How big Canada really is
Canada is slightly larger than the United States, but most of its 41 million people live within a few hundred miles of the US border. Between the big eastern cities, trains and buses work well. Across the country, you fly. And in the places most Americans come to see (the Rockies, Cape Breton, the Gaspé, Newfoundland, cottage country), public transport is sparse and a car is close to essential.
The most common planning mistake is underestimating distance: Toronto to Vancouver is roughly New York to Las Vegas. Build your trip around one or two regions instead of trying to cross the country in a week; see Planning your trip for sample routes.
| Trip | By road | Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto–Montreal | 335 mi (540 km), about 5.5 hr | About 5 hr (VIA) | About 1.25 hr |
| Toronto–Ottawa | 280 mi (450 km), 4.5–5 hr | About 4.5 hr (VIA) | About 1 hr |
| Ottawa–Montreal | 125 mi (200 km), about 2 hr | About 2 hr (VIA) | Not worth it |
| Montreal–Quebec City | 160 mi (255 km), about 3 hr | About 3.25 hr (VIA) | Not worth it |
| Toronto–Niagara Falls | 80 mi (130 km), 1.5–2 hr | About 2 hr (GO Transit or VIA) | None |
| Vancouver–Victoria | 3–3.5 hr including the ferry | None | About 35 min by floatplane, harbor to harbor |
| Vancouver–Whistler | 75 mi (120 km), about 2 hr | None (coach shuttles) | Floatplanes and charters only |
| Calgary–Banff | 80 mi (130 km), about 1.5 hr | None (shuttles) | None |
| Vancouver–Banff | 525 mi (850 km), 9–10 hr | 2 days (Rocky Mountaineer) | Fly to Calgary, about 1.5 hr |
| Montreal–Halifax | 775 mi (1,250 km), 12–13 hr | About 22 hr overnight (VIA's Ocean) | About 1.75 hr |
| Toronto–Vancouver | About 2,700 mi (4,400 km), 4–5 days | 4 nights (VIA's Canadian) | About 5 hr westbound |
Different from home
Road signs, speed limits and gas prices are metric, and distances on the Trans-Canada can stretch 100 mi (160 km) or more between gas stations in northern Ontario, the Prairies and the North. See Driving in Canada before you rent.
Domestic flights
For any trip of more than about 500 mi (800 km), flying is usually the realistic choice. The main domestic airlines are Air Canada (including its Rouge leisure brand and regional Air Canada Express flights), WestJet, Porter, which now flies coast to coast with jets, and the ultra-low-cost Flair, which shifted planes from US routes to domestic ones in 2025 and 2026. Lynx Air shut down in 2024 and Swoop was folded into WestJet, so ignore older advice that mentions them.
Typical flying times: Toronto to Vancouver about 5 hours westbound and a bit over 4 eastbound; Toronto to Calgary about 4 hours; Montreal to Vancouver about 5.5 hours; Toronto to Halifax about 2 hours; Toronto to St. John's about 3 hours; Vancouver to Calgary about 1.5 hours.
Domestic fares are high by US standards, partly because airport improvement fees and a federal security charge are built into every ticket. Book early for summer and holidays, compare all four main carriers, and price open-jaw trips (into Vancouver, out of Calgary).
Regional airlines
PAL Airlines flies around Atlantic Canada and into Labrador, and Pacific Coastal serves smaller British Columbia towns.
Floatplanes and helicopters
Harbour Air floatplanes and Helijet helicopters fly between downtown Vancouver's harbor and Victoria's Inner Harbour. They cost more than the ferry but save most of a day and the views are spectacular. Bag weight limits are strict.
The North
Air North (Yukon's own airline) connects Whitehorse with Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. Canadian North and others serve the Arctic, and Calm Air flies to Churchill. Fares are steep and weather delays are part of life. See The North and The Prairies.
Save money
On a large airline, a delay within the airline's control that gets you in three or more hours late earns C$400 to C$1,000 (about $285–715) under Canada's passenger rules. See Flights.
VIA Rail in the Quebec City–Windsor corridor
VIA Rail is Canada's national passenger railway, a federal Crown corporation that plays roughly the role Amtrak does in the US. Its best service by far is the corridor linking Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, London and Windsor. This is where train travel in Canada makes real sense: frequent departures, city-center stations, free Wi-Fi, and trip times that compete with driving once you count traffic and parking.
Most corridor routes now use VIA's new Siemens-built trains, which have power outlets at every seat, bigger windows and better accessibility. Key stations are Toronto's Union Station, Montreal's Central Station (Gare Centrale) under the Queen Elizabeth hotel, Ottawa's station east of downtown (on O-Train Line 1), and Quebec City's Gare du Palais at the foot of the old town.
Classes and fares
You choose between Economy and Business. Business class adds wider seats, a hot meal and drinks served at your seat, and access to VIA lounges in the bigger stations. Within each class, VIA sells several fare types (such as Escape, the cheapest and least flexible, up to fully flexible fares), so the same seat can cost very different amounts depending on how far ahead you book and how much flexibility you want.
- Book on viarail.ca or the VIA app. Prices rise as trains fill, so booking a few weeks ahead pays off on Friday and Sunday trains.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes early at big stations, since boarding closes before departure.
- Check live train status on the VIA site on travel day.
Insider tip
Montreal to Quebec City is the most scenic easy train ride for a first trip: about three and a quarter hours, arriving a short walk (uphill) from the walls of the old city. Pair it with the train from Toronto or Ottawa and you can do a classic Toronto–Ottawa–Montreal–Quebec City trip without ever renting a car.
Alto, a high-speed line planned between Toronto and Quebec City, was announced in 2025 but is many years from carrying passengers.
The Canadian, the Ocean and the northern trains
VIA's long-distance trains are a travel experience more than transportation: slow, often late and pricey in a sleeper, yet many travelers rank them among the highlights of a trip.
The Canadian
The famous transcontinental runs through the lakes and forests of northern Ontario, across the Prairies via Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Edmonton, and into the Rockies at Jasper before descending through Kamloops to Vancouver. It leaves two or three times a week depending on the season, with stainless-steel 1950s cars including a glass-domed Skyline car and the rounded Park observation car at the rear.
The Ocean
Three times a week along the St. Lawrence past Rimouski, then through New Brunswick via Moncton to Halifax. Economy seats or Sleeper Plus cabins; a relaxed way into the Maritimes.
Jasper–Prince Rupert
A few departures a week from Jasper through the Robson Valley and the Skeena River country to the coast. The train stops overnight in Prince George, where you book your own hotel. Summer adds a Touring class with dome access. Prince Rupert connects to BC Ferries' Inside Passage sailing.
Winnipeg–Churchill
The only overland way to reach Churchill, the polar bear and beluga town on Hudson Bay, since no road goes there. Sleeper cabins are offered, but meals are not included in the sleeper fare, so check what food service is running and bring snacks. Many visitors take the train one way and fly the other. See The Prairies.
Sleeper classes on The Canadian
| Class | What you get | Rail-only starting point, Toronto–Vancouver |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | Reclining seat and a dome car for economy passengers; food is extra | Lowest; varies widely |
| Sleeper Plus, berth | Upper or lower bunk behind curtains, shared washrooms and showers, all meals in the dining car, dome and Park car access | About C$1,100 (about $775) per person in winter |
| Sleeper Plus, Cabin for Two | Private cabin with toilet and sink, bunks at night, shared showers, all meals | About C$1,960 (about $1,400) per person in winter |
| Sleeper Plus, Cabin for One | Private single cabin with toilet and sink, all meals | About C$2,200 (about $1,570) in winter |
| Prestige | Larger cabin with private shower, wide window and sofa, concierge, all meals and drinks, priority in the Park car | Far higher; get a quote |
Those are published low-season starting points for winter 2026–2027. Summer fares run much higher, and sleepers for June to September sell out months ahead. Spring and fall are a good compromise.
Watch out
The Canadian runs on freight railway tracks, and freight trains usually get priority. Arrivals hours behind schedule are normal, and very long delays happen. Never book a nonrefundable flight, hotel or tour on the day you are due to arrive. If you want a taste without the full four nights, ride the one-night Jasper–Vancouver section.
The Rocky Mountaineer
The Rocky Mountaineer is a private luxury tourist train, separate from VIA Rail, that runs only in daylight between Vancouver and the Rockies so you never miss the scenery. You sleep in hotels along the way, which are included with the overnight stop. It operates roughly from spring to early fall.
- First Passage to the West: Vancouver to Banff (or Lake Louise) over two days, with an overnight in Kamloops. The most popular route, following the historic Canadian Pacific line through the Spiral Tunnels area and Kicking Horse Pass.
- Journey through the Clouds: Vancouver to Jasper over two days via Kamloops, passing close to Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
- Rainforest to Gold Rush: Vancouver to Jasper via Whistler and the Cariboo gold rush town of Quesnel, with hotel overnights on the way.
- Rockies to the Red Rocks: the company's US route between Denver and Moab, Utah.
There are two service levels: a single-level glass-dome coach with meals at your seat, and a premium bi-level dome coach with an outdoor platform and a downstairs dining room (long sold as SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf). Even two-day trips run into the thousands of Canadian dollars per person, and most guests buy packages that add hotels and transfers. Get a current quote from the company or a travel advisor.
Insider tip
The train gives you the Fraser Canyon and the mountain passes without the strain of a long mountain drive, but it drops you in Banff or Jasper without wheels. Plan a rental car or tours for the days after you arrive.
Intercity buses after Greyhound
Greyhound Canada stopped serving western Canada in 2018 and ended all its Canadian routes in 2021. There is no single national bus network now. Instead, a patchwork of private and provincially owned operators covers the main corridors, and some rural areas have no bus at all. Ticket prices are usually far below the train.
FlixBus
The green buses link Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and other cities in Ontario and Quebec, often at very low advance fares. In May 2026 FlixBus expanded across the Prairies, linking Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg with smaller towns, and added a Calgary–Drumheller route that stops at the Royal Tyrrell Museum.
Rider Express
A private operator that stepped in after Greyhound with long-haul routes across the West, including the Vancouver–Calgary run through the mountains. Check its current timetable, since schedules change seasonally.
Ebus and Red Arrow
Ebus serves Vancouver, Kamloops, Kelowna and other interior BC towns, plus Calgary–Edmonton. Red Arrow runs a more comfortable, business-style service between Calgary, Edmonton and northern Alberta.
Ontario Northland
The province-owned carrier runs buses from Toronto north to Huntsville, North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins and beyond, useful for reaching Muskoka and the edge of Algonquin without a car. See Ontario.
Orléans Express
Connects Montreal and Quebec City and continues east along the St. Lawrence to Rimouski and the Gaspé Peninsula. Service on the eastern legs is thin, so plan around the timetable. See Quebec beyond the cities.
Maritime Bus
The main intercity bus in the Maritimes, linking Halifax, Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John and Charlottetown. It will not get you around the Cabot Trail; for that, you need a car or a tour.
Across the border, Greyhound and FlixBus (now under the same parent company) run from New York and other US cities to Toronto and Montreal. Buses stop at the border while everyone goes through inspection, so expect an hour or more extra on busy days.
In the Rockies, airport shuttles run from Calgary airport to Banff and Lake Louise, Roam Transit runs local buses in Banff and Canmore and out to Lake Louise, and Parks Canada runs reservable shuttles to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. The road to Moraine Lake has been closed to personal vehicles since 2023, so you need a shuttle, a commercial tour or a bike. See The Rockies.
BC Ferries and Pacific crossings
BC Ferries runs one of the largest ferry systems in the world, and for most visitors it is the way to Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. The big car ferries have cafeterias and outside decks, and the crossings are part of the scenery.
| Route | Connects | Crossing |
|---|---|---|
| Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay | South of Vancouver to near Victoria | About 1 hr 35 min, through the Gulf Islands |
| Horseshoe Bay–Departure Bay | West Vancouver to Nanaimo | About 1 hr 40 min |
| Tsawwassen–Duke Point | South of Vancouver to south Nanaimo | About 2 hr |
| Horseshoe Bay–Langdale | West Vancouver to the Sunshine Coast | About 40 min |
| Port Hardy–Prince Rupert (Inside Passage) | North Vancouver Island to the north coast | A full day in summer |
Fares. On Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay, new fares took effect April 8, 2026: C$21 (about $15) for an adult foot passenger and C$10.50 for a child, with the vehicle charged separately at about C$89 (about $64) for a standard car before passengers. A temporary fuel surcharge of 5 percent was added in June 2026, which raised those to about C$22.05 and C$93.45; check whether it still applies. Saver fares of C$15 for adults are offered on selected off-peak sailings. A car with two adults typically comes to about C$135–140 (about $100) each way.
Reservations. Foot passengers just buy a ticket and walk on. With a car, reserve on the major routes in summer, on Friday and Sunday afternoons, and on long weekends, or you may wait for a later sailing (BC Ferries calls these sailing waits). Reservations carry a fee, which varies, and you must check in by the cutoff on your booking. Book on bcferries.com.
Insider tip
Going car-free to Victoria works well. Take the Canada Line to Bridgeport and transit bus 620 to Tsawwassen terminal, walk on, then take a Victoria transit bus from Swartz Bay into downtown. It takes about 3.5–4 hours door to door and costs a fraction of bringing a car. See Vancouver Island.
From Washington State
- Black Ball Ferry Line's Coho carries cars between Port Angeles, Washington, and downtown Victoria in about 90 minutes. Reserve in summer.
- Victoria Clipper is a passenger-only fast ferry between downtown Seattle and Victoria's Inner Harbour, about 2 hours 45 minutes.
- Washington State Ferries' Anacortes–Sidney route has been suspended since 2020 because of a vessel shortage and is not expected back for years. Ignore older guides that recommend it.
East Coast ferries and the Confederation Bridge
Most Atlantic ferry routes are seasonal, and summer car spaces sell out, so book as soon as your dates are set. See Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI and Newfoundland for how to fit them into a route.
The CAT
A high-speed car ferry that saves a long drive through Maine and New Brunswick; the 2026 season ran mid-May to mid-October. Fares are in US dollars: an adult one way was $90 in spring and fall and $121 in summer, plus a $15 port and security fee, and a standard car added $156–209 each way depending on season. You clear Canadian customs in Yarmouth and US customs in Bar Harbor. Book at ferries.ca.
Fundy Rose
Bay Ferries' crossing of the Bay of Fundy, linking New Brunswick with Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley side. It runs once or twice a day, so plan around the schedule. Book at ferries.ca.
Northumberland Ferries
Several sailings a day from late spring to early winter between Nova Scotia and eastern PEI. Like the bridge, the fare is collected when you leave PEI.
Marine Atlantic
The federal ferry to Newfoundland. The year-round route to Port aux Basques takes roughly seven hours. The summer-only route to Argentia takes much longer but drops you about 80 mi (130 km) from St. John's instead of about 560 mi (900 km). Book early for summer at marineatlantic.ca or 1-800-341-7981, and check weather advisories, which can cancel sailings.
The Confederation Bridge between New Brunswick and PEI is 8 mi (12.9 km) long, one of the longest bridges over ice-covered water in the world. The toll is C$20 (about $14) for a car, paid only when you leave the island at the Borden-Carleton toll plaza. Pedestrians and cyclists cannot cross on their own and must use the bridge shuttle (C$4.75 on foot, C$9.50 with a bike).
Save money
Because both the bridge and the Wood Islands ferry charge only on the way off PEI, the classic loop is to arrive one way and leave the other. You pay for the leg out, so compare the C$20 bridge toll with the ferry fare for your car and passengers when you decide which way to leave.
Quebec has its own ferry network run by the Société des traversiers du Québec. Two favorites: the short Quebec City–Lévis crossing, which gives the best view of the Château Frontenac skyline for a few dollars, and the free ferry across the mouth of the Saguenay fjord at Tadoussac, which runs around the clock.
City transit and how to pay
Canada's big cities have good transit, and in downtown Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver you can easily skip a car altogether. The best news for visitors is that tapping a credit card, debit card or phone wallet now works on the main systems in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa, so you do not need to buy a local fare card. Each tap is charged in Canadian dollars, so use a card with no foreign transaction fee; see Money.
| City | System | Adult single fare | How to pay | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | TTC subway, streetcars, buses | C$3.30 (about $2.35) by tap; C$3.35 cash | Tap a credit or debit card or phone, or a PRESTO card; free transfers for two hours | PRESTO day pass C$13.50 (about $9.65) |
| Montreal | STM metro and buses, REM light metro | About C$3.75 (about $2.70), zone A | OPUS card (C$6), paper tickets from machines, or the Chrono app; buses take exact coins only | 24-hr C$11 (about $8); weekend; 3-day |
| Vancouver | TransLink SkyTrain, buses, SeaBus | 1 zone C$3.50 (about $2.50) by tap; C$2.85 on a Compass card | Tap a card or phone at gates and on buses, or a Compass card; tap out on SkyTrain and SeaBus | DayPass C$12.55 (about $9) |
| Ottawa | OC Transpo O-Train and buses | C$4.10 (about $2.90) by tap or PRESTO; C$4.15 cash | Tap a card or phone, or PRESTO; 90-minute transfers | DayPass C$12.25; tapping is capped at that per day |
| Halifax | Halifax Transit buses and harbor ferries | C$3 (about $2.15) | HFXGO app or exact cash | 1-day C$7.50 |
| Calgary | CTrain light rail and buses | Regular fare; free on the CTrain along downtown's 7 Avenue | Check calgarytransit.com for current payment options | Day passes sold |
Montreal
The metro is fast, frequent and easy to navigate, with four color-coded lines. Plan on an OPUS card, paper tickets from the station machines (which take cards) or the Chrono app, and check the STM site to see whether tapping a bank card at the gates has been added. Buses accept only exact change in coins. The REM, an automated light metro, runs from Central Station to the South Shore and is opening further branches in stages. Signs and announcements are in French; see French for travelers and Montreal.
Vancouver
Weekday fares depend on zones, but after 6:30 p.m. and all weekend every trip counts as one zone. A tapped bank card pays the higher contactless price; if you will ride a lot, a Compass card with stored value is cheaper. See Vancouver.
Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec City and elsewhere
In Toronto, regional GO Transit trains reach the suburbs and Niagara Falls. Ottawa's O-Train Line 1 runs under downtown, and Line 4 reaches the airport. In Quebec City, the RTC's bus network serves the old town, though most sights are walkable (with hills). Halifax's harbor ferry to Dartmouth is a cheap mini-cruise on a regular transit fare. Smaller cities have bus systems geared to commuters, with thin evening and Sunday service.
Different from home
Fare inspectors check proof of payment on Toronto's streetcars, GO Transit trains and Vancouver's SkyTrain, and fines for riding without a valid fare are steep. Always tap or validate, even if the gate is open.
Uber, Lyft and taxis
Uber operates in all the major Canadian cities, including Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Quebec City and Halifax, and in many smaller ones. Lyft serves fewer places, with Toronto and Vancouver among them. Your US account works as is, and the app charges in Canadian dollars. Tip in the app, much as you would at home.
Outside cities, availability drops off fast. In resort towns, coastal villages and the countryside, do not count on a ride-hail car, especially late at night. Local taxi companies fill the gap in places like Banff and Whistler. Airport taxis in most big cities charge flat or zone-based fares to downtown, and regular taxis use meters. Tipping cab drivers 15–20 percent is normal.
When you need a car
For most classic Canadian trips outside the big cities, you need a car. Use transit in the cities, then rent a car only for the days you head into the countryside. That saves on hotel parking, which often runs C$40 or more a night in downtown Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
Car-free works
Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa and Vancouver; Victoria by ferry or floatplane; Halifax's downtown and waterfront. The VIA corridor links the eastern cities well, and Niagara Falls is reachable by GO train or bus.
Car optional
Banff and Whistler both work with airport shuttles, local buses and tours, though a car gives you far more freedom for trailheads and side trips. Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries are easiest with a tour or a bike.
Car essential
The Icefields Parkway, Jasper beyond town, Yoho and Kootenay; the Cabot Trail; PEI's beaches; the Gaspé and Charlevoix; Newfoundland; Muskoka, Algonquin, the Bruce Peninsula and Prince Edward County; Tofino and Pacific Rim; the Yukon.
Before you rent, check cross-border rules, one-way drop-off fees between provinces (often very high) and winter tire laws in Quebec and on many BC highways. All of that is on Driving in Canada, with border crossing advice on Crossing by car and classic routes on Road trips.
- Fly long distances, take the train between eastern cities, and rent locally for the scenic regions.
- Book car ferries as soon as your dates are set.
- Reserve Parks Canada shuttles for Lake Louise and Moraine Lake; see National parks.
Add it to a route in the trip builder, or ask us to plan the hotels, trains and guides for you.