Driving from Toronto to Halifax: How long does it take? Am I crazy to try this??
Jun 16th, 2006, 07:36 PM
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Driving from Toronto to Halifax: How long does it take? Am I crazy to try this??
I must be losing my mind as I (who hates to drive) am acually considering driving from Toronto to Halifax some time in the Fall. I looked @ Mapquest & it seems fine except that around Quebec it looks a bit confusing. Can anybody help me out here? I wld not want to drive more than 5 hours a day. So, how long will it take for me to get there?(3-4 days??) I will also have my cat w/ me. We were going to fly but I heard this evening that Air Canada now will not allow cats on board so I wld have to stow my cat w/ the luggage. That will not work! He would be terrified...he is almost 13 years old. While he is accustomed to 4 hour car trips, there is no way that he wld be able to survive a trip stowed away with luggage. So, that is why I am thinking of driving. So, what should I do? Is the part around Quebec as confusong as it looks on Mapqquest. Can you give me a less intricate way to get there?
Jun 16th, 2006, 10:27 PM
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The fastest way is to drive through the US. It's almost all freeway, and is about 2,000km. So, about 20 hours of actual driving. If you don't want to drive more than 5 hours a day, it'll take you 4 days.
The route is this:
QEW to Niagara Falls. Take 405 to the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge to cross into the US.
You'll be on I-190. Then take I-290 to I-90/New York Thruway. Stay on it past Albany (which will change its sign from I-90 to I-87), then follow the sign for Boston onto I-90/Masspike.
Take I-90/Masspike to I-495. Go north, and I-495 ends at I-95. Go north through New Hampshire into Maine. I-95 becomes the Maine Turnpike. Follow the Maine Turnpike (which will then be signed as I-495 after Portland), then then back to become I-95.
Get off I-95 at Bangor, Maine, and take I-395 east. I-395 ends at Highway 1A. Continue a few miles to Highway 46. Go north a few miles to Highway 9. Go east on Highway 9 for about 100 miles to Calais. Cross back into Canada at St. Stephen, NB.
Follow Highway 1 all the way to before Moncton. It merges onto Trans-Canada (Highway 2). It continues to become Trans-Canada 104 in Nova Scotia. At Truro take 102 to Halifax.
With a good map, it's easier than it seems.
You can spend the first night before Albany, NY (for example at Amsterdam, NY - there are motels right off the Thruway). Second night Lewiston or Augusta, ME. Third night Saint John, NB.
The route is this:
QEW to Niagara Falls. Take 405 to the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge to cross into the US.
You'll be on I-190. Then take I-290 to I-90/New York Thruway. Stay on it past Albany (which will change its sign from I-90 to I-87), then follow the sign for Boston onto I-90/Masspike.
Take I-90/Masspike to I-495. Go north, and I-495 ends at I-95. Go north through New Hampshire into Maine. I-95 becomes the Maine Turnpike. Follow the Maine Turnpike (which will then be signed as I-495 after Portland), then then back to become I-95.
Get off I-95 at Bangor, Maine, and take I-395 east. I-395 ends at Highway 1A. Continue a few miles to Highway 46. Go north a few miles to Highway 9. Go east on Highway 9 for about 100 miles to Calais. Cross back into Canada at St. Stephen, NB.
Follow Highway 1 all the way to before Moncton. It merges onto Trans-Canada (Highway 2). It continues to become Trans-Canada 104 in Nova Scotia. At Truro take 102 to Halifax.
With a good map, it's easier than it seems.
You can spend the first night before Albany, NY (for example at Amsterdam, NY - there are motels right off the Thruway). Second night Lewiston or Augusta, ME. Third night Saint John, NB.
Jun 17th, 2006, 04:28 AM
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NO! Take the Canadian route. The simple drive between Quebec city and Riviere Du Loup is stunning and not to be missed. I have done this trip over 25 times in my life and there are walking paths along the St. Lawrence where yu can get out and stretch your legs. Quebec City is simple to navigate as well.
Jun 17th, 2006, 04:31 AM
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First night Quebec City _I recommend Chateau Des Tourelles (excellent accomodationat great low price) Second night Riviere Du Loup. Third night Fredericton, (downtown) and next night Halifax (Irecommend the Haliburton Hotel (B&B DOWNTOWN)
Jun 17th, 2006, 04:34 AM
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I don't blame you for driving. I would never consider stowing my little dog with the luggage. She's 12 years old and would be terrified.
The only advice I can give you if you don't really like driving, is to try and make the trip as interesting and fun as you can.
YOu can't really stop a lot at touristy spots because you wouldn't be able to just leave her in the car.. But try to enjoy the scenery, which may mean taking a bit more scenic route part of the way.
Take your favourite CD's to listen too, take your favourite snacks ...even sign out loud to the music... enjoy.
Don't think of the drive as a chore to get to your vacation. Think of your vacation as starting as soon as you leave Toronto. Make the 'getting there' an enjoyable part of the trip.
Although rkkwan has given you the fastest route, I'd be more inclined to go a bit slower and stick to a road that isn't quite as busy as I90 and I 95.
I'd take the 401 to Quebec and continue on Highway 20 to Riviere-du-Loup and then joint the Trans Canada southward. Somhow I feel more comfortable in Canada, ..it just feels like I'm 'home' and perhaps you'd feel better.
Good luck, and enjoy your trip.
The only advice I can give you if you don't really like driving, is to try and make the trip as interesting and fun as you can.
YOu can't really stop a lot at touristy spots because you wouldn't be able to just leave her in the car.. But try to enjoy the scenery, which may mean taking a bit more scenic route part of the way.
Take your favourite CD's to listen too, take your favourite snacks ...even sign out loud to the music... enjoy.
Don't think of the drive as a chore to get to your vacation. Think of your vacation as starting as soon as you leave Toronto. Make the 'getting there' an enjoyable part of the trip.
Although rkkwan has given you the fastest route, I'd be more inclined to go a bit slower and stick to a road that isn't quite as busy as I90 and I 95.
I'd take the 401 to Quebec and continue on Highway 20 to Riviere-du-Loup and then joint the Trans Canada southward. Somhow I feel more comfortable in Canada, ..it just feels like I'm 'home' and perhaps you'd feel better.
Good luck, and enjoy your trip.
Jun 17th, 2006, 08:26 AM
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How bored do you want to be?
You can see some of the most beautiful scenery in Canada, or fileds beside super highways.
And five hours per day is too low. Add anhour and you may be OK.
And do you want to come back?
Make your trip a circle.
Toronto to Watertown, New York.
Watertown to Portland.
Portland to Bar Harbor.
Bar harbor to Moncton.
Moncton to Halifax.
Halifax to Fredericton.
Fredericton toQuebce City (easy enough if you don't go into QC)
QC to Kingston.
Kingston to home.
Aboput five hours a day, plus some sightseeing.
BAK
You can see some of the most beautiful scenery in Canada, or fileds beside super highways.
And five hours per day is too low. Add anhour and you may be OK.
And do you want to come back?
Make your trip a circle.
Toronto to Watertown, New York.
Watertown to Portland.
Portland to Bar Harbor.
Bar harbor to Moncton.
Moncton to Halifax.
Halifax to Fredericton.
Fredericton toQuebce City (easy enough if you don't go into QC)
QC to Kingston.
Kingston to home.
Aboput five hours a day, plus some sightseeing.
BAK
Jun 19th, 2006, 04:50 PM
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We travelled across the country with our cat when we moved from Toronto to Victoria last September. She certainly didn't appreciate the scenery, but she survived the trip nicely. We tried not to drive more than 6 to 7 hours in any one day, and we also booked ahead at pet-friendly motels.
We had the cat in a big crate in the back of the car - it's actually intended for a large dog, but I was able to put her litterbox and food and water in there with her, and she had room to move around. When we settled down for the night we would bring the crate into the motel room and then let her out - that was safer than trying to transfer her into her carrier with the car door open. After the first few days she really looked forward to exploring new motel rooms - she liked Best Western most of all.
We had the cat in a big crate in the back of the car - it's actually intended for a large dog, but I was able to put her litterbox and food and water in there with her, and she had room to move around. When we settled down for the night we would bring the crate into the motel room and then let her out - that was safer than trying to transfer her into her carrier with the car door open. After the first few days she really looked forward to exploring new motel rooms - she liked Best Western most of all.
