow, 10 days to do this road trip, looks so rugged and wild and all those amazing waterfalls. I would love to try doing this some day since i haven’t really gotten a chance to see the middle part of Canada and nature there looks spectacular.

I hope you do get to visit Canada one day. A long road trip is a great way to see so many different aspects of the country.

With such postcard-perfect scenery, this road trip is something to die for. I am super excited to take this road trip from Toronto to Vancouver.

We sure did love our road trip across Canada!

This is a fabulous road trip itinerary between Toronto and Vancouver. And love his you broke it down by number of stops and nights. So much to do and see in those 6 Canadian provinces.

We were so glad we planned to travel between Toronto and Vancouver … and then back after a stay on the West Coast. So many great stops indeed along the way.

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Road Trip from Vancouver to Toronto

A road trip from Vancouver to Toronto is an epic journey that really takes you back to nature as you adventure from the most populous city in British Columbia to the largest city in all of Canada - discovering stunning mountains, national park and world-famous lakes along the way.

The 4,540-kilometre road trip from Vancouver to Toronto takes 44 hours. Key stops include Bellevue, Ranchester, Chicago, Seattle as well as Yellowstone National Park, Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore and Deadwood.

There are so many places to to discover on this incredible international trip. So keep reading until the end to find out more.

How far is Toronto from Vancouver and how long will the road trip take?

A road trip from Vancouver to Toronto takes a minimum of 40 hours to complete, covering a distance of at least 4,330 km (2,700 miles).

With a journey of such magnitude there are so many incredible attractions along the way, so our recommendation would be to take a slightly longer route, which totals 4,540 km (2,820 miles) and 44 hours.

You could complete the road trip in as little as 5 days if you kept your stops to an absolute minimum, but we're going to suggest splitting it over a minimum of 10 days to give you plenty of opportunity to soak up some of the best places these two countries offer.

As the trip involves crossing the border, you will need to remember to bring documentation with you, such as proof of identification. Best to check ahead of the journey on the latest guidelines.

Best road trip route from Vancouver to Toronto

The route for our road trip from Vancouver to Toronto may take you between two Canadian cities, but our route suggests spending most of the journey in the US - travelling through 10 American states.

While you could chose a simpler trip that stays within Canada, travelling east on the Trans-Canada Highway through Calgary, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay and towards Toronto, we're not going to recommend that here because our alternative route is by far the most interesting.

Road trip route from Vancouver to Toronto

Start by taking the British Columbia Highway 99 south and following it to Peace Arch Park, on the American border. Once you cross into the US, you'll be on Interstate 5 before taking exit 182, near Lynwood. Join I-405 and continue south until you reach Bellevue and your first US city.

Next take the I-90 east, where if you wanted, you could follow this road for the majority of the journey all the way to Indiana. However, we're going to make a slight detour, to take you to one of the most famous locations in America, Yellowstone National Park.

Continue through Cardwell and take S-359 to Harrison. Next join US-287 and continue heading south until you reach West Yellowstone in Southern Montana. Known as the gateway to Yellowstone National Park, explore before joining the I-90 heading east.

Pass Crow Reservation before arriving at Ranchester, Wyoming. Continue heading east on the I-90 as you pass Rapid City, another a great option for a stop to explore the stunning nearby reservations.

Continue on this road through Sioux Falls before arriving at Chicago. After taking in this brilliant city you will pass Gary where you will finally change onto I-94 at exit 21, on the southern shore of Lake Michigan before arriving at Detroit. Here you switch onto I-96 and cross Ambassador Bridge into Canada.

After emerging on Ontario Highway 3 and following it a short distance, you'll change onto Ontario Highway 401, which takes you through Hamilton and Mississauga before arriving at Toronto.

Best places to stop between Vancouver and Toronto

With a road trip from Vancouver to Toronto taking anywhere from 5 days to 2 weeks, there are plenty of incredible places to stay along the way.

While there are plenty of obvious cities for an overnight stop, the following are two possibly less known locations that you'll want to keep your eye out for:

Enjoy an iconic stay in Yellowstone National Park

As the oldest and one of the most famous national parks in America, it's a no brainer to spend some time at Yellowstone National Park. As an early stop on the road trip, this is also an ideal time to take in the first part of the journey and relax before embarking on the rest.

Yellowstone National Park will provide some of the most breath-taking views you will ever see. From its landscapes and wildlife, to its history and iconic features, such as Grand Prismatic Spring, this a truly a location not to be missed.

After a long hike, a stay at Kelly Inn West Yellowstone is a great choice . Set just a three minute drive from the entrance of the park, this hotel combines great location with superb amenities. Relax in the indoor pool and hot tub before unwinding in the modern and stylish rooms.

For peace of mind, the Kelly Inn also includes free parking and a complimentary breakfast. While prices are fair, given its location to such a huge attraction, rooms are likely to be booked in advance so plan ahead before this magnificent stop.

A gateway to the past: Rapid City

Located in western South Dakota and almost halfway through the road trip, Rapid City is a location for an overnight stop.

Surrounded by an astronomical number of must-see attractions, from multiple national parks and wildlife attractions to legendary monuments and historic towns, Rapid City has something for everyone. It's definitely a location you'll need more than a single day to fully appreciate.

There are plenty of options for places to stay in Rapid City, but for a real taste of the historical city, the Hotel Alex Johnson Rapid City, Curio Collection by Hilton has to be our favorite . This historic hotel is located in central Rapid City and is just 30 minutes drive from Mount Rushmore.

This exquisite hotel is oozing with charm, style and fun. The elegant rooms are decorated with period furnishings, while the onsite spa facilities and incredible dining options promise you a stay that leave you feeling like royalty. There's even an outdoor terrace to enjoy the sunset - a stay here is worth every penny.

Reach new heights in Chicago

Just over 500 miles from Toronto, Chicago is a great final stop before embarking on the final drive on this road trip. Known for its incredible architecture and fantastic museums, the Illinois city is the largest in the US.

Chicago, on Lake Michigan, is a city worth spending at least a day in to fully appreciate. Discover its jazz music and 1920s gangsters, or explore Sears Tower (just one of its many incredible skyscrapers). But it's not just buildings: Chicago's motto is "city in a garden" thanks to its impressive and historic park system.

After taking a stroll through Millennium Park or visiting Cloud Gate, a stay at The Hoxton is an absolute must . At the heart of Chicago's West Loop district, this luxurious hotel has three bars and restaurants, beautifully designed rooms and the most incredible rooftop pool with stunning views of the city.

Designed with luxury in mind, you could be forgiven for not wanting to leave The Hoxton, but if you did you would find yourself just a short stroll to Willis Tower and the CIBC Theater. That said, after several days of driving, you might just want to put your feet up with a drink by the cosy lounge fire.

Things to see on a road trip from Vancouver to Toronto

Given the huge distance between Vancouver to Toronto, there are a huge number of scenic and historical things to see that you might want to visit along the way.

Here are some of the most important attractions that we think are simply too good to miss:

• Lake Ontario - The smallest of North America's “Great Lakes” yet still has fantastic views.
• Lake Erie - The smallest by volume and second smallest by area of the aforementioned Great Lakes, it comes in as the 11th largest lake on Earth.
• Lake Michigan - Lake Michigan is the fifth largest lake in the world. It is also Earth's largest lake to be located entirely in one country.
• Seattle, Washington - The most populous city in Washington state, known for Starbucks, the Space Needle and grunge music.
• Yellowstone National Park - The oldest national park in North America, having been formed in 1872. Its iconic imagery and stunning wildlife have drawn artists and tourists from all over the globe for decades.
• Devils Tower - A stunning location, which has for years been used in movies and artwork due to its incredible imagery.
• Bighorn National Forest - One of the oldest designated forests in the US and home to Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark.
• Rapid City - The second most populous city in South Dakota, on the edge of the black hills.
• Sturgis Festival - The world's largest motorcycle rally, featuring music, entertainment and organized rides through the Black Hills, held annually on the first weekend in August.
• Mount Rushmore - One of America's most iconic attractions, featuring the faces of former US Presidents carved into the side of the Black Hills.
• Crazy Horse Monument - While still under construction, this memorial to the legendary war chief of the same name will eventually be one of the largest in the world.
• Badlands National Park - A beautiful national park that was founded in 1939 and is world-renowned for its incredible collection of fossils and archaeological attractions.
• Deadwood - The second largest old west town still in existence anywhere in America.
• Wall Drug - Wild west tourist attraction, originally founded as a drug store in 1931. Featuring shops, restaurants and works of art, it draws over 2 million visitors a year.
• Wind Cave National Park – One of the oldest national parks in the country, founded in 1903, it is home to one of the longest, most unique cave systems in the world.
• Detroit, Michigan - The largest, most populous city in the state of Michigan, famous for its links to the motor industry and Motown music.
• Chicago, Illinois - The most populous city in Illinois is famous for its unique style of pizza and history with the mob.

Best time to go on a road trip from Vancouver to Toronto

With a road trip from Vancouver to Toronto covering such a vast distance and taking as long as it does, it makes pinpointing the perfect time to do it a little more complex, as you need to figure out the best time to visit not just the destination but the attractions along the way as well.

However, when you realize most of our on-route attractions are outdoors and that Toronto is quite a cold city outside of summer, it makes the choice for this particular trip fairly clear.

Late May through to the end of August is ideal - temperatures in Toronto only peak in July with highs of 77 degrees and the rainy season doesn't really begin until September. However with the warm weather, you will of course see a rise in tourists.

If you prefer less crowds, especially in popular attractions like Yellowstone National Park, you could be better off aiming for late April where the "off season" month allows you a better chance to catch of glimpse of local wildlife too.

Avoiding summer months also means cities such as Chicago and are less cramped. If, however, you'd like to plan your trip around a festival or two, September and October offer a range from International's Film Festivals to Oktoberfest.

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Windsor (Ontario) to Vancouver drive

Windsor (ontario) to vancouver road trip planner.

Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Windsor (Ontario) to Vancouver. If you're planning a road trip to Vancouver, you can research locations to stop along the way. Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather. Traveling with a dog or cat? Find pet-friendly stops . Camping along the way? Search for RV campgrounds . Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members.

10:00 am  start in Windsor (Ontario) drive for about 7.5 hours

day 1 driving ≈ 7.5 hours find more stops

9:00 am  leave from Madison (Wisconsin) drive for about 4 hours

1:08 pm   Minneapolis stay for about 1.5 hours and leave at 2:38 pm drive for about 6.5 hours

day 2 driving ≈ 10.5 hours find more stops

11:00 am  leave from Bismarck (North Dakota) drive for about 2.5 hours

day 3 driving ≈ 2.5 hours find more stops

9:00 am  leave from Theodore Roosevelt National Park drive for about 6.5 hours

3:20 pm   Bozeman stay for about 1 hour and leave at 4:20 pm drive for about 3 hours

day 4 driving ≈ 9 hours find more stops

9:00 am  leave from Missoula drive for about 3.5 hours

12:35 pm   Spokane stay for about 1 hour and leave at 1:35 pm drive for about 6.5 hours

7:51 pm  arrive in Vancouver eat at Vij’s stay at Yaletown

day 5 driving ≈ 10 hours find more stops

Windsor (Ontario) to Vancouver questions

Where should I stop along the way?

Madison (Wisconsin)   (41 answers)     Wisconsin State Capitol   (3 mentions)     restaurants around Madison (Wisconsin):         The Old Fashioned         Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co         L'Etoile         Ha Long Bay     questions about Madison (Wisconsin):         What is your favorite restaurant in Madison?         Family-friendly campsites near Madison for large groups         Where is there a good Japanese restaurant?         One day trip, looking for a good time under $100         Catholic Easter Vigil Mass with good music in Madison? Minneapolis   (71 answers)     Lake Calhoun   (23 mentions)     Lake Harriet   (21 mentions)     Lake Of The Isles   (17 mentions)     Minnehaha Falls   (10 mentions)     Minnehaha Park   (8 mentions)     restaurants around Minneapolis:         The Bachelor Farmer         112 Eatery         Sea Salt Eatery         Midtown Global Market         Psycho Suzi's     questions about Minneapolis:         Best free things to do in Minneapolis?         Is the Mall of America worth visiting?         Fine dining in Minneapolis?         What are the best lakes in and/or around Minneapolis?         What are your favorite restaurants in Minneapolis? Bismarck (North Dakota)   (4 answers) Theodore Roosevelt National Park   (9 mentions) Bozeman   (31 answers) Missoula   (16 answers)     restaurants around Missoula:         Five on Black     questions about Missoula:         What is your favorite restaurant in Missoula? Spokane   (38 answers)     Riverfront Park   (2 mentions)     questions about Spokane:         What's the best neighborhood in Spokane for a first time visitor?

Where's the best place to stay in Vancouver?

Are you going straight to a hotel, or looking for a vacation rental or Airbnb?

The best resource on neighborhoods, areas, and hotels is the Trippy page on where to stay in Vancouver .

If you're looking for a quick answer, you can check out Yaletown , which was mentioned 7 times on Trippy.

Here are some more hotels people talk about:

Want to research more popular hotels in Vancouver? Click the blue button below.

Where's the best place to eat in Vancouver?

Need some recommendations on somewhere to get food?

Trippy members suggest Vij’s , which was mentioned 10 times.

Here are some more restaurants people talk about:

Want to research more popular restaurants in Vancouver? Click the blue button below.

What are some things to do in Vancouver?

This section could be endless, so rather than trying to suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it open-ended.

These are some of the places people talk about on Trippy:

Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions because there's an entire community of travelers talking to each other and sharing tips and advice. Trippy is where you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, trip dates & more!

For example, here are some questions people have asked about Vancouver. Click on any question to see answers from the community!

Click the button below to explore more questions and answers related to Vancouver.

Do I really have to go back home?

Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation who wants the trip to end? It's okay, you can start planning your next trip!

Want to plan the trip back? Get the reverse directions for a Vancouver to Windsor (Ontario) drive , or go to the main page to plan a new road trip .

You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving by calculating the distance from Windsor (Ontario) to Vancouver . Or get a full Windsor (Ontario) to Vancouver flight plan .

Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend.

And if you know Windsor (Ontario) well, please help your fellow travelers and answer their questions about Windsor (Ontario)!

More info on this route:

road conditions from Windsor to Vancouver

places to eat

alternate routes

Google driving directions

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How to plan it, the best routes to take, and more information on driving across the nation

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Article content

The question isn’t “why would you want to drive across Canada?” so much as “why wouldn’t you want to?”

I guess if you hate nature, fascinating culture and kind people, then maybe you should stay home. But if you’re OK with those things and lots more adventure, then you should totally consider taking that epic Canadian road trip. 

Everything you need to know before road-tripping across Canada Back to video

For our purposes, we’re defining “cross Canada” a few different ways: from the Maritimes to Vancouver; and from Central Canada to Vancouver. We’ll also give some shout-outs to a number of other classic Canadian road trip routes. Read on to learn what you need to know before driving across Canada.

What’s the best route to drive across Canada?

If your objective is to get from centres like Halifax on the East coast or those in central Canada like Montreal or Toronto to Vancouver or vice-versa as quickly as possible and you don’t mind crossing an international border a couple times, then much of your drive will in fact be done in the United States.

The quickest routes from east to west all carve out much of Ontario and all of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, crossing into U.S. territory at border stations along the way. It’s the difference of five hours from the Southern Ontario centre of Toronto to Vancouver on the West if you go through the U.S. versus staying in Canada, and even less the further north you travel.  

If you’d rather not fish out the passport, or if borders are closed at the time you’re reading this, you can keep it between the national lines by driving up around the detour that is Lake Superior. “Best” is subjective in this sense, but we recommend getting the full Canuck experience if you’re able. At the right time of year, the drive up around Lake Superior and across the prairies is staggeringly beautiful and rewarding. 

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How long does it take to travel across Canada by car?

Again, if you’re looking for the quickest route, dipping into the U.S. will save time. Google Maps clocks a Halifax to Vancouver drive at 57 hours (5,793 km) regardless of whether you cross the border into Maine or Michigan. That gets boosted up to 60 hours (5,834 km) if you choose to stay in the country and pass through Thunder Bay. 

The drive from Toronto to Vancouver takes 41 hours (4,173 km) through the U.S.; and 46 hours (4,410 km) to keep it national. From Quebec City to Vancouver, it’s 47 hours (4,806 km) through the U.S.; and 50 hours (4,839 km) through Canada. 

Keep in mind these drive times are just that, “drive” times. Most people won’t be setting out to cover 1,000 km a day, so plan to take a week or more to really enjoy the experience and not feel like you’re racing across the continent. 

How do I plan a road trip across Canada?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDrD0K2j3XI/

This article is a good place to start. Also, Google Maps or other map applications like Waze, or paper maps if you’re old school. Online, just plug in your start and end point, including any stops you’d like to hit along the way, and let the program do its thing. With a route and estimated drive time in mind, you can start to plan stops in specific locations, and budget accordingly. For those looking to travel or camp off-road, having access to topographical maps is also a good idea. 

If you plan on staying along the Trans-Canada Highway, you can visit TransCanadaHighway.com for information on sites, closures, speed traps, highway history, and more. 

Where should I go on a road trip in Canada?

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Crossing the country from coast to coast is an epic trip and almost a Canadian rite of passage, but it’s far from the only route worthy of planning a motoring vacation around. There are world-class road-trip options from just about every Canadian centre, large or small. Check out our list of popular road trip routes in Atlantic Canada here or our list of popular British Columbia road trips here . 

How much does a road trip across Canada cost?

Cost all depends on the type of traveller you are and what kind of vehicle you’re driving. If you’re driving a thirsty V8, taking your time travelling just a few hours a day, eating at all the best bistros and staying at the trendiest Airbnbs, then don’t expect to spend less than a couple hundred dollars a day per couple. 

If, on the other hand, you’ve got a frugal hatchback filled with your homemade granola and camping equipment, and an app like GasBuddy to tell you where the most economical place to fill up is, it is possible to get by with basically just the cost of gas, which at the time of writing sits at $1.33/L on average in Canada, plus a few extras. So, if you’re driving a base model 2020 Honda CR-V with a combined city-highway fuel consumption rating of 7.7 L/100 km, for example, then travelling the approximately 4,000 km across Canada would cost around $410 in gas alone.

Realistically, however, any type of travel in Canada is more expensive, and even budget travellers should expect to spend around $100 a day. 

Can you rent a car to drive across Canada?

Yes, most car rental companies offer pick-up and drop-off options in many Canadian cities. Borrowing a compact sedan from Enterprise for a journey from Vancouver to Toronto, for example, will likely cost you around $1,200 plus taxes. 

Other rental services like CanadaDream , which lends recreational vehicles; and RVezy , an app that allows RV and other camper vehicle owners to rent their units to other app members online, provide other options for Canadian road-trippers.  

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Must Do Canada

The Best Things to Do in Canada

The Ultimate Kootenays BC Road Trip

June 21, 2022 By Matthew G. Bailey Leave a Comment

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Imagine driving through the Canadian Rocky Mountains, passing numerous small mountain towns along the way, while enjoying delicious food, golfing, rafting, museums, mining tours, spas, and hot springs. This is what a Kootenays BC Road Trip is all about!

Starting in Fernie and moving up Highway 93 to Radium Hot Springs and Kootenay National Park, this is truly one of the top road trips in Canada . The landscapes are unreal, the towns are stunning, and there are activities and attractions for everyone, including golfing, adventure travel, or just kicking back while enjoying a massage.

While the optimum time to see the Kootenays is at least one week (two is better), you can also pick and choose where you want to go based on what you want to do or see. The driving time between all the towns is actually quite short, which makes it easy to navigate.

Having just experienced a 10-day Kootenay BC road trip, we’re going to list out what we did to help you plan your own. In addition, we have travel guides on some of the many destinations in the Kootenays to further enhance your trip.

Table of Contents

The Kootenays

First off, let’s go over what the Kootenays are.

The Kootenays is a region of southeastern British Columbia . It takes its name from the Kootenay River, which in turn was named for the Kutenai First Nations people. It’s a fairly large area that comprises many mountain towns, most of which offer incredible skiing and outdoor adventure, stunning mountain landscapes, clear lakes, waterfalls, biking, hot springs, and vibrant arts and culture scenes.

Destinations in the Kootenays include Ainsworth Hot Springs, Castlegar, Cranbrook, Creston, Fairmont Hot Springs, Fernie, Golden, Invermere, Kaslo, Kimberley, Nakusp, Nelson, Radium Hot Springs, Revelstoke, Rossland, Slocan Valley, and Trail. You can learn much more about these towns and the travel opportunities at MyKootenays.ca .

For our road trip, however, we’re going to focus on the towns on the Eastern side of the Kootenays, including Fernie, Cranbrook, Kimberley, Fairmont Hot Springs, Invermere, and Radium Hot Springs. If you decide to do the western side and the north, you should definitely allow two weeks as a minimum.

Located only 30-minutes west of Alberta’s Crowsnest Pass , Fernie is a great place to begin your Kootenay BC road trip. Fernie is a stunning mountain town surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. In fact, it’s the only town in BC completely surrounded by the Rockies. It’s home to world-class skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and rafting. It also has one of the nicest mountain towns with lots of delicious restaurants and a vibrant art scene. You can learn more about Fernie in our ultimate guide to the best things to do in Fernie . However, some highlights are below.

Considering its location, it should come as no surprise that Fernie is home to some great hiking options. We’ve done a couple of hikes in the area and can’t wait to do more down the line. One easy trail to get started with is Fairy Creek Falls, which starts just behind the Fernie Visitor Centre , which is also a great resource for planning your trip. This trail is relatively flat all the way to the beautiful waterfall, which is extra powerful in the spring. You’ll walk next to the creek for more of the short 1-hour journey, likely spotting beaver dams and chewed trees along the way.

For more difficult hikes with marvellous views, hike up to Mt. Fernie. This hike goes up the mountain, taking roughly 5 hours for a return trip. It is well marked and simple but is an incline the entire way, so make sure you’re up for the challenge. The reward is outstanding views of both the town and the mountains surrounding it.

Whether you’re looking for a calm, scenic float down the Elk River or looking to get more adventurous and go white water rafting, Fernie has something for everyone. During our spring visit, we joined Canyon Raft Company for a scenic float through town. Our guide shared lots of information with us as we gently coasted through town, marvelling at all the mountains around us. We saw an eagle, an elk, and lots of evidence of beaver activity.

Explore Historic Downtown Fernie

Fernie’s downtown core is quite beautiful with many historic buildings surrounded by stunning views. There are a few different ways to actually learn about the buildings and the history, including a visit to the Fernie Museum and a self-guided historical walking tour. You can find a map of the walk inside the Elk Valley Cultural guide.

Located roughly one hour west of Fernie, Cranbrook is another great base for exploring the Kootenays. From multiple award-winning golf courses to hiking and biking, there’s something for everyone. Cranbrook also has a lot of history. Built for the railway, the city grew around the tracks, leading to beautiful commercial buildings and elegant homes.

Some things to enjoy while you’re here include:

Cranbrook History Centre

While the Cranbrook History Centre is a great place to learn about the history of the town, it’s much more dedicated to the history of trains in the region as well as train history in general. In fact, if you have any interest in trains, this is one place you do not want to miss. Home to a collection of 20 railway cards (17 of which are available to the public), this is a rare chance to see and walk through some amazing rail cars, such as the 1929 “Trans-Canada Limited” (a classic “Jazz Era Art Deco” design), 2 cars of the 1907 “Soo-Spokane Train” (a deluxe example of “Edwardian Art Nouveau Elegance”), and the 1927 executive night car “Strathcona” which has housed many VIP guests during its time in service, including Queen Elizabeth II, John & Jackie Kennedy and Sir Winston Churchill. As of 2022, it has also housed Must Do Canada (haha). To see all of them, you’ll want to sign up for the grand tour. Also notable is the Royal Alexandra Hall, one of the original luxury railway hotels built in Winnipeg back in 1906. The Grand Cafe portion of the hotel, the only remaining piece in existence, is part of the Cranbrook History Centre and is a joy to see.

Cranbrook is a great place to go biking and during our visit, we rented e-bikes from North Star Bicycle Co. and peddled halfway to Kimberely, utilizing the North Star Rails to Trails pathway, which is a 28-km paved trail connecting the two towns via an old railway track. This is a very easy, mostly flat pathway suitable for almost anyone and a great way to enjoy the Kootenays by bike. However, Tourism Cranbook lists many other trails in the area as well for those seeking more excitement.

Play Mini Golf

During our visit, we stayed at the Elizabeth Lake Lodge , which is not only a beautiful lodge with lots of murals but is also home to one of the best mini golf courses we’ve ever experienced. Claimed as the most difficult mini-golf course in Canada, we certainly had a challenge trying to hit par. We did well for the first nine holes and then did very poorly on the last nine. It’s just such a unique course to enjoy with so many obstacles and really detailed props and buildings. In addition, they have a bird sanctuary right behind the lodge.

St.Eugene Mission

Although St. Eugene Mission is not really a town, it does feel like a destination in and of itself. This is thanks to the St. Eugene Resort and Casino , a beautiful resort located in a former residential school. Transformed by the local indigenous people into what it is today, this is a lovely place to spend a couple of nights, especially if you’re into golfing or gambling. Some of the things we recommend doing here are:

Take an Interpretive Tour

With so much history, albeit a dark one, there’s a lot to learn at the main building, which is known as the Red Brick Schoolhouse. Besides spacious rooms and dining, you’ll also find the Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre, a small museum where you can learn about the Ktunaxa people and how they moved, lived, and crafted for thousands of years. If you want to dig deeper though, you can take a tour from one of the elders or knowledge keepers, giving you insight into the dark past of this former residential school, the original layouts, some of the disturbing stories, and why they decided to turn it into a resort rather than a demolition project.

Whether golfing is just a side hobby or something you truly play with passion, the St.Eugene Golf Course is a beautiful place to play. Surrounded by mountain views, forest, and a gushing river, this championship golf course offers a golf experience like no other, including a Par 72 championship course, up to 7,007 yards from the black tees, unlimited driving range access, a full-service “Halfway House”, the 19th Hole Restaurant & Bar, new golf carts with a GPS system for yardage, golf lessons for individuals or groups by PGA-certified professionals, and more.

Casino of the Rockies

For those who rather try their luck at the slot machines or have fun playing poker and blackjack, the resort is also home to the Casino of the Rockies, which is open year-round with a bold, nature-based design concept that pays homage to the Ktunaxa First Nations’ connection to the earth while highlighting the flora and fauna native to the mountains and foothills in their backyard.

Recently voted as the best small town in all of British Columbia in a fun competition run by the CBC, Kimberley is no longer a Kootenay secret. Located just 30 minutes north of Cranbrook, and connected via the North Star Rails to Trails trail, Kimberely is another beautiful mountain town with lots of outdoor adventure and history.

There are many things that make Kimberley stand out, such as their historic mining tour, their unique pedestrian-friendly downtown Platzl, and their consistent Purcell Mountain powder in the winter, just to name a few.

Some activities we can recommend include:

Kimberley Underground Mining Railway

Kimberley owes its existence to the historic Sullivan Mine and the Underground Mining Railway , which kickstarted this area into the thriving mountain town it is today. Although the mine is not in use anymore, it is owned and operated by the Sullivan Mine and Railway Historical Society, which have created a very popular tour that takes you into the mine on a train where you’ll get to learn about its history from a retired miner.

You’ll start by riding the rails through the beautiful Mark Creek valley as you listen to the history of Kimberley and the Sullivan Mine. You’ll then get to learn about life from an ex-miner while he demonstrates some of the equipment that was used in the Sullivan Mine. Afterwards, you’ll come back out of the mine and into daylight once again as you enter the Sullivan Mine Powerhouse for a guided tour featuring the huge compressors and generators that powered the mine.

You can then continue the experience and explore the Orpheum Theatre, the North Star Schoolhouse, the Miner’s Cabin and the Caboose as part of your adventure into history.

Tour the Downtown Platzl

One of the things that makes Kimberely quite unique in the region is their pedestrian-friendly car-free downtown Platzl. This cobblestone area really feels like a slice out of Europe, and in a way, it was designed that way. Although they’re now shedding the image, the Platzl was originally designed to look Bavarian as a way to bring in tourists. Some of this can still be seen in the buildings and some of the features, such as the Happy Hans Cuckoo Clock. Either way, it’s a beautiful place to spend an afternoon and you can do your own self-guided walking tour by picking up a map at the nearby Visitor Centre. Some of the stops include the Kimberely Heritage Museum, the Platzl Water Feature, and the Kimberley Veteran Memorial Park.

Visit the Marysville Waterfall

Located nearby in the town of Marysville is the Marysville Waterfall, which is only a 5-minute walk from the parking lot. In the spring, it’s absolutely gushing with water, and the trail snakes alongside the river itself, making it a beautiful and easy walk in nature.

Fairmont Hot Springs

Home to the largest natural hot springs in all of Canada, Fairmont Hot Springs has become BC’s best all-season family destination and has been a legendary attraction for 100 years. With over 1.2 million gallons of fresh, odourless mineral water flowing through the Fairmont Hot Springs pools daily, they’re able to use minimal levels of chlorine, further enhancing their tranquil, calming effect.

But it’s not just the hot springs that make this a great destination to visit in the Kootenays. It’s also home to three beautiful golf courses, incredible views, skiing, hiking, biking, white water rafting, horseback tours, and even a zip-line. Oh, and we should probably mention the spa. It’s also just one hour from Kimberley and less than 30 minutes from Invermere, making it a great addition to your Kootenays BC road trip.

Fairmont Hot Springs Lodge

Although there are other accommodation options in the area, the Fairmont Hot Springs Lodge is the flagship resort, with 140 rooms, fine dining, spa treatments, and the hot springs themselves. Antlers at the Lodge, their fine dining restaurant, was one of the best restaurants we ate at during our Kootenays BC road trip.

Mountainside Golfing

Located just minutes from the Fairmont Hot Springs Lodge is the Mountainside Golf Course, which caters to a variety of skill levels while offering stunning views of the Rocky Mountains. We had a blast while trying to look like golfers as we skirted the many gophers galavanting about and tried not to hit the many houses that back onto the golf course. It’s also very reasonable with pricing, ranging from about $60 to $75 per round depending on the time of year.

Invermere and Panorama

Popular with people from Calgary and only three hours from the major city, Invermere and Panorama are true gems of the Kootenays. Invermere is the town, located in a stunning valley that separates the Purcell Mountains from the Rocky Mountains, whereas Panorama is the mountain ski resort not far away. As if two mountain ranges weren’t enough, it also sits nestled into Windermere Lake, a beautiful lake with jaw-dropping views all around it. North of the lake is also the Columbia Basin Wetlands, one of the largest in North America. I mean, does it get any better? Well, it turns out it does. There’s also Radium Hot Springs, listed below, which is just 15-minutes away. If you can’t tell yet, we love it here.

ATV’ing and Snowmobiling

If you’re looking for a unique way to get deep into the Purcell Mountains, look no further than Toby Creek Adventures . Located very close to Panorama Mountain Resort, Toby Creek offers snowmobiling tours in the winter and ATV tours in the summer, allowing you to get behind the wheel for a guided tour up the mountains. We joined them on their flagship Paradise Mine Tour, which takes you all the way from the valley bottom to their alpine cabin at 8000 feet.

Kayaking and Canoeing

One of our favourite activities we did during our visit to the Kootenays was a kayaking tour with Columbia River Paddle . Whether you jump in a canoe or a kayak, this is such a beautiful way to experience one of the largest wildlife wetlands in North America. We paddled through the wetlands and into the Columbia River and all the way to the town of Radium Hot Springs. It was a four-hour one-way trip and we saw lots of bald eagles along the way. This is truly the best way to fully experience what makes this area so special.

As you’ve probably guessed by now, Invermere and the surrounding area is a great place to go for a hike. There are many options, ranging from alpine hiking at Panorama Mountain Resort to easy hikes around the Columbia River. We decided to do the Old Coach Trail, which utilized an old motorcoach road while offering beautiful views of the Columbia Valley. In fact, we could see the trail while kayaking, so if you don’t want to get in a kayak, this is another option for seeing the area and hopefully spotting some wildlife.

Radium Hot Springs

Located just 15 minutes north of Invermere and sandwiched between the Purcell mountains and the Canadian Rockies, Radium Hot Springs is a popular idyllic mountain town. With so much natural beauty, Radium Hot Springs is a haven for outdoor adventure, including rafting, hiking, and biking, but is also a refuge for peace and tranquillity, with spas and hot springs nearby.

Whether you drive into Radium Hot Springs from Calgary or from the hot springs themselves, you’ll drive through the iconic Sinclair Canyon, a narrow highway carved through the canyon that opens up into views of the Purcell Mountains. It’s a magical way to enter a magical place.

Some of the things we recommend doing here are:

Relax in the Hot Springs

Also called Radium Hot Springs are the actual hot springs themselves, which are located right at the entrance to town near the Sinclair Canyon. Managed by Parks Canada, these are some of our favourite hot springs. Although the pools themselves are man-made and modern, the water is as natural as natural gets. Plus, it’s right next to a cliff, which gives it a nice natural feel, especially in the winter when everything is covered in snow. The facility has towels and locker rentals, as well as a lap pool with a small waterslide and diving board.

For those who love golf, Radium Hot Springs is a true paradise. With 13+ golf courses situated in or within 45 minutes of the village, each offering a unique experience, golf is the #1 activity in the area.

If you have your heart set on a golfing getaway, you can’t go wrong with Bighorn Meadows Resort. Then again, if you’re not into golf, it’s still a great place to stay. Although we didn’t golf this time around, we did spend a night in this beautiful resort that sits right next to the ninth fairway of the Springs Golf Course. This is a great place to stay if you’re looking for apartment-style accommodation. We had a massive room, a full kitchen, a living room, a washer and dryer, and a massive deck with stunning views of the golf course and the mountains.

Valley Zipline Adventures

Another fun activity for the whole family is ziplining in the Kootenays. Located between Invermere and Radium Hot Springs, Valley Zipline Adventures offers 1.5 hours of fun spread out over 7 ziplines that take you through the forest. They have a very modern zipline system that really makes you feel safe, and once you’re used to it, you can do some cool things like hang upside down or do the starfish. They also have an Adventure Tower for those wanting to practice their rock climbing skills.

Kootenay National Park

Located just north of Radium Hot Springs and all the way to the Trans-Canada Highway, Kootenay National Park is an incredible place to get into the wilderness. Established in 1920 as part of an agreement to build a new road across the Rockies, Kootenay National Park is a place of unique contrasts, from icy mountain rivers to steamy hot springs. You can enjoy it with a quick 1-hour drive along Highway 93, by hiking some of its backcountry trails, or by camping in one of the many beautiful campgrounds. There are also oTENTiks for those wanting to go glamping instead as well as guided tours to experience such wonders as the Burgess Shale fossils, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Want More BC Travel?

While the Kootenays is truly a spectacular destination, there are a lot of incredible places to visit in British Columbia. From the rainforest of Vancouver Island to the hustle and bustle of Vancouver, below are more BC travel guides to enjoy.

• Things to Do in Vancouver
• Things to Do in Vernon
• Things to Do in Kelowna
• Things to Do in Golden BC
• Things to Do in Victoria

About Matthew G. Bailey

Matthew G. Bailey is the founder and editor-in-chief of Must Do Canada. Growing up in Alberta to a mother from Quebec and a father from Newfoundland, Matt spent his childhood playing hockey under the Northern Lights and hanging out in the forest before moving to Calgary and travelling to more than 250 cities spanning 42 countries and 6 continents. He loves travel, learning new things, playing sports, writing, making videos, photography, and scuba diving. You can also find him at LiveLimitless.net .

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The Ultimate Cross-Canada Road Trip: Montreal to Vancouver

Mortimer Hotton / EyeEm / Getty Images

Driving from eastern Canada to the country's west coast is a major undertaking, but a rewarding one that you will not forget.

Even Canadians are shocked by the diversity of the people and landscape when traversing the country. You'll be moving through a range of cultures, languages and dialects, provinces , time zones, and topographies that are all compelling and very Canadian. You likely will enjoy some places more than others, but the fact that they all comprise one nation is part of what makes the journey so appealing. 

Especially if you're coming from Europe, which is a patchwork of different countries easily accessible to each other, Canada's expanse can be surprising. 

The quickest way across Canada is actually heading south in Ontario and continuing through the northern United States. But that would hardly be the Ultimate Canadian Road Trip, now would it? 

The stops included on this itinerary are mostly larger urban centers, assuming they will offer a wide variety of hotels with occupancy. If you have a trailer or RV, be sure to know where you can park it overnight . There are lots of campgrounds across Canada but reservations are recommended for the popular ones. In addition, Walmart Canada allows one-night parking free of charge in its parking lots.

Don't be overwhelmed by Canada's size: Embrace it and tackle it head-on with the Ultimate Canadian Road Trip, driving from Montreal, Quebec, west to Vancouver, British Columbia. 

​The Basics

• Distance covered: 2,860 miles (4,600 kilometers)
• Hours driving: About 54 hours, an average of 7 to 8 hours behind the wheel each day
• Nights: Seven (This number can quite easily be reduced to four or five if you are willing to drive 10 to 12 hours per day. On the other hand, you could also stretch it out by adding more stops or spending more time in your favorite places.)
• Time zones covered: Four (Beginning in the Eastern time zone, you'll move through Central, Mountain, and end up in the Pacific time zone). 
• Currency used: All provinces in Canada use the Canadian dollar, though some, especially those close to the U.S. border, may accept American money. 
• Safety: Canada is generally a safe country, with strict gun laws and a crime rate much lower than in the U.S. That said, keep your car locked when you're not in it and your valuables in a safe place. The emergency number everywhere is 911.
• Speed limits: Highway speed is between 100 and 120 km/hour (about 60–75 miles/hour) depending on your province. 

Start in Montreal, Quebec

Gregobagel / Getty Images

Steeped in history and infused with French culture, Montreal  is one of Canada's most popular destinations. Chances are you will want to spend at least a night or two here while you explore the unique culture and indulge in the delicious and rich Quebecois cuisine. Old Montreal , especially, is a special chance to stroll cobblestone paths and peruse 17th-century architecture. ​

Don't worry about your French here. Though many people here speak French, shopkeepers and restaurant and hotel staff pretty much all speak English. 

The first leg of your journey from Montreal to Toronto is not a particularly scenic one if you take the quickest route, which is by Highway 401. Nevertheless, there are several nice pit stops along the way, which include historic Kingston or Prince Edward County .

Distance from Montreal, Quebec to Toronto, Ontario: 337 miles (542 kilometers), 6 to 7 hours

First Stop: Toronto, Ontario

Naeem Jaffer / Getty Images

Toronto is Canada's biggest city, its financial center, and the most popular destination for travelers. It is bustling and diverse with no shortage of things to do. But it is a city and if you're not up for tackling the crowds, continue north on Highway 400 past Toronto for about three hours until you arrive in Ontario cottage country, a region of lakes and forest. Here you can find camping or smaller scale motels or resorts in a pretty setting.

Another option is to reach Barrie, a mid-sized city that will reduce the following leg's drive by an hour and a half. 

Recognize that Toronto traffic is a nightmare, so if you stay over, get on the road early in the morning or consider staying on the northern outskirts of the city so you can make an easy morning break for the highway. Highway 400 is the fastest route but if you're interested in seeing some of the pretty farmland north of Toronto, hit the more rural roads that run parallel. 

Distance from Toronto, Ontario to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario: 435 miles (700 kilometers), 7 to 8 hours

Second Stop: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Barrett & MacKay / Getty Images

As you head north of Toronto, your nerves will relax as urban sprawl gives way to the rugged, forested landscape of the Canadian Shield. You'll eventually switch over to the Trans-Canada Highway, which stretches all the way to Vancouver. The route here hugs the giant coast of Lake Huron through Northern Ontario's biggest city, Sudbury, before winding up in Sault Ste. Marie, one of the country's oldest communities. 

Sault Ste. Marie, known colloquially as "the Soo," is a riverside community that borders Michigan and you can even cross the International Bridge to reach American soil. If you see a freight ship coming through the canal, it's worth stopping to watch how the complex lock system moves the vessel across the river. Accommodation is limited to smaller-scale hotels and motels but you will see some familiar chains, like Marriott, Delta, and Super 8.

Distance from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario to Thunder Bay, Ontario: 437 miles (706 kilometers), 8 hours

Third Stop: Thunder Bay, Ontario

Walter Bibikow / Getty Images

There's not a lot to see along the 437-mile stretch between the Soo and Thunder Bay unless you stop at some of the lookouts, where you will witness the craggy beauty of the Canadian Shield. Northern Ontario is relatively unpopulated (most of the province's population lives in the "Golden Horseshoe" region around Toronto). Plus, those Great Lakes just get in the way of everything, making driving "as the crow flies" difficult.

You are now on the Trans-Canada Highway, which is generally single lane. Take care of the transport trucks and wait for passing lanes before overtaking them. Keep your gas tank above half-full as services are limited—especially between October and April—and try to get to Thunder Bay before dark, while always keeping your eyes peeled for moose and deer. 

If you have time for sightseeing in Thunder Bay, the Fort William Historical Park is the most popular attraction of the city. It's a re-creation of the fur trading outpost that was in the same spot during the early 1800s and the frontier feel transports visitors to another bygone era.

Distance from Thunder Bay, Ontario to Winnipeg, Manitoba:  436 miles (703 kilometers), 7.5 to 8.5 hours

Fourth Stop: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Ken Gillespie / Design Pics / Getty Images

Continue on Trans-Canada Highway 17 from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg for the most well-worn route and services. But if you're looking for scenery—and way fewer trucks—take Highway 11, which runs south of and parallel to Highway 17. The scenic route adds about an hour to the drive, but you can even reduce that by cutting through Minnesota and back up to Canada.

You made it to Manitoba! The provincial capital of Winnipeg is a fairly populous city, but it's easy to get around and filled with friendly and down-to-earth locals. If you're visiting in the winter, make sure you are fully prepared with heavy jackets and layers; Winnipeg gets frigidly cold, even by Canadian standards.

There are lots of hotels in Winnipeg to suit any range of budget and thriving cultural and culinary scenes. The Forks is a huge cultural space with a market, shopping, restaurants, and more, and is a great place to start your exploration of the city. The must-see attraction of Winnipeg is the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, a powerful exhibition exploring human rights abuses across Canada and the globe.

Distance from Winnipeg, Manitoba to Regina, Saskatchewan: 356 miles (573 kilometers), 6 hours

Fifth Stop: Regina, Saskatchewan

Between Winnipeg and Regina, you're in the heart of the Prairies, meaning flat. Police have reportedly pulled over people for reading books while driving here. If you are looking to shave some time off of your trip, this may be a stop to eliminate if you want to get closer to Calgary. It's not that Regina isn't worth visiting, but if you're itching for the dramatic landscapes and picturesque views of the Candian Rockies, you'll need to drive a bit farther.

The drive through the Prairies is scenic albeit a bit monotonous, but you can break up the drive by stopping in some of the province's best sites that are easily accessible from the Trans-Canadian Highway. Moose Mountain Provincial Park and Qu'Appelle Valley are just short detours off the highway and really showcase the beauty of Saskatchewan.

Distance from Regina, Saskatchewan to Calgary, Alberta: 472 miles (760 kilometers), 7.5 hours

Sixth Stop: Calgary, Alberta

John E. Marriott / Getty Images

Like many cosmopolitan centers in Canada, Calgary is multicultural, safe, friendly, and in close proximity to abundant natural beauty. It's also a big city that some may wish to avoid, so you can consider carrying on to Canmore or Banff , both of which are pristine alpine towns with plenty of amenities for travelers. But as far as cities go, Calgary is one of Canada's most charming. The Stephen Avenue Walk in downtown is a pedestrian street with the best restaurants, bars, boutiques, and cafes in town.

For an interesting detour along the route, the town of Drumheller isn't far off the highway and is considered by some to be the dinosaur capital of the world. These rocky badlands are a drastic change in scenery from the rest of the route, and you can see Canada's largest collection of fossils in The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology .

Distance from Calgary, Alberta to Kelowna, B.C.: 382 miles (615 kilometers), 7 hours

Seventh Stop: Kelowna, B.C.

Michael DeFreitas / robertharding / Getty Images

By this point, you'll have already seen some incredible scenery. But the best has been saved for last, and the final stretch through British Columbia will blow you away. The shortest route along the Trans-Canada Highway is incredibly scenic through the towns of Golden and Revelstoke—home to two of Canada's best ski resorts—and perfect places to stop for lunch and photos. 

This route departs from the Trans-Canadian Highway and stops in Kelowna , which is in the heart of the Okanagan Wine Region. If you're not wild about wine, skip it and stay on the Trans-Canada highway. The town of Kamloops is a picturesque town with plenty of options for accommodations and would make a great pitstop before the final leg of the trip. 

Distance from Kelowna, B.C. to Vancouver, B.C.: 242 miles (390 kilometers), 4.5 hours

End in Vancouver, B.C.

Michael Wheatley / Getty Images

Get out the rain gear and put on your Birkenstocks. You made it to Vancouver, B.C ., Canada's answer to San Francisco and one of the world's most livable cities. Surrounded both by water and mountains, Vancouver is a big urban center with laid-back charm. 

Though you deserve to put up your feet after the big drive, that's the last thing you'll want to do in Vancouver, where the people are always on the move, either kayaking, jogging the seawall, climbing the Grouse Grind , or any number of other ways to enjoy the city. You won't be at a loss for things to do in one of North America's trendiest cities.

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Epic Canada Road Trip Driving Across Country in 6 Days

By: Author Susan Moore

Posted on Last updated: December 6, 2023

Who wants to spend 50 hours driving across Canada in one week? In August I did just that. I drove 50 hours from Calgary Alberta to Bridgewater Nova Scotia in only 6 days. Solo. I know, I could fly there so much faster. But then I wouldn’t have my car. And my stuff. And the adventure of a cross Canada road trip on my own!

It was a great experience to drive those 3,100 miles (5,000 km) from Southern Alberta to the South Shore region of Nova Scotia all by myself. Alberta – Saskatchewan – Manitoba – Ontario – Quebec – New Brunswick – Nova Scotia . I drove through 7 provinces in six days.

No speeding tickets :)

Canada Road Trip

This road trip happened in mid-August and weather conditions cooperated with my travel plans. I would not attempt driving from Calgary to Nova Scotia in the winter.

I’m strictly a fair weather solo road tripper.

Bright red skeleton of the Peace Bridge which connects pedestrians to downtown Calgary

My longest road trip in Canada until this big cross Canada driving experience started in Vancouver, included stops in Armstrong BC, Lake Louise , Banff , and ended in Calgary .

READ: 5 Awesome glacial lakes in Alberta and BC

If you are driving across Canada from Vancouver then I would recommend stops in the Okanagan Valley for the wineries and wonderful fruit orchards. Also make time for at least a couple of these national parks:

• Mount Revelstoke National Park in BC
• Glacier National Park in BC
• Yoho  National Park in BC – check out Emerald Lake and Kicking Horse River plus a beautiful and easy hike to the amazing Wapta Falls and check out Takakkaw Falls too! Golden BC is an excellent place to stay while exploring the national parks.
• Kootenay National Park in BC
• Jasper National Park – Amazing hiking , kayaking , and fishing in Jasper. Drive the Icefields Parkway highway from Banff to Jasper – one of the most beautiful drives in the world!
• Banff National Park – Camping, hiking , fishing, canoeing and kayaking, and wildlife viewing

LEARN MORE: 15 Famous Landmarks in Canada

Goslings galore feeding at Prince’s Island Park in downtown Calgary

My previous longest road trip I drove over 2,500 miles (4,025 km) from Lafayette LA to Calgary AB including stops in Yellowstone NP in Wyoming ( read my guide to planning a trip to Yellowstone )  and Glacier National Park in Montana.

READ: 5 Reasons you must go to Yellowstone

In This Article:

Drive across Canada via USA or northern Ontario route?

Well it wouldn’t be a cross CANADA road trip if I skipped down to the USA for a bit now would it!?

In the beginning stages of planning my road trip across Canada I began with Google maps to find the best route and how many hours it takes to drive from Alberta to Nova Scotia.

Google presented me with three route options, all roughly the same mileage and total driving time of 49 hours.

READ now: 9 Cape Breton Hikes on the Famous Cabot Trail

Cross Canada road trip from Calgary to Nova Scotia driving route options from Google Maps

Route 1 via Trans-Canada Hwy

Drive across Canada without entering the USA. This route is Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia.

Route 2 via US-2 E

Drive from Alberta to Saskatchewan, into the USA at North Dakota, then Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, back to Canada via Ontario, then Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia.

Route 3 via I-90 E

Drive from Alberta to Saskatchewan, into the USA at North Dakota, then Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York , Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine , cross back into Canada via New Brunswick, ferry to Nova Scotia.

I opted to go with the all Canada driving route because two border crossings, into the US and back into Canada could add time to my trip.

Driving in the busy summer holiday time I figured I would do better to avoid border crossings and stick with the Trans-Canada Highway most of the way.

The route goes through Northern Ontario for several hundred kilometers on secondary highways with less traffic than the Trans-Canada Highway.

READ: 10 Day Nova Scotia Road Trip Itinerary (with Maps)

Kapuskasing River is a branch of the Mattagami River in Ontario Canada

Ferry or drive from New Brunswick to Nova Scotia?

The idea of taking a ferry may be alluring, but it probably won’t save you any time.

The ferry from News Brunswick to Nova Scotia only shaved 20 or 30 minutes off the trip so I opted to drive instead.

The reason I chose to drive is that I didn’t want to buy a ferry ticket in advance, just in case I experienced a delay in my trip. And ferries can be cancelled due to weather.

Plus, it costs around $150 CAD for the ferry and you need to be checked in 1 hour before departure time. That’s way too much pressure for driving Day 6.

This small replica lighthouse next to the Welcome to Nova Scotia sign greets travelers

Planning where to stop while driving across Canada

You could simply drive until you decide to stop and then find a place to stay each night during a road trip.

But I prefer to know where I am staying in advance.

I don’t want the hassle of being stranded and having to sleep in my car.

My Toyota Yaris is a compact car and it’s loaded up with all my stuff, so sleeping in my car would be my last choice and I would only do it in an emergency.

If you have a van set up and you can sleep in your vehicle then you have a lot more flexibility on where you stop for the night.

If I were sleeping in my vehicle, I would plan a few options for locations to stop each night.

Camping out I would plan to visit a lot of National Parks and Provincial Parks along the way.

READ: Icefields Parkway itinerary – from Banff to Jasper

Grant Hall Hotel in Moose Jaw SK with burrowing owls (by artist Gus Froese) atop pillars in the Burrowing Owl Lobby

How many hours per day do you want to drive?

Are you one of those people that can drive for 14 hours and not feel exhausted? If you are, I’m jealous!

Although I am improving, normally I prefer to spend around 6 to 8 hours driving per day when I relocate from one nomad home to the next location.

I generally spend one month at each location but sometimes only a week to 10 days.

READ: Pros and cons of a nomadic lifestyle

After my mom died in January 2017 and I needed to get back to Calgary to help my siblings take care of my dad (who has Alzheimer’s) I opted to drive 3 days in a row for 10-plus hours per day. It worked out okay and I found out I could do these long-haul road trips.

You need to know how many hours you will want to be behind the wheel.

You can take the slow and steady approach and drive 3 -4 hours per day, leaving you time to explore at each stop along the way. If you are traveling with young children this might be your best option.

Or you can spend all day driving in order to get to your final destination with time to relax and explore.

Pristine lakes and wilderness are the constant companion driving through much of Quebec

How many days do you want to drive?

The most perfect summer road trip would take me across Canada over three or four months.

But I didn’t have that kind of time, after visiting with family, so I made a choice to drive across the country within a week.

I wanted time to explore Nova Scotia during summer.

There’s so much Canada but only so much summer!

With my cross Canada trip taking an estimated fifty hours of driving I could split my trip into 5 days of 10 hours driving per day.

Sounds reasonable, but instead of 5 evenly paced driving days I opted to start my trip with a short 6-hour drive to Moose Jaw SK on Day 1, then 4 longer (9 – 10 hr) driving days and finish up with a short 5-hour drive on Day 6, New Brunswick into Bridgewater NS.

Al Capone’s desk in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan – Tunnels of Moose Jaw Tour

I chose my driving schedule based on how it would fit with my work schedule. I have one client for which I work on a pre-set time of Monday afternoon and Wednesday morning.

So, I left on Wednesday and planned to arrive in Bridgewater Nova Scotia by Monday afternoon, working from my apartment rental.

READ: Tips for planning solo travel

Some people would prefer to drive 4 days straight with 12+ hour driving time each day.

This is a better option if you are on a tight budget, for both money and time, because you would save 2 nights lodging.

You could also sleep in your vehicle if you have it set up for van life, or camping is yet another option.

Terry Fox Memorial and Lookout in Thunder Bay ON

Summer is high season for travel in Canada

Remember that summer is always high season for travel in Canada, so accommodation can be tricky, popular tourist spots like Banff and Jasper are booked weeks or months in advance.

Sometimes you can get last minute bookings but those are rare.

If you can’t book your accommodation in advance, then it’s best to be flexible with your plans and check to see what are the other options around the area.

The blue eye of this wolf-dog caught my eye in Kapuskasing ON, and his owner had a remarkable life story

Planning the stops on a cross country road trip

Here’s how I planned out my stops while driving across Canada over six days.

I used Google maps to plan out my road trip and find the driving distances. Figuring out my main route for the whole trip, then dissecting the trip into chunks of time.

It took me a few tries to figure out where to make each stop during my trip because sometimes there were no accommodations around the 10-hour portion of the driving day I planned.

Basically, I would eyeball on Google maps an approximate stopping point and enter the nearest town as my ending point to see how many hours it would take to drive that section of road.

Then I checked for nearby motels or budget hotels for availability and pricing. I wanted to keep the costs under control, so I set a budget of $75 USD ($100 CAD) per night for lodging.

READ: Cutest cottage in Cape Breton

I used both Booking.com and apartment rental sites to book my accommodations.

On one occasion I called a motel directly because it was not listed on any of the internet booking sites, but I could see it on Google maps.

Kapuskasing Ontario welcome sign. The name derives from the Cree word for branch

Calgary AB to Bridgewater NS road trip stops

Driving day 1 – calgary ab to moose jaw sk.

685 km (425 miles) 6.5 hours driving time Highlight: Visiting Al Capone Tunnels in Moose Jaw

Driving day 2 – Moose Jaw SK to Ignace ON

1,100 km (685 miles) 11 hours driving time Highlight: Not getting hit by irresponsible drivers passing unsafely

Driving day 3 – Ignace ON to Kapuskasing ON

840 km (520 miles) 9 hours driving time Highlight: Terry Fox Memorial in Thunder Bay

Driving day 4 –  Kapuskasing ON to Prevost QC

900 km (560 miles) 10 hours driving time Highlight: Moose in Quebec and most scenic drive of the trip

Driving day 5 – Prevost QC to Jemseg NB

925 km (575 miles) 9 hours driving time Highlight: Getting lost around Montreal, my daft brain couldn’t get Ouest and Est straight LOL, Ouest is West and Est is East, pretty easy…but not for me evidently!

Driving day 6 – Jemseg NB to Bridgewater NS

460 km (285 miles) 4.5 hours driving time Highlight: Driving near Bay of Fundy at low tide, amazing!

Driving across Quebec I spotted these two young moose grazing near the water

Driving across Canada pay attention to time zones

When driving from west to east you lose an hour as you move into each new time zone, grrrr that’s not fun.

Of course, you gain an hour when driving from east to west, so much better!

And remember, Canada has a couple of extra time zones compared to the US.

There’s Atlantic time in the Maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

Plus Newfoundland time zone is an additional 30 minutes. That’s right a 30-minute time zone, not an hour.

Check sunrise and sunset times

I checked the sunrise and sunset times for the locations I would be stopping during my road trip.

I wanted to be at my hotel before dusk if possible. It’s nice to have time to enjoy a sit-down dinner and go for a walk after driving all day.

I don’t drive at night and prefer to stop driving before dusk because there is a higher chance of wildlife crossing the highways.

Hitting a deer would probably total my little Toyota Yaris…not to mention the fate of the deer :/

What does it cost to drive across the country?

Here is the breakdown of costs (August 2018) for my road trip across Canada from Calgary AB to Bridgewater NS over six days.

This includes gasoline, lodging, and dining out during my cross-country drive.

Note that the costs for petrol and lodgings have increased substantially. It’s best to do research before your trip so you don’t have sticker shock when you book accommodations or buy gasoline.

Gasoline cost for cross Canada road trip

Gasoline total cost: $332 USD ($440 CAD)

Priciest budget item on my cross-country journey turned out to be gasoline.

The most expensive place I purchased gasoline during this road trip was in Ontario. Two of the places charged over $1.50 per liter in northern Ontario. That works out to over $6 CAD ($4.50 USD) per gallon of gas.

Trading Post Motel in Ignace ON complete with super heroes and airplane along Hwy 17

Lodging costs for cross Canada road trip

Total accommodation costs: $304 USD ($402 CAD)

Average $61 USD ($80 CAD) per night

I drove an extra hour to avoid staying in Dryden ON because the cheapest place I found charged $125 CAD per night. I continued onward to Ignace Ontario and paid $80 (CAD) per night.

My cheapest night was at Travelodge Moose Jaw SK for $52 USD ($69 CAD) total including taxes.

Most expensive accommodation was Prevost QC at $73 USD (97 CAD) including taxes.

Here’s the list of places I stayed at during my drive across Canada in 6 days/5 nights:

• Travelodge Moose Jaw SK $52 USD ($69 CAD)
• Trading Post Motel in Ignace ON $60 USD ($80 CAD)
• Park Inn Motel in Kapuskasing ON $62 USD ($82 CAD)
• La Voyageur Motel in Prevost Quebec $73 USD ($97 CAD)
• Cottage in Jemseg New Brunswick $57 USD ($76 CAD)

Food costs for cross Canada road trip

Total food spend for restaurant meals $166 USD ($220 CAD)

You could save money on food during your road trip with some pre-trip planning. Think about the foods you’ll eat while on the road and stock up on those items beforehand.

Here are some of my preferred road trip snacks and meals:

Pumpkin seeds Plantain chips Crackers Dried fruit Cherry tomatoes Cucumber Cookies Bananas Apples Jerky – did you know about BACON jerky?!! Also turkey, and salmon jerky, it’s not all about beef. Sardines – goes great with some crackers, and beer :)

If I could eat nuts, I would bring those too, but I’m allergic :/

My reward at the end of a long day of driving is usually a sit-down meal and a beer or two, preferably at a locally owned restaurant within walking distance of my lodgings.

Feasting on fish cakes with veggies, dinner salad, and cornbread at Creekview Restaurant in Gagetown NB

Just in case no restaurants are open or close by, I also bring emergency rations.

My emergency food is sardines and crackers.

Probably a lot of people would find that repulsive, but I like sardines and crackers, goes great with beer.

Meal costs while roadtripping across Canada

Moose Jaw Saskatchewan dinner x2 (fish $23 CAD and Greek salad/pork stick $27 CAD) and breakfast $15 CAD

Ignace Ontario – dinner at hotel across the highway $40 CAD Walleye/salad/2 beers, breakfast $15 CAD at hotel across the highway

Kapuskasing Ontario – dinner/beers at O’Brien’s pub $49 CAD, breakfast of 3 biscuits with bacon from Timmy’s (Tim Hortons) $10 CAD

Prevost Quebec – no restaurants within walking distance and I was too tired to drive another minute, so dinner of sardines and crackers. No breakfast :/  Maybe that’s why I got lost around Montreal.

Jemseg New Brunswick – I drove to Creekview Restaurant in Gagetown NB for chowder, beer, fish cakes and salad $40 CAD

Notice I ate two dinners in Moose Jaw. What’s up with that? Driving is hungry work!

Seafood chowder with biscuit at Creekview Restaurant in Gagetown NB

What about Canada highway toll charges?

There are a few toll charges according to Google Maps, but I don’t remember paying any tolls during this road trip across Canada.

When I left Nova Scotia to drive south to Maine there was a toll charge in New Brunswick.

Also note that if you take either of the USA routes you can expect to pay tolls.

In my experience, most places either accept cash payments or they will take a photo of your license plate and mail a toll invoice to you later.

Massachusetts sent me a bill for $2.30 when I drove through on my way to St Augustine Florida to enjoy the Florida coast and beaches .

Total cost of road trip across Canada

Total cost of my road trip across Canada from Calgary AB to Bridgewater NS for lodging, meals, and gas added up to $1,061 CAD ($802 USD) total.

Plus, snacks I purchased before I left Calgary, around $5/day so I’m going to say $29 CAD ($22 USD) to make it a nice even number for the total.

Total cost of road trip: $1,090 CAD ($824 USD)

The total cost for this epic 6-day cross country road trip is right in the ballpark for how much I estimated I would spend.

While my lodgings cost a bit less than my budget, gas and food cost a bit more.

Overall this Canadian road trip worked out great for me and I would do it again.

Driving for 6 days in order to spend a month exploring Nova Scotia was totally worth the effort, money, and time.

My dream Canada road trip would start from Tofino on Vancouver Island and finish in Newfoundland .

But I would want a few months for that 7,400 km (4,600 miles) monster road trip.

Greeting travelers at the visitor center in Nova Scotia, a bagpiper in a kilt

Tips for planning a cross country solo road trip

Download Google offline maps – this is a must because you will not have internet access in some locations.

Bring some cash with you. Sometimes there are cash only places in remote towns.

Get a AAA (America Automobile Association) or CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) membership so that you will have emergency roadside assistance if you need it.

Get paper maps in case all your technology dies.

If you have AAA membership you can get maps for free. CAA and AAA are affiliated so your membership in one allows you to the services in the other association/country.

They also have location guidebooks with listings for lodgings and restaurants.

Remember summer is high season for travel anywhere in Canada.

Book lodgings in advance, particularly if you are staying in popular tourist spots. Banff National Park or Jasper National Park are the two most visited national parks in Canada and the hiking is the BEST!

Read now: Hiking Valley of the Five Lakes in Jasper National Park

Tips for driving across Canada on a budget

Plan your meals in advance and shop at discount grocery stores, buy in bulk when possible.

Watch for sales and stock up on non-perishable items before your road trip.

Foraging for food is another way to save money on meals. You need to know what you’re doing otherwise you could become seriously ill or even die from eating something poisonous. Take classes and learn, or bring a foraging expert with you on your road trip :)

Gasoline may be the largest percentage of your budget, if possible, use a vehicle that gets great gas mileage.

Don’t keep luggage/cargo on your roof. Do use cruise control (when roads are dry) to keep your speed within the posted speed limit.

Typically, when driving over 50 mph (80 kph) gas mileage decreases quite a bit.

If you camp or sleep in your vehicle you will save a bundle of cash.

You need to know where it’s okay to park overnight and where to find free camping. The website Fresh Off the Grid has a resource listing in this post about finding free camping in the USA and Canada . They also have recipes for camping meals.

How about you, what’s on your roadtripping bucket list? What’s your best road trip tip?

Save it for later on Pinterest and SHARE!

Wednesday 27th of July 2022

I am planning a trip with my husband from Ottawa, Ontario to Nova Scotia early August. Have about 3 weeks to do it in. Planning to stay in Hilton hotels along the way, looking for any suggestions on where to stop for attractions, food along the route. Thanks

Susan Moore

Friday 29th of July 2022

Liz, You have lots of time so you may want to stop in Quebec City on the way, so many great restaurants in the old city. And visit Montmorency Falls too! For Nova Scotia you can have a look at my 10-day road trip itinerary for lots of ideas for attractions and food recommendations. Also check out my list of places to visit in summer in Nova Scotia. Have a wonderful road trip! Susan

Friday 15th of July 2022

Hello Susan, Very helpful to read this. I need to drive from Blue Hill, Maine to Whidbey Island, WA leaving August 18th. I have 10-11 days. I'll be alone, I'm 65, and drove across the US from Whidbey two years ago. Now I'll be moving to Washington State and need my car there. Since I have a little extra time, I'm wondering if there are a couple of places you recommend I should spend a 1-2 days? Both to rest and to sightsee. Since I'm moving to Whidbey I can easily travel up to BC from my new home at a later time, so am asking for places east of there for this trip. I've also looked at google maps and see their basic route recommendations. Wondering if you have any thoughts about whether to go the southern route through Sault Ste. Marie, or the more northerly one that goes above Lake Superior and through Winnepeg, or a mix of the two routes, or something else? Also, I see that someone mentioned ferries in their reply. Will I encounter the need to book ferries while in Canada? All of this is given that Covid restrictions allow this of course!

I thank you for the article and any other tips.

Sunday 17th of July 2022

@CL, You're welcome! If you search for "hotels near Batchawana Bay" on Google and then have a look at the map and zoom in a bit, it shows a few options for cabins and motels close by: Chicken Shack Motel, the Sawpit Bay Motel. I stayed at the Parkway Motel in (or near?) Wawa on my most recent road trip across Ontario and I liked it a lot. In Wawa there's a beautiful waterfall called Magpie Falls, I think the signage is Scenic High Falls. Also the Wawa Goose - it's big! Wawa means "Wild Goose" in Ojibwe. Have FUN! Susan

Saturday 16th of July 2022

@Susan Moore, thank you so much!! Batchawana Bay area looks wonderful, though no hotels along that entire shoreline area on either booking.com or google maps? There is something called the Lakeview Inn in Wawa though, so perhaps that will work! thanks again!

Cynthia, That's going to be a great summer road trip! And since you've already made the cross country drive before you have some good experience with making the long drive.

For the 1 - 2 days resting/sightseeing I think Lake Superior is the best place to stop along the way. From Blue Hill drive to Batchawana Bay on Lake Superior and continue the trip on the north side of Superior. I suggest staying at (or close to) Lake Superior Provincial Park, Pukaskwa National Park, or Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. Continue to Thunder Bay ON - a lovely place to stay as well! And then follow Lake Superior down to Minnesota, across North Dakota into Montana. The Rocky Mountains are another perfect place to stop for a rest and enjoy gorgeous scenery. Bozeman MT is a beautiful small town to stop for a night or two.

Alternatively, you could drive from Thunder Bay across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and into Alberta. Stop in Waterton Lakes National Park and then south into Glacier National Park in northern Montana. But that's also easy enough for you to visit from Whidbey later on - and after Labor Day it's less crowded!

As to ferries, no you won't need to take any ferries for your trip in Canada. I believe the previous comment was regarding a trip across Canada to Newfoundland and that does require a ferry trip.

I hope you have a wonderful road trip with great weather, stunning scenery, and all good vibes along the way!

Cheers, Susan

Friday 20th of May 2022

Enjoyed reading your blog Susan. I am also from Calgary and planning a 6 week road trip to Newfoundland. The plan is to take 8 - 9 days to cross Canada and then spend 4 weeks in Newfoundland before driving back. The plan is to get across Saskatchewan and into Manitoba as quickly as possible and then slow down once I hit Ontario. Any recommendations on stops along the lake Superior route in Ontario? I have set ferry reservations, but since I have allocated a couple of extra days to get across the country I thought I would break up the trip a little. Looking forward to reading more of your adventures

Maria, Thank you, glad you're enjoying the blog. You're plan sounds great, the drive along Lake Superior is absolutely gorgeous. Last year I drove Calgary to Maritimes in 6 weeks and stopped in Emo Ontario and the drive along Hwy 11 was beautiful. The drive along Lake Superior is stunning. I stopped in Thunder Bay for a week and enjoyed staying there and I stopped 1 night in Wawa because it's close to Lake Superior Provincial Park. If you only have a day or two I would try to stay in/near the parks. Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Pukaskwa National Park, Lake Superior Provincial Park, and Batchawana Bay are all great places to do some hiking and enjoy the view of Lake Superior. Basically you can't go wrong with a stop along Lake Superior! I was blown away by the beauty and would like to drive it again and spend 2 or 3 weeks along Superior. I'm driving to Newfoundland too, at the end of May, but from Nova Scotia :) I hope you have an amazing road trip! Susan

Friday 8th of April 2022

Greetings, your article is the best, loaded with great information. I am going from Niagara area to Radium Hot Springs later this year...looking forward to using your tips. Thanks

Thank you, I hope you have an amazing road trip adventure from Ontario to BC. And to be honest, I'm a bit jealous, I haven't driven east to west in Canada yet! But I have driven Hwy 93 to Radium and it is spectacular. Enjoy your travels! Cheers, Susan

Wednesday 6th of October 2021

Susan, THANKS for sharing your epic solo driving trip across Canada! It’s inspiring as I’m planning a 4-6 weeks roadtrip next year. Appreciate all your helpful hints! Years ago I took a Greyhound bus ride from Vancouver to Toronto for $99!

Thursday 7th of October 2021

Hi Helen, Vancouver to Toronto by bus WOW! That is a looooong bus ride LOL, but the price, so cheap! Glad you found this article helpful and I hope you have beautiful weather and wonderful experiences on your road trip next year. I did the Calgary to Nova Scotia trip again this summer, BUT I took 6 weeks and it was an outstanding trip. I spent quite a bit of time around Lake Superior, simply gorgeous! And I finally made it to PEI, stunning scenery and scenic drives all around the island. Canada has so much natural beauty to enjoy and explore. Best wishes on your adventures, Helen! Susan

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Ontario East meets West

Route - 5860 km / 3641 mi

Toronto to sudbury, sudbury to sault. ste. marie, sault ste. marie to marathon, marathon to ignance, ignance to kenora, kenora to winnipeg, winnipeg to regina, regina, sk to medicine hat, ab.

The most westerly of the prairie provinces is in sight. Canada’s unofficial home of all things cowboy can be found in the province of Alberta.

Medicine Hat, AB to Calgary, AB

Welcome to Calgary, the home to the greatest outdoor show on earth, the "Calgary Stampede".

Calgary to Banff

Banff to lake louise, lake louise ab, to kamloops, bc, kamloops to vancouver.

You’ve made it – from east to west you’ve travelled the Trans Canada Highway arriving in the stunning city of Vancouver . How will you celebrate?

Trip Details

Today you’re heading north from Toronto to Sudbury, Ontario. The four-hour drive on the Trans-Canada Highway will take you this city of over 150,000 people that was originally founded as a nickel mining town in the late 1800s. Just ten minutes from the heart of Sudbury is the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area – a protected green space that offers walks, hikes, bird watching and snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter. CanaDream Club Partners

• Sturgeon Falls KOA 
• Treetop Trekking Huntsville 
• Yours Outdoors
• Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve
• Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
• Treetop Trekking Barrie
• Upper Canada Mall

Today’s drive will take you to the beautiful red brick-building city of Sault. Ste. Marie, which sits just north of the US border. Visit the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site and wander the pathway along the St. Mary’s River. Pop into the Art Gallery of Algoma and see the permanent collection of Group of Seven paintings or, if you’re a plane enthusiast, the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre is a great kid-friendly museum to see how places in the north of Canada are accessed by plane.

If you're travelling during 'train' season (mid June to mid October), make sure you book a seat on the Agawa Canyon Tour Train. This one-day wilderness excursion will transport you 114 miles north of the "Soo" into the heart of the Canadian Wilderness. CanaDream Club Partners

• Mississagi Provincial Park
• Sault Ste. Marie KOA    

Today you’re heading north from Toronto to Sudbury, Ontario. The four-hour drive on the Trans-Canada Highway will take you to a vibrant city of over 150,000 people that was originally founded as a nickel mining town in the late 1800s. Just ten minutes from the heart of Sudbury is the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area – a protected green space that offers walks, hikes, bird watching and snow-shoeing along with cross-country skiing in the winter. CanaDream Club Partners

• Wawa RV Resort and Campground

You’re on the move again and now entering northwestern Ontario, arriving in the town of Ignance. According to locals, a must-visit while you’re here is the White Otter Castle located on White Otter Lake. It’s a three-story castle built at the turn of the century by an eccentric hermit named James Alexander “Jimmy” McQuat. He lived off the land and built his dream home – being recognized as a Canadian frontiersman.

There is no road access to the castle. Check with local operators for access information.

CanaDream Club Partners:

• Happy Land Park
• Ojibway Provincial Park
• Aaron Provincial Park
• Sioux Narrows Provincial Park
• Caliper Lake Provincial Park 
• Thunder Bay KOA  

Take some time off and enjoy Kenora – Ontario’s destination for boating on the incredible Lake of the Woods where there are 14,542 islands to explore. From craft brewery tours to yoga classes, farmer’s markets to shoreline fish-fries, you won’t be shy for things to do in this relaxing part of the province.

• Anicinabe RV Park Campground
• Caliper Lake Provincial Park   

Leaving the province of Ontario today, you’ll head into the prairies with your first stop in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Visit "The Forks", a historic shopping and dining area or take a west end walking tour to taste your way through this neighbourhood while taking in murals and scoping out the latest artist creations. Visit the Royal Canadian Mint, an incredible building that produces coins for over 70 countries or one of Winnipeg’s museums – include the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (find out how to save on your visit here through our CanaDream Club App) or the Manitoba Museum.

• Rock Garden Campground
• Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Welcome to Regina, the capital city of Saskatchewan. Visit historic churches, take a walking tour or have a picnic in Wascana Park – this small prairie city has a variety of unique neighbourhoods to visit. Take advantage of the Regina Farmers’ Market and stock up your cooler or spend some your evening on the Dewdney Strip where you can eat, drink and take in local live music after a day on the road.

• Government House Museum National Historic Site
• RCMP Heritage Centre
• Buffalo Pound Provincial Park 
• The Tunnels of Moose Jaw 
• La Reata Ranch  

Welcome to Calgary , the home to the greatest outdoor show on earth, the "Calgary Stampede".

Formerly referred to as "Cowtown", this city of more than a million people has evolved and adopted the city slogan "Feel the Energy". With the Rocky Mountains just a stone's throw away, Calgary is the last prairie stop before you head further west on your Canadian tour. Eat your way through what’s known as 17th Ave., take in a hockey game with the local Calgary Flames or visit the Calgary Tower and get a bird’s eye view of the city and mountains.

Be sure to check out our partners with the CanaDream Club app so you can take advantage of deals and places to stay on your stopover here.

• Heritage Park Historical Village
• TELUS Spark
• Calgary Tower
• Sandman Hotel Calgary
• Best Western Plus Port O Call
• Acclaim Hotel Calgary
• Best Western Premier Freeport Inn & Suites
• Wyndham Garden Calgary
• Save-On-Foods Calgary CrossIron Mills
• Days Inn Calgary North Balzac
• Comfort Inn & Suites Airdrie
• Wintergreen Golf & Country Club
• Save-on-Foods Cochrane

Leaving the city of Calgary, begin your trip by driving through rolling foothills toward the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

As you approach Kananaskis country, keep your eyes open for Mount Yamnuska on your right-hand side. The Stoney Nakoda First Nation named the mountain Yamnuska, derived from the Stoney word “yamnathka” which means steep cliffs or “the flat faced mountain.” Arriving in Canmore, the iconic Three Sisters grandly welcomes you on the left-hand side as you enter the town. They’re known as Big Sister (Faith), Middle Sister (Charity) and Little Sister (Hope).

Following Highway 1 further west towards Banff, notice Mount Rundle, which extends over 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) and overlooks both Banff and Canmore. The mountain’s neighbours include the Sundance Range, Sulphur Mountain and Goat Range.

Prior to arriving in Banff, make sure you’ve scouted out and reserved a spot for your evening stay. If you choose to overnight at Tunnel Mountain or Two Jack campground you can utilize local transit to visit downtown Banff, avoiding having to park in the town centre. Also check out our CanaDream Club app for partner deals and discounts.

• Alpine Helicopter Tours
• Canmore Cave Tours
• Canmore River Adventures
• Canadian Rockies Rafting
• White Mountain Adventures
• Banff Scooter Company
• Discover Banff Tours
• Banff Canoe Club

The drive from Banff to Lake Louise is short, but there is much to see on this scenic route through the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Soaring mountain peaks meet the dramatically beautiful Lake Louise.

If you have some leg power, consider doing the Lake Agnes Teahouse hike. It’s a relatively easy hike, about 7.2 km or 4.5 mile return trip. You’ll need about 3 to 4 hours for it. When you reach the teahouse, enjoy a cup of coffee and pie.

If hiking isn’t your thing, consider afternoon tea or a bite to eat at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, located right alongside the emerald lake. For those keen to spot grizzly bears The Lake Louise Gondola is one of the best places to do so. Awe-inspiring views and breathtaking animal encounters are all but guaranteed, so don’t forget your camera. Overnight at the National Park campground in Lake Louise (make sure to reserve ahead), before spending the next day taking in Lake Louise .

• Lake Louise Sightseeing Lift and Gondola
• Banff Sunshine Meadows
• Banff Jasper Collection by Pursuit 
• Canadian Rockies Hot Springs 
• Banff Scooter Company Ltd

Saying goodbye to the grand and gorgeous Rocky Mountains, today you’re heading to the beautiful Okanagan badlands, ending your day in the lovely city of Kamloops. Here the north and south Thompson Rivers meet. Skiers and boarders might be interested in checking out Sun Peaks Resort – also a place to mountain bike in the summer. This vibrant community offers year-round adventure and incredible live music and entertainment. We have loads of CanaDream Club partners along this route so make sure you check our app and take advantage of discounts available along your road trip.

• Hydra River Guides
• Wild Water Adventures
• Golden Municipal Campground
• Glacier Raft Company
• Canyon Hot Springs
• Revelstoke Mountain Resort
• Apex Rafting Company
• Flexpeditions Outdoor Adventures
• Great Canadian Tours
• 3 Valley Gap Heritage Tours
• SkyTrek Adventure Park
• Crazy Creek Resort
• Beardale Riverside Camping
• Hidden Valley Campground
• Pinantan Lake Resort
• Hitch n Rail Resort
• Pinegrove Campground
• Williamson Lake Campground
• Golden Golf Club RV Park
• Campers Haven RV & Tent Park

Along your drive today, stop in at Spences Bridge and learn about the slide in 1905 that demolished the town prior to the Goldrush. Today the population is just 138 people. And, if you have an extra day to spare, a visit to Harrison Hot Springs is always some welcome relaxation after a long journey.

If you’re looking to stop and refuel along this leg of the journey, the town of Hope is a great place to do just that before arriving in Vancouver.

Vancouver, British Columbia’s most iconic city, is situated alongside the Pacific Ocean. There’s no limit to what you can see and do here. Since you’ve just travelled across the country, a celebration is most definitely in order. And, if you feel like a bird’s eye view of Canada, head down to Canada Place and watch FlyOver Canada for another perspective.

• Hells Gate Airtram
• Coquihalla Campground
• Bridal Falls Camperland
• Eagle Wind RV Park
• Pacific Border RV Park
• Peace Arch RV Park
• Real Canadian Superstore
• Burnaby Cariboo R.V. Park
• Metropolis at Metrotown
• Coast Hotels
• Steveston Seabreeze Adventures
• Vancouver Whale Watch
• Quality Hotel Airport
• Accent Inn Vancouver
• Pacific Gateway Hotel at Vancouver
• Landsea Tours & Adventures
• Off The Eaten Track – Olympic Village Food Tour
• Off The Eaten Track – Railtown Urban Eats Tour
• Sandman Vancouver City Centre
• Vancouver Lookout
• Cycle City Tours and Rentals
• Harbour Air Seaplanes
• Harbour Cruises Ltd.
• Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tours
• Vancouver Aquarium
• Talaysay Tours
• Capilano River RV Park
• Capilano Suspension Bridge
• Grouse Mountain

Other Itineraries in Ontario

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Love Exploring

Epic Canadian Road Trips You Can Take Over a Weekend

Posted: June 4, 2023 | Last updated: August 4, 2023

Hit the road

British Columbia: Nanaimo to Tofino

British Columbia: Vancouver to the Fraser Valley

The river valley makes for some of the most fertile farmland in Canada and many local food producers welcome visitors for either formal or self-guided tours. History lovers can also stop at the Fort Langley National Historic Site , an interpretive center that served as a working Hudson’s Bay Company fur trading post 150 years ago.

British Columbia: Vancouver to Whistler

Just the name of the road from Vancouver to Whistler – the Sea to Sky Highway – is enticing. The route, which actually terminates just north of Whistler in Pemberton is only 101 miles (163km) long, but it’s worth slowing down and taking the time to drink in the coastal views and stop to learn about British Columbia’s rich Indigenous history from the Cultural Journey interpretive kiosks posted along the way. 

British Columbia: Kelowna to Osoyoos

While the lakes and surrounding desert-like landscapes are beautiful, the geography of the area is also prime for grape growing. The highway is dotted with wineries, many of which offer tours and tastings to the public. The famed Golden Mile Bench, BC’s first official wine sub-region sits on the southern part of the journey between Oliver and Osoyoos, featuring wineries like Culmina Family Estate, Tinhorn Creek and Road 13. 

Discover what else to see in the Okanagan

Alberta: Banff to Jasper

The Icefields Parkway gets its name from the Columbia Icefield, the largest ice field in the Rocky Mountains. One of the Icefield’s “toes,” the Athabasca Glacier, can be accessed at about the halfway point of the journey, with its edge within walking distance of the main road. The glacier can be further explored via an on-site discovery center, snow coach tours, and the Glacier Skywalk, a glass-floored platform that juts out 918 feet (280m) over the Sunwapta Valley. 

Discover more of Canada's beautiful national parks

Alberta: Calgary to Bar U Ranch

Alberta’s Bar U Ranch National Historic Site offers a rare hands-on picture of Canada’s Wild West. The ranch dates back to the late 1800s and now offers interactive learning experiences to help visitors understand what life would have been like for Western Canada’s pioneering cowboys and cattle ranchers. The ranch is near the village of Longview, in the heart of Alberta’s still very active cattle ranching country.

Alberta: Edmonton to Drumheller

Those seemingly extraterrestrial hills also conceal a treasure trove of prehistoric fossils, making Drumheller the dinosaur capital of Canada. The Royal Tyrrell Museum is a world-class paleontology center, full of awe-inspiring dinosaur exhibits. For something a little less serious, the World’s Largest Dinosaur sits at the visitor center in downtown Drumheller. Guests can climb a stairway inside of the dinosaur and stand in its open mouth to get a better view of the town.

Brilliant destinations for dinosaur fans

Northwest Territories: Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk

Saskatchewan: Regina to Moose Jaw

Moose Jaw is one of Canada’s more well-known cities, not because it’s particularly big and bustling, but because of its uniquely Canadian name. The municipality leans into its reputation – it actually has dubbed itself “Canada’s Most Notorious City.” The drive from Saskatchewan’s capital city Regina is a fairly quick one at just 44 miles (71km), but it does lead drivers through some spectacular Saskatchewan farmland. 

Saskatchewan: Saskatoon to Great Sand Hills

Yukon: Whitehorse to Dawson City

Manitoba: Winnipeg to Gimli

Ontario: Toronto to Niagara

Ontario: Toronto to Muskoka

One of Ontario’s many lakeside cottage getaways, Muskoka is just a little more than a two-hour drive north of Toronto. It sits between Georgian Bay, which is part of the Canadian side of Lake Huron, and Lake Couchiching with approximately 1,600 smaller lakes scattered in between. All of that lakeside property gives visitors plenty of opportunities to relax or play by the water. 

Discover Canada's lesser-known lakes

Ontario: Windsor to Stratford

Stratford, located on the Avon River (it’s all named after the Stratford in the UK), is best known for its Shakespearean theater festival. The city was first settled in 1828 and its rich history is apparent at every turn. While theater is Stratford’s calling card, visitors can also take in various parks and gardens or hit the self-guided Stratford Chocolate Trail to try some treats. Stratford is also the former home of Justin Bieber and fans can download a map of the singer’s childhood haunts.

Ontario: Ottawa to Perth

Quebec: Montreal to Centre-du-Québec

Quebec: Quebec City to La Mauricie National Park

The natural beauty of La Mauricie is enough of an experience on its own, but the park is also near the city of Shawinigan, which sits right on the Saint-Maurice River. It’s also not far from the luxurious Baluchon eco-tourism resort, a secluded property that features a fine dining restaurant, outdoor activities and a Nordic spa.

New Brunswick: St. John to the Bay of Fundy

Prince Edward Island: Central Coastal Drive

The Green Gables Shore features PEI’s most famed sites, particularly those connected to L.M. Montgomery’s beloved Anne of Green Gables novels. The route goes through the Cavendish area, which is home to the Green Gables house as well as some key museums. The Red Sands Shore is a bit quieter and more relaxed, full of small coastal villages and cozy coves. 

Explore PEI with our full guide to the region

Nova Scotia: Cabot Trail

Nova Scotia: Halifax to Lunenburg

The east coast of Nova Scotia is home to some of the most postcard-perfect towns in all of Canada, including the famously charming fishing village of Lunenburg. Founded in 1753, the town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its planned layout and traditional wooden architecture. Today Lunenburg is popular with tourists because of its history and delicious seaside seafood restaurants. 

The drive from Nova Scotia’s capital city of Halifax is about 62 miles (99km) and can be completed in about an hour and 15 minutes, but it’s worth making a detour to Peggy’s Cove in St. Margarets Bay. Peggy’s Point Lighthouse is probably the most photographed lighthouse in all of Canada, while the rest of the site offers a glimpse of life in a traditional Maritime fishing village.

What to see and do in Nova Scotia

Newfoundland and Labrador: Viking Trail

If Gros Morne isn’t enough, the Viking Trail continues northwards to L’anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, located at the tip of Great Northern Peninsula. The archeological site is the only confirmed Norse encampment in all of North America, and its artifacts are estimated to be over 1,000 years old. Today the site features a recreated base camp and costumed interpreters as well as original artifacts.

Newfoundland: Irish Loop

As they travel towards the bottom of the peninsula, visitors will find Ferryland, one of the oldest European settlements in North America, where archeologists have found remnants of homes built in the 17th century. Fans of more recent history will also want to stop at the Cape Race lighthouse, which received the distress call from the doomed Titanic in 1912 . 

Now discover Canada's most beautiful small towns and villages

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