Canada operates the world's second-longest national highway system at 1.042 million kilometres of roadway, overseen by federal, provincial, and municipal authorities. The Trans-Canada Highway extends 7,821 kilometres from Victoria, British Columbia to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, making it the longest national highway in the world. Provincial highways connect major population centers, with Highway 401 through Toronto carrying 500,000 vehicles daily, making it North America's busiest highway. Winter driving conditions require specific preparation between November and March across most provinces, with studded tires mandatory in Quebec from December 1 to March 15 and recommended elsewhere. Vehicle rental requires a valid driver's license held for at least one year, with most companies setting minimum age at 21 and charging surcharges for drivers under 25. Insurance coverage through rental companies typically costs 30 to 50 Canadian dollars per day beyond the base rental rate.
VIA Rail operates Canada's national passenger rail service on 12,500 kilometres of track, carrying 4.7 million passengers annually. The Canadian train runs 4,466 kilometres from Toronto to Vancouver over four days, departing three times weekly in each direction. Economy class seats recline partially while Sleeper Plus class provides private cabins with beds, meals included. The Ocean route connects Montreal to Halifax over 1,346 kilometres, operating three times weekly. The Corridor service between Quebec City and Windsor through Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto accounts for 96 percent of VIA Rail's passenger volume, with trains departing hourly during peak periods. Advance booking typically costs 40 to 60 percent less than same-day fares. Rocky Mountaineer operates luxury tourist trains through British Columbia and Alberta independently of VIA Rail, with glass-dome cars and overnight hotel stops, operating only during daylight hours from April through October.
Scheduled domestic air service reaches 175 airports through Air Canada, WestJet, and regional carriers. Porter Airlines operates from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport with turboprop aircraft serving eastern Canadian cities and limited United States destinations. Air Canada carries 51 million passengers annually across its domestic and international network. Toronto Pearson International Airport processes 50.5 million passengers per year, making it the largest airport in Canada. Vancouver International Airport serves 26.4 million annual passengers while Montreal-Trudeau handles 20.3 million. Regional carriers including Air North, Canadian North, and First Air provide essential service to northern communities beyond road networks. Competition on high-volume routes between Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary has reduced base fares to 150 to 300 Canadian dollars roundtrip when booked weeks in advance, though same-day fares frequently exceed 800 dollars. Baggage fees apply on most domestic flights, with first checked bag costing 30 dollars on major carriers.
Intercity bus service connects most population centers through private operators following the 2018 closure of Greyhound Canada's western and northern routes. FlixBus entered the Canadian market in 2022, operating routes in Ontario and Quebec with connections to major cities. Megabus operates in Ontario and eastern provinces with fares starting at 1 dollar plus booking fees for advance purchases. Regional operators including Maritime Bus in Atlantic provinces, Saskatchewan Transportation Company successors in Saskatchewan, and BC Bus North in British Columbia maintain provincial networks. Travel time between major cities typically doubles or triples highway driving time due to intermediate stops. The Toronto to Montreal bus route covers 541 kilometres in 5.5 to 7 hours depending on stops, with fares ranging from 30 to 80 dollars. Winter weather cancellations occur regularly on northern and prairie routes between December and March.
Urban transit systems operate in all provincial capitals and major cities, with service levels varying substantially by metropolitan population. Toronto Transit Commission runs the largest system with 1.8 million daily riders on three subway lines, eleven streetcar routes, and 140 bus routes. Metro fare costs 3.25 Canadian dollars for adults, paid through Presto card electronic payment system. Montreal's Société de transport de Montréal operates four Metro lines totaling 71 kilometres with 68 stations, plus 220 bus routes serving 1.4 million daily passengers. Single fare costs 3.75 dollars while weekly passes cost 29.75 dollars. Vancouver's TransLink system integrates SkyTrain automated rapid transit, bus service, SeaBus ferries, and West Coast Express commuter rail under zone-based pricing, with single-zone trips costing 3.15 dollars. Calgary and Edmonton operate light rail systems alongside bus networks, with fares at 3.60 and 3.50 dollars respectively. Ottawa opened its Confederation Line light rail system in 2019, connecting eastern and western suburbs through the downtown core.
Taxi and ride-hailing services operate in all major cities with varying regulations by municipality. Uber and Lyft both operate in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa, though Quebec regulations require ride-hailing drivers to complete 35-hour training programs and maintain commercial licenses. Vancouver requires transportation network company drivers to hold Class 4 commercial licenses. Traditional taxi services remain regulated by municipal authorities with metered fares. Toronto taxi rates start at 4.25 dollars with 1.75 dollars per kilometre, while Vancouver starts at 3.85 dollars with time-based charges. Ride-hailing costs fluctuate with demand-based surge pricing during peak hours and special events. Airport taxis operate from designated stands with flat-rate options to downtown cores in major cities, typically costing 50 to 70 dollars from Toronto Pearson, 30 to 45 dollars from Vancouver International, and 40 to 60 dollars from Montreal-Trudeau.
Ferry services provide essential transportation on coastal routes and between islands. BC Ferries operates 47 vessels on 25 routes along the British Columbia coast and to Vancouver Island, carrying 22 million passengers and 8 million vehicles annually. The Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay route between mainland and Vancouver Island takes 95 minutes, with sailings every hour during peak season. Vehicle fares range from 58.50 to 97.50 dollars depending on vehicle size and season, while foot passengers pay 18.50 dollars. Marine Atlantic operates ferries between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, with the North Sydney to Port aux Basques crossing taking 6 to 8 hours and the North Sydney to Argentia route requiring 14 hours. Vehicle rates on Marine Atlantic range from 146 to 243 dollars plus passenger fares of 44 to 55 dollars depending on season and cabin selection. Coastal communities in Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia, and the Arctic rely on ferry service as primary transportation links maintained by provincial governments and Transport Canada.
Bicycle infrastructure varies dramatically between cities and provinces. Montreal maintains 700 kilometres of bicycle paths including 200 kilometres of protected lanes, with the BIXI bike-sharing system offering 10,000 bicycles at 794 stations. Toronto operates 525 kilometres of on-street bicycle facilities plus the Bike Share Toronto system with 7,000 bicycles at 625 stations. Vancouver's network includes 400 kilometres of cycling routes with separated lanes on major corridors. Cities charge annual bike-share memberships at 99 to 120 dollars, with single-ride options at 3.50 to 4 dollars for 30-minute trips. The Confederation Trail on Prince Edward Island follows 435 kilometres of abandoned railway, while the Waterfront Trail extends 780 kilometres along Lake Ontario from Niagara-on-the-Lake to the Quebec border. Winter cycling remains feasible in most cities from November through March only with appropriate tires, though dedicated winter maintenance of bicycle infrastructure exists primarily in Montreal, Calgary, and select urban corridors elsewhere.
Northern communities beyond the road network depend on air service and seasonal ice roads. The Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road in Northwest Territories operates 400 kilometres over frozen lakes from late January through March, serving diamond mines with heavy trucking. Manitoba maintains winter roads totaling 2,000 kilometres to reach remote First Nations communities, operating 8 to 10 weeks annually depending on ice thickness. Nunavut's 25 communities have no road connections to southern Canada, requiring air service year-round. First Air and Canadian North operate scheduled service throughout the Arctic with Boeing 737 and ATR turboprop aircraft. One-way airfare from Iqaluit to Ottawa costs 800 to 1,500 dollars, with fares to smaller communities reaching 2,000 dollars. Cargo service by air costs 1.50 to 3 dollars per kilogram, making basic supplies significantly more expensive in northern communities. The Northwest Passage remains navigable only seasonally for specialized vessels, with recreational marine traffic increasing but still limited to brief summer windows.
Rideau Canal in Ottawa converts to the world's largest naturally frozen skating surface from January through early March, extending 7.8 kilometres through the downtown core. Parks Canada maintains the ice surface when temperatures remain below minus ten Celsius for sufficient duration, typically opening in late January. No rental fee applies for canal use, though skate rentals cost 20 dollars for two hours at on-ice facilities. This represents a transportation option used by commuters during winter months, with coffee vendors and warming stations positioned along the route. The canal closed entirely during the 2023 season due to insufficient cold weather, marking the first winter in decades without skating.
Cross-border transportation to the United States operates at 119 land border crossings, eight rail crossings, and 27 airport preclearance facilities. Ambassador Bridge between Windsor and Detroit carries 8,000 trucks daily, making it the busiest commercial crossing. Peace Arch crossing between Surrey, British Columbia and Blaine, Washington processes high volumes of passenger vehicle traffic, with wait times reaching three hours during summer weekends. NEXUS trusted traveler program members access dedicated lanes at major crossings, reducing wait times to 5 to 15 minutes versus 30 minutes to 2 hours for standard lanes. Application requires 50 US dollars, interviews on both sides of the border, and approval from both Canadian and American authorities. Real-time border wait times appear on Canada Border Services Agency website, though accuracy varies by crossing.