Road trip to Banff from Toronto - RedFlagDeals.com Forums (2024)

Hello RFDers!

I'm planning on doing a road trip from Toronto to Banff. I know it's less boring and faster via the US route, but we'll take a chance and go through the Canadian route.

We're thinking of spending 3 days each from Toronto/Banff and sleep in the car or tenting in the park.

for those that have done this in the past, which places would you recommend stopping by midway for sleeping?

Any recommendation for places/roads that are beautiful on route to or in Banff?

Thanks a lot!

My recommended Toronto to Banff itinerary is to fly from Toronto to Calgary and then rent a car.

You're welcome.

reddishh wrote: ↑I know it's less boring and faster via the US route, but we'll take a chance and go through the Canadian route.

Not sure what you mean by taking a chance? Northern Ontario route is extremely boring, extra long, and also more dangerous. The US route is simpler better...period, and with lots more potential to do (see Chicago, Mount Rushmore, etc).

37 hours of driving one way btw. 74 hours of driving two way. Unless you are doing this on a 2 week+ journey I don't see why you would ever want to do it. Realise once you are there you have to get back too.

Toronto to SSM (Lake Superior Provincial Park)

SSM to Thunderbay (Sleeping Giant or Kakabeka Falls PP)

Thunderbay to Winnipeg (Campground around Lake Winnipeg?)

Winnipeg to Banff (Banff Ntl Pk)

Sleeping in car will be really cold. Find a real campsite

Had driven in Canada. Extremely boring between Calgary and Winnipeg. Flat, nothing for a long long time. Northern Ont is more scenic, but after a while it also gets boring. You also cannot go too fast in those windy roads that are often 2-lanes only.

l69norm wrote: ↑Sleeping in car will be really cold. Find a real campsite

Not cold during the summer. Had slept in car before. Woke up to go to MacDonalds or any coffee shop to brush teeth and breakfast. That was in my younger days.

Rest in peace OP

As a single driver you will literally lose your mind if you do this and back in 10 days.

reddishh wrote: ↑I'm planning on doing a road trip from Toronto to Banff. I know it's less boring and faster via the US route, but we'll take a chance and go through the Canadian route.

I recommend you fly to Vancouver or Calgary and drive one way in either direction through the National Park.

Driving from Toronto, you're wasting a lot of hours crossing endless flat fields of the Prairies.

I also think you need more time, But having driven the route I did;

Day 1: Toronto to Wawa - 10hrs
Day 2: Wawa to Rushing River PP - 10 hrs
Day 3: Rushing River to Regina - 8hrs
Day 4: Regina to Banff - 9hrs

thanks for your input!

There are actually 2 drivers so we will be alternating..

reddishh wrote: ↑thanks for your input!

There are actually 2 drivers so we will be alternating..

I think you're wasting a lot of your vacation driving through nothingness... unless of course you want to see Northern Ontario and some of the smaller towns and cities of the Prairies.

mtl514 wrote: ↑how much would it cost in gas and food vs flight there ?

It is about 3,500KM from Toronto to Calgary; if you use the government reimbursem*nt rate of $0.54 per kilometre to account of gas, maintenance, depreciation, etc. excluding accommodations and food, the drive is about $1,890. If you use AAA rates, it's anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500. Not only that, you're wasting 35 hours driving through barren countryside. Flying is about $600 a person.

reddishh wrote: ↑Hello RFDers!

I'm planning on doing a road trip from Toronto to Banff. I know it's less boring and faster via the US route, but we'll take a chance and go through the Canadian route.

We're thinking of spending 3 days each from Toronto/Banff and sleep in the car or tenting in the park.

for those that have done this in the past, which places would you recommend stopping by midway for sleeping?

Any recommendation for places/roads that are beautiful on route to or in Banff?

Thanks a lot!

In terms of 'less boring' driving through the US, you missed out on the scenic routes of Trans-Canada highway, especially up in Northern Ontario. One of the most enjoyable drive. It was a bit boring from Thunder Bay to Regina, but it is not really faster if you go through the US. Border crossing could be a breeze, but also could be hell'ish. On google map, it's about 28 hour drive vs 26-27 through the States to Regina (for example). Add on the possibility of a search, I would recommend you to stay North of the border all the way.

For stops, (assuming you stay in Canada), depending on the time of day, I also would recommend Wawa, ON as first stop. I actually drove through Wawa to Nipigon at night to see if I can push it through in 2 days (which I did), but then it was so dark up in the mountain area, limited gas station, and if I hit a deer or something, I was sure I will be robbed, and thrown off a cliff lol. So I don't really recommend driving past Wawa in the dark. It takes pretty much 20 hours just to get out of Ontario, then I would stop around Regina, and then the rest of the trip to Banff on the 3rd day.

Has OP watched the Joshua Jackson movie, "One Week"?: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1104806/

"...Ben stops at landmarks that are both iconic and idiosyncratic on his quest to find meaning in his life."

thank you guys for all the input it's greatly appreciated!

so I changed my mind and booked a flight from Toronto to Calgary (roundtrip), and it will still be a 10 day trip

That being said, I didn't give up on camping at the campground sites!

Do you have any tips on where to stay for camping near Banff, and Jasper? Or will it be better to stay in a motel? What's your thought?

Do you think I will have time to drive to Vancouver for 2-3 days as well?

Thanks a lot!!