First post so be kind. My wife and I are planning a trip from Alberta to the Maritimes this coming fall. We are looking at the best way to get from Niagara Falls to Quebec City. If we stay in Canada, we avoid two border crossings but get Toronto and Montreal. We have crossed the border many times and sometimes you sail through and sometimes your number is up. I have heard first hand that traveling with Alberta plates in Quebec can be an "adventure" . We are traveling with a F350 and 26'fifth wheel. What would be the best time of day to travel through these cities. I am not against running thru them at 2am if that is what it takes. Any advice out there.Harold

Well, I can tell you, first hand, that a trip through Quebec will be what you make of it. Leave your Western Canada English speaking attitude at home and you will find Quebecers for the most part a very friendly helpful bunch of fellow Canadians. I had similar concerns as you when we drove to the Maritimes a few years ago. Spent 2 days in Montreal, 2 days in QC, then 4 days going around Gaspe' Penninsula, and we are so glad now that we never bypassed Quebec because of a perceived attitude problem....just never happened. We ended up feeling a bit stupid that we could not speak any French, because people treated us so well. On St John Baptiste day we were invited to join a bunch of families at an evening beach bonfire to sing traditional songs while kids roasted weenies & marshmallows......the word went around that we didn't understand French so people spoke English to us to tell us what the songs being sung were about,....we were totally included and it was a pretty emotional feeling for us. Take your time and do the big cities, and Quebec. A trip across Canada is not complete without experiencing all of our Great Country. I know it certainly created an attitude adjustment in this old bigoted western boys eyes.....

Living in southern Ontario we have travelled this route quite a bit. The busiest times going through Toronto is your typical rush hour (hours) time. From 6:30 to 8:30 am. and from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. The QEW and the 401 being the major routes into Toronto could be heavy at any time but take your time, relax and you will be fine. Give yourself some extra "tourist" time. You may want to stop along the way from Niagra to Toronto and visit the many vineyards. Travelling through Montreal at anytime during the day will be hectic. Montreal is a beautiful place, the people are great but traffic, huge headache. I would plan to go through Montreal very early in the morning if you are concerned. The only thing is it will be dark and you would be missing a lot of the sites of Montreal. Remember, all signs are in French only so since you are not going until next fall you have a bit of time to do homework. Try getting a driver handbook online to review signs. Old Quebec City is absolutely somewhere everyone traveling east needs to visit. Driving in the old city will be very hard with the RV. I suggest that you unhook at your campsite or take a taxi in. Parking would be impossible in my mind. If you were going to stay in a hotel/motel along your trip, this might be the place to. There are quite a few just off the major highway and within reasonable taxi cost. Book anything, campsites, hotels etc. around Quebec City as soon as you can and expect this area to be your most expensive on your trip. Anywhere in Quebec we have found people to be very helpful with language. Most people living in the Montreal area are bilingual. The only issue with language we have had over the years was in rural northern Quebec. It was not that people were being rude, they just did not know any English. You will find many french speaking areas in eastern Ontario and northern New Brunswick. Like you are doing, homework is the key. I am sure your trip will be a great one. Are you planning on doing all the Atlantic provinces and how much time do you have scheduled?

Hi,Go through the States. It is faster, shorter, and you can pick up some cheap fuel while you are at it.I often set up an exclusion zone using MS streets and trips to avoid driving through big cities. I hate express ways, and toll roads.

No need to worry about Montreal traffic anymore. Autoroute 30 bypasses the city on the south side of the river. This is a new multi-lane highway. There is a toll on the west end when you enter or leave the highway. Saves over an hour and during rush-hour saves even more time.Lots of places to camp south of Montreal where you can unhook and drive into the city. Not my favorite city in Canada but if you haven't been there you should give it a couple of days, after-all it is the home of the best hockey team in the world!!Merry Christamas

Personally, I would stay on the US side, even if only for the gas $ savings. I also totally despise driving in Toronto and would never do it with the MH or a TT. If you're looking for a stopover along the way, there is a great campground in Massena, NY (Massena International Kampground) where we spend most of our camp time. Canadian $ at par - $34 all in (if you pay cash) for a FHU with cable. Can cross the border at Cornwall and scoot right around MTL on the previously mentioned toll highway, or continue further through the US and cross later.

Niagara Falls to Qubec city | Good Sam Community

Badhabit
Explorer
Dec 24, 2013
Thank you for all the replies. We were planning on getting a camp site south of Quebec City and taking a bus tour. We went to a niece's wedding in TO a couple of years ago and did the tours then. It is a nice city but it is just Edmonton with more people. We plan on spending quite a bit of time in the Niagara region so may do a day trip into Toronto then. Thank you about Montreal bypass.We will get through it and then come back for tours etc. We are only doing this once and are not on a schedule. According to streets and trips, it is no further to go the Canadian way than to go the Us way which surprises me.

Harold
FC
Explorer
Dec 25, 2013
When we stay in Quebec City , we always stay at the KOA and are very pleased with the service there. For the city tours, the mini bus comes right to the campground and delivers you back. Friends that stayed at Camping Transit had to drive to meet the tour bus?? They said later that they wished they had stayed at the KOA with us. Both campgrounds are very accessible.
JM2CW
bsinmich
Explorer
Dec 30, 2013
If you go the Toronto route avoid ETR407. There is no toll info before entering but you are required to have a transponder if over a certain weight. Without that you can be stopped for a $250. fine as frequently as they wish. I have the transponder for many US roads and they are much cheaper that way.
Brynjolf
Explorer
Dec 30, 2013
Toronto isn't much to worry about. If its a weekday, plan to go through between 10:00 and 2:00 (QEW to 401). If you're really nervous, take the 407 - they'll mail you a bill for around $40; don't worry about the transponder-required-nonsense as it applies to commercial vehicles.

Montreal, as has been mentioned is an easy drive. I'd avoid rush hour (as you should with any major city), but that's about it.
JackD
Explorer
Dec 30, 2013
Montreal, as has been mentioned is an easy drive. I'd avoid rush hour

Since the opening of the new 30Highway, rush hour in this area is history. Anytime of the day, you'll cruise at max. posted speed all the way around Montreal.
And to visit Montreal, there is a well located KOA less than a mile off the highway no 30 at St. Phillipe. During the summer time, there is a shuttle bus to Montreal off the campground.
KOA
super_camper
Explorer
Dec 31, 2013
Badhabit wrote:
Thank you for all the replies. We were planning on getting a camp site south of Quebec City and taking a bus tour. We went to a niece's wedding in TO a couple of years ago and did the tours then. It is a nice city but it is just Edmonton with more people. We plan on spending quite a bit of time in the Niagara region so may do a day trip into Toronto then. Thank you about Montreal bypass.We will get through it and then come back for tours etc. We are only doing this once and are not on a schedule. According to streets and trips, it is no further to go the Canadian way than to go the Us way which surprises me.

Harold

The distance is similar but the US route will be much faster and much less stressful. When we travel that way from Hamilton we usually go through the US.

X2 of the KOA south of Montreal, great place.
Badhabit
Explorer
Jan 01, 2014
Another question is scenery. It looks like northern New York has a lot of state parks etc but I have no idea what southern Quebec is like. Is it treed or farm land, rocky/flat. we are planning on being there during "leaf season". We plan on leaving Niagara Falls around the first of October and heading east. Is this too early or too late or just right? We are not in a hurry as we are planning on doing the Maritimes for 3+ weeks and then heading to Florida and across to San Diego before pointing the truck north some time in March. Thank you for your time

Harold
Community Alumni
Jan 01, 2014
The leaf scenery in Quebec is typically really good the first couple weeks of October. The problem that you will have after the 2nd week of October is there will be no campgrounds open in either up state NY, Quebec or in the Maritimes. Everything pretty much shuts down after Canadian thanksgiving.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jan 01, 2014
Hi,

There are many fewer campgrounds open--that is true--but most communities where there are multiple parks have at least one that is year round. It will be slim pickings.

Be prepared to boondock in snow.
greenenvy1
Explorer
Jan 01, 2014
You are not going to find any campgrounds open here in the Maritimes. Most close on Labour Day in September. I have seen one or 2 still open until Thanksgiving but those are rare. All good advice above on the A30 around Montreal. 401 through Toronto sucks but I haul trailers through there weekly and no big issue other than traffic delays. Take the 407 and suck up the toll if you want. You will see a HUGE difference in fuel prices travelling USA and you might want to consider that route.

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