The Great Canadian Road Trip: 24 Days, 10,000 KM & A Trusty Nissan Pathfinder

There’s something about Canada that gets under your skin. Maybe it’s the way the light hits the Rockies at dawn, turning them into nature’s spectacle. Or how you can drive for eight hours straight and still be in the same province, watching the landscape shift from dense forest to wide-open prairie without ever losing that wild, untamed feeling.

I’d dreamed about crossing Canada by road for years – not just the Instagrammable parts, but the real, raw stretches in between. The kind of trip where your playlist runs out halfway through Saskatchewan and you’re left with just the hum of tires on asphalt, where you learn the true meaning of “middle of nowhere” when your phone hasn’t had signal since yesterday.

So in August 2023, I did it. Bought a used Nissan Pathfinder (after my grand Toyota Sequoia plans fell through), packed more bug spray than common sense, and set out from Toronto to Vancouver the long way – 24 days, 10,000 kilometers, and a lifetime’s worth of Tim Hortons receipts later, here’s what I learned.

The Vehicle Saga: Why I Ended Up With a Nissan Pathfinder

My original plan was to buy a used Toyota Sequoia—reliable, spacious, perfect for overlanding. But after weeks of searching, every decent Sequoia was either overpriced or sold before I could blink. Frustrated, I pivoted to a Nissan Pathfinder—slightly smaller, but within my budget.

Buying From a Dealership: A Smart Move

I purchased the Pathfinder from a reputable Toronto dealership, which turned out to be one of my best decisions. Benefits:

  • Full service history (no hidden surprises)
  • 30-day warranty (peace of mind for the trip)
  • Free pre-trip inspection (they even rotated the tires)
  • No mechanical issues the entire 10,000 km journey

Lesson learned: If you’re doing a massive road trip, don’t cheap out on the vehicle. A dealership might cost more upfront, but it’s worth it.

The Journey: 24 Days, 5 Provinces, 10,000+ KM

⚡ Ontario (Toronto → Thunder Bay) – The Never-Ending Forests

  • Key Stops:
  • Toronto (Get me out of here – Horrendous traffic)
  • Algonquin Provincial Park (first taste of real Canadian wilderness)
  • Lake Superior’s North Shore (endless cliffs & hidden beaches)
  • Biggest Surprise: How remote Northern Ontario feels. Gas stations are sparse—always fill up at half-tank.
  • Regret: Not stopping in Manitoulin Island (next time!).

⚡ Manitoba (Winnipeg & Beyond) – The Prairies Begin

  • Key Stops:
  • Winnipeg (lets talk about something else)
  • Riding Mountain National Park (bison sightings!)
  • Spruce Woods Provincial Park (desert-like sand dunes in Canada?!)
  • Observation: Manitoba is underrated. People skip it for the Rockies, but the skies here are unreal.

⚡ Saskatchewan (The Flat & Friendly Province)

  • Key Stops:
  • Grasslands National Park (felt like the wild west—bison, coyotes, zero light pollution)
  • Random small-town food
  • Fun Fact: Saskatchewan has no time zones—it’s just Central Time all the way.

⚡ Alberta (Where the Adventure Peaks)

  • Key Stops:
  • Calgary (ate the best garlic shrimps of my life)
  • Banff & Lake Louise (touristy but worth it)
  • Jasper National Park (less crowded, just as stunning)
  • Drumheller (dinosaur capital of Canada—climbed the world’s largest T-Rex)
  • Biggest Win: ticking off Lake Louise and Moraine Lake off of my list.

⚡ British Columbia (Mountains to Ocean)

  • Key Stops:
  • Revelstoke (hidden gem for hiking)
  • Vancouver (finally made it! Ate sushi for three days straight)
  • Whistler detour (because why not?)
  • Shock Moment: Seeing gas prices jump 40¢/L from Alberta to BC.

What Went Right vs. What Went Wrong

✅ What Went Right

✔ The Pathfinder was a beast – No breakdowns.
✔ National Parks Pass paid for itself – Saved me $$ in entry fees.
✔ Canadians are ridiculously nice – Got free camping tips, food recommendations, even a beer invite.
✔ Wildlife everywhere – Saw bears, elk, and eagles—all from a safe distance.

❌ What Went Wrong

✖ Missed Quebec & French Canada – Not enough time, but it’s on my list for next time.
✖ Rest stop trash – Some picnic areas were disgusting (pack out your garbage, people!).
✖ Expensive data plans – Rogers charged me $60 for 20GB and still had dead zones.
✖ No lamb anywhere – As a lamb lover, I struggled.

Final Tips for Future Cross-Canada Road Trippers

  1. Buy from a dealership – Worth the extra $$ for reliability.
  2. Get a Parks Canada Pass – If visiting >3 national parks, get “Discovery Pass” it pays for itself.
  3. Download offline maps – Cell service dies in the wilderness.
  4. Download iOverlander app, cant recommend it enough, ITS A MUST!!!!
  5. Alberta = cheapest gas – Fill up before entering BC.
  6. Embrace spontaneity – Best moments were unplanned.

Would I Do It Again?

Absolutely—but next time:

  • More time in Quebec & the Maritimes
  • A rooftop tent (for better camping)
  • A bigger budget for better car, a van maybe.

Canada’s beauty is next-level, but it’s not a cheap trip. Still, the freedom of the open road? Priceless.