If I was traveling with no kids or animals in summer I would consider driving across Canada for the experience. But in November with a young family and a huge dog you would be mad. You want your new life in Halifax to be enjoyable.

haha. I totally agree!!
A nice hotel this end whilst everything is picked up. Dogs in kennels. a nice hotel in Halifax and a trip to Ikea to buy a sofa and beds and then move in :@)

I think I would pass on that one!

bahahaha. I think they are good forbthe price :@)

Great for starter home furniture, but their products don't seem to last long I found.

oh I have found them pretty good :@)

Done it twice Montreal - Calgary, in July. Awesome trip both times. Would never consider doing it in the winter - a huge swath of Northern Ontario is 2-lane -- with trucks, like a good 8-10 hours of it.

For meatballs.

For meatballs.

I think a lot of people drop down into the USA to minimise the journey. You are asking about the weather, the Hwy into Banff was closed last weekend due to the snow. You may be lucky and not experience ANY snow, or you could get stuck in a huge blizzard, so dropping down might be preferable. We will hopefully be doing a cross Canada trip next year, we have no idea what route we will take, it may be via Alaska, if we take a year or so out RV'ing.

November, I think shipping and flying would be the safer and less stressful option.

1. Daughter has driven across Canada from Vancouver to Halifax or vice versa 3 times .......... each time in July/August. Loved it, but found taking ONLY ten days rushed. Motel/hotel and gas costs really mounted up. Note that many motels/hotels do not allow pets, especially large ones.

2. Sister-in-law drove from northern BC to Halifax and vice versa about 5 times .......... once in late November. Hazardous. Had a Moose run into the side of her car in Manitoba on one occasion, smashed into her front passenger door. Moose OK, car (Subaru) needed about 6 weeks to get the door replaced and damage repaired, although car was drive-able!

3. We regularly take the train from Vancouver-Halifax and back, ESPECIALLY in the winter. I would not willingly fly across Canada again between late November and February .......... there is no direct route between Vancouver and Halifax, the best is that the plane lands in Calgary, Toronto or Ottawa and you don't have to get out. Otherwise it is change planes at one of those airports BUT you are never certain that any part of your journey will be uncomplicated due to blizzard conditions affecting your flight directly or indirectly (because of a blizzard the day before). The last time we did the trip, we were delayed due to blizzard conditions in Toronto, on landing about 6 hours late, grass was showing through the snow by the side of the landing strip.

There might also be restrictions on pets being carried in winter.

4. Sleeper class on the train is NOT that expensive when you figure in that the price includes all meals, even if the train is delayed. Use that Tuesday discount to get a good price on either a cabin for one (ie 2 cabins), or an upper and lower (or 2 lower) berths. Either is usually available on one Tuesday for travel from the following Saturday through to the following Friday .................. you've been given the url above. It is rare to find a cabin for 2 for the cheaper discount, although it does occasionally happen.

The dogs will be carried in the Baggage Car, and you are allowed to visit them and to take them out for walks at certain stops.

The trip to Halifax involves a 4 night trip from Vancouver to Toronto, a night in a hotel in Toronto (onward travel on the day of arrival is not recommended as there might be delays); a day train (~5 hours) to Montreal; then an overnight train from Montreal to Halifax ................ ie a total of 6 days travel.

I know what I would recommend!!

Keep all your hotel, gas and meal receipts. You can get a tax deduction for moving expenses. It was pretty substantial when we did it.

including the removal people and shipment? flights? dogs?? cars??ooo that is a huge amount of tax deduction if we can!!