Canada Self-Drive Tours & Itineraries

Explore 13 self-drive trips designed by local kimkim specialists to get ideas for your trip to Canada.

Discover Canada's vast and diverse landscapes through these carefully curated self-drive itineraries, allowing you to discover the country's beauty at your own pace. If you'd like to explore the Canadian Rockies, consider an itinerary like this 5-day drive through Banff and Jasper, where you can visit the Moraine Lake and walk across the Athabasca Glacier. For those interested in a cultural and culinary exploration, something similar to this 7-day journey from Montréal to Québec City and Mont-Tremblant gives you the chance to experience charming old towns, authentic local cuisine, and beautiful natural settings. If you have 15 days to dedicate to your trip, consider an itinerary like this self-drive from the Rockies to the Pacific, where you'll visit Vancouver's suspension bridge and whale watch off the coast of Tofino. 

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Durations: 5 days · 7 days · 10 days · 14 days
Snap postcard-perfect pics of the Canadian Rockies' blue alpine lakes
Map of Self-Drive Western Canada: Vancouver to Calgary - 10 Days
Self-Drive Western Canada: Vancouver to Calgary - 10 Days

Marvel at western Canada's beauty on this adventurous 10-day journey through British Columbia and Alberta. Set off from Vancouver along the Sea-to-Sky Highway and enjoy stunning landscapes on your way to Whistler. Go hiking and wildlife-spotting in Jasper National Park and cruise across the turquoise waters of Lake Maligne. Soak in hot springs, climb summits, and walk across glacial ice, then head to the charming town of Banff for gondola rides and two-stepping at the local saloon.

Autumn on the Icefield Parkway in Jasper National Park, Alberta
Map of Western Canada Panorama: Calgary to Vancouver Road Trip - 10 Days
Western Canada Panorama: Calgary to Vancouver Road Trip - 10 Days

See the best of two provinces and three national parks on this spectacular 10-day road trip through the Canadian Rockies. Setting out from Calgary, you'll drive west along some of the world's most scenic highways, traveling through a landscape of rugged mountains, alpine lakes, and wide-open skies. Your adventure ends at the Pacific, where nature meets metropolis in the coastal gem of Vancouver.

If you can, get in an early morning to watch the sun rise over Lake Moraine at Banff National Park
Map of Western Canada Road Trip: From the Rockies to the Pacific - 14 Days
Western Canada Road Trip: From the Rockies to the Pacific - 14 Days

Embark on a two-week road trip through western Canada. Start in Alberta, where you'll explore Banff and Jasper National Parks, admiring their clear lakes in the Rocky Mountains. Drive west to British Columbia to tour Vancouver City before enjoying nearby natural attractions like Grouse Mountain. Then, cross over to Vancouver Island to visit its pretty capital, Victoria, and the laid-back surf town of Tofino.

Uncrowded roads and non-stop views
Map of Alaska & Yukon Summits Road Trip - 5 Days
Alaska & Yukon Summits Road Trip - 5 Days

North America's Golden Circle route offers some of the continent's grandest scenery and best wildlife, with opportunities for viewing the midnight sun or aurora borealis depending on the time of year. With this five-day adventure tour, you'll travel between Alaska and the Yukon, encountering White Pass and Chilkat Pass (and their villages) used during the Klondike Gold Rush. You'll also reach Haines by ferry and continue to the edges of Kluane National Park, boasting Canada’s highest peak.

British Columbia's Sky-to-Sea Highway
Map of Western Canada Road Trip: From the Rockies to the Pacific - 15 Days
Western Canada Road Trip: From the Rockies to the Pacific - 15 Days

Beginning and ending in Vancouver, this epic 15-day road trip takes you on a counter-clockwise journey through Western Canada's greatest hits. Explore the pristine wilderness of five national parks as you wind your way through diverse and remarkable landscapes—from the rugged Canadian Rockies to the old-growth rainforests of Vancouver Island—with plenty of adventurous excursions in between.

Enjoy the scenic views of Mont-Tremblant in the fall
Map of Self-Drive Eastern Canada: Montréal, Québec City & Mont-Tremblant – 7 Days
Self-Drive Eastern Canada: Montréal, Québec City & Mont-Tremblant – 7 Days

Discover eastern Canada's natural and historical treasures on this self-drive tour. Touchdown in Montréal, where French-soaked history and food tours await, before driving to UNESCO-listed Québec City. You'll enjoy a day trip to the tranquil Île d'Orléans and continue to Mont-Tremblant, a nature-lover's paradise. Here, you'll traverse forested bike trails and soak in Scandinavian spas beneath the stars.

Banff National Park  is a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with hundreds of glaciars
Map of Explore Canada's National Parks: Banff & Jasper - 5 Days
Explore Canada's National Parks: Banff & Jasper - 5 Days

Welcome to western Canada, chock-full of spectacular national parks and diverse wildlife. This five-day road trip starts in Calgary as you set off for Banff National Park through the Canadian Rockies. Immerse yourself in nature as you explore the park and its glacially-fed lakes before visiting the ancient Athabasca Glacier. Then it's on to Jasper National Park, where you'll base yourself in the charming mountain town of Jasper for hiking, wildlife spotting, and a boat trip to the famous Spirit Island.

View of British Columbia's Grouse Mountain
Map of British Columbia Road Trip: From Vancouver to Kelowna - 7 Days
British Columbia Road Trip: From Vancouver to Kelowna - 7 Days

Get a taste of British Colombia during this week-long road trip chock full of summits and lakes. Start in Vancouver, where you'll explore Granville Island and cross the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Visit the chalet village of Whistler and see its towering twin peaks by gondola. Discover Okanagan Valley's sumptuous views as you visit nearby markets and go wine tasting. Finish your trip exploring the shores of Shuswap Lake and the pristine wilderness of Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park,

Rent a canoe to paddle one of Canada's most iconic lakes
Map of Scenic Drive Through Western Canada: From the Rockies to the Pacific - 10 Days
Scenic Drive Through Western Canada: From the Rockies to the Pacific - 10 Days

Hit the road for a spectacularly scenic 10-day road trip that starts and finishes in Vancouver. Wind through the Okanagan Valley, stopping for wine tasting and hot springs, then enjoy the quaint town of Banff before taking a gondola ride to Sulphur Mountain. See the Athabasca Glacier, witness the alpine lakes of Jasper National Park, and spot wildlife on the way to Whistler. Head into the mountains for bear-watching and hiking, then take the famed Sea-to-Sky Highway back to Vancouver.

Admire the transitioning leaves of the Québec forests during the autumn
Map of Discover Québec's Wildlife & Nature on a Fall Road Trip – 14 Days
Discover Québec's Wildlife & Nature on a Fall Road Trip – 14 Days

Discover Québec's wildlife and nature on this two-week fall road trip. The journey takes you from Montréal to Québec City via stunning parks, river gorges, and fjords. Along the way, you'll soar above the Saint-Maurice River on a seaplane, hike among blazing fall foliage in the Charlevoix region, and visit mighty Montmorency Falls. Wildlife encounters await on safari in Parc Oméga, a whale watching cruise, and a unique black bear spotting experience.

Amphirite Point Lighthouse in Ucluelet, Vancouver Island
Map of Summer in British Columbia: Vancouver, Victoria & Ucluelet - 7 Days
Summer in British Columbia: Vancouver, Victoria & Ucluelet - 7 Days

Spend a week in and around Vancouver, where you'll find something for everyone on this well-balanced, self-drive trip. Start in Vancouver to visit Granville Island and cross the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Traverse the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island to explore Victoria with its gardens and totems. Hike along Ucluelet's shores after a whale watching trip off Tofino's coast. Return to Vancouver and finish your trip with a dip in Harrison Hot Springs' healing mineral waters.

Trek the Consolation Lakes Trail from Moraine Lake for stunning Canadian scenery
Map of Western Canada's Scenic Hikes: Canadian Rockies & Okanagan Valley - 14 Days
Western Canada's Scenic Hikes: Canadian Rockies & Okanagan Valley - 14 Days

Experience some of the most scenic trails in the Rockies on this glorious two-week tour around western Canada. Start in Canmore with hikes near Banff before visiting the town itself. View alpine lakes, snow-capped summits, and glaciers as you climb trails in Yoho National Park. Enjoy the impressive panoramas of Banff National Park as you trek above Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Ride the rapids near Revelstoke before heading to the Okanagan Valley for wine tasting and fruit picking.

Three orcas swimming in the sound
Map of Explore British Columbia's Nature: Whistler, Ucluelet & Victoria - 7 Days
Explore British Columbia's Nature: Whistler, Ucluelet & Victoria - 7 Days

Get in touch with nature as you spend a week exploring British Columbia on this self-drive tour. Reach new heights at Grouse Mountain's summit for extraordinary views of Vancouver, the sea, and the mountains. Go ziplining above the treetops near Whistler and observe black bears in the alpine mountains. Go whale watching off Tofino's coast. Then make your way through the old-growth forests of Vancouver Island to Victoria, where you'll finish your journey with a visit to the famed Butchart Gardens.

Harmony Lake, Whistler, British Columbia
Map of Western Canada Mountain Road Trip: Vancouver to Whistler  - 5 Days
Western Canada Mountain Road Trip: Vancouver to Whistler - 5 Days

Spend five days in western Canada, starting in Vancouver, where you'll visit museums, historic landmarks, and trendy neighborhoods. Then, take the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway to the picturesque village of Whistler. Hike, bike, ski, or take the Peak 2 Peak Gondola to enjoy the outdoors before returning to Vancouver and touring Victoria, the capital of British Columbia.

 Drive the Trans-Canada Highway from Calgary to Banff
Map of Self-Drive Adventure in the Canadian Rockies: Calgary & Banff - 6 Days
Self-Drive Adventure in the Canadian Rockies: Calgary & Banff - 6 Days

Explore western Canada by car on this six-day self-drive trip through the Canadian Rockies. Kick off in the rodeo capital of Calgary with a morning hot-air balloon ride and a self-guided tour around the city. Then, hit the road toward the mountain haven of Banff, where you'll dive head-first into its alpine wilderness. Go horseback riding through the Bow Valley, hike to mountaintop tea houses, soak in historic hot springs, and witness sunrise at Lake Moraine, famed for its incredible beauty.