Have you ever wanted to roadtrip the US and Canada but didn’t know what route to take?

In mid-October of 2019, I did a road trip with my family which went to Boston, Québec City, Montréal and Niagara Falls. In 10 days, we travelled for over 18 hours and drove over 2,000 km (1250 mi).

Here’s my story of that trip as well as my advice and tips if you ever decide to do this roadtrip as well! (which you totally should)

Boston to Québec City

Drive time: About 7 hours

States crossed: 4 (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Québec)

Distance: 643 km (400 mi)

We left in the early morning right after picking up our rental car at Boston Logan airport. The drive was going to be long but with all the snacks and cushions, I felt pretty ready. At around 10 am we set off on the road, excited for our adventure to begin.

Check out my Ultimate Guide to Boston here!

We first drove from Massachusetts to New Hampshire. Luckily, we were doing this in September and all the leaves were an orange and red shade. For hours, I would just look out of the window and admire the landscapes full of trees and hills.

Must Stop-Offs:

Littleton, New Hampshire

After about three hours of driving, we decided to stop off at Littleton in New Hampshire. A lovely little town that happens to be the home of the World’s Longest Candy Counter! The shop is called Chutters and located on the main street. Click here for more info!

We walked around getting the feel of this small and typical North American town with its vibrant atmosphere. We also decided to stop for lunch at a local pizza restaurant to get a good old pepperoni pizza.

We then set off to continue our way to Québec City. However, right before arriving at the border, we stopped off at The Derby Line.

The Derby Line in Vermont

Have you wanted to be in two countries at the same time? Well, this is the place to go! You can have one foot in Canada and one in the USA. Pretty cool and definitely a once in a lifetime experience! There is even a library located on the borderline that you can visit.

We then drove across the official border to Canada and there we were, for the first time in Canada!

As we entered Québec City, it was starting to get really dark. All the streets seemed the same and finding our AirBnB took ages but luckily after minutes of driving in the wrong direction we managed to find it thanks to Google Maps.

Québec City to Montréal

Drive time: About 3 hours

States crossed: 1 (Québec)

Distance: 255 km (158 mi)

This was the shortest drive out of all of them. You want to make sure that you avoid rush hour since entering Montréal can be complicated with all the traffic.

Attractions to See

These places are located outside of Québec City but you should totally do the detour if you have enough time!

Chutes de Montmorency

These waterfalls are apparently smaller but higher than Niagara Falls! Totally worth the stop. It’ll only take about 1h30 maximum to drive there from Québec City and to visit. The entrance fee is 12,50$ but it gives you access to the waterfall view from the top and bottom!

St Anne de Beaupré

This beautiful church is one of the five national shrines of Canada and is the place of many miracles. Head here after visiting the Chutes de Montmorency as it is only a 20-minute ride away.

Check out my article about 10 Things to Do In Québec City

Montréal to Niagara Falls

Drive time: About 7 and a half hours

States crossed: 2 (Québec and Ontario)

Distance: 670 km (416 mi)

The longest drive of them all. I probably slept for most of this drive since we left quite early in the morning. I was super excited to see the Niagara Falls so, as soon as we arrived at our hotel, we head down to the falls to see them colourfully lit up at night.

The Canadian must: Tim Hortons

A must whilst in Canada. Definitely take a break at one whilst on the road to get some snacks and coffee. There are always some on every highway to stop off.

Toronto

Driving past Toronto can be a pain especially when it’s rush hour time. We were stuck in traffic for at least 30 minutes but luckily we were able to catch a glimpse of the outline of Toronto’s skyline in the distance.

If you want to and have enough time you can even spend a couple of nights in Toronto!

Your Best Friends On This Roadtrip

Google Maps

We would have gotten lost so many times if it wasn’t for Google Maps. Make sure to download the map of the area if you don’t have an internet connection!

Snacks

Stock up on a bunch of snacks before heading on the road. You can always stop if needed but it’s always better to have everything readily available.

Entertainment

A book, games on your phone, sleep or just looking out of the window. Make sure to find enough things to do in the car. Sitting in the same place for multiple hours is hard but doable if you have good entertainment.

Planning

Should you leave in the early hours in the morning or at night to avoid traffic? How long should I spend in each city? What are the best and fastest routes to take? These questions are essential when it comes to planning an enjoyable road trip!

I hope this blog post makes you want to do the same roadtrip! Share this post with your friends below!