blog road trip canada

• Road trip in Canada: The best itineraries for 7, 10, 15, 21 days and 1 month

Visit Canada by car: The 5 best road trip itineraries

You’re planning to do a road trip in Canada and you’re looking for the best itinerary?

You’re at the right place!

Visiting Canada by car is the best way to optimize your itinerary and discover all the must-see attractions of the country.

In order to help you plan your stay , I have prepared this guide with the 5 best road trips itineraries in Canada depending on the duration of your stay (7, 10 days, 2 and 3 weeks and even 1 month!).

For each duration, I will give you a summary of the itinerary as well as the link to read the detailed itinerary article.

And at the end of this guide, I will also give you my list of the best accommodations in Canada depending on your budget as well as my best tips to enjoy the perfect road trip.

Which airport to choose to start a Canadian road trip?

Renting a car for a canadian road trip, canada road trip: a week in the east, 1) vancouver (2 days), 2) whistler (1 day), 3) wells gray provincial park (2 days), 4) jasper national park (2 days), 5) banff national park (2 days), 6) calgary (2 days), 2) victoria (2 days), 3) pacific rim (2 days), 4) whistler (2 days), 5) wells gray provincial park (2 days), 6) jasper national park (2 days), 7) banff national park (2 days), 8) calgary (1 day), 1) western canada (13 days), 2) eastern canada ( 8 days), 1) montreal (2 days), 2) ontario (5 days), 3) the province of quebec (21 days), where to stay during your canadian road trip, what’s the best time to go on a canadian road trip, you’re traveling in canada these articles will help you.

Canada boasts several international airports .

For a road trip through Western Canada , your best bets are:

If you’re planning a Canadian circuit but this time in the East , I’d recommend the airports in:

For these itineraries, I’ve assumed you’d be landing in either Vancouver or Montreal . Simply because I believe these are the most convenient spots for journeying through eastern or western Canada by car .

To travel to Canada , you’ll need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) beforehand. This form, which you can fill out online must definitely be completed before your trip to Canada.

The eTA applies to all travelers who don’t require a visa.

You’ll find all the information you need on this site .

A must-have for any successful Canadian exploration: a car !

I’d advise you to rent it directly from the airport . That’s where you’ll find the widest range of rental services . Plus, it’s way more convenient to return it at the end of your trip, as opposed to dropping it off at a city branch.

The best option you got is to use Rentalcars.com to book your rental car in Canada. I use it all the time, Thailand , Sicily , Scotland , you name it… and have always been super pleased. The customer service is top-notch , and their services are high quality.

On their website, you can:

• Compare all rental rates at the airport with a single click . It’s super handy to see which service is the cheapest and who has the best customer reputation.
• Benefit from comprehensive insurance coverage: this is your only way (unless your credit card already offers coverage) to get a refund in case of an accident or theft. Having tested this system multiple times, I can assure you that the reimbursement process is swift and guaranteed. They’ve refunded me over 1,300 euros in total over the years!
• Modify or cancel your booking for free . This allows you to reserve your car in advance for a great rate.

Given the vastness of this country, and the long distances between places, I suggest trying to select a comfortable and well-equipped car . Long hours on the road are not uncommon, so comfort is key!

If you’re planning a winter road trip through Canada, don’t worry, the cars are tailored to the climate and come equipped with winter tires for instance.

The option to have a second driver (often included for free) is also a good idea to prevent the primary driver from getting too tired.

Click on the button below to compare car rental prices for a Canadian itinerary:

You’re not required to have an international driving permit to rent a car for your Canadian road trip.

Your regular driver’s license will do , as long as it’s in the Latin alphabet and you’ve had it for over 12 months .

If you prefer to present an international driving permit, you’ll still need to show your national driver’s license . Without it, you won’t be able to pick up your car.

First up, I propose a road trip starting from Montreal , taking you through Eastern Canada in a week.

The itinerary for this one-week Canadian road trip includes Montreal , the Thousand Islands , Toronto , Ottawa and Mont-Tremblant .

This tour is a summary of my detailed article: A week in Canada .

Day One : Discovering the city of Montreal:

• Old Montreal district
• The Old Port
• Mount Royal Park
• Mount Royal district 
• And don’t forget to taste the local delicacy: poutine!

For even more info on exploring Montreal in one day, you should read my post: Best things to do in Montreal !

Day Two : Embark on a scenic cruise through the Thousand Islands , known as Mille Îles in French. This captivating archipelago is comprised of 1,865 islands nestled along the picturesque St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario.

To book your 3-hour cruise around the Thousand Islands, just click the button below:

Day Three and Four : I suggest continuing this one-week Canadian road trip with a visit to Toronto, Ontario .

Here are the attractions you won’t want to miss :

• Kensington Market
• The Distillery district
• St. Lawrence Market
• Ripley’s Aquarium
• The CN Tower
• The Royal Ontario Museum
• The Toronto Islands

For all the details on these Toronto attractions, give a look at my article: Best things to see and do in Toronto .

Day Five : An excursion to Niagara Falls

A cruise at the foot of the falls is a must to truly appreciate them!

Remember to book your tickets in advance to avoid waiting in line:

And if you want to experience something extraordinary during this 7-day Canadian road trip, consider taking a helicopter ride over the falls :

Day Six : Heading to Ottawa , the capital of Canada.

Here’s what I’d suggest you explore:

• Byward Market
• Parliament Hill
• The Canadian Museum of History : one of the most fascinating museums you’ll come across on your one-week eastern Canada road trip.

Wrap up your day with a stroll along the Rideau Canal , a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For more details, make sure to check out my dedicated article: Visiting Ottawa .

Day Seven , make sure to stop by Omega Park , located in Montebello. The park is explored by car as the animals roam freely.

Next, head to Mont-Tremblant , where you can go hiking or indulge in water activities by the lake. In the winter, the village turns into a ski resort .

Day Eight : The holiday’s end is nigh, head back to Montreal for your return flight.

Thinking about doing a one-week road trip in Canada ? Well, I’ve got you covered with my detailed article : One-week itinerary in Canada .

Quite handy, you’ll find loads of tips and recommendations for places to stay at each stage . The ultimate guide to effortless trip planning !

Road Trip in Canada: 10 days

For this next adventure, I’ll take you on an exhilarating 10-day road trip through the stunning landscapes of Canada.

You’ll get to discover western Canada , from the bustling metropolis of Vancouver to the vibrant city of Calgary . The perfect tour for checking out the two major cities of this part of the country and, above all, the stunning natural landscapes of Canada’s national parks .

On the agenda for this 10-day road trip in Canada:

• Wells Gray Provincial Park
• Jasper National Park
• Banff National Park

All the details to plan this road trip are in my article: 10-Day Itinerary in Canada .

I’ve summarized the main stages for you below:

We kick off this 10-day Canadian road trip with Vancouver . The city is located on the West Coast , in British Columbia.

To discover its main tourist attractions and recover from jet lag, I suggest you spend 2 days there.

First day – Here’s an idea of what you can do on your first day in Vancouver:

• The historic district of Gastown
• Canada Place and the Waterfront
• The FlyOver Canada
• Stanley Park
• Vancouver Lookout
• Yaletown district

On the second day , continue your tour by visiting Granville Island , followed by the Anthropology Museum , and a walk through Van Elsen Botanical Garden .

Then hit Robson Street for a bit of shopping, the main commercial artery of Vancouver.

To best plan your 2 days in Vancouver, check out my article: Top 25 Things to Do in Vancouver .

The next day (day three) , head to one of the best ski resorts in the world: Whistler .

In winter , you can hit the slopes or go on a sled dog or snowmobile ride .

In summer , it’s time for hiking trails, biking or relaxing in a luxury Spa . And don’t forget to ride the longest zip line in Canada , at over 60 mph! Activity that can be booked directly by clicking here .

Days four and five will be dedicated to the Wells Gray Provincial Park .

Don’t miss out on:

• Helmcken Falls : one of the most beautiful in western Canada.
• Bailey’s Chute where you can watch salmon swimming upstream
• The Spahat Falls
• And Dawson Falls

As for activities, you can also go swimming or canoeing at Clearwater Lake, hike one of the numerous trails, or go black bear watching .

Day six brings us to a must-visit destination on your 10-day Canadian road trip: Jasper National Park .

You’ll get to check out two stunning lakes: Maligne Lake , the biggest lake in the Canadian Rockies, and Medicine Lake .

And of course, there’s nothing better to tour the national park than a little hike !

Day seven my friends, brings us to yet another breathtaking spectacle: Banff National Park . Hop in the car in Jasper and treat yourself to one of the most beautiful scenic routes the country has to offer: the Icefield Parkways .

Connecting the two parks over nearly 230 km, it’s a feast for your eyes with sublime landscapes . The road is well designed, boasting plenty of parking spots and lookouts to safely stop . Here are a few pit stops to consider :

• Athabasca Falls , towering more than 20 meters high
• The Sunwapta Falls
• Explore Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefield . If you’re going to make a single stop along the Icefields Parkway, make it this one. Strap yourself into a bus fitted with giant tires for a tour. It’s one of the most popular activities in the area and the good news is, you can book it directly by clicking here !
• Peyto Lake, a quick 15-minute stroll away. You’ll be amazed by its turquoise waters, a result of glacier melt.

On day 8 , you should explore Banff on foot . Make your way to the famous Lake Louise , one of the most photographed spots in the world due to its stunning turquoise hue.

Moraine Lake is also a must-see!

To check the trail conditions and see all the possible hikes, visit Parks Canada’s website .

Cap off this 10-day Canadian West road trip by heading to Calgary .

On day nine , take some time to explore the city:

• Glenbow Museum with its collection of 33,000 works of art
• The 360° views from the Calgary Tower
• Heritage Park Village to learn about the old-fashioned lifestyle of a typical Canadian village
• Kensington Village : a lively neighborhood with great shops and restaurants

On day ten , it’s time to catch your return flight from Calgary Airport.

If you’re after more details on this 10-day Canadian road trip , you should check out my comprehensive article: 10-day itinerary in Canada .

There, you’ll find our list of the best accommodations for each stage. Trust me, planning your 10-day trip to Canada is going to be a breeze !

Canada road trip: Two weeks

For this 15-day Canadian road trip , let’s set off to discover the must-see sights of the west of the country.

This 2-week Canadian road trip also starts in Vancouver and ends in Calgary.

You can find all the details to plan this Canadian circuit in my article: 2-week itinerary in Canada .

Here’s a quick breakdown of the stages:

We kick off this two-week Canadian road trip by spending 2 days in Vancouver .

You’ll get a good look at most of the places I mention in my Top 25 must-see places in Vancouver .

First and second day – Things to do:

• Gastown district
• Chinatown and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen’s Chinese Garden
• The Waterfront and Canada Place
• A seaplane flight
• Granville Island
• Robson Street

Day three of your 15-day Canadian road trip, you’ll need to hop on the ferry to Vancouver Island and head for Victoria .

On your agenda for the day, I’d recommend:

• Visiting Butchart Gardens
• Taking a stroll through Chinatown
• Market Square
• Bastion Square
• Inner Harbour

On the fourth day , you’ll get a chance to set sail on a whale-watching cruise .

Be sure to book well in advance by clicking here:

The rest of the day can be spent exploring Victoria, where you can visit the Parliament and the Royal BC Museum and wrap up at Beacon Hill Park by the sea.

Day five – Journey from Victoria to Ucluelet, the gateway to Pacific Rim National Park.

Two stops worth making: the village of Duncan and Cathedral Grove .

Day six – Explore the Pacific Rim reserve : plenty of hiking opportunities and a mandatory stop at Long Beach .

Day seven of your 15-day Canadian road trip, allow a day for the journey to Whistler .

On day eight, there’s loads of activities to do in Whistler, whether it’s winter (skiing, snowshoeing) or summer (hiking, biking).

And for those without a fear of heights, you can try out Canada’s longest zipline ! Activity that can be booked directly by clicking here !

For day nine , point your compass towards Wells Gray Provincial Park, travelling along the beautiful Route 99 , one of the country’s finest! Day ten – Adventure in Wells Gray Park where you can choose from:

• Helmcken Falls
• Bailey’s Chute, Spahat Falls or Dawson Falls , among other waterfalls
• Clearwater Lake
• Black bears spotting with a guide

Impossible to explore Western Canada in 15 days without hitting up Jasper National Park . It’s just not done!

So, on the eleventh day , hit the road to this gem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site . You’ll be able to check out Maligne Lake and Medicine Lake .

Day twelve , it’s time to tie up those hiking boots and spend the day trekking the many trails in Jasper .

Post-Jasper , you’ll continue your Canadian road trip with another national park: Banff .

Day thirteen , you’ll be taking Route 93 (the Icefield Parkway) which links the 25 parks together. Covering nearly 230 km, it’s a route jam-packed with stunning scenery . And to enjoy it all, you can pull over safely at the many viewpoints and car parks .

As for the must-see spots , I highly recommend:

• The Athabasca Falls
• The Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefield . You can explore on foot or on a bus tour equipped with giant tires for some off-roading . Book this activity directly by clicking here !
• Peyto Lake with its unbelievably colored water

On the fourteenth day , it’s time to immerse yourself in the beauty of Banff National Park . Here too, the best way to admire the landscapes is to opt for a hike . The most famous trails allow you to circle around Lake Louise and Lake Moraine , the two most renowned lakes.

Here you are at the fifteenth day of your two-week Western Canada road trip.

Wrap up your holidays in Calgary , where you can notably visit the Glenbow Museum, the Heritage Park Village or ascend to the top of the Calgary Tower. You should get your skip-the-line tickets in advance by clicking here !

I also provide all the necessary information to visit Calgary in this article: Best things to do in Calgary !

Canada road trip: 3 weeks

For this 3-week road trip across Canada , I suggest dividing your vacation into 2 parts :

• Western Canada for about two weeks featuring Vancouver , Victoria, Jasper National Park, Banff National Park
• A week-long road trip in the East of Canada to uncover the delights of Montreal , Toronto , and Ottawa .

To help you organize your Canadian road trip down to the last detail, I’ve got you covered in my article: 3-week itinerary in Canada !

Simply click on the orange link above to discover: the different stages , travel times, places to visit, hotels for a good night’s sleep and the best activities to get involved in.

I’m still going to give you a quick rundown of the visits planned during these 3 weeks so you get a taste:

Start your 21-day Canadian road trip in the West for the first 13 days.

Day 1 and 2 – Vancouver

Day 3 – Victoria , the capital of British Columbia

Day 4 – Whale watching , an essential part of your 3-week Canadian road trip!

Days 5 and 6 – Whistler , one of Canada’s top ski resorts ! No worries, there’s plenty to do in the summer too.

Days 7 and 8 – Discover the Wells Gray Provincial Park and its many waterfalls

Days 9 and 10 – Explore Jasper National Park by car and on foot

Days 11 and 12 – Continue your three-week Canadian road trip with Banff National Park and the famous Lake Louise

Day 13 – Head on over to Calgary and catch your flight to Montreal!

After 13 glorious days in western Canada, it’s time to continue your 20-21 day Canadian road trip in the east of the country.

Day 14 – Explore Montreal with a stroll around the old Montreal neighborhood and up to Mount-Royal

Day 15 – Cruise to the Thousand Islands or helicopter ride

Days 16 and 17 – Discover must-see places in Toronto and don’t miss out on the view from atop the CN Tower

Day 18 – A day at the Niagara Falls , the major tourist attraction of this 3-week Canadian road trip. Whether it’s on a cruise at the base of the falls , a helicopter ride or by climbing up the Skylon Tower , you’ll get to see the falls from all angles!

Day 19 – Dedicate a day to Canada’s capital: Ottawa .

Days 20 and 21 – Return to Montreal to finish off your 3-week Canadian road trip by exploring the city a bit more .

To read the complete version of my 3-week itinerary , complete with advice and accommodation suggestions, click here !

Canada road trip: One month

Final itinerary for those lucky ones who get to embark on a month-long road trip in Canada !

I’m suggesting you discover a great chunk of the East over about thirty days. You’ll get to visit Montreal , Ontario, home to the famous Toronto , along with the province of Quebec and the Gaspé Peninsula (Gaspésie in French).

All the must-see cities of the east and gorgeous national parks are on the menu for this 1-month Canadian road trip.

 I’ve got you covered with all the juicy details to plan your epic eastern Canadian adventure in this post: A one-month adventure: Exploring Canada . For each day, you’ll get a list of things to do and see, travel times, and the best accommodations to rest at each stop.

To give you a taste, I’ve prepared a summary of the itinerary’s stages :

To kickstart this fabulous one-month road trip across Canada, I suggest landing in Montreal and taking a couple of days to recover from your flight and the inevitable jetlag.

Day 1 and 2 – Get a taste of Montreal , dive into the iconic neighborhoods of Old Port and Mount-Royal .

The second chapter of this 1-month Canadian adventure unfolds in Ontario .

Day 3 – Boat trip around the Thousand Islands

Days 4 and 5 – Explore the marvels of Toronto and its popular neighborhoods like Kensington, Chinatown, The Distillery…

Day 6 – Day trip to the breathtaking Niagara Falls

Day 7 – Head to Ottawa , Canada’s capital. Don’t miss out on the Canadian Museum of History !

The third act of your 1-month road trip through Canada is entirely dedicated to Quebec .

Day 8 – Visit the Omega Park and Mont-Tremblant

Days 9 and 10 – Engage in varied activities based on the season (hiking, canoeing, dog sledding, snowmobiling…) in La Mauricie National Park

Days 11 and 12 – Tour around Lake St-Jean : the Wild Zoo of St-Félicien , the Native Museum of Mashteuiatsh , the ghost town of Val-Jalbert .

Days 13 and 14 – Discover the lovely villages of Fjord-du-Saguenay and take a boat or kayak ride on the fjord

Day 15 – Whale watching cruise in Tadoussac , experiencing whales in their natural environment, one of the most unforgettable experience of your one-month Canadian road trip!

Days 16, 17, and 18 – Journey through Gaspésie National Park

Days 19 and 20 – Your itinerary includes: Forillon National Park, Percé, and Bonaventure Island

Day 21 – Relaxation day at Chaleur Bay that the locals call “Baie des Chaleurs” (litteraly heat bay) that boasts several long beaches

Days 22 and 23 – Hiking or cycling on one of the numerous trails in Bic National Park

Days 24, 25, and 26 – Visit Quebec City and its surroundings . You’ll find all the things to do in my article: Best things to do in Quebec City !

Days 27 and 28 – This one-month road trip in Canada wraps up and you’ll return to Montreal where you can take some time to finish exploring the city.

To make it easy for you, here’s the link to the full itinerary: How to visit Canada in 1 month ?

Now you’re well-equipped to plan your road trip across Canada ! But there’s a final point we can’t ignore: where you’ll lay your head at night .

Where to stay at each stage of your Canadian journey?

Fear not, I’ve got you covered with a selection of the best hotels in Canada, categorized by city and area , and based on your budget, in all the road trip articles I’ve previously mentioned.

You can also find them by clicking directly on the links below :

For Western Canada:

• Pacific Rim

For Eastern Canada:

• The Thousand Islands
• Mont-Tremblant
• La Mauricie National Park
• Lac Saint-Jean
• Fjord-du-Saguenay
• Gaspésie National Park
• Chaleur Bay
• Bic National Park

Good news, there’s no bad time to go on a road trip through Canada.

It all depends on the activities you fancy.

Winter is the best time to visit Canada by car if you want to enjoy a whole range of winter activities: skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, and snowmobiling.

And if you’re doing this Canadian road trip with family , your kids will be thrilled to sled down the slopes or try snow rafting and ice skating .

Driving in winter? No worries, cars are well-equipped, and roads are maintained and cleared. However, some routes in national parks might be closed, but you’ll always find something to do!

If you plan to embark on a Canadian road trip in spring , it’s the perfect season to explore national parks, enjoy nature and go hiking . The crowds are scarce, and the weather is delightful.

As for autumn, this is the time when you can experience the vibrant colors of the trees and landscapes in shades of orange, yellow, and red. A treat for photography enthusiasts!

Summer ? No problem with the temperature, it’s hot and sunny . But as with many destinations, it’s peak tourist season , so expect crowds pretty much everywhere.

Keep in mind, many Canadian companies shut down in July and August for “ construction holiday ” when many Canadian companies shut down. It’s the perfect time for Canadians to hit the road as well!

If you’re hoping to visit national parks (Jasper, Banff, in the province of Quebec and Gaspésie), options can be limited, so you should book your accommodations as early as possible .

For all cities, both in the west and the east, you can discover all the attractions at any time of year .

Discover all my articles about Canada : All my articles to help you plan your trip to Canada are listed there.

• 20 Best Things to do in Canada
• 20 Best Things to do in Quebec – All best places to visit in the French-speaking province!
• Itinerary: One week in Canada: The perfect itinerary to visit Canada in 6, 7 or 8 days!
• Itinerary: 10 days in Canada: All my best tips for organizing your 10-day trip to Canada
• Itinerary: 2 weeks in Canada: How to visit Western Canada in 15 days.
• Itinerary: 3 weeks in Canada: My epic itinerary to visit Western and Eastern Canada in 21 days
• Itinerary: 1 month in Canada: How to visit Eastern Canada in a month!
• Itinerary: One week in Quebec: How to visit Quebec in 6, 7 or 8 days, with all my best tips!
• Itinerary: 10 days in Quebec: An amazing 10-day itinerary in Quebec
• Itinerary: 2 weeks in Quebec: All my best tips to visit Quebec in 14, 15 or 16 days
• Itinerary: 3 weeks in Quebec: the perfect 3-week road trip in Quebec !
• Road trip in Quebec: The best itineraries for 7, 10, 15 and 21 days
• Calgary : Top 11 things to do during your visit
• Montreal : 33 best things to see and do
• Ottawa : 15 epic places to visit
• Quebec City : Top 17 things to do and see
• Toronto : The 17 things to do during your stay
• Vancouver : Top 25 places to visit and activities
• Toronto in 3 days – The perfect itinerary to visit the city in 72 hours!

You’re using Pinterest? Here is the picture to pin!

Creator of the Voyage Tips blog, travel and photography lover. I give you all my best tips to plan your next trip.

Related Stories

2 days in Los Angeles: the Epic Itinerary + tips

3 days in Los Angeles: the perfect Itinerary + tips

Where to stay in New York? The best areas and places to stay

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Website (optional)

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Middle East
• North America
• Cheap car rentals: my best advice
• Back to Homepage

Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

Canada Road Trip: A One Month Suggested Itinerary

Spanning 9,306km (5,780 miles) and six time zones, Canada is the second-largest country in the world. It’s home to rugged coastlines, vast prairies, dense boreal forests, towering mountain ranges, and upwards of two million lakes.

But what makes Canada special is its people. It’s a place that embraces its diversity and that encourages people to be friendly, caring, and polite.

Due to its large size, though, traveling across Canada can be a little challenging. Domestic flights are prohibitively expensive due to low competition and, outside of the eastern part, trains don’t go many places.

That means if you really want to see Canada, you need to drive.

To help you explore this amazing country, Chris Oldfield, our Canadian team member , helped create this suggested itinerary for a one-month road trip. It’s packed, since you’ve got a lot of ground to cover. However, it’s also not too rushed (though you can easily extend this out to six or eight weeks as well).

(Note: Canada is huge, and there are many routes and itineraries you can take. This one is by no means comprehensive but instead meant to give you a good overview and introduction to the main cities and sights.)  

Days 1-3: Vancouver, BC

It’s also the third-largest city in Canada, so there’s plenty to see and do while you’re here. There’s an amazing foodie scene here too.

Here are a few suggestions to help you start your trip off right:

• Visit Granville Island – Granville Island is a shopping district in the middle of the city. It’s also a hub for foodies. Explore the public market, grab a beer at Granville Island Brewing Company, and wander the cool shops. There are also galleries, some performing arts venues, and all kinds of events and festivals held here too!
• Enjoy the view from Grouse Mountain – Ride the gondola to the top, where you can enjoy the view over the metropolis and mountains. There are lots of trails for hiking in the summer and sections for skiing and snowboarding in the winter. You can also hike to the top (which takes 1.5–2 hours) and then take the gondola down for just $15 CAD.
• Relax in Stanley Park – Located in the heart of the city, this enormous park (a 400-hectare natural rain forest) is a perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown. Its waterfront path right on the Pacific is a nice place to go for a stroll, swim, or bike ride. There are also sports fields here and over 20km of trails.
• Walk the Capilano Suspension Bridge – This 450-foot long suspension bridge stands 230 feet high and offers views of the surrounding forests and trails. I don’t love heights, but it’s worth it for the view! Tickets are $54 CAD.

For more suggestions, here’s a detailed list of things to see and do in Vancouver .

Where to Stay

• Cambie Hostel Gastown – Located in the historic Gastown district, this hostel has comfortable beds, a small common room for hanging out, and access to The Cambie, the hostel’s bar.
• HI Vancouver Downtown – Tucked into a quieter part of town, HI Vancouver Downtown is in a good location for exploring the popular Granville and Davie Streets, which offer plenty of cafés, bars, clubs, restaurants, and shopping.
• Samesun Vancouver – With cozy pod beds, clean bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, and free breakfast (including eggs and hot cereal), this is my favorite hostel in the city.

Here is my complete hostel list with even more suggestions!  

Day 4-5: Whistler, BC

In the summer, there are tons of outdoor activities to enjoy such as hiking, swimming, cycling, zip-lining, and bear watching. There’s also a 4.4km peak-to-peak gondola where you can enjoy the stunning mountain vistas that envelop the region.

Where to Stay Airbnb and Booking.com will be your best choices here. Book in advance, as they get booked fast!  

Days 6-8: Banff National Park, AB

Banff is home to two of Canada’s most picturesque (and most Instagrammed) locations: Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. They are incredibly popular sights, so get there early to beat the crowds.

Beyond snapping some Insta-worthy shots, there is plenty of hiking to enjoy in the surrounding mountains. It’s a beautiful place to relax in a rustic lodge or cabin or go camping (you can rent camping gear if you don’t have any).

Be sure to spend some time in the town of Banff as well. It’s a touristy resort town but it’s also super quaint and charming.

Where to Stay Airbnb will be your best option if you’re on a budget. If you feel like splurging on a luxury resort or lodge, use Booking.com .

For camping, you can use this government website to book a site in the park.

Note : If you have more than a month for your trip, consider a stop in Jasper National Park before heading to Banff. It’s an extra nine-hour drive from Whistler but the natural beauty here is jaw-dropping (seriously, google “Jasper National Park” — it’s stunning!).  

Days 9-10: Calgary, AB

Here are a few things to see and do during your visit:

• Attend the Calgary Stampede – The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo. Expect chuckwagon races, bull riding, concerts, carnival rides, and endless fair food (deep-fried butter, anyone?). Tickets start at $18 CAD.
• Visit Fish Creek Provincial Park – Fish Creek sits along the Bow River and is perfect for walking, cycling, and rollerblading. In the summer, people come here to fish, swim, and barbecue. It’s a fun, relaxing place to get some exercise and enjoy the weather.
• Go brewery-hopping – Calgary has a huge number of brewpubs and small craft breweries. Citizen Brewing Company, Cold Garden Beverage Company, and Big Rock are some of my favorites. You can take brewery tours for around $25 CAD or do a brewery tour for around $90 CAD.
• Take in the view from Calgary Tower – Built in 1967, the Calgary Tower commemorates Canada’s Centennial. From the top, it offers an uninterrupted view of the Rocky Mountains. The observation deck has a glass floor that adds an extra thrill to your visit (if you like heights, that is). Tickets are $18 CAD.

For more suggestions, check out my comprehensive free guide to Calgary!

• HI Calgary City Centre – This is the best hostel in the city. It’s newly renovated, has a full-equipped kitchen, includes towels, and the beds are comfy.

If the hostel is booked, use Airbnb . Be sure to book in advance if you’ll be here for the Stampede.  

Days 11-12: Regina, SK

Home to under 240,000 people, Regina is a small city that’s worth a quick visit. Here are some suggested things to see and do while you’re here:

• Visit the Royal Saskatchewan Museum – This natural history museum was opened in 1906 and is home to the world’s largest T. rex cast as well as an insightful exhibition on Canada’s First Nations. It’s an educational place to visit if you’re traveling with kids.
• Watch the Roughriders – The CFL (Canada’s answer to the NFL) is popular here as Regina is home to one of the league’s best teams, the Roughriders. If you’re visiting between June and November, catch a game at Mosaic Stadium and get rowdy with the locals! Tickets start at $32 CAD.
• Tour the Legislative Building – The Saskatchewan Legislative Building was built in 1912. It’s a National Historic Site and Heritage Property and is home to one of the tables used by the Fathers of Confederation when they drew up their plans to create a united Canada. Take a guided tour (they last around 30 minutes) and learn about the province’s history.

Where to Stay Airbnb and Booking.com will be your best choices here, depending on your budget and what kind of accommodation you’re looking for.  

Days 13-14: Winnipeg, MB

While it’s known for its harsh winters, Winnipeg has been working hard to evolve into a world-class city. Slowly but surely, it’s succeeding. Stop by for a day or two and check out some of the city’s best sights:

• See the Canadian Museum for Human Rights – This museum highlights the crises and evolution of human rights in Canada and around the globe. Opened in 2008, it’s the only national museum outside of Ottawa.
• Watch the Blue Bombers – For more CFL action, catch a Blue Bombers game. The team was founded in 1930 and is one of the best in the league.
• Explore the Forks National Historic Site – This urban park is a relaxing place to read or have a picnic. At the intersection of two rivers, it was historically significant for trade between indigenous people and Europeans, with human settlement going back as far as 6,000 years.
• Visit the Royal Canadian Mint – If you’re a collector or are just curious how coins are made, stop by the mint. It’s made over 55 billion coins for 75 different countries. Over 1,000 coins are made every second here! Tours are $8 CAD.

Where to Stay If you’re on a budget, try Airbnb first. If you’re looking for a hotel, Booking.com has the best rates.  

Days 15-16: Thunder Bay, ON

Tucked away on the edge of Lake Superior, Thunder Bay is one of the biggest cities in Northern Ontario. It’s just an hour from the US border and is one of the sunniest cities in Eastern Canada.

Here are some things to see and do while you’re here:

• See the Terry Fox Monument – In 1980, cancer-survivor Terry Fox set out to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He did so on just one leg (he lost the other to cancer). He managed to run for 143 days straight (5,373km, or 3,339 miles) before his cancer returned and he had to call off his quest.
• Go hiking in Sleeping Giant – Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is located on Lake Superior and offers 80km of hiking trails, including both short day hikes and multi-day routes.
• Visit Fort William Historical Park – This park is where the reconstructed Fort William is located, a fur trading post from 1816. There’s a traditional blacksmith, cooper, and canoe builder, and you can interact with actors playing the various people you would have met here in the 19th century.

Where to Stay Airbnb doesn’t have many options here, but if you can find one, they start at $45 CAD per night. For hotels and motels, use Booking.com .  

Days 17-19: Algonquin Provincial Park, ON

There are several different campgrounds in the park, dozens of hiking trails, and over 1,500 lakes (it’s massive!). You can also rent canoes and kayaks to explore and go deeper into the park. Multi-day portages are possible too.

Even if you’re a newbie camper and don’t have gear, you’ll be able to rent what you need to have an enjoyable, relaxing getaway for under $50 CAD per day.

Days 20-23: Toronto, ON

There’s a ton to see and do here. Here are a few suggestions to help you get started:

• Visit the CN Tower – The iconic CN Tower stands 550m tall and is a fixture of Toronto’s skyline. It offers panoramic views, shopping, and 360-degree dining in its (expensive) restaurant. If the weather is nice (and you have some extra money to spend), you can also walk along the outer edge of the tower. It’s touristy and expensive but fun!
• Relax on Toronto Island – Spend an inexpensive day at Toronto Island Park and enjoy the beach, play volleyball, have a picnic, and take in the view of the city from the water.
• Visit the ROM – The Royal Ontario Museum has thousands of artifacts and specimens spread over 20 exhibits. There are displays on dinosaurs, ancient China, indigenous Canadians, medieval Europe, ancient Egypt, and more. It’s the best museum in town and a fun place for kids and adults alike!
• Hit the beach – The beaches near Lake Ontario are a relaxing way to spend the day during the humid summer. You can stroll along the boardwalk, eat at one of the many restaurants, or rent a boat and head out on the lake. Some of the best beaches are Cherry, Woodbine, and Centre Island.
• Wander Kensington Market – This bohemian neighborhood offers an eclectic mix of alternative restaurants and shops. It gets quite bustling in the summer, and there are often free concerts too. It’s one of my favorite places to wander around!

For more suggestions as well as money-saving tips, check out my free guide to Toronto!

Where to Stay Hotels in Toronto are expensive, so use Airbnb if you’re on a budget. If you do want to stay in a hostel, Planet Traveler Hostel is the best in the city.  

Days 24-26: Ottawa, ON

Located four hours from Toronto , it’s is full of historic buildings and museums, and is just a short walk from Québec (Canada’s French-speaking province).

Here’s what I would focus on in Ottawa during your stay:

• Wander the Byward Market – This massive market is full of restaurants, shops, and open-air stalls. There is a lot happening all year round, though in the summer it’s bustling with fresh produce and many local artisans. If you’re looking for a souvenir or just want to people-watch, this is the place!
• Visit the Canadian Museum of Civilization – While technically not in Ottawa (it’s across the river in Québec), this world-class museum is one of the best in all of Canada. It does an amazing job of showcasing Canada’s entire history, including some insightful exhibitions on First Nations. There are lots of kid-friendly exhibits too. This museum shouldn’t be missed!
• Try a beaver tail – These are not actual beaver tails, don’t worry! They’re delectable desserts resembling a flat donut, made of fried dough and covered in all sorts of sweet toppings. They’re a must!
• Visit the Canadian War Museum – Canada is known as a peaceful nation, but it’s been involved in its fair share of conflicts too. This museum does an excellent job of highlighting Canada’s military history. It has exhibits on both world wars as well as modern conflicts Canada has been engaged in.
• Skate on the Rideau Canal – Every winter, the Rideau Canal is frozen over and turned into a massive skating rink that stretches for miles (it’s the longest skating rink in the world). If you’re visiting during the winter, you can rent skates for around $20 CAD if you don’t have your own.
• Ottawa Backpackers Hostel – This laid-back hostel has some of the cheapest accommodation in the city. The dorms are spacious, it’s social, and it’s right near the Byward Market.
• HI Ottawa Jail Hostel – This hostel is located in a former jail. The rooms are small (they’re former cells), but it’s an incredibly unique space — and a little spooky too!

Days 27-30: Montreal, QC

Personally, I think it’s one of the best cities in Canada. The Old Town looks like something straight out of medieval France, and the French-inspired cuisine and eclectic nightlife (especially the jazz clubs) leave little to dislike.

Here are my suggestions for things to see and do while you’re here:

• Wander Old Montreal – This is the most attractive part of town. It has cobblestone streets, and its historic gray-stone buildings date back to the 1700s. Some of the city’s finest museums and art galleries (such as the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History) are here too.
• Hike Mount Royal – For a view over Montreal, hike up Mount Royal (after which the city is named). You can also jog, picnic, or just people-watch around the park too. It’s a relaxing green space.
• Visit the Notre-Dame Basilica – This 17th-century Gothic Revival basilica has dual towers that are reminiscent of Notre-Dame in Paris. Its interior is stunning and full of religious paintings, colorful stained glass windows, and gold-leaf decoration. There’s also a 7,000-pipe organ. A 60-minute tour costs $15 CAD.
• See the Museum of Fine Arts – This huge museum has over 43,000 works of art. There are both permanent galleries and rotating exhibitions, so there’s always something new to see. Admission is $24 CAD.

For more suggestions, as well as money-saving tips, check out my guide to Montreal!

• HI Montreal – HI Montreal is just a two-minute walk from the metro, offers both dorms and private rooms, and has a pool table. There’s also free breakfast and daily activities, including bike tours, walks, a pub crawl, and even poutine tastings!
• Alternative Hostel of Old Montreal – Located in the historic area of town and a short jaunt to the city center, it has an eclectic and artsy vibe. Free breakfast is included, and there are plenty of common areas for relaxing and meeting other travelers.

Here are some other great hostel suggestions too!

This is a packed itinerary, but with a month at your disposal, you’ll be able to experience the majority of Canada’s sights and cities without having to rush. With an additional 10-21 days, you can add more of Québec and the Maritimes, Canada’s rugged and picturesque east coast (or simply spend more time in the destinations above).

No matter what you decide, Canada is such a massive, diverse landscape and it truly has something for everyone. While this itinerary only covers a portion of Canada, it does give you a peek into just how awesome it is!

Book Your Trip to Canada: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned!

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• Safety Wing (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
• Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)

Need a Rental Car? Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip!

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Want More Information on Canada? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Canada for even more planning tips!

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

Related Posts

Get my best stuff sent straight to you!

Pin it on pinterest.

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 in BC or a capital city of Vancouver.

However, a reader let me know that there is in fact a Victoria Island located in the Arctic Ocean (thank you, Marlene!), but don’t go there if you’re trying to find Victoria, BC. 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!

Similar Posts

7 Mistakes I Made in New York City – So You Don’t Have To

New York City: Must Sees & Maybe Passes

The Lazy Girl’s Budget Guide to Whistler, BC

Traveller of the Month: Lauren from The Planet Edit

Our European Christmas Market Road Trip

That Time I Almost Went to New Zealand

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!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

How to Take an Epic Canada Road Trip

The Great American Road Trip has been immortalized in books and movies almost as long as we’ve had automobiles, but there are plenty of good reasons to do the same on the other side of the northern border as well. It might be more interesting, friendlier, and less stressful to take an epic Canada road trip instead (as long as it’s when the weather is warm, that is.)

Canada is blessed with fun and vibrant cities, less crowded national parks than you’ll find in the USA—except for maybe  Banff —and since the warm and sunny months are so special, everyone’s enjoying the outdoors in the summer. You’ll find music festivals and outdoor events going on everywhere, many of them free. It’s also easier to find a place to camp if you’re trying out van life, renting an RV, or are car camping.

You won’t have any problem finding open stretches of road. At some point you’ll be on the Trans-Canada Highway. It spans over 7,800 kilometers and connects 10 provinces.

If Coming from the USA to Canada for a Road Trip

There are a few things to work out before you arrive if you’re crossing the border from the United States to Canada. You’ll be using different money, first of all, and you’ll need to do some math. The Canadian dollar, also called the loonie, has been hanging between 1.32 to 1.40 to the greenback for years. Figure out which ATMs you can take cash from without a few if you don’t have a card that reimburses the fees, though of course you can use credit or debit cards fine in most places.

You’ll need to keep communicating, but Canada has different cell networks than the U.S. and they’re generally more expensive. So if you don’t have a T-Mobile plan that treats the two countries equally for calls and texts, you’ll need to check into mobile eSIM cell phone plans for Canada .

Border crossings are reasonably straightforward, but you may be asked to show you’re able to show “strong ties” to your home country. This has tripped up many a digital nomad who has had a tough time entering Canada. Between having a carful of stuff and no obvious “home” to return to, the digital nomad life is one that confounds immigration agents worldwide, but especially here.

Blame it on the exodus that started during the 2016 American election and still continues today. Eight years on, Canada still is dealing with a steady stream of people trying to escape north to a saner place to live, so you need to show that’s not your intention to live here if you want to sail right through the checkpoints.

You’ll see other cars with American license plates across the country and thousands of cars cross the border daily. Once you’re in, you shouldn’t have any problems going from one province to the next, but don’t try to sell the car in Canada! Whatever vehicle you drive in needs to be the one you’re leaving with.

If Coming From Elsewhere

The first thing to know is, you’re going to need a car right away, even just to get around before your road trip even starts. So should you rent a car in Canada or buy one?

Renting saves some bureaucratic red tape (every country has it), while buying will be cheaper for most trips longer than a month. As in the USA, it can be cheaper to buy a used car, drive it for months, then sell it at the end. You will likely lose less in value than you would have spent renting long-term. This is especially true for any type of RV or campervan, though for short trips you can just rent an RV or camper in the states.

You’ll have the best luck on  Kijiji.ca , a popular classified buy/sell/trade sort of site. While Craigslist is also around, it’s a distant second place to Canada’s largest exchange site. This is where you’ll search for your preferences: manual vs. automatic, the prices in your range, and location. For obvious reasons, you’ll find more offerings in and around larger cities, plus if you’re flying in you could base your arrival on where you’re seeing the best matches.

While there are plenty of cars in all price ranges, I’ll assume you’re not looking to spend more than necessary. Adequate cars can be found in below $5,000 CAD, but you need to shop around to find ones that will hold up. The pandemic exit and resulting supply chain issues knocked the used car market out of whack and it’s just now getting back to normal.

Cars need to have a safety inspection sticker to be legal, though the process to get it is different in each province. Your best bet is to get a car with a current sticker that’s good for the length of your trip (and the longer the better). You’ll want to note whether  the car has winter tires  (which have deeper grooves and specific tire patterns designed to grip the road better in wintry conditions) or summer tires (which use a softer rubber optimized for warmer temperatures). Match this to the season of your trip if you can, though you’ll get some funny looks driving your winter tires during the summer.

Also, license plates transfer with the  owner , not the  vehicle , meaning you’ll need to purchase your own. Before taking off, conduct a thorough check-up of your car, examining the engine, tires, brakes, and all necessary fluids before setting out. Remember, weather conditions can be unpredictable even in the best of times.

When Should I Come to Canada?

Canada’s tourist season is traditionally Victoria Day (the Monday preceding May 25) to Labour Day (the first Monday of September). This is essentially the only time to visit most of Canada’s non-wintry attractions. Some of the  Nova Scotia  destinations our former contributor Chris tried to reach were closed as late as mid-May; since museums in smaller cities tend to rely on student volunteers, so they don’t open until school is out.

The weather can also be a factor the further north you go. Snows come early in some northern and mountain regions. There’s also just a lot more going on in the summer months since that’s when businesses will be open in coastal areas and on the lakes.

Where Should I Start My Road Trip Across Canada?

The most logical way to start a Canadian road trip would be to begin in a major city, buy (or rent) the car, then set off across the country from there. Depending on where you’re coming from, you might start on one coast—say Halifax or Vancouver—and drive your way to the other. Remember that Canada is a  big country, and that it can take weeks to completely cross.

Major cities like Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal are all worth several days at minimum, while most cities of any size have at least a few things to see. Then there’s all the nature to explore: mountains, lakes, and rivers. So your Canadian road trip should be weeks long unless you’re only exploring one province.

As you might guess, the Perceptive Travel Family has written about Canada  quite a bit, including one writer who lives there.

Budgeting and Expenses for a Canada Road Trip

It’s hard for us to give budget advice for a Canada road trip since the style of travel you indulge in, as well as what you eat along the way, will have a big impact on your costs. Be advised that while the U.S. dollar and euro are strong against the Canadian currency, that doesn’t mean that you’ll find a whole lot of bargains. Taxes are quite high in Canada and this applies doubly to “sin tax” items like beer, wine, and spirits.

Groceries are slightly less in Canada and if you’re eating out it will be a tad cheaper, but that’s partly because the servers don’t expect such generous tips: restaurants actually pay their workers instead of expecting the customers to do it for them.

You’ll also pay a lot more for fuel in Canada than in the USA, so budget accordingly. In general, gas prices are roughly a third higher per gallon. They vary quite a bit across provinces, with the lowest petrol prices in Alberta and Winnepeg, the highest in British Columbia, especially Vancouver.

Most National Parks in Canada levy a set CAD$11 per person, so if you visit a lot of these it can add up, but at least you know what you’re in for and can budget accordingly. Sometimes the pass for one will get you into another in the same province if you visit in the same day. Those 17 and under are free, so it’s quite family-friendly.

If there are two of you traveling together, get the Discovery Pass and it’ll pay for itself after seven visits. If there are more than two of you, it will pay off faster.

If you’re camping, you’ll have an easier time going off the grid and finding free camping spots if you’re on public land, but “boondocking” in city, state, or provincial parks is prohibited. If you’re in an RV that needs hook-ups at every spot, you may find fewer choices than in the USA and they may not be as well-maintained. Campground prices are a tad lower than in the USA though, especially compared to popular areas in the western USA near national parks.

If you are staying in hotels, that’s obviously going to drive up the costs quite a bit. Hotels and motels in Canada are similar in price to those in the USA, so anything you can do to offset this along the way will help your budget, whether that’s staying with friends, stopping off for a while to rent an apartment, or doing house sits or home exchanges set up in advance.

How about you? Have you ever gone on a long Canada road trip? Share your experience in the comments if so.

Related posts:

About the author.

Tim Leffel is author of five travel books, including Travel Writing 2.0 (now in its 2nd edition), and A Better Life for Half the Price , on living abroad. He is editor of Perceptive Travel online magazine and this blog. He splits his time between Guanajuato, Mexico and Tampa Bay. See his writing portfolio, awards, and links to his books at TimLeffel.com .

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• April offers
• Manage my booking
• Travel Agents
• Destinations
• Holiday types
• Special offers
• More options

Book with Peace of Mind

Read our blog

Why choose Canadian Affair

• All staff are Canada travel experts
• Almost 25 years' experience selling Canada
• We tailor-make dream holidays
• All holidays are ATOL protected
• We are members of ABTA
• Arrange a virtual consultation with us
• Book with confidence with our Peace of Mind Promise

Your guide to the ultimate Canada road trip

Read time: 11 minutes

With 900,000 km of driving routes, Canada has enough roads to circle the globe 22 times, making it a great place to take a road trip. But despite the vast distances, planning a driving holiday in one of the world’s largest countries couldn’t be easier. You’ll find plentiful  car hire in Canada , well-paved open roads and friendly stop-offs—all of which make journeying a breeze.

In this guide, we’ve rounded up a few of our favourite road trip itineraries to get you started, as well as our top tips for planning a road trip holiday in Canada . Be sure to explore our interactive maps for a sneak peek at the stunning views awaiting you.

SEE ALSO: How to plan the perfect self-drive holiday with Canadian Affair

1.  The best road trips in Canada

–  Unlimited Adventures – Whales, Bears and Vancouver Island – Great Parks of the East – Beaches, Islands, Lobster, Moose and More

2. Top tips for planning a road trip in Canada

– Applying for visas – Hiring a car – Car insurance – Canada road trip checklist

The best road trips in Canada

Unlimited adventures – 16 days.

Towering snowy peaks, impressive mountain roads and an abundance of wildlife make the Rocky Mountains one of Canada’s star attractions. This route takes in three of western Canada’s best national parks and is perfect for an open jaw flight into Calgary and out of Vancouver.

Day 1 – Calgary

After your  flight to Calgary , you’ll be able to pick up your personalised road book and take in the sights of Stampede City on your first day here.

Day 2 & 3 – Banff

(1 hour 25-minute drive)

Spend the day hiking, biking, horse riding, or just relaxing in the hot springs. Take a  gondola ride  to the top of Sulphur Mountain for spectacular views of Bow Valley below.

Day 4 – Lake Louise

(40-minute drive)

The sparkling, blue lake is jaw-dropping with its proud backdrop of the rugged Victoria Glacier. Stroll around the water’s edge or take a chair lift to the top of Whitethorn Mountain.

Day 5 – Jasper

(7 hour 20-minute’ drive – this is one of the longest stretches in Canada but is along arguably the most beautiful road, Canada’s Icefields Parkway.)

Enjoy the endless sights along the Icefields Parkway, including a walk on the Athabasca Glacier and over the glass-bottomed  Glacier Skywalk . You can also see Bow Lake and Peyto Lake before coming into the quaint town of  Jasper .

SEE ALSO: A Guide to the Icefields Parkway’s Top Stops

Day 6 – Clearwater

( 3 hour 20-minute drive)

The Yellowhead Highway takes you along the Thompson Valley to Clearwater, a beautiful unspoiled area north of Kamloops. En-route you’ll pass the majestic Mount Robson—the highest peak in the Rockies.

Day 7 & 8 – Gold Bridge

( 6 hour 15-minute drive)

This quaint area is perfect for exploring British Columbia’s Gold Rush history. Investigate the old mine ruins and ghost towns left by early prospectors.

Day 9 – Whistler

( 2 hour 20-minute drive)

You’ll be spoilt for choice in this active mountain community. There’s hiking and mountain biking to keep you busy, as well as a fantastic al fresco dining scene. A must-do is the  Peak-2-Peak Gondola  where you’ll witness superb views.

Day 11 – Tofino

( 6 hours 35 minutes, including a two-hour ferry)

Situated along the south-western coast of Vancouver Island, the Pacific Rim National Park is a thin strip of magnificent islands, beaches, and dramatic seascapes. The ferry across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island is beautiful in itself.

Day 13 – Victoria

( 4 hour 20-minute drive)

The charming colonial city of Victoria is the capital of British Columbia. Enjoy the colourful downtown area full of boutiques, shops and restaurants, or unwind by Victoria’s beautiful Inner Harbour.

Day 15 & 16 – Vancouver

( 3 hours 15 minutes, including a two-hour ferry to Vancouver Island)

Even if you are planning a separate Vancouver holiday , this bustling city shouldn’t be missed on your road trip; perfect for shopping, dining and sightseeing. Visit Stanley Park, head to the beach, or visit the city’s museums.

Whales, Bears and Vancouver Island – 9 days

One of our quickest road trips, this short-but-sweet itinerary proves you don’t need two weeks or hundreds of miles to get to the good stuff in Canada. With return flights to Vancouver, it’s the best way to squeeze city and wilderness into one holiday on a time limit.

Day 1 – Vancouver to Victoria

(3 hours 15 minutes, including a two-hour ferry to Vancouver Island)

Pick up your hire car and start your adventure! Hop on the ferry from Vancouver to Vancouver Island across the stunning Strait of Georgia.

Day 2 – Victoria

Embark on a whale-watching adventure aboard a Zodiac boat. Learn about the environment and habits of killer whales, minke whales and grey whales as you keep your eyes peeled for ocean giants and other marine wildlife.

Day 3 & 4 – Tofino

(4 hour 20-minute drive)

This scenic road through Vancouver Island passes spectacular, old-growth temperate rainforests as it leads you to the Pacific Rim National Park and the surf haven of Tofino . On your second day in Tofino, you’ll enjoy an unforgettable boat trip to see the region’s coastal black bears foraging on the shores.

SEE ALSO: What is your perfect Canada road trip driving song?

Day 5 & 6 – Sonora Resort

(3 hour 20-minute drive, then a short water taxi)

This luxury wilderness resort is like nothing you’ll have experienced before. Wildlife spotting opportunities are boundless and the natural beauty of the area will take your breath away.

Day 7, 8 & 9 – Vancouver

(4 hours 10 minutes, including a two-hour ferry)

Finish your tour in the vibrant metropolis of Vancouver for shopping, dining and sightseeing. Hop on a floatplane or boat ride for a unique view of the city from the water, or head over to the North Shore for more outdoor adventures.

Great Parks of the East – 15 days

This two-week circular tour starts in the cosmopolitan behemoth of Toronto before taking in the most vibrant cities on the east coast. Culture and nature come head-to-head on this diverse trail from Canada’s capital, Ottawa, to its beautiful regional parks.

Day 1 – Toronto

Collect your hire car ready for your adventure! Spend the day exploring  Toronto , with highlights including a visit to the CN Tower and some of its trendy neighbourhoods for shopping and dining.

Day 2 – Midland

(1 hour 50-minute drive)

Drive through scenic Huron Country via Penetanguishene, an old native village.

Day 3 & 4 – Huntsville

(1 hour 35-minute drive)

It doesn’t get much better than the peaceful setting of Huntsville, surrounded by forests and lakes and perfect for boating and horse riding.

Day 5 – Ottawa

(4-hour drive)

Drive to Canada’s capital city via  Gatineau Park  with miles of cycling trails. In the city, explore the historic Parliament buildings or stroll by the scenic Rideau Canal.

Day 6 & 7 – Tremblant

Enjoy relaxing in the tranquil setting of the Laurentian Mountains.

Day 8 & 9 – Québec City

(3 hour 45-minute drive)

Soak in the history of this Francophone city, from Place Royal to Montmorency Falls.

Day 10 & 11 – St Michel-Des-Saints

(3 hour 20-minute drive)

Fertile plains, rolling hills and a beautiful lake. The scenery here is ideal for kayaking, mountain biking and hiking.

Day 12 – Montréal

(2 hour 15-minute’ drive)

Montréal is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city famed for its arts scene.

Day 13 – Kingston

(3-hour drive)

A trip to Kingston wouldn’t be complete without a cruise through the 1000 Islands waterway.

Day 14 – Niagara Falls (3 hour 45-minute drive)

Tick off one of the world’s most iconic sights when you experience these thundering falls first-hand.

SEE ALSO: Best scenic drives around Ontario

Day 15 – Toronto

The perfect way to end your tour. The short driving distance allows you a little more time in the city before flying home.

Beaches, Islands, Lobster, Moose and More – 18 days

This road trip takes in the best of the east as it meanders through Canada’s Maritime Provinces – Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Charming villages compete with lighthouses, whales, sand beaches and rugged highlands for your attention. With the most stunning coastlines and delicious seafood along the way, this region of Canada is an unspoilt gem.

Day 1 – Arrive at Halifax Airport

Pick up your car upon arrival and make your way to your hotel to check-in and refresh. You have the whole day to explore the nearly 270-years-old Halifax. Visit the historic Citadel, the Old Town Clock, the Public Gardens and the charming and lively harbour.

Day 2 – Drive along the Eastern Shore (275 km)

Today your epic road trip begins. Head north on the Marine Drive, a scenic route along Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore. Make a stop at Sherbrooke Village, where animators dressed in period costumes will bring you back in time to the glorious 19th century.

Day 3 – Make your way to Baddeck (280 km)

Day 3 of your trip gives you the chance to explore the wildest and most remote parts of Nova Scotia’s northeast coast with an optional stop at the small fishing village of Canso before you head further north to Cape Breton Island. Overnight in Baddeck on the shores of the Bras D‘Or Lake.

Day 4 – Explore Cape Breton Island

Cape Breton Island is home to one of the most iconic and scenic drives not only in Canada but worldwide. The Cabot Trail is a 298km long road along the island’s coastline, rewarding travellers with picturesque views of the ocean, weaving through lush green forests, valleys, and waterfalls as it climbs from sea level up to 500m above the sea. A visit to the Fortress of Louisbourg is a must.

Day 5 – Baddeck to Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island) (250 km)

Today you will drive back to Nova Scotia’s mainland to take a 75-minute ferry trip to Prince Edward Island, the smallest province in Canada. Before that, make a stop at Pictou, the town renowned as the “Birthplace of New Scotland” (Nova Scotia).

Day 6 – Explore Charlottetown before you continue north to O‘Leary/Alberton (175 km)

Small but charming, friendly, and rich in history, Charlottetown will take you by surprise with all it has to offer. Visit the “Birthplace of Canada” – the Province House National Historic Site, admire the finest architecture of the Victoria Row, or head to the Confederation Centre of Arts.

SEE ALSO: Top Tips for Driving in Canada

Day 7 – Get to know more of Prince Edward Island

Drive towards the less-known Western part of the island where red sand beaches and delicious seafood awaits you on Prince Edward Island.

Day 8 – Drive to Richibucto (New Brunswick) (260 km)

Today immerse yourself into the beauty and charm of the New Brunswick’s Acadian Coast. Highlights of the day are the Bouctouche and Kouchibouguac National Parks and the theatrical village of “Pays de la Sagouine”.

Day 9 – Continue to Caraquet (175 km)

Caraquet is known to be the unofficial capital of French-speaking Acadians. Nature-lovers should visit the close-by islands of Lamèque and Miscou to enjoy sandy beaches and a great variety of birds.

Day 10 & 11 – Drive to Fredericton and spend a day exploring the provincial capital (300 km)

A scenic drive along the Miramichi River, famous for one of the largest populations of Atlantic salmon in Eastern North America, will take you to Fredericton at the very heart of New Brunswick. Spend a whole day strolling down the city on a bicycle or foot, enjoying its calmness, beautiful nature and historic sites.

Day 12 – Head south to St. Andrews (150 km)

St. Andrews is one of the oldest and most charming towns in Canada’s Maritimes. This seaside resort village attracts travellers with its rich history and culture, beautiful nature and marine life, hospitality, and a great variety of outdoor activities.

Day 13 – Discover the hidden gems of the Bay of Fundy

The Bay of Fundy is renowned for the place with the highest tides on Earth (16m), home to over 15 species of whales and dolphins, many migrating birds and stunning dinosaur fossils.

Day 14 – St. Andrews to Shediac (370 km)

A scenic coastal drive will bring you to Saint John and its “Reversing Falls”. Highlights of the day though are Fundy National Park, further west, and the Hopewell Rocks. Often called the “Flowerpots Rocks”, you will get the chance to walk on the ocean’s bed around these stunning rock formations at low tide.

Day 15 – Make your way to Wolfville (300 km)

Visit the Joggins Fossil Cliffs, 14.7 km of cliffs revealing the world’s most complete fossil record of life from 300 million years ago. The area was pronounced a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.

Day 16 – Liverpool/White Point (160 km)

Your fly-drive holiday package includes a Tour & Wine Tasting at the Grand Pre-Winery today before you head to Kejimkujik National Park, a vast 381 sq. km park of lush forests, lakes and rivers offering a variety of outdoor activities.

Day 17 – Drive back to Halifax (160 km)

Your road trip continues along the beautiful south shore of Nova Scotia with iconic sites such as Peggy’s Cove, the most photographed lighthouse in the whole of Canada, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Lunenburg, the scenic Mahone Bay and elegant Chester.

Day 18 – Departure from Halifax Airport

Top tips for planning a road trip in canada.

As you can see, a road trip through Canada is the ultimate adventure and now that you have an idea about some of the amazing routes available, check out a few of our top planning tips below.

Visas you need for a Canada road trip

Before you book anything, you’ll need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) to enter Canada by air. If you wish to visit the USA as part of your trip (and we recommend Alaska), you will need to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) to enter America.

How to hire a Car in Canada

There are plenty of options for  car hire in Canada . Depending on what time of year you’re travelling, you may want to choose your car based on potential road conditions. If you’re planning on going off the beaten track or driving through the winter, a sturdy car such as an SUV might be more suitable. Be sure to check that you are allowed to drive your hire car in winter conditions, as there are laws on snow tyres and chains.

SEE ALSO: 10 best road trips in Alberta

Don’t forget travel insurance

Travel insurance is usually pretty cheap and when you’re setting off on a big journey, it’s important to make sure you’re covered. As there are plenty of adventure activities on offer in Canada, if you’re planning on trying rafting, skiing or something similar, make sure you are covered. While it’s unpleasant to think of an accident or illness ruining your road trip, experiencing either of these without travel insurance would be a nightmare.

Canada road trip checklist

For a full planning agenda, take a look at the below checklist for a few more tips to help you plan your road adventure in Canada.

– Pick a route

– Know how long the routes are to help you plan

– Plan your pit stops for breaks and photo opportunities

– Choose which season is best for your route

– Avoid snowy seasons. May is a perfect time due to less traffic and increasing light.

– Apply for visas

– Book flights

– Vancouver , Toronto , Québec , Calgary , and Montréal are all ideal locations to fly to.

– Don’t forget travel insurance

As you can see, a road trip in Canada is a truly wonderful way to see the many delights of this great country. With various sights and sounds on display, the open roads of Canada are the perfect option for a memorable adventure.

Check out further articles and guides to Canada on our blog for even more inspiration.

If all of this has got you excited for what’s possible, make sure to take a look at some of our fly drive holidays to Canada so you can get planning!

Canada specialist

• #MyCanadianAffair
• 48 Hours In…
• Canada Culture
• Family Travel
• Outdoor Activities
• Train Travel
• Trips and Tours
• Winter & Ski

Latest on Twitter

Canadian affair on facebook.

Stay in touch & get regular updates

Sign up to our newsletter...

Thank you for signing up. please enter your details below..

Please help us make your emails more personalised by filling in these extra details. Rest assured that your privacy is important to us and your details will not be shared with any 3rd party marketing companies. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy . Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.

What are you interested in?

Please select all that apply

Visit Friends & Family

I agree to receive electronic messages which may include promotional offers and travel product information from The Airline Seat Company Ltd & its affiliates at the contact information provided above. You can withdraw your consent at anytime.

All information collected is intended for Canadian Affair, the data controller, for the purposes of processing your bookings or subscriptions to our newsletters and/or programs. It may also be used for the conduct of marketing and statistical studies, to customise and continuously improve your customer experience, to provide you with the most suitable offers and to send you targeted advertising. If you have consented, it may be used to send you promotional offers. Some of this information may also be communicated to third parties, namely to our subcontractors, who may be located outside the European Union.

In accordance with applicable regulation, you have various rights regarding the use and protection of your personal information. When the basis for processing is your consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time. To learn more about your rights, the use and protection of your personal information, please refer to our Privacy Policy . If you wish to exercise one of these rights or contact our Data Protection Officer, please fill out the Privacy Policy Form .

Please refer to our Privacy Policy or Contact Us for more details.

Road Trip Through Canada’s National Parks

Canada is a vast country with endless beauty spanning many diverse landscapes. With one lake for every 18 people in Canada, there’s no shortage of pristine wilderness and outdoor adventure.

A road trip through Canada is one of the best ways to see the changing landscapes of the county. And Canada’s National Parks are the best spots to explore along the way. Let’s dive into exactly what you need to know to plan the ultimate Canada road trip—one that thoroughly explores Eastern Canada , a popular region of the country, but an itinerary to also cross Canada’s 10 provinces , taking in the best national parks along the way.

Although this road trip route runs east to west, you could also plan your itinerary to easily drive it in the reverse direction.

Table of Contents

Canada Road Trip Itinerary

Newfoundland.

Spend a few days getting acquainted with the charming city of St John’s , then start your road trip towards Gros Morne National Park . Along the way, you’ll drive through Terra Nova National Park. This is a perfect place to break up the drive, as Gros Morne is about seven hours away. Spend the night in Terra Nova , and soak up Newfoundland’s wild beauty.

Gros Morne National Park is stunning. If you love to hike, challenge yourself up 800 meters to the summit of Gros Morne mountain. This is no easy feat, as the last two hours of the hike involve climbing up steep rocks, but the views at the top are worth it.

For a less strenuous activity in the area, take a boat tour through the fjords and marvel at the beauty carved out by the work of glaciers over thousands of years.

Nova Scotia

Once you arrive on the mainland of Canada, head to Cape Breton Highlands National Park . The park is home to the Cabot Trail , which has been continuously named one of the most beautiful drives in the world .

Prince Edward Island

It’s possible to drive through PEI in one day, and it’s well worth a stop. Along the way, you’ll find beautiful sandy beaches alongside red cliffs and wind-sculpted sand dunes. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to stay a couple of days longer and soak up more of the East Coast Canadian charm and fresh lobster.

New Brunswick

Opt for a stop further South in Canada’s largest city, Toronto , where you can explore Canada’s only urban National Park—Rouge Park. Or continue driving west and your road trip will take you to Algonquin Provincial Park .

Covering over 8000 square kilometers of rugged Canadian Shield, Algonquin is home to lakes, rivers, forests, and a diverse wildlife population. It’s one of the best places in Canada to go canoeing, with over 1600 km of canoe routes that follow lakes, streams, and portage trails.

Ontario is large, so get ready for a long drive ahead to the next national park. But the scenery will continue to impress, as your road trip takes you through stunning alpine forests and some of the largest lakes in the world.

The next stop will be Pukaskwa National Park , located on the beautiful Lake Superior in Northern Ontario. Explore the backcountry coastal hiking trails, where you can walk over a Suspension Bridge overlooking Chigamiwinigum Fall. This park is also a great opportunity to see the culture and heritage of The Anishinabe First Nation.

Saskatchewan

From Banff, take the scenic way to Jasper National Park through the Icefields Parkway. National Geographic named this one of the best road trips in the world, and it lives up to its reputation. You will pass through ancient glaciers, cascading waterfalls, and emerald lakes. The drive has many points of interests along the way including Lake Louise, Athabasca Falls , and the Columbia Icefield.

Once in Jasper, you can continue to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding Rocky Mountains . Jasper is one of the best places to visit in Alberta , and a great place to witness the Northern Lights. It’s also one of the best places to see wildlife in Canada. Bears, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and elk are all common in the area.

From Jasper, you can either continue your way down to British Columbia via Mt. Robson Provincial Park, or return to Banff via the Icefields Parkway—the drive is so beautiful you won’t mind doing it twice.

British Columbia

After all the fun in the Rocky Mountains, your Canada road trip heads through BC to Swartz Bay. There, you can board the ferry to take you to Victoria Island. The island will be your last stop— Pacific Rim National Park Reserve . There, you can enjoy a completely different side of Canada. Hike through the magical rainforests, kayak with killer whales, or surf in the Pacific water.

Where to Stay

If you don’t have your own equipment or want to try a night of glamping, Parks Canada offers some unique options. Try renting a yurt or OTENTiks , a cross between a tent and a cabin. Check the website to see what accommodations are available in the park you’re visiting. If you’re after a more luxurious experience, many of the parks offer high-end hotels nearby you can stay in at night.

Transportation

With the nature of a road trip, you will need a car to complete this journey. An economy car is fine for getting around Canada’s 10 provinces, as the roads are generally in good condition. Of course, renting a larger car or campervan will give you more comfort during the trip. Use RentalCars.com to find the best rates for your trip .

How Long to Road Trip

While it is possible to drive across Canada in one week, if you want to stop at all these parks and enjoy what they have to offer, I recommend a minimum of three week. Ideally, the longer the better, as there is no shortage of outdoor adventure and fun to experience throughout the parks. This road trip would be the perfect way to spend a summer in Canada.

By the end of the journey, you will have gone from the Atlantic Coast to Pacific, through the Maritimes, Lakes, Prairies, and the Rocky Mountains. It will take you through almost half of Canada’s National Parks , and give you a true sense of Canada’s wild beauty and diversity. So grab a Canada National Geographic Map to to help guide your trip, then get traveling.

By Lora Pope

The Ultimate Canada Road Trip Itinerary: How To Spend 2 Weeks In Western Canada

Western Canada has been at the very top of my bucket list for years now, in particular the towering mountains of the British Colombia and Alberta provinces. These regions are known for being vast, wild and beautiful. They are home to rugged peaks, turquoise blue lakes, expansive glaciers, tumbling waterfalls and an abundance of wildlife. There is so much to see that I absolutely recommend going on a road trip, to cover as much ground as possible during your trip. This itinerary focuses on Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Kananaskis, Banff and Yoho, however I will outline alternative options and ways you can modify the route. If you love the outdoors, hiking and nature then this is the Canadian road trip itinerary for you!

The Practicalities

Getting There:  From the UK you can get direct flights to Vancouver, but they are pretty expensive. A more affordable alternative you could explore is flying into Seattle and getting the train up to Vancouver. If you want to skip the Vancouver leg of this trip you could fly directly into Calgary, Alberta from London but there tends to be limited flight availability on this route.

Getting Around:  This is a road trip itinerary, so you will be needing a car. I highly recommend renting one which is four wheel drive and high clearance. Roads are typically pretty good in Canada but once you get into the wilderness they can get a bit rougher. It is better to be safe than sorry!

When To Visit:  The best time to visit this region is in the summer months of early July through to late September. Personally I find mountain weather is more stable in September, which the locals in Alberta confirmed is usually the case.

How Long To Stay : Canada is massive, like seriously humongous. Give it as much time as you physically can because there’s so much to see! I recommend a 2-week trip as a minimum. However, if you only have 10 days you could just focus on the Alberta leg of this itinerary and save Vancouver/Vancouver Island for another time.

Price:  I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Canada isn’t cheap. The prices we experienced reflected those of the UK when it comes to meals, hotels, car rental, etc. So, be sure to budget accordingly. 

Top Travel Tips

• Make sure you purchase a Parks Canada Discovery Pass. This will allow you access to more than 80 Canadian destinations in 12 months, plus it mean you can avoid having to join the queues when you enter national parks.
• Pack for all weathers, no matter the season. It is the mountains after all! Even in the height of summer, the weather can switch from sunshine and blue skies to cold, cloudy and rainy in minutes. Take layers, waterproofs and suitable footwear. If you need guidance on what gear to take, check out my hiking kit guide here .
• Bear safety is a hugely important factor when you’re exploring the Canadian wilderness. It is essential to carry bear spray, make noise and stay vigilant. Check out the Canadian bear safety guidelines here . One thing to note is that bear spray cannot be taken on planes, so I recommend buying it once you get to your destination.

Itinerary Overview & Suggested Alterations

This itinerary is essentially split into two parts, the first section explores the mountains in Alberta and the second passes through Vancouver and Vancouver Island. 

• Day 1: Land in Vancouver
• Day 2: Explore Vancouver City
• Day 3: Travel to Kananaskis
• Day 4: Kananaskis
• Day 5: Kananaskis
• Day 6: Explore Kananaskis & Travel To Banff
• Day 7: Banff
• Day 8: Banff
• Day 9: Banff
• Day 10: Explore Banff & Travel To Yoho
• Day 11: Yoho
• Day 12: Yoho
• Day 13: Travel to Vancouver Island
• Day 14: Tofino, Vancouver island
• Day 15: Tofino, Vancouver Island
• Day 16: Tofino, Vancouver Island
• Day 17: Travel Home

This itinerary can be altered in various ways, here are a few suggestions:

• Skip staying in Yoho National Park. Instead, travel there from Banff for the day before continuing on to Jasper.
• Don’t travel to British Colombia at all. Instead just travel a little slower, continuing up to Jasper and the surrounding area, spending a few days there and then flying out of Edmonton.
• Drive from Alberta back to Vancouver through British Colombia, stopping off at Yoho National Park, Golden, Glacier National Park, Kamloops, Whistler, Squamish etc.

If I am 100% honest, if we could do this trip again we would have skipped BC and just focused on Alberta. Spending more time exploring the regions around Kananaskis, Banff and Jasper – and then travelling through British Colombia on a return trip. However, if you plan on going to Canada once, then the itinerary we did gives you a really great taste of a variety of West Canadian landscapes. 

The Itinerary:

Day 1 + 2: vancouver.

Vancouver city is well worth spending a day in as you travel through Canada. Despite it being large and densely populated, you can see that an effort has been made to preserve the natural features of the city which means there’s plenty of green space for you to enjoy. Here are a few of my personal recommendations:

• Explore Stanley Park. It is one of the world’s largest urban parks. You can either wander around on foot, or rent bikes and cycle along the seawall. There’s plenty of beautiful viewpoints and beaches where you can stop off and enjoy the scenery.
• Visit Granville Island. A hotspot for food and independent shopping. The Public Market is a great spot to find something to eat, or you can even take an organised food tour. 
• Eat in Chinatown. Vancouver is known for having incredible asian food, and Chinatown is where you can find the best of the best! I personally recommend Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie and Phnom Penh .
• Go to the Vancouver Art Gallery . A beautiful display of world class art, and a perfect spot to escape the rain which often hits the West coast.
• Explore Gastown. Gastown is one of the oldest parts of the city and a great neighbourhood to grab brunch, beer or a coffee. I recommend Revolver for coffee and Twisted Fork for brunch .

Accommodation : Victorian Hotel . Perfectly located near to Gaston and Chinatown.

Day 3-6: Kananaskis County

To get to Kananaskis County from Vancouver you can fly into Calgary and pick up a rental car. I recommend opting for a high clearance 4×4, and flying early in the morning so you can squeeze in an afternoon hike.

I’m just going to put this out there right now, the Kananaskis region of Canada was my favourite of the whole trip! It is wild, raw, rugged and peaceful. If you want to connect with nature and experience the beauty of the Canadian mountains without the crowds, this is the place to do it. The main activity is hiking, so here are some of my favourite routes for you to check out:

The Best Hikes in Kananaskis County

• Smutwood Peak . My favourite hike of the whole trip! A spicy 18km route with 1000m of elevation up from the valley to the summit of Smutwood Peak, via incredible lakes and stunning views. It is a challenging climb and some scrambling is required near the top, but it is worth all the effort.
• Tent Ridge Loop. This 10km loop with 800m of elevation is short but challenging, you climb up to the stunning Tent Ridge and then circle around with non-stop views of the surrounding peaks and lakes.  Again, the route requires some simple scrambling and a head for heights. 
• East End of Rundle . This hike is only for those who are keen for a tough climb, as you will be ascending almost 900m in under 5km. The terrain is challenging, loose and scramble-y but the views at the top are nothing short of epic!
• Elbow Lake to Tombstone Lakes. If your legs need a rest, then this 20km trail with 600m of elevation is is a simple but rewarding route. It winds through a valley nestled between towering summits, passing by beautiful lakes and waterfalls, with multiple locations suitable for a scenic cold water swim. It is long, but it isn’t difficult. 
• If we had more time: We would have done the Ribbon Lake via Buller Pass route. 

Other popular hikes in the region include Rawson Lake & Sarrail Ridge, Wasootch Ridge and Mist Mountain (with the hot springs). I have to warn you though, most routes in Kananaskis County are pretty advanced so make sure you’re strong, fit, fuelled and capable before you set off. I recommend taking walking poles for all the hikes mentioned.

The Best Lakes & Wild Swimming Spots In Kananaskis County

If you’re interested in wild swimming, then there’s a whole range of stunning lakes you can take a dip in. Our personal favourite was Buller Pond, but you can also try Spray Lakes, Tombstone Lakes, Barrier Lake and the Upper & Lower Kananaskis Lakes.

The Best Accommodation in Kananskis County

I highly recommend staying at Mount Engadine Lodge . We had one of their glamping tents and absolutely loved it. The rooms are lush, the food is delicious and the location is ideal with lots of trails starting right from your doorstep. If Mount Engadine is full, then check out Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis Village.

Day 7-10: Banff

When most people think of the Canadian mountains they think of Banff. It is perhaps the most well known area we visited in Canada and for good reason, it is absolutely breathtaking. There are towering mountains, turquoise lakes and endless glaciers as far as the eye can see! Here are my top recommendations of things to see and do in Banff:

The Best Hikes In Banff

It would be a crime to come to Banff and not hike! The National Park is absolutely covered with miles and miles of incredible trails and exploring them on foot is the best way to truly experience the vast wilderness of the region. Make sure you add these hikes to your hit list:

• Lake Louise. There are a multitude of hikes starting from the shores of the iconic Lake Louise. We did the Little Beehive Lookout route as we were short on time, it gives incredible views over the lake without being too strenuous. However if you can spend a full day on the trails then I recommend doing a loop of both Beehive viewpoints and the Plain of Six Glaciers.
• Lake Moraine. There are only a handful of hikes which start at Moraine Lake. I personally did the route to Eiffel Lake which was not only beautiful but really peaceful, we hardly saw anyone on the trail. A more popular and famous hike near Lake Moraine is up Sentinel Pass to see the larch trees which are a bright shade of yellow in the autumn months.
• Helen Lake & Cirque Peak. This was my personal favourite hike in Banff. I warn you – it is long, it is hard and it is seriously steep – but the views are absolutely out of this world. I would go as far as saying some of the best views of our whole Canadian trip! There are lakes and glaciers in all directions, it will honestly take your breath away.
• Mount Yamnushka. If you are a confident hiker and fancy an adventure, give this route a go. As with all hikes in Banff, the views are incredible. However the trail is steep, challenging and includes some chained scramble sections.
• Rockbound Lake. When we asked the locals for recommendations of hikes to get away from the crowds, this was the route we were told about again and again. The trail takes you up to an absolutely stunning lake and in the autumn season you will pass by bright yellow larches. 

The Best Lakes & Wild Swimming Spots in Banff

Banff is known for its iconic turquoise blue lakes, so make sure you don’t miss them!

• Lake Louise. One of the most famous lakes in Canada, and in my opinion the most overrated one. It is absolutely jam packed with people and you can only get some peace by hiking away from the shore. The being said, I do think hike up to the view from Little Beehive Lookout is well worth experiencing. 
• Lake Moraine. This is another super famous lake, but in my opinion it is well and truly worth the hype. The emerald blue waters, framed by 10 towering peaks is a sight you need to see! Just make sure you get there early in the morning so you can experience the reflection on the surface of the water. 
• Lake Minniwanka. This 13-mile long lake is one of the largest in the Canadian Rockies. You can wander around the lakeside trail, hop on a scenic boat ride or rent a kayak to explore it by yourself.
• Peyto Lake. This is perhaps the most bright blue lake of all the ones we visited in Banff! Peyto Lake is well-known for being the shape of a fox’s head, but I think the most incredible thing about this spot is how you can see the water flowing down from the glacier which feeds it. Absolutely stunning! While you’re there, check out nearby Bow Lake too. 
• Two Jack Lake. This scenic spot is popular with the locals but lesser known by tourists. It is perfect place to view sunrise or go for an afternoon swim.

In my opinion, the best lakes for an actual swim are often those which are located mid-hike such as Helen Lake, Eiffel Lake and Rockbound Lake. They are much more peaceful and really allow you to immerse yourself in nature.

One thing to remember when visiting Lake Louise and Lake Moraine is that shuttle systems are in place, since parking is either super limited or not available at all. I highly recommend booking your shuttle in advance. You can find more info about them here .

The Best Adventure Activity in Banff Climb

If you’re looking to try something new, then there is a recently established Via Ferrata in the peaks above the town of Banff. The Mount Norquay Via Ferrata has a range of different routes depending on your confidence and head for heights. It is perfect for those who are new to via ferrata and want to experience it in a safe way, as you will complete the route with an experienced guide.

The Best Scenic Drives in Banff

There are two main scenic drives that I recommend. 

• Firstly, the Icefields Parkway , a 145 mile long road that links Lake Louise to Jasper. As the name suggests, it is absolutely surrounded by endless glaciers and as a result, lots of beautiful lakes. You can drive part way up this to Peyto Lake and Bow Lake, or all the way along it if you’re going to Jasper. 
• Secondly, I recommend the Bow Valley Parkway . This runs parallel to the main highway which connects Lake Louise to Banff, and is a much more peaceful route with higher chances of spotting wildlife.

The Best Accommodation in Banff

We stayed at Basecamp Suites Banff , little self-contained apartments nestled right in the heart of downtown Banff. They have their own kitchens, which are super useful if you’re making your own breakfast and lunch before big days in the mountains like we did.

Day 11 + 12: Yoho National Park

Yoho National Park is the smallest national park in the Canadian Rockies and is often overlooked by tourists, but I am here to tell you that it is well worth a visit. Whether you pop by for a hike (it is only an hour or so from Banff) or set up camp for a couple of days, you won’t regret it. It has all the same natural beauty as more popular destinations – epic waterfalls, gigantic glaciers and towering peaks – but without the crowds.

The Best Hikes in Yoho National Park:

To be honest, the main thing to do in Yoho is the same as all the national parks in the region, hiking! Yoho National Park is small but has plenty of trails, enough to fill at least two full days of adventures!

• Emerald Lake & Emerald Glacier. If you come to Yoho, you simply cannot miss Emerald Lake. It is an absolutely beautiful, you guessed it, bright emerald coloured lake surrounded by an amphitheatre of dramatic mountain peaks. Take a hike around the shore, and climb up to view the glacier which feeds it.
• The Iceline Trail & Yoho Valley Loop. In my opinion, this is the ultimate day hike in Yoho National Park. It climbs from Takkakaw Falls (the second highest waterfall in Canada) up the famous Iceline Trail (which takes you next to a series of glaciers), and then loops down past Lake Celeste and Laughing Falls before winding back through Yoho Valley floor. It doesn’t get much better than that!
• Paget Peak & Sherbrooke Lake. If you’re looking for a shorter route, check out this out and back trail . It gradually climbs up to the bright blue waters of Sherbrooke Lake before becoming steeper as it ascends to Paget Peak. As with all these hikes, the views at the top are out of this world!
• Lake O’Hara. Perhaps my biggest regret from our whole Canadian road trip is not making it to Lake O’Hara. It is renowned for being the most beautiful lake in Canada, but it is also notoriously difficult to get too. Access is super limited to protect the pristine nature of the region, and you need to get one of a tiny number of permits to ride the bus up to the lakeshore. We applied for permits on the day they released with no success. The other way to get up to Lake O’Hara is to hike the 11km bus route, which is an absolutely mammoth task considering once you get to up there, you’re going to want to do a whole other hike, before then walking back down the 11km road again. We didn’t quite fancy doing that! However, if you are luckier than us and manage to get a permit , then I recommend doing the Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit .

The Best Accommodation In Yoho National Park

The ultimate place to stay in Yoho National Park is Emerald Lake Lodge . It doesn’t get much better in terms of location – it’s perched on a private island quite literally in the middle of the iconic Emerald Lake. The restaurant prepares delicious food, there are plenty of wood-burning fire places and many rooms have balconies overlooking the lake. However, I will say that while the rooms are spacious they are rather outdated. For some that may add to the charm, for others you may crave something a little more modern. 

Day 13-17: Tofino, Vancouver Island

It is time for a change of scenery! Say goodbye to the dramatic mountain landscapes of Alberta, and hello to the wild coastal beauty of Tofino. Tofino is a small surf town located on the western coast of Vancouver Island, best known for its laid back vibe, thriving food scene and untamed beaches. It is the perfect spot to kickback and relax after a hard few weeks of hiking.

The Best Things To Do In Tofino

• Go Bear Watching. Tofino is an incredible place to see black bears from the comfort of a boat! The bears there have adapted to the coastal location and go foraging on the remote beaches in the area, offering a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with them in the wild. On our bear watching tour, we also spotted hundreds of sea otters and seals too!
• Eat Delicious Food. Tofino has an absolutely thriving food scene, with plenty of incredible restaurants to choose from – just make sure you book in advance for any evening meals! Our personal favourite sports are Shelter, Shed, Wolf in the Fog, Kuma and The Pointe.
• Get In The Water. Tofino is surrounded by incredible coastal waters which are cold but beautiful. There are plenty of aquatic activities on offer, from surfing and bodyboarding through to kayaking and paddle boarding. Take your pick!
• Explore The Beaches. That’s what Tofino is known for after all! My personal favourite walk was from Tonquin beach down to Mackenzie. Other wild and rugged beaches to explore are Long Beach, Chesterman Beach and Cox Bay (as well as the lookout above it).
• Enjoy A Sauna. It can get a little soggy in Tofino, so a great rainy day activity is to rent out a sauna. We went to Tuff City Saunas and absolutely loved alternating between hot sauna sessions and cold sea swims. Another great option is the remote floating sauna at Tofino Resort.
• Take A Scenic Flight. If I could recommend one thing to do in Tofino above everything else, it would be this. The inlets, lakes and mountains surrounding this small coastal town are absolutely breathtaking when viewed from the air. There are many different flight paths to choose from, including one which takes you to a remote hot springs cove.
• Go Whale Watching. Tofino has a seriously long whale watching season, stretching from March through to late November. It is an incredible place to see grey whales, humpback whales, killer whales and so much more. We were lucky enough to see a group of four whales breaching, which was an absolutely incredible sight. 
• Go Hiking. If you can’t resist lacing up your boots, then there are a couple of challenging trails about a one hour drive from Tofino. Triple Peak and Cobalt Lake are routes which are steep, scramble-y and totally stunning. Just a warning though, you definitely need a high clearance 4×4 car to access the trail heads.

The Best Accommodation in Tofino

We stayed at the luxurious Wickanninish Inn and I would go as far as saying it is one of my favourite hotels I have ever stayed in. The service, the rooms, the food, the setting – it is all on a whole other level. The highlight was our gigantic bathtub, which overlooked the wild waves of Chesterman Beach. It was complete and utter bliss! However, it does come with a hefty price tag. So, a slightly more affordable accommodation option which I have heard incredible things about is The Shoreline .

Over the course of our Canadian road trip we racked up hundreds of kilometres of hiking, thousands of meters of elevation gain and countless memories of a lifetime. It truly was one of the best adventures I have ever been on. I was completely awe-inspired by the vast and wild landscapes of Canada, and I cannot wait for the day I return to explore them in even more depth!

If you liked this guide, check out my other road trip itineraries:

• Southern Utah Road Trip Itinerary: The Mighty Five National Parks In Two Weeks
• Northern California Road Trip: Shasta Cascade, The Redwood Coast & Mendocino
• Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro – Two Week Road Trip Itinerary
• New Zealand 3 Week Itinerary: North & South Island
• Mexico, Yucatan Peninsula: Road Trip Itinerary & Travel Tips

Safe travels,

You may also enjoy:

Wild swimming essentials: what to take on …, how to spend two days in canyonlands …, the ultimate maldives travel guide, northern vietnam travel guide: what to do & ….

Sign up to my newsletter

Let me slide into your inbox. A monthly newsletter of all the good stuff - latest posts and videos, rants and rambles, recommendations and resources.

Privacy Overview

National Geographic content straight to your inbox—sign up for our popular newsletters here

How to plan the ultimate road trip adventure in Canada

Whether along polar highways, coastal roads or through the rainforest, taking a road trip in Canada is to encounter some of the world’s most spectacular natural sights 

Canada is one of the rare places on Earth where wide, well-maintained roads carve their way through remote, uncompromised wilderness. Behind the wheel of a car, you can skirt the icy feet of glaciers, wind through forests populated by foraging megafauna, climb Rocky Mountain slopes and explore storm-sculpted coastlines, where ocean waves are plied by migrating cetaceans. Adventurous travellers can even explore the all-season Dempster Highway, which runs from boreal wilderness north through the Arctic Circle and on to the stark polar coastline.

It’s for this reason that road trips are not to be rushed in Canada, a country that’s home to the second-longest national highway in the world. Scenic A-to-B drives are a thrill in themselves, but the joy of making it this far into the wilds is allowing plenty of time to get out and explore. After all, across provinces and territories like British Columbia and the Yukon, there are near-endless opportunities for mountain hiking, wild swimming in remote lakes, white-water paddling in a dugout canoe or back-country cycling under endless skies. In Nova Scotia, meanwhile, lighthouses lead drivers to coastal villages, where roadside inns serve seafood chowders to ancient recipes and words are still spoken in French Acadian and Scottish dialects. To get where your car or feet won’t reach, fly-and-drive opportunities abound. In British Columbia, seaplanes fly low above Pacific temperate rainforests and rugged coastlines, gently setting down on lakes for a spot of bear-watching. Over in the Yukon, small excursion planes access stellar sights like Kluane National Park, which has the world’s largest non-polar ice fields.  

Motorhomes and RVs are another popular travel choice, allowing your accommodation to come right along with you where it may otherwise be scant — and the country’s regions and territories have plenty of campgrounds that supply vehicles with power and water. There’s a lot to be said for camping in Canada, be it with a motorhome, the pre-set tents and cabins often available for rent in national parks, or a simple sleeping bag, as long as you follow local guidelines about wildlife and safety. You can expect evenings entirely devoid of light pollution, lit with a dazzling canopy of stars and — season and northerly latitude depending — a never-setting sun or heavenly displays from the Northern Lights.  

Itinerary 1: British Columbia

Start: Vancouver Finish: Tofino Distance: 410 miles Time: 7 to 10 days

The great outdoors? Make that the greatest. British Columbia, on the west coast of Canada, has all the ingredients to set any wilderness-lover’s pulse racing, from driftwood-strewn beaches to vast forests of evergreen giants, under whose canopies you’ll experience the hush and reverence of a cathedral. It’s here that some of planet Earth’s most charismatic creatures roam: galumphing grizzlies, skittish black bears, cougars and even elusive coastal wolves, which pick their way between glacier-fed inlets to feast on the Pacific’s larder.  

To get into the thick of it you must first pass through Vancouver, the province’s largest city — and surely a contender for the most scenic on the planet, above which floatplanes circle like honeybees over a hive. Amid the totem poles and skyscrapers in and around Stanley Park is one of Canada’s most exciting food scenes, known for innovative fine dining and hyper-local dishes. You can budget a week to take in the city and west coast of Vancouver Island, but it’s worth tacking on a few days to add one of the country’s most scenic routes to the itinerary: the aptly named Sea to Sky Highway, which winds up to the mountain resort of Whistler. After a ferry hop across the Strait of Georgia, island life awaits, with the soaring cedars of Cathedral Grove, windswept beaches and boardwalked trails of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, and pretty Tofino, the laid-back surfer town few ever want to leave.

Six highlights in British Columbia

1. Vancouver Vancouver sits in all its glassy glory between peaks and sea, with the old-growth forests of Stanley Park at its heart. Search for its nine Indigenous totem poles, then the choice is yours: seek out the new constellation of Michelin stars or slip south in search of spicy wontons on the Richmond Dumpling Trail.

2. Whistler The Sea to Sky Highway climbs up from Vancouver with rock walls on one side, the Pacific on the other and nothing ahead but sky. Make for Whistler, home to North America’s biggest ski resort and a hiking hotspot, and visit the Whistler Train Wreck, which has turned the site of a rail accident into a graffiti venue. Time your trip back into town with dusk for the best chance of spotting black bears.

3.   Nanaimo   The rest of the trip is on Vancouver Island, which can be reached via a 30-mile ferry crossing from the mainland to the town of Nanaimo. Stick around to try a classic Canadian treat, the Nanaimo bar (coconut crumbs, custard icing and chocolate ganache). It was invented here, and there’s even a trail to tick off all varieties in town.

4. Cathedral Grove   En route to the coast, the highway runs through MacMillan Provincial Park. Fringing both sides of the road is one of the world’s few easily accessible stands of old-growth temperate rainforest, where you can stroll along fern-lined trails between mammoth trunks and branches draped with lichen.

5. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve Head on and through Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, a protected swathe of evergreens protruding on rocky fingers into the Pacific. Wander by Long Beach, best known for surfing and storm-watching, or head into the forest tracing the pawprints of coastal wolves.  

6. Tofino A town of First Nations art galleries and surf shacks at what feels like the edge of the world, Tofino is as chilled as it is picturesque. End the journey at Long Beach Lodge Resort, where cottages peek out from spruce trees a few steps from the coast. longbeachlodgeresort.com

Itinerary 2: Yukon

Start: Whitehorse Finish: Latitude 66° 33’ Arctic Circle Distance: 605 miles Time: 7 to 10 days

There’s nowhere like the Yukon for feeling like a pioneer-era explorer. Reaching above the Arctic Circle and dotted with gold rush towns, glacier-topped mountains and highways through boreal wilderness, this northerly territory is over three times the size of England, populated with far more creatures of fur and fin than people.  

Start in Whitehorse, the local capital city and travel hub, where the great Alaska and Klondike Highways meet. Then, it’s on to Dawson City, rich in gold rush history, and up the Dempster Highway — Canada’s only all-season public access road to the Arctic Circle — before tracing your route back to the start. Even allowing seven to 10 days for this itinerary, drives between major stops can take up to six hours, so plan ahead to access garages, shops and service suppliers in the larger towns and cities. On the plus side, there will be plenty of spectacular places to stretch your legs. The looped hiking trails at Five Finger Rapids between Whitehorse and Dawson, for example, take in mountaintop panoramas with the chance to kayak and canoe.  

And if all that’s not enough, Haines Junction, just under two hours west of Whitehorse, is a great addition to either end of this itinerary. Here, short flightseeing trips take you over the world’s largest non-polar ice fields: the glaciers of Kluane National Park.

Five highlights in the Yukon

1. Whitehorse   The 1890s encampment on the Yukon River’s White Horse Rapids has grown into the Yukon’s lively capital. Midnight Sun Coffee Roasters has artisan brews and bike hire, perfect for freewheeling the Waterfront Trail spanning the city. Next, explore the SS Klondike , a 19th-century boat-cum-museum revealing the scale of the region’s gold rush, and enjoy the wild game menu at Klondike Rib & Salmon, which is housed in the city’s oldest operating building. Nearby, Yukon Wildlife Preserve , Emerald Lake, Miles Canyon and Takhini Hot Springs offer further action and adventure.

2. Dawson City   Make sure you have a full tank of petrol: it’s around a six-hour drive to the next stop. You can top up on food an hour in at Braeburn Lodge , famed for its delicious, dinner-plate-sized cinnamon buns. Your destination, the atmospheric frontier town of Dawson City, has welcomed both dignitaries and the desperate over the centuries, including pioneer-era author Jack London, whose wood cabin is now a museum . Take in this national historic site’s old theatres, clapboard houses and saloon bars on a walking tour. A must-see is the Sourdough Saloon, located in The Downtown hotel, which serves the infamous Sourtoe Cocktail (a strong alcohol of your choice, with a preserved human toe in it). Just beyond town, the Klondike fields are where Canada’s gold rush began in 1896. Try gold-panning at Discovery Claim National Historic Site and get a view of it all from Midnight Dome lookout; during the colder months, the panorama is often lit by the Aurora Borealis.

3. Dempster Highway   Wind your way along the Dempster Highway through remote tundra towards the dramatic wilderness of Tombstone Territorial Park, about an hour north of the Dempster Corner turnoff. Named for its craggy granite peak, the park is populated by wind-carved mountains and scenic viewpoints like North Fork Pass and Two Moose Lake. Numerous trails crisscross this ‘Patagonia of the North’.

4. Eagle Plains   The road winds along the Ogilvie River Valley then climbs to the Eagle Plains plateau for spectacular views of the region. This is more or less halfway along the Dempster Highway, before it heads into the Northwest Territories. Eagle Plains Hotel , the only one for many miles, is a hub for travellers to exchange tales from the road and refuel (try the double-decker Arctic burger). The town also has an RV park and campground.

5. Latitude 66° 33’ Arctic Circle   You’ve reached the end of your journey — and what an end it is. Just an hour’s drive north of Eagle Plains is latitude 66˚ 33’N, better known as the Arctic Circle, marked by a roadside sign. Despite its icy connotations, it can surprise visitors: in midsummer, the sun circles the sky but never sets; in autumn (August to September), the Richardson Mountains are ablaze with fiery colours. For those keen to complete the route, it’s six hours or more to the town of Inuvik, with the Arctic Ocean a further three hours’ drive away.  

Related Topics

• ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION

You May Also Like

How to plan a road trip along Ireland's Ceide Coast

How to plan the ultimate campervanning adventure through Australia

Free bonus issue.

The ultimate Andes road trip, from Chile to Bolivia

How to take the ultimate Florida road trip

How to plan the ultimate European rail adventure, from London to Istanbul by train

How to plan an epic road trip through the Canadian Rocky Mountains

How to plan an epic road trip through Montenegro, the jewel of the Balkans

• Environment
• Perpetual Planet
• History & Culture

History & Culture

• History Magazine
• Mind, Body, Wonder
• Paid Content
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Your US State Privacy Rights
• Children's Online Privacy Policy
• Interest-Based Ads
• About Nielsen Measurement
• Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
• Nat Geo Home
• Attend a Live Event
• Book a Trip
• Inspire Your Kids
• Shop Nat Geo
• Visit the D.C. Museum
• Learn About Our Impact
• Support Our Mission
• Advertise With Us
• Customer Service
• Renew Subscription
• Manage Your Subscription
• Work at Nat Geo
• Sign Up for Our Newsletters
• Contribute to Protect the Planet

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

How to Plan an Epic East Coast Canada Road Trip

By: Author Lora Pope

Posted on March 7, 2024

This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking and making a purchase through the links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my disclaimer for more information. This and display ads allow me to keep the site up to date and give back .

Planning an east coast Canada road trip? Let me help! I grew up in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and lived in New Brunswick for years. I’ve road-tripped the East Coast more times than I can count !

It’s one of my favorite parts of the world, so I created this guide to share all my favorite hidden gems with you.

While not as popular to visit as the Canadian Rockies, an East Coast Canada road trip should not be overlooked.

Humpback whales dancing below towering cliffs, fresh seafood, epic hiking trails, and the friendliest people you’ll ever meet are just some of the reasons to plan an eastern Canada road trip.

This guide will share all the best places to visit on an East Coast of Canada road trip to help you maximize your time.

It’s made for outdoor lovers and packed with incredible nature and wildlife experiences such as coastal hiking trails, boat tours, and wildlife watching.

The truth is, there’s no such thing as a ‘perfect’ itinerary – It entirely depends on the time you have available and the activities that interest you most.

You would need at least two months to road trip around all the places I’ve suggested below. But don’t fret if you don’t have that much time – simply choose the ones that interest you most.

I’ve also included some sample routes at the end to help you create a perfect Canadian East Coast road trip itinerary.

Having a car is the best way to explore Eastern Canada! I use and love Rentalcars.com to find the best deals on car rentals in Canada.

New Brunswick Road Trip

Hooray, you’ve made it to your first Maritime province! Many people call New Brunswick a ‘drive-through’ province, but after living here for 18 months, I couldn’t disagree more.

New Brunswick has plenty to see, and it should be part of your East Coast Canada itinerary.

Québec City to Fredericton (593 KM)

Coming from Quebec, your first destination will be the capital of New Brunswick and my favorite city in the province, Fredericton.

Driving from Québec City to Fredericton takes an entire day, so plan to spend a night or two here to enjoy the city’s offerings.

🏠 Staying overnight in Fredericton? The Carriage House Inn is a super cozy, beautiful, and authentic old Victorian Downtown House to retreat after a day of exploring the city.

Visit the Garrison District, which hosts summer outdoor concerts, movie nights, and guided history tours. Then, walk across the Fredericton Railway Bridge.

No longer a train route, the bridge has become a sanctuary for pedestrians and cyclists. You can get spectacular views of the city and Saint John River below from it.

In the evening, enjoy a cold brew at one of the city’s craft breweries.

🚶‍♀️If you’re short on time, this two-hour historical tour of Fredericton is a great way to get acquainted with the city.

Fredericton to Saint John (112 KM)

After a night in Fredericton, head to Saint John ( not to be confused with St. John’s, Newfoundland ).

It’s just an hour’s drive to reach this charming coastal town. You can either stop in for lunch or spend the night in town.

The Chateau Saint John offers tastefully appointed rooms in a primate location for exploring the city’s historic landmarks.

One fun thing to do in Saint John is to take a boat cruise to see the reversing falls, a unique natural phenomenon where the Bay of Fundy collides with the Saint John River. 

Or you can join this walking tour of Saint Johns to discover the city’s most interesting streets and central market – the oldest continuing farmers market in Canada!

Saint John to Fundy National Park of Canada (111 km)

From Saint John, it’s an easy hour’s drive to my favorite place in New Brunswick, Fundy National Park .

You’ll want to spend at least two days here, camping or in a hotel near the park. It’s a paradise for hikers and waterfall chasers – I love hiking here during the summer time.

Fundy National Park to Hopewell Rocks (45km)

One of New Brunswick’s most famous attractions is Hopewell Rocks , home to the world’s highest tides . The tide rises and falls 40 feet or so – twice daily!

To fully appreciate this phenomenon, visit Hopewell Rocks at low tide to walk around on the ocean floor and see the unique rock formations up close. At high tide, take an ocean kayak tour. It was incredible to see the difference in just one day!

🎟️ Save time and get skip-the-line tickets to Hopewell Rocks here

Hopewell Rocks to Moncton (31 km)

After leaving Hopewell Rocks, take a half-hour drive to Moncton, New Brunswick’s most populous city.

You can spend the night here or stop for a few hours. An excellent spot for lunch is the Tide and Boar Gastropub, one of my favorite restaurants in New Brunswick.

Sray in the middle of Moncton’s entertainment district at this gorgeous boutique hotel. You’ll be steps away from the city’s best restaurants, entertainment, and bars.

While in Moncton, be sure to take a drive up Magnetic Hill. Park at the bottom of the hill, put your car in neutral, and it will start reversing up the hill on its own. It’s magic! Okay, really, it’s just an illusion caused by the landscape, but it’s a cool thing to experience, and kids will love it. There is also a water park near Magnetic Hill.

A great day trip or alternative destination to Moncton is Shediac; it’s just 20 minutes away. Shediac is home to Parlee Beach, which has the warmest salt water in Canada.

It’s known as the “lobster capital of the world”; this is the best place to get your first taste of fresh lobster.

For a taste of the local cuisine, check out this this small-group food tour in Shediac. You’ll sample everything from scallops to chocolates!

After you’ve filled up on seafood, head to Parlee Beach to watch the sunset.

Optional Route: Acadian Coastal Drive

If you have extra time on your east coast road trip in Canada and want to see an alternative side of New Brunswick, keep heading North.

New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada, and the northern part of the province is where you can fully experience French Acadian culture.

Moncton to Kouchibouguac National Park (101 km)

From Moncton or Shediac, head North towards Kouchibouguac National Park. Spend a night or two here camping to soak in the pristine wilderness. The park has beautiful beaches, canoeing, hiking trails, and wildlife, including an adorable seal colony.

I had so much fun spending the night here camping with friends – we saw a huge colony of seals!

Kouchibouguac National Park to Miramichi (51 km)

Just half an hour from Kouchibouguac National Park is the town of Miramichi, which was my home for a year and a half. Miramichi is most famous for its fly fishing opportunities on the river.

Another fun thing to do in the summertime is to go on a tubing adventure down the river. In the evening, be sure to soak in the incredible sunsets.

One of the best places to stay in Miramichi is The Rodd. It’s set right on the river, where you can soak in the breathtaking river sunset. Plus, it’s a 5-minute walk from O’Donaghue’s Irish Pub – one of the best pubs in the city!

Miramichi to Miscou (138 km)

Keep heading North from Miramichi to Miscou, a beautiful island at the northern tip of New Brunswick. There, you can visit a picturesque white lighthouse.

Miscou to Caraquet (60 km)

Make your way to Caraquet, the heart of Acadian country. If your visit coincides with August 15th, you’ll be able to take part in some of the National Acadian Day festivities, which are sure to be fun .

There are several quaint B&Bs in Caraquet where you can spend the night. While there, be sure to visit the Acadian Historic Village just outside of Caraquet, where you can learn what life used to be like there.

🏨 Conveniently located off Route 145, this Caraquet property boasts quant rooms with a shared terrace. Acadian Historical Village is just 5 minutes’ drive away.

If you opt for the Acadian Coastal Drive, you’ll have to return south to Moncton/Shediac, which takes about three hours from Caraquet.

From there, continue your east coast trip to Prince Edward Island.

Prince Edward Island (PEI) Road Trip

At just 224 km long and 64 KM wide, Prince Edward Island (PEI) is Canada’s smallest province. But don’t be fooled by the size; PEI has some of Canada’s most beautiful landscapes.

Red cliffs along the blue Atlantic Ocean, golden sand dunes, and picture-perfect white lighthouses are just some of the gorgeous scenes you will find here.

PEI connects to New Brunswick via the Confederation Bridge. It’s a 45-minute drive from Shediac to the start of the bridge, and it takes about 20 minutes to cross over which is a really unique experience.

While driving over the ocean, be sure to appreciate the undertaking it took to build this bridge. It’s an impressive example of architecture and engineering.

PEI is a small island; you could see the main highlights in one day if you really wanted to. But I suggest staying at least a couple of nights as there are some wonderful things to do here.

The province is roughly divided into three sections, with three coastal routes you can make: North Cape Coastal Drive, Central Coastal Drive, and Points East Coastal Drive.

You’ll enter the province from New Brunswick at Boredon-Carleton, which is smack dab in the middle of the province, so you could do these scenic routes in any order.

Borden-Carleton to North Cape (121 km)

The North Cape coastal drive is 350 km and features a Canadian potato museum you can visit in O’Leary. PEI is very serious about potatoes! Cedar Dunes Provincial Park is another place worth checking out and a good option for camping overnight.

If you prefer to stay indoors, the West Point Lighthouse Inn and Museum is a unique place to spend the night in the North Cape.

PEI has 63 different Lighthouses, each one with a unique history. You could fill your whole time in PEI just searching for lighthouses; at least a few should be on your itinerary.

North Cape to Cavendish (129 KM)

After exploring the North Cape, head over to Cavendish, home of Anne of Green Gables. While that has never been an interest of mine, I know it’s a big attraction of PEI, so I can’t write this guide without mentioning it!

See the Green Gables House on this highly-rated tour, followed by a stop at a riverside restaurant with artisan preserves, fine teas, local pottery, and more.

Cavendish is home to Green Gables Heritage Place, which inspired the setting of the beloved tales.

Cavendish is also famous for its beautiful sandy beaches and red stone cliffs. The cliffs here are the best place to take in these stunning landscapes.

Afterward, head over to Cavendish Beach to soak in the sun along a 37-mile stretch of red sand. The red color comes from the high amount of iron in the island’s sandstone, which oxidizes and rusts when it comes in contact with air.

Cavendish to Charlottetown (38 KM)

After taking in the stunning natural landscapes of PEI, head to the capital of the province, Charlottetown.

Don’t expect big city lights; the population of Charlottetown is under 40,000. But that’s all part of its charm! There are several accommodation options in Charlottetown for spending the night.

Staying overnight in Charlottetown? Just two blocks from downtown, The Habour Inn features charming guest rooms , shaded patios, breakfast, and friendly staff to help you with anything you need.

Start your day in Charlottetown with an ice cream cone from Cows Creamery. It was voted Canada’s best ice cream spot and is one of my most treasured childhood memories.

In the afternoon, explore the local farmers market (it runs on Saturdays all year plus Wednesdays in the summer) or take a bike ride by the sea.

Later that evening, head out to Victoria Row. This pedestrian-only street is lined with a mix of bars, shops, and restaurants.

Charlottetown to Greenwich (58 KM)

Spend your last day in PEI exploring the Points East Coastal Drive. Be sure to stop in Greenwich, which is part of the PEI National Park.

This section is home to some incredible dunes and an extensive floating boardwalk that leads to a white-sand beach.

After a few days in Prince Edward Island, it’s time to visit Nova Scotia!

There are two ways to get to Nova Scotia from PEI. You can either go back via the Confederation Bridge through New Brunswick or take a 75-minute ferry from Wood Islands to Caribou, Nova Scotia.

I’ve always taken the Confederation Bridge because I find it more convenient, but the choice is up to you!

Nova Scotia Road Trip Itinerary

Nova Scotia, known as ‘Canada’s ocean playground,’ is a paradise for outdoor activities. Kayaking, hiking, and rafting are just some of the ways you can enjoy the natural beauty of this stunning province.

Charlottetown To Halifax (325 KM, via Confederation Bridge)

Start your journey in Halifax, the capital city of Nova Scotia. Spend at least a night or two exploring this vibrant city using this Halifax itinerary.

Staying overnight in Halifax? I loved my time at The Westin. It’s centrally located, across the street from the Halifax farmers market, where you can grab a delicious breakfast to go.

You can soak in the views of the harbor from the second floor of the Halifax farmers market and then head outside to walk along the pier.

The harbourfront comes to life during the summer with street performers, public art displays, and restaurants with outdoor seating.

Enjoy lunch here, and head up the hill to Citadel National Historic Site. From the top, you’ll get gorgeous views of the harbor below.

Rather than wandering around alone, get the most out of your visit to Halifax by joining a small-group tour and exploring the city in the company of a guide who can fill you in on the fascinating history.

In the evening, head out to Argyle Street for some live music and rest your head at one of these wonderful places to stay in Halifax.

Halifax to Peggy Cove’s (75 km)

The first stop after Halifax is just 45 minutes away. Peggy’s Cove is a quaint fishing village with a stunning white lighthouse.

It’s a paradise for photography, with the lighthouse that often reflects in the pools of water. The best time to visit Peggy’s Cove is during sunrise to avoid the crowds. Plus, the light is incredible during the golden hour. Some of my favorite photos from my time in Nova Scotia was my visit to Peggy’s cove at sunset!

If you’re tired of driving, join this Peggy’s Cove sunset tour from Halifax instead! Get a fully guided experience, with hotel pick-up and drop-off included.

Peggy’s Cove to Lunenberg (100 km)

Next up is Lunenberg, a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most colorful towns in Nova Scotia.

Dating back to the 18th century, this historic town is full of charming architecture and gigantic tall ships docked in the harbor. Head over to the golf course across the harbor for the best views and photo ops of this picturesque town.

Lunenberg is the perfect place to spend the night relaxing by the sea. I loved my stay at the the Sail Inn – a turn-of-the-century bed and breakfast just 35m from the waterfront.

A more off-the-beaten-path place to explore nearby is Blue Rocks, a small fishing village just outside of the Lunenberg. Head there for sunrise – you won’t be disappointed.

Lunenberg to Kejimkujik National Park (90 KM)

Next up, make your way to Kejimkujik National Park for some of the most pristine kayaking opportunities in eastern Canada. Kejimkujik is also a great place to go camping and stargazing if you want to spend the night.

Kejimkujik National Park to The Shubenacadie River (308 km)

If you love adventure, you must try Tidal Bore rafting on the Shubenacadie River. I’ve been river rafting all over the world, but this is one of the most unique rafting experiences I’ve tried!

Twice a day, when the tide changes, the tidal bore temporarily reverses the flow of the river, creating incredible high-speed rapids. It’s the only place in the world where you can experience this! There’s even a Tidal Bore Rafting Resort where you can spend the night.

Shubenacadie River to Cape Breton Island (338km)

Although Cape Breton Island is part of Nova Scotia, it’s so unique that it almost feels like its own province.

After leaving the Shubenacadie River, head 338 km east (approx four hours of driving) to Cape Breton Highlands National Park of Canada.

Cape Breton Highlands National Park is home to the Cabot Trail, which is continuously named one of the most beautiful drives in the world.

It’s only 298km in length, but you’ll want at least a couple of days to take it all in. Thankfully, there are plenty of unique places to stay along the Cabot Trail.

🏩 One of the most beautiful places to stay on the Cabot Trail is  the Keltic Lodge at the Highlands . It’s got stunning views from the property and is right next to Ingonish Beach.

One of the most beautiful places to stay on the Cabot Trail is the Keltic Lodge at the Highlands . It’s got stunning views from the property and is right next to Ingonish Beach.

With such incredible views along the Cabot Trail, you’ll be stopping every five minutes for photos. Plus, there are a ton of hiking opportunities along the way. Be sure to hike the Skyline Trail for sunset – it was my favorite hike on the island!

Cape Breton Highlands National Park to North Sydney (114 km)

After a few beautiful days in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, drive to the North Sydney ferry terminal.

This is where you’ll say goodbye to the mainland of Canada and catch an overnight ferry to the island of Newfoundland.

Newfoundland Road Trip

Many people don’t include Newfoundland on their trip t Eastern Canada, but it absolutely should be. I may be biased, but I truly believe Newfoundland has its own identity, unlike anywhere else in Canada.

While out of the way, it will be worth making the trip there. Here’s everything you need to know about planning a road trip through Newfoundland.

There are two ferry options for getting to Newfoundland from the mainland. Both depart from North Sydney, Nova Scotia. One goes to Argentia on the East Coast of Newfoundland, and the other goes to Port aux Basques on the West Coast.

I recommend taking the Port Aux Basque ferry because it’s shorter, cheaper, and more reliable. The other ferry only runs during the summer months and is often canceled due to weather.

Port Aux Basque – Corner brook (219 km)

You’ll arrive in Port Aux Basque early in the morning, around 7 am (assuming the ferry is on time). Drive two hours East to Corner Brook, the largest city on the West Coast.

The next few days will be camping in Gros Morne National Park , so stock up on supplies at a grocery store in Corner Brook. Sobeys or Dominion are the best options. There are some small stores in Gros Morne national park, but they are limited in supplies and more expensive.

Corner Brook to Gros Morne national park (85KM)

From Corner Brook, it’s just an hour’s drive to Gros Morne National Park , one of the main highlights of Newfoundland. Spend at least two nights here either camping in the park or at lodging nearby.

Rocky Harbour is the most convenient place to stay in the park if you aren’t camping. I recommend Bambury’s Hillside Chalets, cute saltbox homes with a 9.5+ rating.

With over 100 kilometers of pristine trails, Gros Morne is the perfect place to take a hike. Challenge yourself to go 800 meters up to the summit of Gros Morne mountain!

This hike is no easy feat, as the last two hours involve climbing up steep rocks. The views at the top are worth it – this is one of my favorite hikes in Newfoundland. It’s an all-day hike (16 km) that will take you between 6-8 hours.

If you want a real adventure, try backpacking the long-range traverse. This epic hike takes four nights but will take you to one of the most sought-after photos in Newfoundland. This trek is not for beginners – you must attend a backcountry briefing to receive a backcountry hiking permit for this trek.

For a less strenuous activity, take a boat tour through the fjord s  and marvel at the beauty carved out by the work of glaciers over thousands of years.

Optional route: Viking Trail

Another option is to continue your journey on a scenic drive down the Northern Peninsula, also known as the Viking trail , to the UNESCO world heritage site of L’anse Aux Meadows . Here you’ll find remains of an 11th-century Viking settlement.

I’ve done this route before, and it’s stunning, but you’ll need an extra couple of days. It’s about a three-hour drive from Gros Morne each way.

I recommend spending the night in St. Anthony, the largest town on the peninsula. It’s one of the best places to see icebergs in the spring!

Grenfell Heritage Hotel & Suites is a historic hotel in St. Anthony, centrally located in town. It offers fully equipped kitchens in the apartment rooms – we stayed here for a week and loved it!

Gros Morne National Park to Bonavista Peninsula (406 km)

After a few glorious days on the West Coast, you’ll continue your journey towards Newfoundland’s east coast through the Trans-Canada Highway (Route 1).

It’s an easy drive as there is only one main highway across Newfoundland – just look out for moose along the way.

If you’re craving more adventure along the way, stop along the way in Grand-Falls, where you can go whitewater rafting on the exploits river. This is a great place to stop for lunch or spend the night to break up the journey.

Optional route: Central Newfoundland and Fogo Island

While driving across the province, you could take an optional detour to Twillingate and Fogo Island, home to some of the cutest small towns in Newfoundland. Fogo island has become a popular spot in recent years with the addition of the 5-star Fogo Island Inn.

We all wish we could stay at the Fogo Inn, but it’s not in most people’s budget. Instead, stay at one of The Old Salt Box Co. locations and enjoy sunsets over the ocean from your room.

There’s so much adventure in Central Newfoundland you could easily spend another week exploring this region!

Bonavista Peninsula

The Bonavista Peninsula is one of my favorite parts of Newfoundland.

With endless picturesque fishing villages, a lively arts scene, fantastic puffing spotting opportunities , and gorgeous hiking trails , you’ll be sure to love it here. Check out this video of some friendly puffins I met there last summer!

@explorewithlora Found in Elliston, Newfoundland #puffins #explorenl #newfiecheck #nlwx #newfoundlandersoftiktok #newfoundlandandlabrador #wildlifelover ♬ Fantasy – Alina Baraz / Galimatias

Trinity is a perfect place to spend your first night here, with several homey guesthouses to stay.

The Eriksen Premises is one of Trinity’s historic homes and a great place to spend the night. Antique wood décor is featured in all individually decorated rooms, and it’s next to restaurants and shops.

After a good night’s rest, take a harbor kayak tour where you can come up close with whales and icebergs, depending on the season.

Trinity is also home to some great hiking trails. Try the Skerwink trail, a 4.7-kilometer loop with beautiful coastal views.

Trinity to Bonavista (50 km)

Take a day to drive around the Bonavista peninsula or spend another night. Along the way, opt to visit Port Rexon Brewing for a delicious craft beer.

In Bonavista, take a hike in the stunning Dungeon provincial park, grab a cone at Sweet Rock Ice Cream, or head to nearby Elliston to spot puffins .

In the evening, enjoy a locally-sourced dinner at the Bonavista Social Club.

Trinity to St. John’s (258 km)

Continue driving east to St. John’s, the capital city of Newfoundland, and my hometown. It’s one of the oldest cities in North America!

Celebrate the end of your east coast Canada road trip by driving to Cape Spear and soaking in the ocean views. Congratulations, You’ve made it to the most easterly point in North America!

One of the most beautiful places to stay in downtown St. John’s is Blue on Water. This 4-star accommodation features beautiful interior designs and is steps away from top attractions.

Another option is the Cabot Guest House i n Georgetown, a charming neighborhood I used to live in. If you stay here, be sure to grab your morning coffee and bagel at the Georgetown Bakery.

St. John’s is a great city with tons of fun things to do. Hike up to historic Signal Hill, where you can get sweeping views of the St. John’s narrows.

Take a walk around downtown St. John’s, or visit the picturesque fishing village of Quidi Vidi, which has a brewery that you can tour.

In the evening, head to The Duke for the best fish and chips in the city, then George Street for a night on the town. With the most bars per capita in Canada, St. John’s has a lively nightlife and a great local music scene.

As a visitor, you must get screeched in to become an honourary Newfoundland. Christians Bar on George Street is a perfect place to do that.

The next day (assuming you’re not too hungover), take a stroll along a section of the East Coast trai l – there are over 336 kilometers of trail to explore that will take you through breathtaking towering cliffs with beautiful views.

During the summer months, the world’s largest population of humpback whales makes their way to Newfoundland’s coast to feed. It’s one of the best places to go whale watching in the world !

Whales can often be spotted while hiking on the East Coast Trail but for a closer look, join a whale-watching tour.

Want to see whales? I loved this boat tour that takes you to Witless Bay ecological reserve to see the world’s largest population of humpback whales, icebergs that are over 10,000 years old, and the charismatic Atlantic puffin.

If you’re a diver, you can also join a diving tour to see  WWII shipwrecks, reefs, wall dives, and more! Diving is a unique way to explore Newfoundland from the ocean floor.

Toronto to East Coast Road Trip

The focus of this post is on the Maritime provinces and Newfoundland. But since I know many of you will be planning an east coast canada road trip itinerary from Toronto, I’ve made a few suggestions for places to stop on the way below through Ontario/Québec before reaching New Brunswick.

There are MANY more amazing places to visit than outlined here, but they need a post of their own (and it’s coming).

If you’re starting from Toronto , make your first stop in Ottawa (a four-hour drive) or Montreal (a six-hour drive). Opt to stop at Thousand Islands National Park along the way.

Spanning across the border between Canada and the U.S., this park is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Ontario .

You can either spend the night in the park or just stop on the way to see the islands.

There’s no better view of the thousand islands than from the sky! This 5-star rated tour takes you on a scenic twenty-minute helicopter ride over the islands. Perfect if you’re short on time!

After touring the thousand islands, continue on to either Ottawa or Montreal. They are just two hours apart, so either make a great place to spend the night if you’re coming from Toronto. It just depends on how much driving you want to do in one day!

I love Montreal because of its exciting nightlife and overall atmosphere. However, if you prefer a quieter city with beautiful parks and historic sites, Ottawa is a great option.

Staying overnight in Ottawa? Don’t miss the chance to stay at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier – it’s one of Canada’s most iconic hotels, adjacent to the Parliament Buildings and Rideau Canal. Reserve early, as it does book up!

Leaving Ottawa or Montreal, continue your drive towards the province of New Brunswick.

Fredericton (capital of New Brunswick) is about 8 hours East of Montreal, so you could get there in a day if you drove all day. But if you prefer to do more sightseeing along the way, a great option is to spend the night in Québec City.

With its picturesque cobblestone streets lined with bistros and boutiques, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to Europe.

If you didn’t get the chance to stay at the Fairmont in Ottawa, there’s another opportunity in Quebec City! The Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac is situated in Old Quebec, boasting gorgeous views of the St. Lawrence river in a fairytale setting.

Itineraries for Best Road Trips to Canada’s East Coast

With two months, you would be able to road trip all of this Eastern Canada itinerary, including the optional routes I mentioned.

You could visit the main highlights in a month, but the trip would be very fast-paced with a lot of driving.

14-Day East Canada Road Trip Itinerary

• Days 1-3: New Brunswick – Start your journey in the picturesque province of New Brunswick. Spend your nights exploring the charming cities and natural wonders, including the Bay of Fundy, known for the world’s highest tides.
• Days 4-6: Prince Edward Island (PEI) – Cross the Confederation Bridge to PEI. Enjoy the island’s red sand beaches, visit the Anne of Green Gables house, and indulge in fresh seafood.
• Days 7-9: Halifax and Nova Scotia’s South Shore – Head to Nova Scotia, starting with its vibrant capital, Halifax, then explore the scenic South Shore, including Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Days 10-13: Cape Breton – Venture to Cape Breton Island, where the Cabot Trail awaits with its stunning coastal views. Enjoy hiking, local culture, and the Gaelic heritage of this unique region.
• Day 14: Return to Halifax – Conclude your trip with a leisurely drive back to Halifax, perhaps stopping at any spots you missed on your way to Cape Breton.

Alternatively, you could do Cape Breton (4 nights) and Newfoundland (8 nights).

If you just wanted to visit Newfoundland, you could fly into the province to save time. St. John’s has an international airport where you can rent a car .

Ten Days: Nova Scotia and Beyond

10-Day East Coast Canada Road Trip

• Days 1-3: Halifax and Surroundings – Explore Halifax’s rich history and vibrant culture before heading to the picturesque towns along the South Shore.
• Days 4-6: Cape Breton Island – Drive the Cabot Trail, immerse yourself in the island’s natural beauty, and experience the local music scene.
• Days 7-8: Prince Edward Island – Discover PEI’s lighthouses, beaches, and culinary delights.
• Days 9-10: New Brunswick – Visit the Hopewell Rocks and enjoy the coastal beauty before heading back.

Seven Days: A Province-Specific Journey

7-Day East Coast Canada Road Trip Itinerary

• Option 1: Nova Scotia – Dedicate your week to exploring Nova Scotia, from Halifax to the South Shore, and up to Cape Breton.
• Option 2: Newfoundland – Fly into St. John’s, rent a car , and explore the Avalon Peninsula, Bonavista, and perhaps a day trip to Terra Nova National Park.

Five Days: Quick Escapes

5-Day East Coast Canada Road Trip

• Nova Scotia Focus – Spend your days exploring Halifax, the Annapolis Valley, and part of the South Shore for a quick taste of Nova Scotia’s charm.
• PEI and New Brunswick – Combine these two provinces for a whirlwind tour of the Maritimes, focusing on the highlights like the Bay of Fundy and PEI’s central coast.

What is the best time of year to visit the East Coast of Canada?

While it’s possible to visit the East Coast year-round, I would not advise planning a Canada east coast itinerary around the winter months in Canada (November-April – yes, it can really go that long!), simply because the road conditions could be dangerous.

The Atlantic provinces are famous for their horrible winter storms making a maritime road trip unpleasant. Plus, the ferry to Newfoundland often gets delayed in the winter.

Summertime is the ideal time for a road trip, but it is also the most popular. The shoulder seasons are also great options. During the springtime, you will have fewer tourists and the possibility to see icebergs in Newfoundland.

During autumn, you can see beautiful fall colors, which will make the drive breathtaking, especially on the Cabot Trail. That said, you can expect some cold nights, and even days, if you are visiting the East coast during October.

Booking A Car Rental for an East Coast Canada Road Trip

If you’re booking a car rental for your road trip around the east coast, make sure you do early. Car rentals do book up in the summertime (especially if you’re picking it up in Newfoundland)!

I use and love Rentalcars.com , which searches local and international providers to find you the best deal. Plus, you can buy insurance directly through them, so you’re fully protected!

BEST CANADA CAR RENTAL COMPANY: Rentalcars.com

When booking your Canada car rental online, I recommend using Rentalcars.com. They search both international and local Canadian companies to find the best price.

Essential Items For an East Canada Road Trip

For your Eastern Canada trip, don’t forget to bring these items with you.

• Parks Canada Discovery Pass  – This will get you unlimited admission for 12 months at over 80 parks across Canada. This may be worth it if you plan to visit a lot of the national parks.
• Insect Repellant – they are fierce in the summertime!
• Road trip snacks
• Canadian cash  – Most places accept major credit cards and debit but in smaller communities, you may find places that only accept cash. Bring Canadian dollars as these places will probably not exchange American money.
• Roadside emergency kit
• Canada Road Map
• First Aid Kit
• Blankets and Pillows – it gets cold in Canada, even in the summertime! You never know when those will come in handy.
• Audiobooks for the road. I love  Audible   for this.
• A  car charger   for charging your devices
• A GPS  or download Google offline maps for your phone. Many rural places you will be driving through in Canada do not have cell phone reception.

FAQ: East Coast Canada Road Trip

Where should i go on the east coast of canada.

There are so many places to visit on Canada’s east coast! Some of the best places are Halifax, Peggy’s Cove, Gros Morne National Park, and Fundy National Park – check this guide for more information.

What is East Coast Canada known for?

It’s known for its friendly locals, fantastic seafood, incredible whale watching, the Atlantic Ocean, and beautiful landscapes.

Is Eastern Canada worth visiting?

Absolutely! While many people overlook the east coast for the Rockies, they are two completely different experiences. The east coast of Canada has some of the most breathtaking scenery in Canada, along with fantastic cuisine, friendly people, and endless outdoor adventure.

How long do you need to travel the East Coast Canada?

The duration of the East Coast Canada trip depends on your itinerary and interests. A minimum of 1-2 weeks is recommended to cover key highlights, but longer trips allow for a more immersive experience.

How to plan an East Coast Canada road trip?

To plan an Atlantic road trip, start by deciding on your must-visit destinations (read this post), create a flexible itinerary, book accommodations in advance during peak seasons, and ensure your vehicle is in good condition for the journey.

Where is the best place in East Coast of Canada?

The East Coast of Canada is filled with amazing places, but Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia is often considered among the best destinations due to its stunning landscapes.

Is it worth going to Nova Scotia?

Yes, Nova Scotia is definitely worth visiting. It boasts a beautiful coastline, rich maritime heritage, charming towns, and numerous outdoor activities that make it a captivating destination.

How long should you spend on PEI?

To fully experience Prince Edward Island, it’s recommended to spend at least 2-3 days. This allows time to explore the island’s beautiful beaches, scenic drives, and cultural attractions.

What is the largest city on East Coast of Canada?

The largest city on the East Coast of Canada is Halifax, which is the capital of Nova Scotia.

What cities are in East Coast Canada?

The East Coast of Canada includes cities such as Halifax (Nova Scotia), St. John’s (Newfoundland and Labrador), Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island), Fredericton (New Brunswick), and others, each offering its own unique charm and attractions.

Final thoughts: Road Trip East Coast of Canada

Embarking on a road trip along Canada’s East Coast is an adventure filled with awe-inspiring natural beauty, captivating history, and warm hospitality.

From the vibrant city life of Halifax to the rugged coastline of Newfoundland, this journey promises to be an unforgettable experience for any traveler.

As you traverse the scenic highways, immerse yourself in the rich maritime culture, savor the freshest seafood, and engage with the welcoming locals who make this region truly special.

Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a history buff, or a foodie looking for culinary delights, the East Coast of Canada has something to offer everyone.

Allow the beauty of the coastal vistas, the charm of the small towns, and the tranquility of the Atlantic waves to leave a lasting impression on your heart. Happy travels!

Planning a trip to the east coast of Canada? Check out these posts!

The Best Things to Do in Bonavista Newfoundland

11 Stunning Places on the Irish Loop Newfoundland

How to Plan a Newfoundland Road Trip Itinerary in 2023

Unique Places To Stay In Newfoundland

A Perfect Cabot Trail Itinerary in Cape Breton Nova Scotia

Where To Stay In Halifax Nova Scotia

The Best Places to Stay on the Cabot Trail

5 Best Places for Sea Kayaking in Newfoundland

A Perfect One to Three Day Halifax Itinerary

Found this post helpful? Share the love and pin !

Lora is a full-time digital nomad on a quest to visit every country in the world and pet as many dogs as she can along the way. Over the last 15 years, she has traveled to 70+ countries and six continents solo. She currently calls Puerto Vallarta, Mexico home and enjoys ending each day with sunset and tacos on the beach.

View all posts

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Thankyou for this detailed itinerary! My sisters and I are planning an east coast road trip (around 19 days) next fall and the information you’ve provided is awesome.

Hi, How long did this trip take you? Thanks for all the intel!

Thank you for all of your excellent suggestions. We are planning an Eastern Canada road trip for September 2024. We are looking forward to the scenery, food and activities. We will be driving up from Louisiana and plan two weeks. Will there be plenty of options for decent hotel accommodations? Thank you!

Yes, there are many great hotels along this route that I have suggested.

Hi Lora, My 2 friends and myself would like to take a road trip for about 2 weeks next year (2023) to the East Coast and visit all four(4) lovely provinces. We all work together in the hospital and after the last couple years (with the COVID Pandemic) we all decided we REALLY need a break and a nice vacation. This road trip has been on our bucket list for quite a while now. We are hoping to save enough money by next year to do this amazing trip. A trip to be remembered!!!! Questions: (1) to visit all those wonderful places you mentioned and stay in nice B&B’s in all 4 provinces and really spend time with all the wonderful folks out East. Approx $$ for each person with our own single rooms. Just an approx $$. We will not hold you to that $$, just wondering and hoping we can make the trip re: our budget. (2) Approx in gas? (3) Do we stay in a motel/hotel/B&B along the way? Would you be able to plan our trip for us and do the bookings at the B&B or hotels? (4) We are thinking in May/June? Would you recommend those months? Oh … I should mention, we all live in the GTA area in Ontario and will be leaving from there. We are planning to rent a vehicle. Please help us make this trip a “dream come true” Thank You Lora!! :-))

Thanks for this info Lora! I am going to use this when I cycle and driveEast in a few days. All the best to you!

travelling in an RV, my main concern is heading over to NL, will the ferry take an RV, and any good parks in NL stay? And is the ferry wheel chair accessable?

Hello! And thank you for such detailed info for the East Coast .My husband and I are planning a short 9-10 day road trip to east coast. this coming week. We were planning to drive straight to New Brunswick. Any suggestions on where to go for camping that I don’t have to make reservation? possibly in the Saint John, we’re planning to go all the way to Nova Scotia with this 9 days trip. Please let me know just the important places that we should see. Hope you can help. Thanks in advance……..

Hi Lora, Thanks for such a wonderful travel guide. I am planning a road trip from Toronto to St. Johns or NFL by end of June. I will be traveling with family including Kids. I will leave the city on Thursday evening and so far I am planning the following Thursday | Home->Montreal Friday | Montreal->New Brunswick Saturday |New Brunswick->North Sydney, NS Sunday 7 AM | Channel-Port aux Basques, New FoudnLand Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday (11 AM Ferry) | Channel-Port aux Basques->North Sydney, NS B2A 3V2 Friday | North Sydney, NS-> Moncton, New Brunswick Saturday | Qubic City Sunday | Home (Pickering)

So I will have a total of 5 days in NFL and I need your help to plan these 5 days (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). We both can drive so driving is not an issue. We are interested in Whale watching and icebergs if still, we can see them.

Please guide me how I should plan these 5 days.

Hi Lora, I’m curious about your quoted time of 2 hours from Hopewell Rocks to Moncton? Google maps says it is a 30 minute drive, and now I’m worried I’m missing something? Thank you

Hi Lisa! Thanks so much for your comment. You are right, it’s just over half an hour to get between them so that was just an error on my part. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, it’s been fixed!

Do you have any other whale watching recommendations? We will only have a week with our 3 kids and are thinking of flying in to NB from Toronto to save time on the drive through Ontario & Quebec. We will likely just end up doing NB and PEI…maybe NS…think we’ll have time?

There is good whale-watching in New Brunswick by Saint Andrews by-the-sea! One week is enough to visit them but it will be rushed. I would spend at least half the week in Nova Scotia!

This is great – I may have missed this and will re-read your post, but how long did it take you to road trip across the east coast and as woman would you safe it is safe if I do it alone? Thanks for sharing this post and it is really very intresting east coast Canada road trip.

I’ve done it many times as short as 3 days to as long as 3 weeks, it just depends on how much you want to see! Yes, the east coast is extremely safe to travel I’ve done it solo many times.

Great article! I am planning about a 2 1/2 month trip for next summer and hoping to hit most of what you suggested. We will be traveling with a truck and trailer from about mid June to early September. Based on weather and crowds, I have two questions for you. Any idea for camping if reservations will be needed for National or provincial parks? And what would be your suggested order for the provinces coming from Maine? Was thinking of NB, NF, NS then PEI? Thanks, great article!

Hi Darlene, if you’re planning to visit the parks over the long weekends (Canada day, the first weekend of August, and labor day), I would make reservations as they can get really busy then. Otherwise, a few days in advance should be fine and the provincial parks usually have walk-in space (national ones can get busier in the summer). The order you suggested sounds perfect to me!

In the middle of October, are leaves still on trees on the east coast in NB and NS?

Yes they should be!

Hello and thank you for sharing your experiences. I’m planning a last minute roadtrip the first three weeks of Sept 2021.

I’m looking at starting from TORONTO and making my way out EAST and then driving back of course. Will be using personal vehicle and travelling with my spouse ( no kids )

Any recommendations itinerary wise ? I believe 3 weeks should be enough time to see and do a fair amount.

Thank you in advance for your time

3 weeks is enough time to see all four provinces! I would spend a week in Newfoundland, one in Nova Scotia and the other split between PEI and New Brunswick.

Hi Lora, thanks a lot for this information – it already helps me a lot 🙂 I will go to Canada in October and will spend there 4 weeks. I would have more time, but I think, it would get cold in November. What would you think? Yes it really depends on mother nature … 🙂

As the temperature is getting low during my trip from beginning October till end of October, could you recommend me a good starting point? Is it better to start in Toronto or in Newfoundland? Or doesn´t it make a difference?

I will come from a one-month-trip in Iceland, so I would get used somehow to colder weather, but maybe you have some advice for me ? 🙂

Hi! So glad you found the post helpful. It can definitely be cold in Atlantic Canada by November – even in October! It stays warmer in Ontario longer (I’ve experienced 20+ degree at end of October in Toronto), so I would actually start in Newfoundland and end in Toronto to make the most of the weather 🙂

Thanks so much for this perfect article, I’m planning for a small group 17 people 1st time ever driving from Toronto to Atlantic. This article perfectly giving me all ideas we can explore. Thanks

Thanks so much for your nice comment! I’m so glad you found it helpful.

Hi Lora, great article. We are thinking of taking a 2 week family road trip this summer from Toronto, do you think that’s enough time to explore the east coast? Thx

Thanks! Two weeks is absolutely enough time – there’s an example two week itinerary in the guide 🙂

Hi Lora, Excellent presentation and very nicely explained all relevant issues for travelling. I have sent you an email also seperately for guidance but I know you are very busy. In fact I want to visit Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI with a friend from Brampton. We will fly from Toronto to Sydney and back from Halifax. We will get a car rental for visiting other provinces. My preference is Cabot trail and other areas to be covered in 8 days. Kindly guide.

Hi, I would spend at least 2-3 days to drive the Cabot Trail – it’s so scenic you’ll want time to stop and soak it in. PEI is a very small province, you could see a lot in just two days. If you take the bridge from New Brunswick you’ll be close to Moncton, although I personally prefer Fredericton. It’s worth spending a day or two in Halifax as well, but that’s about all you could fit in!

Hi Lora, we are planning to visit Atlantic from Aug 14-Aug22(must be back to Toronto Aug 22), we are planning to stay 1 night in Quebec for example leaving Toronto to Quebec city on Saturday Aug 14 morning, stay a night in Quebec, then leave Quebec around afternoon Sunday, please advise the next beautiful stop we should stay for 1 or 2 nights? group of 20 people 8 kids ranging from 3-11 years old. Thanks so much

Thanks for so much great info! We are planning an -unfortunately- fairly rushed road trip in our camper van next month. Leaving from Muskoka on the 19th and we have to be home on the 29th. Staying near Quebec City the first night, somewhere close-ish to Fredericton the second night, then the weekend visiting friends in PEI. Monday morning we will board the ferry to NS and do a couple days on Cape Breton Island. We pretty much have to start heading towards Ontario on Thursday, or at the very latest, Friday. Two questions: 1) Is it fairly easy to “free camp” in PEI and Nova Scotia, or do we really need to book campsites? We are self-sufficient with a solar fridge, stove and composting toilet in a 19′ van. 2) If we do Cape Breton (Cabot Trail) over Monday-Tuesday, what’s the #1 thing you’d suggest for Wednesday/Thursday? Do we go west to Halifax/Lunenberg area? My concern is we might be burnt out from driving so much, but we also want to make the most of our time out there. Leaving from Halifax instead of closer to NB means a few extra hours of driving overall. I have been to Halifax/Peggy’s Cove/Lunenberg but my partner has not. Thanks in advance!

Hi Ashley, I have only camped at campsites but if you are a resident of Canada and self-sufficient you could camp on crown land for up to 21 days. I’m sure there is lots of it there, but I’m not an expert in this area.

If you have been to Halifax/Lunenberg and don’t want to add on the extra driving I would just stay on Cape Breton Island. Two days isn’t a lot of time there, the cabot trail is so beautiful I spent a week on it! Inverness or Baddeck are two nice spots on either side of where it starts. I am not super familiar with the part of Nova Scotia between Halifax and Cape Breton Island so can’t make specific recommendations for there, but I think you could easily spend more than two days in Cape Breton and enjoy yourself!

Hi Lora, thank you for all the information you have provided. We are from Alberta and have planned to visit the East Coast Aug 26 – Sept 7th and hoping to see highlights in all provinces. Will check out your article on vaccination status for all provinces. Quick question – is it worth the long drive from Montreal to New Brunswick or should we fly? Thanks for any info you can provide.

If you are flying anyway I would just go to New Brunswick. Montreal is a great city and Quebec City is a nice stop along the way but if you are limited on time and want to see all four provinces it’s better to just fly.

Hi Lora, Thank you so much for this great article. I would love to start planning a short east coast trip to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and PEI at the end of august (August 19-29). I live in Ontario. Do you maybe have any more specific information about the border restrictions for people from other provinces? Thank you!

Hi Cloe, I just updated the article with the latest information. Border restrictions depend on your vaccination status – fully vaccinated travelers can visit all four provinces, but you will have to apply for a PEI Pass for PEI.

This is great – I may have missed this and will re-read your post, but how long did it take you to road trip across the east coast and as woman would you safe it is safe if I do it alone? Thanks.

I’ve done it in as little as 3 days and as long as a month! It really depends on how much you want to see but I’d recommend at least one to two weeks. It is safe to travel there as a woman alone – I did last summer! Atlantic Canadians are extremely friendly and helpful 🙂

Hi, thank you for all of the info. Ten of us rented an RV and have booked our trip for Sept 3-10. We want to eat fish, do a lot of water activities and sightseeing. Since we have only a week and have no wish to see Montreal. Can you help me choose best places. We are from Toronto and are so tired of being on lockdown.

Hi! Without stopping somewhere in Quebec it will be a long drive to New Brunswick (14 hours) but doable if you guys don’t mind a long day of driving. I would recommend spending most of your time in Nova Scotia by the coast, they have tons of water activities and delicious seafood.

Hello Lora! Your blog is so informative and what beautiful pictures! I want to plan an East Coast trip this summer but I’m waiting (and hoping) for some travel restrictions to loosen up so we can visit from Ontario. If not, then I will save this information for 2022! I have a question for you. I know you said that Newfoundland shouldn’t be missed but we only have 3 weeks and when I followed most of your itinerary that didn’t leave me much time for Newfoundland. Is there a place for whale watching in the other 3 provinces?

Thanks so much! Yes for sure, there are lots of places to go whale watching on the East Coast. You can go in St. Andrews by-the-sea in New Brunswick, as well as Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. I do think Newfoundland is the best place for it though! Really hope you can make it out to the east coast this summer!

This is very informative.

Was just wondering if you could suggest a perfect Canada East Coast road trip itinerary with RV Camper that last up to 16 days (3 adults)? I have seen and read many but l just don’t know how to manage that. The idea is to do a road trip from Montréal – Nova Scotia (16 days) or just Nova Scotia (16 days) suggesting probably “must see” places and camping possibilities. The road trip is planned for next year 2021 summer (hopefully by then the pandemic is under control). Wouldn’t mind if you can email me your ideas also per email.

Thanks for your time.

Cheers Mitch

Hi Mitch. You can definitely plan a great road trip from Montreal to Nova Scotia with 16 days. You’ll have to drive through New Brunswick anyway so I suggest spending a night or two there on the way and back. Fundy national park is a great place to visit! That should still leave you with 10 or more full days in Nova Scotia, so for the rest of your itinerary, it depends on what you are interested in seeing. I love Cape Breton island for the Cabot Trail, I’d recommend 3-5 days to do that. The Halifax area is great too, and there are a lot of fun day trips to small towns you can take from there.

Hi Lora, Thank you for such an informative post! You’ve helped me narrow down most of the places I wanted to go as I’m currently planning an Eastern road trip! I wanted to know what your estimated budget was for the entire trip, if you don’t mind my asking. Thank you again 🙂

That’s awesome, glad to hear! That’s so variable depending on how long your trip is, if you’re renting a car, camping or staying in hotels, solo etc. If you give me more details I can try and help!

I live in Vancouver and have never been to the east coast so this is all high on my bucketlist! Looks beautiful 🙂

Vancouver is a beautiful spot too!! Hope you can visit the East Coast sometime 🙂

I love all those rugged coastal views with the reflections in the waters and the lighthouses. I already love the West side of Canada, but I do really like the idea of exploring the Eastern coast as well. It looks like SUCH a fantastic area to hike, and then eat icecream.

p.s. My mum loves Anne of Green Gables…I wonder if telling her that would be a good way to lure her to Canada!? 😉

I love the West coast of Canada too, but the East coast is a completely different experience! Haha I think that would definitely get her there if PEI is on the itinerary!

This is a very informative guide. Definitely will refer to it in future when I go.

Glad you found it helpful! 🙂

Yay for road tripping! I haven’t had a chance to explore too much of Canada but would love to someday! I wanna visit the national parks!

Hope you can someday! We are lucky to have so many beautiful national parks 🙂

Your photos alone make me want to pack a bag and hit the road! I’d love to do a coastal drive of Eastern Canada and PEI has always been on my radar!

Happy to hear that!! PEI is gorgeous, hope you can visit sometime!

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Must Do Canada

The Best Things to Do in Canada

How to Plan the Ultimate Canada Road Trip

May 14, 2019 By Matthew G. Bailey 9 Comments

Sharing is caring!

Even though we love to jump on planes and travel around the world, our favourite form of travel is a good old classic road trip. There’s something special about being in control of your own transportation and being able to go wherever you want, whether that’s a small town, a big city, or an off-the-beaten-path gem. There’s also something great about stuffing what you need into a car and not worrying about baggage restrictions, lost luggage, and people throwing away your cologne and hand creams.

Road trips are a popular mode of travel in many countries around the world but there’s hardly a better place than Canada. As the worlds second largest country, Canada is best explored by vehicle. The Trans-Canada Highway runs all the way from Newfoundland to British Columbia, paving a path of more than 7,800 kilometres. Then there’s the North, which is now connected by road all the way to the arctic ocean in Tuktoyaktuk , NWT. There’s major cities, small towns, and breath-taking scenery all along the way.

We’ve done a lot of road trips in our time but nothing can compete with our 150-day Canada road trip in 2017. During those five incredible months, we toured every driveable province and territory in Canada (there’s no road to Nunavut), took a dip in three oceans, and experienced the best of Canada while documenting it in our 12-part travel series called Road to 150 . Those videos have been seen well over one million times and we’ve received hundreds of comments from people who were inspired to plan their own road trip across Canada thanks to our show.

Choose Your Adventure

Okay, so first things first. Where do you want to go? What’s the Canadian road trip you want to take? This will help determine when to go, how long you need, and what budget to plan. We’ve written an article about the top 13 road trips to take in Canada and have made videos about 12 provinces and territories . Perhaps those will help?

Choosing your adventure will help you choose some of the places you might stop. I’m not a big fan of plannings trips down to the hour, but it’s a good idea to know the key places you’d like to visit. Just like choosing the overall adventure, this will help you plan your time, budget, and activities. For example, maybe your dream is to kayak Hopewell Rocks . With this in mind, Hopewell Rocks is an obvious stop and kayaking is a must. You can now plan around this activity and perhaps leave some days open for some spontaneity around that area.

Determine Your Budget

This is an important step. If you only have $1,000, you should probably avoid planning a road trip from coast to coast. However, you might be able to do a one-week road trip in one province.

Canada is known as a fairly expensive country, but that depends on where you’re coming from. Americans often find Canada quite cheap due to the dollar exchange, as would people from Australia, New Zealand, and many Western European countries.

Either way, Canada can be cheap or it can be as expensive as you want it to be. If you’re wanting to take charter planes to secluded lakes in the middle of nowhere, it can get expensive. If you’re wanting to fly up to Canada’s Arctic and go on Canadian safari’s to see animal migrations, it can be very expensive. However, if you’re simply wanting to travel around, go camping, and visit some world-class cities, it can be done on a budget as well.

Budgets usually revolve around food, transportation, accommodation, and activities. So, we will give you some examples of cost estimates for these things as you continue down this article.

What to Eat (Budgeting for Food)

The cheapest way to do it is to not eat at all, but that’s not very fun and you’re not gonna be happy for long. The cheapest way to eat is to get yourself a cooler and to go shopping at a grocery store. During our big road trip, this is what we did to save money. We ate a lot of sandwiches consisting of ham, cheese, chipotle mayo, and pickles. The pickles really helped a lot. It was pretty good and pretty cheap (Maybe $2 per sandwich or less) but after 150 days, I didn’t want to see a sandwich for a long time. We also mixed it up with cheap fast food from time to time, such as Tim Horton’s and Subway. These are generally the “healthiest” options for fast food and meals cost less than $10. In addition, we’d always budget for a good restaurant now and then as well, as I’d hate to travel across Canada and not experience some of the many delicious local restaurants along the way. Thanks to all the immigration in Canada, you’ll find almost any type of food you can imagine. There are also ways to save money on restaurants too. For example, you may find good “happy hour” deals at restaurants as well as large pizzas for $20 or so, which can then serve 2-4 people. Regardless, try to budget enough to eat at a local restaurant a few times per week, so that you can sample some very good food from all over the world, as well as take a break from the mundane.

Where to Stay (Budgeting for Accommodation) 

Another cornerstone of any successful road trip is finding a place to rest your head at night. There are all sorts of options in Canada, including hotels, motels, hostels, Airbnb, campgrounds, woofing , courchsurfing, or just sleeping in your car (although you need to be careful with this option because it’s not legal to just park anywhere you like and spend the night).

The cheapest options are camping and couchsurfing, generally followed by hostels and Airbnb rentals. Hotels and motels are generally the most expensive options but are also the easiest and most abundant. However, outside of peak times or peak locations (like Banff), standard hotels range between $75 – $150 per night, which is pretty affordable.  Campgrounds generally range from $10-$30 per night for a non-powered tent site. Some campgrounds are first-come-first-serve whereas others allow booking in advance. If you’re planning to stay somewhere popular such as Banff National Park, these places often book up many months in advance.

(Note: If you sign up for Airbnb using our link , you’ll get bonus credit and so will we!)

We often love finding local bed and breakfasts when possible as they’re typically quite comfortable, offer a delicious breakfast, and make a great way to meet some locals. Otherwise, we love the simplicity of staying in hotels. We also love camping but generally only do that on specific road trips as they require a lot of outdoor gear. For hotel bookings in advance, we typically just use Expedia to search room price or sometimes we might try Priceline and bid on rooms in bigger cities.

If you plan to go camping in a national park, you’ll have to book through Parks Canada . Each province and territory will have its own system for provincial parks. Another option is KOA .

What to Do (Budgeting for Activities)

What you intend to do during your Canada road trip will determine a large part of your budget. If you’re simply looking to go hiking and camping, costs will be quite low. You may want a Canada Parks Pass, which will you allow entrance into all Canadian national parks for an entire year for as low as $80. The actual activity of hiking would be free. Museums and city attractions will bump up your costs at about $10-20 per visit per person, and adventurous excursions like helicopter tours, rafting, and whale watching tours will increase that once again. However, you can always buy our Saver Card , which will save you money on various activities and attractions from coast to coast to coast.

Choose Your Dates

When it comes to road trips in Canada, choosing the dates is important. The best time to do a road trip is when the roads are clear, which is typically from May until October, although it can depend on where you go. From December to April, you may be dealing with winter conditions such as snow and ice, which make driving more dangerous and unpredictable. However, it also depends on what activities you’re looking to do. If you’re on some sort of ski road trip, then winter is when you’re going and you should plan accordingly. Generally, spring, summer, and fall are the best. Spring and fall are less busy and are generally still good for driving conditions whereas the summer is much more busy in terms of places to visit. However, spring is more unpredictable in terms of weather. One day it might feel like summer and the next day it could be raining or snowing. Plus, trees and flowers might not be in bloom yet, which makes the area look more dull and dead. Summer is ideal but you’ll be dealing with bigger crowds and more expensive accommodation. Fall will be cooler and can be great because the crowds start to taper off and the fall colours are out on full display (depending on where you are).

What Vehicle Will You Drive?

In order to do a road trip, you’re going to need some sort of vehicle. If you don’t have your own, you can rent one from a variety of locations across the country. If you’re flying into Canada, I’d recommend renting one at the airport so that you can return it to the airport when you fly out. You may also be able to return the vehicle to a different location for an added cost.

If you’re driving in the warmer months, any vehicle will do most of the time. You don’t need a big truck or an SUV unless you’re planning to go off-roading or simply need the space. Most of the roads in Canada are very well-maintained. Even up in the Yukon, a car is more than enough to get you around, although a 4×4/AWD will come in handy if taking the Dempster Highway up to the Arctic.

In terms of rental car costs, it largely depends on the season. In May, for example, we rented a mid-sized car in Calgary for three weeks for only $400. This included unlimited kilometres and our credit card covered the insurance for free. However, we also rented a car in Newfoundland during the summer and it cost $100 per day. It really depends on where you are and what time of season you’re visiting in. Either way, we typically use Expedia to begin our search for the cheapest car. Most reservations can be done for free using a booking engine.

Tip: When renting a car, check with your credit card about rental car insurance. Often, credit cards include rental car insurance for free. 

What About Gas?

If you have gas, we recommend cracking the window for the sake of your passengers. Oh, you mean fuel. Gotcha. Fuel is everywhere. Although the distances between major cities can be well over 1,000 kilometres, there’s generally some sort of service station or small town every 200-300 kilometres. The only place we were worried about finding gas when we needed it was on the Dempster Highway up in Canada’s Arctic. However, even there, you’ll find a service station with 450 kilometres. Aside from areas like that, you shouldn’t have to worry about gas. However, we recommend trying to stay above half a tank of gas, just in case.

FAQ – Questions We Get Asked

When traveling long distances, is it better to book hotels in advance or just find one on the highway?

Generally speaking, you should be able to find one on the highway or in a city or town without booking in advance. However, this largely depends on where you are and what time of year. For example, in Newfoundland during the very busy summer months, you should book in advance. In bigger cities, you won’t have as much of an issue, unless there’s a big event happening. One thing we often do if we’re unsure is to do a preliminary search using Expedia or another hotel booking site. If availability is looking low, we might book it just to make sure. If there’s lots of availability and/or lots of hotels to choose from, we’ll probably wait. You may even want to call the hotel and ask.

When travelling long distances, will we run out of gas? Is it just wilderness?

We often get asked this question from people coming from Europe who aren’t as used to such a wild, open area. With the exception of maybe a few places in the deep north, there are gas stations all over the place. Most vehicles these days can go 500-800 kilometres on a tank of fuel, so making it to another one along the highway is easy. However, it’s still important to pay attention to your fuel gauge and not wait until you’re almost empty. If I have a half tank of gas and see a gas station during a long road trip, I generally stop and fill it up. It’s always nice to stop every 2-4 hours and get a stretch anyways.

Should we get travel insurance?

No matter where you go, we always recommend having travel medical insurance at the very least. It’s not usually very expensive and in the case of an accident, you’ll be happy you have it.

Planning a Canada Road Trip

The amount of planning you need to do will largely depend on the length of your trip. However, it’s not like you can’t just jump in a car and start driving. As long as you’re very flexible, you’ll have a great time even without planning. However, if you have a strict budget or certain things you absolutely want to do, doing some planning in advance will pay off.

If you have any questions, please let us know in the comments below and we’ll answer them. We’ll also update this page with more information for everyone.

Most importantly, have fun!

For more road trip articles, check out:

• Calgary to Banff
• Banff to Jasper
• The Best Canada Road Trips

LIKE THE ARTICLE? PIN IT!

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 .

Reader Interactions

June 5, 2019 at 3:46 pm

I cant wait to road trip across NL this summer.

June 5, 2019 at 4:51 pm

I bet! We’re going back in June. Such a great place!

December 27, 2020 at 3:50 pm

I absolutely loved this article! Question: do you guys actually help plan a trip for someone? 😆😬

December 27, 2020 at 5:21 pm

Thanks! We’ve thought of offering that as a service. Just not sure what we would charge, etc. Are you planning a big trip?

August 2, 2021 at 9:22 pm

This is so helpful! My friend and I are planning to drive from Montreal to Alberta in a month and the blog is incredible! One question, I know Banff is a really popular place, show we worry about booking for a single night in September? Thank you so much!

Should we worry* My bad!

August 3, 2021 at 10:28 pm

Thanks! That’s awesome to hear. No, I don’t think so. We just went for one night last week and booked the same day. Normal years, it might be tough, but this year, no problems!

January 17, 2024 at 5:10 am

this is so helpfull. Plan on driving across Canda April may this year. Any tips on car hire, as we will fly into Vancouver from Australia. also what should we do about phone coverage?

January 18, 2024 at 8:45 pm

Hmm, good questions. For car rentals, I just use either carrentals.com or Expedia. For sim cards, I haven’t done it but many places do pre-paid sim cards. For example: https://www.speakout7eleven.ca/deal

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Please enter an answer in digits: five − 4 =

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

© 2022 Must Do Canada. All Rights Reserved.

Things to Do in Canada

• Privacy Policy
• Work With Us
• Get in Touch
• Facts about Canada
• Canadian Languages
• Canadian Money
• Canada Flags
• Things to Do in Calgary
• Best Canada Road Trips
• Best Road Trip Essentials
• Fall in Canada
• Travel Resources

Travel Across Canada Every Week

Join our weekly newsletter for the latest articles, videos, top photos, and more!

13 of the Best Road Trips in Canada

Written By: The Planet D

Canada , Road Trips

Updated On: February 19, 2024

We love epic drives and have had the pleasure of traveling overland on five different continents . But nothing compares to the best road trips in Canada. Exploring our own backyard always takes our breath away. Canada is beautiful!

While many websites will write about the road trips in Canada that they’ve only heard of or read about, we are rounding up the best Canada road trips that we’ve actually taken. From coast to coast we’ve got you covered with links to our in-depth experiences, maps, and further information.

So, grab a Tim Hortons coffee and put on your road trippin’ playlist while we help you decide where to go next in Canada!

Table of Contents

Best Road Trips in Canada

The main road across Canada is the Trans-Canada Highway 1. The Trans-Canada highway spans 7821 km (4859 miles) across our home and native land from coast to coast. With an epic road like this, it’s no wonder Canada is one of the best countries in the world for taking a road trip.

These are the best road trips in Canada that we’ve taken.

1. Yukon and Northwest Territories – Dempster Highway

Duration: 2 – 4 days one way.

A lot of people don’t know of the Dempster highway but it is the most exciting road trip in Canada that we’ve done! Starting in Inuvik Northwest Territories, the Dempster Highway is a 736 km (457mile) drive through two provinces. It even crosses the Arctic Circle.

You can rent a car one way from the town of Inuvik in the Northwest and then drive direct to Dawson City or continue on to Whitehorse to fly home. This goes through the heart of the Canadian wilderness and is one of the most remote pieces of highway in the world.

Highlights of this drive include:

• Inuvialuit and Gwich’in peoples Culture of Inuvik
• Grizzly bears and caribou,
• Old RCMP headquarters
• Arctic Circle
• Stunning Tombstone Mountain Range
• Gold Rush Town of Dawson City
• Read more about the Dempster Highway

2. Nova Scotia – Cabot Trail

Duration: 3 – 5 Days. It can be driven in one day, but you’ll miss all the gorgeous hikes, adventures and scenic stops.

The Cabot Trail is usually at the top of Everyone’s Canadian road trips list and it only barely missed out on the number one spot on our list. The reason, Cabot Trail is much busier than the Yukon. It is a beautiful coastal drive located on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Starting in the town of Baddeck, we drove in a counter-clockwise direction to Margaree Harbour.

Highlights include:

• Skyline Trail – Stunning coastal views
• Cape Breton Highlands National Park
• Whale Watching & Zodiac tours
• Ingonish Beach
• Uisge Ban Waterfalls
• Coastal Hikes
• Glamping Tents
• 22 Incredible Stops on the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia

3. Alberta – Icefields Parkway

Duration: one to seven days.

It might be the most famous of all the road trips in all of Canada. This stretch of highway between Banff and Jasper national parks is definitely the most beautiful road trip in Canada.

You can start this trip in Calgary and drive all the way to Edmonton to really make it a multiday trip. This entire drive can easily be done in a day but we really must give yourself several to do it justice. Spend a day or two in both Banff and Jasper and take some time to explore the Icefields Parkway. Read more: The Best Things to do in Banff

• Banff National Park
• Lake Louise
• Columbia Icefields
• Athabasca Glacier
• Breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains
• Read more: Driving the Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper Alberta

4. British Columbia – Sea to Sky Highway

Duration: 1 day to 7 days

It’s rated as one of the most scenic drives and with good reason. Starting in Vancouver and ending in Pemberton British Columbia the Sea to Sky highway is 154 km (95 miles) long stretch along the coast.

Most people pass through in an hour and a half on their way to Whistler, but there are so many scenic views and the town of Squamish is an outdoor lover’s dream. Read more Famous Canada Landmarks to add to your bucket List

• Squamish Chief
• Shannon Falls
• Capilano Suspension Bridge
• Britania Mine
• Brandywine Falls
• Train Wreck Trail
• Read our full S ea to Sky Highway Itinerary
• 21 Best Day Trips From Vancouver, BC

5. New Brunswick – Fundy Coast

Duration: 5 days

The drive from Moncton to Saint Andrew’s in New Brunswick is one of the most scenic routes in Canada. This beautiful road trip weaves along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy: home to the world’s highest tides. After checking out Magnetic Hill and Centennial Park in Moncton, the drive veers south towards the Hopewell Rocks.

The Hopewell Rocks are beautiful flowerpot rocks and massive formations that can be walked among during low tide. It then continues to the historic old town of Saint John and ends in the lovely fishing village of Saint Andrews close to the border of Main.

• Hopewell Rocks flowerpot rocks
• Cape Enrage lighthouse
• Saint Martins Covered Bridges and sea caves
• Fundy Trail
• The fishing village of Saint Andrews
• Saint John, New Brunswick
• Read more: 25 Best Things to do in New Brunswick, Canada

6. Prince Edward Island

Duration: 1 – 3 days

Prince Edward Island is the smallest of Canadian provinces, but it is a beautiful place to go on a road trip. We combined our trip to PEI with New Brunswick.

Crossing Confederation Bridge into PEI feels like you have really driven off the beaten path in Canada. Charlottetown is the capital and a great place to start once you cross the bridge. We then drove a counter-clockwise loop around the Central Coastal Drive. Here we enjoyed the coastal views, lighthouses, sand dunes, and East Coast hospitality.

• Charlottetown – festival, dining, and waterfront
• famous red cliffs and sand dunes of PEI National Park
• Anne of Green Gables Shore
• The fishing village of Malpeque
• Read more: Things to do in Prince Edward Island (PEI)

7. Ontario – Sudbury to Thunder Bay

Duration : 5 Days. If you extend to go completely around Lake Superior make it 7 days.

The drive from Toronto to Sudbury is not the most eventful of trips, but once you arrive in Sudbury the adventure begins. Driving north along the Trans Canada Highway Route 1 from Sudbury to Thunder Bay has some of Canada’s top roadside attractions and houses some of the Iconic places to visit in Ontario.

The route takes you from Sudbury along the northern shore of Lake Huron and then turns north from Sault Ste. Marie above Lake Superior. With names like Wawa, Marathon, and White River, you’ll be driving through some of Canada’s quirkiest towns.

Highlights Include:

• The Big Nickle in Sudbury
• The Big Canada Goose – Wawa
• Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in the Soo (Sault Ste Marie)
• Pukaskwa National Park
• White River – Home to Winnie the Poo
• Terry Fox Memorial in Sudbury
• The waterfront of Thunder Bay
• Read all about our Lake Superior Circle Tour through the United States and Canada.

8. Quebec – Le Gaspésie Peninsula

Duration: 7 Days

This road trip starts from one of the oldest cities in North America, Quebec City. Quebec has kept its old-world charm that feels like a little piece of Europe hopped across the pond.

Driving along there are wildlife encounters, a UNESCO World Heritage Sites, awe-inspiring scenery, and culinary delights. You can start in Montreal if you want to enjoy another Canadian City as well. Driving along the St. Lawrence River out to the Gulf of St. Lawrence offers some of Canada’s most striking views and wildlife experiences.

• Old Quebec City
• St. Lawrence River
• Vertical Cliffs of Gaspésie Peninsula
• Pointe-au-Pere National Historic Site
• Camp in a Yurt at Bic National park
• Whale watching
• Spy on Seals
• Forillon National Park
• Read all about the Gaspe tour

9. Southern Alberta – Cowboy Trail

Duration: 7 – 10 days

While most people think of Banff and Jasper when driving through Alberta, the Cowboy Trail through Southern Alberta was one of the greatest Canadian road trips we’ve ever taken.

From trail rides and dude ranches to historic sites and badlands, this drive takes you through some very unique landscapes.

Highlights Include

• Waterton Lakes National Park – part of
• Dinosaur Provincial Park
• Canadian Badlands
• Bar U Ranch National Historic Site
• Hoodoos of Drumheller
• Read our full itinerary at the Cowboy Trail – Exploring Alberta’s South

10. Nova Scotia – South Shore

Duration: 7 days

Heading South from Halifax, most people make a day trip out to see Peggy’s Cove. This fishing village is home to the world-famous Peggy’s Cove lighthouse. But there is a lot more to do on Nova Scotia’s South Shore and we spent 10 days exploring its beauty.

From the rocks of Peggy’s Cove, we followed the lighthouse route all the way to Yarmouth. The historic route goes through old settlements, beautiful landscapes, secluded coves and beaches, and lovely towns.

• Peggy’s Cove
• Three Churches of Mahone Bay
• Yarmouth Lighthouse
• La Have Ferry and Bakery
• The Privateer History of Liverpool
• Read more at First Stop on Your East Coast Road Trip.

11. British Columbia – Sunshine Coast

Duration : 4 – 6 days

The Sunshine Coast of British Columbia is another epic drive in Canada. Starting in Vancouver , we took a ferry from Howe Sound to Gibsons Landing. Gibsons is still on the BC mainland, but it can only be reached by ferry.

Gibson’s Landing was home to the famous Canadian TV Show the Beachcombers that ran for nearly 20 years!

Once you leave Gibsons, you go through wild west coast terrain with beautiful coastal hikes, scenic lookouts, historic sites and eco-adventures. The 400km plus loop takes you north to Lund where you catch a ferry from Powell River to Vancouver Island and work your way south through Nanaimo to Crofton.

• Smugglers Cove – beautiful hike on the coast that was once a rumrunner’s hideout.
• Glamping at Rockwater Secret Cove
• National Historic District of Powell River
• Reversing Falls of Skookumchuc Provincial Park
• Desolation Sound
• Read more: Sunshine Coast BC – The Perfect Road Trip Itinerary

12. Quebec – Eastern Townships

Duration: 2 – 3 days weekend getaway from Montreal

Starting in Montreal, this Quebec Road trip takes you along Southern Quebec and the Eastern Townships.

Known for its wines and apple orchards, this route will take you on a French Canadian gastronomical journey. The cider route links apple orchards and cider houses together where you can taste local cuisine paired with premium cider.

Heading towards Saint Jean sur Richelieu may take you to the annual hot air balloon festival. And then move over Provence, Bleu Lavande in Quebec is one of the largest and important lavender producers in the country.

• Old Montreal
• HIstoric French Villages
• Covered Bridges Route
• Antique Shopping at North Hatley
• Hovey Manor on Lake Massawippi
• Mont Megantic National Park
• Check ou t Where to Stay in Montreal

13. Ontario – Grey Bruce Superloop

Duration : 3 – 4 Days

Ontario has an endless supply of Road Trips and we’ve done them all from the Niagara Parkway to the Apple Pie Trail and Manitoulin Island . But a very cool loop is the Grey Bruce Superloop around Lake Huron.

Driving along the South Shore of Lake Huron, this road trip takes you through Bruce County. Make sure to take a detour a little farther north to Tobermory. The perfect place for adventure scuba diving the shipwrecks or climbing at Lions Head.

• Wiarton Willy – Canada’s groundhog for groundhog day.
• Kincardine Lighthouse
• Sauble Beach
• Niagara Escarpment – World Heritage Site
• Waterfalls of Grey County
• Read more at Explore the Grey Bruce Superloop

I know we have missed a couple of provinces. While we have been to Manitoba and Saskatchewan, we haven’t taken a proper road trip through those provinces, but there are some great drives.

Newfoundland is on our list and perhaps when we can all travel again, Dave and I will hop in our car and head to the east coast of Canada to finish off our great Canadian road trip planner.

If you enjoyed our round up of Canadian Road Trips, save this to Pinterest for future travel planning.

Follow Along for More Road Trips Around the World

• California Road Trip Itinerary
• Arizona Road Trip
• Hana Highway
• 13 of the Best Canadian Road Trips – That We’ve Done
• 60 of the Best Road Trip Songs to Rock the Long Drive
• 60 of the Best Road Trip Songs to Rock the Long Drive The Ultimate Nova Scotia Road Trip Itinerary

Explore more of Canada

• 41 Beautiful Places in Canada To Visit Right Now
• 52 Things to do in Canada – For the Ultimate Adventures
• The Best Canada Adventures: 36 Amazing Trips from Coast to Coast
• Canada Winter Activities You Just Cannot Miss!
• The Great Canadian Word, Unique Phrases and Canadian Sayings
• Canadian Food – Delicious Dishes and Drinks from Canada
• Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Alberta Canada

And these are our favourite road trips in Canada. Where have you gone on an epic drive in Canada? Where should we go next?

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

You May Also Like

34 Incredible Things to Do In Victoria, BC (Our 2024 Guide)

20 Best Things To Do in Windsor, Canada in 2024

Glamping in Ontario: 14 Best Luxury Camping Sites To Visit In 2024

About The Planet D

Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil are the owners and founders of The Planet D. After traveling to 115 countries, on all 7 continents over the past 13 years they have become one of the foremost experts in travel. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine , the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field.

Join thousands of others who get our monthly updates!

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

1 thought on “13 of the Best Road Trips in Canada”

You for got the alaska hwy

North America

Canada's 10 best road trips

Canada's wild expanse of breathtakingly beautiful landscapes stretching across vast distances make it perfect for a road trip.

Whether you're looking for a short scenic drive near you or a multi-day action-packed road trip, Canada has some of the best driving options in the world. Here's our top ten to get you started.

Dempster Highway, Northwest Territories

Start – Dawson City; End – Inuvik; Distance – 457 miles (736km)

This classic trip takes you far beyond the Arctic Circle through some of northern Canada's most pristine scenery; a worthy contender for Canada's most scenic and challenging drive.

It's a meditative experience; for most of the time you're alone with the road, entirely self-reliant and aware of your own smallness compared to the vastness of the landscape.

It passes through dense boreal forest and bare tundra, and rises gently between snow-tipped mountains.

In darker months, you may see the northern lights dancing overhead, but road conditions are best between June and September. It's an unpaved, partially potholed road with treacherous muddy sections.

Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia

Start and end – Sydney; Distance – 261 miles (420km)

This is the big one: the looping, diving, dipping roller-coaster of a road snaking its way around the northern tip of Cape Breton, with epic views of rolling seas, mountain passes and thick forests.

If you're lucky – there’s the chance to spot a moose, eagle or even a whale en route.

Completed in 1932 to link Cape Breton's isolated coastal communities, people have been looping the loop for the last nine decades, and the trail remains as popular as ever.

Traversing the edge of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, it's home to some of the province's grandest scenery, richest wildlife and best hiking trails.

Icefields Parkway, Alberta

Start – Jasper; End – Lake Louise; Distance – 142 miles (230km)

There are amazing road trips, then there's the Icefields Parkway, a 142-mile-long ribbon of asphalt passing through some of Canada's most elemental and pristine landscapes en route.

Giant mountains, mammoth moose, craning trees and gargantuan glaciers brood moodily from the sidelines.

You can also travel it with a challenging multi-day bike ride, giving you more time to contemplate stop offs at cerulean Peyto Lake, powerful Athabasca Falls and the hikeable Athabasca Glacier.

How to Plan a Road Trip in Canada

Love it? Share it!

Wondering how to plan a road trip in Canada? Well, this step by step guide has you covered. We got everything from road tripping through cities, towns and parks in Canada, plus essential tips and mistakes to avoid.

We are also sharing our road trip style. So here’s the ultimate Canada road trip planning guide.

Table of Contents

How to Plan a Road Trip in Canada – Step by Step 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

Canada is full of stunning destinations, and they are AMAZING for road trips. From coast to coast to coast, there are hundreds of routes to choose from – from one-day trips, weekend getaways, to weeks or even month-long trips.

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. 

Use the following resources to start planning

• Browse through our Canada destinations category for inspiration
• Pinterest is a great option to curate a bucket list. Here is our Pinterest profile/boards
• Prefer Instagram instead? Use that to create a list of scenic spots to discover on your road trip
• Lonely Planet Guide books

Our top pick for Canadian road trips

• Canadian Rockies Road Trip : The Canadian Rockies from Calgary to Yoho National Park, road tripping through Banff National Park , Lake Louise , and Yoho National Park
• A weekend road trip from Edmonton to Jasper National Park
• Or Banff to Jasper via the Icefields Parkway, one of the most scenic drives in the world
• Edmonton to Vancouver , with stops at Kelowna, Vancouver Island in British Columbia
• Road trips in Saskatchewan, starting in Saskatoon to Grasslands National Park, Qu’Appelle Valley, Cypress Hills
• Or opt for an all-city road trip from Regina with stops in MooseJaw, Yorkton, Prince Albert
• Head across the province from Saskatoon to Winnipeg in Manitoba for a full day drive, stopping along the way in many border towns – get the road trip itinerary here
• In Ontario, drive the scenic routes leading to many national and provincial parks from Algonquin to Blue Mountain and the Niagara Falls from Toronto
• Enjoy quick drives from Halifax to Peggy Cove, and beyond in Nova Scotia
• Coastal drives on the Maritimes Prince Edward Island, Cabot trail 

From western Canada to the northwest territories to the east coast, there are tons of options!

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. Seasonality will determine if road accessibility will be smooth, or if accommodations and attractions will be crowded. 

Here are some quick tips to remember

• Spring and fall – These are off season months in Canada. Finding accommodation in cities and small towns this time will be easy, minus fewer crowds. 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.
• 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. When we drive back to Edmonton from Banff on the weekends, there is traffic! Being a peak season, book campsites, hotels and other tours/attractions ahead of time.
• Winter – Driving in winters can be tricky, so ensure you follow winter driving regulations. Although winter is not a peak season, some of the destinations (that are popular winter vacation spots in Canada) can be all filled up really quick from international visitors. 

Winter Road Trips 

As we mentioned winter driving in Canada has its challenges. Think slippery road surfaces, unpaved lanes, blowing snow to name a few. This is not to disencourage you, but after having traveled (for pleasure and work) in Canadian winters, here are some useful tips.

• Winter tires – Super important to have winter tires on, all-seasonal ones are a no go. 
• Winter windshield fluid – Don’t forget car fluid!
• Slow down – While driving in the winter, drive slow, maintain distance. Be very careful when you drive in residential areas or make turns
• Packing – Keep woolens in your car to stay warm, in case you are stranded. In winters you might face road closures (due to accidents or natural disasters), so it is important to keep warm clothes and some snacks in the car
• Check local news before you start – Check the weather and local news to ensure it is safe to embark on road trips, and the route is clear. Any forecasts about the weather and road conditions will help you determine if additional travel time is required
• Travel time – Add extra travel time to your road trip duration

Accommodation: Hotels, RV, Campervan, Camping

When you are road tripping in Canada, there are tons of options for accommodation. Let’s start the obvious,

• Hotels & Lodges : Whether it is a country-side, city or national park, you can book a hotel, lodge or a cabin for your accommodation. Book them ahead of time, especially during peak seasons. Also hotels in popular destinations like Toronto or Banff could get expensive, if you book last minute.
• RV & Campervan: One of the popular ways to explore national parks in Canada is on a campervan or an RV. Almost every city will have an RV renting place, from where you can book an RV and save money on hotel accommodation. It is also a nicer alternative if you do not own a lot of camping gear.
• Camping: If you are planning to camp overnight, ensure you reserve camp-sites when bookings open for the season. And of course, ensure you carry the right camping gear for your trip. You do not need to reserve for day camp sites (like picnics as part of your road trip), especially in provincial parks. 

Plan it on Google Maps

Google Maps are an amazing tool to plan and plot your road trip itinerary. You can create the map on your Google account (on the desktop/laptop) and then view it on your phone. Ensure you have offline maps enabled, as sometimes cell tower connectivity in parks and country-side may not be that great. 

To plot the itinerary, open Google Maps, then save your starting point. Use the ‘direction’ option to get from road A to B, and go from there. Repeat these spots to keep adding all the places you want to visit on your Canada road trip.

Also, add your hotel, any attractions you wish to visit inside a city or national park. When you click the location on your phone or computer, you will see the opening hours, reviews if any.

On your phone, ensure you have GPS settings on. (Settings > Google Maps > Location > select “Always”)

Again, download offline maps on your phone. Once you have the Google Maps downloaded on your phone, search for the route you have created on the desktop. 

Getting Ready: Checklist prior to your trip

Just before you start for your road trip, preferably a few days prior, ensure you do a quick run-through.

• Clean your car prior to your trip
• Get it to the servicing center
• Ensure your license/registration has not expired
• Inform friends/family about your trip
• Don’t forget navigation systems/Google maps

If you are renting a car, the rental company usually takes care of the car maintenance. But it is your responsibility to take note of any dents/scratches to report to the company later, plus record the mileage. 

Road Trip Packing Essentials

While preparing for a road trip to Canada, it is essential to pack the right things (and pack them!). Don’t overpack, but ensure you have the essentials to get you to the road trip and back.

We love to travel light, and our road trips are no different. However we do not compromise on the required items. Of course, if you are on a campervan or RV on rent, the list might be slightly different. 

So here’s the list

• Clothes – Pack essential clothing for the trip. If it is a 2-day road trip, pack 2 sets of shirts/tops, one pant, underwear, light jacket
• Comfortable shoes – Wear comfortable shoes. It is helpful while you are behind the wheel or taking rest stops (for a stroll) or out and about exploring
• Pair of flip flops – Flip flops are useful inside the hotel or at the beach 
• Warm clothes (for winter) – While driving in Canadian winters, don’t forget warm clothing from jackets/ parka, warm socks, gloves, to beanie
• Hand warmers are great little items to keep inside the car. They are cute little pouches that heat up upon friction. Click to buy hand warmers here.
• 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!
• Sunglasses – The sun can be a little harsh while driving in Canada, especially in the afternoon or evenings. Carry and wear your favorite sunglasses. I LOVE my Rayban Ericka and Aviator, which are made of polarized glasses
• Sunscreen – Summer or winter, sunscreen is a must. 
• Hand cream – We keep a hand cream inside our car, cause summer or winter, our hands get super dry on the roads in Canada. Pick up a nice hand cream with your favorite fragrance
• 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 . Here is an emergency car kit from the Canadian government site . Either way, ensure you carry it on your road trip. 
• 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 – Go hands-free while you are driving. 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) up-to-date. 
• 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). Click to purchase yours
• Playlist – No road trip is complete without an amazing playlist. Save it on iTunes, or your iPod. Radio is also a good option for entertainment but it is tricky in certain parks and you may not get a consistent frequency. 
• Camera – We always carry our camera on our trips. Our Sony mirrorless camera is usually the one that comes with us on our quick road trips. It is small, compact, and lightweight to carry around. You can also snap photos from the car (passenger duty!). Click to view our mirrorless camera.
• Cell-phone – Don’t forget your cell-phone. Stay connected with family, let them know where you are heading. Store the hotel or campsite contact information, plus roadside assistance number for emergencies. 
• Car freshener – Refresh your car, using refresher. I LOVE vanilla or lavender based fragrances, super yummy (smells pretty haha). View car refreshers here.
• Small pillow – Salil never forgets to pack a small pillow for me! And I love it, nice when you want to relax whilst soaking in the views.  Click to grab your travel pillow!
• Blanket – An emergency blanket is included in the kit/s mentioned above. This is completely optional and you can pack a proper blanket. We always pack one. I am always cold while the A/C is on, so it is super handy for me.  
• Umbrella 
• Day pack or weekender bag – A day bag or a weekender bag is useful to carry your clothing, day hikes, or sightseeing needs. Or something to store road trip essentials.  Here is a 25L day pack.
• Road trip games – License plate, sing-along, card games (for kids)
• Camping essentials – If you are camping, carry essentials for your overnight stay
• Hiking essentials – Dayhikes essentials list, here is a handy list from MEC Canada
• 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. 

Pack a Hygiene Kit  

Keeping in mind, with today’s new normal, it is important to carry a hygiene kit. This is something that you have to create itself, as there is no pre-made ‘hygiene kit’ available to purchase. Here is what you should have

• Reusable face masks – Carry a few reusable face masks, depending on the number of passengers in the car and the duration of the trip
• Hand sanitizer
• Disposable gloves

Always maintain 2 metres distance while embarking on sightseeing or walks at local parks. Check local news, to ensure the parks and sightseeing attractions are open, and that there are no restrictions in terms of movement or quarantine regulations. 

Driving in Canada Basic Tips

The most common cars on the road in Canada are left hand drive vehicles. The steering wheel is on the left side of these vehicles as the cars are driven on the right side of the road.

Things to remember:

• Ensure you have a valid driver’s license (Canadian, US, or International)
• Must be at least 21 years of age to rent a vehicle
• Get car insurance
• Canada uses kilometres and metres to measure the distance (unlike miles used in the USA). 1 mile = 1.609 km
• The typical speed limit in most provinces is 100 km/h (62 mph) or 110 km/h (68 mph). 
• Statutory speed limits for school zones tend to be 30 or 40 km/h (19 or 25 mph) in urban areas and 50 km/h in rural areas. 
• 120 kilometers per hour is the fastest you can go on Canada highway. The province of Ontario is especially strict, with a maximum speed of 100 kph.
• 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.)
• Be mindful of wildlife corridors and posted wildlife signs along the highways

Mistakes to avoid while road tripping in Canada

1. Not taking ample breaks 

It is crucial to stop and take breaks on your road trips. In Canada, there are gas stations, convenience shops, and rest-stops where you should stop by to take a break. Washrooms are also free to use in gas stations here. 

2. Rushing, and not allowing enough time 

Road conditions are good in Canadian highways, but it is a good idea to enjoy the trip and go slow (of course no speeding and adhering to traffic rules). Soak in the views, stop if needed to take a break. Eat, stretch your legs, enjoy – that is the fun part of embarking on road trips.

3. Follow a loose itinerary – don’t plan everything to the T

To enjoy a road trip to the fullest, don’t plan everything to the T. Have a rough idea about the route, attractions covered, but don’t be afraid to stop at a place longer if you like. 

4. Not booking hotels or camp reservations in advance 

Imagine embarking on a road trip with high spirits (and gear/bags) and when you arrive at the city or park, you realize that a hotel or camp-site is not booked. You might be able to find a hotel, but room rates could be expensive. Campsites are hard if you don’t reserve ahead of time.

5. Not grabbing snacks or good music

Healthy snack items are a good idea if you are not planning for a meal stop on your road trip. Don’t forget water! And a good playlist is key!

Typical Road Trip in Canada: Our version

We LOVE taking road trips in Canada – that is our favorite way to explore cities, small towns and national parks here. We start pretty early on our trips. Here is how we do it

Few weeks to a month

• Decide where, and when we want to go. Usually, we opt for long weekends (or Friday + long weekends)
• We book hotels, attractions or camp reservations
• If you are traveling from overseas, reserve car rental around the same time

A week prior to roadtrip

• Mayuri: Ready with her weekend bag, all packed 🙂 Starts plotting Instagram spots for photography
• Salil: Takes the car for servicing, prepping for the road trip

A day before the road trip

• Salil: Fills up gas, and packs his backpack. Checks weather.
• Mayuri: Doesn’t sleep, she is super excited about the trip. Does her nails, finishes small tasks around the house
• We start as early as possible. During summer/autumn months, we start around 5:30 am or 06:00 am
• Stop by Tim Hortons for coffee/tea (SUPER IMPORTANT)

• We take breaks every hour or so. Stop by attractions.
• Have brunches together 
• Late evening, we check-in to our hotel. Wander around the national park or the city
• Repeat, next day (2,3,4….)
• We return the day before, we have to start for work, preferably by late afternoon/evening. This way we have enough time to prep for the next day, or relax at home

This is how we like to do our road trips, and have been doing it together since 2011. Having lived in 3 different provinces in Canada, we are lucky to see such gorgeous landscapes year after year, without going too far. 

We hope you found this guide to planning a road trip in Canada useful. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments below!

Pin: Planning a road trip in Canada

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.

Similar Posts

32 Best Things to Do in Golden BC (2024 Guide)

As you drive into this gorgeous historic town you’ll get the undeniable feeling that there’s something special about this place. It won’t be long before you realize that this is an outdoor adventurer’s paradise and that there’s no shortage of fun things to do in Golden BC!  Nestled between the Rocky and Purcell mountains, this…

Calgary to Golden Road Trip Itinerary (+Transportation Options)

Planning to travel from Calgary to Golden British Columbia and turn it into an awesome drive? We got you covered! In this detailed guide, we will share all the possible transportation options between these two destinations, and also check off many of the cool spots along the way. So here is an awesome Calgary to…

13 Best Canmore Hotels With Pools & Hot Tubs

Situated at the foothills of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, Canmore is a town full of snowy mountain views and thrilling outdoor activities like skiing, snowboarding, mountain climbing, and hiking. And we got the best Canmore hotels with pools and hot tubs for your next getaway! Canmore generally has cold weather, making it a prime winter holiday destination….

How to take the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria BC

If you are planning a trip to Vancouver Island in Canada, you might be wondering how to take the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria – as it is one of the cheapest and most popular ways to get to the capital city of British Columbia. We will share a detailed guide to taking the ferry…

9 Unique Places to Stay in Victoria BC

Are you getting ready to plan your next incredible getaway? Have you been dreaming of breathtaking sights, delectable cuisine, and the chance to experience something unique and memorable? Make your travels stand out by opting for unique places to stay in Victoria BC. Situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island and surrounded by nature,…

30+ Montreal Bucket list attractions worth visiting

Wondering what are the must see Montreal attractions for your visit? You are at the right spot. We have 30+ amazing Montreal bucket list items to get you started. Montreal Bucket list: Must-see Montreal attractions for your visit Before we share the list of Montreal activities, here are some quick tips to help you prepare…

We LOVE road trips, and I dream of driving from my home in Oregon, USA up through Canada and all the way to Alaska. It’s not happening this year but I can’t wait to do it someday!!!

YAY! Hopefully, you can visit next year. I love road trips in Canada!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

The Best 10-Day East Coast Canada Road Trip

The East Coast of Canada is packed with amazing places to visit, from Prince Edward Island to Peggy’s Cove to Newfoundland. One of the best ways to see all of the coolest spots is by taking a fantastic East Coast Canada road trip.

Once upon a time, we actually lived on the East Coast of Canada – more specifically, in Halifax – so we know this part of the country inside and out! We can confidently say that there is so much to see on an East Coast Canada road trip.

It’s important to note that this guide is just a structured suggestion of a 10-day East Coast Canada road trip itinerary. It is by no means the only acceptable option out there. So feel free to adjust this guide to fit your preferences, whether that means taking stops out, putting some in, or switching up the order.

Days 1-2: Gaspé Peninsula

This fantastic East Coast Canada road trip itinerary begins on the gorgeous Gaspé Peninsula. Most people completely overlook Gaspé Peninsula and instead head to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland. And that’s a shame, because Gaspé Peninsula is such a gem!

Between the incredible mountains, stunning seaside views, little Quebecois towns, and four national parks, there’s so much to see on the Gaspé Peninsula. In other words, you’ll have to narrow down your list of things to do to fit it all into two days! If we had to pick a few favorite things to do, we would recommend checking out Percé Rock, popping by Forillon National Park, and saying hello to the birds at Parc National de l’Ile-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé.

Day 3: Kouchibouguac National Park

There are quite a few stunning national parks in this part of Canada, so we’d be remiss to leave them out of this East Coast Canada road trip itinerary. This first national park we’ve decided to dedicate an entire day to is Kouchibouguac National Park.

Kouchibouguac National Park is a 238 square kilometre area known for its various ecosystems, including salt marshes, sand dunes, forests, barrier islands, and more. And since there are so many different types of ecosystems, there is a lot to explore.

If you’d like to head to the water, you can canoe your way towards a wonderful grey seal colony. Just remember to respect their space! If you’d prefer to stay on land, you can picnic on the picture-perfect sand dunes. And if you happen to visit during the winter, you can even put your skiing skills to the test.

Days 4-5: Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is the smallest Canadian province – and this little area is one of the best stops on an East Coast Canada road trip. Despite the fact that Prince Edward Island is an island, you can easily drive your way into this Canadian province.

Many visitors spend a week or more exploring everything that Prince Edward Island has to offer. But since you’ll only have a couple of days before continuing on your road trip, you can pick your favorite spots.

Literature lovers will enjoy a trip to Green Gables Heritage Place, which is a recreation of the home in Anne of Green Gables . If you’re more of a history buff than a fiction reader, you’ll want to visit Charlottetown. In 1864, this small city hosted the Charlottetown Conference, which eventually led to the official formation of Canada.

And last but certainly not least, if you’d prefer to head out into nature, Prince Edward Island doesn’t disappoint on that front either! One of the most beautiful sights on the island is the red sandstone cliffs. You can find these all around the island, including at Prince Edward Island National Park, Cape Tryon, and Port-la-Joye-Fort Amherst National Historic Site. And don’t forget to visit Cavendish Beach, which boasts gorgeous red sand!

Days 6-7: The Bay of Fundy, Fundy National Park, and Saint John

Located on the Bay of Fundy, Fundy National Park has so much to offer. The Bay of Fundy is most well-known for having the highest tides on earth. At low tide, you can walk along the ocean floor, but at high tide, it soars up to 16 metres! This makes for some incredible white water rafting opportunities, which we highly recommend.

But there’s more to Fundy National Park than just the Bay of Fundy. You can take a weird food tour by foraging for ocean edibles, try your hand at geocaching, and hike to Third Vault Falls.

Once you’re done at Fundy National Park, you can spend some time in Saint John. While you can certainly opt to rest and recover from the first few days of this amazing East Coast Canada road trip, you can also head out on the town. After all, there’s no shortage of things to do in Saint John either! Zipline across the Reversing Falls Rapids, explore Irving Nature Park, and pop by Saint John City Market.

Day 8: Lunenburg, Peggy’s Cove, and Halifax

Day 8 of this East Coast Canada Road Trip is packed with a few different stops that are close together. First up, Lunenburg.

Lunenburg is such an underrated little town in Nova Scotia. With its friendly people, historic buildings, and adorable shops, it’s the epitome of small town charm. And that’s certainly something that you’ll want to experience if you get the chance! As a matter of fact, one of the best things to do is simply walk around the adorable town center, pop into cute shops, and dine at local eateries. And if you have a little bit of extra time, you can also visit the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, hop aboard Bluenose II , and stop by Blue Rocks.

Then, there’s Peggy’s Cove. This lovely small town and natural landscape are unlike any other place in Canada. With colorful boats, smooth boulders, foggy skies, and a towering lighthouse, it looks like it was plucked straight out of a painting!

And last but certainly not least, there’s the city of Halifax. When we lived in Halifax, we were always finding new things to do. But some of our favorites were the calm, easy activities, like walking along the waterfront and listening to live music at one of the city’s exciting pubs.

Days 9-10: Cape Breton Island

Your second-to-last stop on this East Coast Canada road trip itinerary is the lovely Cape Breton Island. Like Prince Edward Island, you can easily drive your way onto Cape Breton Island.

Once you arrive on Cape Breton Island, you’ll be astounded by its beauty. With the sparkling waters, stunning ocean cliffs, and sleepy fishing villages, it looks like it belongs in a storybook! But luckily for you, this picture-perfect island is real and ready for you to explore!

The best way to explore Cape Breton Island is by following the Cabot Trail. This trail loops around the majority of Cape Breton Island, and, along the way, there are loads of wonderful things to see and do. As a matter of fact, most of these wonderful stops are perfect for nature lovers. You can walk to Uisge Ban Falls, go kayaking in the North River, and hike the famous 7.5-kilometre Skyline Trail.

If nature isn’t your top priority, don’t worry! There’s so much more to see on Cape Breton Island. Foodies can take a captivating tour of The Glenora Distillery and stop for a scoop at the adorable Lighthouse Ice Cream Parlour. And animal fans can take a whale watching tour from Neil’s Harbour.

Days 11-13: Newfoundland

Newfoundland is a large island off the coast of Eastern Canada. But this island actually isn’t connected by roads, like the other two islands on this itinerary. So you may be wondering, how can I get to it on my East Coast Canada road trip? There are ferries!

There are two ferries to Newfoundland, both of which depart from North Sydney on Cape Breton Island. One ferry takes you to Argentia, Newfoundland, and the other takes you to Port aux Basque, Newfoundland. Both of these ferries allow you to take your car along for the ride.

When you reach Newfoundland, there is so much to do. If you like the outdoors, you’ll definitely enjoy hiking through Gros Morne National Park. If you’re a sommelier in the making, take a tour of the Auk Island Winery. And if you’re an animal lover, keep an eye out for awesome wildlife, including whales and seabirds.

To round out your road trip, you have a couple of options. First, you can head back to the mainland via the same ferry you took to get to Newfoundland. This is the best option if you’re using your own car. But if you’ve rented a car, you can return it in Newfoundland and take a flight out of Gander International Airport instead.

If you’d like to stick around in Newfoundland a bit longer, check out this longer Newfoundland road trip itinerary!

So what are you waiting for? Are you ready to hit the road and take this amazing East Coast Canada road trip? Let us know how your adventure goes in the comments!

Looking for other bucketlist destinations in Canada? Check out our guide!

Sajidafride1

Thursday 3rd of March 2022

• Transformational Travel
• CTV Segments
• Travel Resources
• Promote Your Destination
• Promote Your Adventure
• Promote Your Product
• Speak At Your Event
• Learn To Blog

• British Columbia
• Newfoundland
• Nova Scotia

Prince Edward Island

• Northern Ireland

An Adventure-Packed East Coast Canada Road Trip | 14-Day Itinerary | 2024

East coast canada road trip itinerary summary, st. john’s, newfoundland, signal hill, st. john’s newfoundland, cape spear lighthouse, st. john’s newfoundland, terra nova national park, newfoundland, day 3: east coast canada road trip itinerary – iceberg hunting, tablelands, gros morne national park, water-based eco tour, gros morne national park, newfoundland insectarium, reidville, nl, day 7: corner brook, newfoundland to port aux basques, day 8: port aux basques to north sydney ferry, fortress of louisbourg, sydney, nova scotia, staying overnight at the fortress of louisbourg, sydney, nova scotia, cape breton highlands national park, ingonish beach national park, cape breton highlands, cheticamp national park, cape breton highlands, pei national park, top knotch fishing tour, where to stay in pei – shaw’s hotel, best time to visit canada’s east coast, where to stay on canada’s east coast, getting around canada’s east coast, how do i plan a road trip to the east coast of canada, how many days do i need to spend on canada’s east coast, how much money do i need for 14 days in canada’s maritimes, what to pack for an east coast road trip, what is the parks xplorers program, do i need a discovery pass to visit the national historic sites and national parks, how many times should you stop on a road trip, final thoughts: 14 days on canada’s east coast.

Are you looking to plan an East Coast Canada road trip? 

Since 2017 our family has been exploring Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and PEI, discovering all the hidden gems and best adventures on Canada’s East Coast! As a Travel Writer, I’m excited to share the best places to see and can’t-miss stops to help you plan your epic road trip across Canada’s East Coast! (I’ll even include all the mom hacks for planning a cross-country adventure, where to splurge, where to save, and more!) 

Fun Fact: In celebration of Canada’s 150th, we decided to go to Eastern Canada for a 2 week East Coast Canada road trip in the Maritimes. The trip was in partnership with Parks Canada , as we wanted to stay in as many national parks as possible and visit as many National Historic Sites in honour of this special celebration.

Here’s a day-by-day itinerary outlining our East Coast Canada road trip as well as some of our favourite tips to make the most out of your adventure!

Day 1: St. John’s, Newfoundland  Day 2-3:Terra Nova National Park  Day 4-6: Gros Morne National Park  Day 7: Cornerbrook  Day 8-9: Fortress of Louisbourg  Day 10-12: Cape Breton Highlands National Park  Day 13-14: Prince Edward Island

Day 1: East Coast Canada Road Trip Itinerary: St. John’s, Cape Spear Lighthouse, and Signal Hill

Start your adventure off on Canada’s East Coast city of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Immerse yourself in the vibrant and colourful culture of Newfoundland’s capital city, from the bustling streets to the stunning views that surround the city.

This coastal town is known for many things including its colourful buildings, which are perfect for photographers, its fresh-off-the-boat catches, perfect for the foodie, and lots of historic sites and national parks that are easily accessible, perfect for the historian. 

Walking around town gives you a unique sense of the Canadian culture and what life as a Newfoundlander is like. From the huge icebreakers that hover over the downtown streets, to the joy-filled shop owners welcoming you in to come and stay for a while, Newfoundland is a magical bustling little city that needs to be explored. 

Give yourself at least 2 days in St. John’s. There were a lot more things we wanted to check out that we didn’t get to such as The Battery, George Street, Victoria Park, and local hikes around town.

Fun Fact: Did you know that the oldest street in Canada is located in St. John’s? Be sure to take a stroll along Water Street and pose for a photo. If that road could talk, the stories it would tell! 

Click here to check out our full article on what to do in St. John’s.

Signal Hill in St. John’s Newfoundland is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves breathtaking views and historical landmarks. Located only a 12-minute drive from downtown St. John’s, this iconic location is home to Cabot Tower, which sits atop the hill, offering an unparalleled view of the city and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. 

But the Tower isn’t the only thing to see and do on Signal Hill. Visitors can take in military reenactments and explore the Battery, a collection of historic buildings that once served as garrisons during wartime. For those seeking out the best views, hiking trails wind through the hill’s rugged terrain, providing the perfect opportunity for a trek with your camera. If you’re planning on visiting Signal Hill check out this feature article showcasing more photos and tips to plan your experience.

Do you want to visit the most Eastern point in all of North America? Cape Spear Lighthouse is a quaint and picturesque lighthouse, offering spectacular panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors can explore the lighthouse, which has stood watch over the coastline for over 180 years, and learn about its rich history and importance in protecting ships from the treacherous waters of the Newfoundland coast. 

My children loved taking part in the Xplorers Program which helped them connect with the lighthouse and take their learning to a new level (plus made the experience more fun for the whole family). 

Once you’ve visited the lighthouse head out on one of the rugged coastal trails where you can see breathtaking vistas, and even spot whales or icebergs in the distance (we saw both!). Take a moment to reflect and immerse yourself in the history and natural beauty of the area. A visit to Cape Spear Lighthouse is a must for anyone seeking adventure and a glimpse into the past.

If you’re planning on visiting Cape Spear Lighthouse check out this feature article . 

Day 2: Canada East Coast Road Trip Itinerary: Terra Nova National Park

Day 2 and it’s time to hit the road and drive 3 hours north to Terra Nova National Park. This stunning park boasts almost 400 square kilometres of pristine wilderness, including forested trails and white sandy beaches waiting to be explored. 

This beautiful park boasts amazing coastlines that wrap through the fingers of Bonne Vista Bay. We stayed in an oTENTik which gave us more time for exploring the region, and a deeper connection with the environment in which we were spending our time. 

Mom Tip: Booking for the National Parks opens in January / February so if you’re wanting to stay in one of Parks Canada’s accommodations be sure to plan ahead and book early! 

When visiting Terra Nova National Park be sure to stop at the Discovery Center, where the whole family can explore the hands-on touch tanks! Also, pack a lunch and spend uninterrupted time on the shores of Sandy Pond Beach.

Learn all about it and everything else to see in Terra Nova here .

Terra Nova Ti p: Give yourself at least 3 days in Terra Nova and try to get out on the water at least once. Whether you’re going hunting for icebergs (locals will be able to tell you if they are around, and there are a lot of great websites that track them) or you’re wanting to go whale watching, to truly experience Terra Nova you need to see it from the water.

If you’re looking for a unique and awe-inspiring experience, taking an iceberg tour in Terra Nova National Park in Newfoundland should be at the top of your list. By far one of the most memorable days on our East Coast Canada road trip was when we set out on the ocean to find an iceberg! 

With our captain leading the way we were led out to discover an amazing 80-foot-tall iceberg. Heading out on a tour will not only will you witness the natural beauty of icebergs in their majestic glory, but you’ll also have the opportunity to learn about their formation and history from knowledgeable guides. As you glide through the pristine waters, keep an eye out for wildlife such as whales, seals, and seabirds that call the area home. On our tour, we could hear the ice melting and it sounded like it was raining! 

Don’t Forget: Be sure to bring your camera to capture the stunning scenery and keep an eye out for the dazzling blue colours that light up the interior of the icebergs. 

For more pictures of the Newfoundland icebergs and how to plan your own adventure click here . 

Day 4-6: Canada East Coast Road Trip Itinerary – Gros Morne National Park, Tablelands, Water-Based Eco Tour, Insectarium

After seeing a single image of Gros Morne National Park I spent four years dreaming up this East Coast Road Trip Canada, and when the day finally came to explore the park with my own eyes it exceeded every expectation! 

Gros Morne is a UNESCO world heritage site as it is one of our planet’s most significant natural areas. With diverse landscapes ranging from towering coastal cliffs to dense forests and winding fjords, this park offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the rugged beauty of eastern Canada.

In this photo, I felt like I was standing on the planet Mars, but I was actually in the  Tablelands , in Gros Morne National Park. This incredible location is known for its unique landscape of barren, rocky terrain, unlike anything else found in eastern Canada, let alone on planet Earth. 

Fun Fact: When I turned around in this photo I was looking out on a typical East Coast Forest, making the complete opposite difference in a matter of 180 degrees, unlike anything I had ever experienced.

If you’re visiting Gros Morne I highly suggest you get out on the water and explore the region from a different perspective. Whether it’s a boat tour or a self-guided kayaking trip, there’s more to see and learn out on the water. We loved the guided Eco tour with Bon Bay Tours as we got to see different animals and learn more about the region, and also be entertained with local music on the way home!

Check out all of our recommendations for planning your Gros Morne adventure here .

Gros Morne Tips: I knew Gros Morne was a large park but I didn’t realize how HUGE it was. Unfortunately, with travel and commuting times we only ended up with two full days there, and we easily could have doubled that time and explored more, like heading North up the Viking trail. 

Gros Morne Musts: In terms of “musts” be sure to see the tablelands and get out on the water in some shape or form!

Visiting the Newfoundland Insectarium is an experience that will exceed your expectations, guaranteed.  From the moment you step foot inside this unique living museum, you are transported to a world that is buzzing with excitement (pun intended).

You can expect to see more butterflies than you can count, with my young daughter at the time overwhelmed at moments by all of the fluttering about. If you’re looking for more of a hands-off experience you can head to the museum side of the Insectarium where you can see butterflies from all over the world where the collection of thousands of species is on display. 

The knowledgeable staff is always on hand to answer any questions you may have and provide insightful commentary on the different species. Overall, a visit to the Newfoundland Insectarium is a unique and unforgettable experience that will undoubtedly spark an interest in the world of insects for any visitor. Check out more pictures of the butterflies and the exhibits in our full article here .

After your week in Newfoundland, it’s time to start to traverse from Gros Morne National through Corner Brook to Port Aux Basques, where you will catch your ferry to Sydney, Nova Scotia . Be warned: Google Maps will report that the drive from the National Park to Port Aux Basques is just over three hours, but we were fortunate to have local insight who warned us about road delays. 

Moose. 

Yup, that’s right. Moose delays! If you leave the park early in the morning you may come across a herd that is on the highway, with no rush to move anywhere fast… meaning you can experience significant delays when leaving the park. While we never came into contact with this, we did book a night in Cornerbrook, allowing us to do laundry, stock up on groceries and enjoy our early morning drive to Port Aux Basques to get our ferry.

Embarking on the Port Aux Basques to North Sydney Ferry promises not only a breathtaking journey across the Cabot Strait but also the opportunity to explore the alluring province of Nova Scotia. Visitors can expect panoramic views of the rugged coastline and pristine waters as they sail toward Cape Breton Island.

Traveller Tip: When you are booking your reservation you can upgrade to a private room for your journey. I chose to upgrade for an approximate cost of $125, which allowed us to have a private suite with four beds and our own bathroom (of which we all showered!) With the cross-Atlantic commute being 6 hours it was amazing to have our own suite to lay down, get comfortable, and enjoy the journey in! 

Day 8 – 9: East Coast Canada Road Trip Itinerary- Nova Scotia – Fortress of Louisbourg, Beggars Dinner

The Fortress of Louisbourg in Sydney, Nova Scotia is an incredibly unique and historically rich place to visit . As you step back in time to the 18th century, you’ll be transported to a French colony that once thrived in North America.  The Fortress is one of Canada’s original settlements dating back to 1719. It is filled with a rich history including a fishing port, a major commercial port, and a strongly defended fortress. In the 1960s, the site was reconstructed and stands as the largest historic site reconstruction project in North America. 

Upon arriving, visitors can explore the vast grounds, marvel at the impressive fortifications, and learn about the daily life of soldiers and civilians during this time period. Click here for more adventures in the fortress, including videos and pictures of my husband firing off a musket and my kids “working” for the day.

Visitors can watch artisans and interpreters bringing the past to life through demonstrations of traditional crafts and cooking techniques. Additionally, for those looking to get hands-on with history, you can sign up to fire off the cannon, shoot muskets, dress in period costumes, or take part in arts and crafts projects. Get the daily schedule when you arrive and register for programs that suit your interests (additional fees may apply).  We spent two full days at the Fortress and didn’t even see it all! For more pictures and stories from the Fortress click here .

Did you know that you can actually stay at the Fortress of Louisbourg, overnight? Guests are invited to book a unique “behind the scenes” experience, where you can sleep in an 18th-century tent, or bed down in one of the many houses on site. These experiences are a unique way to extend your visit at the Fortress of Louisbourg and to connect deeper with the history and significance of the historic site. 

Fortress of Louisbourg Tips: Take part in some of the enhanced experiences… whether it’s firing off a cannon or booking a stay, they offer a variety of opportunities for every member of the family to explore the park as if it were the 18th-century. Advance booking is required for overnight stays.

Day 10 – 12: East Coast Canada Road Trip Itinerary- Cabot Trail, Ingonish Beach, Cheticamp, Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia

Nestled in the east of Nova Scotia , lies the world-renowned Cabot Trail, one of the most beautiful and scenic-filled drives in the world. You’ll be invited to a road trip through 300 kilometres of picture-perfect scenery, bringing you and the family alongside the ocean overlooking the wild Atlantic Ocean. 

Be sure to plan plenty of stops along the way as locals will be excited to welcome you into the many small towns. From stopping for fresh-off-the-boat seafood to hiking one of the 20 hiking trails, to packing a picnic and spending an afternoon beachcombing, the 300 km drive is meant to be savoured at every turn. 

A visit to the Cabot Trail promises to be an unforgettable experience that will leave you in awe of Nova Scotia’s beauty. Here’s a more in-depth article showcasing what to expect in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. 

Our first overnight stop on the Cabot Trail was in Ingonish Beach National Park. Our oTENTik was tucked into the tree line while looking out over the long sandy beach and a kids’ playground. After a traditional camp cookout , we walked along the beach to see the sunset and settled into our oTENTik for the night. However, I peeked out just before bedtime to discover that the whole field in front of the oTENtik was lit up with light bugs! This was new for us West Coasters and a really neat thing to see for the first time! Families could stay for a week at Ingonish Beach, with lots of programming, hiking, and beach activities to be explored! One day wasn’t long enough! For more pictures and park recommendations click here .

Cheticamp National Park in Cape Breton Highlands is a great place to finish up your tour of the Cabot Trail. Located on the opposite side of the trail, it’s another National Park that offers oTENTik accommodations, as well as traditional campsites for road-tripping explorers. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of some of the park’s fascinating wildlife, including moose, bald eagles, and black bears. 

Make sure to take the time to learn about the park’s history and the local Mi’kmaq culture at the park’s visitor center, where you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the people who have called Cheticamp home, and for the ways in which they continue to protect and preserve it today.

Day 12-14: Canada East Coast Road Trip Itinerary- PEI National Park, Top Knotch Fishing Tour, Shaw Hotel, Prince Edward Island

Drive 3 hours from Cheticamp, Cape Breton Islands to Caribou, Nova Scotia where you will catch the ferry to Woods Islands, PEI. This 75-minute crossing is a great way to transition from Nova Scotia over to PEI, on the Atlantic Sea (although if you’re looking to extend your Nova Scotia Road trip here’s a full 2-week itinerary showcasing a full circle drive around Nova Scotia ). 

Once you’re in PEI be warned that you may experience the same feeling I had, where PEI stole my heart within four hours of our arrival. From watching my kids run down its red sandy beaches, to seeing my husband soak in all the history at the historic sites, I knew this was the perfect place for us to end our East Coast Canada road trip.

PEI National Park invites you to stay and stroll the endless kilometres of stunning beaches, walking trails, and scenic views. The red sand beaches offer the softest sand between your toes all while walking on bright red sand. The beaches are surrounded by sand dunes, a whole ecosystem in themselves that has been formed due to the strong Atlantic winds as they hit the shores. 

We spent a lot of time at PEI National Park and from this picture, I’m sure you can tell why…we felt like we had the whole place to ourselves! With the giant sand dunes watching over us, our children were free to play in the ocean, running back and forth between the waves.

After visiting Charlottetown, PEI be sure to climb aboard with Captain Mark where you can head out on a fishing boat for a tour of the town from the water. Captain Mark taught us that maybe sharks aren’t the king of the sea and introduced us to the lobster industry, including some huge monsters like this fella Larry! 

It was an excellent way to connect with the locals and learn about the fishing industry hands-on.  My kids still talk about their Top Notch experience , years after we’ve returned from our adventure on the sea!

PEI is the mecca for family adventures and the perfect place for a family vacation. Give yourself at least a week and you’ll be able to explore the parks, attractions, and historic sites, as well as meet locals in the small towns along the way. 

The perfect place to stay in PEI is Shaw’s Hotel, a unique multi-facility resort offering guests a variety of accommodations and activities as well as direct access to PEI National Park. Imagine driving down a road that once only welcomed guests by horse and buggy. As family vacations became popular in the 1860’s the Shaw family opened the doors to their inn and started hosting guests from near and far. The iconic sandy beaches combined with the open fields for kids to frolic in kept guests coming back year after year. While a few things have changed over the last 162 years, one thing that hasn’t… Shaw’s Hotel PEI is welcoming and the perfect place for family vacations.

Summer is the typical answer when people think of visiting the East Coast. From June to August the region is in peak season, with warmer weather, attractions and accommodations near peak capacity, as well as lots of festivals and events happening. 

If possible though I encourage you to research off-season for a road trip to the East Coast. The fall offers incredible world-class views as the fall foliage comes into season. Spring and Fall tend to provide guests with lower rates and less crowded trails, although some experiences may be closed. Winter, from December to March, offers opportunities for winter sports, snow-filled scenic drives and possibly viewing the aurora borealis, but temperatures can dip below freezing so you need to be prepared. This RV company has winter packages that will allow you to stay warm and get to experience the Atlantic in the winter!

We opted to do a glamping road trip, where we rented a car and then drove from one glamping spot to another, with a focus on staying in Parks Canada’s accommodations as much as possible. We love the low-cost and unique accommodations, situated right in the middle of some of the East Coast’s most special places. 

Tip : Parks Canada accommodations can book up fast so be sure to reserve your accommodations when reservations open at the beginning of the year (typically January / February). 

When staying in PEI I recommend hands down, Shaw’s Hotel . With over a century of experience welcoming guests, this unique property is a great way to have an authentic PEI stay all while being able to head out to explore the region easily.

There are two primary ways to traverse Canada’s maritime provinces:

Car Rental: On this trip, we used Avis and were very happy with our rental car. It was clean, in great shape and got us everywhere we wanted to go.

Click here to book your rental car for your East Coast Canada Road Trip!

RV: You can rent an RV which comes at a higher cost than a car, but typically allows you to save a bit on accommodations as your travelling with all your things. It also allows for a slower style of travel as you’re not constantly checking in and out of properties and having to play the pack-and-unpack game.

East Coast Canada Road Trip FAQs

Planning a road trip to the East Coast of Canada can be both exciting and overwhelming. With so much to see and do, it’s important to create a detailed itinerary before hitting the road. Start by deciding on your route and the specific destinations you want to visit along the way. Research accommodations, restaurants, and attractions in each location to ensure you make the most of your trip.  Be sure to also consider the time of year you’ll be travelling, as weather can play a big role in your trip. Make a packing list and don’t forget essentials like proper clothing for the climate and any necessary documents for border crossings. Above all, allow yourself some flexibility in your plans; some of the best experiences on a road trip come from unexpected detours and discoveries.

While this itinerary was built around our 14-day road trip, it really depends on your own schedule, budget, and interests. I could easily see spending 5 weeks in the Maritimes, spending 2 weeks in Newfoundland, 2 in Nova Scotia and 1 week in PEI. We’ve gone back several times, allowing us to explore the area at a slower pace and see more on our trips.

Flights: varies based on departure location 

Accommodations : $100 – $200 per night for a total cost of $1800

Car Rental and Gas : LEARN FROM ME… if you choose to drop off your car in a different spot than you start you will pay a significant “drop fee” which can cost you as much as double your rental. If you have the time, I’d recommend starting and finishing your trip in the same spot to save money. If you were to do Newfoundland pick up and PEI drop off it would cost about $3600, whereas if you drop back off in Newfoundland, it would cost about $1700. 

If you have the time I’d recommend starting and finishing somewhere more central, like Halifax. 

Meals : We typically budget $150 per day for a family of four, with the assumption that breakfast and lunch will be on our own and then we will eat out somewhere for a nice dinner. This includes the necessary car snacks as well as treats along the way. 

Adventures : This can vary wildly based on your interests, your time, and your adventure style. We opt to take part in as many free (or low-cost) adventures as possible, like exploring the National Historic Sites, hiking, and beach combing. Then we save up for the bigger experiences like guided kayak tours and eco-tours. Typically we budget $1000 – $1500 per trip for adventures.

So in summary – Accommodations: $1800  Car Rental and gas: $2500  Meals: $2100  Adventures: $1500

Approximate total for a two-week trip: $7,900 (plus the cost of flights to and from where you live, which can vary).

We are a West Coast family and packed up and flew across the country for this trip, so we know how to pack! Here’s a detailed list of how we packed all of our camping equipment up and bring it across the country with us. This meant we had to bring less stuff, which was a great challenge for us and yet somehow, in the end, we still had way more than we needed!

The Parks Canada Xplorers Program is a hands-on interactive program that teaches children about the National Parks and Historic Sites that they are visiting. Each site has its own customized Xplorers book where kids can pick from a variety of activities including on-site research tasks, arts and crafts, drawing, search and finds, and more. When they complete the task they can earn their very own site-specific dog tag… which can become collector items in families like mine!  Learn more about the free Parks Xplorers Program here .

You don’t have to have one but you should, as if you’re visiting a lot of places in one year it’ll save you money! Otherwise, you’ll have to pay each time you enter one of the Parks Canada sites, so research how many places you’re going to and if a family Discovery Pass is the right fit for you.

While my husband likes to “drive hard” and “make good time,” over the years our travel style has changed and we now move a little slower and take time to stop and see the scenery, knowing how special these places like the East Coast are. 

If you’re travelling with children I’d recommend centring your stops around their needs. When will they need to get out and exercise? When is a good time for car naps and pushing through to get some kilometres under the car? And if in doubt… ask them!

A road trip to Canada’s East Coast is a trip that will welcome you to this unique area of Canada and have you planning your return visit long before you’ve left! From hunting icebergs in Newfoundland to firing off cannons in the Fortress of Louisbourg, to running along the red sandy beaches in PEI, there is no shortage of things to see and do.

A road trip allows your family to bond over new experiences and the beauty of Canada’s great outdoors and ensures some fun and unexpected highlights along the way. So whether you’re driving to the East Coast or flying cross country, start planning and get packing and embark on an unforgettable adventure that will bring your family closer together. The east coast is waiting for you!

Is this a sponsored post?: Our trip was made possible with support from Parks Canada as well as the local tourism boards who were excited to help us showcase their region. However, my experiences and thoughts are my own!

Are you working on your next road trip plans? Here are some ideas to add to your list!

• Interested in the newest camping trend? Try Glamping in Canada !
• Discover 5-Star Camping in National Parks
• See why Jasper National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park should be on your bucket list!
• Not sure what to take with you? Here are our Family Camping Checklist and Tips on Packing blogs!
• Here are some Tips and Tricks on helping you get everything you need into your car for your road trip!
• We are coming into very popular travel seasons of the year, check out my Top Travel Tips for Families segment that was featured on CTV!
• Check out tips to secure your house before you head out!
• Canada's east coast
• canadian road trip
• east coast Canada road trip
• east coast road trip
• family friendly Canadian road trip

Embrace the Canadian Winter with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Weekend Camper

24 Unique Experiences to Give Mom for Mother’s Day Gifts in Vancouver | Fun and Experiential

23 Incredible Indigenous Cultural Experiences To Have In Canada in 2024

23 Exciting Adventures & Activities To Do in Ottawa in November in 2024

Is Blogging Worth It? How To Start a Blog and Make Money In 2024

The Best Location to Host a Family Reunion in BC: A Comprehensive Guide

Hi We love to make a road trip to Eastern Canada, we have been reading your article, but nothing in depth for Newfoundland, would you have any point for us to make the trip in 3 weeks to that part of Canada. Would appreciate your feed back Thank You

Thanks for the message Andy. Are you considering spending 3 weeks in just Newfoundland? Or 3 weeks in Eastern Canada? 3 weeks in Eastern Canada would be a wonderful amount of time!

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Full Time Travel Writer, Mom who is passionate about empowering and educating travelers on how you can use your own tourism dollars as a catalyst for positive change worldwide. Click here to learn more about us, our family, and how we lead an adventure filled life!

Harrison Lake Kayaking – Your 2024 Guide to Kayaking on Harrison Lake

The Moose Hotel & Suites | 14 Reasons Why It Is The Best Family Hotel in Banff

Your Guide To Black Rock Oceanfront Resort Ucluelet – A Nature Experience Like No Other

13 Reasons Why The Long Beach Lodge is The Best Family-Friendly Resort in Tofino

Stories, Storms, and Front Row Seats – The Best Storm Watching Hotel in Tofino

Wild River Adventure Tours to Kinuseo Falls

10-Day Alberta Canada Road Trip Itinerary, the Canadian Rocky Mountains

Alberta Canada is a beautiful road trip full of snow-covered mountain peaks, pine fresh air, hundreds of distant glaciers, brilliant turquoise lakes, waterfalls, alpine meadows, and charming resort towns. This epic road trip through Alberta Canada brings you to three National Parks: Waterton Lakes National Park, Banff National Park including Lake Louise, and Jasper National Park including the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier. The area is full of wildlife including grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, mountain goats, and moose. Be sure to eat poutine and anything maple during this 10-day Alberta Canada road trip.

You are excited to begin your road trip through Alberta Canada and want to know the best time of year to visit, where to stay, must-see attractions, and where to eat while there. Researching the best things to do on a road trip through Alberta Canada while working full time is overwhelming and you don’t have hours to spend on the internet. Save time and plan an unforgettable trip full of top activities with this ultimate Alberta Canada road trip itinerary.

READ: C omplete Canada Travel Guide, What You Need to Know

Alberta Canada, Canadian Rocky Mountains Road Trip Planner

When is the best time to visit the alberta canada.

The high season is June-September and December-February. Daytime highs during the summer are 68 to 77°F and can reach the mid to upper 90s. Daytime highs during the winter months are 23 to 5°F but can reach -22 to -40°F. Many roads and popular areas are closed in the winter. Expect rain in the summer and snow in the winter.

Visit in the spring to see wildlife. You won’t be disappointed, check out my video below. The Calgary Stampede is held in the first couple weeks of July.  Winter brings skiing, snowshoeing, and soaking in hot springs under the stars. The Northern Lights are visible from September until mid-May. Note that Lake Louise does not thaw until early June while Moraine Lake does not thaw until mid-June.

What is the Best Way to Travel the Alberta Canada?

You will need your own transportation to follow this 10-day Alberta Canada road trip itinerary. Save precious PTO by flying from your home to Calgary Canada and renting a car to continue the journey. You will also need a National Park Pass. Purchase it online HERE .

How Long Do You Need to See the Alberta Canada?

Alberta Canada is a province located in western Canada. The Canadian Rocky Mountains are to the west and the badlands are to the east. Montana and the shared Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park are to the south. It is possible to visit Calgary, Waterton Lakes National Park, Banff National Park and Lake Louise, and Jasper National Park including the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier in 10 days. If you have more time, consider taking the train to Vancouver Canada .

How Expensive is Alberta Canada?

Traveling is expensive post-COVID and my prices are no longer accurate. Expect to pay $5000 plus airfare to complete this 10-day Canadian Rockies road trip with hotel accommodations.

What to pack for an Alberta Canada road trip

Layers! I was not prepared for snow during my end-of-June visit.  I have also been in the area during the first of July and wore a tank top hiking Johnson Canyon. Be prepared for it all and bring a jacket, gloves, umbrella, and raincoat. Be sure to pack cleats if you are visiting in the winter months.

Canadian Rockies Alberta Canada Road Trip Highlights

Attend the Calgary Stampede , enjoy high tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton Lakes National Park, learn about dinosaurs in Drumheller, and check out the Canadian Badlands. Head to Banff National Park and hike the Johnston Canyon catwalk , shop downtown Banff for souvenirs, photograph Victoria Glacier across Lake Louise, hike to Lake Agnes Tea House for tea above a waterfall, and canoe Moraine Lake. Drive the scenic Icefields Parkway stopping at Peyto Lake, Mistaya Canyon, Weeping Wall, Athabasca Glacier, Tangle Creek Falls, Sunwapta Falls, and Athabasca Falls. In Jasper National Park take a lake cruise past Spirit Island on Maligne Lake. hike Pyramid Lake, Maligne Canyon, and the Valley of the Five Lakes.

Day-by-Day Guide for a Road Trip for Alberta Canada and the Canadian Rockies

ROUTE AT A GLANCE: C algary – Waterton Lakes National Park – Drumfeller and Canadian Badlands – Banff National Park – Jasper National Park

MILES: 1200 miles

HOW MANY DAYS: 10

Day One and Two: Arrive in Calgary Canada

Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and is the perfect starting point to explore the Canadian Rockies. The city is surrounded by prairies, foothills, and mountains along with a dazzling city skyline and two beautiful rivers snaking their way through the city. The area is full of fun things to do: go bobsledding at the Canada Olympic Park, check out the views from the top of Calgary Tower, photograph the Calgary skyline from Prince’s Island Park, have dinner on Calgary’s Stephen Avenue, check out the gorilla rainforest at the Calgary Zoo and so much more. If possible, plan your trip during the famous Calgary Stampede and enjoy the rodeo, concerts, and pancake breakfasts.

Overnight: Calgary Canada

READ Things to Do in Calgary Canada

Day Three: Waterton Lakes National Park and Red Rock Canyon

Waterton Lakes National Park sits in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and is full of glaciers, waterfalls, evergreen forests, trickling streams, scenic pullovers, picnic spots, red Adirondack chairs, and more. Popular park activities include hiking, horseback riding, biking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. Although most of the town is closed down during the winter, the park is open for ice skating, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, and ice climbing. Bighorn sheep, elk, moose, black bears, and grizzly bears live in Waterton Lakes.

How to Spend One Day at Waterton Lakes National Park

6 am Grab a coffee and breakfast roll before driving toward Waterton. Stop at the roadside of Lundbreck Falls on the way.

9 am Drive the scenic Red Rock Parkway to Red Rock Canyon. Hike Red Rock Canyon and Blakiston Falls.

11 am Stop at Driftwood Beach to photograph the Prince of Wales Hotel. Continue on to photograph Cameron Falls.

12 pm Shop for souvenirs on Waterton Ave before having lunch. Photograph the Prince of Wales Hotel from International Peace Park, or, enjoy high tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel and hike up Bears Hump for lake views.

4 pm Take a cruise on Waterton Lake before returning to Calgary Canada.

READ Waterton Lakes National Park Travel Guide

Day Four: Drumheller and Canadian Badlands

The Canadian Badlands are full of eroded sandstone cliffs and hoodoos. Drumheller is the Dinosaur Capital of the World and is world-renowned for dinosaur fossils. Explore Dinosaur Hall at the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Photograph the sandstone cliffs at Horsethief Canyon and take a walk on the Hoodoos Trail while in the area. Be sure to climb the 106 steps up Tyra, the World’s Largest Dinosaur, for views of the Canadian Badlands. The Canadian Badlands are a 1.5-hour drive from Calgary.

Banff National Park

Banff National Park is in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. It is the oldest of Canada’s National Parks and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984. This is grizzly bear country. Get excited if you are driving and traffic suddenly stops; start looking for grizzlies along the side of the road. Banff is a small resort town within Banff National Park. 3 million people visit this charming town yearly and it is a great base with many things to do when visiting the area. You will be spending three days here. Browse the highlights below and add them to the excursions to Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake as time allows.

Stop for a meal at a brewpub in downtown Banff then shop for a few souvenirs

Take the scenic Lake Minnewanka Cruise

Go for a covered wagon ride and enjoy a cookout

Hike up Tunnel Mountain

Take a walk along the Bow Falls Trail and relax by the river

Ride the Banff Gondola and check out the views from the ridgetop boardwalk

Soak in a hot spring with a view at Banff Upper Hot Springs

Take a ghost tour

Explore Fairmont Banff Springs, the Castle in the Rockies

Enjoy high tea at the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel

READ Fairmont Banff Springs Afternoon Tea in the Rockies

READ Banff National Park Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

Book the Best Canada Attractions and Day Tours Through Get Your Guide Now!

Day Four: Hike Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park

Leave Calgary Canada and drive the scenic Bow Valley Parkway toward Banff National Park. Johnston Canyon Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Banff National Park and no Alberta Canada road trip would be complete without a stop here. The trail leads through a pine forest to a series of catwalks attached to a narrow deep rock canyon. As you follow the catwalk Johnston Creek’s crystal clear turquoise water rushes beneath you, it is breathtaking. The best view of the lower falls is from the bridge. Cross the bridge, duck under a tunnel, and find yourself on a small metal platform directly in front of the falls. You will be amazed by the power of the falls, and you will get wet!

There are three popular hikes at Johnston Canyon Trail.  The lower falls trail is a simple 1.4-mile out-and-back hike. Continue on to the upper falls for a moderate hike with an incline. The falls can be viewed from the base or above. The third hike takes you to the inkpots; seven jewel-colored, cold mineral springs, and a meadow. Be sure to wear hiking shoes and layers, the area is shaded and can be cool. There are no services in the area, bring water and snacks. Arrive early, the area is popular and the parking lot is small. Be prepared to get wet! Do not veer off the path, if you slip and fall into the creek you will be swept away.

Overnight in Banff

Day Five: Explore Lake Louise in Banff National Park

Lake Louise is an icon of the Canadian Rockies. The beautiful Fairmont Chateau sits at the foot of majestic snow-covered mountains and Victoria Glacier is in the distance feeding the turquoise lake. Be sure to photograph Victoria Glacier across Lake Louise. Hike to the Fairview lookout and take a photo looking back at the hotel. Explore the upscale Fairmont Chateau and canoe on the lake. Take the 4.5-mile hike to Lake Agnes Tea House for tea above a waterfall or hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House for tea with a view. The Lake Louise Station Restaurant is a great place for lunch while watching the trains go by.

Day Six: Canoe Moraine Lake in Banff National Park

Moraine Lake sits in the Valley of Ten Peaks and is surrounded by pine trees and snowcapped mountains. The lake is fed by glacier water and is bluest after the glacier begins to melt in June and July. This is a great spot to relax and spend an afternoon canoeing on the lake. Be sure to take the Rockpile Trail for gorgeous views. There are many well-marked hiking trails in this area. Observe the signs and bring bear spray!

Day Seven: Drive the Scenic Icefields Parkway

Pack a lunch and plan to spend the entire day stopping at the viewpoints. Do not miss Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Mistaya Canyon, the Weeping Wall, Athabasca Glacier, Tangle Creek Falls, Sunwapta Falls, and Athabasca Falls. Attempt to arrive in Jasper National Park around 5 pm and visit Miette Hot Springs for a soak after a long day in the car.

Overnight in Jasper

Day Eight: Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park is known for the Columbia Icefield and its abundance of wildlife. You will also find snowcapped mountain peaks, waterfalls, turquoise glacier-fed lakes, hot springs, and red Adirondack chairs. Elk, moose, cougars, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and grizzly bears live in Jasper. Popular summer activities include hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, rafting, canoeing, paddleboarding, and white water rafting. Skiing, snowboarding, ice climbing, ice skating, dog sledding, sleigh rides, and the Maligne Canyon ice walk are popular in the winter months.

How to Spend One Day at Jasper National Park

8 am Grab coffee and a breakfast roll to enjoy while you hike past waterfalls in Maligne Canyon.

11 am Stop for a picnic lunch at Medicine Lake.

12:30 Cruise Maligne Lake past Spirit Island.

2 pm Take a walk around Pyramid Lake.

READ Jasper National Park Travel Guide

Day Nine: Walk on Athabasca Glacier

Prebook the Ice Explorer Glacier Tour for the earliest time available. Get up early to check out of the hotel, have breakfast in town, and return to the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre. Spend approximately 3 hours on the Athabasca Glacier and walking across the Glacier Skywalk. Continue on to Calgary Canada and enjoy dinner on Stephen Avenue.

Overnight in Calgary Canada

Day Ten: Return Flight from Calgary Canada

Have More Time? Spend the day at the West Edmonton Mall, the biggest mall in North America, look for bison at Elk Island, visit Yoho National Park, take the rappelling adventure tour of Canmore Cave, or stop to support the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary rescue center in Canmore.

Be sure to check the Alberta Canada Office of Tourism website for current events and festivals.

Bookmark and Pin this Alberta Canada Road Trip Itinerary

Plan Your Alberta Canada Road Trip Itinerary

Canada travel guide.

Pick up a Canada Travel Guide from Amazon.com to browse on the plane.

Book Your Accommodation in Alberta Canada Now

Spending the night? Search Booking.com and VRBO in one place to find the perfect property!

Best Alberta Canada Attractions and Day Tours

The best attractions sell out! Don’t chance it, get your tickets now and relax when you arrive.

Travel Essentials

Need a universal travel adaptor, power bank charger, or packing cubes? Save time at my Amazon shop and have travel essentials delivered to your home.

Have a great vacation!

Love Exploring

In Canada Even Weekend Road Trips Are Epic

Posted: October 6, 2023 | Last updated: October 6, 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

More for You

Cooking Oil Recall Sparks Nationwide Warning

Trump doubles down on Mike Johnson after foreign aid vote

I’m a Bank Teller: 3 Times You Should Never Ask For $100 Bills at the Bank

29 common human foods you may not realize are poisonous to your dog

Jerry Seinfeld says ‘movie business is over’ and has been ‘replaced’

Average US annual salary by age revealed – see how you compare

'You don't get a pass on math': Homebuyers call out Dave Ramsey's 'unrealistic' mortgage advice. Are they right?

Donald Trump Stung as New York Poll Shows Massive Drop in Jewish Support

Barber Coins Are Worth Thousands: Here’s How To Spot Them in Your Spare Change

We Ordered 7 Fast-Food Breakfast Sandwiches to Find the Best One

Taylor Swift just dropped her newest video, ‘Fortnight,’ with Post Malone

Space Rock Slammed Into Moon - The Explosion Was Seen From Japan

Experts Say These Are The 5 Worst Foods For Your Cholesterol

Here is the true value of having a fully paid-off home in America — especially when you're heading into retirement

Fiasco in Fort Worth: A great 2024 Gymnastics campaign ends on the sourest of notes

Here’s What the US Minimum Wage Was the Year You Were Born

Iran Unveils New Weapon Capable of Taking Out America's Stealth Jets

Kevin Bacon dances at Footloose school 40 years on from hit film

Taco Bell brings back beloved menu item for limited time only

19 Things You’re Officially Allowed to Do When You Get Old