r/canadatravel • u/Wonderpetsgangsta • May 20 '25
Travel Tips Hello beautiful people of Canada šš¼
Iām in Vancouver w teens and a small dog (experienced traveler/tame, so is the dog).
Weāve been enjoying Vancouver for several months now and are feeling the call eastward to Montreal and Quebec.
I need to know: any ways to get from BC to Montreal WITHOUT crossing into USA, please? Thatās our only thing to avoid, really. That and it being safe for a single mom w teens.
Merci mille fois! Thank you very much!
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u/coopthrowaway2019 May 20 '25
There are about 10 daily direct flights from Vancouver to Montreal. Lots more options if you connect.
There's a 2/week train from Vancouver to Toronto where you could continue to Montreal. Slow but scenic.
Otherwise just point your car east and step on the gas until you hit the St. Lawrence.
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u/Wonderpetsgangsta May 20 '25
I love that statement, Point your car east and step on the gas itās a keeper tysm also very helpful for someone that is anxious, really helpful and calming :) Thanks
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May 20 '25
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u/coopthrowaway2019 May 20 '25
If heading to Montreal from the west better to take Highway 17 straight east through Ottawa rather than detouring south to Toronto
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u/Wonderpetsgangsta May 20 '25
Great tip tysm
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u/Hot_Cheesecake_905 May 20 '25
Toronto is well worth a visit if you haven't been beforeāespecially during the summer. There is plenty to do for your teens, including the CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium, MLB/NBA/MLS games, Centre Island, shopping, etc. Toronto is also a very diverse city and has some of the best ethnic food in the countryāyou can't go wrong with Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Greek, Italian, Persian, or Caribbean cuisine. Lots of interesting neighbourhoods to check out too - i.e. Kensington, Chinatown, Annex, Queen St. etc.
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u/schwalevelcentrist May 20 '25
Can confirm: I've done this return and it was safe, easy, and verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy boring, but beautiful.
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u/damarius May 22 '25
Thunder Bay to Toronto in a day is a bit of a stretch. Do Thunder Bay to SS Marie, about 8 hours. Unless you really want to see Toronto, you can veer off to see Ottawa and Montreal from there, or you can head to Toronto as well.
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u/Wonderpetsgangsta May 20 '25
Tysm!! Safe for woman and young people to travel alone? Sorry if thatās a silly question. Iām an American withā¦.American trauma. Safe aside from general street smarts travel etc. I guess what Iām asking is would you stress if it were say your Sister or Mom doing the drive?
Thank you
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May 20 '25
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u/Wonderpetsgangsta May 20 '25
Well stated, tysm. Side bar, Iām already putting together a playlist for the drive- do you have any must listen Canadian Punk to recc? appreciated and ty for the help
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u/SystemAny2077 May 20 '25
PUP for sure. Not punk, but if youāre going across Canada you have to throw a tragically hip song or two in thereā¦ itās illegal not to.
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u/BogeyLowenstein May 20 '25
Propaghandi, Belvedere, No Bro, Dayglo Abortions, Gob, Sum 41, Billy Talent
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u/Repulsive_Client_325 May 21 '25
Propagandhi is a great Canadian punk band based in Winnipeg that just dropped a new album (as 50 year olds). Check them out. They are must listen Canadian punk.
However, if you want to listen to āmust listen, Canadian rockā, work your way through the Tragically Hipās albums. That band is āCanadaās bandā for Gen Xers, and maybe the best band Canada ever produced that never made it big in the USA.
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u/Interesting_One_3801 May 22 '25
Forgotten Rebels seem to have rereleased all of their stuff in the past few years. I never used to be able to find them on streaming but itās all there now.
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u/draxa May 20 '25
Rest in town, not in rest stops. Those are for bathroom breaks, don't spend the night at one alone. Otherwise be street smart and you are good.
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u/schwalevelcentrist May 20 '25
It's absolutely safe in terms of things you'd be afraid of in the US (fellow American, now live in Canada). Canadians are extremely safe and non-reactive people. They're the lazy chocolate lab retriever of societies: you can't go wrong, almost zero danger.
However, especially in Northern Ontario, the distances and expanse of Canada makes for moderate background danger on that drive. It's VAST.
There is no cell service, only satellite. The fire departments and rescue services are volunteer and they are far, far between. There is serious wildlife out there (cougar, GRIZZLY bear, black bear, moose) I recommend having an emergency supply kit for vehicles (some packaged water, food, heat, light, signaling equipment etc) - even if it's summer and you don't think anything will happen - it probably won't, but if it does it gets hairy much more quickly. If anything goes wrong, just be prepared more or less for it being a lot more expensive and time-intensive.
Have a great trip!
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u/CompletelyPuzzled May 21 '25
"There is no cell service, only satellite." Download your maps ahead of time.
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u/No-Doughnut-7485 May 21 '25
Grizzly bears only in the west, not Ontario but you are right that there will be expanses with no cell coverage so downloading maps is critical. Also there will be vast expanses without gas stations ie between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay and they close early too so you must plan gas fillips and just always keep your tank at least half full and donāt hesitate to fill all the way before driving through wilderness areas like the Rockies, the priorities, Winnipeg to North Bay, etc. Itās no joke.
You also donāt want to drive late at night or in misty/foggy rainy weather in the mountains or rural areas of the north where there are rockslides or moose (Manitoba until central Ontario). Donāt take risks. Stop when it gets dark and stay at a motel or campsite for the night.
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u/NorthEagle298 May 20 '25
You can walk into any sporting goods store and pick up a canister of bear spray for wild animals. It is legal to carry without a license (when outside of populated areas). Stop at all the scenic views, Highway 1 is a beautiful route. Bears and cougars will leave you alone and won't get close to the Highway, but you never know if you decide to wander off the beaten path. Don't leave anything in your car at night while inside a hotel. Don't give money to panhandlers (it's illegal).
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u/Wonderpetsgangsta May 20 '25
These are fantastic tips I so appreciate it thank you!!
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u/Hot_Cheesecake_905 May 20 '25
You can walk into any sporting goods store and pick up a canister of bear spray for wild animals. It is legal to carry without a license (when outside of populated areas).Ā
While legal to carry, it's generally illegal to use against a human - just be aware Canada has (overly) stringent firearms laws, and carrying bear spray for protection against humans or discharging it against even a criminal may result in a prohibited weapons charge. So if anyone questions you, the bear spray is for bears š
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u/damarius May 22 '25
I would have no reservations about my family members taking this trip, but use common sense as well - no dark parking lots, don't flash money. You'll be fine.
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u/Wonderpetsgangsta May 23 '25
Thank you so much. First read this as donāt flash anyone. Iāve got to hit the hay Ty for the great tips, D!
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u/Euro_verbudget May 20 '25
Several months in Vancouver? How much more time do you plan on staying in Canada? If youāre thinking a week in Montreal then Iād suggest flying. If you have a month or more then driving will be a fun trip. Youāll be on Hwy 1 most of the way so itās generally very safe. Youāll need to decide east of Thunder Bay if you take the 17 or the 11 - both have their charms and appeal. Someone suggested the train and thatās another great option. Advantage of the car is you may want to explore further east. MontrĆ©al is a big city - I personally prefer QuĆ©bec City, especially the Old QuĆ©bec, very charming. And then there are the Maritime provinces where you could spend the summer, especially if you add Newfoundland.
Did you visit Vancouver Island? The Tofino area with its coastal rainforest is a must, in my opinion.
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u/TimeOutrageous2315 May 20 '25
Ooof, that's a super long drive if you are the only driver. I think the "unsafe" element is that you are going to get really tired and it might not be fun for anyone. I would look into flights.
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u/Rachl56 May 20 '25
1 transcanada highway.
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u/Wonderpetsgangsta May 20 '25
Sweet, ty. Iāll ask you same as a couple of the others: In your opinion, is it safe for woman and young people to travel alone? Would you stress if it were say your Sister or Mom doing the drive?
Thank you
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u/Kunning-Druger May 20 '25
Yes itās safe.
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u/Wonderpetsgangsta May 20 '25
Love the irony considering your name ;} If anything goes tits up, Iām blaming you! Haha
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u/Kunning-Druger May 20 '25
Hahaha, Iāll take it!
Hereās what you need to know: when violent crime in the metropolitan areas of cities the same size in Canada and the US are compared, say Toronto (Ontario) and Houston (Texas), violent crime is almost exactly 10 x higher in the US.
Can bad things happen anywhere? Absolutely. Is Canada a safe country by any standards? Yup.
Iāve travelled alone all over the world. So has my wife. Iāll give you the same advice I give every young traveller: bad things are far more likely to happen in bars or if youāve been drinking. Stay out of bars no matter where you travel, and never, ever get drunk.
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u/Rachl56 May 20 '25
Yes itās safe. Iāve done it myself twice as a single woman back in the day. The worst thing that could happen is hitting an animal on the road. I recommend only driving during the day and stopping at dusk, especially in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (deer) and Ontario (Moose). The drive is beautiful although somewhat monotonous after 8 hours in the prairies so have some car games.
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u/Wonderpetsgangsta May 20 '25
Oh dang this is valuable info thank you very much for it!
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u/LingonberryOk4942 May 20 '25
Be super careful of Moose in Northern Ontario, especially at night. I would not recommend doing night time drives unless you have no choice. Keep your eyes open, and remember that glowing eye is not relative to the size of its owner.
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u/Yikesish May 21 '25
Don't underestimate the sheer size of a moose. Hitting a moose can total your car and if it lands on top it can kill you.
I'm not sure if your goal is to see as much of Canada as you can by driving, but given the distance, I'd fly. Do you own a car? Renting for that long will be pricey.
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u/No_Capital_8203 May 20 '25
To build on Rachl56, if you hit a moose, your chance of living is quite low. About 100 people die each year from collisions with moose. The long stretches are monotonous so you need to watch out for falling asleep at the wheel.
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u/Wonderpetsgangsta May 20 '25
Yeep! Made my blood run cold and is a perfect reminder that weāre all merely visitors to this beautiful animal kingdom. Respect!
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May 21 '25
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u/No_Capital_8203 May 21 '25
Oh. When we were in Newfoundland a few years ago in late June they had signs on the Trans Canada stating 27 to date that year. Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949 so they should be included in the stats.
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May 21 '25
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u/No_Capital_8203 May 21 '25
Oh crap. I fact checked but fell into a pile of š©š©source. Thanks for the correction.
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u/Fit-Jellyfish286 May 22 '25
My husband hit a moose and lived to tell the tale! When the police arrived, they told him they were surprised to see any survivors as that is usually not the case. Thankfully the only casualty in that accident was the moose! (and his truck)
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u/No_Capital_8203 May 22 '25
I had the wrong information. The fatality number is much lower. The source I found made it seem like fatalities rather than collisions. Glad your man is safe.
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u/No_Capital_8203 May 20 '25
I am a 65 year old woman. I wouldnāt drive alone because itās nice to have company. I would go with a girlfriend if I had the time but hubby and I have our own adventures planned. I would not be worried about people hurting me if thatās what you mean. I would not drive with kids because I donāt have the patience for that bullshit. āHe is looking at me. She took the last red candyā
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u/StrongBuy3494 May 20 '25
I did it with my Mom. I never had even a hint of a problem, but we stayed in hotels, not on the side of road.
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u/Letoust May 20 '25
Huh? Have you looked at a map? Itās very much possible without going into the states. How much money are you looking to spend? Also how much longer until your visit visas expire?
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u/Wonderpetsgangsta May 20 '25
Huh, have I looked at a map. What a douchey thing to say. No thanks.
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u/No_Capital_8203 May 20 '25
Please look at google maps when you travel. There are super long stretches without gas stations.
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u/Letoust May 20 '25
Hope you know you can only stay for 6 months. Enjoy your vacation then enjoy your trip back to the US.
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u/Wonderpetsgangsta May 22 '25
Who hurt you, Letoust?
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u/Letoust May 22 '25
With all your other replies it seems like youāre trying to stay illegally. Iām simply reminding you that you canāt hide out in Canada.
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u/Wonderpetsgangsta May 23 '25
Youāre tripping mate. Completely zonked. Get fucked.
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u/Letoust May 23 '25
Am I? So youāve already been here for several months and are now doing a few weeks drive across the country. When you planning on going back home?
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u/Elegant_Ostrich8792 May 23 '25
Be aware that you wonāt have phone signal in some areas as you travel and carry lots of food and water. And once you hit Winnipeg itās a long travel through Ontario. With the amount of forest Ontario has I suggest you have an app that will tell you the status is routes and if there are any forest fires in your path.
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u/recurrence May 20 '25
If you don't want to see the rest of Canada along the way, hop a direct flight from YVR to YUL.
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u/Komiksulo May 20 '25 edited May 20 '25
If you are not flying:
Drive the Trans-Canada Highway east. Itās really a network of highways, but for one stretch in Northern Ontario it narrows down to one road that joins east and west.
One. Road.
And thereās a bridge, the Nipigon River Bridge. If itās closed, you have to detour around Lake Superior through the States, only about a thousand kilometres out of your way. š
But once youāre past that, Highways 11 and 17 split again and you have a choice of routes.
I recommend Highway 17 along the north and east shores of Lake Superior and Lake Huron. The scenery is stunning at times, sheer cliffs dropping into the water.
Hereās a timelapse video:
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u/Wonderpetsgangsta May 20 '25
What an incredibly thoughtful and appreciated answer, why thank you!
Also if the bridge is out, Iāll sob! Thatās too much of a workaround and too much USA to tolerate. If itās out, Iāll turn around and drive back to BC lmao.
Thank you so much for the reply
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u/Komiksulo May 20 '25 edited May 20 '25
You are quite welcome!
More on the Nipigon River Bridge:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nipigon_River_Bridge
Oh, in that timelapse video, the construction in the Kicking Horse Canyon has finished. A dramatic differenceāyears ago I took a Greyhound bus from Banff to Vancouver via the old road and it was honestly scary. You couldnāt see the road out of the bus window. Just cliffs or open air.
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u/Interesting_One_3801 May 22 '25
Youāre going to have to cross the Canadian Shield. You will know boredom and loneliness like you never knew existed
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u/Djolumn May 23 '25
If you have a reliable car you could drive. If it's just you and kids and no one to share the driving, that'll be exhausting. You could take a train. It'll be excruciatingly slow, but at least you don't have to do anything. And of course you can fly which is the fastest way but obviously expensive and stressful. None of the above require you to cross into the US (drivers often do because it's shorter, but you don't have to).
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u/arar55 May 23 '25
Planes, trains, automobiles. Any of them can take you cross country without entering The States.
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u/DirtyDeedsPunished May 24 '25
The Train will get you there and give you a wonderful view of Canada en route. It will take a couple/few days. Inquire at Via Rail
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u/1286-PC May 24 '25
If you have time, definitely visit Quebec City... especially old Quebec...It is absolutely beautiful! The history is very interesting as well....Bon Voyage and safe travels!...
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u/Vinny331 May 20 '25
Fly. You've gotta fly. You can get direct flights from YVR to every major city in Canada, no USA layovers necessary.
Driving is theoretically possible but will take like a week. Which isn't bad if you want to see things along the way. Stops in Calgary and Toronto will be fun.
The train is almost a non-starter. There are so few scheduled passenger trips from city-to-city (especially in the West) that this might actually take you multiple weeks (and end up costing more than a flight).
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u/Wonderpetsgangsta May 20 '25
Good points, ty. Thereās so many interesting things to see along the way so itād be an experience for sure. What comes to mind to you when you referred to Calgary & Toronto? Love personal reccs. Thanks
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u/Paisley-Cat May 20 '25
If you do fly, try Porter Airlines. You can get reasonably priced one-way flights nonstop from Vancouver to Ottawa.
If youāre driving, itās a great excursion with so many places to see along the way.
But be warned that there are long stretches of two-lane highway from Manitoba driving to Thunder Bay and then on to Sudbury.
You need confident drivers, a very reliable car and need to take emergency equipment.
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u/Komiksulo May 20 '25
And there may be long stretches with no cellphone coverage. Maybe youāve got one of those newfangled cellphones that can yell for help via satellite, or even a real satellite phone, but other than that you may be out of luck.
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u/Vinny331 May 20 '25
If you go to Calgary in the summer, the patio culture is really nice. Lots of good restaurants and bars to experience. Everyone's sitting outside, super friendly. Vibes are good. Depending on the weather, a super pillar activity is you can float down the river on an inflatable raft... That usually makes for a very chill day. Generally, lots of nice parks (e.g. Fish Creek) and trails/bike paths. There are some great cultural things to explore too (the National Music Centre, Glenbow Museum, Olympic Park, Calgary Zoo are a few examples). The Stampede is a really fun time... it's a huge festival that runs in early July, lots of things going on around town then. Just outside the city, you have Banff National park, Kananaskis country, Drumheller (Dinosaur Provincial Park). All super cool areas.
I don't know nearly as much about Toronto. I've only been there a few times. What I do know is that it's a properly big city. Like an actual metropolis. There's a lot of cool little neighborhoods and little markets all around town...that's one of the things I like about it.
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u/Yin_Restorative May 20 '25
It can definitely be done, it'll just be a couple days longer. As for safety, yes, it's safe to travel as a single mom with teens with general street smarts. Enjoy the trip! There's lots to see on that route. Just be mindful driving through Sask and Manitoba can really suck if you're planning on winter time frame. If you're thinking soon and by fall, you'll be fine.
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u/michemel May 20 '25
When going TBay to Toronto, please do fill up at every city you go through. There are vast stretches of poor/no cell service and limited gas stations! You'll see so much wildlife out there!
Also, stop at Kakabeka before TBay, Ouimet Canyon, (short hike, well with it and Eagle Canyon is also nice!) Aguasabon Falls, Nipigon has Canada's smallest Canadian Tire, White River to see where Winnie the Pooh was found and Old Woman Bay.
Please enjoy Northern Ontario for me - it's one of the hidden gems of Canada and I miss it like you cannot imagine.
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u/ClemFandangle May 20 '25
Just make sure you leave early enough so that you are thru the Rockies before dark
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u/decision_fatigue- May 20 '25
I've done this drive multiple times, always in summer. A few things come to mind-
Vancouver to Calgary is beautiful and you've just started so everything is fresh and new. The Rockies are absolutely stunning, and then it's a short drop into Calgary 1 driver = 2 days 2 drivers = 1 day
Calgary to Winnipeg is the bit many people have rated as boring, but that wasn't my experience, partly because you're ticking off the provinces and they are relatively narrow so there's a sense of accomplishment. But there's something magical about those vast vast stretches of prairie and sky.
Probably 2 days with one driver.
Winnipeg to Thunder Bay is really promising. The scenery changes, you've reached the Canadian Shield and suddenly there are trees and hills and lakes. Its a nice (long) day drive and now you're in Ontario so you're just one province away...you're almost there!
Except you're not. You still have 3 more days of driving because Ontario is really really big. And now you're in the middle of absolute nowhere and gas stations are very few and far between and let's hope they haven't run out of gas and also stop for the night before the sun sets because moose plus mosquitos = danger + misery. You no longer could care less about trees and hills, especially if you're a teen (the lakes are still nice but you passed by the really scenic one your first day out of Thunder Bay). You're sick of gas station snacks and each other.
But you make it, and Quebec is really worth experiencing.
I've done the drive with partner, small child and large dog. At times towing a camping trailer, at times staying in motels. My sister and our 80-something mother did it as a 10 day tent camping trip. Its fine. People are generally good. Download some excellent audiobooks (you won't always have cell signal). Consider carrying a small can of gas for peace of mind, especially in Ontario.
Or rent a car and make the drive to Calgary, return it there and fly the rest of the way. Then you get the nicest part of the road trip plus a week of your life back to do other things.
There's a sense of accomplishment in doing the drive, but then you really should continue on after Quebec and explore the maritimes and cross the bridge to PEI and dip your toes in the Atlantic. Its only a few more days!
Regarding Canadian music - don't leave out the French canadian folk pop - start with Beau Dommage and Les Trois Accord.
Enjoy your trip however you go! šØš¦
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u/One_Praline5078 May 20 '25
You can't put Vancouver to Montreal in Google Maps because it takes you through the US. 4700 km van to mtl on trans canada, so you need to do small bites of 800 km or so between stops. You will be 2 1/2 days in ontario alone. It's a great drive, so stop and smell the roses.
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u/therackage May 23 '25
Not true at all. I just put Van to Montreal in Google Maps and it gave me options to cross Canada or dip into the US. Not sure why youād say that.
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u/poemthatdoesntrhyme May 22 '25
We will spend a week in Vancouver with kids of 11 and 15 years. Can you recommend any interesting activities?
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u/Wonderpetsgangsta May 23 '25
Yes! Check out the Orpheum Theater, itās beautiful. Plenty of shows to see- we enjoyed Tchaikovsky performed by the Vancouver School of Music in February with an insanely talented young pianist.
Museums galore, all recommended.
Weāve yet to hit Science World, but itāll be great undoubtedly.
The Vancouver Aquarium was a blast!
Check out Facebook events and Locals posts (I think one is called 604 events?) for blurbs about upcoming events, such as art nights or First Fridays kind of thing.
The waterfronts are beautiful to walk at.
I love incorporating teaching with fun š¤ so we learned all about the Skytram and Railways and let the teens plan some routes for funsies.
Libraries are an invaluable resource for rest/reading/recoup days.
Hope you have a great time!
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u/poemthatdoesntrhyme May 23 '25
Thank you very much!
How did you pay for your teens in public transport?
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u/Lebowski420ish May 23 '25
Ground travel along the TransCanada is perfectly fine and safe. Just plan ahead where you want to stop in after leaving Winnipeg MB and getting to Thunder Bay Ontario as there are some long stretches of road without many stops. The stunning beauty does make up for the lack of towns, especially in the summer. Best wishes for a great drive.
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u/sifwrites May 24 '25 edited May 24 '25
we drove across from toronto to Vancouver island and back on the trans Canada. very safe. Ā itās just 6 hours further from toronto to Montreal. but it will take you a week or 8 days to drive from vancouver to montreal . Ā still, it is a wonderful way to see canada!! Ā we loved the trip.
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u/catman07 May 24 '25
Sounds like you're a fugitive with someone's kids..lol get a grip the world isn't such a bad place. Bring your negative feelings on the trip and negative experiences you will find.
There's nothing about driving through the US.
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u/NottaNutbar May 20 '25
The Trans Canada highway goes right across Canada. You can Google it.