For anybody who yearns for a singular journey of a lifetime, we passionately advocate crossing the northern border and exploring Canada with an RV. For over 4 months, we traveled throughout Canada with our camper van and fell in love with every part the nation needed to supply.
In this submit, we need to present a few of our favourite suggestions and finest locations to go to when planning an RV journey into Canada. From gorgeous nationwide parks to idyllic & remoted coastal cities we promise {that a} highway journey via up north is one that you simply received’t quickly overlook!
Plan The Logistics In Advance
The first step in any worldwide journey is be sure you have all of the logistics taken care of. Our high three areas to concentrate on are:
- Travel Documents: Not solely will it is advisable guarantee that you’ve got passports and that they’re updated, however additionally, you will have to carry your car’s registration and insurance coverage papers. This consists of each on your RV and for any car that you simply may be towing behind you.
- Money: Make certain your financial institution is aware of that you’re touring internationally to Canada in order that they don’t cancel your debit/bank cards as a consequence of suspected fraud. You don’t have to take an excessive amount of US {dollars} with you to alternate, simply use your debit/bank cards as you usually would within the US.
- Reservations: If you plan to go to vacationer locations throughout excessive season (aka summertime), it’s best to make reservations for any campgrounds in these areas. This is particularly true when visiting Banff National Park in Alberta.
For extra logistical particulars, be certain that to take a look at Canada journey preparation suggestions to be taught what else you could do earlier than visiting our northern neighbor.
Soak In Canada’s Best National Parks
A RV highway journey to Canada shouldn’t be full with out visiting a number of the nation’s most awe-inspiring nationwide parks. Below are 4 of our favorites:
- Banff: This is Canada’s hottest nationwide park and for good purpose. Snow-capped peaks, gorgeous hikes, and a number of the most stunning alpine lakes we’ve ever seen in our lives. Google “Moraine Lake”, in case you are curious! Reserve your campsite on-line early. If all websites are full, you’ll be pressured into the overflow tenting space, which isn’t practically as good!
- Jasper: Take every part you like about Banff however add in an remoted, uncooked magnificence into the combo and that’s Jasper National Park. Gaze out your window whereas driving north on the Icefield Parkway, hike up Mount Edith Cavell, after which soak your ft on the Miette Hot Springs. Banff and Jasper National Parks can simply be mixed right into a single highway journey along with your RV.
- Cape Breton Highlands: Gorgeous ocean views throughout the Atlantic? Opportunities to identify bears, bald eagles, and moose? Cape Breton Highlands National Park, situated in Nova Scotia province, has acquired you coated. The Cabot Trail, which is a 185-mile loop round Cape Breton Island, was additionally rated as one of many world’s finest highway journeys by Lonely Planet.
- Fundy: Home to the world’s highest tides, a go to to Fundy National Park is a should in case you are in New Brunswick province. If you time your go to through the low tide, you possibly can stroll over half a mile proper into the Bay of Fundy. An wonderful expertise, however simply be certain that to return again to shore shortly earlier than the tides return!
Top Tip: Buy your Canada National Park’s move on-line earlier than you go. You don’t need to be caught ready on the ranger’s workplace in an extended line with different vacationers needing to buy their park entry tickets.
Leave The Real World Behind On Canada’s East Coast
While Canada’s actual draw is its nationwide park scene, our private favourite area of the nation is the east coast, the place the bustle of metropolis life is non-existent, and time seemingly involves a standstill. Canada’s east coast consists of the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland.
- Prince Edward Island: This tiny island (nicknamed PEI) is the right place to begin a Canada highway journey; peaceable shoreline drives and idyllic small-town communities. Plus, should you’re a fan of the guide Anne of Green Gables, visiting PEI is a should.
- Nova Scotia & Newfoundland: If driving your RV to the far-flung corners of Canada appeals to your definition of journey, then look no additional than these two provinces. Life out right here may be chilly, wet, and remoted. But for a lot of, it’s the overland journey they yearn for.
- Farmer’s Markets: One of our favourite actions when touring Canada’s east coast was visiting all of the native farmer’s markets in lots of the area’s tiny cities. The most well-known is Moncton’s Sunday market the place you’ll find wild blue berries, free vary hen, vivid orange carrots, and recent clams on the market. There are few issues we love greater than shopping for native and supporting native economies.
Go On A Cultural Road Trip
We had been stunned by simply how culturally various Canada is. From Canada’s historical past with France to modern-day immigration, Canada has a wealth of cultural highlights to not be missed!
- Vancouver & Toronto: Chilean empanadas, Chinese scorching pot, Indian Samosas, and Greek Baklavas; these are simply the small pattern of meals you possibly can feast on throughout your keep in these two Canadian cities. Eric lived in Hong Kong for over 20 years and guarantees you that the Cantonese meals in Vancouver is simply nearly as good as again house!
- Quebec City: Did you understand that Quebec City is the one fortified metropolis north of Mexico? It was initially constructed by the French to guard the area from native assaults and British incursions from the south. Walking alongside the fortified partitions and throughout the previous metropolis’s slender alleys, you could be forgiven should you thought you had been in Europe. But this metropolis can simply be visited on a Canadian highway journey along with your RV.
- Gaspe Peninsula: Get out your dusty French dictionary! Located east of Quebec City, lots of the idyllic cities that dot the northern shore of this peninsula are pleased with their French heritage. But for a lot of, the small-town charms and remoted seashores make this 150+ mile stretch alongside Quebec province’s most well-known peninsula a visit of a lifetime.
Bonus: Take Advantage of Tim Horton’s
Tim Horton’s is America’s model of McDonald’s and Dunkin Donuts put collectively. Between low cost espresso, tasty donuts, and cheeseburgers, what extra may you need from Canada’s most ubiquitous fast-food chain?
Because of their similarity to what we knew again within the United States, we spent lots of time at completely different Tim Horton’s eateries all through Canada once we wanted to take psychological breaks from touring. Sometimes a powerful espresso and jam-filled donut is all it is advisable recharge your batteries and get again on the highway.
But most significantly, Tim Horton’s gives free WIFI in any respect their department places. And even when seemingly in the course of nowhere, there may be miraculously someway all the time a Tim Horton’s close to you. While scarfing down a field of Tim Bits, we’ll use the supplied WIFI to analysis our upcoming itinerary, scout the subsequent tenting location, and even obtain just a few Netflix motion pictures to our telephones.
Conclusion
It’s no shock that Canada is a big nation! And the knowledge supplied on this submit is simply the tip of the Canadian iceberg. But we hope you discovered a factor (or two!) about our stunning northern neighbor and that our submit impressed you to be taught extra about what you possibly can see and do throughout an RV highway journey to Canada.
Happy travels!