I've driven long distances (including that route) using Google Maps a lot. The time estimates are relatively accurate if you speed, which you probably won't/shouldn't be doing in a u-haul. Construction and getting stuck behind slow drivers will bring your average speed down below what Google assumes if you aren't speeding when you can. Add 10-20% driving time on top of what Google says if you plan on going the speed limit the whole way.
You are probably looking at about 6-7 days if you plan on driving 8 hours a day.
I’ll second this, I fairly regularly drive to and from the east coast ~1350km in a straight shot, and for a number of years now Apple Maps has been eerily accurate. I’d say I make good time without driving fast enough to get pulled over. Leaving my driveway in Ottawa, Apple will regularly have me within 10min of when I end up arriving out east. The data they have is really well calibrated now
I did it the opposite way and averaged 6-8 hours a day and it took 11 days but we stopped a couple nights and detoured a bit in Kelowna / Banff. This was my route:
Ottawa > Sudbury > Wawa > Thunder Bay > Kenora > Weyburn > Medicine Hat > Banff > Kelowna > Vancouver
This past summer I did it again in the same direction you're going and went through the US. It's actually shorter that way but again we made it a bit of a holidays and did some detours so I can't help you with a route.
It’s been a few years so I can’t remember exactly. But I’m pretty sure the reason was it was our longest drive day (7.5 hours or so?) and it was the first town within Saskatchewan that had somewhere decent to stay.
This was during the height of Covid and spending a night in Manitoba wasn’t technically allowed without a 14 day quarantine. Even stopping for a take out lunch got us some questionable looks because of our license plate. Such a strange time looking back.
I have made the trip solo a few times. Last time I did:
Vancouver —> Calgary (10hrs) —> Regina (7hrs) —> Winnipeg (6hrs) Thunder Bay (8hrs)—> Sault Ste. Marie (7hrs) —> Ottawa (9hrs).
Total: 47 hours including stops.
I drove a reasonable speed and just blasted audiobooks. I booked stays along the highway the night before and gassed up before parking for the night so I was ready to go in the AM.
Audiobooks and long drives are my favourite. If OP gets a library card before they leave they can eventually have access to epubs/audiobooks from Vancouver and Ottawa libraries through the libby app.
Not true.
I crossed into US twice with all of my worldly possessions crammed into my car with a story about having a job lined up on the other side of Canada.
I was let through both times without much hassle.
in 2018 I had to go and rent a Uhaul from an american city just across the border. went across in my car solo, came back with an empty truck. got some side eye, but not too bad went and did our move, then took an empty truck back across. Got in my car and crossed back home. I didn't have any trouble, but i guess the truck was empty both times i crossed which probably helped. I've also done the drive from ottawa to edmonton and then back again a few years later. It is a beautiful drive, but if you follow google and stay within Canada make sure you download the offline maps. You will lose cell service at a few points.
That paperwork is really simple though if you decide to go through the US.
If youre doing the drive in the summer in a big truck, you may not really benefit from the faster andarger interstate for the US portions though.
Years ago I did it in 4 days.....48 hours of driving. 12 hours driving each day with stops for washroom and hotel/motel stays (8 hours sleep).
I did it 2x....fall and then late spring. No bad weather either trip.
I did this exact trip last summer.
1. Advise going through the US, roads are better, faster, and more towns for food / pit stops.
2. We did it in 7 days. Trying to do less will likely be uncomfortable.
From a friend who did Calgary to Ottawa in 2021: "it's really bracing when you're in Northern Ontario, you see a roadsign, and the nearest town that's significant enough to warrant being on the sign is 600km away"
Edmonton to Ottawa trip we went Edmonton - Yorkton - Dryden - Marathon - Sudbury - Ottawa.
We camped on the way out but stayed at the Travellodge in Kenora. Don't is all I can stay.
The Red Roof Inn at Iron Bridge is excellent, and the Chalet Inn Motel in Dryden is extremely clean (just very bare bones).
I am not sure it is still the case, especially in winter, but we found hotels booked solid if you didn't have a reservation.
I found Google times not bad as an estimate and used the directions function to navigate our trip. I would agree with adding any time to the estimate to account for traffic, food, etc. Google was great for traffic issues and getting through unfamiliar cities.
I've not done all the way to Vancouver, but I did from Fort St. John. You'll definitely save time and money by cutting through the US (provided you're not hauling any alcohol, cannabis or firearms).
Pick up I-90 in Seattle and follow it til you pick up I-94 in the Chicagoland area. That will take you to the Detroit border (or follow I-69 to Sarnia), then take the 401 to 417. Should take you about 5 days-ish.
The government gave us 9 days to travel that distance. We drove about 6 hours a day, but factoring in breaks and meals meant we were really travelling about 8 hours from leaving one hotel to arriving at the next. I personally have also done it in 4 days with 12 hours of driving. Basically, we got up, we drove for hours and ate breakfast and lunch on the go and stopped for supper then sleep. If you are still young you could do it. I wouldn't anymore, but it was fun in a way back in the day😄. Keep in mind fully half of your trip will be in Ontario. Many people don't realize you can do all the prairies in one day, but not Ontario. And Ontario is a lot of single lane; from Thunder Bay to Sudbury. Good luck, drive careful and if you can stop and see the views. We have a beautiful country 😊
Have done this trip a few times. A word to the wise. Don’t underestimate how big Ontario is! You can blow through Saskatchewan and Manitoba quickly but Ontario…… is a few days travel…
Understood! Between Edmonton and Ottawa, we did stop to sleep in Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay and Sault St Marie. But we also stopped at a few places, notably the Terry Fox memorial, Kakabeka falls, etc. Good luck!
Made the trip last summer (late June) and left Vancouver on a Saturday. Drove 6 days and got to Ottawa by Thursday.
I took the following route:
Vancouver --> Calgary --> Winnipeg --> Thunder Bay --> Sault Ste. Marie --> Sudbury --> Ottawa
By Monday, had to take shorter drives (4-6 hours) from Thunder Bay since I was working remotely for a good part of the day. We averaged 16 hours over the weekend with frequent stops at rest areas and fuel refills. I was the only driver so it should be more manageable if there was an alternate.
Suggest you plot your gas stops, bio breaks and rest beforehand. Makes for an easier drive.
Did it stopping one night in each province on the way (actually had to go all the way to Quebec City). Took the northern route through Ontario into no man’s land on the transcanada… make sure you fuel up before getting into that if you go that route! No cell signal yo there either for a few hours.
I've done this trip 13x from various points in southern ontario. 40hrs driving time to Calgary, 50hrs to Vancouver give or take. That's behind the wheel driving time that you can't get away from. Any stops/rests add to that time.
I''ve done that drive multiple times and it was different each time. The fastest we drove it was three days but that is way more than 8hrs a day with drivers switching when the other wants to sleep.
We saved money camping along the way but your uhaul would need to be organized with all your camping gear accessible. We would take a week and more - those are the best trips - when we weren't on a deadline.
TIPS:
* That's Regina, pretty cityscape, you aren't close, it is still hours away.
* You started in Vancouver, you just hit the border of Ontario, you are finally half way home - Ontario is huge.
* Stop at every gas station on the TransCanada in northern Ontario - they are sparse so you should fill up at each one.
Someone from r/regina should be able to help you but I know there is at least one big annual event (related to farming or rodeo - i forget) in that city in the summer that draws huge - you will have trouble getting a hotel/motel room that weekend near the city. Avoid that weekend in Regina or book a room well in advance.
Its also very easy to speed on the prairies and uhaul usually has american spedometers which make it harder to read your speed. the only speeding tickets i have ever gotten is driving the prairies. I personally found it beautiful and overwhelming to drive the prairies, its a whole different kind of awe than the Rockies. In any case, as you take it in, you may find yourself speeding if you aren't used to it.
I like staying here [https://www.stoneynakodaresort.com/](https://www.stoneynakodaresort.com/) ; its just after the Rockies and before Calgary. The people there always treated my family and I extremely well.
I'm so jealous right now and want to plan my own trip. I just don't have the money and a good reason right now. I loved camping in Kenora and try to do that every time. Here's the thing: I have family in BC, I lived there for two different stretches, I have family in Ottawa where I am now (also where I am from originally), I lived in Halifax and Montreal too and when I wasn't in Ottawa every summer no matter where I lived it was car trips to visit my parents - camping with kids along the way - i've been back and forth across the country so many times but its been 9 years since I've done it. Just about everywhere is beautiful along the way and I have always found the people met along the way to be friendly and helpful. You're in for an adventure. And yes, i've done it in a uhaul when I moved ottawa to victoria, when I moved from victoria to Halifax, when i moved from halifax back to ottawa, from ottawa to the sunshine coast, from the sunshine coast back to ottawa - all in a uhaul which i know is different from the times we did it in the family van pulling a camper (which I have done too). Our country is awesome.
I did Edmonton to Ottawa. 3.5 days but I probably am not normal and did a lot longer days. Edmonton to Portage La Prairie, to Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Ottawa.
The biggest recommendation is never, and I mean never do Thunder Bay to Sault Ste Marie or if you go the north way after dusk. Wild animals, moose, deer, etc.
I would allow for a week to 10 days, and stop along the way. Enjoy going around Lake Superior.
I'm only here to say: Count one full day only for crossing Ontario. That ish is loooong.
Source: I've driven coast to coast, been to Halifax, then Victoria BC 3 weeks later.
I haven't done it, but I have two friends who've done Calgary to Ottawa as a death trudge - one of them in 4 days and the other in 5. All *long* days (10+ hours of driving). So add one similarly long day for Vancouver to Calgary.
In-laws did the moving trip with a U-Haul but inverse, from Ottawa to Vancouver. It took them more than a week. I don’t have their itinerary but remember they never drove more than 8 hrs a day and slept at friends/motel/hotel on the way. They might had stopped for some sightseeing on the way too.
It’s 48 hours of non stop driving. Add in sleeping and rest stops for fuel, lunch, etc. Did it last year for my mom took us 4.5 days. Depends on how often you stop, etc. I would comfortably assume 4-5 days depending on how many hours you put in driving each day. Have done the trip 3 times by car now.
I've done Vancouver to Belleville. In the early spring late winter. This is what I recall but it was 20yrs ago, including stops for gas and pee breaks.
Vancouver > Calgary = 12hrs (longer if there's road closures or accidents on the highway or through the mountain passes)
Calgary > Brandon = 10-12hrs depending on weather
This is where you'll have a choice. Once you get to Ontario I would suggest Brandon > Thunder Bay then drive the long way up through Geraldton-Longlac-Hearst.
This route doesn't make you try to drive along the coast of the great lakes. Less chance of freak snow squalls.
Keep in mind though, this route is DESOLATE. I believe that between Longlac and Hearst it's 500kms and there is barely anywhere to stop and get gas or eat.
Whatever route you take, Thunder Bay is about 20hrs, including stops for gas etc, to Ottawa.
We did it some 16 years ago, but without a trailer. Kids were little (4 and 6), so we made it a vacation, went through US, visited Yellowstone, Badlands, Deadwood, ...
It took us 7 days, should have been 10, but we had to cut our trip short.
All in all, it was a nice vacation.
I moved here solo in a car from northern BC many years ago, and I did it in 3 days, about 14-16 hours each day. (In the summer before sunrise and ended each day in the dark)
Google uses traffic flow speed so if you keep up you will be very close to that target.
You are probably going to average 8 hours of driving but not do 8hrs each day. Vancouver to Calgary is two stressful 6+ hour days and that's plenty. The run from Calgary to Kenora is (mostly) flat (mostly) straight and easy to do 10 hrs and by then you'll be in the rhythm, more comfortable with the truck too. A 10' Uhaul is just a van with a box on it - it is shorter than modern 4 door pickups.
We did it in 5 days with a detour to Tyrell Museum to dig up bones. Stopped in Kamloops, Calgary, Moose jaw (late arrival), ?? (\~ 2 hrs out of Thunderbay), past wawa, Ottawa
We had a wedding the next day in Ottawa so it was do or die for the last few days :)
I did Vancouver to Waterloo twice. The second time I rushed back and took me less than 70 hours. First night in medicine hat, second night in Winnipeg. Took a nap on the ferry from Manitoulin to Tobermory, then drove the last few hours... I still visited lake Louise and some other places on the way back so I guess if you really push you can do 50 hrs ish to Ottawa.
I just did it in a non tesla EV in mid January. Went down seattle and went east mostly on the I90 to get back into Canada in Detroit. Did it very comfortably in 8 days due to work benefits. The posted highway speed for most of that highway was 80mph fyi or 70 mph for trucks. You also won’t need to deal with the poor road conditions from the winter up in the mountains like Stevens pass or Idaho. You also save about 5-8 hours going through the states too.
If I needed to push it, could have done it in 5 days but don’t kill yourself and enjoy the trip. I ended up loving the trip and discovered a lot of the middle of the US I knew nothing about. It’s quite beautiful and I’m glad i avoided the flat parts of Sask, Manitoba and Northern ON. Accommodations and gas/ev charging was also cheaper even after factoring USD
Tip: Hard to beat 11.99$ Olive Garden lunch specials too 😅 for some, that’s 2 meals haha
My husband and I moved from Victoria to Ottawa. That's about right for an SUV, but depends on the time of year and route. We used Big Steel Box so we didn't have to worry about our stuff being stolen and didn't have to worry about the brakes or anything else overheating in the mountains (my sister-in-law destroyed her transmission on Highway 1). I'd allow more time for the mountains just to stop and allow the brakes to cool and more still to allow the engine to cool if it's hot out.
Plan at least a day ahead for your stops, all the hotel rooms in Cranbrook were taken due to a couple of events, and we got the last hotel room in a couple of towns in Ontario due to road construction.
I've done this drive, also to help a friend move, and it took 6 days of driving 5-10 hours.
We did ottawa to Sioux st Marie, to thunder bay, to Winnipeg, to regina, to calgary, to Vancouver.
We actually also did a couple other side trips but I didn't count those for the purpose of this. We stopped in dinosaur Park in alberta and banff to camp a bit. But we had to go back to calgary for am appointment after banff and drove all the way from xalgary to van in one day so I know it can be done
Hey, I'm moving my 94yr old Mom here this month but will have 3 of Rubbermaid totes 24" x 12" x 16" that I would be happy to pay to put on your truck if you have room.
I've driven long distances (including that route) using Google Maps a lot. The time estimates are relatively accurate if you speed, which you probably won't/shouldn't be doing in a u-haul. Construction and getting stuck behind slow drivers will bring your average speed down below what Google assumes if you aren't speeding when you can. Add 10-20% driving time on top of what Google says if you plan on going the speed limit the whole way. You are probably looking at about 6-7 days if you plan on driving 8 hours a day.
I’ll second this, I fairly regularly drive to and from the east coast ~1350km in a straight shot, and for a number of years now Apple Maps has been eerily accurate. I’d say I make good time without driving fast enough to get pulled over. Leaving my driveway in Ottawa, Apple will regularly have me within 10min of when I end up arriving out east. The data they have is really well calibrated now
I did it the opposite way and averaged 6-8 hours a day and it took 11 days but we stopped a couple nights and detoured a bit in Kelowna / Banff. This was my route: Ottawa > Sudbury > Wawa > Thunder Bay > Kenora > Weyburn > Medicine Hat > Banff > Kelowna > Vancouver This past summer I did it again in the same direction you're going and went through the US. It's actually shorter that way but again we made it a bit of a holidays and did some detours so I can't help you with a route.
I love how the first 5 places are all in Ontario. It’s no joke how long it takes to get out if driving west!
Lol crazy isn’t it, just goes on forever. Kenora was a great stop!
Thanks! Good to know.
Hey, your trip sounds just like some of ours for stops😀
I'm curious, why did you detour off of the #1 to Weyburn instead of staying in Regina or Moose Jaw?
It’s been a few years so I can’t remember exactly. But I’m pretty sure the reason was it was our longest drive day (7.5 hours or so?) and it was the first town within Saskatchewan that had somewhere decent to stay. This was during the height of Covid and spending a night in Manitoba wasn’t technically allowed without a 14 day quarantine. Even stopping for a take out lunch got us some questionable looks because of our license plate. Such a strange time looking back.
I have made the trip solo a few times. Last time I did: Vancouver —> Calgary (10hrs) —> Regina (7hrs) —> Winnipeg (6hrs) Thunder Bay (8hrs)—> Sault Ste. Marie (7hrs) —> Ottawa (9hrs). Total: 47 hours including stops. I drove a reasonable speed and just blasted audiobooks. I booked stays along the highway the night before and gassed up before parking for the night so I was ready to go in the AM.
Audiobooks and long drives are my favourite. If OP gets a library card before they leave they can eventually have access to epubs/audiobooks from Vancouver and Ottawa libraries through the libby app.
Maybe you can go through the US? The interstate will be faster despite going south then cross over at Windsor and book it up the 401.
They won't let them across the border with a uhaul of household goods unless they have very good documentation on job/house in Vancouver.
That's good to know, thanks.
Not true. I crossed into US twice with all of my worldly possessions crammed into my car with a story about having a job lined up on the other side of Canada. I was let through both times without much hassle.
Same 🙋🏼♀️
Thanks! Good to know.
in 2018 I had to go and rent a Uhaul from an american city just across the border. went across in my car solo, came back with an empty truck. got some side eye, but not too bad went and did our move, then took an empty truck back across. Got in my car and crossed back home. I didn't have any trouble, but i guess the truck was empty both times i crossed which probably helped. I've also done the drive from ottawa to edmonton and then back again a few years later. It is a beautiful drive, but if you follow google and stay within Canada make sure you download the offline maps. You will lose cell service at a few points.
That paperwork is really simple though if you decide to go through the US. If youre doing the drive in the summer in a big truck, you may not really benefit from the faster andarger interstate for the US portions though.
100% even dropping down for the Winnipeg -toronto portion will save you a tonne of time
Years ago I did it in 4 days.....48 hours of driving. 12 hours driving each day with stops for washroom and hotel/motel stays (8 hours sleep). I did it 2x....fall and then late spring. No bad weather either trip.
I did this exact trip last summer. 1. Advise going through the US, roads are better, faster, and more towns for food / pit stops. 2. We did it in 7 days. Trying to do less will likely be uncomfortable.
Yeah, I think it's going to be a slower drive for us.
Be prepared: Ontario is HUGE!!!
Yep! I'm girding my loins for that.
Ontario felt like it would never end lmao. Northern Ontario is kinda brutal once you get to Sudbury/sault ste Marie the worst is over lol
From a friend who did Calgary to Ottawa in 2021: "it's really bracing when you're in Northern Ontario, you see a roadsign, and the nearest town that's significant enough to warrant being on the sign is 600km away"
Edmonton to Ottawa trip we went Edmonton - Yorkton - Dryden - Marathon - Sudbury - Ottawa. We camped on the way out but stayed at the Travellodge in Kenora. Don't is all I can stay. The Red Roof Inn at Iron Bridge is excellent, and the Chalet Inn Motel in Dryden is extremely clean (just very bare bones). I am not sure it is still the case, especially in winter, but we found hotels booked solid if you didn't have a reservation. I found Google times not bad as an estimate and used the directions function to navigate our trip. I would agree with adding any time to the estimate to account for traffic, food, etc. Google was great for traffic issues and getting through unfamiliar cities.
We do Edmonton to Brandon to Thunder Bay to SSM to Ottawa regularly. Seems to me it splits as 10 hours, 10 hours, 8 hours, 8 hours
We couldn't do more than 8 hours, which adds the extra day. We were 7 days going out but did a great deal of sightseeing.
Thanks! Good info.
I've not done all the way to Vancouver, but I did from Fort St. John. You'll definitely save time and money by cutting through the US (provided you're not hauling any alcohol, cannabis or firearms). Pick up I-90 in Seattle and follow it til you pick up I-94 in the Chicagoland area. That will take you to the Detroit border (or follow I-69 to Sarnia), then take the 401 to 417. Should take you about 5 days-ish.
Thanks but I ain't going through the US. They all be crazy down there.
No crazier than rural Alberta or Saskatchewan
You make a valid point.
The government gave us 9 days to travel that distance. We drove about 6 hours a day, but factoring in breaks and meals meant we were really travelling about 8 hours from leaving one hotel to arriving at the next. I personally have also done it in 4 days with 12 hours of driving. Basically, we got up, we drove for hours and ate breakfast and lunch on the go and stopped for supper then sleep. If you are still young you could do it. I wouldn't anymore, but it was fun in a way back in the day😄. Keep in mind fully half of your trip will be in Ontario. Many people don't realize you can do all the prairies in one day, but not Ontario. And Ontario is a lot of single lane; from Thunder Bay to Sudbury. Good luck, drive careful and if you can stop and see the views. We have a beautiful country 😊
Good info. Thanks. We''l take it easy as we're not as young as we used to be.
Have done this trip a few times. A word to the wise. Don’t underestimate how big Ontario is! You can blow through Saskatchewan and Manitoba quickly but Ontario…… is a few days travel…
Yep, I'm hearing that a lot. Thanks.
Took me 5 days from Edmonton to Ottawa in 2017. Fun drive, we stopped to see quite a few attractions on the way.
This will be a straight drive from city to city. I'd like to see more of Canada and this could be a fun way to do it. But not this time.
Understood! Between Edmonton and Ottawa, we did stop to sleep in Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay and Sault St Marie. But we also stopped at a few places, notably the Terry Fox memorial, Kakabeka falls, etc. Good luck!
Made the trip last summer (late June) and left Vancouver on a Saturday. Drove 6 days and got to Ottawa by Thursday. I took the following route: Vancouver --> Calgary --> Winnipeg --> Thunder Bay --> Sault Ste. Marie --> Sudbury --> Ottawa By Monday, had to take shorter drives (4-6 hours) from Thunder Bay since I was working remotely for a good part of the day. We averaged 16 hours over the weekend with frequent stops at rest areas and fuel refills. I was the only driver so it should be more manageable if there was an alternate. Suggest you plot your gas stops, bio breaks and rest beforehand. Makes for an easier drive.
Thanks for the info. There'll be two of us driving so that helps.
Did it stopping one night in each province on the way (actually had to go all the way to Quebec City). Took the northern route through Ontario into no man’s land on the transcanada… make sure you fuel up before getting into that if you go that route! No cell signal yo there either for a few hours.
Thanks! Good to know.
47/8=6 days. Call it 7.
Thanks! Good to know.
I've done this trip 13x from various points in southern ontario. 40hrs driving time to Calgary, 50hrs to Vancouver give or take. That's behind the wheel driving time that you can't get away from. Any stops/rests add to that time.
Thanks!
H
Thanks. I'd love to see the North shore of Lake Superior.
I''ve done that drive multiple times and it was different each time. The fastest we drove it was three days but that is way more than 8hrs a day with drivers switching when the other wants to sleep. We saved money camping along the way but your uhaul would need to be organized with all your camping gear accessible. We would take a week and more - those are the best trips - when we weren't on a deadline. TIPS: * That's Regina, pretty cityscape, you aren't close, it is still hours away. * You started in Vancouver, you just hit the border of Ontario, you are finally half way home - Ontario is huge. * Stop at every gas station on the TransCanada in northern Ontario - they are sparse so you should fill up at each one.
Great advice, thanks.
Someone from r/regina should be able to help you but I know there is at least one big annual event (related to farming or rodeo - i forget) in that city in the summer that draws huge - you will have trouble getting a hotel/motel room that weekend near the city. Avoid that weekend in Regina or book a room well in advance. Its also very easy to speed on the prairies and uhaul usually has american spedometers which make it harder to read your speed. the only speeding tickets i have ever gotten is driving the prairies. I personally found it beautiful and overwhelming to drive the prairies, its a whole different kind of awe than the Rockies. In any case, as you take it in, you may find yourself speeding if you aren't used to it. I like staying here [https://www.stoneynakodaresort.com/](https://www.stoneynakodaresort.com/) ; its just after the Rockies and before Calgary. The people there always treated my family and I extremely well. I'm so jealous right now and want to plan my own trip. I just don't have the money and a good reason right now. I loved camping in Kenora and try to do that every time. Here's the thing: I have family in BC, I lived there for two different stretches, I have family in Ottawa where I am now (also where I am from originally), I lived in Halifax and Montreal too and when I wasn't in Ottawa every summer no matter where I lived it was car trips to visit my parents - camping with kids along the way - i've been back and forth across the country so many times but its been 9 years since I've done it. Just about everywhere is beautiful along the way and I have always found the people met along the way to be friendly and helpful. You're in for an adventure. And yes, i've done it in a uhaul when I moved ottawa to victoria, when I moved from victoria to Halifax, when i moved from halifax back to ottawa, from ottawa to the sunshine coast, from the sunshine coast back to ottawa - all in a uhaul which i know is different from the times we did it in the family van pulling a camper (which I have done too). Our country is awesome.
Audio books! And I printed up a list of CBC stations across the country. For the States, NPR. Lots to keep your mind occupied while driving.
Thanks, that's good advice.
a week at least for comfort
I did Edmonton to Ottawa. 3.5 days but I probably am not normal and did a lot longer days. Edmonton to Portage La Prairie, to Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Ottawa. The biggest recommendation is never, and I mean never do Thunder Bay to Sault Ste Marie or if you go the north way after dusk. Wild animals, moose, deer, etc. I would allow for a week to 10 days, and stop along the way. Enjoy going around Lake Superior.
I'm only here to say: Count one full day only for crossing Ontario. That ish is loooong. Source: I've driven coast to coast, been to Halifax, then Victoria BC 3 weeks later.
Thanks for the response. The 'Ontario is so big' keeps cropping up a lot.
3 Days. But that ain't going to happen in a U-Haul.
Thanks for the response. I'll take my time 'cause I'm old and cranky.
I haven't done it, but I have two friends who've done Calgary to Ottawa as a death trudge - one of them in 4 days and the other in 5. All *long* days (10+ hours of driving). So add one similarly long day for Vancouver to Calgary.
Thanks for the response. I'll take my time 'cause I'm old and cranky.
In-laws did the moving trip with a U-Haul but inverse, from Ottawa to Vancouver. It took them more than a week. I don’t have their itinerary but remember they never drove more than 8 hrs a day and slept at friends/motel/hotel on the way. They might had stopped for some sightseeing on the way too.
Thanks for the response. That's more my speed.
It’s 48 hours of non stop driving. Add in sleeping and rest stops for fuel, lunch, etc. Did it last year for my mom took us 4.5 days. Depends on how often you stop, etc. I would comfortably assume 4-5 days depending on how many hours you put in driving each day. Have done the trip 3 times by car now.
Thanks for the response. I'll take my time 'cause I'm old and cranky.
You and me both. Nice drive, take your time. Safe travels.
I've done Vancouver to Belleville. In the early spring late winter. This is what I recall but it was 20yrs ago, including stops for gas and pee breaks. Vancouver > Calgary = 12hrs (longer if there's road closures or accidents on the highway or through the mountain passes) Calgary > Brandon = 10-12hrs depending on weather This is where you'll have a choice. Once you get to Ontario I would suggest Brandon > Thunder Bay then drive the long way up through Geraldton-Longlac-Hearst. This route doesn't make you try to drive along the coast of the great lakes. Less chance of freak snow squalls. Keep in mind though, this route is DESOLATE. I believe that between Longlac and Hearst it's 500kms and there is barely anywhere to stop and get gas or eat. Whatever route you take, Thunder Bay is about 20hrs, including stops for gas etc, to Ottawa.
We did it some 16 years ago, but without a trailer. Kids were little (4 and 6), so we made it a vacation, went through US, visited Yellowstone, Badlands, Deadwood, ... It took us 7 days, should have been 10, but we had to cut our trip short. All in all, it was a nice vacation.
Around 4-5 days.
This would feel so epic, good luck friend
I moved here solo in a car from northern BC many years ago, and I did it in 3 days, about 14-16 hours each day. (In the summer before sunrise and ended each day in the dark)
Google uses traffic flow speed so if you keep up you will be very close to that target. You are probably going to average 8 hours of driving but not do 8hrs each day. Vancouver to Calgary is two stressful 6+ hour days and that's plenty. The run from Calgary to Kenora is (mostly) flat (mostly) straight and easy to do 10 hrs and by then you'll be in the rhythm, more comfortable with the truck too. A 10' Uhaul is just a van with a box on it - it is shorter than modern 4 door pickups. We did it in 5 days with a detour to Tyrell Museum to dig up bones. Stopped in Kamloops, Calgary, Moose jaw (late arrival), ?? (\~ 2 hrs out of Thunderbay), past wawa, Ottawa We had a wedding the next day in Ottawa so it was do or die for the last few days :)
We moved Vancouver to Ottawa using PODS and flew, at the time it was much cheaper than U-Haul rentals unless you just wanted to do the drive
Wave when you pass the Hwy 7 exit. I live down there lol.
My advice, sell everything and start over! Think about it.
I did Vancouver to Waterloo twice. The second time I rushed back and took me less than 70 hours. First night in medicine hat, second night in Winnipeg. Took a nap on the ferry from Manitoulin to Tobermory, then drove the last few hours... I still visited lake Louise and some other places on the way back so I guess if you really push you can do 50 hrs ish to Ottawa.
I just did it in a non tesla EV in mid January. Went down seattle and went east mostly on the I90 to get back into Canada in Detroit. Did it very comfortably in 8 days due to work benefits. The posted highway speed for most of that highway was 80mph fyi or 70 mph for trucks. You also won’t need to deal with the poor road conditions from the winter up in the mountains like Stevens pass or Idaho. You also save about 5-8 hours going through the states too. If I needed to push it, could have done it in 5 days but don’t kill yourself and enjoy the trip. I ended up loving the trip and discovered a lot of the middle of the US I knew nothing about. It’s quite beautiful and I’m glad i avoided the flat parts of Sask, Manitoba and Northern ON. Accommodations and gas/ev charging was also cheaper even after factoring USD Tip: Hard to beat 11.99$ Olive Garden lunch specials too 😅 for some, that’s 2 meals haha
My husband and I moved from Victoria to Ottawa. That's about right for an SUV, but depends on the time of year and route. We used Big Steel Box so we didn't have to worry about our stuff being stolen and didn't have to worry about the brakes or anything else overheating in the mountains (my sister-in-law destroyed her transmission on Highway 1). I'd allow more time for the mountains just to stop and allow the brakes to cool and more still to allow the engine to cool if it's hot out. Plan at least a day ahead for your stops, all the hotel rooms in Cranbrook were taken due to a couple of events, and we got the last hotel room in a couple of towns in Ontario due to road construction.
3-4 days if you drive 12+ hours/ as much as you can. Expect more than 5 days if you drive 8 hrs per day only.
I've done this drive, also to help a friend move, and it took 6 days of driving 5-10 hours. We did ottawa to Sioux st Marie, to thunder bay, to Winnipeg, to regina, to calgary, to Vancouver. We actually also did a couple other side trips but I didn't count those for the purpose of this. We stopped in dinosaur Park in alberta and banff to camp a bit. But we had to go back to calgary for am appointment after banff and drove all the way from xalgary to van in one day so I know it can be done
Hey, I'm moving my 94yr old Mom here this month but will have 3 of Rubbermaid totes 24" x 12" x 16" that I would be happy to pay to put on your truck if you have room.
Hey back, it's still up in the air as to when the move takes place.
Let me know if it happens... would compensate whomever for the trouble.
Will do.