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Your Guide to Planning a Road Trip

August 9, 2022 By Matthew G. Bailey 209 Comments

One of the best parts about planning a road trip is deciding where to go.
The Fundy Trail Parkway is one of the best road trips in Canada.

If there’s anything we’re known for here at Must Do Canada, it’s probably road trips. From the Icefields Parkway to the Dempster Highway, we’ve been on many of the best road trips in Canada, not to mention all the road trips we’ve done in the USA, Mexico, Australia, and beyond.

For short road trips, we tend to just jump in the vehicle without thinking too much about it. We pack what we need, of course, but we don’t always plan for the potential setbacks that could happen, such as a flat tire or something else.

But just like travel insurance, it’s good to be prepared, especially for longer adventurous road trips.

So, in this guide to planning a road trip, which is sponsored by MotoMaster, SIMONIZ, Reflex and Bluehive, exclusive brands found at Canadian Tire, we’re going to cover everything you need to prepare for a road trip, including vehicle safety tips, vehicle accessories, road trip essentials, and more.

Let’s get started!

Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia is one of the best road trips in Canada and is a great option to consider when planning a road trip.
The Cabot Trail is also one of the best Canadian road trips and iconic attractions in Nova Scotia.

Table of Contents

  • Planning Your Road Trip Route (Where to Go)
    • How much do you want to drive?
    • Road Trip Budgets
  • Preparing Your Vehicle
    • Quick Checklist For a Long Road Trip
    • Choosing the Right Tires
    • Essential Car Gadgets
    • Nice-to-Have Car Gadgets
  • Cleaning Your Car
  • Road Trip Packing List
    • What to Bring on a Road Trip
    • Tips for Road Trip Packing
  • Road Trip Tips and Advice
  • Booking Your Trip
    • Booking Accommodation
    • Booking Flights
    • Booking Rental Cars
    • Booking Attractions
  • Best Apps for a Road Trip
  • Hit The Road

Planning Your Road Trip Route (Where to Go)

Perhaps the most important part of planning a road trip is determining where you want to go and how you’ll get there. As you do this, you’ll want to plan the time of year and budget for your trip as this can largely affect where you go. For example, if you plan to travel in December, then you should be prepared for the winter in Canada. If you plan to travel in July, you should be prepared for lots of traffic, inflated accommodation pricing, and lots of people.

If you’re in the inspiration stage, there are a variety of ways to seek new ideas for your next road trip, such as:

  • Browsing our website to see some of the best Canadian destinations you’d like to visit.
  • Watch our travel videos on the Must Do Canada Youtube channel to actually see many destinations across Canada.
  • Explore other travel blogs, as well as Instagram, Pinterest, and even Tik-Tok.
  • Check out travel books and planning guides.
  • Ask friends and family.
Driving the Dempster Highway is a huge adventure and it when it comes to planning a road trip, make sure you take more time to prepare for this one.
For the adventurers out there, it’s hard to beat an arctic road trip on the Dempster Highway.

How much do you want to drive?

Although we’ve driven across Canada a few times, including multiple 12-hour driving days, it’s not really recommended. Those long days are really hard on the back and can be quite tiring as well. However, you know you. How long do you want to drive each day? How many non-driving days do you want in-between? This will help you determine where you want to go and for how long, making it a key part of planning a road trip.

Some people recommend driving a maximum of 3-4 hours each day. Personally, we don’t have a recommendation. However, if you have the time, driving less and experiencing more is always best.

If you’re new to road trips, here are some ideas for how long you may need depending on the driving times.

  • Total driving time of 10 hours = 3-4 day road trip
  • Total driving of 20 hours = 6-8 day road trip
  • Total driving of 30 hours = 9-12 day road trip

Now, obviously, this is just an idea. As I mentioned, I once drove 36 hours in 3 days just to make it to our destination. Then, we narrowed the driving time down and spent more time at the destinations. It totally depends on where you’re going, what you plan to do, and how comfortable you are with long days behind the wheel.

If you’re not sure how much driving time you will need, plan the route in Google Maps and add 20-25% more time to account for bathroom breaks, food breaks, and potential traffic.

Driving the Tuktoyaktuk Highway is one of the most exciting road trips in Canada.
The vehicle can get a little dirty while driving Canada’s only road to the arctic.

Road Trip Budgets

If you’re on a budget, you might want to consider this when planning a road trip.

Accommodation: This is often the most expensive part of a road trip. However, perhaps you can lower costs by camping, booking hotels well in advance, searching booking engines for the cheapest hotels, checking Airbnb, and so forth.

Fuel: Depending on the length of your trip, fuel is another costly item. There are apps that help you find the cheapest place to fuel up, but in my opinion, the savings are hardly worth the hassle. I just fuel up whenever I stop to use the bathroom or get some snacks. To determine a rough estimate of fuel costs, plan the route in Google Maps and see how many kilometres you’ll be driving. Figure out the mileage of your vehicle and do the math to see what it will cost. Our 27,000-kilometre 150-day road trip in a 2009 Honda Pilot cost approximately $5,000 in fuel. Not bad when you think about it.

Food: Another costly part of any trip is food. If you’re on a budget, try buying food at a grocery store and packing it in a cooler. When we did our 150-day Canada road trip, there was no way we could eat at restaurants every day, so we bought bread, meat, cheese, mayo, mustard, and pickles so that we could make sandwiches for lunch each day. You could also do wraps or charcuterie boards. Protein bars, rice chips, and veggies are also good options for snacking. We often stopped at lower-cost fast-food restaurants as well, such as Tim Horton’s, Subway, and Mcdonald’s. There are healthy options at those places and it’s usually less than $10 per person. However, if you can, we recommend eating at a good restaurant at least once every few days just to enjoy the flavours of the places you visit and to keep things from getting boring.

Planning a road trip in Canada almost always entails a trip to Canadian Tire.
Canadian Tire is almost always a key part of a road trip.

Preparing Your Vehicle

If you’re going on a road trip in your own vehicle, it is of utmost importance to make sure the vehicle is “up to speed”. If you haven’t had an inspection in a while, this might be a good time to do one. The last thing you want on a road trip is for your car to break down.

When planning a road trip, we typically recommend a professional inspection, but here is a checklist for you to use as well.

Quick Checklist For a Long Road Trip

  • Check that all the lights and features on the car are functioning properly.
  • Check the oil level, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, Coolant, and other fluid levels.
  • Check the tire pressure/condition.
  • Ensure you have a spare key and the owner’s manual.
  • Check the air filter, windscreen wipers, and spark plugs.
  • Check that you have a spare tire and changing tool.
  • Consider some vehicle accessories (we mention them below) such as a tire inflator kit, jumper cables, and a safety kit.

Aside from a good inspection, however, there are other things to consider as well.

Choosing the right tires is a key part of planning a road trip safely.

Choosing the Right Tires

Obviously, when it comes to driving, tires are important. After all, the wheels on the bus go round and round, just like your car. If they don’t go round and round, you’re in for some trouble.

The first step to choosing the right tires is determining the type of tire you need. There are essentially four types of tires that most people will choose from.

  • All-Season Tires: Many of us are familiar with all-season tires. However, don’t let the name deceive you. In Canada, an all-season tire is really a three-season tire. Without a three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, these tires are not the best for winter conditions. This doesn’t mean that people don’t use them. It just means they are not the safest option for harsh winter months. Plus, in some places such as the mountain regions of British Columbia and the famous Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper, they are actually illegal to use in the winter months. This is where all-weather or winter tires come in handy. (Our current All-Season Tires: MotoMaster Hydra Edge Tour Tires)
  • All-Weather Tires: Personally, my favourite tires are all-weather tires. These are relatively new, at least in comparison to all-season tires, but do carry the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, making them legal to use across Canada during the winter months. They are better than most summer and winter tires and you don’t have to deal with taking your tires off when the season changes, making them really easy to use. (Personal recommendation: Nokian WRG4 or the Toyo Celcius CUV)
  • Summer Tires: These tires are generally only used for the summer months. Dedicated summer times are typically performance tires and are most common on sports cars or with people wanting maximum performance during the summer months. Many people actually go with all-season tires rather than just summer tires, as they can be better used deeper into the shoulder seasons as well.
  • Winter Tires: A dedicated winter tire, especially the higher-end ones, is overall the best tire to use during the winter months. However, if you do opt for dedicated winter tires, you will also need a second set of all-seasons or summer tires when the snow and cold weather disappears. I would also recommend two sets of rims. Use the nicer rims during the summer months and the cheaper rims during the winter months. This makes changing them easier as well.

This is a short rundown on tires just to give you an idea. Please do research based on your lifestyle and vehicle. There are other types of tires as well, including those made for off-roading and performance, but for most of my adult life, I’ve used all-weather tires such as the Nokian WRG4 or the Toyo Celcius CUV. They have been great. However, this year, I received some really good MotoMaster Hydra Edge Tour Tires and paired them up with a set of beautiful black Envy alloy rims. When winter rolls around, I’ll buy a set of winter tires and slap them on the old Honda Rims, making it easier to swap each season.

However, when planning a road trip, it’s also important to consider your tire tread. Even if you have the proper tires, you’ll also want to make sure you have the proper tread. A winter tire with no tread is NOT good during the winter months. Tread is what helps you deal with snow, ice, and water. This helpful tire tread guide from Canadian Tire will help you determine if you have enough left. If you don’t, please buy new tires before embarking on a road trip. It will keep you and everyone else safer.

These vehicle accessories and road trip essentials should help you when planning a road trip.
As sponsors of this article, Canadian Tire sent us many road trip essentials for our next trip.

Essential Car Gadgets

Since this article is all about planning a road trip, we want to start off by mentioning some important car gadgets that you should consider for your next trip.

Auto Safety Kit

The Motomaster Premium Auto Safety Kit is a great all-around safety kit to keep in your vehicle at all times. There are various types of safety kits available at Canadian Tire but our favourite is the 86-piece Premium Auto Safety Kit, which comes with an air compressor, booster cables, a tow strap, a fleece emergency blanket, tool kit, LED flashlight, tire gauge, 2-in-1 screwdriver, knit gloves, duct tape, emergency poncho, and even a 60-piece first-aid kit. It all comes packaged in a nice zipper bag, making it easier to store in the trunk or under the seat. At the very least, please carry booster cables, tools, and an air compressor kit.

Power Boost Kit

It’s no secret that everyone should carry booster cables at all times. You never know when you or someone else might need them. We’ve been in many situations where our car didn’t start, sometimes due to someone leaving an interior light overnight. However, as great as booster cables are, you need another vehicle to give the boost. What happens if no one is around? This is where a power boost kit come in handy. As long as you charge the kit beforehand, this handy little device can boost your car without another vehicle nearby. It also guides you through the process in case you don’t know what to do. Plus, you can use it to charge electronic devices as well. The one we currently have our eyes on is the MotoMaster Booster Pack/Jump Starter & USB Power Bank.

Tire Inflator Kit

Another important must-have vehicle tool is a tire inflator and tire gauge. Although the safety kit mentioned above comes with an air compressor, we highly recommend a higher-quality tire inflator such as the MotoMaster Might Quiet Inflator. This is the one that we carry and there are a number of reasons why we love it. First of all, everyone is going to deal with either a flat tire or a tire that simply needs some air. During the winter months especially, tires will lose PSI, and you should keep them at their optimal PSI level for added safety and fuel mileage. While some gas stations have air, it can be annoying to find one and they often cost money to use. However, this can all be avoided by having an air compressor with you. This particular model not only fills up your tire but you can also set it to the correct PSI and it will shut off automatically when it hits that number. In addition, you can use the pump to fill up bicycle tires, basketballs, and more.

Car Fluids

One of the most important fluids to take with you on a trip is windshield washer fluid. I’ve been in many situations, especially during the spring months when the roads are at their dirtiest when my windshield washing fluid ran out and I had none in my car. My windshield was getting so dirty that I had to pull over and use some of my water to rinse off a spot big enough to see out of. This is not an ideal situation to be in, so now I always recommend keeping a backup with you. There are different types of washer fluid but we currently use Reflex All-Season Windshield Washer Fluid with Bug Remover, which is rated to -40°C, making it good to use year-round.

However, depending on your car, you might want to take some oil with you as well. However, if your vehicle is leaking oil, you’ll want to have it checked as that’s not only a hazard to the vehicle but to the environment as well. For longer road trips, you may want to consider bringing additional engine coolant as well but talk to your mechanic to see what is best.

Road Trip to the Arctic in Canada
In 2017, we drove past the Arctic Circle on the Dempster Highway, one of Canada’s best road trips.

Nice-to-Have Car Gadgets

Now let’s move on to the nice-to-have car gadgets. For some of us, these might be essentials, but since they’re not as important as booster cables and windshield washer fluid, we’re giving them second-tier status as nice-to-haves.

Phone Holder

If your vehicle doesn’t have one of those car displays that can handle something Apple CarPlay, then you might want to consider a phone holder. For us, this is crucial because we use the phone a lot for Google Maps and for listening to music, and it’s far too dangerous (and illegal) to be looking down at your phone. Right now, we’re using the Bluehive 3-in-1 Universal Phone Mount, which we keep stuck to our windshield just to the right of the steering wheel. This makes it easy to look at maps as we’re driving. However, you can also mount it to your dash or your vent as well.

Electronic Cables

How many times have you hit the road only to realize you left one of your charging cables at home? For us and our Apple products, this has happened many times. This is why we now own the Bluehive 3-in-1 Charger and Sync Cable, which has the three we need the most, including Micro USB, Lightning, and USB C.

However, other cables you might need include the aux cable, especially for older vehicles that don’t have Bluetooth capabilities.

Powerbanks

Speaking of charging cables, we’ve all dealt with dead phones and other electronics losing juice. This is where power banks come in handy. The one we currently have is the Bluehive 16,000 mAh 2-Port Power Bank, which comes with enough power to charge an iPhone 13 more than 3 times, or other devices such as the Galaxy S10 or an iPad mini. It also features a digital capacity indicator to show power percent accurate, dual outputs allow the charging of two devices simultaneously, fire-resistance material for added safety, and wide compatibility.

Cargo Kits

Whether packing luggage for a trip overseas or a car for a weekend road trip, we’ve all dealt with lack of space. Perhaps it’s the paddleboards taking up all the space or maybe it’s your fur baby. Either way, space is always an issue. This is where a cargo kit comes in. Even though we have a bigger SUV, we often run out of space when we go camping. This is because we bring two large paddleboards, our dog and her stuff, our camera gear, cooking supplies, and so forth. This is why we recently picked up the Motomaster rooftop Cargo Carrier to attach to the roof of our SUV, giving us added space for bags and other goods. These kits can be used for most vehicles as long as you have the roof rack capable of holding them. Other options include kits for kayaks, skis, and bikes.

Dashcam

Although we’ve never used a dashcam, we know they’re quite popular, mainly to protect you from liability in an accident that isn’t your fault. The dashcam provides video evidence. If this is important to you, it might be something to consider when planning a road trip.

At the end of a road trip, these cleaning products from Canadian Tire can help you clean your vehicle.
Simoniz makes lots of vehicle cleaning products.

Cleaning Your Car

There’s a good chance that by the time you get home from your road trip, your car will be very dirty, both inside and out. For us, we do a lot of road trips and spend a lot of time at campsites in Alberta, often involving dirt roads and our little dog. This means that by the time we’re home, our car looks like it has more dust than paint, and the inside has hair from our dog and dirt from our shoes. Oh, and let’s not forget all the bugs stuck to the windshield and grill.

Cleaning your car is yet another part of planning for a road trip. In fact, depending on the length of the trip, you might want to clean it along the way as well. For simplicity and speed, a car wash can be a good idea, but for deep cleaning or for those just wanting to make sure it’s done right, you might want to have your own products as well.

Cleaning your vehicle is also part of planning a road trip.
The Simoniz cordless vacuum is a great way to suck up dirt and sand from a recent road trip.

Here are some cleaning products to consider when planning a road trip:

  • Simoniz Cordless Vacuum: Whether you keep this little vacuum in the vehicle at all times or store it at home to use after a road trip, a cordless vacuum makes it easy to vacuum all that dust, dirt, food particles, and dog hair from your vehicle.
  • Simoniz Foam Gun: This product is attached to your garden hose to use water and soap to clean your vehicle. However, the use of this product depends on where you live. In Calgary, for example, it’s illegal to use soap on your car in your driveway. So, we choose to go to a carwash instead.
  • Simoniz Platinum 2-in-1 Drying Towel: This towel is great for drying the vehicle after washing it to prevent water marks.
  • Simoniz Microfibre Edgeless Towels: These all-purpose cloths are machine washable and great for cleaning, detailing, and polishing. They are ultra-soft and lint-free and can be used wet or dry.
  • Simoniz Chenille Wash Mitt: This wash mitt features ultra-thick chenille microfibre for maximum soap and water retention and also has nylon mesh on the back for removing stubborn bugs and tar.
  • Simoniz Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner: This cleaner restores colour and appearance to vehicle carpets and upholstery. It is effective on grease, tar, coffee, wine, ink, lipstick, blood and more. We use it to clean our leather.
  • Simoniz Bug Remover: Perhaps the hardest thing to clean on a vehicle is all the bug residue. Thankfully, this cleaner quickly and effectively removes insect residue, bird droppings, tar and tree sap. It is also safe on vehicle glass.
  • Simoniz Foaming Tire Shine: If you’re someone that likes shiny tires, this product cleans, shines and protects with a thick foam that clings to tires and dissolves dirt, mud, and grime.

These are just some of the many cleaning products available. For more options, click here to see everything offered by Simoniz.

things to do in alberta road trips
The Icefields Parkway is known as one of the best road trips in the world.

Road Trip Packing List

We’ve all travelled somewhere, whether by road or by air and forgotten something that we needed at home. Most of the time, it’s something small that can be purchased at the destination we’re visiting. But you don’t want to forget something important when planning a road trip, so we’ve created this packing list to help you prepare. You can also learn more in our article about Road Trip Essentials.

In fact, if you want some Road Trip Packing PDFs to print out, sign up for our newsletter and we’ll send them by email!

What to Bring on a Road Trip

Don’t forget…

Driver’s License, Registration, and Insurance Documents: This one should come as no surprise but nonetheless, these are two documents you do not want to forget. Your car registration and insurance should always be in your car and your driver’s license should always be in your wallet. Don’t forget your passport if you’re crossing the border as well.

Spare Key: Something else to consider is having a spare key. Perhaps hide a key in one of your bags in case you forget the main one somewhere.

CAA Membership: Another thing to consider for a road trip is CAA insurance. In Canada, this is the Canadian Automotive Association, which has different branches in each province. There are five types of membership that range from $96 per year to $220 per year. You can compare the memberships here, but generally speaking, membership includes things like towing (in case you break down), roadside assistance, vehicle locksmith service, emergency fuel, travel benefits, and more. We don’t often buy this but when we embark on a long road trip, we usually purchase it for peace of mind. We have used it a few times, including the time we broke down about one hour outside of Edmonton.

Booking Confirmations: If you’re staying in hotels, participating in attractions, or have other types of bookings, you’ll want to either print those out and store them somewhere safe, or make sure you have them saved on your phone. It just makes things easier when you get to your destination.

Aside from those key things, you’ll also want to bring:

  • Sunglasses
  • Insulated Water Bottles
  • Water Jug (This jug can be used to refill water bottles or other things)
  • Snacks (Try to avoid junk food as much as possible. Instead, try fresh veggies, hummus, cheese, fruit, sandwiches, whole grain crackers, beef jerky, nuts, dried fruit, and protein bars. Oh, and sure, some chocolate if it won’t melt.)
  • Cooler with Ice Packs
  • Sunscreen
  • Chapstick with UV Protection
  • Hats
  • Medication
  • Tylenol or Advil
  • Maps: We usually just use Google Maps, but you might want to download the maps in case you lose your internet connection. Another option is physical maps.
  • Day packs for short hikes and walking trips
  • Travel Mug: This is more optional, but can be great for cutting down on waste when buying coffee and even save you a little bit of money at select cafes.
  • Flashlight/Headlamp: We always carry headlamps as you never know when you might need them, especially when camping or repairing the vehicle. Headlamps go around your head, giving you full range if your arms and hands. But flashlights are good too.
  • Emergency First Aid Kit
  • Emergency Car Breakdown Kit: Including blankets, flashlight, jumper cables, ponchos, tow straps, wiper fluid, tools, and more.
  • Camera
  • UV Window Shade: This offers sun protection for anyone that might need it.
  • Windshield Cover: We haven’t used one yet but it’s next on our list. When you leave your car parked in the sun, this will make a big difference for when you get back in.
  • Air Fresheners: We don’t use these often but they can help if things get smelly. I’ve heard Charcoal air fresheners are good because they absorb bad odours rather than mask them.
  • Small Pillow: This can come in handy if you need a nap
  • Reusable shopping bags: Typically required at grocery stores
  • Garbage bag: This can be used to keep the car clean
  • Phone charging cords and other cables
  • Power inverter: This is handy if you might need to plug things like laptops into your 12V socket

Other things you may want to consider include:

  • Personal travel insurance: This might depend on where you go. If you’re from Canada and travelling within Canada, you might not need it. However, it’s worth looking into. If you’re planning a road trip internationally, we always recommend travel insurance. It’s not that expensive and will really cover your butt if you get hurt. One great place to start is World Nomads.

Tips for Road Trip Packing

For those about to embark on a road trip, here are some tips that might make it go smoother.

  1. Whether you bring a big suitcase or something smaller like a duffel bag, always bring at least one smaller day pack or light hiking bag for hiking trips or just general day trips. It’s always nice to have a small bag that can hold a rain jacket or additional clothing, your camera, sunglasses, and any other small items you might need.
  2. If your vehicle doesn’t have a cover to go over your bags, consider bringing a dark bedsheet or something to cover your bags when the vehicle is unattended. Obviously, the best thing to do is to never leave your car unattended when it’s full of stuff, but it does happen, and it helps to at least cover it up.
  3. Keep the really essential stuff, like car registration, insurance, and booking documents somewhere safe and easy to reach.
When planning a road trip, one thing to consider is the time to go. In the fall season, for example, Cabot Trail is an excellent choice.

Road Trip Tips and Advice

Here are some tips when it comes to planning a road trip and embarking on one.

  • Take a break every two hours or so. Some recommendations we’ve heard is that you should take a 15-minute break for every two hours of driving. While we sometimes don’t do this, we can easily see why it’s a good idea. Even if it’s just to stretch your legs and get some fresh air, taking a break is always a good idea when embarking on a long road trip.
  • Avoid fried food or food that makes you sleepy. There’s nothing more annoying than trying to keep yourself awake at the wheel. We find that fried foods make us very tired, so we avoid them during a road trip.
  • If you have a partner, take turns driving so that you can rest your eyes and stay alert.
  • A/C is great but sometimes you might want to crack a window to get some airflow.
  • Download Google’s Offline Maps. Maps are important but there’s not always an internet connection. This is why it can be crucial to download the Google Map you need. All you have to do is sign in, search for the destination, and look for the white bar at the bottom of the screen. Some phones require you to swipe right to find the “download icon”. Once downloaded, the map data from this region will be on your phone and can be accessed even when you have no cell signal! You’ll even be able to see your current GPS location as long as you have it authorized. (Settings > Google Maps > Location > select “Always”)
The Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper is ranked as one of the top road trips in the world.

Booking Your Trip

If you’re planning a road trip around Canada, there’s a good chance you’ll need to book some things in advance. This might be your accommodation, some attractions, or even a rental car if you’re planning to fly to the beginning of your road trip destination. Whatever it is, here are some tips for booking your trip.

Booking Accommodation

The #1 thing we tend to book in advance is accommodation. Sometimes we just show up in a place and look for vacancies, but many times we book in advance, especially during the busy summer months. This goes for campgrounds as well, which are often sold out before hotels are.

Expedia: This classic booking engine is still one of the best in our opinion. Plus, you earn points that make future bookings less expensive. Another option is Hotels.ca or Booking.com. Most hotel booking engines are very similar.

Airbnb: If you’re looking to book something unique, like an entire house or apartment, Airbnb is likely the best option. Just watch out for those extra cleaning fees and service charges.

VRBO: Another great option for booking an entire house, apartment, or cabin is VRBO.

Hostelworld: If you’re travelling solo or as a young group, hostels can be a great option. Not only are they usually cheaper than a hotel, but they usually offer a kitchen to make your own food and a hangout area to meet other people.

Camping: For camping, you’ll usually want to look at provincial sites or Parks Canada. It all depends on where you want to go. Just type “camping in <location>” and go from there. If you’re in Canada, we have a number of articles, including camping in Alberta, camping in Ontario, and the best campgrounds across Canada.

Hipcamp: Another option for camping is Hipcamp. This is like Airbnb for camping. Sometimes there are actual campgrounds and sometimes you can actually pitch a tent in someone’s backyard.

Hotel de Glace in Quebec City is one of the most unique places to stay during the winter in Canada.
If you’re looking for a really unique place to stay, consider the Ice Hotel in Quebec.

Booking Flights

If your road trip also consists of flights, here are some options for finding the best options.

Skyscanner: We almost always start with Skyscanner and narrow it down afterwards. Skyscanner searches most booking sites to locate the best offers. You can then click through and book the flight or try another search with another booking engine.

Air Canada: As Canada’s largest airline, it often makes sense to search their website as well.

WestJet: As Canada’s second-largest airline, WestJet is another great option for regional or international flights.

Other options in Canada include Porter Airlines, Swoop, Flair, Lynx, and many more.

Booking Rental Cars

If you’re renting a vehicle rather than taking your own, you should be happy to know that renting cars in Canada is super efficient and safe.

Pro Tip: For rental car insurance, check what is included with your own credit card. Oftentimes, it is free if booked with a credit card and trumps what is offered by the rental car company. We’ve never purchased insurance from a rental car company before.

RentalCars.com: This website is great for finding the cheapest cars available.

Expedia: We often use Expedia for booking rental cars too.

Booking Attractions

Personally, this is one of the least things we book in advance. However, sometimes you may have to, especially during the busier months and if it’s an organized activity like whitewater rafting. Generally speaking, if you know what you want to do, book it directly. This is almost always the best thing to do. However, if you’re not sure what to do, you may want to consider some activity booking engines, such as:

Get Your Guide: This site allows you to find unique things to do across the world and book from the site directly.

Viator: Similar to Get Your Guide, you can book activities around the world.

Airbnb Experiences: This enables you to book experiences with local guides.

One of Canada's newest Road Trips is in New Brunswick and is called the Fundy Trail Parkway.

Best Apps for a Road Trip

Since most of us have smartphones now, there are so many apps that you can use for your road trip. We certainly don’t use all of these, but we wanted to include an extensive list for you to consider.

Best Websites and Apps for Navigation

  • Google Maps: This is the best overall map you can get. You can also download them in case you run out of internet or data.
  • Waze: We’ve heard good things about Waze, especially for traffic enforcement alerts, speed limits, and great functionality. However, we prefer Google Maps. Try them both and see for yourself.
  • Apple Maps: Another option for Apple users. We still prefer Google Maps.
  • Citymapper: Great for inner-city navigation, especially in Europe and major city centres. They do cover three Canadian cities as of now.
  • Viamichelin: This app is from Michelin. It seems to be good for estimating the cost of a trip, including approximate fuel costs, tolls, and more.

Best Websites and Apps for Booking Accommodation

  • Airbnb: Typically best for unique stays or those wanting a full house or apartment.
  • Expedia
  • Booking.com
  • Hotels.com
  • Hostelworld: This is the best for booking hostels.
  • Couchsurfing: Stay for free with local hosts. We used to love this but it has become too popular now.

Best Websites and Apps for Finding Cheap Fuel and Parking

  • GasBuddy: Use this app to find the cheapest gas around you.
  • Parkopedia: This is usually the best for quickly finding the cheapest parking and includes links to navigation apps.
  • Park Me Parking: Alternative to Parkopedia.
  • JustPark: Another good option for finding parking spots.

Best Websites and Apps for Finding Things to do

  • GetYourGuide: One of the best websites and apps for finding and booking attractions and tours.
  • Google Trips: Another neat app for finding things on your trip.
  • TripAdvisor: Basically the best appl for finding reviews on attractions, restaurants, and more.
  • Withlocals: This app can be great for booking experiences with local guides.
  • Viator: Another good app and website for booking attractions.

Best Websites and Apps for Budgeting

  • Tripcoin: Travel budget and expense manager.
  • XE Currency Converter: This is our favourite app when visiting foreign countries.
This Alberta Road Trip to Cypress Hills is full of beautiful scenery.

Hit The Road

Now that you have all the information you need for planning a road trip, it’s time to hit the road and have the time of your life. We truly hope this guide makes it easier for planning a road trip and we hope you have a great time. If you have any tips as well, please share them in the comments below.

Also, even though we mentioned this at the top of the article, this article was sponsored by MotoMaster, SIMONIZ, Reflex and Bluehive, exclusive brands found at Canadian Tire, one of Canada’s most iconic brands. We also have the odd affiliate link, which means we might earn a small commission if you decide to use it.

This guide took a long time to compile, so we hope you enjoyed it and share it with anyone you know that may need it.

For more road trip ideas, check out our travel guides below:

  • Best Alberta Road Trips
  • Best Quebec Road Trips
  • Best Ontario Road Trips
  • BC Road Trip in the Kootenays
  • Best Hot Springs in BC

Oh, and don’t forget! If you want some Road Trip Packing PDFs to print out, sign up for our newsletter and we’ll send them by email!

About Matthew G. Bailey

Matthew G. Bailey is the founder and editor-in-chief of Must Do Canada. Growing up in Alberta to a mother from Quebec and a father from Newfoundland, Matt spent his childhood playing hockey under the Northern Lights and hanging out in the forest before moving to Calgary and travelling to more than 250 cities spanning 42 countries and 6 continents. He loves travel, learning new things, playing sports, writing, making videos, photography, and scuba diving. You can also find him at LiveLimitless.net.

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Toni Baker says

    August 24, 2022 at 4:19 am

    Love this article. I learned a few new great ideas. Thanks for the great tips!

    Reply
  2. Sari Orlans says

    August 24, 2022 at 4:20 am

    Thank you for the contest

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      August 31, 2022 at 11:44 am

      Great article, thanks for opportunity to enter this great contest!

      Reply
  3. Julie-Anne says

    August 24, 2022 at 5:10 am

    Very informative

    Reply
  4. Kelly says

    August 24, 2022 at 5:15 am

    Nice!!

    Reply
  5. Prabhu says

    August 24, 2022 at 5:16 am

    Very informative and making us execute the long pending road trip

    Reply
  6. Julie MacKenzie says

    August 24, 2022 at 5:42 am

    Great road trip advice. Those cleaning products are great. I am going to have to invest in some of those. Thanks for sharing this info with us.

    Reply
  7. Lynn M says

    August 24, 2022 at 5:52 am

    Wow – lots of great information in this article. Thank you.

    Reply
  8. Isaque Hossain says

    August 24, 2022 at 6:02 am

    Parkopedia is really cool! Came in handy just in time. Glad you shared it.

    Reply
  9. Elizabeth says

    August 24, 2022 at 6:08 am

    Endless possibilities of things to do.

    Reply
  10. Julie says

    August 24, 2022 at 6:10 am

    Can’t wait for my next roadtrip

    Reply
  11. Katherina says

    August 24, 2022 at 6:18 am

    So cool!

    Reply
  12. Dave says

    August 24, 2022 at 6:18 am

    Looking forward to enjoying the fall colours!

    Reply
  13. Janice Cournoyer says

    August 24, 2022 at 6:22 am

    The Dempster Highway is on my bucket list. My friends say it is quite an adventure. Hopefully soon!! So beautiful!

    Reply
  14. Janet M says

    August 24, 2022 at 6:29 am

    Thanks for such a complete guide for road trips. There were so many things I hadn’t thought about packing.

    Reply
  15. Christina says

    August 24, 2022 at 6:41 am

    Thanks for all the helpful tips and advice! I love that there are so many places yet to discover in our own country! <3

    Reply
    • Marsha Arditti says

      August 26, 2022 at 6:28 am

      Great advice.

      Reply
  16. Diego says

    August 24, 2022 at 6:51 am

    I would love to see more of Canada it’s so beautiful

    Reply
  17. Paul says

    August 24, 2022 at 6:51 am

    The accommodations is the most expensive I’d say, alongside food.

    Always great to find ways not to eat out at a resto and also to have hotels with even free breakfast

    Reply
  18. Krysta Ahlers says

    August 24, 2022 at 6:56 am

    Wow what a list!! I’d love to do the 150 day road trip in a small motorhome!

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      August 24, 2022 at 9:41 pm

      That would be sweet!

      Reply
  19. Matthew Jones says

    August 24, 2022 at 6:59 am

    The Cabot trail looks incredible. ThTs my next bucket list item!

    Reply
  20. thomas rusinak says

    August 24, 2022 at 7:01 am

    Did the Cabot Trail: loved it!

    Reply
  21. Anita says

    August 24, 2022 at 7:19 am

    Your articles are the “go to” for travel information! Always up to date with great videos and informative.

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      August 24, 2022 at 9:40 pm

      Thanks so much 🙂

      Reply
  22. Barbara Hughes says

    August 24, 2022 at 7:22 am

    Loved the whale watching tour

    Reply
  23. Doug says

    August 24, 2022 at 7:43 am

    Just good advice!

    Reply
  24. Rebecca says

    August 24, 2022 at 7:47 am

    Thanks for creating this list for us!

    Reply
  25. Rita Duff says

    August 24, 2022 at 7:52 am

    great tips!

    Reply
  26. jacqui says

    August 24, 2022 at 8:01 am

    great reminders and ideas here!

    Reply
  27. Linda Bragg says

    August 24, 2022 at 8:07 am

    Great read!! so many good tips too. Will be so helpful as we are going on a trip to the states and can use a lot of these suggestions. 🙂

    Reply
  28. Lindsay Threlkeld says

    August 24, 2022 at 8:20 am

    I’m a huge planner so I’m loving all these awesome tips! Thank you!

    Reply
  29. Chantelle McLean says

    August 24, 2022 at 9:04 am

    This is an amazing resource and the contest prize would be amazing to win.

    Reply
  30. Nina says

    August 24, 2022 at 9:16 am

    So much great information for us to plan a fabulous road trip!!

    Reply
  31. Tabea Schneider says

    August 24, 2022 at 9:17 am

    I really love your content about Canada and all the travel tips, I hope I can travel to all the places you recommend, thank you for the awesome job you are doing!

    Reply
  32. Jean-Pierre Guignard says

    August 24, 2022 at 9:25 am

    Top notch article, ready to go now!

    Reply
  33. Leigh says

    August 24, 2022 at 9:32 am

    What a thorough and well-timed article! I will definitely refer back to this as I get ready to set out for a three-week road trip next month. Thanks!

    Reply
  34. andres says

    August 24, 2022 at 9:36 am

    awesome article! Definitely some good tips in there, thanks!

    Reply
  35. Lynn says

    August 24, 2022 at 9:38 am

    Great tips 👍

    Reply
    • Daniel Hall says

      August 31, 2022 at 10:07 pm

      Great article, packed with information.

      Reply
  36. John Noonan says

    August 24, 2022 at 9:43 am

    Awesome!

    Reply
  37. Nick Rensink says

    August 24, 2022 at 10:15 am

    Love the Cabot trail!

    Reply
  38. Shellie Clark says

    August 24, 2022 at 10:23 am

    Great advise thanks!

    Reply
  39. Heidi P says

    August 24, 2022 at 10:59 am

    Part of the fun of a raod trip is the planning it.

    Reply
  40. Cathy L Brown says

    August 24, 2022 at 11:57 am

    We are planning a road trip in Canada next year and this was helpful.

    Reply
  41. Debbie says

    August 24, 2022 at 11:58 am

    Thanks for the very informative article.

    Reply
  42. l p says

    August 24, 2022 at 12:05 pm

    thanks so much for this article and all the information. there is so much beauty in the country and it’s great to get out and enjoy it.

    Reply
  43. Chelsie says

    August 24, 2022 at 2:18 pm

    Great advice!

    Reply
  44. ANNE says

    August 24, 2022 at 2:21 pm

    So many great tips and ideas. Can’t wait to start planning our next road trip!

    Reply
  45. Tasha says

    August 24, 2022 at 4:42 pm

    Great article, I have book marked the page so I can come back and read it again, before my next road trip <3

    Reply
  46. Selig says

    August 24, 2022 at 6:14 pm

    The roadtrip app list was perfect!

    Reply
  47. Mason Leskowitz says

    August 24, 2022 at 6:33 pm

    Thank you so much! This really makes me want to go!

    Reply
  48. Morris Elfenbaum says

    August 24, 2022 at 7:12 pm

    what a great prize package

    Reply
  49. Treena Neal says

    August 24, 2022 at 8:43 pm

    What a wonderful contest. It is full of excellent road trip tips.

    Reply
  50. Rosi says

    August 24, 2022 at 8:48 pm

    Love the travel tips

    Reply
  51. Stephen says

    August 24, 2022 at 10:19 pm

    Very comprehensive article, if you follow this
    article, should be a worry free trip

    Reply
  52. J. White says

    August 25, 2022 at 2:23 am

    very nice

    Reply
  53. Ted Stubbington says

    August 25, 2022 at 6:42 am

    Love the Icefields Parkway.

    Reply
  54. lesley o says

    August 25, 2022 at 8:51 am

    LOVE road trips!!

    Reply
  55. Kristyne says

    August 25, 2022 at 12:04 pm

    It’s nice to have road trip advice like this for CANADIANS and our road conditions specifically.

    Reply
  56. Linda H says

    August 25, 2022 at 12:12 pm

    Great guidelines for planning to travel.

    Reply
  57. Nancy says

    August 25, 2022 at 1:41 pm

    So very informative, thanks so much!

    Reply
  58. Micheline says

    August 25, 2022 at 2:11 pm

    So many things to think about and consider, I was alway just hop in the car and go.

    Reply
  59. Dave H says

    August 25, 2022 at 2:51 pm

    I bookmarked this page. Good info.

    Reply
  60. Lori W... says

    August 25, 2022 at 3:50 pm

    wow! there is a lot of good information in this article!

    Reply
  61. Cathy Balogh says

    August 25, 2022 at 3:56 pm

    Love a good road trip. Time to get moving!

    Reply
  62. Karen Petrychko says

    August 25, 2022 at 10:03 pm

    Any of these road tips are fantastic for a road trip

    Reply
  63. Susan Adams says

    August 25, 2022 at 10:57 pm

    And people always laugh at me for “being prepared”. You’ve upped the game here. Lol!

    Reply
  64. Catherine says

    August 26, 2022 at 12:15 am

    This is Awesome!

    Reply
  65. Shirley says

    August 26, 2022 at 5:24 am

    I love going on road trips. These are all useful tips

    Reply
  66. Gaia says

    August 26, 2022 at 9:08 am

    This was very informative. I will be picking up some of these items

    Reply
  67. Martine Achard says

    August 26, 2022 at 11:36 am

    Great tips for our coming road trip! Our Geocaching planning takes quite some time, too ; )

    Reply
  68. Marie says

    August 26, 2022 at 2:10 pm

    Absolutely beautiful!

    Have you guys ever experienced anything scary and unexpected?
    I’m honestly a scaredy-cat

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      August 27, 2022 at 8:40 pm

      No, not really. We’ve actually been to 42 countries as well and have never really been scared. I think the most I’ve been a bit scared was with some of the drivers. In Cambodia and in India specifically, I remember being in a mini-van or a taxi and thinking we’re gonna crash for sure hah

      Reply
  69. Prem says

    August 26, 2022 at 11:03 pm

    What a great contest!

    Reply
  70. nick liew says

    August 27, 2022 at 1:34 am

    love reading new ideas and places about canada.

    Reply
  71. Aaron says

    August 27, 2022 at 7:07 am

    Yes! In winter you MUST have winter tires!

    Reply
  72. Sandra Dufoe says

    August 27, 2022 at 8:17 am

    So many great ideas for road trips.

    Reply
  73. Ed says

    August 27, 2022 at 10:31 am

    Summer road trips are the best! Thanks for sharing all this information!

    Reply
  74. Kari says

    August 27, 2022 at 5:16 pm

    great ideas and suggestions. thx

    Reply
  75. M. S. Thompson says

    August 27, 2022 at 5:25 pm

    Thank you for very useful information. Will have to update my ‘go’ bag for the next trip.

    Reply
    • Bryan says

      September 1, 2022 at 4:05 pm

      I agree

      Reply
  76. Sandra McG says

    August 28, 2022 at 11:29 am

    some really good ideas in this article!! i think the Best Websites and Apps for Finding Things to do will be a great help on our next road trip!

    Reply
  77. Sarah says

    August 29, 2022 at 8:59 am

    Great advice, thank you!

    Reply
  78. Catherine Cole says

    August 30, 2022 at 6:42 am

    Thanks for some great tips

    Reply
  79. Janine Straf says

    August 30, 2022 at 8:44 am

    Great guide!

    Reply
  80. laurel jones says

    August 30, 2022 at 10:02 am

    SO much to see and do

    Reply
  81. Claudia Andrews says

    August 30, 2022 at 10:54 am

    Thanks a MILLION for the GREAT TRIP ADVISE and for this GREAT CONTEST! We plan on going Jan and Feb of this year!

    Reply
  82. Ignacio says

    August 30, 2022 at 11:30 am

    Excellent tips! Now a road trip changes drastically in terms of planning when there is a baby/toddler in the mix.

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      August 30, 2022 at 11:49 am

      I bet! haha

      Reply
  83. Kathy says

    August 31, 2022 at 4:16 am

    Road trip ideas are helpful

    Reply
  84. Kris Figueroa says

    August 31, 2022 at 4:59 am

    I love road trips! It’s great that you put together such a useful guide and checklist to refer to! I’ve most often just grabbed a bunch of food and drinks and hoped for the best! I’ll be better prepared going forward!

    Reply
  85. Ronald Scott says

    August 31, 2022 at 5:43 am

    Can’t wait for another road trip

    Reply
  86. Chris MacDonald says

    August 31, 2022 at 6:33 am

    I agree that 12 hours of driving a day is too long. I usually try to drive less than 8 hours, broken into smaller segments for rest stops.

    Reply
  87. Brandy says

    August 31, 2022 at 7:45 am

    Great article! Lots of great info.

    Reply
  88. Natasha Beaudry says

    August 31, 2022 at 12:14 pm

    As a couple who loves to explore and take frequent road trips we look forward to the Must Do Canada emails and articles. They are so encouraging and provide so much great and useful information to enhance every experience. Cheers!

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      August 31, 2022 at 1:02 pm

      Thank you so much! That really means a lot 🙂

      Reply
  89. Carol W. says

    August 31, 2022 at 2:18 pm

    thanks for all the tips for a great road trip. I particularly liked the list “Quick Checklist For a Long Road Trip.”

    Reply
  90. Wanda Carolyn Tracey says

    August 31, 2022 at 6:33 pm

    I love all the spectacular places and pictures of wonderful places to see. Thanks for all the great tips. This is such a nice article to read.

    Reply
  91. Leona Boucher says

    August 31, 2022 at 6:43 pm

    The best scenic roadtrips are in the Maritimes!!!!

    Reply
  92. Calvin Y says

    August 31, 2022 at 7:01 pm

    Awesome checklists and advice!! I love me a good road trip!!

    Reply
  93. Karjinx says

    August 31, 2022 at 8:14 pm

    Great tips & information. Definitely bookmark this

    Reply
  94. Lana Hood says

    August 31, 2022 at 8:34 pm

    Thank you for such a helpful article.

    Reply
  95. Linda Beaulieu says

    August 31, 2022 at 9:13 pm

    Great tips.

    Reply
  96. John Dickson says

    August 31, 2022 at 10:12 pm

    Great article! Lots of great info.

    Reply
  97. kathy downey says

    September 1, 2022 at 5:21 am

    Hi, thanks for the opportunity. This certainly is a wondeful post with so many useful tips and ideas. I look forward to visitng Cabot Trail soon.

    Reply
  98. Debbie Bashford says

    September 1, 2022 at 5:58 am

    so much fantastic information here!

    Reply
  99. CLC says

    September 1, 2022 at 9:16 am

    Road trips are my favorite. Thanks for the tips.

    Reply
  100. Neil Anderson says

    September 1, 2022 at 10:54 am

    Great article, we just came back from Tuk and saw a few people unprepared, But it was the cyclists we admired the most.

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      September 1, 2022 at 10:59 am

      haha yes we met someone on our trip who was doing the same cross-Canada trip as us, but on bike!

      Reply
  101. Verica R says

    September 1, 2022 at 12:40 pm

    Very informative!

    Reply
  102. Scott H says

    September 1, 2022 at 12:46 pm

    Thanks, great article.

    Reply
  103. Shannon says

    September 1, 2022 at 1:29 pm

    Great article

    Reply
  104. Margaret Helgason says

    September 1, 2022 at 2:17 pm

    Lots of good info and advice here

    Reply
  105. Sharon Dutchak says

    September 1, 2022 at 2:40 pm

    Great advice!

    Reply
  106. Nate says

    September 1, 2022 at 3:58 pm

    This is a nice list to keep handy when I go on my next road trip.

    Reply
    • Gail Kines says

      September 1, 2022 at 8:14 pm

      Great article on vacation planning and what you need to take on a road trip.

      Reply
  107. DeeDee F says

    September 1, 2022 at 6:20 pm

    Great tips!

    Reply
  108. Philip Baker says

    September 1, 2022 at 8:09 pm

    Great article to read, Thank-you

    Reply
  109. Donna F Doyle says

    September 1, 2022 at 8:35 pm

    I love road trips. Thank you for all the info.

    Reply
  110. Juliet S. says

    September 1, 2022 at 9:33 pm

    Lots of great tips and handy websites – thanks!

    Reply
  111. Kam says

    September 1, 2022 at 11:35 pm

    Great tips! Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
  112. Melodie says

    September 2, 2022 at 12:05 am

    I love watching all the videos! Canada is such a beautiful country and has so many wonderful places to visit, explore and learn about ♡♡

    Reply
  113. Tracy Breadman says

    September 2, 2022 at 12:08 am

    Love this article! Covers everything!

    Reply
  114. Simon says

    September 2, 2022 at 6:03 am

    Only settled in Canada almost 2 years ago now (moved from Hong Kong during the pandemic!) and there’s so much to see in Canada we’re foregoing a trip abroad for a road trip. This article is so comprehensive and can’t wait to put it to good use! Many thanks.

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      September 3, 2022 at 3:25 pm

      Congrats! Seemed like a bit of a crazy time there eh?

      Reply
  115. Em says

    September 2, 2022 at 6:05 am

    Will be great to WIN this!!

    Reply
  116. David says

    September 2, 2022 at 6:20 am

    I like this.

    Reply
  117. Naomi Glatt says

    September 2, 2022 at 6:31 am

    Great tips! Enjoyed the article.

    Reply
  118. Florence Cochrane says

    September 2, 2022 at 7:00 am

    Thank you for all the amazing information. I love taking road trips with my family. We live in such a beautiful county.

    Reply
  119. Carl says

    September 2, 2022 at 7:49 am

    Looks great. Lots of ideas.

    Reply
  120. DAN says

    September 2, 2022 at 8:14 am

    water

    Reply
  121. Cindy says

    September 2, 2022 at 8:17 am

    I’d love to do a road trip across Canada

    Reply
  122. Brian Grouhel says

    September 2, 2022 at 8:59 am

    Thanks for showcasing so many beautiful places!

    Reply
  123. Candice Campbell says

    September 2, 2022 at 9:17 am

    Awesome checklist idea! I love that! I will use that for sure on my next road trip!

    Reply
  124. shannon zeidan says

    September 2, 2022 at 9:46 am

    Excellent tips. These are great to think about.

    Reply
  125. Iris Nixon says

    September 2, 2022 at 10:04 am

    Great info! Have snacks ready!

    Reply
  126. James M says

    September 2, 2022 at 10:13 am

    Looks like a lot of fun!

    Reply
  127. Nicole says

    September 2, 2022 at 10:32 am

    I can’t wait to road trip out east!!!

    Reply
  128. Debbie Beattie says

    September 2, 2022 at 10:34 am

    It’s so important to have the the vehicle in tip top shape and plans are very important

    Reply
  129. Maureen Anderson says

    September 2, 2022 at 10:57 am

    Plenty of good tips here.

    Reply
  130. Christina Ferguson says

    September 2, 2022 at 10:58 am

    Fabulous article with very important road trip information. My boyfriend and I learned the hard way years ago how important it is to always be prepared when on a road trip. We were took an impromtu back roads trip in the mountains when our truck broke down. We spent an extremely uncomfortable night without water or food in the truck and had to walk out the next morning.

    Reply
  131. Irene says

    September 2, 2022 at 11:08 am

    Great tips!! Would love to go on a road trip. Thanks for the chance!!

    Reply
  132. Charles says

    September 2, 2022 at 11:37 am

    I have travelled Coast To Coast Canada ….plus Newfoundland and P.E.I.
    There’s never a dull moment .
    Everyone should get out .
    See it for yourself.

    Reply
  133. Debora says

    September 2, 2022 at 11:41 am

    Useful information. Thanks

    Reply
  134. Gregory W says

    September 2, 2022 at 11:45 am

    Canada is awesome!!

    Reply
  135. Ted Hildebrand says

    September 2, 2022 at 12:11 pm

    I am big on planning trips. I do not like unexpected surprises, and these guides will definitely help preparation for any travel.

    Reply
  136. Megan says

    September 2, 2022 at 12:19 pm

    Wish I had money to travel

    Reply
  137. Lori Bartlett says

    September 2, 2022 at 2:07 pm

    Going on a road trip next week to Nova Scotia

    Reply
  138. C. Thomas says

    September 2, 2022 at 3:16 pm

    Good advice especially about joining CAA – totally worth it. Great contest too.

    Reply
  139. Jess Orlowski says

    September 2, 2022 at 3:23 pm

    Awesome advice

    Reply
  140. Glenda Wong says

    September 2, 2022 at 3:23 pm

    Good to know!! Thank you!!!

    Reply
    • Mesha says

      September 13, 2022 at 8:37 am

      This is a great guide!

      Reply
  141. Dennis Dubs says

    September 2, 2022 at 3:31 pm

    I’m leaving tomorrow, driving to Nova Scotia from Winnipeg

    Reply
  142. jro says

    September 2, 2022 at 5:16 pm

    thank you for the info!

    Reply
  143. Melissa says

    September 2, 2022 at 5:24 pm

    Great tips!

    Reply
  144. Fran Schwitek says

    September 2, 2022 at 8:01 pm

    So much great information! We love road trips.

    Reply
  145. Katharine W says

    September 3, 2022 at 6:32 am

    Just what I needed today.. working on our roadtrip final prep for next week. Would have loved a downloadable checklist but this is ok too! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      September 3, 2022 at 3:23 pm

      You should actually get one as part of the newsletter 🙂

      Reply
  146. Zee says

    September 3, 2022 at 1:00 pm

    Thanks for the great tips! Makes me want to jump in the car and go….

    Reply
  147. Nancy Nickerson says

    September 3, 2022 at 1:25 pm

    Yes!! A spare key is a definite must!! Lesson learned many years ago!

    Reply
  148. Marilyn C says

    September 3, 2022 at 2:55 pm

    So much great information to help keep one organized and on top of things.

    Reply
  149. wendy says

    September 4, 2022 at 5:58 am

    There is always so much to think about when traveling. You have touched on some very helpful points. Thanks!

    Reply
  150. Megan says

    September 4, 2022 at 6:35 am

    What a fabulous travel guide

    Reply
  151. KiKi says

    September 4, 2022 at 8:58 am

    I love road trips!

    Reply
  152. Penny says

    September 4, 2022 at 10:14 am

    Thanks for the chance to win this great prize

    Reply
  153. Paul McDonald says

    September 4, 2022 at 11:58 am

    Great giveaway, useful prizes.

    Reply
  154. Patsy says

    September 4, 2022 at 12:40 pm

    Thanks for the great advice!

    Reply
  155. Ed says

    September 4, 2022 at 1:04 pm

    Great tips! Can’ t wait to go on another road trip!

    Reply
  156. Jeanette Jackson says

    September 4, 2022 at 4:04 pm

    Great article. I’ll have to remember this the next time I go on a road trip

    Reply
  157. Sunny says

    September 4, 2022 at 5:21 pm

    Great ideas. Thank you

    Reply
  158. LILLIAN BROWN says

    September 4, 2022 at 5:43 pm

    great tips and information Thank You!!

    Reply
  159. velma crisante says

    September 5, 2022 at 12:19 am

    thus would be amazing to take my sister in law after all her cancer treatments

    Reply
  160. Mark Martin says

    September 5, 2022 at 2:10 am

    Great information and relevant.

    Reply
  161. Patrick Seguin says

    September 5, 2022 at 7:29 am

    Great article.

    Reply
  162. Faye says

    September 5, 2022 at 8:39 am

    Thanks for the great contest

    Reply
  163. Gord says

    September 5, 2022 at 11:28 am

    Thanks for the ton of information in this article!

    Reply
  164. Brittany Drha says

    September 5, 2022 at 12:51 pm

    I enjoyed the article! Thank you for such great information. My favourite part was the tips and advice. I’m always on the hunt for fellow travellers’ knowledge!

    Reply
  165. Laura Chorney says

    September 5, 2022 at 2:20 pm

    Wow!! Great information and ideas !!

    Reply
  166. Elizabeth Vlug says

    September 5, 2022 at 5:32 pm

    We love a good road trip and the planning. You mentioned lots of good tips. Hubby takes care of the car, and I plan most of the packing. Thanks for the article

    Reply
  167. Martin H says

    September 5, 2022 at 7:36 pm

    Awesome!!

    Reply
  168. Carole D says

    September 5, 2022 at 8:01 pm

    Great information to be road trip ready, thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  169. Melissa says

    September 5, 2022 at 8:38 pm

    who ove a road trip? what is best ? should you always bring a gas can of extra fuel along the trip or just fill up at every station in between stations?

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      September 5, 2022 at 9:39 pm

      Just fill up at the stations. Unless you’re going somewhere hardcore like the Dempster Highway in the Yukon, there’s lots of places to get gas eveyrwhere

      Reply
  170. Deanna Bolton says

    September 5, 2022 at 8:38 pm

    Awesome tips, thanks so much! 🙂

    Reply
  171. Patrick Voo says

    September 6, 2022 at 6:31 am

    Road tripping can be so much fun, and paying attention to the details can take the stress right out of it!

    Reply
  172. Marzena says

    September 6, 2022 at 12:15 pm

    So many things I didn’t realize or think of when planning a road trip.

    Reply
  173. Nicole says

    September 6, 2022 at 2:20 pm

    Road side assistance for our RV is the best thing we have purchased!

    Reply
  174. Maritess S says

    September 6, 2022 at 5:48 pm

    Good tips. Thanks.

    Reply
  175. Swapandeep Singh says

    September 6, 2022 at 5:56 pm

    Good Tips

    Reply
  176. Cheryl Turner says

    September 7, 2022 at 2:16 am

    It always surprises me when people advise using Expedia or other third party vehicles for booking. Don’t you know that you pay more by not booking direct with the airline/hotel/B and B etc? Also, I have had the experience that people who book with these sites find that they are not booked at all when they turn up.

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      September 7, 2022 at 9:39 am

      In our experience, it’s actually more when you book direct. I once looked up the price on Expedia and then called the hotel. Hotel gave me a higher price and wouldn’t take Amex. Expedia took Amex, gave me a lower price, and is much easier to cancel.

      Reply
  177. Betty S says

    September 7, 2022 at 4:53 am

    Great article, think you have covered just about every aspect of travel

    Reply
  178. Yung L says

    September 7, 2022 at 11:49 am

    Love road trips

    Reply
  179. Ming K says

    September 7, 2022 at 2:21 pm

    Very useful tips

    Reply
  180. JoKing says

    September 7, 2022 at 2:32 pm

    So many great tips even for smaller road trips.

    Reply
  181. Owen D says

    September 7, 2022 at 7:48 pm

    Bookmarked

    Reply
  182. Piero Giorno says

    September 7, 2022 at 10:01 pm

    I went on my 1st road trip back in the summer of 1972. No preparing, no planning of any kind, I just got into my Chevy Nova & headed north, all the way to North Bay. I did things as I went along, especially for the car, but somewhere along the highway, I realized that doing a trip like this had to be carefully planned out & the car in tip-top shape. I never did a road trip like this again. All my other trips were planned-out right down to the T of trip, & my car had to be checked-out, tuned-up, you name it I had it done. All of those trips were awesome & fun. I went across Canada twice & I’d give anything to do them all over again.

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      September 9, 2022 at 11:24 am

      That’s really interesting. There is something romantic though to just jumping in the car and driving hah

      Reply
  183. Emily Martin says

    September 9, 2022 at 11:40 am

    Haven’t gone on a road trip in a long time!! This definitely makes me want to schedule one in soon

    Reply
  184. Heidi c says

    September 9, 2022 at 9:47 pm

    Love seeing Canada by road so I really enjoyed this post! I have bookmarked it to refer to for future travels.

    Reply
  185. Mide says

    September 11, 2022 at 7:37 pm

    Great!

    Reply
  186. Joanne Elford says

    September 12, 2022 at 7:59 pm

    Now I really want to go on a road trip. I’ve never been to Eastern Canada or the Maritimes. That would be fun!

    Thanks for the tips!

    Reply
  187. Vicki says

    September 12, 2022 at 8:32 pm

    Thanks for all the awesome tips

    Reply
  188. Alicia says

    September 13, 2022 at 10:45 am

    These are great tips for our upcoming roadtrip thanks for the advice we will be even more prepared!

    Reply
  189. Rhonda says

    September 13, 2022 at 11:35 am

    This is great, lots of helpful info. Will hopefully travel from eastern Canada to Ontario

    Reply
  190. Louise Smith says

    September 13, 2022 at 12:12 pm

    Great tips I love road trips. So much fun to explore new places.

    Reply
  191. Andria C says

    September 14, 2022 at 9:36 am

    Wow what great tips. I already do some of these and have learned a few new ones to keep in mind for our next road trip.

    Reply
  192. Jodi says

    September 14, 2022 at 9:15 pm

    We are avid road trippers and use the ioverlander and campendium apps often.

    Reply
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