Canadians travel domestically in 2025

Canada is a top destination for backyard adventures. We have diverse and breathtaking landscapes, from the rugged coasts of Newfoundland to impressive peaks in the Rockies.

Travel patterns are shifting increasingly toward domestic tourism as more Canadians opt to enjoy our natural assets and vibrant cities while supporting local businesses and travel industries.

Tourism and lodging companies are seeing major gains in the domestic tourism sector. The Adventure Canada tour company reports that 71% of its 2025 guests are expected to be Canadian, with a predicted uptick to 78% in 2026. Searches for domestic Airbnb stays are up nearly 20% this year compared to 2024.

Canadians also value the convenience and cost savings of travelling within the country, due to recent economic factors, and prioritize supporting local economies. Join the domestic travel trend by planning a road trip, exploring some of Canada’s iconic national parks, or going off the beaten path to explore the remote frontier. Here are some trip recommendations and tips to get you started.

Canada’s vast wildernesses are home to world-class national parks. Enjoy nature in some of Canada’s most well-known national parks.

Banff, Canada’s first national park, is the crown jewel of the national parks system. Offering 6,641 square kilometres of Rocky Mountain majesty in Alberta, Banff is internationally renowned and part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Go boating in the strikingly blue glacial waters of Lake Louise. Take in the sight of breathtaking wildflowers while strolling through Sunshine Meadows. Ride Standish Chair Lift for bird’s eye, panoramic views of three alpine lakes and boundless mountain peaks.

Jasper, the world’s largest dark sky preserve and the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, is also a UNESCO-protected park located in Alberta. Set up in Kerkeslin Campground, along the Athabasca River, for a quiet spot that will give you ample shade from tall spruce and pine during the day and an incredible view of the night sky.

Visit the planetarium then peer through the most powerful telescope in the Rockies during an expert-guided astronomical tour. Hop on your mountain bike to tackle steep and winding climbs in one of the best mountain bike trail systems in the world.

Other parks that are part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site include Yoho, and Kootenay national parks, and Mount Robson, Mount Assiniboine, and Hamber provincial parks.

Gros Morne is a UNESCO-protected national park that is not part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks system. Located on the west coast of Newfoundland, Gros Morne has a unique geological history. Here, you can observe how these otherworldly landscapes have been shaped by the process of continental drift, which exposed deep ocean crust and the rocks of the earth’s mantle hundreds of millions of years ago.

“ More recent glacial action has resulted in some spectacular scenery, with coastal lowland, alpine plateau, fjords, glacial valleys, sheer cliffs, waterfalls and many pristine lakes,” writes UNESCO. Hiking the park’s extensive trail system is the best way to explore these landscapes.

Lace up your boots and head for a rocky, mars-like landscape called The Tablelands, where geologist observations helped prove the theory of plate tectonics. If you want to get your heart pumping, scale the mountain overlooking the vast Western Brook Pond Fjord, part of the Long Range Mountains, for an incredible view. Reward yourself with a rest on the beach of Shallow Bay.

Fundy, located in New Brunswick, has a rich cultural heritage as part of the unceded territory of the Mi’gmaq people. Along the Bay of Fundy, the park also boasts the world’s highest tides, which mold a shifting landscape that looks completely different within hours.

“ You’ve walked the seafloor at low tide and admired the craggy sea cliffs, riddled with caves and crawling with crustaceans,” writes the Government of Canada. “Now paddle around the tops of those same cliffs at high tide in an ocean kayak.”

Take a guided kayak tour of the bay or explore on your own. Bennett Lake and Wolfe Lake are also prime kayaking and sunbathing spots. Hike the park’s extensive trail network to explore Acadian forests, inland pools, waterfalls and mossy river valleys.

Road trips are a great way to bring the family together and enjoy summer before the kids are back in school. Check out some of these classic road trips in Canada. Choose your adventure with routes ranging from several hours to days.

Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia - Easily one of the best coastal routes in Canada, the Cabot Trail shows off the nation’s coastal beauty and dense forests. The route runs along the edge of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. You can easily extend your trip by a few days by exploring the park.

During your road trip, stop at Pleasant Bay for prime whale watching. Take a break from driving to hike the Skyline Trail or visit the Alexander Graham Bell Historic Site museum in Baddeck, where Bell formally resided. The circular 298km route starts and ends in St. Ann’s Bay.

Icefields Parkway, Alberta - A major perk of this 230km drive is that it links both Banff and Jasper national parks. Before embarking on your drive, take a dip in the blue waters of Lake Louise or stay a night or two in the luxurious Fairmount Chateau Lake Louise Hotel.

Experience nature on a grand scale as you head toward Jasper. The route highlights gargantuan waterfalls, trees and mountains. Make time to stop at the many short hikes and viewpoints including Peyto Lake, Jasper’s “hanging” Skywalk, and Athabasca Glacier.

Sea to Sky Highway, British Columbia - This one is for lovers of both sea and mountain views. Spanning 121km between Vancouver and Whistler, the route takes you past a “collage of peaks, forests and fjords,” writes Lonely Planet. Highlights are views of Howe Sound and being surrounded by the Coast Mountains.

Be sure to budget time to stop at Horseshoe Bay to catch the ferry to tackle the hike up to Eagles Bluff for views of Vancouver that are well worth the effort. Stop in Brittania Beach, to learn about mining history in this former company town. The closed mining facility is now a museum and national historic site.

Gaspésie Tour, Québec - Experience French-Canadian culture on this circular 822km tour of the mountainous Gaspésie Peninsula. Starting and ending in Sainte Flavie, the route will take you near Pointe-à-la-Croix and the Battle of the Restigouche National Historic Site, where a 1760 naval battle between the French and British led to the end of France’s colonial aims in Canada.

Wynyard, Saskatchewan is a charmingly quaint town that is an ideal destination for lovers of nature and solitude. Wynyard’s location as a major intersection for bird’s migratory paths makes the town great for birdwatchers. Visit the Quill Lakes International Bird Area. Go camping or play a round of golf at Wynward’s well-landscaped golf course.

Star Trek fans must make the trek to Vulcan, Alberta. In honor of its unique name, Vulcan is home to a Star Trek-themed museum, spaceship landmarker and the annual VulCON convention. Lovers of hiking will enjoy the otherworldly landscapes surrounding Vulcan including formations such as hoodoos, coulees, and buttes.

Yellow Knife, capital of the Northwest Territories is a gateway city to more wild and remote adventures in the Northwest Territories. However, the city itself is well worth an extended visit. Learn about the region’s First Nations history by taking a tour from local, indigenous tour guides, which supports local cultures and economies.

A particularly detailed tour is the Dene and Our Land: Dene Cultural Experience, a four-hour tour of Yellow knife and the nearby First Nation communities of N’Dilo and Dettah. Enjoy traditionally cooked meals. Hear stories passed through generations and take part in drumming and traditional games.

Learn about all things maple syrup at Sucreri de La Montage, Quebec. At this unique sugar shack, guests can experience traditional maple syrup production through demonstrations, explore the surrounding woods and sample maple taffy.