Trans Canada Highway

[Alan_Hepburn]

So, we are starting to think about a trip for next year, and one of our options would be to take the Trans Canada Highway west to east at least to Montreal, where we would then turn south to get to the Baltimore area where our son and his family reside. My question is: how are gas stations spread out along the TCH? We can usually do about 400 miles on a tank, but prefer to fill up around 300 miles - are there any stretches along the route where we will be using up the fumes in the tank?

[rgvtexan]

You should not have any problem finding fuel, paying for may be! It is quite a bit more in Canada, even with the favorable exchange rate.

[legrandnorm]

I'm from Montreal, Quebec, Canada and I don't think that you'll have any problem with gas stations up here in Canada. Coming from your place, I'd suggest to you, to go as far as Calgary, Alberta and then head to the States, for economy reasons and your roads are much better; another reason, there is nothing to see in the prairies until you hit Ontario Province.
p.s. btw, I also have a 2009 cabriolet Smart for two

[twogypsies]

Agreed. The prairies of Canada are like the prairies of the lower 48 and gas is cheaper in the lower 48.

[Skip426]

Alan , I notice that there are a few states around Lake Superior that are missing from your travel map ( Avatar) . It's been a LOT of years since I drove #1 through Ontario and I've gone out of my way to avoid that section again a few years back .
That's the section that would have the longest stretches between fuel stops .

JMHO: Driving through Minnesota , Wisconsin & Michigan would be preferable.
Going back through Traverse City is on my bucket list.

[Skip426]

Originally Posted by rgvtexan

You should not have any problem finding fuel, paying for may be! It is quite a bit more in Canada, even with the favorable exchange rate.

Considering California pricing when I drove through in April , areas in Canada are better.

At $ 3.78 USD per US gallon = $1 US per liter ( most of California was higher at that time , particularly diesel ) and at today's exchange $1 USD = $1.33 Canadian; other than here in BC , a lot of Canada sells fuel at $1.33/ L or less. A buddy in Hinton AB was teasing me with their price $ 0.91.9 L

[rgvtexan]

Diesel is under $3 across most of the way. They are a long way from California.

Even in NE WA it can be found for ~$2.85

[Skip426]

Originally Posted by rgvtexan

Diesel is under $3 across most of the way. They are a long way from California.

Even in NE WA it can be found for ~$2.85

Last June in Spokane I paid $3.99.9 .
Much better this April , when I filled up at I-5 exit 231 on my way home; sounds like it came down some since then too.
Diesel and regular gas are usually within pennies a liter of each other in Canada, and most places diesel is the lower of the two.

But I digress ; back to Alan's proposed route .
Alan , if you're going through Ontario ; around Toronto take the 407 not the 401 ( Trans Canada route ) it puts you further away from the Big TO and out of the main traffic snarl for the most part , it is a toll road with camera enforcement , and I never got a bill for using it , and my B-in-L was back and forth 4 times ( also BC plates ) and was never billed.
Toronto traffic rivals LA.

[Soppy]

Originally Posted by Skip426

Considering California pricing when I drove through in April , areas in Canada are better.

At $ 3.78 USD per US gallon = $1 US per liter ( most of California was higher at that time , particularly diesel ) and at today's exchange $1 USD = $1.33 Canadian; other than here in BC , a lot of Canada sells fuel at $1.33/ L or less. A buddy in Hinton AB was teasing me with their price $ 0.91.9 L

Last week gas in Marathon Ontario was $ 1.47 CDN per liter . Lots of small towns along the way so getting fuel along the way should not be a problem.

[Unplanned Tourist]

Lots of places to fuel up along #1.
We crossed the prairies last year and loved it.
Stop in Moose Jaw and tour the tunnels. Al Capone's hideout during prohibition days.
Happy Glamping.

[grindstone01]

Originally Posted by Alan_Hepburn

So, we are starting to think about a trip for next year, and one of our options would be to take the Trans Canada Highway west to east at least to Montreal, where we would then turn south to get to the Baltimore area where our son and his family reside. My question is: how are gas stations spread out along the TCH? We can usually do about 400 miles on a tank, but prefer to fill up around 300 miles - are there any stretches along the route where we will be using up the fumes in the tank?

It sounds like you have been watching too many "Ice Trucker shows".
Getting fuel should not be a problem anywhere near main roads. It's true that fuel is more expensive and is sold by the liter. Just plan for a extra $500 (easy to calculate actual cost) in fuel cost and enjoy the adventure

[Alan_Hepburn]

Originally Posted by legrandnorm

...Coming from your place, I'd suggest to you, to go as far as Calgary, Alberta and then head to the States, for economy reasons and your roads are much better; another reason, there is nothing to see in the prairies until you hit Ontario Province.

We considered staying in the States, but there are things we'd like to see pretty much every stop on the TCH so we figured the extra gas cost was worth it to us. As for road conditions - if Canadian roads are worse than ours then they must really be BAD!

Originally Posted by Skip426

Alan , I notice that there are a few states around Lake Superior that are missing from your travel map ( Avatar) .

This year we're filling out all the states west of the Mississippi River. We're hoping to fill up our Canada map, and a bunch of states east of the Mississippi next year!

Originally Posted by Skip426

But I digress ; back to Alan's proposed route.
Alan, if you're going through Ontario ; around Toronto take the 407 not the 401 ( Trans Canada route ) it puts you further away from the Big TO and out of the main traffic snarl for the most part , it is a toll road with camera enforcement , and I never got a bill for using it , and my B-in-L was back and forth 4 times ( also BC plates ) and was never billed.
Toronto traffic rivals LA.

We were tentatively looking at staying north of Toronto - going through Sudbury and North Bay on to Ottawa. I always set the trip planner to avoid toll roads - I look at tolls as a "use tax" and as a consumer I have almost complete control over whether or not I pay the tax: if I use it I pay the tax; if I don't want to pay the tax I don't use it!

Originally Posted by grindstone01

It sounds like you have been watching too many "Ice Trucker shows".

Nope - just concerned that I might pass up a gas station and then find out that the next one is 400 miles away! Although I've been living in the US for over 55 years I was actually born and raised in Trail, BC but we've never been east of Calgary in Canada. Been all the way to the east coast in the US a few times so we felt it was time to see more of Canada!


Thanks, everyone, for your replies!

[Eaglesview]

Several years ago we made the trip from the Vancouver BC area through to Quebec City north of the 49th then southward along the eastern seaboard in September.

Highways in Canada fine. No problem with fuel.

East of Alberta open RV parks and quality of parks not great.

[twogypsies]

This site might help you:

https://www.transcanadahighway.com/G.../GasPrices.asp

Keep in mind that people live there, also, and they need fuel!!