Shipping an RV from Montreal to Calgary covers approximately 3,600 km across the Trans-Canada Highway and typically takes 4–7 days in transit. Costs generally run $1,600–$3,800+ CAD, depending on your RV's size, whether it's operable, and which transport method you choose. Get a firm quote before booking, since exact pricing varies by unit and season.
Route at a Glance
| Distance | 3600 km |
| Estimated Transit Time | 4–7 days |
| Estimated Cost | $1,600–$3,800+ CAD (varies by transport method — confirm exact quote) |
| Route | Trans-Canada Highway across Ontario and Northern Ontario, then west across the Prairies through Winnipeg and Regina into Calgary. |
Shipping an RV from Montreal to Calgary
Montreal to Calgary is one of the longest domestic RV shipping routes in Canada, and it's also one of the most requested. Snowbirds relocating west, dealerships repositioning inventory, and private owners moving for work all need a reliable way to get a travel trailer, fifth wheel, or motorhome across nearly the entire width of the country without putting the mileage — or the wear — on their own vehicle.
At roughly 3,600 km, this corridor sits at the upper end of what a single carrier run typically covers in one dispatch, which is why transit windows are quoted in a range rather than a fixed number of days. A dedicated tow-away or drive-away driver moving efficiently, with normal fuel and rest stops, will usually complete the run in about four days. Add in weather delays through Northern Ontario, mechanical inspections, freight consolidation on a flatdeck, or a carrier juggling multiple pickups and drop-offs along the way, and seven days becomes a realistic upper bound. Anything outside that window is worth asking your carrier about directly.
Cost follows a similar logic. The $1,600–$3,800+ CAD range reflects the fact that a small, operable travel trailer costs meaningfully less to move than a 40-foot Class A motorhome that needs flatdeck transport because it isn't driveable. For a full breakdown of how Red Foot Haulers prices long-haul routes across the country, see our RV shipping hub, or compare us against other carriers on our RV hauling companies in Canada page.
Tow-Away vs. Drive-Away vs. Flatdeck
Every RV shipped between Montreal and Calgary moves by one of three methods, and the right choice depends almost entirely on what kind of unit you own and whether it can safely move under its own power or be towed.
Tow-away is the standard method for travel trailers, fifth wheels, and towable toy haulers. A professional driver hitches your unit to a tow vehicle rated for its weight and hauls it the full 3,600 km as part of a scheduled run. This is generally the most cost-effective option for towable units on this corridor because it doesn't require specialized equipment.
Drive-away applies to motorhomes — Class A, B, and C — that are fully operable. A licensed, insured driver physically drives your motorhome from Montreal to Calgary, typically covering 500–800 km per day depending on road and weather conditions across the Prairies and Northern Ontario. This method suits owners who want their coach driven rather than towed on a trailer, and it's often comparable in price to tow-away for similar-sized units.
Flatdeck transport is required when an RV is non-operable — a dead engine, missing tires, storm damage, or a unit that simply isn't safe to drive or tow on its own wheels for 3,600 km. The RV is loaded onto a trailer or deck and hauled as freight. This is the most expensive method on this route because of the specialized equipment and loading/unloading labor involved, but it's often the only safe option for damaged, project, or high-value luxury units that owners don't want accumulating road miles.
| Transport Method | Best For | Typical Montreal–Calgary Cost (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tow-Away | Travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers (operable) | $1,600–$2,600 | Most economical for towable units; requires proper hitch/axle condition |
| Drive-Away | Class A, B, C motorhomes (fully operable) | $2,000–$3,200 | Professional driver operates the coach; mileage accrues on your RV |
| Flatdeck | Non-operable units, damaged RVs, luxury/high-value coaches | $2,800–$3,800+ | No mileage added; highest cost due to specialized loading equipment |
The Route: Quebec to the Alberta Prairies
The Montreal-to-Calgary run is a genuine coast-to-interior crossing, and understanding the route helps explain both the transit time and the seasonal cost swings.
Departing Montreal, carriers head west along the Trans-Canada Highway, cutting through southern Ontario before the long stretch across Northern Ontario — a section that includes hundreds of kilometres of two-lane highway through Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie corridors, and the rock-and-forest terrain north of Lake Superior. This segment is scenic but slow going in winter, since it sees some of the heaviest lake-effect snow of any stretch on the entire route, and it's the single biggest source of schedule variance on this corridor.
Once through Northern Ontario, the route flattens out dramatically as it enters Manitoba and crosses the Prairies. Carriers typically pass through or near Winnipeg, then continue west through Regina, Saskatchewan, before crossing into Alberta for the final push into Calgary. This Prairie section is where drivers make up time — long, straight, high-speed highway with far fewer weather disruptions outside of winter whiteouts or summer prairie storms.
In total, the drive breaks down roughly as follows: about 1,700 km from Montreal through Ontario and Northern Ontario to the Manitoba border, then another 1,900 km across the Prairies from Winnipeg through Regina into Calgary. Carriers running this corridor regularly also service adjacent lanes — you can compare related Prairie and cross-country routes on our Winnipeg to Calgary and Toronto to Calgary pages.
What Affects Your Cost
The $1,600–$3,800+ CAD range isn't arbitrary — four main factors push a quote toward either end of that spectrum, and understanding them helps you get an accurate number before you book.
Distance is the baseline. At 3,600 km, this is one of the longer domestic corridors Red Foot Haulers services, and per-kilometre rates naturally decrease slightly over longer hauls compared to short regional moves, but the total cost is still substantial simply because of the distance covered.
RV size and weight matter enormously. A 21-foot single-axle travel trailer tows very differently than a 38-foot triple-axle fifth wheel, and a Class B camper van drives very differently than a 40-foot diesel pusher. Larger, heavier units require tow vehicles or drivers rated for that class, which raises the cost.
Season swings pricing in both directions. Spring and fall — the peak relocation windows for snowbirds and seasonal RVers — see the highest demand and the tightest driver availability, which pushes rates up and can extend booking lead times. Winter shipping across Northern Ontario and the Prairies carries its own premium due to weather risk and slower average speeds, even though overall demand is lower. Summer sits in the middle, with generally reliable road conditions but competition from vacationing RVers wanting their own units driven.
Operable vs. non-operable status is often the single biggest cost swing on a quote. An RV that starts, brakes, steers, and tows normally can move by tow-away or drive-away at the lower end of the range. A unit with a dead battery, flat tires, transmission trouble, or storm damage has to move by flatdeck, which typically adds $500–$1,200 or more to the total due to loading equipment and labor.
| Cost Factor | Impact on Price | Example |
|---|---|---|
| RV Size/Class | Larger, heavier units cost more to tow or drive | 21-ft trailer vs. 38-ft fifth wheel |
| Season | Spring/fall peak demand raises rates; winter adds weather premium | April move vs. July move |
| Operable Status | Non-operable units require flatdeck, the most expensive method | Dead battery = flatdeck required |
| Booking Lead Time | Last-minute bookings during peak season cost more | 2 weeks' notice vs. 2 days' notice |
Before You Book: Preparation Checklist
Proper preparation matters on any RV shipment, but it matters more on a 3,600 km haul, where a small oversight has thousands of kilometres to become a real problem.
- Tires and axles: Check tire pressure, tread depth, and age (RV tires over 5–7 years old are a common failure point on long hauls) on every axle, including spares.
- Battery and electrical: Ensure the battery is charged and terminals are clean; disconnect or secure any items that draw power during transit.
- Propane: Turn off propane tanks at the source and confirm valves are fully closed — most carriers require this as a condition of transport.
- Interior securing: Empty the fridge and freezer, secure cabinet latches, remove or strap down loose furniture, and take fragile items off open shelves — 3,600 km of highway, including rougher Northern Ontario sections, will find anything that isn't secured.
- Slide-outs and awnings: Fully retract all slide-outs and awnings, and confirm they lock in the closed position before pickup.
- Exterior walkaround: Photograph the exterior from all angles, including the roof if accessible, to document pre-shipment condition.
- Hitch and coupler condition (tow-away): Confirm the hitch, coupler, safety chains, and brake controller are in good working order before the carrier arrives.
- Operable status disclosure: Be upfront about any mechanical issues — brakes, steering, tires, engine — so the carrier can plan for tow-away, drive-away, or flatdeck accordingly, rather than discovering the issue at pickup.
- Documentation: Have registration, insurance, and identification ready for both pickup in Montreal and delivery in Calgary.
- Weight and dimension confirmation: Provide accurate length, weight, and height figures upfront — this affects both the quote and which driver/equipment gets assigned to your run.
- Winter-specific prep: If shipping between November and March, confirm antifreeze/winterization status and ask your carrier how Northern Ontario weather delays are handled in their scheduling.
If you're moving a standard passenger vehicle rather than an RV, note that this checklist and the transport methods above are RV-specific — for cars, trucks, and SUVs, see our dedicated car shipping Canada page instead.
Other Popular Routes
Calgary is one of the most common RV shipping destinations in Western Canada, and Montreal to Calgary is just one lane in a larger cluster of corridors we service regularly. If you're comparing options or your route runs through a different city, these related pages may be useful:
- Chilliwack to Calgary RV shipping
- Kelowna to Calgary RV shipping
- Halifax to Calgary RV shipping
- Vancouver to Calgary RV shipping
- Winnipeg to Calgary RV shipping
- Toronto to Calgary RV shipping
FAQ
What is the best way to ship an RV from Montreal to Calgary?
Tow-away service for travel trailers and fifth wheels, professional drive-away for motorhomes, or flatdeck transport for non-operable or luxury units — Red Foot Haulers offers all three between Montreal and Calgary depending on your RV type.
How much does it cost to ship an RV from Montreal to Calgary?
Roughly $1,600–$3,800+ CAD for this ~3,600 km route, depending on RV size, type, and transport method.
How long does it take to ship an RV from Montreal to Calgary?
Typically 4–7 days under normal conditions for this cross-country route.
How much does it cost to import an RV from the USA to Canada?
Red Foot Haulers ships within Canada only. Importing an RV from the USA involves separate customs, RIV (Registrar of Imported Vehicles) registration, and inspection steps beyond domestic transport — contact the CBSA or RIV directly for that process.