10 Road Trip Mistakes To Avoid In Ontario
Ontario is my home and I have taken many road trips, more than I can count. I prefer to travel Ontario’s backroads, through small towns, past man-made lakes, and hidden waterfalls. A road trip in Ontario is one of those things that you can just hop in the car and figure things out as you go. While one of the things that I love best about road trips is the freedom to explore, but I’ve learned that there are a few road trip mistakes to avoid in Ontario in order to feel relaxed instead of rushed.
After my many Ontario road trips, some of which are planned in advance, others not so much, I’ll share the most common mistakes that most road trippers new to Ontario make, and how you can avoid them.
10 Ontario Road Trip Mistakes To Avoid
- Not Realizing How Big Ontario Really Is
- Sticking To Only Major Highways
- Not Booking Accommodations Well In Advance
- Forgetting That Cell Service Isn’t Always Guaranteed
- Packing For The Wrong Season
- Ignoring Seasonal Closures
- Trying To Do Too Much In One Trip
- Skipping Small Towns For Big Attractions
- Not Budgeting For Gas And Food Stops
- Forgetting To Leave Room For The Unexpected
- Avoid These Ontario Road Trip Mistakes And Enjoy The Journey
If this is your first time visiting Ontario, the best way to see as much of this Canadian Province as possible is by taking a road trip to explore the backroads and search for hidden gems. No matter what season you’re visiting, it’s important to prepare for your road trip before heading out to ensure that you are road trip ready. When you’re preparing, it’s important that you take the following road trip mistakes for your Ontario road trip into consideration.
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Not Realizing How Big Ontario Really Is
One of the biggest road trip mistakes to avoid in Ontario is to underestimate its size and the distance you can drive in one day. When looking at a map, driving longer distances in Ontario looks manageable, but that can be deceiving. Destinations may appear to be close on the map, but winding roads, small towns, limited highways, and traffic jams can add hours onto your trip.
Always check the actual driving times, not just the kilometers, and plan fewer stops per day if you’re on a tight time-line.
Sticking Only To Major Highways: A Road Trip Mistake In Ontario To Avoid
Another common Ontario road trip mistake is relying solely on the 400 series highways. While the highways can be more efficient, they bypass the very hidden gems that make Ontario so special.
Always take the scenic routes whenever possible. This is where you’ll find the hidden gems, lake views, roadside bakeries, and craft beer – all of which you’ll never find if you stay on the highway.
It’s possible that taking the backroads might take a little longer, but that’s not always the case. The 400 series highways are often backed up due to traffic and accidents, depending on the time of day.
Driver’s Tip: Program your google maps app to avoid all motorways. This will take you to where you want to go by using the backroads.
Not Booking Accommodations Well In Advance (or at all)
Ontario accommodations fill up fast, especially during the summer, holidays, and weekends. Assuming that you’ll find something when you arrive is a road trip mistake that can leave you driving for hours or paying far more than you had planned.
I recommend booking your accommodations at least one month in advance (if not more), especially in popular regions like Muskoka, Prince Edward County, Northern Ontario gateway towns, and Ontario’s tourist towns.
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Forgetting That Cell Service Isn’t Always Guaranteed
This is one of the most overlooked road trip mistakes to avoid in Ontario. Once you leave the urban areas, cell service can be spotty or completely disappear all together. This is especially true if you’re travelling in rural areas or Ontario’s northern region.
It’s always a good idea to download offline maps, save accommodation details, and take a screenshot of the directions. Better yet, mark your route on a paper map, just to be on the safe side.
Packing For The Wrong Season
The weather in Ontario can be unpredictable to say the least, even in the summer. I’ve experienced chilly mornings, sudden rainstorms, and heatwaves, all during the same trip.
Pack layers, comfortable walking shoes, and rain protection for a road trip during any season. Being unprepared for the weather is a classic Ontario road trip mistake that will limit what you can do.
Ignoring Seasonal Closures
Many travellers aren’t aware that some attractions, parks, and even restaurants are seasonal. Arriving in shoulder season is ideal for avoiding crowds, but without checking the hours of operation, your plans will be derailed.
Always confirm the opening dates and times, especially in small towns and rural areas. Ontario road trips outside of peak season are wonderful, but you have to plan accordingly.
Driver’s Tip: If you’re taking a road trip during the winter, check road conditions, as some roads may be closed due to snow and road conditions.
Trying To Do Too Much In One Trip
Road trips are about the drive, not the destination or checking off the boxes. One of the most common mistakes is trying to see everything in one go.
Slow down and don’t pack you’re itinerary with stops. Choose a region, explore it deeply, and save the rest for another trip. You’ll enjoy your road trip far more if you’re not rushing from stop to stop.
Skipping Small Towns For Big Attractions
Some of the best Ontario experiences happen in the places you’ve never heard of. Skipping the small towns in favour of the popular Ontario tourist attractions is a road trip mistake that often leads to crowded, less personal experiences.
When planning your itinerary, schedule time for small town stops to visit local cafes, waterfront trails, and boutique shops. Afterall, this is what makes for a perfect road trip.
Not Budgeting For Gas And Food Stops
The price of gas and food varies significantly depending on where you’re travelling in Ontario. Not planning for this is another common road trip mistake that is often made.
If you’re travelling in rural areas or Northern Ontario, there are fewer gas stations. When you see one, stop and fill up. It might be quite awhile before you find another one.
Forgetting To Leave Room For The Unexpected
Some of my favourite Ontario road trip moments have been from unplanned detours. Over planning every minute is a mistake and it leaves no room for discovery.
In order to avoid over planning, build flexibility into your itinerary. Leave extra time for spontaneous stops, longer lunches, and scenic pull-offs that you didn’t plan for.
Avoid These Ontario Road Trip Mistakes And Enjoy The Journey
Ontario has so many amazing road trips, but knowing the most common road trip mistakes to avoid in Ontario can make a huge difference. When planning your Ontario road trip, slow down, plan smart, and explore the backroads. That’s where you’ll find the best of what Ontario has to offer.
If you’re planning an Ontario road trip soon, you might also enjoy:
- Top Ontario Road Trips You Need To Experience
- Ontario Hidden Gems To Visit On A Road Trip
- 10 Tips For Surviving Long Road Trips
- Inspirational Road Trip Quotes That Make You Want To Buckle Up
Happy road tripping 🚗🍁
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.
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