Finest Highway Journeys From Toronto | Weekend Getaways & Scenic Drives

Seeking to get out of town for a day or two? Listed here are among the finest highway journeys from Toronto, excellent for a weekend getaway or an extended trip.

Whereas Highway Journey Ontario is predicated in Toronto, we’d be mendacity if we stated we didn’t love that vibrant lights, massive metropolis really feel. Nevertheless, when it begins to get a bit overwhelming, nothing beats that small-town really feel, open empty roads and beautiful nature.

Renting a automobile is an choice for those who don’t have a automobile or have pals with vehicles. With so many automobile rental choices out there in Toronto, it shouldn’t be arduous to search out one that matches your wants.

One other nice choice is Park Bus, a shuttle bus service that runs between Toronto and numerous places all through Ontario. Resembling Algonquin Provincial Park, Elora Gorge, Bruce Peninsula,  Georgian Bay Islands Nationwide Park, Rockwood Conservation Space & Rattlesnake Level & Crawford Lake

Quick Highway Journeys From Toronto

You can simply go to these highway journey locations from Toronto in sooner or later, however if you wish to prolong your journey, you’ll be able to at all times keep in a single day. 

One-way journey instances and distances are listed, so you’ll want to have in mind the return journey when planning your journey.

Niagara Falls

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 1 – 2 hours

The Niagara area is a well-liked vacationer vacation spot in Canada and is barely a brief drive from Toronto. The Falls themselves are a formidable sight, however there are additionally loads of different issues to see and do within the space. Guests can go wine tasting, discover previous fortresses, or trip the Maid of the Mist boat tour. 

Niagara Falls are positioned on the border between the US and Canada and had been shaped by three completely different waterfalls – the Horseshoes Falls (On the Canadian facet), the American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls (each on the American Facet). Over six million cubic ft of water drop fifty meters from Lake Eerie into Lake Ontario each minute.

About 25 minutes from The Falls is the lovable city Niagara-on-the-Lake, recognized for its charming streets lined by B&Bs and unbiased boutiques in addition to small bakeries, ice cream retailers, and trendy eating places. Your complete Niagara-on-the-Lake space is surrounded by a number of award-winning wineries making the area one of many high wine areas in Ontario.

best road trips from toronto

Halton Area

Burlington

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 45 minutes – 1 hour

Burlington, Ontario, is an attractive metropolis positioned between Toronto and Niagara Falls in Halton Area. Situated on Lake Ontario’s north shore, Burlington’s culturally energetic metropolis is a straightforward day journey from bustling Toronto. The Canadian metropolis is stuffed with enjoyable family-friendly actions, charming alleyways, stylish boutiques, and scrumptious culinary treats. So discovering enjoyable issues to do right here shouldn’t be too tough.

As one of the vital common locations in northwestern Ontario, you’ll discover a variety of actions to do in Burlington. One of the crucial visited gardens in Canada isn’t just any backyard; it’s the most important botanical backyard in Canada. It boasts stunning landscapes which are divided into completely different sections and unfold throughout 900 acres of land with over 1 thousand plant and flower species.

best road trips from toronto

Oakville

Situated within the stunning environment of the Halton Area and simply half-hour away from downtown Toronto, Oakville presents a lot to see and do. Though it’s typically ignored as a vacationer vacation spot, it has a lot to supply, from a vibrant arts scene to pure surroundings ready to be explored. 

The primary avenue of Outdated Oakville in addition to the communities of Bronte and Kerr has unimaginable mom-and-pop retailers, high-end boutiques, phenomenal eating places with scrumptious menus and a few scenic trails both by Lake Ontario alongside Sixteen Mile Creek or in Bronte Provincial Park.

road trip destinations from toronto

Milton

Situated within the coronary heart of the Halton Area, Milton isn’t sometimes the primary place that involves thoughts when interested by day journeys from Toronto. However it’s positively value testing for those who love nature! You can go climbing, calm down at a picnic spot and even hit the slopes for snowboarding!

short road trips from toronto

Durham Area

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 45 minutes – 1:30 hours

East of bustling Toronto lies the County Durham area, the financial heartland of Ontario. It’s a part of the Golden Horseshoe that stretches from Oshawa to the famed Niagara Falls. There are such a lot of issues to do in Durham Area! Throughout its fall season, Durham bursts in reds, oranges, and golds or will get its winter heaters on and heads out to find town’s snowy interval (winter).

It’s a area dotted with charming cities, gorgeous countryside, rolling hills, and a sequence of main our bodies of water. There’s loads to take pleasure in, from thrilling issues to see and do in Oshawa and Uxbridge to Pickering and Beaverton. Certainly one of our private faves is the lovable city of Port Perry, the place through the winter months, you’ll be able to go ice fishing on Lake Scugog

Wellington County

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 1 hour – 2 hours

Elora

There are many issues to do within the Elora space. You possibly can go tubing down the river, hike the Elora Gorge, and swim within the Elora Quarry. There are additionally loads of mom-and-pop shops to browse round in and eating places to dine at. Many artwork courses can be found to learn to paint, draw, sculpt, and so on.

road trips from toronto

Fergus

Fergus is a scenic city with many inexperienced areas and actions. Guests come right here to benefit from the Scottish pageant and video games. There are a lot of retailers and eating places within the city. Folks additionally go there to see the surroundings and take part in numerous out of doors actions.

best road trips from toronto

In a single day Highway Journeys & Weekend Getaways From Toronto

Now that we’ve received you interested by among the common day journeys from Toronto, perhaps you have got an additional time without work for a protracted weekend getaway? With an additional day, we are able to go additional and keep longer!

High 5 Highway Journey Locations from Toronto

There are many locations to drive close to Toronto, making it the right metropolis to begin a highway journey. These locations present an attractive journey, incredible issues to do, and locations to see when you attain your endpoint. 

Listed here are among the finest highway journeys inside 2-4 hours of Toronto.

Muskoka

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 2.5 – 3 hours

The Muskoka Area has a inhabitants of roughly 1 million folks. Inside Muskoka are six municipalities: The City of Huntsville; the City of Bracebridge; the City of Gravenhurst; the Township of Muskoka Lakes; the Township of Lake of Bains; and the Township of Georgian Bay.

It has some 1.6 thousand small lakes, a number of villages, cities, farming communities, lakeside trip resorts and resorts close to golf programs, nation golf equipment, and a marina. It’s one among Canada’s hottest cottage locations, attracting over two million annual guests.

If you happen to’re trying to escape the hustle and bustle of massive cities and need to return to nature, that is the place to go to. Nevertheless, if it’s at the moment summer season the place you’re proper now, then reserving a cottage may already be too late.

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The Bruce Peninsula 

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 4 hours

The Bruce Peninsula is made up of forests, cliffs, and seashores. It’s nice for tenting, climbing, and swimming in the summertime months. To get to the peninsula, you need to drive by way of among the most scenic components of Ontario. Make sure to cease at Tobermory, one of many prettiest cities within the province, earlier than reaching your closing vacation spot.

Algonquin Provincial Park 

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 4 – 5 hours

Algonquin Provincial Park is among the largest parks in Ontario and is a superb place to go for a hike or a canoe journey. The park can be residence to some fascinating wildlife, together with moose, wolves, and bears. There are a number of campsites within the park and lodges and cabins if you wish to keep in a single day.

road trips within 4 hours of toronto

Prince Edward County 

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 2 – 3 hours

Prince Edward County is an attractive space positioned on Lake Ontario. The county is recognized for its wineries, seashores, and quaint small cities. There are additionally a number of artwork galleries and museums to take a look at. Prince Edward County is the right vacation spot for those who’re on the lookout for a spot to calm down and luxuriate in some nice meals and wine.

best road trips from toronto

Lennox & Addington County

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 2 – 3 hours

If you happen to’re on the lookout for stunning landscapes, limitless nature, and clear lakes, then a highway journey to Ontario’s Lennox and Addington County is what you want. From the quaint city of Napanee (the place the place musician Avril Lavigne grew up) and Better Napanee to Tub, Amherst Island and the gorgeous Bon Echo Provincial Park

Lennox & Addison County is positioned in southeastern Ontario, simply two hours exterior of Toronto and three hours away from Montreal. From Amherst Island within the Nice Lakes to Decrease Madawaska County Highway 41, stretching between the 2 parks. 

road trips from toronto

Extra Quick Highway Journeys from Toronto

Toronto highway journeys imply attractive landscapes in your technique to splendid cities, cities, and nationwide parks. Selecting a spot inside a number of hours from town additionally means you may make a number of pit stops.

Listed here are a number of extra Canadian highway journeys from Toronto. 

Georgian Bay Shoreline: Gray County & Simcoe County 

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 3 hours

Gray County

Gray County is among the finest locations to go if you wish to get away from the hustle and bustle of massive cities. Rather less travelled than different counties and areas make it a hidden gem. Mountaineering, kayaking, biking, and fishing are nice actions on this area when you take pleasure in scrumptious meals and drinks.   Whereas Owen Sound is the final metropolis in Canada that ended prohibition, the primary attraction is The Blue Mountains and the Blue Mountain Resort

The Blue Mountains

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 2-3 hours

Blue Mountain is positioned on the shores of the Georgian Bay and is a well-liked snowboarding vacation spot within the winter months (the third busiest in Canada) attracting thousands and thousands of skiers and snowboarders.

Guests can benefit from the many actions out there throughout summer season. Kayaking, caving, climbing, and jet-skiing are among the issues guests can do whereas visiting.

The autumn colors are attractive and there are a lot of apple orchards for apple selecting. You possibly can calm down in a Scandinavian spa, go zip lining, or trip the Ridge Runner mountain coaster.

road trip destinations from toronto

Simcoe County

Collingwood

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 2-2:30 hours

If you happen to’re planning a weekend ski journey to Blue Mountain, the city of Collingwood, an attractive metropolis recognized for its wealthy historical past, gorgeous structure, and vibrant arts scene. The town can be residence to many nice locations to eat and store, with a number of museums, artwork galleries and a vibrant artwork scene.

short road trips from toronto

Wasaga Seaside

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 2-2:30 hours

If you happen to grew up in Toronto, Ontario, going out to Wasaga Seaside with pals as a younger grownup was a ceremony of passage. Wasaga Seaside is a superb seaside positioned close to Collingwood and  is among the longest freshwater seashores on this planet, measuring 14 kilometres alongside the southern shore of Georgian Bay.

Georgian Bay Islands Nationwide Park

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 2-2:30 hours

One of many foremost attracts to Georgian Bay Islands Nationwide Park is that it is just reachable by boat, making it the right place to discover this pristine wilderness and unspoiled seashores. This park was one of many inspirations for the Group of Seven.

Kingston

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 2 – 3 hours

Kingston is one other nice choice for a Toronto highway journey. It’s positioned on Lake Ontario and is stuffed with historical past. Guests can discover Fort Henry, go to the Kingston Penitentiary Museum, or take a leisurely stroll by way of Confederation Basin Park.

road trip from toronto

Frontenac Provincial Park

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 3 hours

Situated simply north of Kingston is Frontenac Provincial Park. The park presents many actions, together with climbing, tenting, fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, chicken watching, biking, cross-country snowboarding, snowshoeing, and ice fishing.

There are over 200 campsites out there at Frontenac Provincial Park. Every website contains electrical energy, water hookups, hearth pits, picnic tables, and grills. If you happen to’re extra of the glamping kind,  there are additionally cabins out there for hire.

Ottawa

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 4 – 5 hours

The capital of Canada, Ottawa, is an attractive metropolis positioned alongside the Ottawa River in Ontario, Canada. Ottawa is a superb metropolis for a highway journey and weekend getaway as a result of there are a lot of issues to do, beginning with taking a tour of Parliament Hill. The Nationwide Capital Area is residence to Canada’s Parliament, the place you’ll be able to study Canadian historical past and politics.

If politics bore you, then you’ll be able to discover the Byward Market. Situated simply north of downtown Ottawa, this historic market options lots of of distributors promoting the whole lot from recent produce to antiques.

You additionally don’t need to miss the Rideau Canal – This canal was constructed within the early 1800s to attach Lake Ontario with the Ottawa River. Because the longest skating rink within the winter and a scenic boating journey in the summertime, it’s a preferred vacationer attraction.

toronto road trips

Montreal 

Driving time from Toronto: Approx. 5 – 6 hours

Toronto is a superb metropolis, however Montreal is a unique destination with its hip French affect present in its meals, tradition, and nightlife. With so many issues to do, together with visiting the well-known Notre Dame Basilica, taking a tour of Outdated Montreal, strolling by way of many stunning parks and gardens, take a ship trip alongside the St Lawrence River.

If you happen to’re on the lookout for a day journey from Montreal, take into account going to Quebec Metropolis. The Chateau Frontenac is a must-see, and you may spend the afternoon exploring the cobblestone streets of Outdated Quebec. Montreal is the right vacation spot for those who’re on the lookout for a romantic weekend away. And for those who’re on the lookout for a household trip, Montreal is the perfect location.

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Remaining Ideas: Plan Your Highway Journey From Toronto

There are many nice scenic drives close to Toronto, making it the right metropolis to begin a highway journey. Whether or not you’re on the lookout for a brief weekend getaway or an extended trip, there are many choices to select from. So what are you ready for?