Canada by Train and Road: The Great Routes
In a country this size, the journey is often the destination. These are the rail journeys and road trips worth building a holiday around.
The great train journeys
Canada was, quite literally, stitched together by rail — the promise of a transcontinental railway is why British Columbia joined Confederation in 1871 — and the romance of that history survives in a handful of journeys that are now travelled for their own sake rather than to get anywhere quickly.
VIA Rail’s Canadian: Toronto to Vancouver
The flagship of Canadian rail travel runs roughly 4,400 kilometres over four nights, climbing out of the boreal forests of Ontario, crossing the vast emptiness of the Prairies, and then delivering the payoff: a full day winding through the Rockies and the interior of British Columbia. It is slow, it is not cheap in a sleeper cabin, and it is one of the world’s great train rides. Go for the experience of watching the country change at ground level, not because you need to be in Vancouver by Tuesday.
The Rocky Mountaineer
A different proposition entirely: a luxury daytime-only service through the Canadian Rockies, with glass-domed coaches and overnight hotel stops so you never travel in the dark and never miss the scenery. It is a premium, bucket-list product rather than transport, and it sells out well ahead in summer.
The corridor and the regional lines
For practical travel rather than spectacle, VIA Rail’s Quebec City–Windsor corridor is a genuinely useful, frequent service linking Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and points between — often faster and more civilised than flying or driving for those city hops. Further afield, the Skeena through northern BC and the legendary route to Churchill, Manitoba — polar-bear country reachable only by rail or air — are adventures in their own right.
The classic road trips
The Icefields Parkway (Alberta)
Often called the most beautiful drive in the world, and the claim is hard to argue with. The 232 kilometres of Highway 93 between Lake Louise and Jasper run past a near-continuous wall of glaciers, turquoise lakes and waterfalls, including the Columbia Icefield itself. You can drive it in three hours; give it a full day, or two with a night in Jasper.
The Cabot Trail (Nova Scotia)
A 300-kilometre loop around the northern tip of Cape Breton Island, climbing to headlands high above the Gulf of St Lawrence and the open Atlantic, threading Acadian and Gaelic communities, and passing some of the finest coastal hiking in eastern Canada. Drive it over two or three days to do it justice.
The Sea-to-Sky Highway (British Columbia)
The relatively short run from Vancouver up to Whistler hugs the fjord of Howe Sound before climbing into the Coast Mountains — a spectacular taster that can be done in a long morning or stretched into a multi-day loop deeper into the interior.
The Viking Trail and the Bonavista Peninsula (Newfoundland)
For travellers willing to go further, Newfoundland offers some of the most distinctive driving in the country: the Viking Trail north to the Norse site at L’Anse aux Meadows and the fjords of Gros Morne, or the iceberg-and-puffin coastline of the Bonavista Peninsula. Distances are long and weather is moody; that is the point.
Driving practicalities you should know
Canadians drive on the right. A foreign licence in English or French is generally fine for a visit; otherwise carry an International Driving Permit. Distances are genuinely large, so plan fuel stops in advance on remote highways — there are stretches in the North and across parts of the Prairies and northern Ontario where services are a hundred kilometres or more apart. Wildlife on the road is a real hazard, especially at dawn and dusk; a moose collision is dangerous, so slow down in posted zones and scan the verges. In winter, many regions legally or practically require winter tyres, mountain passes can close, and you should carry warm clothing, a blanket and basic supplies in case you are stranded. Always check road and avalanche conditions before mountain or northern driving, and remember that mobile coverage disappears between towns.
Frequently asked questions
Is the train across Canada worth it?
If you love rail travel and have the time and budget for a sleeper, yes — the Canadian is one of the world’s great journeys. If you simply need to get from Toronto to Vancouver, fly; the train takes four nights.
What is the most beautiful drive in Canada?
The Icefields Parkway in Alberta is the most frequent answer, with the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia close behind. Both reward a slow, multi-day pace.
Do I need a car in Canada?
Outside the major cities, almost certainly — the parks, coasts and small towns assume you are driving. Inside Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, transit is good and a car is a liability.
Can I drive in Canada with a foreign licence?
For a visit, a valid licence in English or French is generally accepted; carry an International Driving Permit if yours is in another language. Confirm specifics with your car rental company.