Plan Your Trip

Canada is bigger than it looks

Canada covers about 3.85 million square miles (9.98 million km²), which makes it the second-largest country on Earth and a little larger than the United States. The difference is that most of that land is forest, tundra, mountain and lake, and most Canadians live in a band within a few hours' drive of the US border. The cities you have heard of sit far apart along that band.

Some numbers help. Toronto to Vancouver is about 2,700 miles (4,400 km) by road, and the flight takes roughly five hours westbound. Halifax to Vancouver is a longer flight than New York to Los Angeles. VIA Rail's train The Canadian takes four nights to cross from Toronto to Vancouver, and that only covers part of the country. Newfoundland runs on its own time zone, 30 minutes ahead of Atlantic time and 90 minutes ahead of New York.

So the single best planning decision you can make is to choose one region, or two that connect easily, and give them real time. A week split between Banff and Montreal means two long flights and two jet-lagged arrivals. A week in the Rockies, or a week between Montreal and Quebec City, means you actually see the place.

Choosing a region

Start with what you want from the trip and how you want to get there. If you want to drive from home, look at the region closest to your state. If you are flying, the major hubs are Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL), Vancouver (YVR) and Calgary (YYC), with good nonstop service from US cities to all four. See Flights for routes and Regions for the full map.

Planning timeline: what to book how far ahead

Canada's summer season is short and intense, and several of its most famous places run on limited capacity. A city trip to Montreal or Toronto can be planned a few weeks out. A July trip to the Rockies cannot. Use this table as a rough guide and lean earlier for July, August and holiday weekends (see When to go).

What the Rockies shuttle and park entry cost

For 2026, the Lake Louise and Moraine Lake shuttle cost C$12.75 (about $9) for adults, C$6 (about $4) for seniors and C$4 (about $3) for youth, plus a non-refundable reservation fee of C$3.50 online or C$5.50 by phone. One ticket covers both lakes, the connector bus between them and the ride back to the Park and Ride, where parking is free for ticket holders. Park admission is separate: Banff's daily fee was C$12.25 (about $9) per adult or C$24.50 (about $18) per vehicle-load of up to seven people. If you will spend a week or more in national parks, the annual Parks Canada Discovery Pass at C$83.50 (about $60) per adult or C$167.50 (about $120) per family or group usually pays for itself. See National parks.

How many days each classic trip needs

These are realistic numbers for people who like to see things without rushing. "Minimum" means you will see the highlights and feel a little hurried. Add a day for every long drive you plan.

Six sample routes

Each route below works as a first trip, starts at a major airport or an easy drive from the US, and keeps daily driving reasonable. For more road-trip versions with overnight stops, see Road trips, and to shape your own, try the trip builder.

1. A long weekend in Montreal (3 days)

Fly into Montreal-Trudeau (YUL), then take the 747 express bus or a taxi downtown, or drive up from New York or New England. You do not need a car in the city, and parking is expensive and confusing. See Montreal and brush up with French for travelers.

1. Day 1

   Old Montreal and the Old Port

   Walk the cobbled streets of Vieux-Montréal, visit Notre-Dame Basilica, and eat dinner in the old town or nearby Griffintown.

2. Day 2

   Mount Royal and the Plateau

   Climb Mount Royal for the city view, then wander the Plateau and Mile End for bagels, smoked meat and murals. Evening in the Quartier des Spectacles, especially during festival season.

3. Day 3

   Markets and museums

   Jean-Talon Market in the morning, then the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts or Pointe-à-Callière, and a last dinner before heading home. See Food.

2. Toronto and Niagara (4–5 days)

Fly into Toronto Pearson (YYZ) or Billy Bishop downtown (YTZ), or drive in over the Buffalo or Detroit crossings. Niagara Falls is about 80 miles (130 km) from downtown Toronto, roughly 90 minutes without traffic, and GO Transit runs trains and buses between Union Station and Niagara Falls if you would rather not drive. See Toronto and Niagara.

1. Day 1

   Downtown Toronto

   The waterfront, the CN Tower, St. Lawrence Market and dinner in Chinatown or Little Italy.

2. Day 2

   Neighborhoods and museums

   Kensington Market, the Royal Ontario Museum or the Art Gallery of Ontario, and an evening ferry to the Toronto Islands for the skyline view.

3. Day 3

   Niagara Falls

   Head to the falls early, take the boat ride into the mist and walk the Canadian side's promenade, which has the classic view of the Horseshoe Falls.

4. Day 4

   Niagara-on-the-Lake

   A 20-minute drive downriver to the wine country, the historic main street and the Shaw Festival theater season. Stay over, or drive back to Toronto or home across the border.

3. Quebec City and Charlevoix (5 days)

Fly into Québec City (YQB), or fly into Montreal and take VIA Rail (about 3 hours 15 minutes) or drive (about 160 miles, 250 km, roughly 3 hours). You will want a car for Charlevoix. See Quebec City and Quebec regions.

1. Day 1

   Old Quebec

   The walled upper town, the Château Frontenac terrace, the Petit-Champlain quarter and the funicular between them.

2. Day 2

   Plains of Abraham and the city beyond the walls

   The battlefield park, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, and dinner in Saint-Roch or Saint-Jean-Baptiste.

3. Day 3

   Montmorency Falls and Île d'Orléans

   The falls are 15 minutes from downtown. Cross the bridge to the island for farm stands, cider, cheese and chocolate.

4. Day 4

   Baie-Saint-Paul

   About 60 miles (95 km) east along the St. Lawrence. Galleries, food producers and big river views. Stay in Baie-Saint-Paul or La Malbaie.

5. Day 5

   Charlevoix or Tadoussac

   Hike in Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie, or continue to Baie-Sainte-Catherine and the free ferry across the Saguenay to Tadoussac for a whale-watching trip from late spring to fall. Return to Quebec City.

4. Vancouver, Whistler and Victoria (7 days)

Fly into Vancouver (YVR), or drive up from Seattle, about three hours including a typical border wait. The SkyTrain's Canada Line runs from the airport to downtown. See Vancouver, Whistler and Vancouver Island.

1. Days 1–2

   Vancouver

   Stanley Park by bike, Granville Island, Gastown and Chinatown, and a ride up Grouse Mountain or a walk across the Capilano or Lynn Canyon suspension bridges.

2. Days 3–4

   Sea-to-Sky Highway and Whistler

   Whistler is about 75 miles (120 km) north, roughly two hours with stops at Shannon Falls and the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish. Ride the Peak 2 Peak Gondola in summer, or ski in winter.

3. Day 5

   Ferry to Victoria

   Drive back south to the Tsawwassen terminal and take BC Ferries to Swartz Bay, a crossing of about 1 hour 35 minutes. Downtown Victoria is about 30 minutes from the terminal. Reserve in summer.

4. Days 6–7

   Victoria

   The Inner Harbour, the Royal BC Museum, Butchart Gardens and a whale-watching trip. Fly home from Victoria (YYJ), take the ferry back, or ride a floatplane from harbor to harbor.

5. Banff and Jasper (7–8 days)

Fly into Calgary (YYC) and rent a car. Banff is about 80 miles (128 km) west, roughly 90 minutes. You will need a park pass from the moment you enter. See The Rockies and Calgary.

1. Day 1

   Calgary to Banff

   Drive in, check in, and walk Banff Avenue, the Bow Falls trail and the Banff Gondola or Cave and Basin.

2. Day 2

   Around Banff

   Johnston Canyon early, then Lake Minnewanka and the Bow Valley Parkway. Watch for elk and bears on the roadsides.

3. Day 3

   Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

   Use your reserved shuttle. Hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House above Lake Louise, then ride the connector to Moraine Lake.

4. Day 4

   Yoho

   Cross into British Columbia for Emerald Lake, the Natural Bridge and Takakkaw Falls, about 30 to 45 minutes from Lake Louise.

5. Day 5

   The Icefields Parkway

   About 143 miles (230 km) from Lake Louise to Jasper, roughly three and a half hours without stops. With Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Falls, plan on a full day. There is no cell service for long stretches and only one gas stop, at Saskatchewan River Crossing, which is seasonal.

6. Days 6–7

   Jasper

   Lakes, canyons, wildlife and some of the darkest skies in the Rockies. Jasper lost about a third of its town buildings in the July 2024 wildfire and is rebuilding. The town and park are open and your visit supports it, but check Parks Canada for trails and areas still closed after the fire before you set your plan.

7. Day 8

   Out

   Drive to Edmonton (about 225 miles, 365 km, four hours) and fly home, or loop back to Calgary down the Parkway. One-way rentals carry a drop fee.

6. The Nova Scotia loop (8–10 days)

Fly into Halifax (YHZ), or drive up through Maine and New Brunswick. In summer, The CAT ferry from Bar Harbor, Maine, to Yarmouth is another way in; check this season's schedule. See Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and PEI.

1. Days 1–2

   Halifax

   The waterfront boardwalk, the Citadel, Pier 21 and seafood. Drive out to Peggy's Cove, about 27 miles (43 km), early or late to avoid tour buses.

2. Day 3

   Lunenburg and the South Shore

   Mahone Bay and the colorful UNESCO-listed old town of Lunenburg, about 60 miles (100 km) from Halifax.

3. Day 4

   Annapolis Valley

   Cut across to Wolfville for wineries, the Grand-Pré site that tells the story of the Acadian deportation, and the Fundy tides.

4. Days 5–7

   Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail

   Baddeck is about 220 miles (355 km) from Halifax, roughly four hours. The Cabot Trail loop runs about 185 miles (298 km) through Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Give it two days, with a night in Chéticamp or Ingonish.

5. Days 8–10

   Back to Halifax, or on to PEI

   Return to Halifax, or take the summer ferry from Caribou, Nova Scotia, to Prince Edward Island and leave over the Confederation Bridge (the toll is paid on the way off the island).

Combining a trip with a drive across the border

For millions of Americans, the easiest Canada trip starts in the driveway. Seattle to Vancouver, Buffalo to Toronto, Detroit to Windsor, Burlington or Plattsburgh to Montreal, and the Maine crossings into New Brunswick are all short, familiar drives. A road trip also solves the rental-car problem, since taking a US rental into Canada and returning it in Canada can be very expensive.

Classic drive-in trips

• Seattle to Vancouver and Whistler. About 140 miles (225 km) to Vancouver via the Peace Arch or Pacific Highway crossings. Amtrak Cascades also runs this route.
• Buffalo to Niagara and Toronto. Cross at the Peace Bridge, Rainbow Bridge or Lewiston–Queenston Bridge. Niagara Falls is minutes from the border.
• New York or Boston to Montreal. About six hours from New York City via I-87, and about five from Boston via I-89. Amtrak's Adirondack runs from New York to Montreal.
• New England to the Maritimes. Cross at Calais–St. Stephen or Houlton–Woodstock into New Brunswick, then on to Nova Scotia and PEI.
• Montana or Washington to the Rockies. Glacier National Park connects with Waterton Lakes in Alberta, and the drive north to Banff takes about five hours from the border.

What to sort out before you drive

• Your US driver's license is valid for visits. Call your insurer to confirm your policy covers Canada and carry proof of insurance.
• If you rent, confirm in writing that the company lets the car into Canada.
• Speed limits and distances are in kilometers, gas is sold by the liter, and right turns on red are banned on the island of Montreal. Winter tires are legally required on Quebec-registered cars, including rentals, from December 1 to March 15 and on many British Columbia highways in winter. See Driving.
• Check wait times before you leave and pick your crossing accordingly. See Crossing the border and the CBSA border wait times.
• On the way home, you face US customs, and some things that are legal in Canada, cannabis above all, cannot come back with you. See Shopping and bringing things home.

Documents checklist

US citizens do not need a visa or an eTA for a tourist trip to Canada. What you do need depends on how you travel. The full rules, including what you can bring, are on the Entry page.

• Flying: a valid US passport book, or a NEXUS card. A passport card does not work for flights.
• Driving, walking or arriving by boat: a passport book, passport card, NEXUS card, or an enhanced driver's license from a state that issues them (Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington).
• Children under 16 crossing by land or sea: proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate. A passport is simplest.
• A child traveling with one parent, grandparents or another adult: a signed consent letter from the absent parent or parents, with contact details.
• US green card holders: your green card plus a valid passport from your country of citizenship.
• Any criminal record, including one DUI: find out if you are inadmissible well before you go. Canada treats impaired driving as a serious crime.
• Proof of car insurance, your rental agreement if it allows Canada, and your driver's license.
• Travel medical insurance. US health plans and Medicare often do not cover care in Canada, and you pay non-resident rates. See Health.
• Prescription medication in original labeled containers.
• Pet vaccination records if your dog or cat is coming. See Pets.
• Optional: the Advance CBSA Declaration in the ArriveCAN app or online, which can speed you through at major airports.

Budget pointers

At US$1 to about C$1.40, Canada often feels a bit cheaper than an equivalent US trip, especially for food and mid-range hotels. Summer in the Rockies and Whistler is the exception, where room rates rival the priciest US national park gateways. Full detail is on the Money page and the budget tool.

• Prices are shown before sales tax. Depending on the province, tax adds 5% (Alberta and the territories) to 15% (most of Atlantic Canada). Ontario's HST is 13%, Nova Scotia's is 14% since its April 2025 cut, and Quebec adds about 15% combined.
• Tipping works as at home. Plan on 15% to 20% at sit-down restaurants, calculated on the pre-tax total.
• Cards work almost everywhere. Visa and Mastercard are universal; American Express is accepted less often. Use a card without foreign transaction fees and always choose to pay in Canadian dollars when a terminal offers you US dollars.
• Hotel tiers. On this site, $ means under C$150 a night for two, $$ C$150–300, $$$ C$300–550 and $$$$ over C$550. In July and August, many standard rooms in Banff, Lake Louise and Whistler land in the top two tiers.
• Park fees add up. Daily admission, shuttle seats, parking and campsites are separate charges. A Discovery Pass covers admission only.
• Watch for summer passes. From June 19 to September 7, 2026, the federal Canada Strong Pass gave every visitor free admission to Parks Canada sites, 25% off Parks Canada camping, and free VIA Rail travel for children with an adult. It was a summer program, so check in spring whether it returns in 2027.

First-trip basics

Canada feels familiar, which is exactly why the small differences catch Americans off guard. These are the ones that come up on almost every first trip.

• Metric everywhere. Temperatures in Celsius, speeds in km/h, distances in kilometers, gas by the liter, deli meat by the gram. A quick rule: 100 km/h is 62 mph, 20°C is 68°F, and C$1.50 a liter works out to about $4.05 a US gallon. See Converters.
• Taxes at the register. The shelf price is never the final price. See Money.
• French in Quebec. French is the official language of Quebec and the law requires French on signs and menus. In Montreal and Quebec City, most people in hotels and restaurants also speak English. Start with "Bonjour" and you will be met halfway. See French.
• Distances are real. Google's driving times assume no stops, no construction and no wildlife on the road. In the mountains and the Maritimes, add a third.
• Coins and cash. The C$1 coin is the loonie, the C$2 coin is the toonie, and there are no pennies, so cash totals are rounded to the nearest five cents.
• Drinking age. 18 in Quebec, Alberta and Manitoba, 19 everywhere else. See Drinks.
• Phones and plugs. Plugs and voltage match the US. Many US phone plans include Canada at no extra charge; check yours. See Staying connected.
• Emergencies. Dial 911, as at home. The US Embassy is in Ottawa, with consulates in several major cities. See Safety.
• Holidays. Canada's holidays differ from ours. Thanksgiving is in October, and long weekends such as Victoria Day in May fill campgrounds and border lanes. See When to go.
• Courtesy. Canadians tend to be polite, reserved and quick to apologize, and they notice when visitors assume Canada is just like the US. See Etiquette.

Mistakes first-timers make

1. Trying to see too much. Toronto, Banff and Vancouver in ten days means three flights and a lot of airport time. Two regions is the realistic limit for a trip of that length.
2. Booking the Rockies in spring for that summer. By April, the best-value July rooms in Banff and Jasper are often gone, and Moraine Lake has no private car access at all. Book rooms the fall before with free cancellation, and reserve the shuttle on launch day.
3. Forgetting about a DUI. Even an old impaired-driving conviction can get you turned back at the border. Sort it out months ahead.
4. Ignoring the season. Moraine Lake is often still frozen in early June, many Cabot Trail businesses close by mid-October, and the Rideau Canal Skateway depends on a cold enough winter. Match your trip to the region's season.
5. Driving a car into Montreal or Toronto just to park it. Both cities are easiest on foot and by transit. Pick up a car the day you leave town.
6. Assuming your health plan covers you. A broken ankle on a trail can mean an ambulance, an ER visit and a bill at non-resident rates. Buy travel medical insurance.
7. Booking non-refundable in fire season. In 2026, about 4.5 million hectares (11 million acres) burned across Canada. If you are traveling in July or August, keep some flexibility in your bookings.