The largest motorhomes, typically 30–45 feet, built on a bus or commercial truck chassis. Maximum living space and amenities — full kitchen, large slides, residential appliances. Best for long-term living or luxury travel. The primary limitation in Canada: some provincial park loops and ferry lanes have length limits. Budget for heavy fuel use: 25–40 L/100km (6–10 mpg).
Built on a van or truck cab cutaway chassis, 20–35 feet. The most popular motorhome choice for Canadian travel — good balance of space, maneuverability, and fuel efficiency. Most fit in standard campsite loops and ferry lanes. Over-cab sleeping area is a distinctive feature.
Built within a standard van body — often a Mercedes Sprinter or Ford Transit. The most maneuverable option, capable of parking in city lots and navigating remote forest service roads. Limited interior space. Excellent for couple travel, national park access, and wilderness exploration where size is a constraint.
Towed by a pickup or SUV, ranging from 12 to 40+ feet. Highly popular in Canada — you unhitch at the campsite and use your tow vehicle for day trips. No length limit on your living space relative to what you can drive daily. Requires a vehicle with sufficient tow capacity and trailer brake requirements vary by province.
Towed by a pickup truck via a fifth-wheel hitch in the truck bed. Larger and more stable than a conventional travel trailer — typically 28–45 feet. Popular for extended Canadian road trips. Requires a full-size pickup with appropriate tow ratings.
A camper unit that loads into the bed of a pickup truck. Popular for Yukon and northern Canada travel where road quality and site access vary. Limited interior space but maximum capability for remote destinations. No towing required.
Canadian campgrounds offer electrical hookups in three configurations:
Canada uses 120V/240V at 60Hz — identical to the United States. No adapters required for US rigs camping in Canada. Adapters between 15/30/50 amp are common — carry a 30-to-15 "dog bone" adapter and a 50-to-30 adapter for flexibility.
Sewer hookups use a standard 3" bayonet connection throughout North America. Connect with a quality 3" sewer hose (minimum 10 feet recommended), a donut seal at the sewer inlet, and a support cradle to maintain proper drainage slope. Important: never leave the black tank valve open at full hookup sites — always keep it closed and dump when the tank is 2/3 to 3/4 full.
When camping without sewer hookups, use a designated dump station to empty black and grey tanks. Dump stations are available at most provincial parks, national parks, and many service stations across Canada. Provincial park entrance areas often have dump stations accessible to day visitors for a small fee. Apps like iOverlander, Campendium, and the provincial park booking systems include dump station locations.
Turn off the water pump and water heater. Open all faucets (hot and cold) to allow water to drain. Open the low-point drain valves on the fresh water lines (typically labelled and located under the RV). Drain the fresh water holding tank completely using the tank drain valve.
Allow the water heater to cool completely before draining — never drain a hot water heater. Remove the anode rod (if present) and allow the tank to fully drain. Leave the anode rod out during storage. Reinstall a fresh anode rod when de-winterizing in spring.
Connect a blow-out plug (RV shops) to the city water inlet and use an air compressor set to 30 PSI maximum. Open each faucet, shower, toilet, and outdoor shower one at a time to blow out remaining water. Do hot and cold lines for each fixture.
Use pink, non-toxic, propylene glycol RV antifreeze — NOT automotive antifreeze (which is toxic). Bypass the water heater using the winterization bypass valve (most RVs have this). Use a hand pump kit or install the antifreeze directly to the water pump inlet. Pump antifreeze through every faucet, toilet, outdoor shower, and ice maker line until pink comes out.
Dump and flush both black and grey tanks completely. Add a small amount of RV antifreeze (about 500ml) to each tank to protect seals and prevent any remaining moisture from freezing. Leave tank valves in the closed position for storage.
The house battery is charged by: shore power via your converter/charger, your vehicle's alternator while driving, or solar panels. In Canada, where many provincial parks offer electrical-only sites, having adequate battery capacity for the times between hookup nights is important.
A level RV is important for: refrigerator function (absorption fridges require level operation within a few degrees), comfort, slide-out performance, and proper grey/black tank drainage. Level side-to-side first using leveling blocks under the tires, then fore-aft using the tongue jack or rear stabilizers.
Propane system safety: have your regulator, hoses, and connections inspected annually. Carry a propane leak detector. Know where the main shutoff valve is. RVs sold in Canada carry CSA Z240 certification; US-built rigs use RVIA/NFPA 1192.
Ferry to Newfoundland, explore Gros Morne and the Avalon, ferry back to NS, loop through Cape Breton, New Brunswick, and PEI. End in Halifax or Moncton. Book Marine Atlantic early — peak-summer RV spaces and cabins fill months ahead.
Algonquin, Muskoka, Ottawa, Québec City, Charlevoix, and the Laurentians. Ontario Parks reservations open 5 months ahead; popular parks sell out on opening day.
From Winnipeg through Regina, Saskatoon, and Calgary into Banff and Jasper. Banff campgrounds sell out fast on launch day — book the day reservations open.
Revelstoke, Kelowna wine country, the Sea-to-Sky Highway, Vancouver Island (requires BC Ferries), and the Sunshine Coast.
The Getaway Pass: 30 nights a season at partner campgrounds, booked up to 60 days ahead.
Northern Stay's private campground network spans every province and the Yukon.
The Lifestyle Membership covers up to 6 months of camping a year, with no renewal. Run your nights through the cost calculator.