A Guide To RV Travel In Canada For 2022
Across Canada, you’ll discover beautiful landscapes, amazing parks, and access to every outdoor activity you can think of. A high US dollar exchange rate makes Canada an affordable travel destination for Americans wishing to explore past the border.
Canada’s Provinces and Territories
Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories. Each province and territory has a variety of fun things to see and do. While BC boasts beautiful scenery, whale watching, and alpine fun, the province of Alberta has dinosaur museums with nearby full-service camping for RV travelers.
Saskatchewan’s scenic Grasslands National Park is worth a visit, but every community in Saskatchewan seems to have a really great park with gorgeous, full-service RV sites.
One of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) is in Manitoba. Every province has something to experience, and it’s all very different as you cross the country.
It’s worth noting that all of Canada is officially bilingual, speaking French and English, but the primary language is English. However, If you plan to travel to Quebec, expect the majority of people to speak French.
Current rules and regulations for entry into Canada
Canada’s current COVID-related rules and regulations (called mandates in Canada) are different in each province. These regulate the necessity of:
- wearing a paper mask in public areas such as restaurants
- producing proof of vaccination to access services
Check with the Ministry of Health in any province you wish to visit for the current regulations in that province.
With very few exceptions, US visitors must show proof of vaccination as they cross the border into Canada. As of this writing, you won’t need testing to cross into Canada, but you’ll probably need vaccines. Click here for a link to Canada’s questionnaire to find out if you’ll be welcomed into Canada.
Get ready to cross the border into Canada
Bringing a family pet?
All cats and dogs over 3 months old entering Canada need to have proof of rabies vaccination. If your dog or cat is under 3 months old, you’ll need a veterinary certificate stating its age.
To enable your dog or cat to enter Canada, the rabies vaccination certificate must:
- be written in English or French
- be issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian
- identify the animal (age, breed, sex, color/markings, weight, and microchip/tattoo number if applicable)
- state that the animal is vaccinated against rabies
- indicate the date of vaccination
- indicate the trade name and the serial number of the licensed vaccine
- specify the duration of immunity (otherwise, it will be considered valid for 1 year from the date of vaccination)
- have the name and signature of the licensed veterinarian that issued the certificate and the date it was signed
Pet food should be in original, unopened packaging. It is allowed under the following conditions:
- Pet food or product must be of United States origin and commercially packaged.
- Your pet has to be with you when you cross the border
- Pet food can only be fed to pets that cross the border with you
Other tips
Canada’s border personnel will do their best to get you through the customs process quickly while still carrying out their function as border guards. However, they are obligated to investigate if they believe there might be a cause to do so. Since this can be a frustrating process, here are a few things you can do so you don’t get stopped and searched at the border.
- Plan ahead for the shortest wait times. Don’t choose busy times like weekend evenings for travel. Check border wait times here.
- Be sure to have proper ID ready for each family member in your group.
- Answer questions politely with the shortest answer possible.
- Firearms are strictly regulated in Canada. A Firearms Declaration Form must be signed in front of a border officer, and a $50 fee must also be paid at customs to bring a legal gun into Canada. This declaration will act as a temporary registration and license certificate, valid for 60 days, and it can be renewed for free for as long as 12 months. Undeclared or illegal firearms will be seized and never returned.
Plan your trip to Canada
For all of your camping and trip planning needs, look no further than RV LIFE Campgrounds and RV LIFE Trip Wizard. RV LIFE Campgrounds is a trusted source of campground and RV park reviews offered by camping and RV enthusiasts just like you. With its accompanying RV LIFE App, RV LIFE Trip Wizard gets you to your camping destinations utilizing RV-friendly routes specific to your RV and travel preferences.
Continue reading:
The last time that I traveled to Campbell Island, Canada in my recent, my family and I were treated very poorly and they gave us a very hard time while going thru customs. I would not go back.
The short answer is no you will not be permitted to travel through Canada unless you are vaccinated or meet one of the very limited exemption qualifications and having had Covid is not one of them.
Those permitted into Canada should be aware that them must must use the ArriveCAN mobile app or sign in on a computer to enter their proof of vaccination, quarantine and travel information prior to arriving in Canada or they could face a $5K fine and will be required to return to the states to do so. Some may be permitted to do so at the port of entry.
Every visitor must have a valid passport…..even Yankees.
That is unfortunate, sorry to hear that. But we do need to remember, it is not the U.S., it’s their country.
Read the Canadian fire arms laws before even getting close to the border. Hand guns and certain other guns are not wanted. Your 2nd amendment looses validity when you see your flag in the rear view mirror.
My goal is to go to Alaska. I have a 2500 ram 4 x 4 pulling a 30 foot arctic fox trailer. I have never been vaccinated or boosted. I caught Delta Covid in December 2021, survived, and now I have natural immunity. I will I be restricted from Canada because I do not have shots or booster.
Like it or not, you will need the shots before you can cross the border. Same rules apply to Canadians entering the US.
That doesn’t seem to matter to TPTB.
One way around it is to take the ferry from Washington state directly to Alaska.
That’s what I plan to do, although it is more expensive.