Small Town Ontario Road Trips

Ontario's small towns are the antidote to everything that makes driving in this province frustrating. No traffic, no rush, no massive parking lots, no one leaning on their horn. Just quiet main streets, locally owned shops, and the kind of pace that reminds you why you own a car in the first place, not to commute, but to go somewhere worth going.

I've been collecting favourite small towns across Ontario for years, pulling off highways on a hunch, following hand-painted signs, and occasionally getting genuinely lost on county roads. These seven are the ones I keep going back to, the ones I send friends to when they ask where to go for a day trip or a weekend escape. Each one has a distinct character, and the drives to get there are half the fun.

Elora

Where: Wellington County, about 90 minutes northwest of Toronto
Best route: Highway 401 to Highway 6 north through Guelph, then County Road 7 west to Elora

Elora exists because of the gorge. The Grand River carved a limestone canyon right through the middle of what became the town, and the 19th-century mill buildings that line it give the whole place a dramatic, almost European feel. The Elora Gorge itself is the star, a 22-metre deep limestone gorge with trails along the rim and tubing in the river during summer.

The town has excellent restaurants, independent shops, and the kind of main street that makes you want to walk slowly. The Fergus-Elora corridor, two towns separated by a few kilometres of pretty river road, offers enough for a full day. The Elora Quarry, when it's open for swimming, is one of the best swimming holes in southern Ontario, a crystal-clear flooded quarry surrounded by cliffs.

The drive through Wellington County on the back roads is rolling farmland that's genuinely attractive. County Road 7 through Ponsonby is a nice alternative to Highway 6 if you're not in a hurry.

Bayfield

Where: Huron County, on Lake Huron, about 2.5 hours west of Toronto
Best route: Highway 401 to Highway 8 through Stratford, then Highway 21 north to Bayfield

Bayfield is a tiny village on the Lake Huron bluffs that has no business being as charming as it is. The main street runs down to a harbour with a pier, and the heritage buildings house galleries, a bookshop, a couple of excellent restaurants, and an inn that's been operating since the 1800s. The population is well under a thousand, but the quality of what's there is remarkable.

The drive through Stratford adds another dimension to this trip. If you time it right, you can catch a matinee at the Stratford Festival and arrive in Bayfield for dinner. The roads through Perth and Huron counties are flat but beautiful in a prairie-like way, with huge skies and agricultural landscapes that stretch to the horizon.

The sunset over Lake Huron from the Bayfield bluffs is worth the entire drive. I've timed entire trips around getting there before sunset, and it has never disappointed.

Merrickville

Where: Leeds and Grenville County, about 90 minutes south of Ottawa
Best route: Highway 401 to Highway 416 north, exit at County Road 43 west

Merrickville calls itself "the jewel of the Rideau" and it's not overselling itself. The town sits on the Rideau Canal (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and its stone heritage buildings are among the best-preserved in Ontario. The blockhouse at the canal lock station dates to the 1830s, and the main street feels like a step back in time without being artificially preserved.

There's a strong artisan community here, and the shops reflect that. Handmade pottery, blown glass, local art. The restaurants use local ingredients and do it well. The Baldachin Inn is the kind of place that makes you wonder why you ever eat at chain restaurants.

The drive from the 401 interchange through the Grenville countryside is pleasant and easy, passing through rolling terrain with stone fences and old farmhouses. If you're coming from Ottawa, the route along the Rideau Canal via Highway 15 and County Road 43 is more scenic than the 416.

Westport

Where: Leeds and Grenville County, at the head of Upper Rideau Lake, about 2.5 hours from Toronto
Best route: Highway 401 to Highway 15 north from Kingston

Westport is cottage country for eastern Ontario, and it has a relaxed, waterfront feel that's completely different from the Muskoka scene. The town sits at the head of Upper Rideau Lake, and the main street runs down to a public beach and marina. It's small, maybe a thousand people year-round, but the summer population swells and the town punches above its weight with restaurants, a small brewery, and a general store that's worth browsing.

The drive from Kingston on Highway 15 takes you through the Frontenac Arch, a geological formation where the Canadian Shield crosses the St. Lawrence lowlands. The road winds through rocky terrain with lakes and forest, and it's surprisingly scenic for a route most people have never heard of. The Frontenac Arch is also a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, one of the few places in Ontario where the Shield ecosystem overlaps with the southern hardwood forests.

Westport connects naturally with a Merrickville visit for a two-town weekend in eastern Ontario. The roads between them follow the Rideau system and are lovely.

Almonte

Where: Lanark County, about 40 minutes west of Ottawa
Best route: Highway 417 (Trans-Canada) west to Highway 49 south

Almonte has undergone a renaissance in the past decade. The former textile mill town on the Mississippi River (yes, Ontario has its own Mississippi) has reinvented itself as a destination for food, craft, and community. The old mill buildings have been converted into shops, studios, and a heritage museum. The town's main street is walkable and lined with independent businesses.

What makes Almonte special is that it feels genuine, not manufactured for tourists. The bakeries bake because people live here and need bread. The restaurants serve the community first and visitors second. The Christmas shopping season is particularly good, with local artisans selling from the mill buildings.

Almonte is an easy day trip from Ottawa, but it also sits on the edge of the Ottawa Valley driving routes, making it a natural starting point for a longer exploration of the region. The drive west through Lanark County toward Perth (another small town worth a stop) is beautiful country road driving.

Picton

Where: Prince Edward County, about 2.5 hours east of Toronto
Best route: Highway 401 to Highway 49 south from Deseronto, or Highway 33 (Loyalist Parkway) from Trenton

Picton is the unofficial capital of Prince Edward County, and the County has become one of the most popular weekend destinations in Ontario. The combination of wineries, restaurants, beaches (Sandbanks Provincial Park has some of the best freshwater beaches in the world), and a growing arts scene has put the County on the map in a major way.

Picton itself is a working town with a beautiful harbour, a main street that's filling up with interesting shops and eateries, and a century-old movie theatre (the Regent) that's still operating. The surrounding County roads pass through vineyard country, past farm stands, and along the Lake Ontario shoreline.

The Loyalist Parkway (Highway 33) from Trenton is the scenic approach, following the Bay of Quinte through loyalist-era towns. It's longer than taking the 401 to Highway 49, but it's a much more enjoyable drive, and it sets the tone for a County visit. Our Ontario road trip guide includes more detail on the Prince Edward County wine trail route.

Goderich

Where: Huron County, on Lake Huron, about 2.5 hours northwest of Toronto
Best route: Highway 401 to Highway 8 through Kitchener-Waterloo, then Highway 8 continues west to Goderich

Queen Victoria reportedly called Goderich "the prettiest town in Canada," and while that might be apocryphal, it's not wrong. The town is built around an octagonal central square, one of the only ones in North America, with the historic Huron County courthouse at its centre. Streets radiate out from the square like spokes, and the whole layout gives the town a distinctive character.

The bluffs above Lake Huron are the other draw. The Menesetung Bridge and the trail along the Maitland River provide excellent walking, and the town beach at the base of the bluffs is expansive. Goderich also has a working salt mine (one of the largest in the world) that you can tour in summer.

The drive to Goderich through Kitchener-Waterloo and across the flat farmland of Perth and Huron counties is easy driving with big skies. Highway 8 is a straight, well-maintained two-lane highway that covers the distance efficiently. For the return trip, consider going south to Bayfield and then east through Stratford for a different perspective on the same landscape.

Making the Most of Small-Town Trips

A few things I've learned about small-town Ontario road tripping. First, check seasonal hours before you go. Many of these towns have businesses that operate on reduced hours outside of summer, and some close entirely from November through April. A quick look at a town's website or social media saves you from arriving to find everything shuttered.

Second, cash is still king in some of these places. Not every small shop or market stall takes cards, especially at farmers' markets and roadside stands. Carry some cash.

Third, slow down on the approach roads. Small-town speed limits drop quickly, and local police or OPP in small towns enforce them. Getting a speeding ticket on the way into a charming village is a lousy way to start a visit.

For more off-highway driving tips, especially if your small-town route takes you onto rural roads, check our guide on driving tips for rural Ontario. And for help planning accommodations and events in these communities, Destination Ontario maintains listings and seasonal event calendars for towns across the province.