Travelling can be so expensive, and Canada isn’t exactly the cheapest country to visit, but it doesn’t have to break the bank! I have spend several months over the last few years driving across, and around, Canada, checking out beautiful places, without spending too much money. So, let me share some of my best tips for to save money while road tripping in Canada with you! Whether you are planning a one week road trip, want to live based out of your car all summer long, or somewhere in between, you’ve come to the right place!
Accommodation for Cheap
Camping
One of the biggest expenses for any trip is accommodation, but it doesn’t have to be! Of course, the best way to save is being willing to rough it a bit. Sleeping in your car, or bringing a tent, can be a huge gamer changer in how long you will be able to afford to road trip for! Of course, even camping in campgrounds in some provinces (especially Ontario) can seem crazy expensive these days. Check out this guide on how to find cheap and free places to car camp in Canada. It will walk you through the different types of places to camp and how to find them with sites like iOverlander, Free Campsites, and province specific sites like for BC rec sites or Alberta public land use zones.
However, camping in these cheap/free spots doesn’t always allow for great access to showers and other amenities. But, again, there’s always ways around these things if you are really looking to save money on your Canada road trip. A lot of proper campgrounds, while expensive to stay at, will let you use their shower for a few dollars! Or you can always visit a public pool/gym, clean off in the lake (don’t forget your biodegradable soap), or look for gas stations with showers available. Check out iOverlander for shower spots too!
How to still save money on accommodation, without camping
If you aren’t willing to camp, or at least not every night, there are still ways you can save money. Here are a few ideas:
- Trying to plan nights in medium sized cities. Both big cities and small towns can be more expensive, medium sized places are the sweet spot!
- Consider hostels, singles rooms in Airbnbs, and other shared accommodation to keep costs down.
- Alternate nights between camping and staying in hotels, for a good balance between comfort and saving money.
- Keep checking back on sites like Booking.com, Agoda, Hostelworld, Hotels.com, Hopper, and Kayak. They will often have deals!
- Book in advance.
- See if you can get a deal if you stay in the same place for multiple nights. You often can, especially with things like Airbnb that charges cleaning fees once regardless of the length of your stay.
- See if there is a facebook page for rentals in the place you want to stay. Often these pages will have people renting out places for a week or two, too. They can also be a great place to post and ask if anyone has anything available.
- Do your research. This may seem obvious, but the more you look for places to stay in a certain destination the more likely you are to find a good deal.
Saving Money on Food
The best way to save money on food is to make it yourself. This could look like pre making a bunch of snacks, like sandwiches, trail mix, muffins, or veggies and dip, at home before hitting the road. For a longer road trip, you will need to make food on the way. If you aren’t camping, then looking for places with a kitchen can be a big game changer! And, if you are camping, then a camp stove will be your new best friend!
Cooking on a camp stove can be intimidating, but it’s really not too bad once you get used to it. Here are some tips:
- Stick to the basics, one pot meals are the best.
- Bring a bucket to wash dishes in, a couple cloths, and some biodegradable dish soap.
- Make sure you have extra propane. Nothing’s worse than running out mid meal!
- If you can find a picnic table to cook on it will make your life a lot easier, but if not don’t be afraid to just sit on the ground!
- Check out these tips on how to keep your camp kitchen organized by Jared Kent Outdoors.
All that said, you certainly aren’t going to want to cook all your meals all the time while on vacation! So here are some ways to save money on food on your Canada road trip without cooking.
- By ready to go snacks from grocery stores. Fresh fruit, granola bars, smoothies in a bottle, premade sandwiches, packages of muffins or croissants and trail mix all make great snacks to keep on hand. Especially for breakfasts!
- Read menus online before picking a restaurant so you can find a place with good prices.
- Always ask your server if there are any deals going on in the restaurant.
- Just get water to drink with your meal, it’s free!
Cheap and Free Things to do on a Canadian Road Trip
The great thing about a road trip in Canada is that there are so many beautiful places to see and things to do for free. At least, if you like getting out in nature. Whether you want a multi-day trek up a mountain or a peaceful stroll by a pond, there are so many hikes all over the country. Check out my 6 favourite hikes in British Columbia to get inspired. Beyond hiking, there are tons of beautiful places to stop, relax and enjoy the view. Or stop by a lake or river to go for a swim!
Tip: If you plan on visiting a few National Parks or National Historic Sites on your road trip, it might be worth it to get an annual discovery parks pass from Parks Canada. It gives admission to all national parks and historic sites in the country, in addition to parking.
Cities more your thing? Never underestimate just walking around a city. This is always the first thing I do in a new place. You are able to get a good feel for the city and are bound to stumble upon something interesting. You can wander into cute boutique stores and local art galleries.
Tip: A lot of museums have a free or cheap day each week. Check it out online first and then try to plan around that.
How to Save on Gas
Gas is one of the most inevitable expenses of a road trip, but there are a few ways to save a little money on gas in Canada:
- Check the prices of a few gas stations around on google maps before picking one.
- Drive a little ways away from a main highway before filling up, they are often several cents cheaper.
- If there is a nearby Reserve gas is often a lot cheaper there and worth a small detour.
- You can try to stick to one brand of gas stations as much as possible to collect points.
- If you really need gas but the nearby stations are all really expensive, just get a little and fill up at a cheaper station later.
- Know where the cheaper gas is in advance and plan accordingly. For example, gas is almost always much cheaper in Alberta than BC, so if you are heading west fill up right before the provincial border, and if you are heading east then hold out until you cross it.
Pin this for when you’re on a Canadian road trip!
