Canadian Advice

[exav8tr]

Will be travelling Hiway 402 out of Port Huron, then 401 to 20 into NB and Into Maine at Houlton. Planning stopovers in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec. Any advice on CG's and any specific routing would be appreciated. Also, What to see along this route???Will be there in Jun/Jul time frame.

Really need alot of feedback on this one. Obsiously we have passports and will not be carrying weapons. I think these are the big ones.

Thanks in advance!!!!!

[Bill and Ann]

Wow! Where to start????
Your trip covers a lot of miles and a lot of scenery. Unless you have already seen it I would start at Niagara Falls, Ont. and see the falls from the Canadian side. Then to Toronto to the CN building. That's a start for you. Many campgrounds to chose from on the way incl. Provincial Parks.
If possible, post as you go and get input as you travel.

[Wiarton William]

When you are in the Toronto(area) phase of your visit.. I would suggest a few things....taking the RV into downtown Toronto is not a good idea..I suggest that you find a CG in the surrounding area of
(Milton is on 401 hwy and has quite a nice CG right aside the highway)..Burlington/Hamilton have nice areas too).. Take the "GO Transit..GO Train" into the city..its a nice ride and it will relieve you of the gawd awful traffic mess.. that is going at all hours of the day into the city....Parking rates are horrendous...There are lots of great things to see in Toronto ......In your travels...Dont use highway 407 its an electronic toll highway.. which means they bill the licence plate and in order to do that they search your state records and send you all the bills as well as the toll......very very expensive.... Niagara Falls is great for scenery and there are some fine wine tours available.. there is some great scenery all through that area..When its time for you to head east across the top of Toronto on 401...pick your time wisely dont start prior to 0900...or after 1400 especially on a Friday afternoon, traffic is so slow its "a parking lot so to speak"... If you google.. City of Toronto.......GO Transit....407 ETR... and Niagara Falls/Niagara on the Lake...Welland Canal....you will get all the info you need and be able to plan an very enjoyable time..I might add Toronto's tourist areas are very safe for walking tours and wandering about..people are more than willing to give you assistance and directions...

[OntMont]

That is a big question. We made a similar trip a couple of years ago, and can provide where we stayed, but it will take me a little time to find back all the info. I agree with what Wiarton William has told you, but in recent years we have found it easier to go right through downtown Toronto on the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Expressway, but stay well clear of rush hour if you do this. Niagara Falls is worth a visit for the Falls alone, but it is very nice drive to travel the whole length of the Niagara River from Fort Erie to Niagara-on-Lake along the Niagara Parkway, especially if you are any kind of history buff. There was a lot of action along the Niagara frontier in years gone by. (don't take the trailer along the Parkway though.) There are many points of interest along the Parkway, including the Forts at either end, the gardens at the School of Horticulture, the power plants, and the theatres at Niagara on the Lake. And, as WW mentioned, scads of great wineries. Oh, and I hear that there is a Casino in Niagara Falls).

I'll try to add more to this in a few days, I assume you won't be going for a few months yet.

[exav8tr]

Thanks all for the great info. We will be making the trip in late May (weather permitting) and Jun/Jul time frame. Plenty of time for planning.

Keep the ideas coming......Never been there before so need all the help I can get....

Thanks again....

[Wiarton William]

I cannot tell you right now if the "Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley is any better to travel right now or in the near future..The city has neglected its road repair and maintenance..Either way the road surfaces are bound to be questionable.......I will have to call someone and find out..I havent been there in 4 years and plan to avoid it like the plague for the next 4 years as well..If interested I will make the call..

[OntMont]

Here are some places we have stayed along your route. All are quite adequate and have at least some sites big enough for your rig. If you don't already have it, I would suggest that you get a campground directory such as Trailer Life or Woodalls.

Port Huron, MI: Lakeport SP
East side of Toronto: Darlington PP
Morrisburg, ON: Riverside-Cedar campsite (Parks of the St Lawrence)
Near Montreal, QC: Camping Allouette (Private) St Mathieu de Beloeil, QC
Riviere-du-Loup: Camping Chez Jean (Private) St Antonin, QC. (Private) (also Camping Municipal de la Pointe, in Riviere-du-Loup - have not stayed there but friends say it is good)
Near Fredericton NB: Hartt Island RV Resort (Private) (We did not actually stay at this one either, but had picked it out a possible stopping point)
Bouctouche NB: Bouctouche Baie Chalets et Camping,

Fuel: Will be more expensive in Canada. There are Flying Js off highway 401 at London, ON, Napannee, ON (Bill and Ann's home town), and in Quebec just west of Montreal. East of Montreal, you can look for "Big Irving" stations as being similar to Flying Js.

I don't know Montreal or Quebec well enough to give any detailed information. MOC members Ormee & Ginette live in Montreal and may be able to help you. Ottawa is a very nice city to visit, and has a good campground called "Ottawa Municipal Campground" (no sewer though).

If you go to Niagara Falls, there is a KOA in Niagara Falls, but it is quite expensive. If you just want to do a day trip, you might be as well to stay at Milton, ON and take a drive over to the Falls.

In Ontario, the 400 series highways are pretty much like U.S. Interstates, they will get you where you are going quickly, but you will miss a lot of scenery along the way.