Want to explore the Land of Maple Syrup’ by road? Then do it the right way with our expert advice below.
Plan a great itinerary ahead of time.
Canada is a huge country at nearly 10 million km. While much of it is uninhabited, you still won’t be able to visit every town and city in a single road trip. That is why you need to get ahead of things and plan an itinerary before you begin. It doesn’t have to be precise down to the minute but knowing where you are starting and ending and what you want to do and see along the way is crucial.
Some of the most popular Canadian road trip roots include Vancouver to Whistler, the Icefields Parkway, and the beautiful and rugged Quebec coastline. You may even want to try the road trip from Canada to Mexico that we did!
Get a vehicle pass for Parks Canada Discovery
One of the best-kept secrets to a successful Canadian road trip is the Parks Canada Discovery pass. It’s an annual ticket that allows free entry to a wide range of historic sites and national parks throughout Canada. The best thing is you can get a group pass which will cover everyone in your car up to 7 people, and save you a huge amount of money at the same time.
Consider your safety
Driving safely is critically important in Canada as it’s a country battered by a wide range of weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and ice in the winter. With that in mind, you must do several things to ensure your safety and the safety of other road users during your road trip.
The first of these is to ensure that your vehicle is properly kitted out for the weather you will experience. That means in winter you will need proper winter tyres, and chains, as well as an emergency kit in the back in case you get stranded.
The second is to be sure that you always check up on road conditions and incidents along the route you are about to take. You may be able to do this via your GPS, but Canada also has highway hotlines in every province that you can use to get an up-to-date report.
Thirdly you will need to make sure that the driving license you hold allows you to legally operate a vehicle in Canada. If you do not hold such a license then you will need to sit your drivetest in a local centre before you begin. The good news is it’s very easy to book your test online.
Make sure you have enough time.
Sometimes road trips can be all about hitting your destinations at the right time and getting the right number of miles each day. Unfortunately, that is a terrible way of exploring a new country because you get so focused on these end goals that you forget to enjoy the beauty and wonder of what’s around you, and in Canada, there’s plenty of that!
To that end, it’s crucially important that you make sure you have enough time in each of the locations you intend to visit. Additionally, it’s a good idea to factor in a little extra time for the travelling portions of your trip. Then if there is a traffic jam, or you happen upon a roadside delight you like to explore, you will have the time to do so without ruining your entire trip.
