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Toronto to Vancouver Roadtrip Route

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In my previous blog, I shared how we suddenly have to move from Toronto to Vancouver in September 2020. My husband and I only have less than a month to prepare for this long road trip. I for one, was nervous as I’ve never traveled 4800km by car in my whole life! The longest long roadtrip I could recall was back in the Philippines when I traveled from Manila to Baguio and Manila to Isabela. That’s it!

If you asked me, If I would choose to travel a few days on a road, I would definitely say NO! I was scared to travel on the highway, much worse travel for days! But I had no choice. It’s the safest option to travel during Covid (at least that was my husband’s reasoning). And of course, he was able to convince me. So there you go…the next thing I know, we were having the most amazing times of our lives as a family! Thanks to my husband patience and great effort!

If you are planning on a cross-country travel from Toronto to Vancouver, hope you’ll find this route useful. Read my previous blog HERE for some tips on what you need to prepare before the long trip.

Our route from Toronto to Vancouver: Toronto > Sadbury, Ontario > Sault Ste.Marie,ON > Thunder Bay,ON > Winnipeg, Manitoba > Swift Current, Saskatchewan > Banff,Alberta > Vancouver, British Columbia

First Stop: Sudbury, Ontario

This was our first stop and we rested for a while here to have lunch at Orby’s

2nd Stop: Sault Ste Marie, Ontario 

We slept overnight here at the KOA campsite. The best campsite in all the three we had been.

The campsite fee for 2 adults and 1 kid is CAD 60.46 (including taxes). 

If you have ample time, stay at the campsite for a day to enjoy the facilities. This site is mesmerizing during autumn. The site toilet is super clean and they even have shower rooms and hair dryers.

Girl Enjoying the beautiful Autumn at KOA Sault Ste Maria Campsite
Sault Ste. Marie, KOA Campsite, Ontario

3rd Stop: Thunder Bay, Ontario 

We slept overnight here at the KOA campsite. Opted to stay at the cabin instead of setting up our tent. The toilet here was a little old and not as clean as the KOA Sault Ste Marie and there was no hairdryer. I would book a full cabin with an attached toilet if there was or I would look for other accommodation around the area.

Daily site charge plus additional child daily charge ($5.00) – CAD 135.60 (including taxes)

4th Stop: Winnipeg, Manitoba 

We set up a tent at the KOA campsite. It was drizzling and very cold then. I would find an alternative accommodation for the night that has a heater. 

The campsite fee for 2 adults and 1 kid is CAD 38.85 (including taxes). 

5th Stop: Swift Current, Saskatchewan 

I got lucky and found a small inn that’s affordable and has room facilities much like in a 4-star hotel. I would check out this inn called Widus Inn. We spoke to the owner who assisted us with the check-in. He is very accommodating and friendly. As for the room, it’s nicely decorated, very clean, has a super comfy bed with a complete en-suite toilet and hot shower facilities, hairdryer, and towels. They also offer free coffee and tea. 

Widus Inn (Superior Queen room with two Queen) fee for 2 adults and 1 kid is CAD 75.00.

Toronto to Banff Travel with Family
Banff National Park, Alberta

6th Stop: Banff, Alberta 

We stayed here for two nights at Best Western which is situated in downtown – a great location that’s near to all tourist places, fast foods, and restaurants.  The hotel was recently renovated with a modern look and that’s the reason why I chose to book this hotel. The room rate comes with breakfast. It wasn’t a buffet but the management was thoughtful enough to think of packing the breakfast meals for hotel guests. Tip: Request for a room overlooking the mountains  We would have stayed for another few days if we could. There are just so many beautiful tourist places to explore and 2 days is not enough!

Best Western Hotel, Banff (Queen Room with 2 Queen Beds incl. breakfast for 2 adults and 1 kid (2 nights) is CAD 278.00

7th stop: – Vancouver, British Columbia

This is our final destination. Beautiful British Columbia! We left Banff a little late and it was already dark when we arrived at our destination. Nevertheless, the trip from Banff to BC was one of my favorites. Lots of greeneries, mountains, and lakes! 

Have you experienced traveling cross-country in Canada? What are the funniest and most memorable moment you have? Please share in the comments below. 🙂 Would love to read them.

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Tips on Road Trip from Toronto to Vancouver

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Planning on a long road trip with family should be fun! But during Covid? Many will be terrified. But we did it anyway! Because that was the best option for us. I was living in Toronto as an international student. Last September 2020, my family and I decided to move to British Columbia because of a job offer from an employer. Of course, the decision to move was tough. We felt we were a bit settled already in Toronto and initially refused to entertain the idea. The decision came after we weighed in all our options.

For this long trip, we only had a month to prepare. I was busy cramming for final projects before my graduation while my husband was still working full time. Sadly that time, I did not find a lot of information on cross-country travel, especially during Covid.

And I felt it would be good to share some tips for cross-country travel in Canada from Toronto to Vancouver during Covid. A few co-international students have been asking me how we did it and if there are restrictions. Hopefully, you’ll find this blog handy.

family travel route from toronto to vancouver
Click the image to read more about route map and accommodation from Toronto to Vancouver

So here are six tips if you are going on a roadtrip with your family from Toronto to Vancouver:

  1. Know the travel restrictions and exemption of (all) the provinces you will go to. Our first concern was this because we were going to travel during Covid and most provinces are lockdown. We checked every provinces’ rules and restrictions we will stop by. There are no federal travel requirements when traveling between provinces/territories. However, you need to know the travel restrictions and exemptions for each province you will visit. You can get more detailed information on requirements or restrictions here.
  2. Consider renting a car for cross-country travel. Otherwise, if you are using your car, know the possible scenarios during a long drive. In our case, we opted to rent a car at Alamo Enterprises as they offer the cheapest fee with full travel insurance. Also, traveling 4,800 kilometers would for sure test the car’s durability.
  3. Get yourself covered with travel insurance as well as for your car. We rented a car and opted for full coverage that includes travel insurance for myself, my husband, and my daughter. The insurance package also covers 24-hour emergency assistance in case the car broke down on the road. The car rental company can rescue us and will have a car replacement. So, we did not have to worry we will get stuck in one place or the road with no help.
  4. Reserve your accommodation in advance. Honestly, I was not able to reserve our accommodation early. I would recommend to book at least a week or two (or more) in advance for the trip. What happened was, I booked our campsite reservation one day prior. Luckily, there were plenty of available campsites during that time and understandably due to Covid as well. We opted to sleep overnight in most provinces at Sault Ste. Marie, Thunderbay, and Winnipeg because we were afraid to check-in to a hotel due to Covid. We feel much safer sleeping in our camping tent. The only places we booked a hotel were in Saskatchewan (because I could not find any campsite available on the same day. And at Alberta (because we wanted to rest for two days and enjoy Banff) before heading to our final destination, British Columbia.
  5. Plan your travel route in advance. Don’t just rely on Google Maps. Also, know that some areas have zero networks and so have a separate hard copy of your route and map ready in your car. This is highly important as you don’t want to run out of gas in the middle of the road and nowhere. Also, it is good to know the gas stations ahead of time before your travel. You can probably use some mobile app like GasBuddy that can help you find the cheap gas around the location and track your fuel. Although, we didn’t use an app but have heard of a co-international student using this. 
  6. Ready your travel essentials for long-haul travel. This includes from personal stuff, food, emergency kit to camping gears, and emergency kit. I will share the complete list of camping essentials we brought along in our long road trip from Toronto to Vancouver here once I’m done and you can also download it if you want. 

Below is the summary of the tips for your next long travel from Toronto to Vancouver:

  1. Know the travel restrictions and exemption of (all) the provinces you will go to.
  2. Consider renting a car for cross-country travel so you don’t have to worry when car broke down.
  3. Get yourself covered with travel insurance as well as for your car. 
  4. Reserve your accommodation in advance (at least a week or two in advance)
  5. Plan your travel route in advance (print our free downladable trip from Toronto to Vancouver)
  6. Ready your travel essentials for the long-haul travel

READ ALSO:

Travel route and accommodations we took traveling from Toronto to Vancouver

Top 3 Places for Family Summer Getaway in Vancouver

Have you experienced cross-country traveling in Canada? Let me know other helpful tips in the comment box. Thanks!

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Top 3 Places for Family Summer Getaway in Vancouver

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We were so looking forward to spending the summer for the first time in Vancouver. Of course, British Columbia has so many beautiful things to offer, and we don’t want to miss out on all the summer fun. Even though we are busy at work and new in this place, we don’t want to make an excuse not to enjoy our life and explore beautiful places. 

As a newbie in this place, our good friend is Google, and so the top 3 destinations I am sharing here are those with great Google reviews, so you can bet you’ll enjoy these places.

So here you go, the top 3 places you can go in the lower mainland Vancouver for a fun-filled summer with your family and friends are:

Coquitlam River Park

During the summer heatwave, my husband brought us to the Coquitlam River Park. The park provides a long stretch of forest walking trails of 9.8kms. The water is cool and offers soothing relief and tranquility in the summer heat.

We went there around 3 pm, and we nearly lost our way to the river. The walking trail is more spacious compared to the others we’ve been to. A car literally can fit in it. Since it was our first time going to the river, I became a little scared when I saw the sign that says, “Black bears live here..Beware..” Frankly, I’m not quite prepared to have a bear encounter. I could hear my daughter saying loudly, “ But mommy, this is a bear country…!”

Anyway, our first afternoon in the river was full of fun. We soaked ourselves in the cold water. We found a perfect spot for our bags and beach chair. The whole stretch of the river is packed with families talking to each other, teenagers in an inflatable boat, and kids playing in the water. It was a relaxing treat, and we enjoyed it so much that we returned to the river the following day and again on the next day.

Parking information:

There is a small parking lot just by the entrance, and many people park by the roadside.

A man enjoying a ride in an inflatable boat at Coquitlam River, Lower Mainland, Vancouver during the summer heatwave in British Columbia
Coquitlam River

White Pine Beach, Port Moody

White Pine Beach is part of Sasamat lake, located in Belcarra Regional Park, Port Moody, British Columbia. It was our first time here. We didn’t know there’s a beautiful beach near Old Orchard Park where I truly enjoyed the sunset. Our friend invited us over that day, and we just hopped into the car, and off we went. It was nearly 7 pm when we reached the beach. Still, there were several people on the shore and the lake. My husband and daughter enjoyed their time paddling while the sun is slowly setting. It was truly a great retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Parking Information:

White Pine Beach is a popular beach among Canadians, and while there are lots of parking spaces, you need to secure parking and a picnic spot early on. The parking fee is around $4 for two hours. Go early in the morning before 8 am or late afternoon so you can have a nice spot reserved.

Father and daughter enjoying paddle-boarding at the famous White Pine Beach, Port Moody, Vancouver
White Pine Beach, Port Moody, Vancouver

Alouette Lake

This lake is probably one of the most beautiful lakes we’ve been to here in British Columbia. This lake is about 16 km in length and is part of one of the famous parks, the Golden Ears Provincial Park in Maple Ridge. Our friend invited us over last Sunday, and we were fortunate there were not many people in South Beach. The forecast said it would rain on Sunday but thank God the whole day was cloudy, and it was one of those perfect Sunday at the beach moment where we enjoyed swimming, barbecuing, and just chatting with new friends.

Every place we go to has its beauty and uniqueness. Alouette Lake is a perfect place to unwind, swim, do canoeing, and paddleboarding. Soak in the water, and you would be surprised the water is warm. If you want a relaxing, peaceful afternoon with a mesmerizing mountain backdrop, then Alouette Lake is the place to be.

Parking Information:

Before going there, you must secure a day-use pass one day before your planned date, and it is advisable to book as early as possible as it gets fully booked in the morning. Refer to the BC Parks for further information. You may reserve a free day-use pass here. 

A man enjoying boating in the serene and beautiful mountain backdrop at Alouette River, Golden Ears Provincial Park, British Columbia
Alouette River, Golden Ears Provincial Park, British Columbia

Things we brought:

  • Inflatable boats 
  • Beach chairs
  • BBQ griller
  • Portable mini stove 
  • Towels
  • Swimwear
  • Extra Clothes
  • Picnic mat
  • Beach slippers
  • Bottled Water & other drinks
  • Foods
  • Flashlight
  • First-Aid Kit

Most of the items here were from Walmart. Also, please remember to bring lifejacket (…and coffee or tea) J

Do you have some place in mind you want to share for family getaway? Please share in the comment below. We would love to explore them next time!

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