From NYC to Montreal - make the most of your road trip to Montreal

As you’ll be crossing two countries, avoid a visa blunder and make sure to check the independent visa restrictions for both the US and Canada. The US has a reputation for stricter conditions but their Visa Waiver Program is available for most Europeans who wish to stay for up to 90 days. You’ll undergo a separate visa and passport check when you make a border crossing into Canada where you will similarly require an Electronic Travel Authorisation from the Canadian government to enter. For the chillest border crossing possible, be ready to answer questions about your travel purpose and length of stay. Possession of alcohol, tobacco and firearms will be monitored, so save your trip to the liquor store until after crossing.

Bear in mind that major highway crossings tend to be busier than smaller highway and truck routes, meaning that a small detour can save you potential hours queuing in traffic. The Canadian Border Services Agency’s Twitter feed can provide up-to-date information on border waits and opening times, or check here. Those wanting to cross in style should consider investing in a NEXUS card which gives pre-approval for travellers who pay $50 for a five-year card and take an interview with US and Canadian officials at the NEXUS enrolment centre.

Don’t get caught out speeding down the freeway on the other side without first getting to grips with Canada’s metric system. You’ll see speed limits written in kilometres, not miles so check closely on your speedometer for the conversion, or otherwise, check online before heading out.

After a hectic few days pounding the asphalt in NYC, begin the epic journey towards Montreal at any pace you choose. The direct journey will be a six to seven-hour drive northwards on I-87 North Highway. (FYI, as well as being a great destination road trip from New York, Montreal is also a 455-mile leg from Philly, 308 miles from Boston and 260 miles from Portland and Maine).

Opt for the scenic route towards Montreal and take a brief interlude at Niagara Falls. The falls are also seven hours from New York, but instead, we take the I-80 West, I-81 North or I-90 West. From there, travellers have the added option of driving to Toronto (1.5 hours via the Queen Elizabeth Way) before making their way to Montreal (5 hours via ON-401 East) and concluding in Quebec City (2.5 hours via Route Transcanadienne / Autoroute 20 East).

If a dousing at Niagara Falls is on your to-do list, pack your umbrella hat and poncho and read on. Straddling the US-Canada border, Niagara Gorge rises 160 feet covering three waterfalls where six million cubic feet of water gushes past every minute. The most powerful in the whole of North America, these falls are spectacular viewed from any angle, either side of the border. Boat rides on the US side operate daily.

Whether you’ve come straight from the border or taken a sojourn in Toronto, Montreal will feel like a whole world away. Distinctly Canadian yet licked with French heritage, Montreal features European-style avenues side by side with chaotic Chinatown alleyways and, of course, an internationally contending Gay Village. The second-largest city in Canada, Montreal is also the world’s second-largest French-speaking city, although – unlike Paris – English is widely spoken.

Either way, brush up on your Français and you won’t regret it. A little effort goes a long way and a few words in French can quickly make you a local friend or two. As for dating, old school Montrealians still seem to prefer face-to-face flirtation in bars, nightclubs and bathhouses over hook-up apps. Discover more of Montreal with our full-length Montreal travel guide.

Take your sweet time on the next leg which will take you from Montreal to Quebec City through rural Canada at its most mesmerising, dotted as it is with quaint towns, local wineries and boutique districts. More slow-paced than its opposing urban ends, Quebec province allows visitors to return to nature, rekindling an appreciation for the simple things such as moseying through forests, indulging in farm-to-table fare and exploring the provincial sites of a gone-by era alongside a friendly diverse community.

The wider Quebec province encompasses the majority of Canada’s northeast, flanking Ontario in the west and rugged Newfoundland in the east. Feel free to venture further north for hiking excursions and picturesque drives, but for now, we stick to the more populated areas, following the St Lawrence River east to where Quebec City sits spoiled with stunning backdrops including Montmorency Falls, the Jacques-Cartier National Park and a variety of idyllic isles just moments from the centre.