How To Road Trip Ontario: A Slow Traveler’s Guide
If you’re keen to road trip Ontario but want a slower travel experience that takes you through quaint small towns and stunning natural scenery, we’ve got a great itinerary for one of the best road trips in Ontario, a Canadian province that’s perfect Canadian for aslow travel road trip.
Covering more than 415,000 square miles (1 million square kilometers), the province is an area larger than the countries of France and Spain!
你会没完没了的事情,,enjoy in Ontario because the province has plenty of cities, national parks, towns, and of course, beautifully varied landscapes.
Road Trip Ontario Slowly
Slow travel is all about getting off-the well worn path when you travel, staying longer, and exploring the places often undiscovered or under-appreciated. Likewise, traveling slowly through Ontario is the best way to really get a feel for the province.
Because it’s such a diverse region of Canada, both culturally and ecologically, it could take a lifetime to really get to know Ontario. Rather than rushing through the stops on your road trip, try to spend several days (or weeks, if you can!) in each place, so that you can really take it all in.
If you’ve been looking for good Ontario road trip ideas, our guide will help you get started with planning a slow road trip through scenic parts of Ontario many people aren’t familiar with.
Beginning inAlgonquin Park, this Ontario road trip itinerary makes additional stops in the small town ofOrillia,capital city ofToronto, and finallyPoint Pelee National Park,the southernmost point in Canada. The suggested stops are all in the southern region of the province, so driving times between locations are never longer than 5 hours.
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Slow Travel Ontario Road Trip Itinerary
Algonquin Park
Orillia
Toronto
Point Pelee National Park
Take in Canadian Nature in Algonquin Park
A stop in Algonquin Provincial Park is a must when you road trip Ontario, so it makes a perfect starting point on this trip. Algonquin has long been a favorite for Canadians as well as visitors from abroad.
With over 7,000 square kilometers of wilderness, 1,500 lakes, 1,200 campsites, 2,000 canoe routes, and countless hiking trails, you can easily spend many days or weeks exploring the park.
As far back as 9000 years ago, First Nations lived throughout Ontario, including Algonquin Park. In 1893, the park was established as a Provincial park, and it was named after the Algonquin, the Indigenous people who inhabited the region.
If you’re making a stop in Algonquin, consider camping inside the park. Algonquin has many campgrounds that have plenty of amenities. If you don’t have camping equipment, you can instead rent a cabin or an “oTentik” (a permanent tent outfitted with beds and kitchenware) through Ontario Parks. Alternatively, you can book a hotel orglampingsite nearby the park!
Where to Stay in Algonquin Park?
Greystone on Golden Lake
This adults only lodge has free parking, a lovely outdoor pool for seasonal swimming, and a pretty garden you can stroll. It’s close to Deacon with lots to do, and you’ll love the full English breakfast!
The Bonnie View Inn
For the best combo of great service and beautiful location, it’s really hard to beat The Bonnie View, located right on the shore of Lake Kashagawigamog. The small country inn has its own private beach and an excellent lakeside dining room with that stunning view. Plus, it’s just an hour's drive from Gravenhurst and Bracebridge.
Here are a couple things you shouldn’t miss while visiting Algonquin Park:
Go paddling on one of Algonquin’s lakes
There’s nothing like going for a relaxing paddle on one of Algonquin Park’s beautiful lakes. A personal favorite is going out ontoRock Lake. If you don’t have your own canoe, paddleboard, or kayak, you can easily rent one just for day use, or for several days.
There are a couple convenient shops where you can rent your equipment from: Algonquin Outfitters, Opeongo Outfitters, and Algonquin Bound Outfitters. Just be sure to call ahead to reserve what you need.
Hike one of Algonquin’s trails
One of the great things about Algonquin Park is that it has a variety of trails that range in difficulty. There are plenty of short hikes, 1-3 kilometers long, likeWhiskey Rapids TrailandThe Lookout Trail. These can be done in 30 minutes to 1 hour, and they reward you with beautiful views.
For a medium difficulty hike, try theTrack & Tower trail. It’s a 7.5 kilometer loop which is mostly flat, except for a middle portion that requires you to go uphill and climb a couple flights of wooden stairs. The uphill part is tough, but it’s worth it because when you get to the top, you have a beautiful view out overCache Lake.
Visit Algonquin Park’s Museums
TheAlgonquin Visitor Centrehas a restaurant, viewing deck, gift store, and museum exhibits. The museum covers the human history of the park, as well as the ecology and wildlife of the park. It’s free to visit the centre, and it’s open year-round.
TheAlgonquin Park Logging Museum有一个礼品商店和一个简短的室内展览吗introduces you to the history of logging in the area. Then, you can head outside to walk a trail that brings you through the rest of the open air museum. It’s a 1.5 kilometer loop which includes recreated scenes of logging life.
Enjoy Small Town Ontario Life in Orillia
Some of the best Ontario road trips wind through the charming small towns mostly known by the locals who live there.Orilliais one such place — a large Ontario town that’s home to around 30,500 people. Located about a 1.5 hour drive north of Toronto, it’s nestled betweenLake CouchichingandLake Simcoe.
Because Orillia is right on the edge of Muskoka, many weekenders know it as the spot to stop for a grocery run or quick lunch on their way up to Algonquin Park or the cottage.
在一个缓慢的安大略省旅游公路旅行,it’s worth stopping for a while in Orillia so that you can get a sense of what small town life in Ontario is like. It may be small, but Orillia has plenty to offer besides a grocery run!
It’s a pretty town that has museums, restaurants, trendy shops, a waterfront boardwalk and plenty of outdoor spaces that will keep you busy for days on end.
Where to Stay in Orillia?
The Champlain Waterfront Hotel, an Ascend Hotel Collection
This historic boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Orillia is so pretty and just minutes from the waterfront at Lake Couchiching. There’s a nice onsite restaurant and it’s close to everything. A nice hotel and great value too!
Here are a couple things you shouldn’t miss while visiting Orillia:
Shop in Orillia’s farmer’s markets
Orillia has two farmer’s markets that are worth checking out. The downtown market is, of course, downtown, making it super accessible. Then, there’s theOrillia Fairgrounds Market. At both, you can discover local artisans, try locally made foods, and buy fresh produce.
Stroll Down Mississaga Street
Mississaga Street is considered Orillia’s main street. There, you’ll find lots of trendy boutiques selling everything from cottage decor to clothing. TheMariposa Marketis an Orillia staple, having been on the main street for over 30 years. The Mariposa has a gift shop, bakery, market, and a scent shop. When you’re hungry, head to theStudabakerspatio, and then drop byCouchiching Craft Breweryfor a locally made beer.
Enjoy nature around Orillia
If you’d like to enjoy Orillia’s nature, walk the Couchiching Beach Park Boardwalk, or hike the Scout Valley Loop Trail. For a gorgeous sunset and swim, drive 10 minutes out of town to Bass Lake. This beautiful little lake is home to one of Ontario's Provincial Parks. It’s possible to camp in the park, or simply go for day use. Bass Lake has a beach, playground, picnic areas, and canoe rentals!
Explore Toronto, the Capital of Ontario
The next stop on your slow travel Ontario road trip is Ontario’s capital city,Toronto! It’s hard to imagine any trip to Canada without a visit to Toronto — truly one ofthe best places to visit in Canada.
With over 6 million people spread across the city’s boroughs and neighborhoods, Toronto is Canada’s biggest city, and also its most multicultural. Statistics Canada reports that Toronto is Canada’s mostlinguistically diverse city, and this diversity shows.
You’ll notice cultural boroughs like Chinatown, hear Torontonians speaking in many different languages throughout the city, and discover restaurants servingfood from many different cultures. This diversity is part of what makes Toronto so special.
Toronto is city for many styles and budgets — many of theattractions can be explored inexpensively, or you can find high-style in a hurry if you budget allows, from luxury digs to the most happening eateries.
Toronto is one city that boasts many ofCanada’s top attractions, and you can easily spend many days or weeks exploring because there’s so much to do. There are over 50 permanent museums, over 1500 parks, an endless supply of restaurants, and tons of opportunities for shopping. The city has a great public transport system called the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) which will get you everywhere you need to go.
Where to Stay in Toronto?
The Drake Hotel
Looking for hip and chic in Queens Street West? This 19 room boutique hotel has cool, vintage decor and a great spot for enjoying local culture, not to mention food and drinks in their in-house bars and nearby. The comp bike rentals should seal the deal.
The Broadview Hotel
Located in the heart of Toronto’s refurbished Distillery District, the boutique Broadview is a historic east end neighborhood landmark that dates to 1891, but is now a stylishly restored 58-room hotel. Each room is completely unique with fun amenities like mini-bars chock full of locally sourced goodies.
Here are a couple things you shouldn’t miss while visiting Toronto:
Explore Toronto’s different neighborhoods
Toronto is made up of many neighborhoods which all have a distinct vibe. And because Toronto is so well connected by public transport, you can easily neighborhood hop from one to another. Grab a streetcar or subway train to travel between the neighborhoods, and then explore them on foot.
Some notable neighborhoods are Kensington Market, known for its laid back and artistic vibe. Near Kensington is Chinatown, which has historically been home to immigrants from Hong Kong and China, as far back as the 1870s. It’s one of the largest Chinatowns in North America! Others to check out include Harbourfront, Queen Street West, The Village, Yorkville, and Parkdale.
Learn in Toronto’s museums
Toronto has a wide variety of museums. From theHockey Hall of FametoRipley’s Aquarium of Canada,re’s something for everyone!
If you’re looking to enjoy Canadian art, head toThe Art Gallery of Ontario(known by Torontonians as theA.G.O.) which features a collection of close to 95,000 works from Canada, as well as art from the global art scene. To delve into history, head to theThe Royal Museum of Ontario,Agha Khan Museum, and theSpadina House.
Visit the Toronto Islands
Toronto is right on the shores of Lake Ontario, and just off the coast of the city there’s a collection of small picturesque islands called theToronto Islands. The best road trips from Toronto always include a visit here.
In the summertime, these islands are a haven for Torontonians who head there to lounge on the beaches, go swimming, rent a bike to cycle the trails, or hang out in theCentreville Theme Park. Ferries to the islands run regularly!
Point Pelee National Park
Just a four hour drive south of Toronto you can stand at the southernmost point in Canada atPoint Pelee National Park, one of Canada’s most scenic national parks. This makes it a perfect stop on your Ontario road trip. This southern park is unique because it is Ontario’s smallest park, and it’s actually a peninsula. The park juts out into one of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie, forming into a long, sharp point.
Before Point Pelee became settled by Europeans it was home to First Nations. The park is on the traditional territory of theAnishinaabe,Haudenosaunee andMiamipeoples. Indigenous history in Point Pelee goes back as early as 600 CE, and it wasn’t until 1918 that it became an official national park.
This park is a fantastic place to hunker down for a week. You can spend days wandering Point Pelee’s different trails, kayaking through the marshes, cycling, bird watching, or relaxing on one of Point Pelee’s 20 kilometers of sandy beaches.
If you’re looking to explore some of the region surrounding Point Pelee National Park, you’re in luck — there’s tons to see! You can go walking in nearby conservation areas, spend time in beautiful towns likeAmherstburg, check out local wineries and breweries, and even drop by a lavender farm.
Where to Stay Near Point Pelee National Park?
Omstead's On Erie B&B
Just a 20 minute drive to Point Pelee and local North Shore wineries is this lovely B&B in the fishing village of Wheatley, Ontario. As the name suggests,Omstead's On Erie B&Bsits directly on Lake Erie with outdoor lounge chairs to get lost in the view. Even closer to your bed is Wheatley Provincial Park, just 2 miles away.
Here are a couple things you shouldn’t miss while visiting Point Pelee:
Walk out to “The Tip”
When visiting the park, youhave to hike out to the famous “Tip.” The experience of hiking through the sand to the very edge of the peninsula is exciting, and it’s an awesome spot for photos. Once you’ve stood at The Tip, you can say that you’ve officially stood at the most southern point in mainland Canada. This point is so south, it’s actually further south than the most northern border of California!
Go birdwatching
Point Pelee National Park is one of North America’s most renowned spots for birdwatching! In the spring and fall, you can watch bird and butterfly migrations, and in the spring the park hosts the annualFestival of Birds.
Enjoy gazing at the stars
Point Pelee is a designatedDark Sky Preserve, protected areas that make a special commitment to protect and preserve the night, reducing or eliminating light pollution in all forms. There are 13 designated Dark Sky Preserves across Canada, and they are the best spots to go stargazing in the country.
On specific nights of every month, you can stay late inPoint Pelee National Park望着星星。黑暗的天空的夜晚是held on the best night sky viewing dates, based on the moon. Be sure to check online to find out when the Dark Sky night will be, so you can plan accordingly.
Best Time to Slow Travel Ontario?
If you’re looking to avoid the chilly weather, head to Ontario between the months of May and November. This is the best time to slow travel across Ontario and enjoy milder temps.
If you’re ready to explore incredible nature, discover diverse culture, and experience small town life, then it’s time to go slow traveling across Ontario. While it’s possible to enjoy this road trip at any time of year, in the winter months it’s common to encounter rough driving conditions.
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Author Bio:Erin Hynes is the travel blogger behindPina Travelsand the host ofAlpaca My Bagspodcast. Having lived and traveled in over 30 countries, Erin aims to inspire others not only to travel, but to do so responsibly. Be sure and follow heron Instagramand other social media.