Our itineraries have many, many features detailed along the way (with links to local community pages, with even more detail!), and our highway history points out interesting details about the highway, rock cuts, bridges and local geology.
Here are our Top Picks for must-see attractions along the way (see the map at the bottom of the page), organized from east to west:
Maritimes
Signal Hill & St John’s Harbour
St John’s, Newfoundland
It’s the most eastern end of this continent, and there is nothing but oceans and occasional icebergs & whales to be seen from this high bluff. Time: 1/2 to full hour.
[More]
Gross Morne National Park
west of Corner Brook, Newfoundland
Deep Fjords that are the result of a long-ago collision between North America & Africa, exposing some of the oldest rocks on earth (3 billion years old). This can be a whole-day detour off the highway.
Time: 1/2 to full day.[More]
Fort Louisbourg National Historical site
East of Sydney, Nova Scotia, on Cape Breton
About an hour east of the highway is a much fought-over and fully restored French fort that was captured by General Wolfe before he could safely proceed west to Quebec City to fight the Battle of the Plains of Abraham which gave North America to the British (there, Quebec revisionists!)
Time: 1/2 >Time: 1/2 to full day. [More]
Cabot Trail-Cape Breton National Park view north of to Cap Rouge
Cabot Trail, Cape Breton
This roadway to the west of the Trans-Canada starts from rouoghly Baddekc and loops around the rugged borthwest tip of Cape Breton, which has cliffs overlooking the Gulf of St Lawrence, interspersed with fishing villages when the road drops closer to sea level, and impressive highland natural areas, including marches, virgin maple forests, and geographic features. On this route, you leave and re-enter the Cape Breton National Park several times.
Time: about 6 hours. [More]
Fundy National Park
Fundy National Parksoutheast of Sussex and Moncton, New Brunswick
Just southeast of highway from Moncton, you can drive a loop though this park ending up near Sussex. You get to see the planet’s highest tides, over 50 feet (16 metres). A full tidal sweep from high tide to low takes about 6 hours. That’s a nice leisurely picnic.
Time: 4 to 12 hours (one tidal cycle). [More]
Hartland Covered Bridge
This one’s only a kilometer off the highway, Hartland, New Brunswick
These endangered wooden structures kept the bridges snow-free in winter, and reduced rot so they lasted much longer. This is the world’s longest, at 391 metres (1282 ft) across the Saint John River.
Time: 1/2 hour. [More]
Quebec
Quebec’s Route 132
Along the South shore of St Lawrence River, between Riviere du Loup and Quebec city.
This road runs along the south bank of the river and contains many tiny charming and 400 year old villages. In between the towns are small farms, with their hundreds of years old stone farm houses, which are all situated on narrow ribbons granted under the French colonial Seigneural system, rising up a gentle slope from the St Lawrence River. Historic Route 132 continues further west of Quebec City.
Time: 1/2 to full day detour. [More]
Quebec City
just north of Trans-Canada at Levis
The fortress, boardwalk and Chateau Frontenac hotel are all worth seeing. Heading down the quaint Rue de Tresor with its many shops and restaurants is a trip into this city’s history and French charm. The city celebrated 400 years of settlement. Visitors should expect to speak French here, so bring a guidebook or dictionary.
Time: 1/2 to full day. [More]
Ontario
Parliament Hill & Byward Market
Ottawa, Ontario about 3 km north of the 417 highway
It’s the nation’s capital! Tour the Parliament buildings (depending on the seasonal line-ups), and stop at the Peace Flame on the lawn, and watch the summertime Changing of the Guard. Nearby, there is lots to do, in the Byward Market area, with its farmers market, shops, restaurants and nightlife. The area has many national museums (the National Gallery, beside the old Mint, has one of the best collections of Group of Seven artists). To the east, is 24 Sussex Drive, the home of the Prime Minister and very close by is Rideau Hall, the Governor General’s residence. To the west is the National Library, the Bank of Canada, and the National War Museum.
Time: 1/2 to full day. [More]
National Museum of Civilization
Gatineau, Quebec, across river from Parliament buildings
This museum has the best collection of First Nations artifacts, and history of early explorers and national development.
Time: 1/2 to full day. [More]
Sudbury’s Superstack
Copper Cliff, just west of Sudbury, north side of highway
Its the world’s tallest smokestack, built in the 1970s by INCO to throw the hydrogen sulfide emissions (that had killed many of the area’s trees and polluted many of the area’s lakes) high into the atmosphere. Nowadays, the mine’s smelter “scrubs” the emissions before they leave the stack. You can see slag heaps flowing with molten metal from the roadway. A tree-planting program has restored much of the area’s forests.
Time: 1/2 hour to full day (tour). [More]
Sault Ste Marie – Chippewa Falls Rest Area on Highway 17 midpoint
Midpoint of the Trans-Canada Highway
just north of Sault Ste Marie
The midpoint of the national highway, between Victoria in the Pacific Ocean and St John’s on the Atlantic is at the Chippewa Falls Rest Area on Highway 17 right besidey is the beautiful waterfalls at the Chippewa Falls Rest Area.
Time: 1/2 hour
Nipigon Bridge, from the west
Nipigon River Bridge
just east of Nipigon
The Nipigon River Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge across the Nipigon River, just east of the town of Nipigon which carries both Highway 11 and Highway 17, and is the only place to connect from eastern Canada to Wedstern Canada. When this bridge failed shortly after the first span was opened, it stopped all cross-Canada road traffic. There is also a viewing tower near the bridge.
Time: 1/2 hour
Thunder Bay-Terry Fox Statue
Terry Fox Monument
Just east of Thunder Bay
Just northeast of the City of Thunder Bay, as the highway bends east allong the north shore of Lake Superior, on the north side of the highway is a beautiful tribute to TGerry Fox, the cancer survivor who started the Marathon of Hope to raise funds for cancer research by running a marathon every single day, starting in St John’s Newfoundland andheading toward his home town of Burnaby, BC. He stopped his marathon at this very point, after finding out his cancer came back and he flew home for medical attention, only to die a few months later. The Terry Fox Marathon of Hope has continued with community runs around the world since his passing that have raised over $400 million for cancer research.
Historic Fort William
South end of Thunder Bay
This is one of the most historically significant trading posts run by the Hudson’s Bay Company. After the French fur traders and voyageurs canoed all the way from Montreal across the Great Lakes, Fort William was their base for trade across the vast Prairies.
Time: 1/2 to full day. [More]
Prairies
Centre of Canada
Midway between Ste Anne and Winnipeg
This point, east of Winnipeg, is located on the north side of the Trans-Canada, and marks the horizontal center of Canada. Watch for a large billboard!
Time: 1/2 hour
Royal Tyrell Dinosaur Museum & Hoodoos
Drumheller, about an hour north of the highway, and about a half-day detour.
This museum interprets the history of the planet, and animal & plant life on it using fossils uncovered in Alberta, in the canyons just west of the city, and the dinosaur beds east of the city (which are a UNESCO World Heritage site). But if you had to stop in just one spot, we recommend the museum. Especially if your are travelling with kids.
Time: full day detour. [More]
Lake Louise
A short drive up the hill, 7 km west of the Trans-Canada.
This lake is stunning, a beautiful blue-green cradled between high mountain peaks covered in glaciers. You can enjoy a well-prepared meal at the Chateau Lake Louise, though the more fit visitors will take a 3 kilometre hike up to the Teahouse, passing a couple of small lakes and waterfalls to get an even better view to the Lake from above. An hour’s detour with a look, a half day with the hike. (Note: since 2022, you need to pre-book a shuttle [online] and park at the Skiing Louise parking lot on the east side of the TCH) or you can pay $40 (yup!) to park beside the lake.
Time: 1/2 hour to half day [More]
Rockies-Spiral Tunnels-sliver
Spiral Tunnels
Just west of Continental Divide, British Columbia
When the trans-continental railway was built, it followed the steep path that is now used by the highway, which drops 2,000 feet in just a few miles. After a few fatal crashes, the CPR built two Spiral Tunnels just west of the Continental Divide to reduce the slope of the railway. There’s an observation point with good parking on the north side of the highway and trains pass by every half-hour, you won’t wait long to observe one part of the train leaving the tunnel the end of it is entering right below (or above) the other end. For history enthusiasts, between Revelstoke & Sicamous, about 350 km to the west, is Craigellachie, with the last spike on the Canadian Pacific railroad. TIP: Visit Spiral Tunnels wesbounmd, and Craigallachie eastbound.
Time: one hour between trains… closed in winter [More]
Stanley Park
Downtown Vancouver, south of the Upper Levels Highway
This is one of the largest urban parks in the world, has a great view of downtown Vancouver, the north shore mountains, and the Lion’s Gate Bridge. You can rent a bike or inline skates to take the 8km Seawall around the park. There are three beaches one the southwest edge of the park (First Beach, Second Beach and Third Beach)
Time: 1/2 to full day [More]
Project for 2023
We look forward to your recommendations for “honourable mentions” of other worthy attractions along (or withing a half hour drive of the highway). Which is why we did not mention Toronto, Niagara Falls, West Edmonton Mall, or Columbia Icefields, which are not along the Trans-Canada.
Send use your suggestions via email, contact form or our Facebook Page, with a photograph (without identifiable people please… we’d need a Legal Release from each!)