Road trips have always been a staple for Canadians. Whether you’re on the East coast enjoying sunrises by the ocean or the West coast hiking through the mountains, there is no shortage of road trip and day trip destinations in Canada.
An Ipsos study conducted earlier this summer on behalf of Toyota Canada found that only 24% of Canadians feel comfortable taking a plane right now due to the pandemic. Given this comfort level and overall travel restrictions, road trips and day trips have inevitably become not only the most popular travel option, but also the only travel option available for Canadians wishing to explore and travel.
74% of Canadians had to change their travel plans this year given current events. But just because you have to change your travel plans doesn’t mean you have to cancel them altogether!
Rather than skipping a vacation, try planning a stay-cation instead. Whether it’s a day trip to your closest provincial park or a weekend-long family road trip to another province (border restrictions permitting, of course), let’s make 2020 the year of road trips, exploring locally and celebrating Canada.
Looking for some road trip inspiration? We’ve made a list of some of the best destinations in Canada that are lesser-known, so you can avoid the crowds and still be wowed!
The Best Road Trips in Canada
Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia
You don’t have to travel all the way to Iceland to enjoy hot springs -- Harrison Hot Springs are a mere two-hour drive from Vancouver. These hot springs are some of the most mineral-dense in the world due to high amounts of sulphur, and are referred to as the “healing place” by the local Sts'ailes First Nations.
Make a quick day trip of the hot springs and enjoy a picnic lunch at Sasquatch Provincial Park located nearby. Or make an entire weekend of it so you have enough time to explore the beautiful marina and enjoy a boat tour, attend an art festival, enjoy a round of golf, or park your vehicle beneath the stars and try to spot the constellations at night.
(And if you love watching the stars, check out the 2021 Toyota Venza, which comes available with the first-ever panoramic glass roof called “Star-Gaze.”)
Crescent Falls, Alberta
Located near Sundre, Alberta, you can get to Crescent Falls (previously known as Bighorn Falls) from Calgary in only a couple of hours. And if you’re worried about social distancing, Crescent Falls in Ya-Ha Tinda is one of Canada’s best-kept secrets. If white water rafting is your thing, this is the place to do it. Go rafting down the Red Deer River, plus there are tons of hikes in the surrounding area, and we recommend you do go chasing waterfalls.
If you’re a history buff, check out the outdoor Pioneer Village at Sundre & District Museum, which features older buildings, houses and machinery. Unfortunately, there aren’t any vintage Toyotas on display, but you’ll still feel like you’re being transported back to the early 1900s! Plus, they have many green spaces and gardens to enjoy a lovely picnic.
Greig’s Caves, Ontario
You don’t need to fly all the way to Portugal to enjoy natural caves – Ontario is filled with them! One of the best places to check out this natural phenomenon is Greig’s Caves, located on the Northern Bruce Peninsula in Ontario. A trip to Greig’s Caves makes a perfect road trip if you’re looking to escape the city. It’ll take you at least three hours to drive there from Toronto, making these caves an extra-long day excursion or you could make an entire weekend of it.
If you’ve seen the film Quest of Fire, then you may recognize these caves, as part of the movie was shot inside this natural limestone attraction. Be sure to bring a camera, along with proper hiking attire and a flashlight so you can safely explore these caves! This is a self-guided experience, meaning you can plan your own adventure.
Au Diable Vert, Quebec
Quebec’s Au Diable Vert offers an abundance of outdoor activities the entire family can enjoy. From moonlight kayaking and river tubing in the summer to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter, this unique Quebec attraction offers endless entertainment you can enjoy during all four seasons.
Bask in the tranquility of the waterfalls and the ravines or go forest bathing during a hike in the mountains. Or, if you’re looking to add a little more adventure to your road trip, try cycling in the sky! That’s right – you don’t need to be on the ground to go cycling in Au Diable Vert, as the facility offers a tree-top cycling experience that allows you to soar through the forest on a suspended bicycle.
Hubbards, Nova Scotia
Hubbards is less than an hour’s drive from the dazzling downtown core in Halifax, but it feels like you are far, far away from the city. Find an AirBnB or a B&B along Saint Margaret’s Bay so you can hear the sound of the ocean as you wake up in the morning.
Hubbards is nestled in between the iconic Peggy’s Cove lighthouse and the colourful city of Lunenberg – perfectly situated for day trips. Check out the spectacular natural beaches, drive through the Aspotogan Peninsula, and enjoy the picturesque fishing villages like Northwest Cove. Dine at quaint restaurants like Tuna Blue or the infamous Nova Scotian fish and chip truck Sheila’s Too, sip on cocktails at the new Black Harbour distillery, visit the Hubbards Farmers Market (located in a repurposed barn), and discover all the charm that Hubbards, Nova Scotia has to offer.
Half of all Canadians have expressed that having to remain in their homes during the pandemic has made them miss driving. Fortunately, road trips and day trips offer a safer travel option for Canadians, so you can get out of the house, hit the road and satisfy that craving for adventure.
Less than three quarters of the respondents to this survey actually own a vehicle. Now is the perfect time to consider which vehicle is right for your family – be sure to check out the wide range of vehicles at Toyota.ca for a vehicle for the perfect companion to suit any lifestyle.
The Best Road Trip Vehicles
If you’re looking for the best road trip cars, you want to ensure your vehicle is fuel-efficient, spacious, comfortable, and safe. Let’s start by exploring the RAV4, which is a vehicle made to help you explore. The RAV4 was the #1 best-selling vehicle in Canada in 2019, and the RAV4 Hybrid is the top-selling hybrid vehicle in the country.
The RAV4 is a compact SUV, meaning that although it is a five-seater vehicle, you have extra leg space and trunk room, making the vehicle more comfortable and spacious for long road trips than your average five-seater vehicle.
Powered by a 2.5L four-cylinder engine, the standard RAV4 engine outputs 203 horsepower. And, for even better performance and fuel efficiency, the RAV4 Hybrid offers more power than the gas-only model, with a whopping 219 horsepower. Plus, greater fuel efficiency means you won’t have to stop to refuel during your road trip quite as often.
Or, if you’re in need of more seating, check out the Highlander Hybrid. Featuring flexible seating for seven or eight passengers, advanced road-handling capabilities, and a choice of two powerful and fuel-efficient engines that put out 243 horsepower, the Highlander Hybrid makes a fuel-efficient road trip vehicle.
Both of these vehicles also come with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, our advanced safety suite designed to keep you and your loved ones happy, safe, and secure on the road.
When it comes to road trips, choosing the right vehicle is just as important as choosing the right destination. You want to find a destination that will be enjoyable and safe for all travellers, just like you need a vehicle that will be comfortable, enjoyable and safe for all travellers en route.
However, if you’re still struggling to settle on a road trip destination, check out our Canadian Road Trips Map! We developed this map during our Map O’ Canada social media campaign, highlighting some of Canada’s most beautiful landscapes in celebration of Canada Day and Canada everyday. The map includes the aforementioned locations along with some of our favourite destinations as well as our followers’ favourite local vacation spots.
Happy road tripping!
