When to visit Canada?

What season to visit Canada depends on what you want to see and do during your vacation.
Each time of year has its highlights and each season has its own characteristics.

Many people travel Canada to see vast and rugged landscapes. They enjoy a touch of adventure, some more, some less. Most travellers find nature in Canada simply overwhelming....

On this page: 
What season to travel    
Climate facts
Road conditions in Canada

What season to travel in Canada

Each season has its charm. Let me give you a short summary.

Spring

• See bears eat dandelions on the roadside.
• Follow the northbound migration of whales.
  
• Enjoy the quiet season and early season prices. 

Canada is wonderful to visit in springtime!

Con's:

• chances of bad road conditions such as flooding due to in meltwater 
• tourism related businesses might still be closed
• destinations at high elevations might still be inaccessible due to snow

Summer

• Enjoy the best road conditions and weather in Canada. Summer is the best season for a road trip.
  
• Experience the outdoors: go camping, back packing, bike riding, golfing, fishing, or hiking in Canada.
  
• Summer can be hot! This is a great time to get out on the water or jump into a refreshing lake.
  
• Want to travel Canada low budget? Volunteer at an organic farm!
  

Con's of visiting Canada in Summertime:

• Summer can be really busy with tourists
• In the popular destinations, you have to make reservations for accommodation and campgrounds months in advance
• bugs...

Autumn

• View the great salmon run and watch bears trying to catch them.
  
• Follow the southbound migration of whales.
  
• Be amazed by the rich colour palette during Indian Summer.
  
• Enjoy a more quiet time of year and late season prices. 
• Chances to see the Northern lights (Aurora Borealis) from late September
• And after the first frost no Mosquito’s!
  
  

Con's:

• many tourism related businesses close their doors after Canadian Thanksgiving (first weekend of October)
• destinations at high elevations can be inaccessible due to early snowfall

Winter

• Play with the best powder in the world: experience dog sledding or a ski vacation.
  
• Canadian ski resorts are relatively quiet and spacious.
• Gaze at Northern lights.
  
  

Con's to visit Canada during Winter:

• road conditions can be tricky. More about driving in winter conditions

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General climate facts Canada

• Canada has 4 different seasons and 7 climate zones.
  
• The more north you travel, the colder it gets.
  
• The closer you are to the ocean, the more moderate the climate will be.
  
• The further away from the ocean, the more extreme temperatures you might experience -hot summers/cold winters.
  
• In general, the west side of a mountain chain receives more precipitation than the east side. 

Weather in Canada

The weather in Canada at the time of your visit will be of great importance to your Canadian vacation experience.

Check the climate in Canada page for more in depth information regarding historic average temperatures and precipitation by region and season.

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Road conditions Canada

When is the best time to enjoy a Canadian road trip?

If you are looking for generally decent road conditions in Canada, I would suggest travelling early May until the end of September.

Be aware that there’s always a risk of snow, avalanches, mudslides, washouts and flooding when travelling in Canada through mountainous areas.

However, also flat areas can be affected by heavy rainfall, combined with high snowmelt runoff (most common during springtime). These conditions will make water levels rise, possibly followed by flooding rivers. 

The best time to drive and visit Canada

Summertime will always be the best season to travel Canada.

Road conditions could be dangerous during wintertime. Make sure you use winter tires and carry chains in your vehicle from October 1 until April 30. When driving a rental vehicle, make sure to check the tires for the winter tire pictograph: a snowflake inside a mountain.

Check the road conditions Canada forecast.

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