What You Need to Know For a Road Trip Around Canada

Although the USA might be the country best known for its road trips, if you are looking to travel somewhere a little different, Canada is one of the best countries to road trip around. Not only is it a large, diverse country with a number of exciting destinations, but it is also bursting with beautiful wildlife and landscapes that are sure to make your drives spectacular from the moment you get into the car.

The Best Routes

Canada is so vast that it can be difficult to choose the road trip route that is right for you and your family. Then, it is important that you are able to research the best road trip routes in Canada before you set off, or else you may find that you miss many of the popular, and best, road trip locations in the country.

If you are looking to follow in the steps of many travelers before you and road trip along the most famous road in Canada, you should opt for the Cabot Trail, which stretches along Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Not only will this 300km journey take you on a sea view loop, meeting many exciting stops, such as historic villages and landmarks, along the way, but it is also home to many popular hiking trails that you can enjoy when you need to stretch your legs.

If you want to take an extensive period of time off work to explore this beautiful country, you should opt for the Trans-Canada Highway, which winds from Victoria in British Columbia to St Johns in Newfoundland, opening you up to a number of amazing wildlife experiences and never-ending prairie landscapes that encapsulate the heart of rural Canada.

Another popular route is the Sea to Sky Highway in British Columbia. This road allows you to view astonishing coastlines, seeing the best of both the oceans and the mountains in the shockingly diverse landscapes of BC.

The Right Transportation

Next, the right transportation is vital if you are going to ensure that you have a successful trip, and RVs are one of the most popular options for those who are looking at planning a road trip through Canada. RVs can help you to save money on a Canadian road trip due to their multi-purpose usage as both transportation and accommodation, meaning that you can have both for the price of one. Not only this, but RVs are the traditional option for the nomadic lifestyle, allowing you to indulge in a peaceful adventure away from the crowded resorts and hotels that you might otherwise choose to stay in.

If you plan to go on many road trips in your lifetime, why not look for the perfect RV for sale, with Cruise America having a number of bases within Canada itself?

The Legal Requirements

However, whether you are entering Canada from the US or another country, it is important that you are able to check the legal requirements of your stay before you visit. One of the most important of these that are particular to road trips, is that you need to make sure you have the right car insurance for your vehicle. This will ensure that if you are in an accident or if your car sustains damage, you will be able to receive compensation for this from a registered source. This will enable you to secure both yours and the other driver’s financial security when driving in Canada, or any other country.

You also need to ensure that you have the right visa to enter Canada. These differ depending on what country you are visiting Canada from. However, if you are a citizen of the United States, then you do not have to get a visa for the first 180 days of your visit unless you are pairing your vacation with school or work. However, if you are crossing the border of the US as part of your road trip, you will need to be aware of border crossing requirements, such as your passport and driving license.

The Driving Laws

Driving in Canada can be different from driving in the USA. If you hold a driving license in the US and are under 16, in states such as North Carolina, it is important that you know that you cannot drive in Canada until you are at least 16 years old.

Although the driving age is the same in most states, with some slight variations, the way that speed limits are displayed is different and may take some getting used to. Instead of the speed being displayed in miles per hour, Canada displays its speed limits in kilometers per hour, which can be confusing for USA and UK drivers. For instance, 80km would actually be 50mph.

There are also slight changes in the way that you should drive. For instance, in the state of Montreal, you cannot turn right on red lights, and some road signs in Quebec may be displayed only in French, although most are in both languages.

The Seasonal Hazards

One aspect which many road-trippers do not consider when visiting Canada is the seasonal changes that may affect your driving. Canada has may extreme seasons, with Canada’s winter weather being extremely cold and snowy. You should aim to choose warmer seasons in which to road trip to avoid discomfort due to the cold. You also need to take into account the fact that the cold weather can affect driving conditions, with the risk of snow leaving you stranded or at a much higher risk of being involved in an accident.

The snow can also change the types of equipment that’ll need to you pack in your road trip essentials, with items such as snow shovels being important precautionary items if you are planning to take to the road in bad weather. Not only this, but some roads may be closed due to bad weather in the winter season, and you should always check these before you travel to avoid issues.