An American's Guide To Road-Tripping Through Canada

The first decision and area of research you'll need to complete prior to hitting the great open road is where exactly you want your Canadian road trip to take you. The route options nearly have no end in the Great White North so you'll need to consider your priorities for activities and sightseeing. Do you want to stick to a single province and really explore the area in-depth? Then perhaps drive Alberta's Icefield Parkway through the Rockies, Nova Scotia's Cabot Trail, or Ontario's Lake Superior Loop. Or perhaps you're more inclined to drive from the south to the north on the Yukon's isolated and gravel Dempster Highway for a true wilderness escape.

Cross-country options include, of course, the expansive Trans-Canada Highway. The journey on this road stretches from the far east to the far west of Canada, covering 10 provinces and connecting many of the biggest Canadian cities. The road only skips Yukon, the Northern Territories, and Newfoundland. Along the way, you'll have easy access to stop at great Canadian sites like Jasper, the Prairie Badlands, Toronto, Montreal, Gros Morne National Park, and more. Additionally, sections of this journey can still be completed if you don't have a month plus to spare and just have a few provinces in mind you'd like to visit. Whatever you decide, make sure to consult a map and estimate drive times to make sure your chosen route is logical for your timeframe.

The worst congestion on your road trip will always be in cities, the largest ones in particular. The worst bottlenecks can mostly be found in Toronto. Montreal's Highway 25 between Avenue Souligny and Rue Beaubien Est can be particularly bad, as this city and the entire province of Québec are infamous for constant construction that never seems to end, due to having what has been called some of the worst roads in the country. In Vancouver, avoid Granville St at SW Marine Dr and W Georgia St between Seymour St and W Pender St if possible.

If you're not driving much in cities, you can still run into obstacles and literal roadblocks. You might think to yourself "Oh Vancouver to Kelowna, that's about four hours" and then run into construction, rock falls, or downed trees that result in road closures that add a couple of hours to your drive. The mountains are famously unforgiving in this respect and so are the unpaved roads up in northern Canada, so always make sure to monitor local news for the most up-to-date information.

Just like various road and driving laws that vary from state to state in the U.S., regulations can be different in Canada and across the provinces. Similar to the U.S., you must come to a full stop at stop signs and red lights, pedestrians have the right of way, and seat belts must be worn. If you wish to use a cell phone, you must have a hands-free device. One important tip is, in general, you can take a free right turn at red lights, except in Montreal, where it's not allowed. However, in the rest of Québec and Canada, it's completely legal. Another Québec-specific quirk is that stop signs in the province won't typically say "stop" but rather the French word, "arrêt", or occasionally you'll see a bilingual sign.

In British Columbia, a flashing green light indicates that the pedestrian crossing has been activated. However, in Ontario, the flashing green light is to direct drivers turning left, so make sure to double-check when switching provinces. And in most major cities, pay attention to parking signs, as there are often different rules for winter and summer seasons due to snow removal. Additionally, remember the speed limits are in kilometers (the speedometer will be too if you're renting a car), and frequently monitored by radar. You'll also be required to have insurance when renting a car in Canada. Many U.S. policies will also cover you in Canada, but if not, you can purchase a policy with the rental company.

Another factor you may want to consider on your Canadian road trip are what you want to do and see when you're not actively driving. Canada is a nature-oriented country in general, but if you want to prioritize the best hiking over city visits or fjords and beaches, it's best to pass through the appropriate provinces. British Columbia and Alberta hiking, camping, backpacking, skiing, and other outdoor activities will take place among the best mountains in the country (and arguably some of the best on the continent.) If you want lake time, much of the country will work, just maybe avoid the southern prairies. If you want to hit small coastal towns, stick to the Atlantics. If big cities are your thing, aim to visit Vancouver, Toronto, or Montreal, as most other Canadian cities are quite small. If you want to see where the famous Canadian maple syrup is produced, stick to Québec. If wine tasting is a priority, try Eastern British Columbia, Prince Edward County, or the Niagara Peninsula, Ontario.

Whale-watching and fishing can be done wherever there's water. But, if you have particular types in mind you want to see, plan accordingly. Orcas can be seen out west, as Vancouver Island is particularly good viewing. Newfoundland and Labrador are great places to see Humpback whales and Tadoussac, and Québec is home to about 13 species. Belugas (and polar bears) are found in Churchill, Manitoba.

Canada is typically thought of as a winter wonderland, and for over half the year in most of the country, that's pretty accurate. The cold and snowy season can begin as early as November in many places and last through April. It's not unheard of to have a beautiful spring day and then wake up the next morning to a late spring snowstorm. So, if you're coming from California and Texas and just assume the snow will have all melted by early March, think again. 

The weather really becomes a factor if you're heading far north or driving through the mountains, so make sure to check the weather and road closure reports vigilantly. In the spring, you'll want to keep in mind that some parts can see very heavy rain and are at risk of flooding and road washouts. In summer, the western part of the country can erupt in wildfires (and more so as climate change intensifies). Not only do the fires pose a safety concern, but air quality can deteriorate significantly from the smoke — even hundreds of miles from the burns. Make sure to monitor local news and weather in the province and/or the region you're traveling in, no matter the season.

Whether you're driving across Saskatchewan, across the Atlantic provinces, or across all of Canada, remember that the country is huge. Drives will take a while and often longer than you may think due to construction, road closures, wildlife, or the weather. So, road fatigue can quickly set in. If you're driving as a pair or group, try and switch drivers every few hours and make sure passengers check in with the one behind the wheel frequently. Another good tip is to map out the rest areas you'll pass by in advance, as they're plentiful and frequent on most major highways. While you won't find any luxury facilities, there are usually bathrooms (any road-tripper through Canada's holy grail!), and a few picnic tables. Depending on where you are there may be a nice view, too, such as in the Rockies or coastal routes.

Planning ahead is always a good idea in case there's a long stretch where you won't encounter any stops. That way, you can plan to exit and find a gas station or cafe to pull over, rest, maybe swap drivers, and ideally refuel with some caffeine! Also, don't forget to take note of the service station signs, which will often tell you how far until the next rest area. On more remote highways (particularly in the north) you'll want to fuel up as frequently as possible and consider filling up an extra canister for emergencies. And always have plenty of water and a few snacks as well.