Canadians plan to spend an average of 18 hours behind the wheel this summer as road trips dominate the season, according to car rental marketplace Turo, whose Summer Road Trip ’26 report further reveals that that 70% of Canadian road trippers have two or more trips planned.
According to the report, more than half (55%) of all Canadian summer travel between June and September is by road with many budgeting thousands to make it happen, not least Gen Z, which is outspending and out-travelling every other generation.
Among Canadians choosing road trips this summer:
- Nearly half (48%) of travellers say they’re choosing to drive because it’s more cost-effective than flying.
- Seven in 10 Canadian road trippers have at least two trips planned this summer.
- Nearly half (47%) will travel in an SUV, while 15% plan to drive a hybrid or electric vehicle.
- The most popular road trip destinations include Banff, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Prince Edward Island and Jasper.
- 62% of Canadians will be road tripping with their partner or spouse, while 28% will road trip with their children.
Other notable national findings from the study include:
Gen Z is road tripping differently than their parents this summer. While Canadians across all age groups are embracing road trips, Gen Z is leading this trend with the number of road trips they’re taking and how much they plan to spend.
- 18% have four or more road trips planned this summer, and more than one in four (28%) expects to spend over $5,000 on summer travel, the highest of any generation.
- 16% of Gen Z road trippers plan to visit a luxury destination this summer, the highest of any generation.
- 21% of Gen Z road trippers will drive a hybrid or electric vehicle, compared to the national average of 15%.
- 60% plan to travel internationally this summer, compared with just 27% of Baby Boomers, suggesting Gen Z is road tripping in addition to their travel plan, not instead of them.
Albertans are budgeting big for road trips
Canadians’ budgets differ significantly by province, reflecting differences in geography, travel habits and trip distances.
- One in four (25%) Albertans expects to spend more than $5,000 on road trips this summer.
- One in six (16%) Ontarians expects to spend more than $5,000 on road trips this summer.
- More than one in four (28%) Ontario road trippers plan to spend less than $1,000 by taking shorter trips closer to home.
Friends, family and events are driving Canadians’ summer travel plans
Summer travel is being driven less by where Canadians are going and more by the experiences they want to have with the people who matter most.
- Nearly half (47%) of road trippers are travelling to visit friends and family.
- One in three Canadians plans to attend a major event or festival this summer.
- 66% plan to travel within Canada this summer.
- 72% will take at least one trip within their own province, while 53% will visit another province.
“We expected road trips to play a big role in Canadians’ summer travel plans this year, but what surprised us was the sheer scale,” said Bassem El-Rahimy, VP of Turo Canada.
He added, “Canadians aren’t just taking one road trip. They’re planning multiple getaways, spending hours behind the wheel and, in many cases, budgeting thousands to do it. That tells us this isn’t necessarily about finding a cheaper way to travel. It’s about choosing a better one.”
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