TaylorP

I'm thinking of driving Toronto to Tofino via the trans Canada leaving Nov. 30. Did I leave it too late? Gotta get outta here.

Southam

Fly.

tomfuller

Can you come across the US and take the ferry from Port Angeles Washington? The gas is a bit cheaper and you are less likely to get stuck.

eliztravels2

If you do drive, plan your overnight stops carefully. Our firiends’ son is driving across this week and finds much of the accommodation in smaller places in Northern Ontario is closed so he has had to get to a larger centre for overnight.

kgsneds

Fly or wait until at least late April. Late November is way too late to drive cross country.

It's full on winter in much of the country - you risk significant delays due to weather. Also as indicated, in places like northern Ontario and the national parks in BC/AB, places will be shut and it can be a very long way between hotels/gas stations/stores.

You will be encountering long stretches of highway with few places to stay, often poor or no cell reception (cell reception is pretty much nil in the national parks in BC/AB) and high mountain passes where weather and/or accidents can cause closures from hours to days. There are often few or no detours.

In Alberta & BC parts of the TransCanada, for instance, have been shut off and on over the last few days due to snow & snow related accidents. There was 50+cm in 24hrs in some parts of AB & BC.

Note that for much of the BC stretch of the TransCanada, you MUST have at least M+S tires. They are required by provincial legislation and full winter tires are strongly suggested for driving anywhere in the mountains/northern Ontario during the winter. If you don't have at least M+S tires, you can't take the TCH.

You really need snow tires, a full emergency kit (blankets, water, food, shovel, heat source, flashlight), good maps and lots of flexibility since you may need to stop if the road is closed or conditions are poor. Plus plan ONLY to drive during daylight (which is pretty short these days!).

TaylorP

Yikes! Thanks all. Rethink underway.

TaylorP

Rethinking my route... via Chicago Omaha Boise Portland Port Angeles vs. Thunder Bay Winnipeg Calgary Vancouver. I doubt there is much difference in terms of weather. Your thoughts? Leaving Dec 1.

tomfuller

Unless you need a large amount of luggage, try Amtrak trains west from Buffalo.
Lake Shore Limited to Chicago overnight then either the Empire Builder to Seattle or the California Zephyr to Sacramento with the Coast Starlight north from there.

kgsneds

The southern route would avoid the mountains which will be your biggest problem. I still wouldn't be driving cross country in the winter - take the train or fly. Or wait until the spring.

elbegewa

Are you experienced driving through mountains in snow? It's much different than driving in snow on the flats.
The best summary on winter driving I've seen is at http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...r.Driving.html

This time of year almost all routes across will have a chance of snow, and will have some mountain driving. Make sure both YOU and YOUR CAR are prepared for it.

In *all* the routes below you could come across ice, snow, blizzards, sub-zero temperatures driving across the prairies or mid-west ... or you could luck out and get through the prairies and midwest without. Keep an eye on the weather before you leave and enroute. Sometimes you can miss the worst weather by taking an alternate route.The further south you go the less cold the temperature is likly to be, but it still can be sub-zero F at times.

1. The Transcanada:
It will have the most snow and most mountain driving of the 4 alternatives. From western Alberta to Vancouver you will come to repetitive mountain ranges.In all of the mountains you are likely to encounter snow on the road.

2. I-90 via Seattle through the Dakotas and Montana:
It will have somewhat less mountains than the transcanada, but will be mountainous in Montana and Northern Idaho until Spokane. Then the last 100 miles just east of Seattle will also be mountainous. In all of the mountains you are likely to encounter snow on the road.

3. I-80 / I-84 via Utah, Idaho, & Portland:
It will have less mountains than 1 & 2 above. But it will still have some mountainous area between the Wyoming/Utah border and Salt Lake City and again between Baker City Oregon and Pendleton Oregon ... All the rest of the trip would be like driving through the prairies. ft can be sub-zero F temperature, or it could be warmer, depending. The whole route has a chance of snow, depending on the weather.

4. I-80 to San Francisco thence I-5 to Portland & Seattle:
This could either be a better route, or worse than # 3 above depending on storms. This will have a little mountainous driving through parts of Nevada, then much mountains (the Sierras) at the Nevada/California border. And then again, moyuntains on I-5 near the California-Oregon border. Depending on the weather, you could encounter snow on any of the mountains.

TaylorP

Thanks all!