Suggestions for Cross Canada Drive with Kids - Practical Advice & Stops to Make/Avoid

[Howie_16]

Throwing this out to the CP Community, expecting more than a few to question my sanity...

I am a teacher who has often flown to Nova Scotia to visit my wife's parents extended family with our 3 children (age range is 6 to 11) in past summers. For this upcoming summer of 2023, my wife & I are strongly considering driving out to the Maritimes through Canada, then back to Calgary through the United States. We have always wanted to do this at least once as a family, and we know that this window of time will not remain open forever.

We definitely are not planning to drive to save on the price of flights (We are keenly aware that it costs much more to fly to Halifax than it does to Europe... ) nor to get there as quickly as possible. Instead, my rough estimate currently looks like this:

• 10-14 days driving East through Canada
• 10-21 days in the Maritimes (Staying with family, so no additional accomodation costs unless we travel within the Maritimes)
• 10-14 days driving West through the United States

My wife is not a teacher, so we will also look at such things as having her fly out to Winnipeg to meet us or back home from a place like Minneapolis in order to maximize her vacation time.

We will enter the US at St. Stephen's NB/Calais ME. The one stop I really want to make is Cooperstown NY for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Other than that, our itinerary is extremely flexible, which is why I am open to your suggestions. While we have ideas of our own right now, I am interested to discover what my fellow Puckers will suggest for us!

And go!!!

[Fuzz]

When you say Maritimes do you include Newfoundland? For the drive back through the States, I'd budget less time and try to get it over with once you hit what you want out east. The trip through North Dakota is pretty dull. Keep your wife with you for the way home so you can share driving and just get it over with! It's 24 hours of driving from Chicago, so you can push through pretty quick if you want.

The alternative is to try to enjoy it, and there are things to do, probably more west into Montana. But I'd dedicate a separate trip for that stuff. Maximize your time out east.

[Howie_16]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

When you say Maritimes do you include Newfoundland? For the drive back through the States, I'd budget less time and try to get it over with once you hit what you want out east. The trip through North Dakota is pretty dull. Keep your wife with you for the way home so you can share driving and just get it over with! It's 24 hours of driving from Chicago, so you can push through pretty quick if you want.

The alternative is to try to enjoy it, and there are things to do, probably more west into Montana. But I'd dedicate a separate trip for that stuff. Maximize your time out east.

I define the Maritimes as New Brunswick, Nova Scotia & PEI. Atlantic Canada includes the Maritimes plus Newfoundland & Labrador.

Our family travels to the Maritimes in the summer often, and we have explored the region extensively. Our purpose for the Maritimes this summer will likely be limited to connecting with family & beach time on the Northumberland Strait. Hoping to fit in a Cavalry FC away day @ Wanderers Grounds if the CPL Schedule Maker sees fit.

If anything, we would take days away from the Maritimes to add to the drive out and/or back to make it less onerous.

[Ped]

7 years ago I drove from Ontario to BC in 3 days, was short of sleep, and drove off a cliff near Kamloops, so make sure you get plenty of rest. Earlier this month I drove from Toronto to Nova Scotia - about 16 hours or so

BC and Alberta are obviously gorgeous. Saskatchewan gets a bad rap but I quite liked it.

I hated Manitoba - the highways are 110 km/hr, but no overpasses, so stoplights. And tractors on the highway

Northern Ontario is beautiful for a couple of hours, but then it just becomes repetitive and boring - rocks and lakes and trees and literally nothing else. Kenora is about the only thing in the north worth seeing, and it's packed. I still found it worth going through, though.

Quebec was okay. There's a toll highway, the A30, that goes around Montreal so you can avoid that, but the TransCanada is very much at the whims of weather, especially east of Quebec City.

New Brunswick was an easy drive, but be careful if you're tired because the highway isn't greatly lit at night.

[Reggie Dunlop]

"That's it kids... if you don't stop fighting, I'm turning this car around..."

Then do it.

Trust me, they'll remember that for the rest of their lives...

[Howie_16]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

"That's it kids... if you don't stop fighting, I'm turning this car around..."

Then do it.

Trust me, they'll remember that for the rest of their lives...

I plan on using that scenario for a classic "Dad Joke" opportunity when we are in Nova Scotia, ready to head back West...

[Fuzz]

Well if you do want to take you time heading back west, Yellowstone is obviously great, you could stay further south and hit Mt Rushmore, Lewis and Clarke Caverns in Montana are awesome for kids...

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Well if you do want to take you time heading back west, Yellowstone is obviously great, you could stay further south and hit Mt Rushmore, Lewis and Clarke Caverns in Montana are awesome for kids...

Definitely return via the states and stop at Yellowstone. I personally thought Rushmore is meh.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Such an awesome idea. I’ve driven from Calgary to Toronto quite a few times and I’d highly suggest spending some time in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. And an absolute must stop is the Terry Fox memorial near Thunder Bay. The Kakabela falls are near here too, it’s a nice waterfall and park. Pancake Bay closer to Sault Ste. Marie is cool too. Great camp spot. Incredible sky views at night. Definitely take the lake head route through Ontario.

Going through Manitoulin Island into Tobermory would be a fun route too. Tobermory is gorgeous.

[Fuzz]

Ya, Tobermory is really nice. Stop off in Wiarton so the kids can say hi to Wiarton Willy. Though you may just want to stay north and got to Ottawa if you have no plans to head south to Toronto/Niagra Falls etc.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Definitely return via the states and stop at Yellowstone. I personally thought Rushmore is meh.

Rushmore is meh but Custer lake state park, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Badlands, and minute man missles are all worth seeing. And if you like cheap junk and kitch Wall Drugs is worth a stop. All within about an hour of Rushmore. Devils Tower is cool too and works on the drive back as well

In Ontario Lake of the Woods area is really cool, Ottawa hitting up the Parliament and national museums is cool.

In Sask if you like Canadian History Batoche is a good stop through you’d have to go through 6 rather than Regina. Stoping into Cyprus Hills provincial park and Fort Walsh are neat too and that works with Regina.

I would hit all the provisional legislatures on your drive.

In Winnipeg stop at the Canadian Mint and perhaps the Human Right’s museum (kind of depressing)

[tvp2003]

No tips for the Canadian side, if you like the Baseball HOF in Cooperstown you might also consider the Basketball HOF in Springfield, or the Football HOF in Canton? I’d like to hit all three someday.

Summer might also be a good time to catch a ball game, lots of stops/options along the way.

Chicago has some fun stuff to do and see with kids; my stomach would love to go back someday.

Good luck, sounds like it’s a great opportunity to make some memories

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Ped

7 years ago I drove from Ontario to BC in 3 days, was short of sleep, and drove off a cliff near Kamloops, so make sure you get plenty of rest. Earlier this month I drove from Toronto to Nova Scotia - about 16 hours or so

You what now?

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Howie_16

...And go!!!

I have read your post with envy (of the good kind). This was my dream while the kids were still young, affectionate and somewhat manageable. We didn't get to do it because there was never enough vacation time saved or enough money saved or enough "f... it, let's just go this summer" drive. Then they've grown so fast...

DO IT for all of us who didn't! Tell us how it went.

[Locke]

[Ped]

Originally Posted by chemgear

You what now?

I was pretty sure I had told the story on here before so didn't expand.

Day 1: Toronto to Thunder Bay
Day 2: Thunder Bay to Medicine Hat
Day 3: Medicine Hat to Golden

On day 4 I was past Kamloops. Too much driving and not enough sleep, so I don't actually remembering driving off the cliff (right Savona), but I remember going down and hitting a tree, which stopped me.

Apparently my car jumped a barbed wire fence when it went off the road. I called 911 and they told me to wait for an ambulance; I said I was going to climb up because I know there are bears and rattlesnakes around. He said don't, he could hear my horn blaring and said that would scare off any animals.

So of course, my horn died right then. Also, I'm a big guy, and I told him unless he's sending many ambulances, they're not carrying me up. I got up and flagged them down, and went to hospital.

No serious damage, but the cop who responded me told me if I had gone off the turn prior to the one I had, that would have been game over.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by chemgear

You what now?

I can't believe there were multiple hours and nearly 10 posts before someone asked about that.

[FlamesAddiction]

Just a couple of things off the top of my head:

- When approaching the Manitoba-Ontario border, fill up in Falcon Lake. Fuel prices go up as soon as you enter Ontario.

- Towns in Northwestern Ontario are spread out with a whole lot of nothing in between. Plan where to fuel up in Northern Ontario ahead of time. Same thing if you plan on staying somewhere. It sucks when you are getting tired and still 2 hours from the next town with accommodations.

- Northern Ontario has a lot of single lane windy highways. It's beautiful country, but don't plan on getting though quickly, especially during construction season. I have completed the trip from Toronto to Vancouver numerous times, and driving through Ontario alone is about half the total time.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Ped

There's a toll highway, the A30, that goes around Montreal so you can avoid that

I'd assume they'd want to into Montreal, to, ya know, see and do stuff.

Personally I think the kids are a bit young for the trip - a 6-year old won't be remembering all that much.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Avoid Edmonton