5 Road Trip Ideas for Your Summer Break

There’s no better way to spend your summer break than with a road trip. You can make this kind of trip fit any budget, fill it with the types of activities you enjoy the most, and — best of all — bring along your closest friends. Canada is made for road trips due to the multiple routes that are perfect for several days (or more) of driving. Consider one of the following options for an unforgettable experience.

1. Georgian Bay Coastal Route

If you want plenty of beaches in your road trip, the Georgian Bay Coastal Route is a great choice. It covers more than 2,000 kilometres of shoreline, taking you to some of the most popular sites of natural beauty in Ontario, including Bruce Peninsula, Killarney Provincial Park, Manitoulin Island, and Wasaga Beach. If you want a longer trip, take the Chatham–Kent Corridor from Toronto to Amherstburg. It’s best to arrange a trip for either the beginning or the end of the summer, as there are many tourists during July and August.

2. The Viking Trail

If you want a road trip packed with great food, music, and history as well as outdoor adventures, head to Newfoundland. There are many possible options, but the top choice has to be the Viking Trail. It begins at Gros Morne National Park, where you may be able to spot wildlife like caribou and moose. You can go hiking through forests, up mountains, and even along the Earth’s mantle — it’s the only place in the world where this is possible. From the national park, the Viking Trail will take you to Saint Anthony at the northernmost tip of Newfoundland. This has to be a summer trip because the 1,000-year-old Viking settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows is closed during much of the rest of the year.

3. Prince Edward Island

If you choose Prince Edward Island as your destination for a road trip, you’ll be spoilt for choice of where you can go. One option is the North Cape Coastal Drive, where you’ll have the chance to learn more about the Mi’kmaq culture. A second option is the Central Coastal Drive, which has stunning views of red cliffs, white sands, and rolling farmland. Finally, there’s the Point East Coastal Drive — ideal for its beaches, seafood, and walking trails.

4. Lake Superior Circle Tour

If you want to leave the country during your road trip, consider the Lake Superior Circle Tour. It’s also possible to take this tour and remain just in Canada by doing a half circle around the lake. Either way, it’s the perfect choice for anyone who enjoys scuba diving and hiking.

5. Trans-Canada Highway

For the ultimate road trip, take the Trans-Canada Highway. You’ll travel from Victoria to St. John’s, visiting all 10 provinces on the way. Technically, you can do this route in as little as seven days if you only stop to sleep, but it’s definitely worth extending your trip to at least a month. This will give you time to visit places like Banff National Park, Alberta Badlands, and Fundy National Park and spend time in many of the cities you pass through, which include Vancouver, Ottawa, and Montreal. If you want to make the trip longer still, add a few more weeks to visit the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

In addition to traveling, make sure you dedicate some of your summer break to searching for better housing for when you return to university. You can find an alternative to OTU residence at Foundry 1805. You’ll have a private or semi-private bedroom in a fully-furnished suite just steps from campus. Request to share with friends or ask us to match you with roommates. Apply now to secure a lease for when you return from your road trip.