In 2027, Ontario’s March Break is 15 to 19 March, Quebec’s relâche is 1 to 5 March, and most Metro Vancouver districts break 15 to 26 March. Alberta boards vary, from 22 March into early April. For US flights, start looking in December or January, expect Orlando, Miami and Las Vegas to sell out first, and allow extra airport time for US pre-clearance.
✈ QUICK ANSWER
✓ Fact-checked · Oct 2026
When is March Break 2027 in each province?
It depends on the province and often the school board, so check your own board’s calendar before you buy a non-changeable ticket. Here’s what the published 2026-27 calendars show.
| Region | 2027 break | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 15 to 19 March | Per the Ontario school year calendar |
| Quebec | 1 to 5 March | Earliest in the country; pedagogical days may extend it |
| Metro Vancouver (most districts) | 15 to 26 March | Two weeks; West Vancouver runs to 29 March, New Westminster 12 to 25 March |
| Alberta (varies by board) | Roughly 22 March to 2 April | Elk Island Catholic 22 to 26 March; Edmonton Catholic 25 March to 2 April |
The BC dates come from a Metro Vancouver calendar roundup, and the Alberta ones from board announcements such as Edmonton Catholic and Elk Island Catholic. Calgary and other boards weren’t confirmed in my research, so check yours. Easter falls early in 2027 (Good Friday is 26 March, Easter Monday 29 March), which is why several Alberta breaks wrap around it.
The result: Quebec families fly out first, Ontario and BC share the middle of March, and Alberta’s departures spill into the Easter weekend. Fares on any given route rise in whichever week your province leaves.
When should you book March Break flights to the US?
For a fixed school-break week, book earlier than you would for an ordinary weekend away. My working rule is to start watching in December and buy by the end of January.
That’s an agent’s rule of thumb, not a published statistic. General research gives a wider picture: one summary of Google Flights, Expedia and Hopper data puts the US domestic sweet spot at 21 to 60 days out, but school-break weeks are exactly where those averages stop working, because the cheap seats on popular routes go early and don’t come back.
For scale, Air Canada’s fare page showed Toronto to Orlando from CAD 305 one-way for February, March and April 2027. That’s the lowest fare on any day in each month, collected within the last 48 hours. It tells you the floor, not what a Saturday during the break will cost. Check the exact dates.
Our posts on the best time to book Canada to US flights and the cheapest time of year to fly give the longer view.
Which destinations are most popular, and which are cheaper?
Florida, Las Vegas and New York are the big three for families, followed by Arizona and California. The popular ones cost most in break week and the second-tier alternatives often cost less.
| Destination | Why families pick it | Cheaper alternative to compare |
|---|---|---|
| Orlando (MCO) | Theme parks, many nonstops from Toronto | Tampa or Fort Myers, a drive from the Gulf beaches |
| Miami / Fort Lauderdale | Beach, cruise connections | Fort Lauderdale (FLL) often prices differently from Miami (MIA) |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | Shows, Grand Canyon day trips | Phoenix, for desert weather and a rental car |
| New York (JFK, LGA, EWR) | Short flight, no beach needed | Compare all three airports and Boston |
Our route pages for Toronto to Orlando, Toronto to Miami and Toronto to Las Vegas list who flies them. From Vancouver, Vancouver to Las Vegas is a break-week favourite, and from Montreal there’s Montreal to Miami.
One caution on routes. Airlines have been trimming US flying. WestJet said in February 2026 that it was suspending 16 transborder routes for summer 2026, including Edmonton to Orlando and Halifax to Orlando, and Statistics Canada figures show Canadian air trips from the US down 17.6 per cent in February 2026. That doesn’t mean March 2027 will be quiet, but check that the nonstop you remember still exists. See also our guide to cheap flights from Canada to Florida.
How do you keep the cost of a family trip down?
Move the dates before you move the destination. Leaving on the Saturday that school lets out is the most expensive way to go.
- Fly midweek. Tuesday and Wednesday departures are usually cheaper than Friday and Saturday. If school allows a day off at either end, it can pay for itself.
- Price the bags. Air Canada’s Basic fares to the US stopped including a free carry-on from 3 January 2025, and other airlines’ lowest fares have similar limits. For a family of four with suitcases, the “cheap” fare can cost more than standard economy.
- Sit together. Basic fares usually assign seats at check-in, so a family may be scattered. Pay for seats or choose a fare that includes them, especially with young children.
- Compare nearby airports. Fort Lauderdale against Miami, or Newark against JFK, can differ by more than the drive costs.
- Consider a shoulder week. If your board gives two weeks or Easter follows, leaving at the quieter end helps.
Our guide to avoiding extra charges covers the common surprises.
Say you’re a family of four from Mississauga heading to Orlando on Ontario’s break. You’d price the Saturday 13 March departure against Sunday and Monday, then check Tampa and Fort Lauderdale. If a Monday departure saves more than the cost of one lost day in the resort, take it.
This is where a human agent earns the call. Metairfare agents can price a family itinerary across dates and airports, check negotiated and unpublished fares with 50+ airlines, and keep seats together. We’re Calgary-based with 750+ Google reviews and 2,000+ Trustpilot reviews. Call +1-877-700-0520.
How bad are the airport queues and pre-clearance in March Break?
They can be heavy, so plan for extra time. Toronto Pearson said ahead of the 2024 March Break that it expected up to 140,000 people a day and nearly 1,000 flights daily at peak. Those are past-year figures, but the pattern repeats.
For US flights from Canada you clear US customs before boarding, at pre-clearance. The US CBP list includes Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Halifax and Victoria. Pearson’s advice has included using the Mobile Passport Control app for US-bound travellers and checking its live wait-time dashboard before you leave home.
A practical rule: follow your airline’s recommended arrival time, then add a margin on the first Friday and Saturday of the break. And if you’re coming home to Canada, the airport suggests completing the CBSA Advance Declaration in advance, which gives access to express lanes.
Should you fly before or after the break week itself?
If your school calendar allows it, yes. Flying the weekend before, or returning the weekend after, avoids the Saturday-to-Saturday pattern every other family is chasing.
Ontario’s break ends Friday 19 March, so the return crush lands on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 March. A Monday or Tuesday return costs a day of Florida, but it usually saves money and gives you shorter queues at pre-clearance and the baggage hall. In BC, with two weeks off, the same logic works at the start: leaving on the Saturday that school ends is the expensive choice, and leaving the following Tuesday often isn’t.
For Alberta families whose break wraps around Easter, remember that Good Friday (26 March) and Easter Monday (29 March) pull in travellers who have nothing to do with schools. Those two days are busy at every airport. Book the legs on either side of them early.
What documents does the family need?
Every Canadian traveller needs a valid passport to fly to the US, children included. The US CBP page on air travel documents says children must present their own passport. Canadian citizens don’t need a visa or ESTA for a tourist visit.
If you’re short of a passport, Canada’s urgent and express services offer pick-up by the end of the next business day or in 2 to 9 business days, with proof of travel and extra fees. Don’t leave it to the final week.
If anyone travelling holds a different passport or is a permanent resident, check US entry rules before booking. And if only one parent travels with the children, carry a signed consent letter from the other; the Government of Canada recommends it. For more on the rules, read our Canada to USA flights guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the March Break 2027 dates in Ontario?
Ontario’s March Break in 2027 is 15 to 19 March, according to the province’s school year calendar. Individual boards sometimes add professional activity days on either side, so check your own board’s calendar before you pay. Easter follows soon after, on 28 March, which matters if you plan to extend the trip.
Is March Break the most expensive time to fly to Florida?
It’s one of the most expensive windows, alongside Christmas and the weeks around it. Fares depend on route, date and how early you book. Midweek departures, nearby airports and flying a day before or after the rush usually lower the price, even in peak weeks.
How early should I book March Break flights?
Many families do best booking between December and January, though no source guarantees a date. General research puts the sweet spot for US trips at 21 to 60 days out, but school-break weeks sell cheap seats earlier. Watch fares and buy once the price looks fair.
Do kids need their own passport to fly to the US?
Yes. US CBP says children flying to or from the US by air must present their own passport. A Canadian citizen doesn’t need a visa or ESTA for a tourist visit. Check expiry dates for every family member well before you buy tickets.
Are there cheaper places than Orlando for March Break?
Often. Tampa and Fort Myers can price lower for Gulf coast beaches, and Fort Lauderdale sometimes beats Miami. Phoenix is an alternative to Las Vegas. Compare total cost including a rental car, bags and ground transport, not just the airfare, because the cheapest ticket isn’t always the cheapest trip.
Is it cheaper to drive to a US airport for March Break?
It can be, for larger families flying leisure routes, but border queues and US-dollar parking in a busy break week eat into the saving. Compare total costs before you decide, including parking, fuel and the time lost at the border. Our Canada to USA guide covers cross-border airports and their trade-offs.
How early should I get to Pearson for a US flight in March Break?
Follow your airline’s recommended time and add extra on peak days. US customs is completed before boarding, and the airport has expected up to 140,000 people a day in past March Breaks. Check its live wait-time dashboard and use the Mobile Passport Control app.
Can I travel with the kids if only one parent is flying?
Yes, but carry a signed consent letter from the other parent. The Government of Canada recommends one for children travelling without both parents, and border officers can ask for it. Include contact details and copies of the other parent’s ID.
Planning March Break 2027? Call +1-877-700-0520 or WhatsApp us your province, dates and number of travellers, and we’ll price the options for you.
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