Choosing a drive
Canada's great drives are long, quiet and scenic, and the distances between towns are real. A route that looks like an afternoon on the map can take a full day once you add viewpoints, a hike, road work and a moose on the shoulder. The itineraries below assume three to five hours of driving on a typical day, which leaves time to get out of the car.
Most of these drives are summer and early fall trips. Mountain lakes thaw in June, many Atlantic and Gaspé businesses close by mid-October, and the Yukon season is short. For the rules of the road, metric speed limits and winter tires, read Driving in Canada first.
| Drive | Route | Distance | Days | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icefields Parkway | Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper | About 260 mi (415 km) Calgary to Jasper | 5 | Mid-June to late September |
| Sea-to-Sky and BC interior | Vancouver loop via Whistler and the Okanagan | About 700 mi (1,100 km) | 8 | June to early October |
| Cabot Trail | Halifax to a Cape Breton loop | 185 mi (298 km) loop, plus 440 mi (710 km) round trip from Halifax | 4 | Late June to mid-October |
| Charlevoix and the Gaspé | Quebec City loop | About 1,000 mi (1,600 km) | 10 | Late June to mid-September |
| Georgian Bay and the Bruce | Toronto loop via Tobermory and Manitoulin | About 560 mi (900 km) | 6 | Late June to early October |
| Niagara wine route | Toronto to Niagara-on-the-Lake and the falls | About 200 mi (320 km) round trip | 2–3 | May to October |
| Viking Trail | Deer Lake to St. Anthony, Newfoundland | About 270 mi (430 km) each way | 7 | Mid-June to mid-September |
| Klondike Highway | Skagway to Whitehorse and Dawson City | About 440 mi (710 km) | 6 | Mid-June to August |
Different from home
National parks in Canada charge each person per day; a family or group rate covers up to seven people arriving in one vehicle. You need a valid pass even to stop at a viewpoint on the Icefields Parkway or in Cape Breton Highlands. If you will spend a week or more in parks, the annual Discovery Pass usually pays for itself. Visitors 17 and under enter free. See National parks.
The Icefields Parkway: Banff to Jasper
Highway 93 North runs 144 miles (232 km) from Lake Louise to Jasper along the spine of the Rockies, past turquoise lakes, hanging glaciers and the Columbia Icefield. It is about three to three and a half hours of driving without stops, and almost nobody does it without stops. The speed limit is mostly 90 km/h (56 mph), there is almost no cell service, and the only gas is the seasonal station at Saskatchewan River Crossing, so fill up in Lake Louise or Jasper.
- Distance: Calgary to Banff 80 mi (128 km), Banff to Jasper 179 mi (288 km)
- Best season: mid-June, when the lakes thaw, to late September, when larches turn gold. The road stays open in winter but closes for avalanche control, and Parks Canada requires winter tires or chains from roughly November to March.
- Sleep: Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper, plus a handful of seasonal lodges on the parkway and HI's rustic wilderness hostels
- Day 1
Calgary to Banff
Pick up the car at Calgary airport and drive the Trans-Canada west, 80 miles (128 km) and about 1.5 hours. Stop in Canmore for lunch, buy your park pass at the gate or online, and spend the evening at Bow Falls, the Banff Gondola or the Vermilion Lakes at sunset.
- Day 2
Bow Valley Parkway to Lake Louise
Take the slower Bow Valley Parkway, about 30 miles (50 km) to Lake Louise, instead of the Trans-Canada. Walk Johnston Canyon before 9 a.m. to beat the crowds. Moraine Lake Road is closed to private cars, so book a Parks Canada shuttle seat or a licensed commercial bus; Lake Louise itself has paid parking that fills early. Sleep at Lake Louise.
- Day 3
Lake Louise to the Columbia Icefield
About 80 miles (130 km) and two hours of driving, spread over a full day. Stop at Herbert Lake, Bow Lake, the Peyto Lake viewpoint, Mistaya Canyon and the Big Bend. Hike Parker Ridge for a view of the Saskatchewan Glacier. At the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre, walk the trail toward the toe of the Athabasca Glacier, or book the commercial glacier tour and the Skywalk. Sleep at the Icefield's lodge or continue on.
- Day 4
Icefield to Jasper
About 65 miles (105 km) to Jasper, with Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls along the way. Arrive in time for dinner. The town lost part of its housing and businesses to the July 2024 wildfire and has been rebuilding; most services are back, and Parks Canada reports that nearly all trails have reopened.
- Day 5
Jasper
Drive the Maligne Road to Maligne Lake and take the boat to Spirit Island, then walk around Pyramid and Patricia lakes. Maligne Canyon and Cavell Road (for Mount Edith Cavell) remained closed through 2026 for post-fire repairs, so check Parks Canada's What's Open map. From Jasper it is about 4.5 hours back to Calgary via the parkway, 4 hours east to Edmonton, or about 9 hours west to Vancouver via Mount Robson and Kamloops.
Insider tip
Start early: by late morning in July, the Peyto Lake and Athabasca Glacier parking lots are full. For hotels, Banff and Jasper book out months ahead for summer; see The Rockies and Where to stay.
Sea-to-Sky and the BC interior loop
Highway 99 from Vancouver to Whistler hugs Howe Sound under granite walls, then climbs into the Coast Mountains. Most visitors turn back at Whistler. Keep going and the road crosses the mountains on the Duffey Lake Road into dry ranch country, and you can loop back through Kamloops, the Okanagan wine valley and the Crowsnest Highway. It is a week of very different landscapes in one circuit.
- Distance: about 700 miles (1,100 km) round trip from Vancouver
- Best season: June to early October. The Duffey Lake Road is a serious winter road, and BC requires winter tires on most of this route from October 1. Summer wildfire smoke and closures are possible in the interior, so watch DriveBC.
- Sleep: Squamish, Whistler, Lillooet, Kamloops, Kelowna and Osoyoos
- Day 1
Vancouver to Squamish
About 40 miles (65 km), one hour. Stop at Porteau Cove, the Britannia Mine Museum and Shannon Falls, then ride the Sea to Sky Gondola for the view over Howe Sound. Squamish has good climbing, mountain biking and breweries.
- Day 2
Squamish to Whistler
About 36 miles (58 km), 45 minutes. Walk to Brandywine Falls on the way. In Whistler, ride the Peak 2 Peak gondola in summer and visit the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre. See Whistler.
- Day 3
Whistler to Lillooet
About 80 miles (130 km), 2.5 hours, through Pemberton and over the Duffey Lake Road, with grades up to about 13 percent and sharp curves; use low gears on the descent. Joffre Lakes Park requires a free day-use pass in season and has had closure periods set with the Líl̓wat and N'Quatqua Nations, so check BC Parks first. The road drops into the dry Fraser Canyon at Lillooet.
- Day 4
Lillooet to Kamloops
About 105 miles (170 km), two hours, through open range past Hat Creek Ranch and Cache Creek, then east on the Trans-Canada. Kamloops is a practical overnight with good restaurants; Sun Peaks is 45 minutes uphill.
- Day 5
Kamloops to Kelowna
About 105 miles (167 km), two hours, via Vernon and the shore of Okanagan Lake. In the afternoon, cycle the Myra Canyon trestles on the old Kettle Valley Railway.
- Day 6
Okanagan wine day
Wineries cluster in West Kelowna, Lake Country and on the Naramata Bench near Penticton. Book a tour or pick a designated driver; BC's roadside penalties start at a blood alcohol level of 0.05.
- Day 7
Kelowna to Osoyoos
About 75 miles (120 km), 1.5 hours south through Penticton, Okanagan Falls and Oliver's vineyards. In Osoyoos, visit the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre, run by the Osoyoos Indian Band, and swim in warm, shallow Osoyoos Lake.
- Day 8
Osoyoos to Vancouver
About 250 miles (400 km), 4.5 to 5 hours on the Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3), past Keremeos fruit stands and through Manning Park to Hope, then the Trans-Canada to Vancouver. Short on time? Skip Osoyoos and take the Coquihalla from Kelowna, about 240 miles (390 km) and 4 hours.
The Cabot Trail, Cape Breton
The Cabot Trail loops 185 miles (298 km) around the northern tip of Cape Breton Island, climbing over the highlands of Cape Breton Highlands National Park and dropping to Acadian and Scottish Gaelic fishing villages. You can drive it in a day, but three nights lets you hike, watch whales and catch a fiddle session.
- Distance: Halifax to Baddeck about 220 miles (355 km), plus the 185-mile loop
- Best season: late June to mid-October. Fall colors peak in early to mid-October, when the Celtic Colours International Festival fills every room on the island, so book far ahead for those dates.
- Sleep: Baddeck, Ingonish, Pleasant Bay, Chéticamp, Inverness, or the national park campgrounds
- Day 1
Halifax to Baddeck
About 220 miles (355 km), 3.5 to 4 hours via Highways 102, 104 and 105, crossing the Canso Causeway onto Cape Breton. Visit the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck on the Bras d'Or Lake. See Nova Scotia.
- Day 2
Baddeck to Ingonish
About 65 miles (105 km), 1.5 hours, around St. Ann's Bay past the Gaelic College and a string of craft studios, then over Cape Smokey. Walk the Middle Head trail and swim at Ingonish Beach if you are brave; the water is cold.
- Day 3
Ingonish to Chéticamp
About 75 miles (120 km), 2.5 hours of driving over the top of the island via Cape North and Pleasant Bay, with lookouts on MacKenzie and French mountains. Take a whale-watching boat from Pleasant Bay or Bay St. Lawrence, and hike the Skyline Trail in the late afternoon for the sunset over the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Sleep in Chéticamp, the Acadian heart of the trail.
- Day 4
Chéticamp to Mabou and back
Drive south through the Margaree Valley to Inverness and Mabou for the beaches and live Celtic music, then return to Baddeck (about 90 minutes) or drive straight to Halifax, about 4.5 hours.
Insider tip
Drive the loop counterclockwise (Baddeck, Ingonish, Chéticamp) and you are in the ocean-side lane on the most dramatic stretches, with easier pullouts. Drivers nervous about heights should go clockwise, which keeps the cliffs on the far side of the road.
Charlevoix, Tadoussac and the Gaspé loop
This is Quebec's grand tour: east from Quebec City through the hills and artist villages of Charlevoix, to whale-watching at Tadoussac, across the St. Lawrence and around the Gaspé Peninsula, where Route 132 runs between mountains and sea to Forillon and Percé Rock. French is the working language almost everywhere east of Quebec City, so bring some phrases; see French for travelers.
- Distance: about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) round trip from Quebec City
- Best season: late June to mid-September, with whales from June to October and fall colors in late September. Many inns and restaurants on the Gaspé close by mid-October.
- Sleep: Baie-Saint-Paul, La Malbaie, Tadoussac, Le Bic or Rimouski, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Gaspé, Percé and Carleton-sur-Mer
- Day 1
Quebec City to Baie-Saint-Paul
About 60 miles (95 km), 1.25 hours on Route 138, stopping at Montmorency Falls and the basilica at Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. Baie-Saint-Paul is a small town of galleries and good restaurants. See Quebec City.
- Day 2
Route 362 to La Malbaie
About 30 miles (50 km), an hour on the hilly coastal road through Les Éboulements and Saint-Irénée. Take the free 15-minute ferry from Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive to Isle-aux-Coudres for a bike loop, or drive inland to Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie for the river canyon.
- Day 3
La Malbaie to Tadoussac
About 45 miles (75 km) on Route 138, then the free ferry across the Saguenay fjord from Baie-Sainte-Catherine, a 10-minute crossing that runs around the clock. Take a whale-watching cruise in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park, where minke, fin and humpback whales and belugas feed.
- Day 4
Across the river to Le Bic
Drive back to Saint-Siméon and take the seasonal car ferry to Rivière-du-Loup, about 65 minutes; check the schedule and reserve in summer. Continue about 55 miles (85 km) on Route 132 to Parc national du Bic for the sunset over the islands.
- Day 5
Le Bic to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
About 130 miles (210 km), 2.5 to 3 hours, stopping at the Reford Gardens (Jardins de Métis). Sainte-Flavie marks the start of the Gaspé loop. Sleep in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts or inland at the Sépaq lodge in Parc national de la Gaspésie.
- Day 6
Parc national de la Gaspésie
Hike Mont Albert or the lakeside trails in the Chic-Choc Mountains. Some summits close at times to protect the endangered caribou herd, so check with Sépaq.
- Day 7
The north coast to Forillon
About 155 miles (250 km), four hours on the most dramatic stretch of Route 132, through fishing villages and past lighthouses, with steep grades into each cove. End at Forillon National Park and the town of Gaspé.
- Day 8
Gaspé to Percé
About 40 miles (65 km), one hour. Take a boat around Percé Rock to Bonaventure Island and walk to its huge northern gannet colony.
- Day 9
Percé to Carleton-sur-Mer
About 120 miles (190 km), 2.5 hours along the gentler Baie des Chaleurs. Stop at Miguasha National Park, a UNESCO-listed fossil site.
- Day 10
Back to Quebec City
About 360 miles (575 km), 6.5 hours through the Matapédia Valley and along the St. Lawrence. If you can spare it, add a night in Kamouraska or Rimouski.
Watch out
Route 175 north from Quebec City and the long, empty stretches of the Gaspé have moose. Avoid driving after dark, and fill up whenever you pass a station on the north coast. See Quebec regions for more on each stop.
Georgian Bay and the Bruce Peninsula
Ontario's best summer loop heads north from Toronto to the clear water and limestone cliffs of the Bruce Peninsula, crosses to Manitoulin Island on a car ferry, and returns down the rocky Georgian Bay shore of the Canadian Shield. See Ontario for more.
- Distance: about 560 miles (900 km) round trip
- Best season: late June to early October. The MS Chi-Cheemaun ferry runs only from spring to fall; outside its season, do the Bruce as an out-and-back. Blackflies and mosquitoes are heavy in June.
- Sleep: Collingwood, Tobermory, Manitoulin Island and Parry Sound
- Day 1
Toronto to Collingwood
About 100 miles (160 km), two hours, longer on Friday afternoons. Explore Blue Mountain, the Scenic Caves and the beaches at Wasaga.
- Day 2
Collingwood to Tobermory
About 110 miles (175 km), 2.5 hours via Owen Sound and Inglis Falls. Hike the Bruce Trail to the Lion's Head lookout on the way.
- Day 3
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Swim and explore at the Grotto, where summer parking requires a timed reservation booked through Parks Canada, often weeks ahead for weekends. Take a glass-bottom boat over the shipwrecks of Fathom Five National Marine Park to Flowerpot Island.
- Day 4
Ferry to Manitoulin Island
The Chi-Cheemaun crossing from Tobermory to South Baymouth takes about two hours; reserve directly with Owen Sound Transportation Company. On Manitoulin, the world's largest freshwater island, visit Wiikwemkoong and the Indigenous-run experiences of the Great Spirit Circle Trail. See Indigenous Canada.
- Day 5
Manitoulin to Parry Sound
About 175 miles (280 km), 3.5 hours via the swing bridge at Little Current, Espanola and Sudbury, then south on Highway 69. Killarney Provincial Park's white quartzite hills make a fine detour, about an hour off the highway.
- Day 6
Parry Sound to Toronto
About 140 miles (225 km), 2.5 to 3 hours. Spend the morning at Killbear Provincial Park or on a boat cruise through the Thirty Thousand Islands, then leave before Sunday afternoon traffic jams Highway 400.
The Niagara wine route
A short, easy trip from Toronto or Buffalo: the wineries of the Niagara Escarpment, the 19th-century town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, and the Niagara Parkway along the river to the falls. See Niagara for the falls and the towns, and Drinks for icewine.
- Distance: Toronto to Niagara-on-the-Lake about 80 miles (130 km); the Niagara Parkway is 35 miles (56 km) from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Fort Erie
- Best season: May to October, with harvest in September and October; January brings the Niagara Icewine Festival
- Sleep: Niagara-on-the-Lake's inns $$$, or cheaper chain hotels in Niagara Falls $$
- Day 1
Toronto to Twenty Valley and Niagara-on-the-Lake
Take the QEW about an hour to Beamsville, avoiding weekday rush hours, and visit two or three wineries on the Beamsville Bench and around Jordan and Vineland. Continue about 30 minutes to Niagara-on-the-Lake for dinner.
- Day 2
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Rent bikes and ride between wineries on the flat roads around town, see a play at the Shaw Festival, and walk Fort George National Historic Site.
- Day 3
The Niagara Parkway to the falls
Drive or cycle south along the river past the Floral Clock, the Niagara Glen and the Whirlpool Aero Car to the falls, about 15 miles (25 km). Return to Toronto, or cross to Buffalo at the Rainbow, Lewiston–Queenston or Peace bridges.
Save money
Tasting fees add up quickly. Many wineries waive them if you buy a bottle. Coming home, you can bring 1 liter of alcohol duty-free within your US exemption if you are 21 or older, and more if you pay duty. See Shopping and US customs.
Newfoundland's Viking Trail
Route 430 runs north from Deer Lake through Gros Morne National Park, along the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula, ending at L'Anse aux Meadows, the only confirmed Norse site in North America, about a thousand years old. Expect fjords, icebergs in early summer, whales, sea stacks and almost no traffic. See Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Distance: about 270 miles (430 km) from Deer Lake to St. Anthony; L'Anse aux Meadows is another 30 miles (45 km)
- Getting there: fly to Deer Lake, or take the Marine Atlantic car ferry from North Sydney, Nova Scotia, to Port aux Basques (an overnight or full-day crossing) and drive about three hours north on the Trans-Canada to Deer Lake
- Best season: mid-June to mid-September; icebergs are most likely from late May to early July
- Sleep: Rocky Harbour, Norris Point, Woody Point, Cow Head, St. Anthony and the Gros Morne campgrounds
- Day 1
Deer Lake to Rocky Harbour
About 45 miles (70 km), one hour, into Gros Morne. Walk to Lobster Cove Head lighthouse for the sunset over Bonne Bay.
- Day 2
The Tablelands and Woody Point
Drive around Bonne Bay to the south side, about 1.5 hours. Walk the Tablelands, a barren plateau of rock from the earth's mantle, and continue to Trout River. Woody Point has a good small-town music scene in summer.
- Day 3
Western Brook Pond
Drive about 20 miles (30 km) north and walk 1.9 miles (3 km) each way to the dock for the boat tour into the landlocked fjord. Reserve the boat ahead in July and August. Spend the afternoon at Shallow Bay beach and Cow Head.
- Day 4
North to Port au Choix and St. Barbe
About 120 miles (190 km) from Cow Head, with stops at Arches Provincial Park and Port au Choix National Historic Site, which preserves Indigenous burial and settlement sites thousands of years old. From St. Barbe a car ferry crosses the Strait of Belle Isle to Blanc-Sablon, Quebec, for a detour to the Basque whaling station at Red Bay in Labrador.
- Day 5
St. Barbe to St. Anthony
About 85 miles (135 km), two hours across the barrens. Look for icebergs and whales from Fishing Point in St. Anthony.
- Day 6
L'Anse aux Meadows
Spend the morning at the Parks Canada site, with its sod-house reconstructions and staff in Norse costume, then visit nearby Norstead. Sleep in St. Anthony or one of the small inns around Quirpon.
- Day 7
Back to Deer Lake
About 270 miles (430 km), five hours or more of driving. Leave early and drive in daylight.
Watch out
Newfoundland has a very dense moose population and hundreds of moose collisions a year. Do not drive Route 430 at night. Gas stations are spaced out, so top up at every larger town, and reserve the Marine Atlantic ferry early for summer.
The Klondike Highway: Skagway to Dawson City
The route of the 1898 gold rush climbs from Skagway, Alaska, over the White Pass, through a corner of British Columbia, and across the Yukon to Dawson City, a gold-rush town still built of false-front wood buildings and boardwalks. The highway is paved and maintained year-round, but this is a summer trip: services, tours and many businesses in Dawson run roughly from late May to mid-September. See The North.
- Distance: Skagway to Whitehorse 110 miles (177 km), Whitehorse to Dawson City about 330 miles (530 km)
- Border: you enter Canada at Fraser, BC. The crossing is not open around the clock, so check its hours before you set out.
- Best season: mid-June to August, with near-constant daylight around the June solstice
- Sleep: Skagway, Whitehorse, Carmacks and Dawson City; Yukon government campgrounds along the way
- Day 1
Skagway to Whitehorse
About 110 miles (177 km), 2.5 to 3 hours. Climb to the White Pass summit at 3,292 feet (1,003 m), clear Canadian customs at Fraser, and stop at Carcross for the tiny Carcross Desert and the Carcross/Tagish First Nation's Carcross Commons. Emerald Lake is just north.
- Day 2
Whitehorse
Tour the SS Klondike sternwheeler, the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre and the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, walk Miles Canyon, and soak at the Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs outside town.
- Day 3
Whitehorse to Dawson City
About 330 miles (530 km), six to seven hours, through Carmacks, Pelly Crossing and Stewart Crossing, the only towns with gas. Stop at the Five Finger Rapids viewpoint. Lodging is thin along the way, so most people do it in one long day.
- Day 4
Dawson City
Visit Dredge No. 4 and Bonanza Creek, the Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre of the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in, and the Dawson Historical Complex; the area became the Tr'ondëk-Klondike UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023. Watch the late show at Diamond Tooth Gerties and drive up the Midnight Dome for the view.
- Day 5
Tombstone Territorial Park
Drive about 25 miles (40 km) east to the start of the gravel Dempster Highway, then about 45 miles (70 km) up it to the Tombstone interpretive center and the tundra trails. Check your rental contract first, since many ban gravel roads.
- Day 6
On to Alaska, or back
Cross the Yukon River on the free George Black ferry and take the mostly gravel Top of the World Highway toward Chicken and Tok, Alaska. The Little Gold Creek border crossing is summer only: in 2026 it opened May 22 and closed September 15, staffed 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Yukon time, one hour ahead of Alaska. Otherwise, drive back to Whitehorse.
Different from home
The Yukon stays on the same time all year, so in summer it runs one hour ahead of Alaska. Border crossings in the north close overnight, and arriving after hours means a night in the car. Bring your passport book or card: a US passport card works at land crossings, while flights require the passport book.
Drive-up trips from US cities
Many of the best Canadian road trips start in your own driveway. Most of these routes use major crossings, several with NEXUS lanes; check live wait times and see Crossing the border before you go.
Seattle to Vancouver Island
Seattle to Vancouver is about 140 miles (225 km), roughly three hours with the Peace Arch or Pacific Highway crossing. Take BC Ferries from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay (about 1 hour 35 minutes; reserve in summer) to Victoria, then drive about 195 miles (315 km) and 4.5 hours across the island to Tofino. Alternatively, sail the Black Ball Coho ferry from Port Angeles straight to Victoria in about 90 minutes. Check before counting on the Washington State Ferries run from Anacortes to Sidney, which has been suspended for several years. See Vancouver Island.
Boston to Nova Scotia
Drive about 690 miles (1,110 km) via I-95, the Calais–St. Stephen crossing and New Brunswick to Halifax, roughly 12 hours, split with a night in St. Andrews or Saint John. Or drive five hours to Bar Harbor and take The CAT ferry to Yarmouth in about 3.5 hours (its 2026 season ran May 14 to October 14), then follow the South Shore through Lunenburg and Peggy's Cove to Halifax and on to the Cabot Trail.
Detroit to Toronto
About 230 miles (370 km), four hours on Highway 401. Cross on the Ambassador Bridge, the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel, or the new Gordie Howe International Bridge, open since July 2026 with a car toll of C$8 or US$5.75. From the northern suburbs, the Blue Water Bridge at Port Huron is often quicker. Break the drive at Stratford for its theater festival. See Toronto.
Vermont to Montreal
Burlington to Montreal is about 95 miles (150 km), two hours via I-89 and the Highgate Springs–Saint-Armand crossing; from New York State, I-87 and Champlain–Lacolle is the main route. Or cross at Derby Line on I-91 and wander the Eastern Townships around Magog, North Hatley and the Sutton wine country first. Signs turn French at the border. See Montreal.
Maine to Quebec City
US 201 through the North Woods to Jackman, then the Armstrong crossing and Route 173 down the Beauce valley to Quebec City, about three hours from Jackman and roughly seven from Boston. Watch for moose on both sides of the border.
Montana to Waterton and Banff
From Glacier National Park, the seasonal Chief Mountain crossing leads to Waterton Lakes National Park. Continue north on the Cowboy Trail (Highway 22) to Calgary and Banff, about 4.5 hours from Waterton. Highway 40 over the Highwood Pass in Kananaskis is a stunning shortcut but closes in winter into mid-June. The year-round alternative is I-15 at Sweetgrass–Coutts.
Duluth to Thunder Bay and Lake Superior
About 190 miles (305 km), four hours up the North Shore on Highway 61 to the Pigeon River crossing, with Kakabeka Falls and Sleeping Giant Provincial Park near Thunder Bay. Keep going on Highway 17 around the lake through Wawa to Sault Ste. Marie for the full Lake Superior circle.
Upstate New York to the Thousand Islands and Ottawa
Take I-81 to the Thousand Islands Bridge, then visit Kingston, the beaches and wineries of Prince Edward County, and continue to Ottawa on Highway 416. See Ottawa.
Road-trip practicalities
Rental cars and ferries
Loops avoid the one-way drop fees that rental companies charge between cities, which are far higher if you leave a Canadian car in the US. Car ferries are part of several routes here; BC Ferries, Marine Atlantic, the Chi-Cheemaun and the Rivière-du-Loup ferry all fill in July and August, so reserve vehicle space once your dates are firm. If your route includes gravel (the Dempster, the Top of the World Highway, Meat Cove), check that your rental contract allows it.
Booking where to sleep
Small towns on these routes have limited rooms, and summer weekends sell out. Book Banff, Jasper, Tofino, the Cabot Trail during Celtic Colours, Gros Morne and Dawson City months ahead. Parks Canada campground reservations open on set launch dates each winter, park by park, and popular sites go within hours. Prices on Canadian booking sites usually exclude sales tax. See Where to stay.
Fuel and phones
Fill up whenever you see a station on the Icefields Parkway, the Gaspé north coast, the Viking Trail and the Klondike, and download offline maps: cell coverage disappears for long stretches in the mountains, on Cape Breton's plateau and across the north.
Wildfire season and closures
Wildfires in BC, Alberta, the Yukon and elsewhere can close highways and fill valleys with smoke from late spring through early fall, as Jasper learned in 2024. Check DriveBC, 511 Alberta or 511 Yukon each morning, follow Parks Canada alerts, and have a backup route in mind. For summer trips in the west, consider travel insurance that covers trip interruption. See Safety and When to go.
Insider tip
Want help stringing several of these together, or matching a drive to your dates? Try the trip builder, or ask about our custom trip planning.
Add it to a route in the trip builder, or ask us to plan the hotels, trains and guides for you.