Traveling from East to West in Canada?

[gogirlgolf]

I would like to travel from the east coast to the west coast thru Canada and the United States.  Does anyone have experience with this?  Routes I should take for beautiful views?  Is there a website I can learn more about this?
Thanks
gogirlgolf

[DonTom]

I would like to travel from the east coast to the west coast thru Canada and the United States.  Does anyone have experience with this?  Routes I should take for beautiful views?  Is there a website I can learn more about this?
Thanks
gogirlgolf

In the western part of Canada (I cannot speak for the eastern part) , you will have to make a special effort if you wish to AVOID all the "beautiful views" that you will see on the way. A couple of months ago, we went up to Edmonton, Alberta and down through Jasper National Park and from there to Vancouver, BC.

Where are you starting from?

-Don- SF, CA

[Hfx_Cdn]

     That is a pretty open question.  When are you planning to travel, where are your starting and ending points, what are your desires as to what you want to see, what ae your time constraints, etc.  Canada is over 3,000 miles from coast to coast, with most major population cenres being within 100 miles of the US border.  Regional differences are diverse.  Cities are densely populated, but there are vast areas of pristene wilderness.
     So, the answer could be as simple as take the Trans Canada Highway from Mile 1 in St John's Newfoundland to Victoria BC, or as complex as a 1,000 page trip plan.

Ed

[BernieD]

And, of course, what time of year

[gogirlgolf]

I don't have a starting point yet.  I live in South Carolina so I would probably go to the middle of states and head north until I get to Canada.  Travel would be in late summer.

[Hfx_Cdn]

    Heading due north from South Carolina will put you in my least favourite part of Canada, that is southern Ontario.  The reason I don't care for it is that it is the most densely populated in Canada, and one city is much like any other.  However, once you head into northern Ontario, you will see lots of beautiful country.  Too bad you will miss the best part    That is the Atlantic Provinces.

[aka Porky]

Assuming this is to be a "round trip", traveling from SC to/through Canada and back will require more than the few weeks of "late summer".  You need to do a little research, decide what it is that you want to see, and then, calculate the route and timing of your trip.

Without proper planning, don't even bother to take along a camera, because all you are going to be seeing is on-coming traffic and a rapidly descending fuel gauge.

Planning such a trip can be a significant part of the enjoyment and an even more significant part of it's success.

[ArdraF]

GoGirlGolf,

There aren't a whole lot of highways across Canada.  The primary (only?) one is the Trans Canada Highway, commonly called the TCH or Canada 1.  If you're out of the cities, it's often a two-lane road for many miles.  As long as there isn't any traffic, it's okay, but we much prefer U.S.-style interstates when our time is limited and we're trying to get from Point A to Point B.  In 2006 we entered Canada at Sault Ste. Marie from Michigan and traveled east on the TCH to the Atlantic provinces.  I have to say there wasn't a whole lot to see along the TCH.  Unless you're in cities it's pretty flat with many miles of trees.  If you go, be sure to get a Trailer Life Campground Directory so you can find places to stay.  Distances are great and you need to plan ahead.  Personally I would go across the upper U.S. on I-80 or I-90 and save some time which might better used, for example, around the Icefields Parkway, Banff, Lake Louise, the dinosaur areas, and other sights.  You didn't say how much time you expect to spend on this trip, but if it's a "normal" summer vacation, you might want to rethink your routing and places to visit.

ArdraF

[DonTom]

"Personally I would go across the upper U.S. on I-80 or I-90 and save some time which might better used, for example, around the Icefields Parkway, Banff, Lake Louise, the dinosaur areas, and other sights.

And that way, gasoline and everything else will be a lot cheaper. But the purpose of our trip was to see more of Canada, so we paid the higher prices and used lousier roads. TC1 was one of the worse roads I ever been near the Alberta / BC border, but they are now fixing it.

Some of the roads, however, such as the one up to Edmonton, is a very good fast divided freeway with a speed limit of 110 KM  (68.5 MPH).

The road through Jasper National Park was a lot better than we expected too.

-Don- SSF, CA

[Elly Dalmaijer]

I live near Edmonton in western Canada and I know just about every road in AB and BC. 
I wonder what kind of RV you have? Do you prefer interstates or smaller roads?

Elly

[DonTom]

I live near Edmonton in western Canada and I know just about every road in AB and BC.  
I wonder what kind of RV you have? Do you prefer interstates or smaller roads?Elly

Which roads we prefer depends on many factors, mainly how far we're going. We've been down many miles down dirt roads (the better ones) in our older RV, miles from anywhere. However, TC1 in Canada by the Alberta border was worse than most dirt roads when we were there a couple of months ago. But they were working on it.

When we were in the Edmonton area a couple of months ago,  we stayed at the Devon RV Park which was full on the weekend and it was then very warm weather. We had the only RV in the park that did not have an Alberta plate. This RV park is not listed in Garmin GPS units and is difficult to find even if very close to it. I assume you are familiar with it. We stayed there for about a week and rented a car to get around the Edmonton area.

You should be able to see my RV info below all my messages, including this one. (2000 Fleetwood Tioga 24D, 7.4 L which is a 25 foot long class C.). Here are some pics:

-Don- SSF, CA

[Elly Dalmaijer]

Hi Don;

Great that you found the Devon RV park. It is indeed a hidden location in the valley next to the river. It is owned and operated by the Lions Club as is the local campground in our town (St Albert). These kinds of parks are frequently best kept secrets. Jack and I have often found parks like that in the US as well where we were the only non-US plate. Although saying that, as local we know how to recognize an Alberta rental licence plate so you may have been surprised how many non-Albertans there actually were.

The Transcanada is being twinned through the National Park. As you can imagine this is a slow process since our climate allows only a few months of construction. In addition they are building many interesting wildlife overpasses.  As locals we avoid the construction by taking the scenic 1A (Bow Valley Highway) that gets you at least from Banff to Lake Louise while by-passing construction.

Hope you enjoyed the scenery!

Elly

[DonTom]

Right after I posted my message, I realized yours was really directed for gogirlgolf.

Great that you found the Devon RV park. It is indeed a hidden location in the valley next to the river.

I was wondering if all the local RV'ers in the Edmonton area got together at the Devon RV Park for the warm weekend. Everybody seemed to know each other. On Monday, the place was almost empty.

It is owned and operated by the Lions Club as is the local campground in our town (St Albert). These kinds of parks are frequently best kept secrets. Jack and I have often found parks like that in the US as well where we were the only non-US plate. Although saying that, as local we know how to recognize an Alberta rental licence plate so you may have been surprised how many non-Albertans there actually were.

We would take our two doggies down to the river a lot, since they were allowed to run free there, off leash.

BTW, I wonder if you recognize where the picture below was taken:

-Don- Tracy, CA

[CWELLS]

If you're looking for some nice mountains and would like to do some stream fishing I would suggest the crows nest pass and make a stop at the old man river. It is beautiful country and there is a camp ground there as well as little stops that are not. I have been there many times and I will always refer people to camp there.

[Elly Dalmaijer]

All campgrounds in a 200M radius around Edmonton are packed in the summer. At least the "nature" campgrounds, as you experienced.

I could not really see your photo since right-clicking did not produce a bigger image. What can I do to see it better?

[Ned]

I could not really see your photo since right-clicking did not produce a bigger image. What can I do to see it better?

Left click on the thumbnail and it will expand to the full image.

[DonTom]

All campgrounds in a 200M radius around Edmonton are packed in the summer. At least the "nature" campgrounds, as you experienced.

I was surprised how many RV's (and RV shops) we saw in the Edmonton area.  I was also surprised how warm it was. And how expensive everything was compared to the USA.

I could not really see your photo since right-clicking did not produce a bigger image. What can I do to see it better?

Try a left click. But I cannot remember the name of that park. But the North Saskatchewan River was right behind where that photo was taken of us in that Korean thingie (yeah, the characters on it are Korean, not Chinese, says Tom). There's also a view of Edmonton across the river.

If you're looking for some nice mountains and would like to do some stream fishing I would suggest the crows nest pass and make a stop at the old man river. It is beautiful country and there is a camp ground there as well as little stops that are not. I have been there many times and I will always refer people to camp there.

We remember crossing the Old Man River on PH-22.

-Don- Reno, NV

[RoyM]

That is the gate to Chinatown beside 97th street in Edmonton. The Chinese community is very active and colorful, there are some very good restaurants too.

[Elly Dalmaijer]

I would have a really hard time believing that is the China Gate since that gate is in the middle of the city and does not have the shrubs and trees around it as is shown on the picture.
My guess would be that it is in the Devonian gardens?

Elly

[DonTom]

That is the gate to Chinatown beside 97th street in Edmonton. The Chinese community is very active and colorful, there are some very good restaurants too.

The characters on the gate shown are in Korean, not Chinese (if it were in Chinese, Tom would be able to read it!).  Behind it was the North Saskatchewan River.

We ate in mostly the Chinese places in ChinaTown when we were in Edmonton. Chinese food in Edmonton's ChinaTown only costs about twice the price of the USA instead of three times.

-Don- SF, CA

[Supreme Oppressor]

If you plan on coming up from Southern Ontario, you may want to avoid the perpetual construction on the 400 and hwy 69. Head up to Tobermory and take the Ferry to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. It will require some planning ahead for scheduling, but it is worth the trip. Actual crossing time is about 2 hours.  Can be a bit expensive depending on your rig though, but hey, its a vacation, right? 
The island is geographically different in several ways and has a very large density of deer.  Roads are paved, but can be considered of rural quality.  There are several small towns and local shops, depending on your interests. (antiques, local art, etc.)
From there you cross onto the mainland by bridge, and continue on hwy 6 to the Trans-Canada just past Espanola.