Plan your driving route. Use a map or a website to plot your course. If you are a AAA member, AAA will provide a route, maps and travel planners. If you are not a AAA member, you can still use the website for finding routes. Some websites give detailed point-to-point directions; some ask a few questions and then give you directions and highlights, but no map.
Prepare for the weather and road. While Canada is known for being at the cold end of North America, you should find out the usual temperatures for the regions you will be driving through, whether snow is likely and how much. Make sure your car has appropriate tires and a functioning heater if your road trip will take place during a Canadian winter. Stock an emergency kit with a blanket, flashlight with batteries, bottled water, and extra hats and gloves (if traveling in winter).
Make overnight reservations. Find descriptions, reviews and phone numbers for hotels and campgrounds in a Canadian guide from a bookstore or library, travel website, or the Canadian tourist board. If you like spontaneity and don't want to reserve a room in advance, be sure to bring a guidebook or potential hotel numbers and addresses where you might stay.
Read about sightseeing and other activities. Consult travel websites and guidebooks so you don't miss out on highlights in the part of Canada you're driving through, like the Lacombe Corn Maze or the Vulcan starship in the town of Vulcan.
Learn the rules of the road. A U.S. driver's license can be used for your road trip through Canada, but many other road rules may be different and vary province to province. For example, flashing stoplights mean different things in different provinces. At the Canadian tourism website, you can find rules such as when to wear a seat belt (always) and at what age children must be in a car seat or booster seat (under 5).
Be prepared with Canadian money. Though many vendors will take U.S. money, you'll likely get a better exchange rate in the stores if you change some money at a bank when you enter the country. Canadian money is also called dollars and they have coins for 1$ and 2$ denominations, commonly called the "loonie" and the "toonie."
