Table of Contents
Located in the heart of the Great Lakes, Toronto is the most picturesque Canadian city. Most tourists believe that the parks, lakes, sights and activities seem endless here. Agreed, there do exist tons of places to visit in Toronto itself. However, if you are more of a road trip fan and wish to explore the nearby places then here are some suggestions. We have compiled a list of ‘Top 7 Scenic Road Trips From Toronto’.
What comes first to your mind when you hear of ‘Canada’? We bet one of the answers would be Niagara Falls. Well, every Canadian road trip destination need not be Niagara Falls, as portrayed in How I Met Your Mother by Robin. Nevertheless, this place deserves a place on our list. Mainly because of its long list of admirers. So fasten your seat belt as we get started from here.
1. Niagara Falls and Niagara-On-The-Lake
Distance from Toronto – 120 miles (193 km)
Driving Time – 2 hours 40 minutes
C’mon who hasn’t heard of the Niagara Falls! They are by far the most popular road trip destination from Toronto. Also, the most talked-about waterfall in the entire world. Hence, it ranks the first on our list of ‘Best Road Trips from Toronto’. Niagara Falls is located on the border between the United States and Canada. To be precise, there are 3 different waterfalls that form Niagara Falls – the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls.
As the water flows from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, over 6 million cubic feet of water drop 50m every minute creating a splendid sight and a lot of noise. This is the most unforgettable experience you can ever come across.
You can also visit the Heritage District located downstream of Lake Ontario. For those who love hiking, Dundas peak located nearby has incredibly stunning views in store.
2. Prince Edward County
Distance from Toronto – 193 miles (311 km)
Driving Time – 4 hours 30 minutes
You have to head east along Lake Ontario’s north shore to reach here. It is located on an island with 4 bridges and a small ferry providing access. The road trip from Toronto to Prince Edward County takes you through countless vineyards. There are dozens of fine restaurants and don’t forget to taste the local wines here. Take home your favourite wines to make the trip more memorable. The drive from Toronto to Prince Edward County may be quite long but the experience is worth it.
3. Muskoka / Lake Rosseau
Distance from Toronto – 129 miles (208 km)
Driving Time – 2 hours 10 minutes
Muskoka is most loved for its lakes including Lake Rosseau, green countryside and beaches. This makes it a perfect choice for an escape from the humdrum of the city. Once you witness the world’s largest Muskoka chair, you’ll know you’ve arrived in ‘cottage country’.
The activities that one can take up here revolve around nature. Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and cycling can be a few of them. The lakes here also offer every watersport that you might be interested in. Due to its location, it is one of the best places to drive to near Toronto.
Fun Fact: Muskoka has summer houses of some of the biggest faces of Hollywood like Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Kurt Russell.
4. Algonquin Provincial Park
Distance from Toronto – 190 miles (306 km)
Driving Time – 3 hours 20 minutes
If you don’t find Muskoka to be the kind of remote you seek, then set your destination as Algonquin Provincial Park. This humongous nature reserve sits northeast of Muskoka and houses thousands of lakes. (Yes, around 2,400 to be precise) It spans 7,700 square kilometres of Ontario. Dense forests, islands and mountains, all of them can be found here.
Route 60 is the easiest way into the park. The wildlife here that consists of moose and bears will surely make this ride, one of the best road trips from Toronto. Just that, to enjoy this place thoroughly you will have to park your car. The most popular way to explore is by canoe.
5. Bruce Peninsula National Park
Distance from Toronto – 185 miles (298 km)
Driving Time – 3 hours 40 minutes
It lies between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. This park is home to everything, from magnificent black bears, rare reptiles to ancient cedar trees.
Note that one of the most important sights here is the Grotto formation along the peninsula’s coast. It is a large archway leading to a cave. Quite popular as a social media backdrop.
The road trip from Toronto to Bruce Peninsula National Park is decently long and filled with breathtaking views. Make sure you enjoy them the most.
6. Kawartha Lakes
Distance from Toronto – 87 miles (139 km)
Driving Time – 1 hour 45 minutes
If you don’t want to drive very far then Kawartha Lakes is an option. This place is as close as it can get to a typical historic Ontario town. Balsam Lake Provincial Park located here offers all permutation and combinations of water sports. Fishing, boating, skiing; you name it and it is present here.
The most unique spots to visit here are the Academy Theatre, Kawartha Settlers Village and the Horseless Carriage Museum. All of this contributes to making Kawartha Lakes a small and sweet road trip from Toronto.
7. St. Catherines
Distance from Toronto – 70 miles (112 km)
Driving Time – 1 hour 15 minutes
St. Catherines is the largest city in Canada’s Niagara region. Despite that, it is often overlooked by most of the travellers on their way to Niagra Falls. Due to its abundance of greenery, it is known as – The Garden City. It is well known for its Bruce Tail alone. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and Canada’s longest trail it is perfect for sports enthusiasts.
Other noteworthy sites include Port Dalhousie, home to St. Catharines’ most popular beach. Also a variety of wineries, like the Henry of Pelham. This is the closest of all destinations for a road trip from Toronto.
The list is never-ending but this blog isn’t. These are handpicked locations that we believe are the best road trips from Toronto. If you have any recommendations to make then please drop them in the comments section below.
We hope you enjoyed reading this blog on ‘Top 9 Scenic Road Trips From Toronto’. If you are an avid traveller then we suggest you check out our other blogs as well.
