a couple questions for those that have done this before: How much ready cash is recommended? How much Canadian cash is recommended? Or do we rely on debit/credit cards with minimal cash on hand?

Always have enough cash on hand to purchase a tank of fuel and some groceries. It isn't uncommon for the systems to go down for a few hours or a day. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. When it does, plastic cards have no value.In Whitehorse one day, it was cash only because the system was down. Stores could take cash only and banks were also off-line.One trip down the Alaska Highway, Toad River lodge could take cash only. We needed to stop for the night anyway so did that, but the system still wasn't functional the next morning so we paid cash for our fuel and carried on.Our telecommunications infrastructure isn't the most reliable.

never carry more than $50.bucks ,but have a $300. hid in the rig.most times we charge and pay off by the end of the month. easy to do and keep track off.

My DW and I each try to have about $200CAN on us when we travel in Canada; as others have pointed out the systems go down sometimes and cash is the only way to pay for things. And you may stop at a farmers market or buy some fish, etc at a roadside stand. Last year we purchased some scallops from a young man selling out of the back of his pickup near Kitimat BC, they were super fresh and tasted wonderful. And we feel safer in Canada than many places in the US from pickpockets or muggers, so having cash on yourself is no problem.

Provincial Parks only take cash unless you reserve online. It is pretty rude to try to get them to take American since we don't accept Canadian isn't it?? I carry $200-300 if I'm going to be out of town for a while, otherwise credit cards and ATM suffices.

We crossed into Alberta on a Sunday. We stayed at a campground in a small town and went to the local fuel station to fill up. Older style pumps and they only took cash or debit. We had our debit card (we contacted the bank before our trip) so we filled up. Went inside to pay and debit card would not work. Because it was a Sunday, we could not get any Canadian money (no bank in town). The clerk let us drive off and go back to the campground to get some US dollars and come back and pay. Because we used US dollars, we ended up paying about $10 more for the fuel but we were relieved that we could pay him at all. Really, the only other time we used Canadian money was at provincial self pay campgrounds and once we just added a couple of ones to add to our Canadian money because we did not have the correct change. The rest of the time we just used our credit cards. We did have a small stash of US dollars with us but them we always have that. If you can get a chipped credit card before you depart on your trip, you will like using that much better. You can swipe and pay at your table when dining out. They will be in the US before the end of the year.

Ready cash | Good Sam Community

midnightsadie
Explorer II
Mar 24, 2015
never carry more than $50.bucks ,but have a $300. hid in the rig.most times we charge and pay off by the end of the month. easy to do and keep track off.
sue_t
Explorer
Mar 24, 2015
Always have enough cash on hand to purchase a tank of fuel and some groceries. It isn't uncommon for the systems to go down for a few hours or a day. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. When it does, plastic cards have no value.

In Whitehorse one day, it was cash only because the system was down. Stores could take cash only and banks were also off-line.

One trip down the Alaska Highway, Toad River lodge could take cash only. We needed to stop for the night anyway so did that, but the system still wasn't functional the next morning so we paid cash for our fuel and carried on.

Our telecommunications infrastructure isn't the most reliable.

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