18 Locations To Go to On A Toronto To Vancouver Highway Journey In 2023

A driving trip from Toronto to Vancouver alongside the Trans-Canada Freeway is a 4265 km journey throughout Canada by means of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. It’s 42 hours of continuous driving – 5 days of continuous driving throughout daylight – however with majestic landscapes and so many iconic points of interest alongside the way in which, you’ll be tempted to spend weeks exploring the cities, cities and wilderness areas alongside the way in which. 

When you move Winnipeg, the TransCanada Freeway splits into the Northern Route by means of Saskatoon and Edmonton, and the Southern Route, which fits by means of Regina and Calgary. Each supply wonderful locations to go to and issues to see. We comply with the Southern Route and undergo Regina, Calgary, Banff and different areas shut by. Any route you are taking, you’ll encounter untouched forests, majestic mountain ranges, wonderful cities, nationwide parks, crystal clear lakes, monuments and magical landscapes that may take your breath away.

Possibility: An alternate is to cross the US-Canadian border and journey to Vancouver by means of the USA. The commonest route by means of the USA handed by means of Detroit, Chicago, Sioux Falls, Speedy Metropolis and Billings by means of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Washington and at last to Vancouver through Seattle.

Toronto to Vancouver

20 Locations To Go to On A Toronto To Vancouver Highway Journey

1- Toronto

Toronto is Canada’s largest metropolis and a central hub for a number of industries, together with finance, expertise, schooling, healthcare and it additionally has a thriving culinary and nightlife scene.

Canada’s largest banks and monetary establishments are headquartered in Toronto.

This vibrant and multicultural metropolis has quite a lot of issues to do, like visiting the Royal Ontario Museum, the enduring CN Tower, the Distillery District and the islands.

If you’re visiting in summer season, town comes alive with actions, together with many festivals.

For a chook’s-eye view of town, take a 7-minute helicopter tour over Toronto.

2- Bruce Peninsula, ON

The Bruce Peninsula is a shocking pure peninsula in Lake Huron, Ontario, combining two nationwide parks (the Bruce Peninsula Nationwide Park and Fathom 5 Nationwide Marine Park) and different nature reserves.

The peninsula is widespread for its geological options like rugged cliffs, turquoise water and an in depth community of limestone caves attracting journey seekers all year long.

The peninsula additionally has numerous flora and wildlife, together with uncommon orchids, black bears and timber wolves.

You may hike alongside the Bruce Path, swim in Georgian Bay, discover the Grotto caves, go to the Bruce Peninsula Chicken Observatory, camp and do many different nature-related actions right here.

Distance from Toronto: 255 km (158 miles)
Time from Toronto: 3 hours 

3- Algonquin Provincial Park, ON

Algonquin Provincial Park is the oldest provincial park in Canada and a few three-hour drive north of Toronto.

The park covers an space of over 7,600 sq km and is residence to quite a few lakes, rivers, forests and a novel variety of plant and animal species like moose, black bears, wolves and beavers.

A improbable place to benefit from the outdoor, the park presents a variety of actions comparable to climbing, tenting, canoeing, fishing and wildlife images. Energetic travellers on the lookout for a problem could like this six-hour canoe tour by means of Algonquin Provincial Park.

In the event you’re quick on time, benefit from the park’s magnificence by taking a scenic drive alongside Freeway 60, which winds by means of the park and presents gorgeous views of the panorama.

A singular characteristic of the park is its in depth canoe routes, which wind by means of its inside and create an unparalleled wilderness expertise.

Distance from the Bruce Peninsula: 362 km (225 miles)
Driving time from the Bruce Peninsula: 4 hours half-hour

4- Sudbury, ON

Sudbury’s official identify is the Metropolis of Larger Sudbury), a former mining metropolis situated on the TransCanada Freeway.

Recognized for its wealthy mining historical past, town has a thriving tradition and humanities scene, with festivals, museums and galleries to discover.

The Scenic North interactive science museum, Dynamic Earth geology museum, the Killarney Provincial Park, Onaping Falls are locations to go to close to Sudbury.

The huge 5 Cents Huge Nickel statue close to the Dynamic Earth museum is a novel landmark to snap a selfie. 

Distance from Algonquin Provincial Park: 316 km (196 miles)
Driving time from Algonquin Provincial Park: 3 hours half-hour

5- Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Sault Ste. Marie is one among Canada’s oldest communities and is correct on the US-Canadian border.

The town is situated on St. Mary’s river, which connects Lake Huron with Lake Superior, making it a hub for transportation and commerce for a lot of centuries.

Sault Ste. Marie can also be residence to a number of cultural and historic points of interest, together with the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, Sault Ste. Marie Canal Nationwide Historic Website and the Ermatinger-Clergue Nationwide Historic Website.

Take a scenic practice trip by means of the Canadian wilderness within the Agawa Canyon Tour Practice or a guided boat tour by means of Soo Locks or the St. Mary’s River.

Go climbing or tenting within the Hiawatha Highlands or Pancake Bay Provincial Park, or camp and swim alongside the shores of Lake Superior.

With its mix of historical past, pure magnificence, and trendy facilities, Sault Ste. Marie is a good stopover in your journey from Toronto to Vancouver. Obtain this app and go on a self-guided strolling tour to find its historical past.

Distance from Sudbury: 306 km (190 miles)
Driving time from Sudbury: 3 hours half-hour

Listed below are a number of the greatest issues to do in Canada:

6- Thunder Bay, ON

Thunder Bay is in North-western Ontario on the shores of Lake Superior on the TransCanada Freeway.

The stretch of highway between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay is lined with lookouts just like the Alona Means, Agawa Bay, Crimson Chair, Kama Bay, Nipigon and plenty of others.

When you attain Thunder Bay, you can be welcomed by the brightly lit twin cities of Port Arthur and Fort William.

Thunder Bay is a superb place for an in a single day cease whereas travelling from Toronto to Vancouver, with Winnipeg virtually a full day’s drive away.

The area has gorgeous pure surroundings, together with lakes, forests, parks and can also be residence to a number of cultural and historic points of interest like Fort William Historic Park and Terry Fox Monument.

The town served as an essential transportation hub connecting Western Canada with the east coast by means of the Saint Lawrence Seaway and Nice Lakes to the east coast. A enjoyable strategy to discover is to obtain this app and go on a household scavenger hunt journey.

Distance from Sault Ste. Marie: 704 km (437.5 miles)
Time from Sault Ste. Marie: 7 hours 37 minutes

7- Winnipeg, MB

Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, sits on the intersection of the Crimson and Assiniboine Rivers. 

Eight hours driving from Thunder Bay, this metropolis is gorgeous to spend a while at.

It’s the sixth-largest metropolis in Canada and is the “Gateway to the West” because it lies virtually precisely between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

If you’re all in favour of arts, town is residence to a number of cultural establishments, together with the Manitoba Museum, the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

You may go to the Decrease Fort Garry Nationwide Historic Website, The Forks Nationwide Historic Website and the Manitoba Museum for insights into Canada’s previous.

Assiniboine Park Zoo is a must-see for polar bears and for those who’re travelling with youngsters.

An iconic landmark in Winnipeg is the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, which is in a futuristic constructing that homes intriguing and thought-provoking shows. One of the simplest ways to get your bearings is to rent a neighborhood tour information.

Distance from Thunder Bay: 702 km (436.2 miles)
Driving time from Thunder Bay: 8 hours

8- Regina, SK

Regina is the capital metropolis of Saskatchewan and is within the southern a part of the province and an excellent lesser-known stopover for an in a single day break after driving from Winnipeg.

Located on the shores of Wascana Lake, town has wide-open areas, parks, climbing and biking trails and some cultural and academic establishments.

The Saskatchewan Legislative Constructing is a historic landmark with spectacular structure and a shocking dome, one among North America’s largest.

Go to the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Saskatchewan Science Centre, the MacKenzie Artwork Gallery and the RCMP Heritage Centre.

Stretch your legs outdoor on the Wascana Centre and take a look at the European medieval-style citadel tour at Stone Corridor Citadel.

Distance from Winnipeg: 596 km (370 miles)
Time from Winnipeg: 6 hours 22 minutes

9- Moose Jaw, SK

An hour’s drive from Regina on the TransCanada Freeway, Moose Jaw and it’s tunnels are an intriguing cease.

The underground tunnels have been used for varied functions, together with as a hiding place for Chinese language railway staff and are rumoured to be linked to Al Capone.

Moose Jaw can also be residence to a number of museums and cultural establishments, together with the Western Growth Museum, the place you’ll get the possibility to be taught in regards to the historical past of the Canadian West.

The Moose Jaw Museum & Artwork Gallery showcases the inventive aspect of the area and the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre is the place you possibly can watch exhibits, concert events and even go to an artwork gallery.

The large ‘Mac the Moose’ statue is subsequent to the freeway and is an ideal stopping spot to {photograph}. 

Distance from Regina: 71 km (44 miles). Obtain this smartphone driving tour between Moose Jaw and Regina.
Driving time from Regina: 48 minutes

10- Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Bounce World Heritage Website (AB)

One other quick drive day journey from Calgary in direction of the US border will take you to the UNESCO World Heritage Website of Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Bounce.

One of many windiest areas of Canada within the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the positioning is a cliff utilized by indigenous individuals to kill buffalo for over 50 centuries utilizing a novel technique.

Using their data of topography and buffalo behaviour, they hunted by chasing their prey over a precipice.

The buffalo carcasses have been carved up within the camp beneath.

The positioning’s identify got here from a tragic story of a younger boy a few years in the past.

This huge centre is much like a museum the place you possibly can be taught in regards to the historical past and cultural significance of the positioning and a spot to recollect the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the indigenous individuals who lived there for hundreds of years.

Distance from Moose Jaw: 626 km (389 miles)
Driving time from Moose Jaw: 6 hour half-hour

11- Drumheller, AB

Northeast of Calgary, Drumheller is a small city in Alberta’s badlands recognized for its historical historical past of dinosaur fossils and distinctive geological formations comparable to hoodoos, canyons and historical fossils.

If you’re all in favour of fossils, go to the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology, which homes one of many world’s largest collections of dinosaur fossils.

The badlands of Drumheller are greatest explored by climbing, biking or horseback driving.

You too can be taught in regards to the area’s mining historical past by taking guided excursions of the Atlas Coal Mine Nationwide Historic Website.

Drumheller’s World’s Largest Dinosaur, a 26m tall statue that guests can climb inside for a panoramic view of the city and surrounding badlands.

Distance from Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Bounce: 288 km (179 miles)
Time from Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Bounce: 3 hours 

12- Calgary, AB

Calgary is Alberta’s most populated metropolis and is a good place to interrupt your drive from Regina.

The town can also be near the Canadian Rockies and makes for a superb base to discover the mountains on day journeys.

Calgary is thought for its stunning skyline, outside actions, vibrant and numerous cultural scene and is a metropolis that balances the trendy with the standard.

Go to the Glenbow Museum to be taught in regards to the artwork and historical past of Western Canada or the Heritage Park Historic Village, the place you possibly can discover over 180 reveals, together with historic buildings, vintage automobiles and luxuriate in a classic amusement park.

The glass-floored commentary deck from Calgary Tower is a must-visit right here.

If you’re travelling with youngsters, the Calgary Zoo makes for an amazing cease with its tigers, pandas, gorillas and greater than 1000 different animals.

If you’re travelling in July, prebook tickets to the Calgary Stampede because it’s an enormous rodeo occasion the place you possibly can get pleasure from varied actions, together with rodeo exhibits, concert events and parades.

Calgary’s climate can also be influenced by Chinooks – a climate sample that brings heat winds to town from the slopes of the Canadian Rockies. Stretch your legs on the Better of Calgary Strolling Tour.

Distance from Drumheller: 136 km (84.5 miles)
Driving time from Drumheller: 1 hour half-hour

13- Banff Nationwide Park (Canadian Rockies, AB)

Within the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Banff Nationwide Park is a shocking nationwide park and one of many oldest on the earth.

The park is legendary for its varied geological formations, together with mountains, canyons, glaciers, icefields, alpine meadows, turquoise lakes, scorching springs and a number of the nation’s greatest snowboarding and different outside adventures.

If you’re a nature lover and prefer to spend time within the mountains, Banff Nationwide Park has so many actions you’ll wish to keep without end. 

Take a trip of the Banff Gondola to the highest of Sulphur Mountain, calm down on the Banff Higher Sizzling Springs, or take within the historical past of this stunning place on the Cave and Basin Nationwide Historic Website.

Within the coronary heart of the nationwide park, Banff is a captivating resort city that gives lodging, galleries, cafes and bars. 

If you wish to discover the Nationwide Park, you possibly can keep in Banff in a single day and discover the area however don’t miss the gorgeous Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, which provide alternatives for climbing, boating, fishing and different actions.

Distance from Calgary: 127 km (79 miles)
Time from Calgary: 1 hour half-hour

14- Jasper Nationwide Park (Canadian Rockies, AB)

The drive between Banff Nationwide Park and Jasper Nationwide Park takes you thru probably the most stunning drives on the earth, the Icefield Parkway.

Though each Banff Nationwide Park and Jasper Nationwide Park have an abundance of nature-related sights and actions, Jasper Nationwide Park is much less crowded.

The city of Jasper is a calmer and extra peaceable sibling of Banff and serves as a base for exploring the park.

Jasper is linked to Vancouver by VIA Rail practice, which has a glass dome commentary automotive that’s an effective way to discover the Canadian Rockies.

The Miette Hotsprings, Jasper SkyTram, Athabasca and Sunwapta Falls, and the gorgeous Maligne Lake are some sights and actions to tick off your to-do record. 

Distance from Banff: 295 km (183 miles). Obtain this Icefields Parkway Smartphone Audio Driving Tour.
Driving time from Banff: 3 hours 19 minutes

15- Kelowna (Wine area close to Okanagan Lake, BC)

Kelowna is a ravishing metropolis situated within the southern inside of British Columbia on the japanese shore of Lake Okanagan.

Picturesque mountains and valleys, provincial parks, vineyards and orchards encompass this gorgeous wine nation.

The town has dry and heat summers and funky, cloudy winters with many sunshine hours all year long.

Its comparatively delicate winters and proximity to parks and mountains make this metropolis a hub for varied outside actions, comparable to climbing, snowboarding, {golfing} and water sports activities.

The downtown space contains a vibrant arts and tradition scene, with many galleries, theatres, and music venues that characteristic common exhibits.

With over 40 wineries, you can spend days wine tasting and fill up on wine you get pleasure from. 

Distance from Jasper: 541 km (336 miles)
Driving time from Jasper: 6 hours half-hour

16- Kamloops (BC)

Positioned on the TransCanada Freeway, Kamloops is surrounded by rolling hills, mountains, and pristine lakes on the confluence of the South and North Thompson Rivers.

The town is a well-connected transportation hub known as the “Match capital of Canada” for internet hosting greater than 100 sporting occasions yearly.

With over 100 lakes within the space, Kamloops is a big vacation spot for outside actions like boating, canoeing, fishing, swimming, climbing and mountain biking.

Go to Kamloops Artwork Gallery, The Western Canada Theatre and the riverside Secwepemc Museum & Heritage Park, which options the stays of a 2,000-year-old village.

The town can also be a well-liked foodie and wine vacation spot, with many native wineries providing tasting excursions.

Distance from Kelowna: 167 km (104 miles)
Driving time from Kelowna: 2 hours

17- Whistler (BC)

Whistler is a well-known ski resort in British Columbia and solely a few hours’ drive from Vancouver.

This resort city is legendary worldwide for its world-class snowboarding, snowboarding and vibrant après-ski scene.

Whistler and Blackcomb mountains entice skiers worldwide in winter and is a well-liked vacation spot for summer season actions, comparable to climbing, mountain biking, {golfing} and ziplining adventures.

It has cool arts and tradition scene, a variety of lodging, eating places, outlets and actions.

If in case you have time, go to the city of Squamish for its world-class mountaineering, Cheakamus Lake or the Garibaldi and Brandywine Nationwide Parks for climbing, tenting, and exploring the wilderness.

Distance from Kamloops: 302 km (188 miles)
Driving time from Kamloops: 4 hours 10 minutes

18- Vancouver

The monumental highway journey from Toronto lastly ends within the wonderful metropolis of Vancouver.

Recognized for its gorgeous pure surroundings, numerous cosmopolitan tradition, and world-famous culinary scene, Vancouver by no means fails to impress.

The town has a number of points of interest and neighbourhoods you possibly can go to, just like the historic and classy Gastown and the waterfront district of Granville.

If you’re all in favour of museums, the Science World Museum, Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver Artwork Gallery, H.R. MacMillan Area Centre, Burnaby Village Museum and plenty of extra supply a glimpse into town’s historical past, tradition and artwork.

Vancouver is surrounded by gorgeous pure landscapes, together with the mountains, forests, and the ocean and presents many outside actions inside the metropolis and near town.

Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain and Lynn Canyon Park are widespread locations to benefit from the outdoor near town.

Go to the Vancouver Aquarium, or take a whale-watching tour within the Pacific to take advantage of your journey to this stunning metropolis.

Distance from Whistler: 121 km (75 miles)
Time from Toronto: 1 hour half-hour

Distance from Toronto: 4,403 km (2,736 miles)
Time from Toronto: 47 hours (continuous)

Different Methods To Journey From Toronto To Vancouver

If an epic drive just isn’t on the playing cards, there are just a few methods to journey from Toronto to Vancouver. Listed below are some choices:

By Air: Air is the quickest and most handy strategy to journey from Toronto to Vancouver. Direct flights can be found from Toronto Pearson Worldwide Airport to Vancouver Worldwide Airport, with flight occasions of round 4.5 hours.

By Practice: VIA Rail presents a scenic cross-country practice service known as “The Canadian”, which runs from Toronto to Vancouver. The journey takes round 4 days and is a soothing strategy to see the nation. 

By Automotive: Hire a automotive and drive from Toronto to Vancouver on a scenic highway journey by means of the mountains and forests, taking a number of days of driving. Examine rental automotive charges right here. 

By Bus: A number of bus corporations supply companies between Toronto and Vancouver, with direct and connecting choices. The journey sometimes takes three to 4 days and should embrace transfers in cities like Winnipeg and Edmonton. 

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