This guide shows you what it’s like to drive from Toronto to Vancouver along the famous Trans Canada highway.
If you ever have any questions, let us know in the comments below 😄
For MORE DETAILED INFO on driving Toronto to the Rockies👇
Whether you’re heading to Calgary or heading to Banff National Park, this guide will prepare you for the 3400km journey.
Driving Toronto to Calgary: Should I drive via Canada or the USA?
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You can drive from Toronto to Calgary via Canada and the United States or make the entire journey staying in Canada. You may chose the latter for a few reasons.
You don’t have to pass through the Canada/USA border twice.
Northern Ontario is a remote and scenic area, passing through Lake Superior Provincial Park, Thunder Bay and Kenora.
If you’re a Canadian without a passport, then this is the route for you.
That being said, the USA route can be a good option as well, but for the purposes of this article, we will only include information on the drive through Canada.
Toronto to Calgary: How far is it? How long does it take?
The distance from Toronto, Ontario to Calgary, Alberta is 3400km through Canada. The driving time is 35 hours.
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Where should you stop? Where are free rest stops for overnight camping?
We didn’t spend a single dollar on accommodation when we drove from Toronto to Calgary.
Three day sample itinerary
Toronto, Ontario – White River, Ontario 1000km
Free camp: White River Visitors Center (toilets & water)
White River, Ontario – Kirkella, Manitoba 1400km
Free camp: Kirkella Visitors Center (toilets & water)
Kirkella, Manitoba – Calgary, Alberta 1000km
* This is the itinerary we followed. We drove a longer distance the second day due to our schedule. It should be noted that the driving in Ontario is a bit slower (avg 90km/hr) but more scenic. You can drive faster (100-110km/hr) in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and the roads are smooth and flat, making for easier driving.
Four day sample itinerary
Toronto, Ontario – Agawa Bay, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario 822km
Agawa Bay, Ontario – Kenora, Ontario 1030km
Kenora, Ontario – Moosejaw, Sakatchewan 860km
Moosejaw, Saskatchewan – Calgary, Alberta 688km
* This itinerary allowed for shorter driving days and more scenic stops. Agawa Bay, Kenora and Moosejaw are all very pleasant stopovers with lots to see and do.
Five day sample itinerary
Toronto, Ontario – Agawa Bay, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario 822km
Agawa Bay, Ontario – Thunder Bay, Ontario 561km
Thunder Bay, Ontario – Winnipeg, Manitoba 722km
Winnipeg, Manitoba – Moosejaw, Sakatchewan 642km
Moosejaw, Sakatchewan – Calgary, Alberta 688km
* This itinerary allowed for even shorter driving days with an average of only 687km per day.
Toronto to Calgary through Canada: How much does it cost?
The driving time through Canada is 35 hours. Let’s assume a fuel mileage of 10L/100km. This is the average between a small, fuel efficient car (6-7L/100km) and the popular Canadian pickup truck 13-14L/100km).
100km x 34 = 3400km (total distance Toronto to Calgary)
34x 10L = 340L
Canadian fuel prices ranged from 132.9c/L in Kenora, Ontario to 96.9c/L in Calgary. The average fuel price for us was 118.9c/L.
340L x 118.9/L = $400 in fuel one way
How often are the fuel stops?
We heard that there were huge gaps where there was no fuel for hundreds of kilometers. This just wasn’t so. The biggest gap between fuel ups was 150km. If you use the app GasBuddy and just keep watch on your fuel gauge you should be fine.
Is there internet/cell service?
Cell service is available for nearly the entire drive from Toronto to Calgary. We are with Koodo (Canadian mobile company) and we only had a few places where cell service was unavailable. The biggest gap in coverage was in Lake Superior Provincial Park.
Helpful apps
Here’s a list of apps that will help make your trip run smoothly.
Gas Buddy – gas prices and station locations
iOverlander – free camping and paid accommodations locations
Wikicamps Canada- free camping and paid accommodations locations
Freecampsites.net (technically a website but has great info on free camps)
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