Top Ontario Road Trips You Need To Experience
Ontario isn’t just Canada’s most populated province. It’s also packed with jaw-dropping scenic drives, charming small towns, sparkling lakes, and hidden gems that are best discovered on four wheels. Whether you’re craving a quick weekend escape, a longer journey through rolling countryside and rugged wilderness, or are exploring Ontario for your very first time, there is an Ontario road trip waiting with your name on it.
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In this guide, I’ll take you on my favourite Ontario road trips that you absolutely need to experience. We’ll go on some iconic drives that showcase Ontario’s natural beauty, to lesser-known routes that will surprise you with their charm. My goal is to make you fall in love with Ontario all over again, or maybe even fall in love with this beautiful Province for the very first time.
Many of my favourite Ontario road trips are doable over a weekend, but I do recommend budgeting at least 4 days for the majority of them. This will allow you time to relax and enjoy the scenery along the way.
Unlike many road trip articles, this post is all about the actual journey; not the destination. Since you’ll be spending a lot of time in your car, make sure that your vehicle is road trip ready for the perfect road trip. It’s time to hop in and hit the road on a top Ontario road trip!
Top Ontario Road Trips At A Glance
Cruise The Coast: Best for wineries, beaches, hiking, and foodies
Lake Huron Road Trip: Best for small towns, shopping, beaches, lighthouses
Georgian Bay Road Trip: Best for scenery, outdoor adventures, water sports
Ottawa Valley: Best for scenery, natural beauty, adventure enthusiasts
Oxford Cheese Trail: Best for foodies – especially cheese lovers
Cruise The Coast
Cruise The Coast is my absolute favourite Ontario road trip bar none. This road trip will take you along Lake Erie on highway number 3 to the most southerly town in Canada, Kingsville. Kingsville is where I recommend spending the night before heading back home.
Driver’s Tip: If you are short on time, I recommend returning home via the 401 highway. It’s much quicker.
The Cruise The Coast road trip begins in Fort Erie, however, you can access highway 3 from Hamilton, Port Dover, Simcoe, Leamington, Kingsville, or anywhere in between. If planning on experiencing the entire road trip, budget a minimum of 7.5 hours (one way).
Sights And Experiences Along Cruise The Coast
This Ontario road trip is best for hikers, wine lovers, photographers, and nature and outdoor enthusiasts. My top recommendations for sights and stops while on this road trip are:
- a short detour in Hamilton to visit Ridge Road Winery
- cool off at the beach in Port Dover or grab a bight to eat at the Erie Belle (best perch in the Province)
- wine tasting at Norfolk’s best wineries
- hike and/or camp in a dome tent at Long Point Eco Adventures
- take jaw-dropping photos along Long Point Biosphere Region
- relax and sunbath at the beach in Port Burwell
- browse the shops, cool off at the beach, grab a bight to eat in Port Stanley
- hike, bike, swim, canoe, at Point Pelee National Park (12 km from Leamington)
- browse the shops, have a flight of beer, sample the wineries in Kingsville
- take the ferry to Pelee Island if you have several days. Rent a bike and tour the island
Driver’s Tip: If you want to take 2 days to complete your road trip to Kingsville, I recommend spending the night in Port Stanley
Lake Huron Road Trip
The Lake Huron Road Trip is my second favourite Ontario road trip, especially during the summer months. It’s important to note that this road trip is NOT advisable during the Winter, as the highway is often closed due to snow.
This Ontario road trip will take you along the coast of Lake Huron from Sarnia to Tobermory. The complete road trip is approximately 325 km which makes it rushed to do in one day (but it can be done).
Although I recommend beginning this road trip in Sarnia, it can also be accessed from Grand Bend, Bayfield, Kincardine, Port Elgin, Southampton, Tobermory, or anywhere in between. Depending where you are coming from, I recommend returning home by one of the 400 series highways, unless you have budgeted several days to return the same way.
Driver’s Tip: Tours are available from Toronto to Tobermory
Sights And Experiences Along Lake Huron
If you love lighthouses, then this is the Ontario road trip for you. I often refer to this route as the Lake Huron Lighthouse Trail, as you’ll find a lighthouse at virtually every stop along the way.
In addition to hunting for lighthouses, this road trip also offers options for every type of road tripper:
- hike and/or camp at the Pinery Provincial Park, between Ipperwash and Grand Bend
- visit one of Ontario’s best beaches in Grand Bend
- theatre goers will want to catch a live play at Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend
- enjoy a flight of wine at the Iron Horse Winery in Grand Bend
- browse the shops and enjoy a home-cooked meal in Bayfield
- Huron Historic Gaol in Goderich is ideal for history enthusiasts and crime solvers
- stroll the boardwalk, Lover’s Lane, and visit the Rock Garden in Kincardine
- stay for the Saturday night pipeband parade or listen for the Phantom Piper in Kincardine
- spend time at the beach in Port Elgin
- schedule a boat tour to Flowerpot Island in Tobermory
- book a time to hike the Grotto at Bruce Peninsula National Park in Tobermory
- if you have lots of time, schedule the ferry to Manitoulin Island
Driver’s Tip: If taking 2 days for this Ontario road trip I recommend staying at the Inn at the Harbour in Kincardine
Georgian Bay Road Trip
Also located in Southwestern Ontario, this road trip can be combinable with the Lake Huron Road Trip. However, I recommend budgeting at least 2 weeks to do both road trips together.
The Georgian Bay Road Trip is shorter (approximately 120 km) than Cruise The Coast and the Lake Huron Road Trip, which makes it quite doable in 1 day. Having said that, I still recommend 2 days in order to take in the natural beauty and enjoy the experiences along the way.
This Ontario road trip hugs the shoreline of Georgian Bay and is easily accessed from Toronto, Kitchener, Waterloo, and London. It’s the ideal road trip close to the city, but far enough away from the hustle, bustle and noise.
Sights And Experiences Along Georgian Bay
Since I drive from Kitchener, I begin this Ontario road trip in Owen Sound. As I’m an outdoor enthusiast and nature lover, this is the ideal road trip – especially when I’m a bit short on time.
To begin, I typically spend a few hours (many times a full day) in Owen Sound so that I can get my steps in before the drive to Midland where there’s also lots to do. Unknown to most people, there is lots to do in Owen Sound, but you definitely don’t want to miss the rest of this road trip by staying too long. Some of the sights and experiences I recommend making time for are:
- hike Inglis Falls in Owen Sound
- stroll the waterfront in Owen Sound
- relax at Moreland Gardens in Owen Sound
- stop in Thornbury for a coffee and a bite to eat. The small village of Thornbury is a foodies delight
- browse the shops, play a round of mini golf, ride the gondola in Blue Mountain
- hike the Scenic Caves in Collingwood
- relax at the Scandinave Spa, one of Ontario’s Nordic Spa’s, in Collingwood
- spend time at the world’s longest fresh water beach in Wasaga Beach
- take a boat tour of Georgian Bay in Midland
- history lovers will want to visit Sainte Marie Among the Hurons
Ottawa Valley Road Trip
A road trip to the Ottawa Valley is the perfect escape if you’re leaving from Ottawa. It’s true that Ottawa, the capital of Canada, has a lot to offer, but if you’re anything like me, you can only stand city life for so long.
The Ottawa Valley is situated between Eastern Canada and Quebec, with Renfrew County forming the heart of the Valley. Due to its massive size, it’s virtually impossible to cover the entire Valley in just 1 day. I recommend taking at least 2 to 3 days in order to enjoy your road trip through the Ontario portion of the Ottawa Valley.
The drive from Toronto to the Ottawa Valley will take approximately 4.5 hours. Once you escape the Toronto traffic, the drive will take you through what’s known as Ontario’s Cottage Country. The Valley itself offers a plethora of lakes, rolling hills and spectacular scenery which makes it the ideal road trip for photographers.
Driver’s Tip: I recommend doing an Ottawa Valley Road Trip during Fall so you can embrace the spectacular colours
Sights And Experiences In The Ottawa Valley
The Ottawa Valley has been dubbed the “white water capital of Ontario”, and for good reason. There are many tours offered in the area for this fun experience, but that’s only one of the adventures to experience when on this Ontario road trip. There are many more, such as:
- white water rafting on the Ottawa River
- hike and climb at Eagles Nest in Calabogie
- lunch at the Red Neck Bistro in Calabogie, the area’s must-visit restaurant
- explore the Bonnechere Caves
- swim, kayak, or board at McLean Park in Arnprior
- visit Whitewater Brewing Co. in Cobden
- experience the heart of the Ottawa Valley with a visit to Pembroke
- visit Algonquin Park while you’re in the area for hiking, paddling, and camping
Driver’s Tip: When road tripping through the Ottawa Valley, keep your eyes open for wildlife. You might get lucky and see a bear or moose. DRIVE CAREFULLY especially at dusk and dawn.
Oxford Cheese Trail
The Oxford Cheese Trail is completely different from the other Ontario road trips mentioned here. This road trip will take you through the backroads among the farms found throughout Oxford County. This area of Ontario is often referred to as the Dairy Capital of Canada. The Cheese Trail is perfect for foodies, especially if you love cheese!
This Ontario road trip can be done in 1 to 2 days, depending on how many stops you want to make. Oxford County is easily accessible from Highway 401 or 403, where you can exit into Woodstock. For maps, stops, recommendations, and all other information you will need to go on this road trip, you can access the materials by visiting the Tourism Oxford website.
Sights And Experiences On The Oxford County Cheese Trail
Before leaving on your road trip, make sure you download the map from Tourism Oxford’s website. It will show you all of the places to stop along the way, but I’m going to make recommendations based on my personal experience. Let’s dive in!
- stop at Mountainoak Cheese in New Hamburg
- walk with the alpacas at Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life. This is a must do!
- visit Tracy and Kelly at Two Girls and a Cheese Shop in Tillsonburg
- shop for home decor and bulk baking ingredients at Coyle’s Country Store
- enjoy a flight of craft beer at Upper Thames Brewing Co. in Woodstock
- grab a bite at Brickhouse Brew Pub or the Elm Hurst Inn in Ingersoll
- not on the list but relaxing at the Wave Nordic Spa is an absolute must!
Ontario Road Trips You Can’t Miss: In Conclusion
As you can see, Ontario is a province made for road trips. Whether you’re drawn to the sparkling waters of the Great Lakes, the charm of small towns, or the rugged beauty of northern wilderness, there’s a journey waiting to capture your imagination.
The best part? Every road trip offers a new perspective, natural beauty, and hidden gems hiding around every corner. What are you waiting for? Share your favorite routes or must-stop destinations in the comments below. I’d love to hear your road trip stories!
Contact Kelly at Direct Travel to plan your perfect Ontario Road Trip!
Are you in the midst of planning a vacation in Ontario, Canada? Let me help you out. As a life-long resident, the following are the platforms that I generally use when I’m road tripping around my beautiful Province:
🏡 Rentals: Ontario has every style of accommodation rental imaginable, to suit every budget and travel style. For my vacation rentals, I use VRBO. This platform provides a wide variety of accommodations for every budget.
🏢 Hotels: Sometimes, I prefer to stay at a hotel, especially if I’m just staying in the area for a night or two. My go-to platform for booking hotels in Ontario is always Booking.com
🚴♀️ Activities: Ontario has so many activities to offer that it’s often difficult to choose. My favourite platform to find activities in each area of Ontario is Get Your Guide
🚗 Car Rentals: Ontario is so massive that’s it’s literally impossible to explore everything without a vehicle. Although I do have my own car, there have been times that I’ve rented a vehicle – especially for longer road trips. When in doubt, I’ve used Booking.com to find the best deal on rentals.
💰 Insurance: When travelling abroad, I purchase my medical insurance through Advisor Max, as well as my cancellation and trip-interruption insurance. Advisor Max is also the ideal company for visitors to Ontario, or any part of Canada, to purchase their travel insurance.
SAVE FOR AN ONTARIO ROAD TRIP
Never thought I would see a cheese trail in Ontario! This would be an awesome experience to get some good cheese and beer. I wonder if they have good wine too? I’m growing more interested in lighthouses so it’s good to see more of this here.
Unfortunately the Cheese Trail didn’t have wine 🙁 BUT the Cruise the Coast road trip along Lake Erie has plenty of wineries! It’s my favourite and the wine is one of the reasons lol.
I wasn’t planning on an Ontario road trip, but you got me when you said “Cheese Trail.” I mean, CHEESE!
It was a fun road trip to do. I took 2 did and stope at all of the recommended stops
Loved ready this post, a great road trip exploring Ontario, complete with beer and cheese. Me, I’m more of a wine lover and saw your comment about cruise the coast, having wine.
Yes! Cruise the Coast has wineries throughout the entire trip! That’s what makes it my favourite 🙂
You had me at wineries! I have become fascinated with upstate NY wineries and would love to expand my knowledge further, looks like Canada is next!
Many people aren’t aware that Canada has many wine regions (especially Ontario). I hope you’re able to visit one day.
Ontario looks incredible for a road trip! I’ve explored many parts of Canada, but Ontario is still on my list. The mix of scenic drives, lakes, and charming towns sounds perfect for a first visit. The Oxford Cheese Trail especially caught my eye—such a unique stop to add to a road trip. A Lake Huron road trip sounds like an amazing way to soak in Ontario’s beauty.
I hope you guys are able to visit Ontario one day. There are so many great road trips to take rather than staying in Toronto. You especially would love the Lake Huron road trip! Beaches all the way and some great hiking trails and small family owned restaurants.
I love road trips and these short ones you can do in a weekend are so fun! I’m originally from Michigan so I shared this post with my mom to encourage her to get out and do some of these. I’m going home to visit in October and we’re going to drive the M-22 highway, which is another short, but beautiful little trip.
Great! If you’re in Michagan, you would easily be able to access the Lake Huron Road Trip if crossing the border at Port Huron
These Ontario road trips look amazing! I will send these ideas to my friend who’s planning a road trip in that area 🙂
Awesome! Thank you!