East Coast Fly Drive Holidays

Choose your cities

Toronto

You can fly to Toronto direct from London Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow. The city is the perfect place to start a fly drive holiday. It's so easy to pick up your car hire at Toronto airport, or you can pick up from downtown too if you fancy a few car-free days in the city. Toronto is packed with things to do, from galleries and museums to street food and shopping. Make sure you take a trip up the iconic CN Tower.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is just a 90-minute drive from Toronto, so it couldn't be easier to fly into the city, pick up your car and drive over. There are plenty of attractions at the astonishing falls, like the Hornblower boat cruise up to the face of the falls, the Journey Behind the Falls experience and even a zip line over the river! There are plenty of hotels with stunning views. You could even explore further into the Niagara wine region.

Kingston

It's just over a two-hour drive from Toronto to Kingston, which enjoys an enviable position at the start of the St. Lawrence River. It's a vibrant hub in itself, but it's most famous for being the gateway to the spectacular 1000 Islands region. This beautiful and tranquil region consists of hundreds of islands and islets dotted all along the river. Some are big enough for impressive homes, while others only support a single tree! A river cruise here is a must.

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Choose your cities

Ottawa

Ottawa is a 4 1/2 hour drive from Toronto or just over a two-hour drive from Kingston. This is Canada's capital city, and you'd be right to expect something special here. It's packed full of history and culture and has an exceptional collection of museums. The Gothic-style Parliament Buildings dominate the skyline and a tour inside will teach you all about Canada's varied history. The Rideau Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which completely freezes over in winter.

Montréal

You can fly direct from London Gatwick and Glasgow to Montréal or get a connecting flight via Toronto. This French-influenced city in the province of Québec exudes charm and romance. Montréal is famed for its lively culture, winding cobbled streets and delicious food! Try Rue St. Denis for great little pubs and restaurants or the city's namesake hill, Mont-Royal, for incredible views. Make sure you sample local Montréal smoked meat (a little like pastrami) while you're there.

Québec City

You can fly to Québec City via Montréal or drive there in under three hours from Montréal. The city oozes old world charm, with Parisian-style cafes and spellbinding architecture. The iconic Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac overlooks the vibrant waterfront along the St. Lawrence River which is perfect for a stroll. The UNESCO World Heritage treasure of Old Québec is infinitely friendly and walkable, filled with interesting streets to explore. Make sure you get out to Montmorency Falls, 15 minutes away.

The best places to stay

Hotels for a tailor-made tour

Where you'll stay each night is one of the most important elements on your driving holiday. We've got hundreds of hotels to choose from with big names like Fairmont, Hilton and Sheraton right in the heart of the action. When you tailor-make with us, we'll make sure you enjoy the nights as much as the days! Whether it's downtown Toronto, Niagara Falls with a view, or a cabin in the Québec countryside, we'll find hotels that perfectly match your itinerary.

Hotels in your packaged itinerary

If you book a pre-packaged tour with hotels included, you can still upgrade your accommodation for an extra-special experience. Your fly drive holiday package will come with hotels carefully pre-selected in the perfect locations to match your itinerary. All hotels will be 3* as a minimum, but you can upgrade to 4* or 5* hotels where available if you're after a luxury experience. The Deluxe level of touring is the finest way to fly drive!

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Choose your car hire supplier

One of the most important elements of your fly drive holiday is your hire car. It's important to us that you enjoy the ride as much as the destinations! That's why we partner with only the best suppliers in Canada including Avis, Hertz, Dollar & Thrifty, all of which have new cars that are meticulously serviced and come with great customer support. Whether you're tailor-making your driving holiday or booking one of our pre-packaged fly drives, we'll help you find the car, mileage package and insurance that suits you best.

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Choose your vehicle

Small and medium-sized cars

If you want affordable car hire, then Compact, Intermediate or Full-Size cars might suit you well. Models like the Nissan Versa, Hyundai Elantra and Dodge Charger offer a comfortable ride for couples, a few friends or smaller family groups and are our most cost-effective options. Bear in mind, however, that Western Canada can involve some large driving distances.

SUVs and minivans

SUVs provide the most comfortable ride when you're driving long distances on mountain roads. They also offer an elevated view compared to smaller cars. It might sound like a small thing, but when you're driving past spectacular lakes and mountain peaks, the high seats can make all the difference! SUVs can seat from 5-7 adults comfortably, depending on the model, and have tons of boot space. Minivans seat 7 and are a more affordable way to transport large groups.

Add on tours and extras

Getting there is only half the fun. There is so much to see and do once you arrive at each destination. Our most popular East Coast tours are city sightseeing and whale watching. Joining a bus tour, walking tour or even a foodie tour is a great way to learn what the locals love. Québec and Atlantic Canada are some of the best places in the world for whale watching, so definitely add a whale watching excursion onto your holiday.

Driving in Canada

Driving conditions

Canadian roads are wide and quiet, which makes driving on them a dream. However, make sure you take extra care if travelling in winter when roads can be icy or snowy. Also, keep an eye out for wildlife when you're driving through provincial and national parks. Although it's an amazing experience to see a moose trundle along the road in front of you, you wouldn't want to hit one! Be mindful of cars behind you if you stop for photos too.

Rules of the road

Make sure you don't speed while you're in Canada. Not only will you miss the sights, you'll also be liable for any fines you pick up. Speed limits vary by province so check before you go, but often motorways have a 100km/h limit while towns have a 50km/h limit. Make sure you also keep an eye on fuel stops too. Although East Canada is usually better serviced than the West, you should still take care if you're driving through rural areas.

Ferries in Atlantic Canada

If you're driving the stunning Atlantic Canada provinces, you'll find that ferries are an essential and enjoyable way to get around. Bay Ferries operate across the Bay of Fundy linking Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick at ports like Saint John and Digby. Marine Atlantic is the service you'll need to cross the Cabot Strait between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. Crossings come included in our packages and we can also help you if you tailor-make.

Speak with our experts

Ready to embark on an epic road trip in Eastern Canada? Whether you're ready to book or would just like some more advice on where to go and how to do it, our friendly Canada Travel Experts are on hand to help. Just tell us about your dream journey and we can match you up with the perfect carefully-prepared package or we can tailor-make a unique trip from scratch. Our driving holidays include return flights, all your hotels and your car hire.

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