Travel comparison
United States vs Canada
A side-by-side look at the practical travel essentials for United States and Canada — power, safety, money and getting around — so you can plan or choose between them quickly.
Quick answer
Traveling between United States and Canada, you likely won't need a plug adapter, and a voltage converter is generally not needed for dual-voltage chargers.
| Detail | United States | Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Power plug | Type A/B | Type A/B |
| Voltage | 120V | 120V |
| Frequency | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Emergency (general) | 911 | 911 |
| Police | 911 | 911 |
| Ambulance | 911 | 911 |
| Tap water | Generally safe | Generally safe |
| Driving side | Right | Right |
| Currency | United States Dollar (USD, $) | Canadian Dollar (CAD, $) |
| Dialing code | +1 | +1 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 to UTC-10 | UTC-3:30 to UTC-8 |
| Best season | Spring and autumn are the easiest seasons for many city trips because temperatures are milder and crowds are lower. Summer is popular for national parks and beaches, while winter is best for ski regions and warm-weather states such as Florida, Arizona and Hawaii. | June to September is best for road trips, lakes and national parks. September and October are excellent for fall colours. Winter is ideal for skiing and northern-light trips, but weather can disrupt long-distance travel. |
Full brief
United States travel essentials
Plugs, emergency numbers, tap water, tipping and more for United States.
Full brief
Canada travel essentials
Plugs, emergency numbers, tap water, tipping and more for Canada.