Canada 2026 with 10 and 13 yo how long?

[FurForksSake]

We are considering a fly drive holiday to Canada next summer with our two sons. We are quite outdoorsy but don’t really want to camp. We are thinking west coast for two weeks flying in and out of different airports rather than looping.

is that long enough? Can anyone share any itineraries or success stories of this sort of trip?

With similar aged DC we flew into Calgary, hired a motorhome and headed into the Rockies. Three weeks later we flew home from Vancouver. Possibly the best trip we have ever done.

Sounds amazing! What time of year did you go? We will have to do late July to early August and I worry it will be terribly busy.

we are definitely considering motorhome on a similar route.

From Vancouver you can get the ferry up the coast to Gibsons then explore - really beautiful around there. The nature is gorgeous. Gibsons itself had loads of lovely restaurants

We had an amazing West Coast trip with DD’s. As per PP, we flew into Calgary and out of Vancouver. Ideal to do that, because distances are vast!- and doubling back to the airport might be time wasted.
Our rough itinerary was. Calgary/Icefields Parkway to Jasper/Wells Grey Provincial Park/Whistler/Vancouver Island (west coast)/Victoria/Vancouver

We had a hire car and stayed in motels but motorhome would be amazing. Watch out for booking any park campsites though, they open for booking on a specific date each year and get booked up pretty quick.

We were there in the summer and it was lovely, and warmer than I expected, I’d brought a few jumpers with me for the mountains and didn’t really need them!

Following. We are thinking of doing something similar next Easter.

@Radiatorvalves be careful with Easter as a lot of the routes will still be closed due to snow and ice in the Rockies. Unless you’d be going there to ski!

We might ski but that wouldn’t be the primary reason. I’m familiar with closed passes in the alps so would definitely check! Our son will be coming to the end of a year in eastern Canada hence the timing.

We went in July, it didn't feel too busy but we had booked all parks months in advance. We didn't get to see Lake Louise as couldn't park - apparently we should have pre booked a parking ticket! But we stopped at the next lake and it was spectacular and QUIET. Bliss.

We’ve done two weeks in and out of Calgary in 2023 and 2024. We hired an RV via CanaDream and visit the Rockies from Banff up to Jasper. Loved it and would go back every year. Boys were 8 & 13 first time.