Canada's busiest family travel period. Book off-site parking early and save up to 70% at every major airport.
March Break is the single busiest family travel period in Canada. Every year, millions of Canadian families head south to escape the tail end of winter, and airport parking lots feel the surge. On-site parking at major airports like Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and Montreal-Trudeau (YUL) can hit capacity days before the break even begins.
What makes March Break parking uniquely challenging is that Ontario and Quebec have different break weeks. Quebec's relache scolaire typically falls in the first week of March, while Ontario's March Break lands in the third week. This creates two consecutive demand spikes at airports in both provinces, and the overlap catches many travellers off guard.
The result? On-site economy lots at YYZ charge $28-35 per day during March Break, and they often fill completely. Off-airport parking through MyAirportParking starts from just $8-12 per day with free shuttle service — saving a family $100-150 or more on a typical week-long trip.
Not all airports experience March Break equally. Here is how demand stacks up across Canada's major airports, and what you can expect to save by booking off-site parking in advance.
| Airport | Off-Airport (MyAirportParking) | On-Site Economy | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| YYZ — Toronto | From $56/week | $196-245/week | $140+ |
| YUL — Montreal | From $56/week | $175-224/week | $119+ |
| YVR — Vancouver | From $63/week | $168-210/week | $105+ |
| YOW — Ottawa | From $56/week | $154-196/week | $98+ |
| YYC — Calgary | From $56/week | $147-189/week | $91+ |
| YEG — Edmonton | From $49/week | $140-175/week | $91+ |
Toronto Pearson (YYZ) is the clear number one — it handles the majority of Ontario families heading to sun destinations. YUL comes in second, driven by Quebec's separate break week. YVR and YOW round out the top four. Even smaller airports like YHZ and YWG see noticeable increases during this window.
Off-site lots near YYZ and YUL fill up 2-3 weeks before March Break. Booking a month ahead guarantees your spot at the lowest rate. Since all bookings include free cancellation, there is no risk in reserving early — you can always cancel if plans change.
March weather across most of Canada is still cold and snowy. Leaving your car outdoors for a week means returning to ice-covered windshields and snow-buried vehicles. Covered or indoor parking costs a few dollars more per day but saves you 30 minutes of scraping and digging on a tired return from vacation.
Families travelling with kids typically drive larger vehicles. SUV and van rates are slightly higher than standard car rates at most lots. MyAirportParking shows vehicle-specific pricing upfront, so you know the exact cost before booking. Some lots also accommodate car seats on their shuttle buses — check lot details for shuttle policies.
Quebec and Ontario breaks fall on different weeks, and other provinces vary too. If you have flexibility, travelling during your neighbouring province's break week (not your own) can mean lower parking demand and easier availability. Check your school board's calendar and book accordingly.
Compare real-time rates from off-airport lots at every major Canadian airport.