A road trip is the best way to see the beauty of Canada. From coast to coast, the country has multiple renowned routes with numerous sites, cities, and opportunity to experience Canadian culture along the way.
There are so many beautiful places to visit on these drives, with something new to explore in every province.
This includes paths that take you through crystal-clear lakes with turquoise water, as well as trails that lead to gorgeous islands and rocky coasts, making these the ideal summer pastimes.
Here are seven legendary road trips to take this summer for breathtaking scenery and exciting thrills.
Îles-de-la-Madeleine – Canadian Road Trips
The Magdalen Islands, or Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, are an archipelago in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
You’ll need to take a plane or ferry to get there, but once there, you may take your time exploring each island and everything it has to offer.
Don’t miss the hiking trails on Havre Aubert Island, which boasts the archipelago’s “most extensive” forest, as well as sand dunes and beaches, and the Cape Alright lighthouse, which is so well-known that it was included on a Canada Post stamp!
Cabot Trail – Canadian Road Trips
The Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island is regarded as “one of the world’s most magnificent drives,” taking you through enchanting valleys, rolling hills, and through breathtaking coastal views.
It was even named the best road trip in Canada and the ninth best road trip in the world. Along the route, you may trek the scenic Skyline Trail, stay at the Keltic Lodge Resort, and sample traditional East Coast fare like lobster and chowder.
Points East Coastal Drive
The Points East Coastal Drive on Prince Edward Island will take you to beautiful beaches, lovely harbors, and quaint tiny villages rich in culture.
The beaches along this route are believed to feature some of the warmest seas north of the Carolinas, with several featuring red cliffs and white sand.
Greenwich in Prince Edward Island National Park is a must-see, where you can hike along a floating boardwalk and observe the province’s largest sand dunes!
Georgian Bay Coastal Route
The Georgian Bay Coastal Route will take you through some of Ontario’s most beautiful islands and shorelines, such as Bruce Peninsula National Park, which is home to the breathtaking Grotto swimming hole, and Flowerpot Island, which is known for its unique rock formations.
Along the journey, you’ll pass through Killarney Provincial Park, which features the lovely Topaz Lake, a swimming hole with “sapphire-blue” water.
Viking Trail – Canadian Road Trips
The Viking Trail allows you to explore beautiful mountains and wildlife while also learning about Newfoundland culture. You could even spy an iceberg or two!
The trek starts in Gros Morne National Park, which features land-locked fjords, 2,000-foot waterfalls, and billion-year-old cliffs. L’anse aux Meadows, a rebuilt Viking encampment, and other whale-watching spots are also on the road.
Icefields Parkway – Canadian Road Trips
Condé Nast Traveller named this classic trip through Banff and Jasper National Parks as one of the finest drives in the world.
Along the way, you can visit the spectacular Moraine Lake, a glacier-fed lake famed for its stunning azure blue water, as well as the breathtaking Athabasca Falls in Jasper National Park.
You might also visit the Miette Hot Springs, the hottest hot springs in the Canadian Rockies, while you’re there.
Sea-to-Sky Highway
This popular route will take you from Vancouver to Pemberton, just 30 minutes north of Whistler, and should take only a few days to complete.
The village of Britannia Beach, with spectacular mountain vistas and fjords, is located along the way, as is the Sea-to-Sky gondola, which will transport you 885 meters above sea level.
