Planning a Canadian Road Trip Tips for Cross Country Adventures from Kingston to Vancouver
Anja's Canadian Road Trip - Blog Entry #1: Planning, Packing, and Problem Solving
How to plan a Canadian Road Trip: Heading west from Ontario to British Columbia – it's official, I have kicked off the journey of a lifetime: a cross-Canada road trip from Kingston, Ontario to Vancouver, BC. This Canadian road trip has been a long-time dream, and over the past few weeks, I finally started making it real.How to Plan a Canadian Road Trip - Let the Planning Begin
Naturally, the first step was diving into the planning—and let me tell you, the Internet and I have become very close. I started with the Eh, Canada Travel website, which is packed with road trip inspiration, hidden gems, and good ol' Canadian charm. From there, I mapped out the big picture using online maps for timing and zooming in on scenic routes and quirky roadside attractions. I was then able to return to Eh, Canada Travel to learn more about things to do in each area that we would be passing by. Without Eh, Canada Travel I would be heading into the sight-seeing portion of this road trip blind and would have undoubtably missed some really cool Canadian adventures to be had.
Later on, I pulled out the paper maps and the digital version of a classic: CAA TripTiks. It added a bit of nostalgia to the planning process, but with all the modern-day upgrades, it was just what I needed to tie everything together. Having an agenda and a route made me feel more confident, and was fun to share with family and friends ahead of time.
Crowd Sourcing Tips and Tricks (aka Learning from Others' Mistakes)
Alongside the digital tools, I also turned to people who have actually done this kind of trip. Like raising a child, planning a road trip takes a village. Friends, family, fellow travellers, I connected with them all and collected road trip tips like souvenirs. Some of the best advice came from social media groups, where seasoned road warriors generously shared their wisdom. That's where I learned about camping on Crown Land (free backcountry camping for the win!), and cool platforms like Harvest Hosts, HipCamp, and Boondockers Welcome—all great options if you're into unique, off-the-beaten-path stays.
After gathering all this insight, I started compiling my own little guidebook of lessons learned. First off, I was encouraged to map the route using a GPS and other navigation apps, keeping the Trans-Canada Highway as my scenic backbone. Another key tip was to book accommodations early, especially cabins, yurts, and campsites. Spots in National and Provincial Parks, as well as other popular areas fill up fast and some book very early in advance. For more info on how to book the best campsites in Canada check out my blog on that topic. By far, the most practical tip I received was to not attempt to drive through the prairies at sunset. The golden hour might be beautiful, but with zero shade and endless horizon, apparently it turns into a blinding endurance test.
Before long, other tips followed: check regional weather often (Canada likes to keep you guessing), bring a fully stocked emergency kit (yes, that includes snacks), double-check all vehicle documents, make sure your driver's license and vehicle insurance is up-to-date, and take your road trip vehicle for servicing well ahead of your trip.
Securing the Right Vehicle for an Epic Canadian Road Trip
Road Bumps in my Road Trip Plans
Eventually, some challenges cropped up. One of the biggest headaches was finding campgrounds that were actually open for spring camping in Canada. Provincial Parks across the country have different opening dates, and many of the ones open in April only offer walk-in sites. Walk-in is code for park-at-the-gate-and-walk-kilometers-to-your-site-on-unmaintained-trails. Not ideal when you're traveling with a campervan and would prefer not to drag everything from the parking lot.
To complicate things further, many National Parks weren't yet operating for the season, and areas of Northern Ontario still had frozen ground. Most campgrounds couldn't even turn on their water systems without risking damage from frost. It was a bit of a puzzle figuring out where we could stay each night in that tricky early spring window.
Another surprise? The insurance tango between my insurance provider and the campervan rental company. Neither side seemed willing to confirm if the coverage matched up. So I topped up my insurance and am hoping for the best. Stay tuned to see how that worked out for me!
We also had to account for the distance. Canada is enormous—shocking, I know—and we had a set timeframe to get to BC. So, I blocked out our travel days to keep driving time under 10 hours per day. That way, we could allow ample time for site seeing and engaging in local attractions, you know, actually enjoy the journey. I also planned the shortest drive to be the day we arrived in Banff, so we would have lots of time to explore there and maybe not arrive running on fumes.
Canadian Research and the Fun Stuff
Wrapping up the Prep, Adventures in the Making
Honestly, even in the planning phase, this trip already feels like an adventure. If you've done a cross-country trek you know what I'm talking about.
Next up? Prep, packing and picking up the campervan. That's going to be its own kind of challenge—but more on that soon.
Stay tuned for Anja's Canadian Road Trip - Blog Entry #2: Prep, Pick Up and Packing!