If you have decided that you would like to embark on an RV road trip into the second largest country in the entire world, it’s safe to say that you’ve got a wide variety of potential places to go and a lot of things to take care of.

Regardless of how long you’re planning your RV trip to be, you will need to begin planning as quickly and carefully as possible, especially if you’ve never gone on an RV trip into Canada before.

Here are the top things you need to know before embarking on an RV trip into Canada:

Crossing the Border

In order to enter Canada from the United States, you will obviously need to cross the border. Be sure to bring a valid passport with you and you should know your license plate number(s) as well. Also plan on waiting a half hour to an hour before being able to cross, due to the heavy traffic.

If you have children with you, they will only need a birth certificate if they are less than sixteen years old, though this policy may also change in the future. If you are not the parent or legal guardian of any children in the RV with you, then be sure to get a permission letter from their parents or legal guardians.

Keep Important Documents in Your RV

You will need to keep a copy of your vehicle registration and insurance in your RV at all times in Canada, just like how you also need to do in the United States. Your U.S driver’s license will enable you to legally drive in Canada as well, so be sure to bring it along.

How Will You Pay for Things?

While American dollars are commonly accepted in Canada, they are still not as desirable as Canadian dollars. Your best option will be to pay for things with a debit card or credit card. You can also exchange American dollars for Canadian dollars at a bank or ATM as well.

Thoroughly Research Your Campgrounds

RV campgrounds in Canada aren’t that different from campgrounds in the United States. Some come with amenities such as hookups, showers, and free Wi-Fi, while others do not. Some campgrounds will offer opportunities for additional outdoor adventures such has kayaking, hiking, or biking, but others won’t.

The point is you need to think about everything you need and want to do on your RV trip and then research specific Canadian campgrounds that have everything you want or need. This is why preparation is so critical before any RV trip, and especially before going into Canada where you may not know the area as well as you do in the U.S.

Your Next RV Road Trip

All in all, there are the top things that you need to be aware of before beginning your Canadian RV road trip.