Driving from coast to coast across Canada this summer will cost at least $914 in fuel, according to Financial Post calculations based on the latest provincial gas prices. The estimate assumes a 2025 Subaru Outback and uses distances from transcanadahighway.com itineraries and gas price data from GasBuddy.com.
Gas Prices Remain Elevated
The national average gas price is currently about $1.60 per litre, roughly 25 cents higher than last year, according to the Canadian Automobile Association. Prices vary significantly by province, with some regions seeing even higher costs at the pump.
Dan McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy, said he believes gas prices will stay elevated enough to affect travel decisions in the coming months. He expects the national average to hover around $1.55 per litre over the summer, noting that is “nowhere near where we were last summer at $1.30 to $1.35.”
Canadians Rethinking Travel Plans
A June survey from Leger Marketing Inc. found that about 77 per cent of leisure travellers plan to take a trip within Canada this year, the same as last year. However, nearly half (48 per cent) of respondents cited the price of gas as a concern affecting their plans.
As a result, many Canadians are adjusting their vacation plans. About 39 per cent of travellers—the largest share of respondents—said they plan to travel within their home province. In contrast, only 27 per cent reported intending to travel outside their province within Canada.
Coast-to-Coast Fuel Cost Breakdown
The $914 total is derived from driving the full length of the Trans-Canada Highway, passing through each province. The calculation uses recent gas prices from GasBuddy.com, distances from transcanadahighway.com itineraries, and the fuel efficiency of a 2025 Subaru Outback.
While gas prices have come down from their highs after interim peace talks over the war in Iran opened the Strait of Hormuz to oil flows, some experts warn that prices may remain high. McTeague noted that the current national average is still significantly above last summer's range of $1.30 to $1.35 per litre.
