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Toronto to Calgary road trip

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Toronto to Calgary road trip
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I'm planning on doing a 3 day road trip traveling through the States. Then I will be spending two weeks in the national parks in Alberta. I hear that the states is a quicker and cheaper route. Any suggestions on good places to stop for the night along the way? Or areas to avoid? Any advice appreciated :)

Red Deer, Canada
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1. Re: Toronto to Calgary road trip
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It is about 34 hours actual driving time plus stops so if you drive 12 hours a day plus stops equals 14 hours you will be almost 4 days not 3. It is more expensive on the USA route if you factor in the exchange.

Ontario, Canada
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2. Re: Toronto to Calgary road trip
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If you travel through the US to save time and money, forget it. Travelling through the US, you'd probably cross the border in Sault Ste Marie....that would be about 3,200 to 3,300 km altogether. If you stay on the Canadian side and continue from Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Regina to Calgary, you're looking at about 3,400 to 3,500 km. But you wouldn't have 2 border crossings to contend with, which, these days, take time. Factor in the exchange rate, and you're not saving any money, even allowing for cheaper gas south of the border.

6 posts
3. Re: Toronto to Calgary road trip
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I hear driving up around Northern Ontario can be a killer for having only 2 lane roads, slower speeds, dead zones for cell phones, and less pit stops along the way compared to the US.

Has anyone done the drive?

Ontario, Canada
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4. Re: Toronto to Calgary road trip
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You're right, similar as through Michigan's UP and some ways beyond on your drive, they are two lane roads. The speed limit is 100 kph, and there are plenty of passing lane sections. Traffic isn't anything like in Toronto or even outlying rural areas. You'll have dead zones in various remote areas, on both sides of the border, but I'm really not sure on the current coverage. I would think, though, you'd have more dead zones on the 11 corridor, rather than on the 17 that you would be driving. We've driven the route several times, in both directions, and I can't say that it ever occurred to me that there's a lack of pit stops.

Kingston, Canada
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5. Re: Toronto to Calgary road trip
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Jane,

A person going through the US would not go to the UP at all, they'd cross at Sarnia, and go around Chicago to Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota.

The savings are substantial even with the exchange rate as food, gasoline, and lodging are all substantially cheaper. The distance is similar either way, but you are on faster roads through the US, shaving about 2 hours off the drive time.

Penticton, Canada
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6. Re: Toronto to Calgary road trip
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you really have to do your homework to figure out if the US is cheaper. I abandoned a loop to the US a few years ago because what you paid; for equivalent accommodation; was not cheaper after the exchange rate and foreign transaction fees which my card adds to every transaction.

as for cell coverage - in the US you will be on roaming unless you get a very good plan that will cover you for the US and even for travel across Canada. This is a map for cell coverage in Canada with towers for each carrier http://www.ertyu.org/steven_nikkel/cancellsites.html

and, these days you never know if they are going to let you cross the border.........

Ontario, Canada
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7. Re: Toronto to Calgary road trip
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NickB488,

I respectfully disagree. The fastest route Toronto-Sarnia-Calgary (per Google maps) is 3,421 km and 33 hrs. Going north through Sault Ste Marie and then the UP is 3,248 km and 33 hrs. The roads are not faster if you factor in 2 border crossings and the delay around Chicago. Besides, there's currently an awful lot of construction on the 94 that can cause substantial delays. And if you took 2 you also have two lane roads for a substantial section, a little shorter, but according to Google, more time. (I know that Google times are approximate. For my own calculations, I usually add a third.)

I maintain my position that the exchange rate will eat up whatever savings you might assume due to lower gas, meals and accommodation prices. We just came back from a lengthy stateside stay, and the exchange rate was substantial, even when getting cash at my local bank. If you use credit card, there's the 2.5% exchange rate charge on top of your purchase on almost all credit cards, after the exchange was made.

To the OP, you would also need a passport, or if you live in Ontario, an Enhanced Drivers Licence, to cross the border.

8. Re: Toronto to Calgary road trip

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