Road Trip Ideas for Ontario Drivers

I've put more kilometres on my odometer exploring Ontario than I'd probably care to admit to my mechanic. But here's the thing about this province: you can drive for twelve hours in one direction and still not hit the border. Ontario is massive, absurdly so, and that means there's always another route worth discovering. After years of weekend escapes and week-long loops, these are the six road trips I keep recommending to anyone who asks.

Each of these routes is something I've personally driven, most of them multiple times. I've included real distances, realistic time estimates that account for actual human behaviour (you will stop for food, you will take photos, your kids will need a bathroom), and the stops that are genuinely worth your time versus the ones that look better on Instagram than they do in person.

1. The Thousand Islands Parkway

Route: Kingston to Brockville along the Thousand Islands Parkway
Distance: ~90 km one way
Time: Half day to full day
Best season: June through October

This is one of the most underappreciated drives in the province. The Thousand Islands Parkway runs parallel to Highway 401 between Kingston and Brockville, but it feels like a different planet. Where the 401 is trucks and concrete, the Parkway is a quiet two-lane road that hugs the St. Lawrence River with views of the islands scattered across the water.

Stop at the Thousand Islands Tower near Lansdowne for an aerial view that actually justifies the admission price. The Skydeck gives you a 360-degree panorama of the river and islands that's hard to beat. If you're a history buff, Fort Henry in Kingston is worth the detour on either end.

The road itself is flat and easy driving, perfect if you want scenery without white-knuckle curves. Pack a lunch and eat at one of the riverside parks. Bring binoculars. You'll want them.

2. Lake Superior Coastal Drive

Route: Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay via Highway 17
Distance: ~700 km
Time: 2-3 days minimum
Best season: July through September

This is the epic one. If you only do one road trip in Ontario, this might be the one. Highway 17 along the north shore of Lake Superior is consistently ranked among the best drives in Canada, and for once, the hype is justified. The lake is so vast it creates its own weather systems, and the road winds through boreal forest with periodic breaks where Superior just appears, enormous and impossibly blue.

Must-stop points include Lake Superior Provincial Park (the Agawa Rock pictographs are a moderate hike to Indigenous rock paintings right on the lake shore), White River (the birthplace of Winnie the Pooh, seriously), and the Terry Fox Memorial just outside Thunder Bay, which hits harder than you expect it to.

Practical concerns: fuel up at every opportunity. There are stretches of 100+ kilometres between gas stations. Cell service is nonexistent for long sections. Prepare your vehicle for the distance before you go, this is genuine wilderness driving. And watch for moose, especially at dawn and dusk. I'm not being dramatic. A moose collision at highway speed is one of the most dangerous things that can happen on Ontario roads.

3. Prince Edward County Wine Trail

Route: Loop from Belleville through Picton and the County
Distance: ~120 km loop
Time: Full day or weekend
Best season: May through October

Prince Edward County has transformed itself over the past decade into Ontario's answer to wine country, and the driving is part of the charm. The roads through the County are quiet, mostly flat, and wind past vineyards, lavender fields, and limestone farmhouses that look like they belong in a European countryside.

The designated driver gets the short end of the stick here, obviously, but the County's restaurants have gotten genuinely excellent. The Drake Devonshire in Wellington is worth a reservation, and there are farm-gate shops along the roads selling everything from artisan cheese to fresh-pressed cider.

Take Highway 33 (the Loyalist Parkway) from Trenton to Picton for the scenic approach. It follows the Bay of Quinte shoreline and passes through some beautiful loyalist-era towns. The road into Picton through the rolling hills on County Road 1 is my preferred route in fall when the harvest colours are out.

4. Ottawa Valley Run

Route: Ottawa to Algonquin Park via Highway 17 and the Opeongo Line
Distance: ~300 km round trip
Time: Full day to two days
Best season: September and October for colours, May for waterfalls

The Ottawa Valley doesn't get the tourist attention it deserves, which honestly is part of the appeal. Highway 17 west from Ottawa takes you through Arnprior, Renfrew, and into lumber country. The valley has its own distinct character, rougher and more rugged than the polished cottage country further south.

The Opeongo Line (Highway 60 corridor into Algonquin Park) is the highlight. The road rolls through dense hardwood forest that becomes an absolute inferno of colour in late September. Stop at one of the park's access points even if you're not camping. The Algonquin Park Visitor Centre has a lookout that gives you an overview of the canopy that's genuinely breathtaking during peak colour.

Check out our detailed Ottawa Valley driving guide for more on this region, including the back roads and small towns most people miss.

5. Niagara Escarpment Drive

Route: Hamilton to Tobermory along the escarpment
Distance: ~300 km
Time: 2-3 days
Best season: May through October

The Niagara Escarpment is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, and driving along its spine takes you through some of the most diverse landscapes in southern Ontario. Start in Hamilton at the escarpment edge, where a series of waterfalls cascade over the cliff face. Webster's Falls and Tew's Falls are the famous ones, but there are dozens of smaller falls along the Hamilton section alone.

Head northwest through the rolling farmland of Grey and Bruce counties. The road climbs and descends the escarpment repeatedly, giving you alternating views of the lowlands and the ridge-top forests. Eugenia Falls near Flesherton is an underrated stop, quieter than the Hamilton falls with a beautiful gorge setting.

This route connects naturally with the Georgian Bay drives once you reach the Collingwood area. If you have the time, continuing north to Tobermory along Highway 6 turns this into a week-long adventure that covers the best of southern Ontario.

6. Algonquin Highlands Circuit

Route: Huntsville through Algonquin Park via Highway 60, return via Bancroft and Highway 28
Distance: ~400 km loop
Time: 2 days
Best season: Late September to mid-October

This loop takes you through the heart of Algonquin Park and back through the Haliburton Highlands, and in fall it might be the single most beautiful drive in Ontario. Highway 60 through Algonquin is the main corridor, but the return route through Bancroft and up Highway 28 is the hidden gem. The road follows the York River valley through terrain that looks like a Group of Seven painting come to life.

Stop at the Algonquin Art Centre if it's open, and definitely pull over at the Lookout Trail (a quick 30-minute hike to a panoramic view of the park). On the return leg, Bancroft is a good lunch stop and has an interesting mineral museum if you need to stretch your legs.

Check Algonquin Provincial Park's website for the fall colour report, which gives you a week-by-week update on where the colours are peaking. Timing your drive to match peak colour turns a great trip into an unforgettable one.

Before You Hit the Road

A few things apply to all of these trips. Make sure your vehicle is up for the distance. Tires, fluids, brakes, the basics. Our road trip packing list covers what to bring beyond the obvious. And always check road conditions before you leave, especially for the northern routes where construction season and Ontario weather can both throw curveballs.

The best road trips I've taken in this province weren't the ones I planned down to the minute. They were the ones where I had a general direction, a full tank, and the flexibility to pull over when something caught my eye. Ontario rewards that kind of driving. Get out there.