The world's second largest country by land mass, Canada offers vast areas of wilderness perfect for RV camping. It stretches from British Columbia on the Pacific coast in the west, to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland on the Atlantic in the east. You can find quaint towns, cosmopolitan cities, working communities of First Nation settlers, mountain resorts and lakeside retreats round every curve, all conveniently connected by modern, scenic roads, and the mammoth, 4860-mile, coast-to-coast Trans-Canada Highway.
Provinces
Canada's 13 provinces offer distinctive experiences for RV campers traveling with a sense of adventure. You can learn about Canada's oldest African-Canadian community or join the festivities of Lobsterpalooza in Nova Scotia. In Manitoba, you can follow the foot steps of fur traders at Fort Gibraltar. You can look for orchids and 220 species of birds in the Interprovincial Park on the Saskatchewan-Alberta border. Hikers will enjoy the Yukon's Tombstone Territorial Park.
Campgrounds
You can choose from hundreds of campgrounds with RV access. Finding the best for your purpose will be rewarded with research, whether you are looking for quiet camping in national parks or full-service campgrounds offering activities for the whole family. Frommer's list Green Park Provincial Park on Prince Edward Island and Tunnel Mountain on the outskirts of Banff, both suitable for RV camping, as examples of the best camping in Canada. Today's Parent magazine picked Ol' MacDonald's Resort in Alberta and the year-round Desert Lake Family Resort in Ontario as among their 25 Best Campgrounds in Canada.
Organizations
Considering joining a camping organization to receive up-to-the-minute campground information and special deals. For example, the Canadian-owned-and-operated Explorer RV Club is open to U.S and international residents and its annual membership fee includes discounts on site fees, emergency roadside assistance and fuel, subscription to the bi-monthly club magazine, and access to a comprehensive online guide that lists campgrounds across Canada and the U.S.
Scenic Routes
Canada's vast terrain makes it ideal for scenic drives, stopping at campgrounds along the way, whether you are exploring Nova Scotia, British Columbia or First Nation communities in the Northern Territories. You can cruise past glaciers, forests and mountains on the Sea to Sky Highway 99 as it winds from Vancouver to Lillooet. Discover history alongside rugged coastline on Newfoundland's Viking Trail to L'Anse aux Meadows, and drive past glacial peaks to the crest of the Rockies in Alberta's Icefields Parkway.
When To Go
Pick the season best suited to your required activities and taste. Winter is long and extremely cold the further north you travel, with the southern and central areas receiving similar weather to the northern U.S. Combine camping with skiing from late November to March. Spring provides the best value, but take lots of insect repellent and be aware that this is referred to as "mud season," when melting snow makes many outdoor activities difficult. Fall, from mid-September to mid-November, provides the best combination of often surprisingly mild weather and fewer crowds, but check campground availability as some close after summer.
Member Comments
Dreambuilder July 29
Great article about our great country Andrew! We have RV'ed it coast to coast and as far north as we can drive, writing books and articles about it so we appreciate its vastness. Just one correction: Canada has 11 provinces and 2 territories( Yukon and Northwest Territories) not 13 provinces. It's a Canadian thing to confuse people with our descriptions...LOL! Barb Rees: LoveToGo Writing, Powell River, BC