1

Are you driving...what ? What is your all in budget for non air travel ??... And Eddie, I suggest you change your personal information to be given much credence ...carracar

2

Hi carracar yes will be driving, 4 driving upto Winnipeg then 2 of us from there to Toronto, hopefully budget for trip shouldn't be a big problem as been saving for a year already.

3

I sorta had a number in mind ... Not unsupported assurances of solvency ... carracar

4

well there are two sides of the coin here.
Do you want to more relaxed scenic route? or the more adventurous and urban route? I have done both, and I personally prefer the Trans Canada as freeway driving in Minneapolis and Chicago can be a nightmare. They're both about the same length of time, but one would assume if you took the USA route you would want to spend time in Minneapolis and Chicago etc (and i would recommend you do!)

When would be the next opportunity to drive through one of the worlds largest forests driving through Manitoba and Ontario has spectacular imagery.

5

What are your interests? History? Art? Music? Food? Hikes? Boats? Night clubs? Strip clubs? Remember, we don't know you and what we like may be what you hate.
At the very least, do you want a more urban or rural experience?

6

Might be a toss up between seeing wild life or cheaper fuel costs.
Many think the trip is summed up by this iconic Cdn song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL3HcS9cHFs.
(I've never found Minneapolis to be a challenge to drive through - it's pretty straight forward if you're heading W-E, Chicago - another story all together.

7

Trouble is that Canad has a lot of vast, unoccupied spaces. I cannot count the number of times i have driven Vancouver/Toronto, via Winnipeg (family there) So here are my suggestions, for what they are worth: After Banff/Calgary, head south, and do the American route. Otherwise you will see unending miles of flat land disappearing into the horizon. Sure it will be pretty flat down there as well, but a good chance to have a look at rural, small town America, since there are a fair amount of them, reasonably close together... unlike the Canadian prairies. And there are several major really important and great natural sights to visit on the American route.

Head up to Winnipeg from North Dakota, and think about all the underground nuclear missile sites that are buried there as you drive to Winnipeg... or if time is short, put your friends on a bus to Wpg. from Fargo or Grand Forks and THEY can think about the missiles, and continue the American route. (I had todrive that route for nearly two years, once a week, doing it there and back in one day, with not much to think about.... missiles were on my mind a lot, especially since some U.S. war in the M.E. was just breaking out)

Leaving Winnipeg, and crossing into Ontario after you leave the Lake of the Woods area, I think is the worst... well about as bad as the Canadian prairies. There is about two days of driving through trees, with few towns or cities in between until you get to about Sioux St. Marie. At that point it's your call. You can continue through Canada, or cross the bridge, and drive through the USA. Although i have done the American route, it was a long, long time ago, so I can't really comment. There will definitely be more towns and cities, and that's as much as i can say. Lots of cows though.

8

oops.. forgot to say... Brits tend to underestimate the vast distances that have to be covered in N.America.

9

i just didnt want to drive for 2 days with nothing but the prairies to look at,thought it might be better to go south from winnipeg and take in Minneapolis and Chicago, before ending up in Toronto.
As a Brit im quite aware of the vast distances that have to be travelled to get anywhere in N.America .......we are not as naive as you think we are !!

10

Yes, there is not much to look at in the middle...BORING! I remember doing those trips with my family in the family car when we were kids and it was horribly boring........
....definitely go south and see some of the bigger metropolitan cities in the US before ending up in Toronto. What time of the fall are you going to head to Toronto? Reason I ask is that you should probably spend some time doing touristy things like Niagara Falls, but maybe you should head up to Muskoka Lakes to enjoy the fall colours and cottage country (beautiful lakes....if you're into that kind of stuff).

11

Any particular reason you have to drive to Toronto? I would recommend spending two weeks in Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Okanagan Valley, Kootenay/Columbia Mountains areas, and the Rockies. I would then fly to Toronto and split a week between Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City. (The last week of October is likely too late for the fall colours.) Crossing the relatively boring prairies takes away crucial time that can be spent spectacular BC or exciting Montreal.