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-   -   First roadtrip, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec (https://www.fodors.com/community/canada/first-roadtrip-niagara-falls-toronto-montreal-and-quebec-1013390/)

CWu May 5th, 2014 12:18 AM

First roadtrip, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec
 
Hey guys,

My boyfriend and I plan to travel next month to celebrate his birthday for about a week and half. I'm in the early stages of planning so any help would be great. Starting point, New York. I was thinking of driving to Niagara Falls and spend the day there (maid of the mist and explore the Canadian side on foot). Instead of staying in the Falls, we'll drive an 1.5hr to Toronto and spend 2-3 days then off to Montreal for another couple of days. We would like to end our trip in Quebec for 2 days. Is it too ambitious since he will be the one doing all the driving? Should we just skip Niagara Falls and/or Toronto and have a more relaxed trip in Montreal and Quebec? Any suggestions would be great. Thank You!

snowgirls May 5th, 2014 01:31 AM

Not sure of your age but if it was me I would skip NF and drive up through Vermont and split time between Montreal and Quebec City .Less road, more fun. Great places to eat and shop and go clubbing in Montreal, even spend a night up at Mt Tremblant resort in the Laurentians. The "1.5 hr drive to Toronto" is more like 3 hours now with major roads all under repair and commuters going bonkers. Not fun.

garyt22 May 5th, 2014 04:44 AM

If you have a week and a half, there is plenty of time for this trip... New York for a few days, then stop in the Finger Lakes for an overnight on the way to Niagara... then a night in Niagara... a night or two in Toronto then up to Montreal for a few nights and a few nights in Quebec city...

I just drove Niagara to Toronto Thursday with no problems so I'm not sure about the scare from snowgirls... Have Fun planning...

Southam May 5th, 2014 08:02 AM

You should be prepared for major traffic delays between Niagara Falls and Toronto, in Toronto and Montreal themselves, and even to some extent in Quebec City. If you're from the New York City area, you will understand that you cannot depend on smooth sailing. Add in the distances and I think you are underestimating the time your proposed itinerary will keep you in the car. A more relaxed pace would see you concentrate on either Ontario (the Falls and wine region, Toronto, and maybe Ottawa) or the province of Quebec.

snowgirls May 5th, 2014 12:33 PM

LOL, just a friendly warning , as per Southam, not to "scare you"realhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/closure-of-gardiner-expressway-expected-to-cause-havoc-with-traffic-patterns/article18283677/
Believe me, commuters are not happy this is going on until 2016

nytraveler May 6th, 2014 03:54 AM

Um, driving from Ne York to Niagara Falls - the Canadian side will take you about 8 hours including the border crossing - so you can't "spend the day there" only the night. You could drive straight on to Toronto - but then you would have no time to see the Falls or any of the sights there (IMHO one full day meaning 2 nights).

You're trying to squash too much into few days and not allowing for 2 long days driving from NYC to Canada.

garyt22 May 6th, 2014 04:43 AM

10 or 11 days is plenty of time...


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