Two sisters, two weeks, 4500km and four provinces – our leg of the ExploreCanada road trip was epic in more ways than one. Especially considering neither or us had ever been inside an RV (motorhome) before. How would this self-confessed camping-phobe cope with life on the road? Setting off from Calgary to Toronto felt like being thrown in at the deep end. But it turns out RVing is a world away from camping, and Canada’s the perfect place to try it out.
Travelling by RV gives you all the benefits of camping – beautiful landscapes, nights round the campfire, the feeling of being back to nature – but without the actual tent bit. But RVing was a new world with its special terminology (pull-throughs, shore lines, grey water). So I thought I’d put together a post for first-time RVers like me, or people who want to find out more about touring Canada by RV, where I ask the questions so you don’t have to!
Read more: The heart of Canada: A two-week Calgary to Toronto road trip itinerary
Exploring Canada by RV motorhome

The roadtripping sisters!
Do you have to rough it?
I’m more of a budget-luxury than five-star traveller, but there are a few things that are a must wherever I’m staying. Comfortable bed, decent toilets, hot showers, space to unpack and somewhere to keep the wine cold. But my nightmares of nights spent freezing and mornings spent sweltering at 5am in a tent quickly faded. RV life is a lot more like living in a mini mobile apartment. But it was surprising how much you could pack into a small space.
Our RV was a Cruise Canada ‘Standard’ model – 25′ long with two double beds, a toilet, shower and kitchen with gas cooker, fridge-freezer and sink. The kitchen’s well equipped so you don’t need to rely on burnt sausages on the campfire; we whipped up steaks, risottos and stir fries.

Inside the RV
It’s a good tip to get a bigger RV than you think you need. Ours was listed as sleeping five but was perfect for two or three people. Any more than that and you’d be tripping over each other. Though you probably want to make sure you travel with someone you get on well with. You’re going to be in pretty close confines and RVing requires lots of teamwork so there’s not much room for personal space. Luckily my sister and I have spent many family holidays to France in the back of a 1970s VW camper van so we’ve got plenty of experience.

Soaking up the views at Aaron Provincial Park
RVing in Canada is also a digital detox, getting you away from TVs, computers and phones. Internet addicts can get their fix with a portable wifi device that works off phone signal. But in large parks like Algonquin and Lake Superior the signal doesn’t stretch very far inside the park so you’ll have to have an enforced technology sabbatical. Which leaves more time to spend outside.
The evening campfire was one of my favourite trip rituals. Getting the fire going, searching for the perfect marshmallow toasting stick, making s’mores, talking about what we’d seen that day and where we were off to next. And if it rained, like it did on one night in Killarney Provincial Park, we could stay snug inside the RV, watching Les Miserables on my laptop and toasting marshmallows on the hob – you can’t do that in a tent.

Campfire time
Isn’t RVing just for retirees?
Canada and the US have a real RV culture. People retire, sell their houses, buy a big RV and drive south for winter and north for summer, travelling around for as long as they can. So I was expecting that as two British women in our 30s we’d be an unusual sight around the campsites. But in general the demographic of our fellow RV travellers was a lot more varied than I imagined.
There were a mix of couples, families and groups of friends, with international travellers as well as plenty of Canadians exploring their own country. Even the long-term RVers were a more mixed group than I expected. As well as retirees we also met families who were travelling with their kids before they started school, as well as people who work remotely so don’t need to have a full-time home base and can move around as they feel like.

Dusk at our campsite on Lake Superior
The long-term RVers are easy to spot though – they’re the ones with doormats, potted plants and impressive array of collapsible gadgets. They’re also the ones who can help if you need a hand or don’t know how something works. When we arrived at Lake Superior Provincial Park and found we couldn’t park close enough to the electricity hookup to plug in, our neighbours lent us an extension lead. All the RVers we met were happy to share their expertise with us newbies.
One of the nicest things about RVing is that it’s much more sociable than being in a hotel. Everyone spends their time outside so it’s easy to get chatting to your neighbours. We toasted Canada Day around the campfire with our neighbour in Regina Beach and were introduced to ‘hobo pies’ (a kind of toasted jam sandwich) by the lady next door in Aaron Provincial Park.

Celebrating Canada Day
How do I plan my Canada RV itinerary?
Where to start? Coastal drives, cross-country, mountains, National Parks – the choices are endless. It might be tempting to wing it and see where you end up, but the best campsites get booked up, especially at weekends, in popular areas like the Rockies and in summer in Canada. So it’s a good idea to plan your route and book your overnight stays in advance.
We planned to arrive into our campsites around 4pm while it was still light. That gave us time to set up the RV, light a campfire and stretch our legs with a walk around the site. It’s also recommended you don’t drive at dawn or dusk as moose and deer venture out onto the roads.

Crossing over into Saskatchewan
When you’re planning how long journeys will take, Google Maps tends to underestimate the time it takes in an RV. We downloaded the free Navmii Canada GPS app which was more accurate. It works offline if you don’t have phone data and you can also get it to show your nearest fuel stations. A good old-fashioned paper road map is useful too in case you can’t get a phone signal.
The quickest route from A to B is usually via the highways. But if you get off the main roads there’s more to see, so factor in plenty of time in case you spot something interesting along the way – the Roadtrippers website has some good ideas. The joy of RVing is that you can just pull over and stop and make a cup of tea or rustle up some lunch whenever you feel like it.

Gorgeous views in the Muskoka Lakes
What facilities do campsites have?
Campsite facilities vary a lot and will depend on the location and size of site. Larger, privately run sites often have extra facilities like shops, cafés and swimming pools. You’re also likely to get a full hookup where you can connect your power, water and sewage lines from your pitch.
Most of the time we were staying in Provincial Park campgrounds which were more ‘back to nature’. There was usually a reception building where you check in and can stock up on ice and firewood. Then there were toilet and shower blocks with laundry facilities (keep a supply of ‘loonies’ – aka one dollar coins, the name comes from the birds which are pictured on them). Most had electrical hookups and filling/dumping stations for water and waste.

G&Ts by Lake Superior
The facilities might be simple but the location is what makes these campsites so special. We parked up next to lakes, waterfalls and forests. But my favourite spot was at Lake Superior Provincial Park. The campsite ran along the edge of the lakeshore with just two rows of RVs surrounded by tall pine trees. Within 10 metres of our pitch was a huge sandy beach and a lake which stretched as far as you can see, with a bench that was perfect for a sunset G&T.
You’ve also got wildlife all around you. We had gophers popping up around us in Regina Beach and a raccoon who raided next door’s cool box and was chomping on a cereal bar in Killarney Provincial Park. Though you need to be careful not to leave food out in areas where there are bears around (though we never saw one despite cooking steaks on the RV hob one evening).

Cheeky raccoon
Is it hard to drive an RV?
I delegated this question to my sister as she was the designated driver for the trip, but despite never driving an RV before she had no trouble with it. Like any large vehicle it takes longer to get going and to stop, so leave plenty of space around you. Canadian roads are generally fairly wide and straight, and outside the towns and cities it’s not too difficult to navigate (we pretty much got on the Trans-Canada Highway in Calgary and got off it two weeks later in Toronto).
Do make a note of the RV’s width and height just in case you have to go through a small space or a low bridge. The gas tank takes a while to fill up (our record was $200 worth of fuel) and if you’re going faster, like on the long straight roads of the prairies, you’ll get through fuel quicker.

Following a Canada Pacific train
When you arrive into a campsite your pitch will either be ‘pull-through’ – where you can drive straight into it – or you’ll have to reverse in. RVs aren’t the easiest things to reverse as visibility is limited in the mirrors, so we found it easier for me to get out of the vehicle and shout out directions (seasoned RVers recommend a walkie talkie if you’re doing this a lot).
It can be harder to find somewhere to park up if you’re stopping off in towns and cities. It’s a good idea to research parking lots in advance. Some have extra-large spaces designed for RVs or otherwise be prepared to practice your parallel parking skills if you’re parking on the street.

Views from the road
What about the dreaded RV waste disposal?
The one thing that strikes fear into prospective RVers is emptying the toilet tank. Not something you normally have to do on holiday! But it’s really not as bad as I imagined. The RV has two waste tanks – one for grey water (from the sinks and shower) and one for black water (from the toilet). Some sites have a hookup for the sewage pipe where you can leave it connected.
But on all of our campsites you had to empty the tank at the site’s dumping station. A control panel inside the RV tells you how full the tanks are. You can go for a few days without emptying them, but it does weigh you down and being heavier means you get through more fuel. So we went for the ‘little and often’ approach and dumped our waste every day or two.

Rocky the RV
An expandable pipe pulls out from the side of the RV and connects securely into a valve in the ground. Then you pull the handle to release the black water first and then the grey to wash it through. There are a couple of things you can do to make it all a bit less unpleasant. First buy some heavy duty rubber gloves (we kept ours in a plastic bag in the storage compartment underneath the RV) and second get some tank cleaner/deodoriser tablets to make things smell a bit sweeter. You can also pay a supplement not to have to empty the tank when you return the RV to the depot, which is worth it if you’re in a bit of a hurry on the last day like we were.

Hiking in Algonquin Provincial Park
What do I need to pack?
One of the bonuses of travelling around Canada by RV is having plenty of storage space. Inside we had a wardrobe, two sets of drawers as well as cupboards above the bed and table. There’s also a storage area underneath the RV for a folding table and chairs plus firewood and our suitcases. Once you’ve unpacked, you don’t need to pack up again until the end of your trip.
If you go out for the day and you realise you should’ve worn an extra jumper or need your coat or suncream, it’s all there with you. But if you’re flying internationally you’re not going to want to carry pillows, towels, saucepans and crockery with you (the kitchen sink is already included!).

Manitoba provincial line
Cruise Canada offer a couple of different equipment kits. We had a provisioning kit ($100) with cutlery, crockery, pots and pans, kettle, knives and a chopping board, plus extras like a torch and broom. There’s also a personal kit ($55 per person) with towels, a pillow and duvet. Nights can get cold so you might want to bring or buy a blanket and pack some thermal PJs – I kept a fleece and a pair of socks next to the bed so I could add extra layers in the night if I got cold.

Breakfast at Lake Superior
Make sure you pack everything in tightly before you set off. Our last campsite in Algonquin Provincial Park could only be reached along a six-mile stretch of unsealed road. Within a couple of minutes of rattling along the road the wardrobe door had flown open, water bottles were shooting across the floor and the drawers had thrown half their contents out.
Even driving along an ordinary road any bumps and bends can send things flying, so make sure everything is stowed away before you set off. The RV’s crockery cupboard has dividers to keep plates and cups safe. But things do slide around the food cupboard above the dining table. So it’s a good idea to get a box to store your groceries securely so they don’t end up shaken up and you don’t get with a black eye from a falling pack of biscuits.

Getting a bit bumpy on an unsealed road
Being outside means you’re exposed to a few creepy crawlies. Canadian mosquitoes can be vicious, especially in the summer months, so it’s a good idea to pack mosquito repellent and bite cream, and pick up some citronella candles or mosquito coils. Cover up your arms and legs up at dusk and you can also get clothing impregnated with repellent to keep them away.
Other bits and pieces that we found useful to have were a washing line and pegs (to air out our towels and to dry clothes if you’re doing any hand washing), a grill if you want to cook outside, matches and firelighters (you can buy these along with kindling and logs in most park shops if you need them) and plenty of marshmallows for toasting over the campfire.

Campfire evenings
Where to next?
The thing with RVing is that it gets addictive. The freedom to go whenever you fancy, the convenience, the chance to dip your toes in the outdoor lifestyle without having to rough it. So the only question left is where to next? Maybe the Rockies, the Cabot Trail through Nova Scotia or the coast of Newfoundland – who knows where the road will take us?
Is there anything you’d like to know about RVing in Canada?
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I visited Canada as a guest of Destination Canada as part of a Travelator Media campaign. This article contains affiliate links, where I get a small commission at no extra cost to you, thanks.
87 Comments
Darlene
October 26, 2016 at 12:39 pmLooks like you had a fab time and what a great way to see Canada. I imagine you drove through my home town of Medicine Hat, Alberta, about 3 hours south of Calgary. Some say the prairies are boring to drive through, but I think they have their own beauty as well. And it´s nice to have the highway to yourself at times!
Lucy
October 26, 2016 at 7:49 pmThe prairie landscapes were beautiful – those amazing skies! We did do a quick stop in Medicine Hat (mainly to stock up at the supermarket though so unfortunately didn’t see too much). I actually wrote an article on the prairies for the Destination Canada website so will send you a link when it’s published.
Peter
November 1, 2020 at 7:04 pmWhere did you refill LP tank?
It seems that not many truck stops provide this service in Canada
Lucy Dodsworth
November 2, 2020 at 5:42 pmHi, we refilled the tank at the depot where we picked up the RV so we didn’t have to do it along the route at all.
Sara
October 26, 2016 at 1:08 pmAbsolutely spot on, Lucy! We were lucky on our leg to have full hook-up at each site. Like everyone else on the road trip, we enjoyed the RV experience much more than we expected!
Lucy
October 26, 2016 at 7:54 pmAh what luxury to have a full hook up 😉 Actually it wasn’t too much trouble and the whole experience was so fantastic, I’d love to do another RV trip now.
travelrat
October 26, 2016 at 2:44 pmYou forgot the important thing for Canada. RVs are, (I hope) bear-proof!
Lucy
October 26, 2016 at 7:54 pmThat’s very true – I’m not sure I’d want to risk bear country in a tent!
Browsing the Atlas
October 26, 2016 at 3:54 pmGreat post. This is what I have planned for my future: I’ll retire and be a full-time RVer. Oddly, I didn’t even think about all the places I can visit in Canada. I was stuck on the U.S. 🙂 It’s gonna be great.
Lucy
October 26, 2016 at 7:56 pmFull-time RV retirement sounds like a very good plan – so many places to see though, better make it early retirement!
Rachel
October 26, 2016 at 4:27 pmLove this Lucy! As a full timer it’s always fascinating to hear people’s rving experiences. Your trip looks fantastic, we’d love to take the truck over to Canada, Chris has a deep love for the country.
Lucy
October 26, 2016 at 7:57 pmGlad to hear it gets a pro’s seal of approval! We did feel a bit clueless to start with but really enjoyed it – I can see why you’ve got the van life bug.
Frank Duchon
May 1, 2019 at 12:03 pmWe are planning a 3 week trip 8/1- 8/21 Entering Ontario from NW Minnesota ending in Niagra Falls …. Provincial Parks in our Airstream. We are experienced RVr’s but do not know Canada… from our research there are so many great places to see and experience. We love to hike, bike, kayak, swim and explore. Any suggestions how we should route our trip thru Ontario? We have 3 weeks and can go as far north as we like. Do you know of any services that help plan your route??
Thank you in advance for any suggestions
Frank and Connie
Lucy
May 14, 2019 at 4:22 pmHi Frank and Connie, this post might be useful for Ontario, it has some of the parks I visited which were great for hiking, kayaking and swimming – https://www.ontheluce.com/ontario-provincial-parks-canada/ – this was part of a route from Calgary to Toronto but you could easily spend longer in Ontario or head on into Quebec.
momentumtravels
October 26, 2016 at 6:49 pmIt looks like such a wonderful trip, and so many great tips. I was wondering what the cost of the campsites are with hook up and everything? I’m doing a little mental comparison to New Zealand prices 🙂
Cheers,
Maria @ http://momentumtravels.com
Lucy
October 26, 2016 at 7:46 pmHi Maria, we mostly stayed in Provincial Parks where the sites with electric hook up are CAN $35–$51 a night and the private sites were around $35–45 (as the parks include the entrance fees).
Kathryn Burrington
October 27, 2016 at 8:35 amThat’s a fabulous guide Lucy. I wish I could have read it before we went!
Lucy
October 27, 2016 at 5:35 pmI tried to do the post I’d have liked to have read before I went too!
Zoe Dawes
October 27, 2016 at 9:41 amReally excellent tips for an RV trip Lucy. Hopefully it will persuade more people to try this kind of holiday as it is a really great way to see more of Canada.
Lucy
October 27, 2016 at 5:37 pmHope so Zoe, it’s such a great way to explore an amazing country!
garybembridge
October 27, 2016 at 1:20 pmGreat insights and tips. Fascinating and very detailed about how the whole RV thing works – and what is good (and less good!) about the experience….. Thanks
Lucy
October 27, 2016 at 5:38 pmIt was a bit of a learning curve to start with, but so much easier than I thought it might be!
Heyjude
October 27, 2016 at 4:39 pmNow you need to do it in New Zealand Lucy! Just to compare the experience 🙂 I always fancied doing the RV thing but am nervous about driving such a big beast.
Lucy
October 27, 2016 at 5:39 pmWould love to give it a try in New Zealand someday! I didn’t drive but apparently these ‘Class C’ type RVs are designed to be as easy as possible to drive so it’s not too much harder than driving a car.
Boomergirl
October 27, 2016 at 9:44 pmSpectacular post, Lucy! So glad you chose Canada. Hope you make it back again soon. Great pic of hiking Algonquin and I think your rubber glove tip is an excellent one. :- ) PS BTW Your sis rocks. That was one big RV for roadtripping!
Lucy
October 30, 2016 at 9:05 amShe certainly does – couldn’t have had a better driver! Loved the whole experience and can’t wait to get back and see more of Canada.
Suzanne Jones
October 27, 2016 at 10:40 pmI’ve always wondered what these looked like inside – now I know! I’d love to spend an extended amount of time RVing and exploring Canada or the US. Or both! I just need to convince Mr Jones…
Lucy
October 30, 2016 at 9:31 amI would love to go and do a longer trip too – though my problem would be deciding where to go!
Rebecca
October 29, 2016 at 9:18 pmGREAT post!! Thanks for all the detail! We’re moving to the US soon, and a road trip across the border is something we have on our North America bucket list 🙂
Lucy
October 30, 2016 at 9:43 amYou’re very welcome – glad it was useful and hope you love RVing as much as we did!
Heather Cowper
October 31, 2016 at 4:02 pmGreat tips Lucy – we found the RV a lot easier than we imagined and felt like old pros by our second week
Lucy
October 31, 2016 at 11:06 pmIt doesn’t take long to feel like home does it!
Jaillan Yehia
October 31, 2016 at 6:58 pmI am MAJORLY jealous of your RV adventure! Having just come back from a few years being based in Canada I know what a huge part of Canadian culture the landscapes and provincial parks are and even though I went camping quite a lot I never got round to renting an RV.
Even more so though when you drive south in the winter with the ‘snowbirds’ in search of the Mexico sun you realise that every 2nd RV on the road down there is from Canada so I think if you want to get under the skin of Canada this kind of experience is essential!
Lucy
October 31, 2016 at 11:12 pmIt was so interesting to see the whole RV culture and the elaborate set-ups the long-term RVers have. I can see why it gets addictive and people want to sell up and hit the road (and avoid those Canadian winters!).
aeparker81
October 31, 2016 at 8:18 pmI’d love to do this, we once had a little look at doing it down in Cali, but still haven’t got there! Good hints, thank you!
Lucy
October 31, 2016 at 11:13 pmI nearly did an RV trip in Australia but glad we waited to Canada to try it out, it was such a great place for it!
Darlene
November 2, 2016 at 9:46 pmI look forward to seeing the article. Medicine Hat is often a pit stop for fuel and groceries! Now you know where I grew up.
Tyler Meredith
November 23, 2016 at 2:05 amIt’s interesting to read about some of the things that first-time RVers encounter. It makes sense that some people might think an RV is hard to drive or they might pack too much. I’ll have to remember to practice driving bigger cars and trucks to ensure that the RV is safe for me to drive. Thanks for the post!
natalievw2013
June 6, 2017 at 3:46 pmHi Lucy, my family, 2 girls and my husband are planning on flying into toronto for a month this august. I know, your high season. We would like to hire a RV but I keep hearing it is so expensive and better to stay in hotels and hire a car. What do you think? Do campsites not have public toilets? is it not cheaper or is it possible to hire without a toilet, as I imagine we would use public toilets, as you need public showers dont you? I would be very interested in your opinions thanks natalie
Lucy
June 7, 2017 at 1:06 amHi Natalie, our RV had a toilet and shower (though we did use the public showers in campsites mainly as it meant we didn’t have to fill up the water tank so often) and I think most do. The campgrounds all have toilet and shower blocks but it was good to have the bathroom on board if we needed to stop during the day as some of the drives were long without a lot of facilities on the roadside! I’ve done a few road trips and loved the freedom of the RV – you only have to unpack once, it’s easy to transport food as you have a fridge/freezer on board and you get to be outdoors around the campfire every evening so there are definitely some bonuses over a hotel/car hire.
ajourneytogreen
June 14, 2017 at 4:16 amI love this, thank you for sharing!
Lucy
June 16, 2017 at 11:11 pmThanks so much, glad you liked it!
Robert
June 15, 2017 at 6:05 pmExcellent article for those considering a first time RV trip in Canada. It’s a perfect way to see the country at your own leisure. We love camping and traveling in our RV and are fortunate enough to live in Canada as well. Great post and photos 🙂 Found you on Pinterest!
Lucy
June 16, 2017 at 11:10 pmThank you! It’s such a great way to explore, and you’re spoilt for choice in places to go in Canada (writing this from the lovely Niagara-on-the-Lake!).
Rubens Germano
December 19, 2017 at 12:52 amHi Lucy,
Outstanding article for those like me and my wife who are considering a first time RV trip in Canada. Are you still active on this blog?
We are Brazilians but we currently live in Mexico. We are planning to start our journey in Toronto in late April/18, saving two months to discover the best of Canada. Sort of clueless first time mariners 🙂 We would love to exchange thoughts, hints and must see spots with you.
Kudos for the great pics and posts.
Lucy
December 20, 2017 at 11:09 pmHi there, so glad it was useful – and sounds like you have a great trip planned. Any questions do drop me a message (email is lucydodsworth@yahoo.com).
Robyn Emerson
January 18, 2018 at 9:22 amGreat piece you’ve written, thanks!
Lucy
January 18, 2018 at 4:59 pmThanks, glad you liked it!
Ellie Birch
March 21, 2018 at 12:47 pmThis has been the most positive read. My husband and I are coming from the UK and doing a week-long RV trip through bits of Ontario as part of our holiday in early April and I was starting to get anxious that we wouldn’t be able to do it but your blog has been so helpful and has re-ignited my confidence and cemented we have made the right decision! Thank you 🙂
Lucy
March 23, 2018 at 7:54 pmThat’s great to hear! I so loved exploring Canada by RV and sure you’ll have an amazing time out there too.
Fabio Leite
April 18, 2018 at 9:10 pmHi Ellie
Did you already done the trip ?
Where did you stay in Toronto ?
Was i far from downtown ?
Thanks
Donna
March 31, 2018 at 1:37 amLucy, great post. We have actually RV’d twice in the US and have found the experience from west to east coast very different in terms of access to tourist attractions, so this has become a concern for me now planning our first RV trip to Canada. From your experience what is parking like to visit attractions and tourist destinations to hike or whatever. I like to try to do this when moving from place to place as much as possible but I am happy to use the RV for day trips and return to the same site at night if that’s the best option.
Lucy
April 2, 2018 at 7:47 pmHi, we visited most attractions on our driving days and didn’t have any problems with parking, but we were mostly visiting parks where there’s loads of space or smaller cities. The other bloggers who did the trip in different parts of Canada did visit some larger cities and found it useful to check in advance as to which parking lots could accommodate the RV. Lots of big vehicles in Canada though so they are used to it! Hope you have a great trip.
Sue
June 5, 2018 at 8:36 amHi Lucy,
I enjoyed reading your very informative story. My husband and I will travel through Canada (we’re Aussies) from July through October and are considering an RV trip (or perhaps car/motel) from Calgary to Toronto over 2 weeks in September. I wasn’t sure if it would work because people have told us it is a long and boring trip but that’s not the impression I get from your experiences. We’ve done heaps of very long road trips here in Oz and the distances don’t bother us. We’ve never driven an RV but very able and willing to give it a go. I will have a dig around your website for other gems. Cheers, Sue
Lucy
June 6, 2018 at 11:22 amHi Sue, that route is definitely possible in two weeks – the first few days through the prairies I will admit there’s a lot of long straight roads but there are some good stop offs along the way, and the scenery is so unique (plus it’s a good way to get used to the RV). I’m going to try and put together an itinerary of my trip but I do have a post about some of the highlights along the way: https://www.ontheluce.com/calgary-to-toronto-10-unforgettable-road-trip-moments/
Susan reade
July 14, 2018 at 8:07 pmHi Lucy, we are planning a trip to Canada in August 2019. We are thinking of renting an RV to do the Rockies and Vancouver Island and then spending a week in a hotel in Vancouver at the end. We have 6-7 weeks to do the trip. However we are hesitant about which RV company to use, we plan to fly from UK direct to Vancouver, do a circular trip around the Rockies and Vancouver Island and end up in Vancouver to fly back to the UK. We have seen some very negative reviews of Cruise Canada, vans being Old, dirty, unreliable and unsafe. There only seems to be Canadream, Fraserway and Cruise Canada as a choice for RV rentals. Do you have any advice you could help with our decision.
Best regards
Susan
Lucy
July 17, 2018 at 11:56 amHi Susan, I’ve only tried Cruise Canada from those that you mentioned and we didn’t have any trouble with them other than they forgot our bedding kit so we had to buy our own! I would make sure you double check everything is there that you order and also make sure that they give you a good tour of the vehicle and how to use it (this seems to vary in different locations and some staff are more thorough than others). Generally though we were happy with Cruise Canada and I’d use them again. Hope you have a fantastic trip!
Paul Oliver
July 18, 2018 at 10:59 pmGreat article on the adventures of RVing!!!
First time my wife and I RVed was in New Zealand. Both Island top to bottom and back. Never drove a motor home before, never drove on the “wrong” side of the road before and in a “foreign” country. Had a blast!!!
It’s an adventure everyone should try. You’ll be absolutely surprised at how much you’ll love it!
Roll On. Paul
Lucy
July 19, 2018 at 2:00 pmIt certainly is! Hope to get back out in the RV soon, I had such a great trip.
Lock N Store
July 19, 2018 at 3:24 amThanks for this amazing and helpful post! It makes sense that some people might think an RV is hard to drive or they might pack too much. I’ll have to remember to practice driving bigger cars and trucks to ensure that the RV is safe for me to drive.
Lucy
July 19, 2018 at 2:02 pmIt does help to have a bit of practice, but my sister found that it didn’t take too long to get used to – and being on all those long straight roads was a good warm up!
Albert Joe
October 17, 2018 at 8:47 amFirst time my wife and I RVed was in New Zealand. Both Island top to bottom and back. Never drove a motor home before, never drove on the “wrong” side of the road before and in a “foreign” country. Had a blast!!!
Lucy
October 25, 2018 at 7:29 amIt’s a great way to travel!
HAMEED HUSSAIN
December 4, 2018 at 6:13 amHi Lucy,
For very long time I am planning to go on a RV trip in Canada. My son is studying in Vancouver and my daughter will join him next year. So during August we plan to start from Vancouver and go up to Sasketchwan. I was hesitant to take this trip untill I read your article. Your detailed article not only gives almost perfect guide for first timers, but also encourages to take the trip. Really appreciate your article.
Do you think 10 days are enough for Vancouver Sasketchwan round trip.
Thanks and appreciation
Lucy
December 5, 2018 at 11:41 amSounds like a great trip! 10 days should be possible – there’s a lot to see in the Rockies so you’ll probably want around a week for that section then it’s not too long a drive on to Saskatchewan.
Daniel Harre
January 14, 2019 at 7:03 amI have a question. Me and my Mother are thinking about doing a trip like this. The thing is, she can only walk short distances on her own and the rest of the time she’ll need to go by wheelchair. How are the terrain around the sites where you stay with the RV? Where you visited would it be possible to push a wheelchair around? Bear in mind we pushed our way threw many adventures before including massive cobblestreets in old Havanna 😉
Thanks in advance,
Daniel
Lucy
January 14, 2019 at 8:48 pmHi Daniel, it will depend very much on where you want to go – we stayed in a lot of Provincial Park campgrounds and they varied a lot, the larger ones had better access and more paved pathways but some of the smaller ones were gravel so would be quite rough. The park websites are good at sharing info though about Barrier Free access – places like Lake Superior and Algonquin would be no problem, and the RV makes it easy to move between sites.
TheGreenPick
February 22, 2019 at 9:40 pmRV generate less carbon dioxide than when traveling by plane, renting a car, or even staying in a hotel!
Lucy
February 25, 2019 at 2:12 pmThat’s really interesting – I checked out our your post and have shared it on my sustainable tourism page too.
Najim
May 13, 2019 at 10:29 pmHi Lucy, Great article. I am looking for more information on building an itinerary, for a short trip, couple of nights, kid-friendly, starting location Ottawa. Found roadtrippers.com quite helpful, but wondering if there are other good resources or off-the-shelf itineraries I could look into, or other suggestions? Sorry, first timer questions 🙂
Lucy
May 14, 2019 at 12:58 pmThanks – Roadtrippers is really useful and there are also quite a few RV sites which have itineraries and ideas for places to stay. It’s a brilliant way to travel though!
Rachel
September 24, 2019 at 4:36 pmHi Lucy!
Great article, me and my boyfriend are both from the UK and hoping to make the trip to Canada in August 2020. We were thinking two weeks and hiring an RV
Can you provide rough idea of costs – ie to hire, camp sites and how much daily spend you had (food etc)
Many Thanks
Lucy
September 26, 2019 at 4:28 pmHi, the campsites we stayed in were mostly Provincial Parks and cost $35-$50 a night with electricity hookup. We did bulk shopping at grocery stores and mainly cooked for ourselves (say $20 a day each) and gas is cheap in Canada.
BaileyStrempel
October 18, 2019 at 10:41 amThanks for sharing such a fantastic blog and awesome pictures.Great post! I’m definitely going to bookmark this. I really appreciate your article, you have given a good insight and a clear picture.
Lucy
November 11, 2019 at 6:26 pmThanks so much!
Fiona
December 5, 2019 at 11:57 pmGreat article, thank you.
Are there any rental companies you’d recommend for rv rentals? Googling brings hundreds of results and it’s hard to know which are reputable companies (apart from the standard avis/budget etc).
Thanks
Lucy
December 12, 2019 at 9:36 amHi, ours was rented through Cruise Canada who specialise in RVs and have a good selection of models and pick up locations, would definitely recommend them.
Renecia Benjamin
January 26, 2020 at 11:09 amHi Lucy
My partner and I are planning a holiday in Canada in July / August this year.and we need to travel from Kincardine to Calgary. We were thinking of taking a road trip as we would like to see more of Canada.We are from South Africa and have never driven an RV before.
Your article has given some great incite on what to expect ,Thank you!t
Do you have any tips on what to expect and anything else we should know about when travelling that time of the year ?
Any information would be most welcome
Thanks in advance
Renecia and Bradley ,
Cape Town,
South Africa
Lucy
January 27, 2020 at 3:05 pmHi Renecia and Bradley, July/August is likely to be quite busy so you may need to reserve some of your campsite spots in advance as it’s the main holiday period in Canada. It can get quite hot so if you can get an RV with air con that would be a good idea, and maybe factor in some places with lakes of pools to cool off in! I’m going to be putting together a Calgary > Toronto itinerary post in mid-Feb so there might be some useful tips in there too.
Lee L
August 19, 2020 at 11:02 pmIf you are putting an itinerary together let me recommend Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta. It’s a major bonebed and if you try at all you will personally find dinosaur bones. The people that work there and offer guided tours are quite knowledgeable and I recommend going out with them at least once.
Nearby is the Royal Tyrell Museum where much of hte scientific work on the bonebed is launched from.; The park itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
And if you are travelling the area anyway don’t miss Head-Smashed-In for a look at the native peoples’ stories. There’s a great museum there ans well as performances.
Lucy Dodsworth
August 27, 2020 at 5:41 pmThanks for the tip, sounds like a really interesting place!
Choudhari
February 8, 2020 at 8:44 amBeautiful article with great pictures. Hace always dreamed of traveling by RV
Lucy
February 10, 2020 at 3:48 pmThanks, yes it’s a great way to explore Canada!
Dennis Pratt
February 18, 2020 at 1:41 amWe just spent a month in Newfoundland over and back via Port Aux Basques because ti was the shortest (least expensive) ferry trip. On retrospect next time I will take the longer route to Placentia and cross the island once only. The cost in extra fuel would have matched the extra cost of the longer ferry ride but would have allowed extra time along the way.
We had the greatest time ever people and places were outstanding. Saw iceburgs, whales, moose right up to the side of the truck. Sat in sunny Dildo at the Dildo brewery drinking Dildo beer. Next time the wife and I would like to spend a summer traveling around the island with a cross over to Labrador and then the Trans Labrador Highway.
Keep on going and take your time, see the sights.
The wife and I travel in an F250 with an Artic Fox 811 truck camper towing a 12 ft enclosed trailer with all the toys.
Lucy
February 25, 2020 at 4:49 pmSounds fabulous, Newfoundland is one part of Canada I’ve been longing to visit.
Marcel Gassner
July 8, 2020 at 9:39 pmAwesome story and pictures, Lucy!
Thank you so much for doing all that work and then sharing it with us.
I know how much work it is as I just did the same at a blog I just published.
My blog isn’t nearly as polished as yours but I would love it if you could check it out.
Lucy Dodsworth
July 23, 2020 at 1:19 pmThanks – and best of luck with your blog too!