Ready and roaring to go on a big road trip?
Well, buckle up, friends!
In this edition of the Travel-Mor Blog, we’re headed all the way out to Western Canada. We’ll explore sights along the way, of course, since the journey is half the fun. Then we’ll focus on beautiful British Columbia and Alberta, which contain many of the gems Canada has to offer.
This month in Part 1 of this series on the Big Western Canada RV Road Trip, we’ll cover what you need to prepare for the trip (this one or anything of a similar scale), and then start exploring what you’ll want to see and do once you hit the road.
Starting out from Ottawa
Assuming you’re reading this from Ottawa or elsewhere in Eastern Ontario or Quebec, it’s going to be a lengthy but rewarding journey ahead! The first thing you’ll want to do is to make sure that you’re well-prepared.
Making sure your Ottawa RV is tuned up and ready to go!
How’s your Ottawa RV doing after the winter? Have you given it a thorough check-up for the spring? For a big trip ahead, you’ll want to ensure that everything in your RV is in tip-top shape and good running order.
This includes:
- Checking your batteries
- Inspecting your water systems
- Preparing your Safety Components (flashlights, first aid, fire alarms, etc.)
- Checking your power generator
- Seams, Seals & Gaskets
- LP Gas Systems
If you have any questions about de-winterizing or prepping for a road trip, don’t hesitate to give us a shout! We’re always happy to talk RV road trips!!
Are you all mapped out and stocked up?
Do you use paper maps? Even in this age of technology – cell phones, GPS systems, etc. – it’s a good idea to have paper maps as a backup. After all, you may be out of cellular or satellite range, or you might find your device low on juice at some point. CAA members get free maps, while maps and road atlases are available at a variety of bookstores and online on Amazon, etc.
While you’re on Amazon, you might want to stock up on supplies. You’ve got several weeks ahead of you in the RV, so now’s a great time to get everything you need for RV gear, kitchen & dining items, clothes, first-aid, toiletries and more.
Okay, it’s time to hit the road!
Once departing Ottawa in your RV or trailer, you’ll be heading west pretty much right away.
The first choice you’ll want to make – and this happens in the planning stage – is whether you’ll be driving through the United States for any portion of your trip. If so, you’ll want to have valid passports and any necessary visas taken care of. Check with the US embassy or consulate, as well as with the Government of Canada Travel Advice page.
Traversing the US can save you a bit in time and fuel, perhaps a couple of hours each way. You’ll also have to factor in border wait times, of course. In the end, it might just come down to what you want to see and do along the way. A good compromise is making the journey through Canada in one direction, and across the US side in the other.
What’s en route?
By taking the southern route with partial US transit, you visit Niagara Falls, seeing this magnificent sight along the way. Or you can go the faster way continue westward and cross at Sarnia, ON into Michigan. Onward you’ll continue to Chicago, the third-largest city in the US and one of its most diverse and vibrant.
North and west from Chicago will take you into Wisconsin, Minnesota and then across North Dakota before arriving in Montana. Plenty to see here, including Yellowstone, Glacier Country, spectacular mountains and truly a Big Sky to behold. From Montana you’ll briefly cross Idaho and then the state of Washington, putting you in Seattle – from here it’s just a few hours up to Vancouver, BC.
The northern route is mostly or entirely within Canada, depending on how you go. The most common way is via North Bay, Timmins and Thunder Bay, finally reaching Winnipeg. It’s fairly flat from there on out across Manitoba and Saskatchewan into Alberta, before reaching the Rockies.
Whichever way you decide to go, you’ll have some fine sightseeing and camping opportunities along the way. It’s worth noting, however, that you’ll also be driving some long stretches of road with little of interest for many kilometres or miles at a time. This includes basic facilities in some cases, such as Northwest Ontario or North Dakota in particular. Be sure to follow the signs and pay close heed when they advise how long it is until the “next gas station.”
The first big sites
Before we wrap up Part One in this Western Road Trip, we thought it right to give you a big site – one of the crown jewels, in fact.
Banff & Lake Louise – nearly enough on their own
Some would argue that majestic Banff and idyllic Lake Louise are, just by themselves, pretty much worth the road trip in an RV from Ottawa. It’s all bonus, though, since you’ll be combining Banff & Lake Louise with a whole host of major sites out west.
Approaching Banff from the east, via Calgary, you’ll find RV facilities in Canmore and other communities along the Trans-Canada Highway (1), along with those in Banff itself. Check ahead to see what’s open and who has vacancy, depending on season and demand.
Banff’s top attractions include:
- The Banff Hot Springs
- Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
- Gondola Ride
- Day trips to the Columbia Icefield
From Banff it’s a short hop to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. The latter can have its RV parking challenges, so it’s probably best to plan ahead.
You could spend a day or two in these parts – or a week. It’s up to you. All depends on your schedule, how much time you have.
Once you’re ready move on from there, Jasper is a few hours away.
And that’s where we’ll pick things up in Part Two of our Western Canada RV Road Trip!
Meanwhile, if you’ve got an RV questions, we’re here and always happy to chat! Give us a call at 613-822-1666.
Stay tuned for Part Two coming soon!
