Ontario Road Trips From Toronto

Ontario is a pretty big place. It’s easy to take it for granted but we are actually pretty spoiled for choice when it comes to road trips. Even without leaving the province, there are tons of weekend road trips from Toronto, week-long trips, and day trips that can be done.

Just looking at the natural scenery, there are six National Parks and over 330 Provincial Parks to explore here. That’s not even including all of the conservation areas and reserves that we have. Add in cute towns, music and theatre festivals, wine regions, beaches, and cities and surely one of these Ontario road trips is perfect for you.

While this list leads heavily towards natural scenery, you don’t have to be a camper to enjoy road tripping in Ontario. I’ve made sure to include both camping and hotel options for all of these trips. Many parks also have roofed accommodation options like cabins, cottages, and yurts. If you’ve been skipping on camping because you’ve never been before, Ontario Parks does have a learn to camp guided camping session to teach you everything you need to know.

This post contains affiliate links, If you make a purchase through these links I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Renting a Car in Ontario

If you’re in need of a rental car for any of these trips, make sure you book in advance to ensure availability. I use Discover Cars to find the best deals. Even though it can be tempting to book the cheapest option, make sure you compare ratings to book with a reliable company.

Driving in Ontario is very straightforward. The only thing to be aware of is that the 407 is a toll highway and it can add up quickly as rental companies will also add their own fees on top of the toll fee. If you use Google Maps, make sure to check options and select the option to avoid tolls.

Weekend Road Trips from Toronto

The Bruce Peninsula

A weekend trip to the Bruce Peninsula is one of the most popular Ontario road trips. I spent a long weekend in the Bruce Peninsula and absolutely loved it. If you want to experience Caribbean-like crystal clear water, this is the destination for you.

With a weekend on the Bruce Peninsula, you will have enough time to visit the famous grotto on Georgian Bay. You can also head to Tobermory and take the boat over to explore Flower Pot Island. Make sure to book a glass-bottomed boat so you can see the shipwrecks below you. Flower Pot Island is famous for its unique rock structures that rise out of the clear turquoise water.

Optional stops on your drive to and from Bruce Peninsula National Park include Sauble Beach and Lion’s Head Provincial Park.

Because of its popularity, you will need to book well in advance to get accommodations on the Bruce Peninsula, including campsites at the National Park. You also will need to book your parking spot at Bruce Peninsula National Park in advance if you want to visit the famous grotto there. It’s also possible to join a day trip to the Bruce Peninsula if you are short on time.

Where to Stay: Bruce Peninsula National Park, Home of the Living Sunset, Grandview Motel, Jacob’s Stone

Prince Edward County

Prince Edward County is the perfect road trip destination if you are looking for sandy beaches and lots and lots of wine. While you can visit Sandbanks Provincial Park as a day trip, stay for the weekend to really experience the county.

On your drive to Sandbanks Provincial Park, stop at some of the local producers on the way. I’ve outlined a mini road trip in my day trip guide to Sandbanks. Spending some time at the beach and exploring the Dunes Trail at Sandbanks Provincial Park are highlights of Prince Edward County.

With over 40 wineries as well as cider houses, breweries, and even a distillery, Prince Edward County is perfect for spending a day doing some tastings. Driving down these country roads gives views of vineyards and Lake Ontario. It’s a beautiful area of the province and great for having a relaxing weekend.

Where to Stay: Sandbanks Provincial Park, Owl’s Nest Suites, English Rose B&B

Ontario’s Most Popular Road Trip: Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is probably Toronto’s most popular day trip. If you haven’t been, it definitely road trip time.

There are plenty of things to do in Niagara Falls, but one of the highlights is taking the boat tour right up to the falls. If you have been to Niagara Falls before, it might be worth checking it out at night when Niagara Falls is lit up by multicoloured lights. There are plenty of activities in this tourist hotspot for all types including ziplining and jet boats over the rapids.

One of my favourite things to do in the area is to hike in Niagara Glen. It’s away from the crowds of tourists and offers up beautiful forest and riverside views. Unlike a lot of what’s offered in the area, it’s free except for parking. Another great free spot is the Niagara Parks Botanical Garden up the street from Niagara Glen. The Botanical Garden is free to walk around and is attached to the Butterfly Conservatory, which requires an entry fee.

Instead of staying in Niagara, consider staying in quaint Niagara-on-the-Lake. It’s located right near vineyards so it’s perfect for doing some wine sampling. You may want to join a wine tour for this instead of driving yourself.

Depending on your timing, you may want to stop off in Hamilton on the way to or from Niagara to visit one of the waterfalls there or Dundas Peak (especially in autumn!).

Where to Stay: Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview, Hilton Garden Inn, Historic Wilson-Guy House

Bancroft and Silent Lake Provincial Park

Bancroft and Silent Lake Provincial Park are perfect for a weekend getaway for rockhounds and those looking for beautiful Canadian Shield scenery.

As the mineral capital of Canada, Bancroft is the perfect destination if you are into finding neat gemstones and rocks. The area is home to a huge variety of minerals and gems and even holds an annual Rockhound Gemboree. You can check out the local Mineral Museum and popular rockhounding sites in the area. One of the easiest to access is the Princess Sodalite Mine Rock Shop. It operates both as a gift shop for precious stones and as a place where you can pick through their rock pile to find your own treasures.

If hunting for rocks isn’t your thing, check out Silent Lake Provincial Park. This is a great place to stay for the weekend if you enjoy camping. Silent Lake is perfect for renting a canoe and exploring. Silent Lake is also great for swimming and the park has quite a few nice hiking trails.

While in the area, you may want to check out Eagle’s Nest Lookout, just outside of Bancroft for gorgeous views over the area. Egan Chutes Provincial Park is another great spot to stop. It’s just a short hike to a beautiful waterfall.

Where to Stay: Silent Lake Provincial Park, Somerset Lakeside Resort, Sword Inn

Huntsville and Arrowhead Provincial Park

Located right in Muskoka, Huntsville and Arrowhead Provincial Park is a fantastic year-round destination. This can be done either as a day trip from Toronto or as a weekend away. Arrowhead is on the edge of Huntsville so you can either camp at the park or stay in Huntville to explore it. This is a fantastic destination for autumn travel as there are gorgeous fall colours in Huntsville.

On the way to Huntsville, I suggest taking highway 117 towards Baysville. At Baysville, take Brunel Road (Hwy 2) north towards Huntsville. You can either then follow it to Huntsville or follow South Portage Road (Hwy 9) alongside the massive Lake of Bays for fantastic views. There are lots of scenic drives around the Huntsville area. Lion’s Lookout is right in Huntsville and is a great place to get a view over the town.

Arrowhead Provincial Park is great for hiking year-round. The park is particularly striking with the fall colours. One thing not to miss is the Big Bend Lookout. It’s just a short walk from a parking lot and gives you great views over the river. After that, check out the Stubbs Falls Trail that will take you to the waterfall. Arrowhead also has cycling trails and you can rent canoes to explore Arrowhead Lake.

In the winter, you can rent snowshoes or cross-country skies to explore the park. One of the highlights at Arrowhead is the skating trail they have open in the winter months. It’s the perfect winter wonderland break from the city.

Limberlost Forest is a close drive from Arrowhead and also has some really great hikes as well as a scenic road to drive. Limberlost is a private reserve but free to the public for day use. There are campsites and cabins that you can book here as well.

Where to Stay: Arrowhead Provincial Park, Limberlost Forest, Deerhurst Resort, Holiday Inn Huntsville

Peterborough and the Kawarthas

People have long been vacationing in the Kawarthas and it’s a great destination from Toronto for a road trip. There are plenty of cottages and resorts that you can stay at or you can find some budget-friendly options in Peterborough. There are also plenty of camping options including at Warsaw Caves.

Peterborough has a couple of things that are going to be of interest to those that are looking for budget-friendly options. First of all, Peterborough has a free zoo. Riverview Park and Zoo is the perfect stop if you’re taking a road trip with kids. Secondly, during summer Peterborough hosts free concerts in the park every weekend.

One of the most unique places to visit in the Kawartha’s is the Warsaw Caves. There are some nice trails here that take in views of Indian River (and the spot it disappears!) and the unique karst landscape. There are also caves that you can explore. If the caves are open, I highly recommend wearing clothes that you do not mind getting dirty. These are not clean caves you can walk around in. These are crawl around in caves and I ended up totally covered in mud.

A small waterfall worth stopping at is Burleigh Falls. It’s located on the way to another great stop, Petroglyphs Provincial Park. The park has the largest collection of petroglyphs in Canada and this sacred site contains carvings by the Ojibway people including carvings of turtles, snakes, and humans. There is a fantastic interpretive centre that helps make sense of all the petroglyphs. Another highlight at Petroglyphs Provincial Park is McGinnis Lake, a bright green lake that is a bit of a rarity in this part of Canada.

These are just a few of the things you can explore on a weekend in the Kawartha Lakes, there is plenty to keep you occupied on a road trip here.

Where to Stay: Warsaw Caves, Burleigh Falls Inn, Islandview Cottages

Algonquin Park

Algonquin Provincial Park is one of the best parks we have in Ontario. This massive park can be explored either along Highway 60 or if you are a more intrepid traveller, you can venture into the more remote parts of the park on foot or by canoe. While I have this as a weekend road trip, the truth is that you could easily spend a week or more exploring Algonquin. It is possible to do it as a day trip, I would join a tour though so I didn’t have to do all that driving in one day.

Canisbay and Pog Lake are both excellent choices for campsites at Algonquin Park. They both have great beaches and more secluded campsites than the other car accessible campsites in the park. The park also has private lodges if you aren’t a camper.

The drive from Toronto to Algonquin Provincial Park takes you through lots of great scenery. Oxtongue River-Ragged Falls Provincial Park is a great quick stop with one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Ontario.

There are plenty of hikes in Algonquin that are accessible from Highway 60. One of the most popular is Algonquin Lookout Trail. This short hike takes you up to a viewpoint where you can look out over the park. Another great hike with good views is the Centennial Ridges Trail. Lake Opeongo is a great option for renting a canoe and paddling for the afternoon.

In addition to great hiking and canoeing, there is also the Visitor Centre, Art Centre, and Logging Museum to check out if you want to add a little culture to your getaway (or have a rainy day!).

Barron Canyon is a worth a mention even though it is is a little more difficult to access than just being off of Highway 60. It’s on the east side of the park, a 5 hour drive from Toronto, so it probably isn’t suitable for a weekend road trip to Algonquin but is a great choice if you are staying for longer. A short hike takes you to a 100 m deep canyon.

Where to Stay: Algonquin Park, Bartlett Lodge, Killarney Lodge, Spring Lake Resort

Ontario Road Trips for a Week or More

Not everywhere can be visited on a road trip from Toronto in a weekend. In this massive province, some places are just too far away. If you have a week to 10 days, you can explore Northern Ontario and more of the province.

Ontario Portion of the Lake Superior Circle Tour

The Circle Tour takes in all of Lake Superior from Ontario to Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Consider doing just the Ontario part and experiencing the northern and eastern shores of Lake Superior. For this itinerary, you will need at least 7 days but preferably 10.

I suggest starting your Lake Superior road trip by doing a big day of driving and ending up in Pancake Bay or Lake Superior Provincial Park. If you aren’t a camper, you may want to spend your first night in Sault Ste Marie instead and then explore Lake Superior Provincial Park from Wawa. Highlights here include Agawa Rock Pictographs, Bathtub Island, Old Woman Bay, and Sand Falls. After spending a couple of days exploring this area, head towards Pukaskwa National Park. On route, make sure you stop by Wawa to check out the giant Wawa Goose statue. I did this trip in 9 days and you can see full details in my Northern Ontario road trip guide here.

In Pukaskwa, one of the highlights is the White River Suspension Bridge over Chigamiwinigum Falls. From Pukaskwa National Park, explore some of the gems of Lake Superior’s northern shore while en route to Thunder Bay.

Some places you may want to stop at on the northern shore of Lake Superior include Aguasabon Falls, Masukama Falls, Kama Bay Lookout, and Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park. There are plenty of other viewpoints and places to stop at between Pukaskwa and Thunder Bay if you have more time.

In Thunder Bay, make sure to stop at the Terry Fox Memorial and head past Thunder Bay to see Kakabeka Falls. Hiking to the top of the giant in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is also not to be missed as it is one of the best hikes in the province. Another fun stop on your road trip is one of the amethyst mines to pick up a great souvenir.

After Thunder Bay, you may want to have a single night stopover somewhere like Batchawana Bay before heading back to southern Ontario to break up the 15 hour drive.

Road Trip to Lake Huron and Georgian Bay

You can do this Ontario road trip in about a week. Explore the highlights of the Lake Huron region and see some of the most beautiful crystal clear water that Ontario has to offer.

Start off your trip by heading to Wasaga Beach and then on to the Bruce Peninsula for a couple of days. See all the highlights of the Bruce Peninsula like the Grotto and Flowerpot Island.

After the Bruce Peninsula, take the Chi Cheeman ferry from Tobermory to Manitoulin Island. Manitoulin Island is the largest freshwater island in the world and there is gorgeous scenery here. The island has one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Ontario at Bridal Veil Falls and a fantastic hike with great views at the Cup and Saucer Trail. With great food, breweries, and cute lighthouses like Mississagi Lighthouse, there is enough to keep road trippers busy for anywhere from two days to a week.

On your way to Sudbury, stop at Willisville Hiking Trail for a 1km hike that will give you fantastic views of the La Cloche Mountains. If you have time, it’s worth spending a couple of days in Killarney Provincial Park to really experience the mountains. In Sudbury, make sure you stop at the Big Nickel, a monument to Sudbury’s role in the nickel industry. Another highlight in Sudbury is the Science North museum.

From Sudbury, head either to Killbear Provincial Park to spend a couple of days or to Parry Sound. The highlight here are the 30,000 islands that make up Georgian Bay. The best way to explore them is by taking a cruise around the islands.

On the way back to Toronto from Parry Sound, you may want to make a slight detour to Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh. There are year-round activities here, including a skating trail, but autumn is the best time to visit to take a bog tour and see the cranberry harvest.

Road Trip of Eastern Ontario

Eastern Ontario can offer up charming cities, some of the best Lake Ontario views, and the oldest provincial park in the country at Algonquin. This road trip has a little something for everyone. You need 7-10 days for this itinerary.

Start your road trip by heading to Prince Edward County and Sandbanks Provincial Park. You can easily spend two days here exploring the sand dunes and the wineries but if you are short on time, you can do a lot in a single day at Sandbanks. Either spend the night in a cute B&B here or take the 1.5 hour drive to Kingston and spend the night there.

Kingston is one of Ontario’s oldest cities, and was briefly the capital of Canada. It has plenty of historic buildings to explore and a World Heritage Site at the Rideau Canal. There are two very worthy sites to explore here. Fort Henry is perfect for history buffs as it was built during the War of 1812. The Kingston Penitentiary is a now-defunct maximum security prison that was opened in 1835 and housed some of Canada’s most notorious criminals.

After exploring Kingston, spend a day at Thousand Islands National Park. Thousand Islands is best explored by joining a scenic cruise from Gananoque. Cruises take around different islands, with some cruises including the option to stop at Boldt Castle (though you will need a passport!). If you don’t want to join a cruise, there are shuttle boats to some of the islands or you can rent kayaks and canoes.

From the Thousand Islands, drive to Ottawa. There is plenty in Ottawa to keep you busy for 2-3 days. Highlights here are Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal, and exploring some of the museums like the Canadian War Museum or the Canadian Museum of Nature.

End your trip by spending some time in Algonquin Provincial Park exploring highlights like Barron Canyon, Lookout Trail, and Lake Opeongo.

Ontario Road Trips

Whether you are exploring closer to home or this is your first visit to Canada, Ontario road trips are the perfect way to explore the best sites in the province. Road trips are one of my favourite ways to travel and Ontario is perfectly suited for that style of travel. With tons of fantastic scenery, Ontario is a great alternative to an international vacation.

Like this? Pin it for later!