Van road trip › Canada
Van road trip in Canada: how many days and how much does it cost?
Canada: allow 20 to 40 days by van for a loop of about 3,730 mi (6,000 km). Budget: between $1,150 CAD and $2,800 CAD for fuel and nights, without meals or sightseeing.
Estimates. These figures are rough estimates written from memory on Oct 25, 2026: prices and rules change. Check official sources before you go.
How many days?
Allow 20 to 40 days for a loop of about 3,730 mi (6,000 km), at a pace of 150 to 300 km (95 to 185 mi) a day. The longer you stay in the same places, the more days you need.
Famous routes in this country, to copy into a trip:
- Icefields Parkway and the Canadian Rockies : Calgary to Jasper via Banff, Lake Louise and the Columbia Icefield: turquoise lakes, glaciers, elk and bears.
- Cabot Trail : The Cape Breton Highlands loop: cliffs over the Gulf, Acadian Chéticamp, whales and Celtic fiddles.
- Gaspé Peninsula loop : Route 132 around the peninsula from Québec City: Kamouraska, Reford Gardens, the Chic-Chocs, Forillon, Percé and Chaleur Bay.
- Whale Route : Route 138 from Québec City to Havre-Saint-Pierre: Charlevoix, the Saguenay Fjord, Tadoussac's whales and the Mingan monoliths.
How much does it cost?
| Fuel | $1,150 CAD |
|---|---|
| Nights (30 days) | between $0 CAD and $1,650 CAD |
| Total, without meals or sightseeing | between $1,150 CAD and $2,800 CAD |
Assumptions: 12 L per 100 km, 30 days, 3,730 mi (6,000 km) of driving, gas at $1.62 CAD per litre. Tolls and vignettes extra. With your vehicle and your route, the planner works out the cost kilometre by kilometre.
Where to sleep? Depends on the region
Crown (public) land: free camping is often allowed up to 21 days (Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta…), with each province setting its own rules. Elsewhere: store parking lots depending on the store, rest areas depending on the province.
Frequently asked questions
- Canada: how many days for a van road trip?
- Allow 20 to 40 days for a loop of about 3,730 mi (6,000 km), at a pace of 150 to 300 km (95 to 185 mi) a day. The longer you stay in the same places, the more days you need.
- Canada: how much does a van road trip cost?
- For 30 days, budget $1,150 CAD for fuel (12 L per 100 km, gas at $1.62 CAD per litre) and between $0 CAD and $1,650 CAD for nights, so between $1,150 CAD and $2,800 CAD in total without meals or sightseeing.
- Canada: where to sleep in a van?
- Depends on the region. Crown (public) land: free camping is often allowed up to 21 days (Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta…), with each province setting its own rules. Elsewhere: store parking lots depending on the store, rest areas depending on the province. A night costs $0 CAD to $55 CAD depending on whether you find a free spot, a service area or a campground with hookups.
- Canada: do you need to pay tolls or buy a vignette in a van?
- A few tolls. Few tolls. Ontario: Highway 407 ETR, billed by licence plate (US plates too). Quebec: bridges on Highways 25 and 30, free-flow, billed by plate. Confederation Bridge (PEI) and Cobequid Pass (NS): tolled.
- Canada: what do you need to enter with your van?
- US citizens: passport, passport card or NEXUS at a land border. No eTA needed by road. Firearms, pepper spray and firewood: strict rules. Your Canadian or US licence is enough for a visitor. Insurance: your Canadian or US proof of insurance is enough.