Explore Northern Ontario on a three-week road trip from Toronto to Thunder Bay and back, following two very different routes through the province’s vast wilderness. Travel west along Lake Superior before returning east through the remote communities and boreal forests along Highway 11, with stops in Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, Timmins and North Bay.
Our ultimate Northern Ontario road trip itinerary combines the best of these routes with recommended stops, maps and a flexible 21-day itinerary.
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Drive from Toronto to Thunder Bay – The Ultimate Northern Ontario Road Trip
How long is the drive from Toronto to Thunder Bay? The distance to Thunder Bay is about 1400 km. While it can take a minimum of two days to drive, we recommend a much more leisurely trip.
There are two options to travel from Toronto to Thunder Bay:
- Highway 17, the most popular route, begins in Sudbury and travels along the Lake Superior shoreline.
- Highway 11, the more northern, remote route, travels toward Timmins.
Many travellers enjoy the more populated, southern, Highway 17 route on their return trip back. We feel the best option is to drive the entire loop.
We’ve broken the routes into road-trip sections. Within each section, we’ve highlighted fantastic places to see and things to do.
- Toronto to Sudbury
- Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie (Hwy. 17)
- Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay (Hwy. 17)
- Thunder Bay to Timmins (Hwy 17/11)
- Timmins to North Bay (Hwy11)
Northern Ontario Cities
This Ultimate Guide not only covers the various road trip routes, but also covers the major northern Ontario cities. We’ve included detailed itineraries of the following Northern Ontario cities:
3-Week Northern Ontario Itinerary
This is our ultimate 21-Day itinerary. Shorten or lengthen it to suit.
Westbound: Toronto to Thunder Bay
- Day 1 Toronto to Parry Sound (200 km)
- Day 2 Parry Sound to Sudbury (150 km)
- Day 3 Sudbury
- Day 4 Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie (300 km)
- Day 5 Sault Ste. Marie
- Day 6 Sault Ste. Marie to Wawa (225 km)
- Day 7 Wawa to Nipigon (350 km)
- Day 8 Nipigon
- Day 9 Nipigon to Thunder Bay (125 km)
- Days 10-11 Thunder Bay
Eastbound: Thunder Bay to Toronto via Timmins
- Day 12 Thunder Bay to Hearst (+500 km – this is a long day)
- Day 13 Hearst to Cochrane (225 km)
- Day 14 Moosonee
- Day 15 Cochrane to Timmins (100 km)
- Day 16 Timmins
- Day 17 Timmins to Temiskaming Shores (200 km)
- Day 18 Temiskaming Shores
- Day 19 Temiskaming Shores to North Bay (150 km)
- Day 20 North Bay
- Day 21 North Bay to Toronto (350 km)
Map of Northern Ontario
Here’s a look at all the Northern Ontario cities and road trip destinations we’ve written about. Each one has its own dedicated guide.
Toronto to Sudbury
There are some great things to do on the way to Northern Ontario.
Enjoy a stop in Parry Sound. See the beautiful harbour and the huge trestle rail bridge. The Island Queen Cruises explore the islands of Georgian Bay. For hockey fans, visit the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame. Bobby Orr, Hall of Famer and hockey great, was born in Parry Sound.
Killbear Provincial Park, just north of town, is a great spot for a night of camping. Our Killbear Provincial Park article has details on all the summer activities at the park including some exhilarating cliff jumping.
Continue north to the French River Provincial Park Visitor Centre. Learn about the fur trade and the Voyageurs who explored and travelled these waterways. Stop at the French River Trading Post for a bite to eat and some cool gifts.
Sudbury
Spend a day in Sudbury and discover their proud mining history. At Dynamic Earth, take an underground mine tour and learn about the local mining industry. Check out the Big Nickel next door. The kids will enjoy all the interactive fun at Science North. Stroll through Bell Park and tour the city to see Sudbury’s murals painted on local buildings.
Our article, Best Things To Do in Sudbury, has details on all the city highlights.
Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie
After enjoying a day in Sudbury, travel west along the north shore of Lake Huron to Sault Ste. Marie. Explore the small towns and natural beauty along the way.
For a short hike along river waterfalls, visit Chutes Provincial Park.
For those with additional time, detour down Highway 6 to Manitoulin Island. Visit Bridal Veil Falls and discover the island’s active Indigenous culture.
Further west on Highway 17, take a quick break for a look at Kennebec Falls. The next stretch of highway goes through the great forestry and mining towns of the past including Blind River, Iron Bridge and Bruce Mines. Each has a museum which tells the local area’s history.
With more time, a one-day side trip to St. Joseph Island is a great option. Find the remains of Fort St. Joseph, a fort that was destroyed by the Americans in the War of 1812.
Our Road Trip from Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie guide has full details on the stops above and more.
Sault Ste. Marie
Spend at least a day in Sault Ste. Marie. Our article One Day in Sault Ste. Marie has all the details you need to make the most of your visit.
Learn about the city’s past at its historic sites and museums along its waterfront, such as the Sault Ste. Marie Canal, the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre and the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site.
If you are travelling in the fall, consider the Agawa Canyon Tour Train which begins in Sault Ste. Marie. It is an amazing fall-colour tour through boreal forest to Agawa Canyon.
Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay
After Sault Ste. Marie, the trip along the rugged shores Lake Superior begins. Admire beautiful vistas at the many roadside pull-offs. Discover hiking trails, waterfalls and friendly northern towns along the way.
Both Batchawana Bay and Pancake Bay Provincial Parks have beaches and hiking opportunities.
Lake Superior Provincial Park is one of the largest provincial parks in Ontario. A park highlight is the Agawa Rock Pictographs. Generations of Ojibwe people painted mystical beings, animals and humans on the rock face at the edge of Lake Superior.
The town of Wawa, known for its iconic 8-metre tall Wawa Goose, is a great overnight stop. Visit the waterfalls in the area, including the impressive Scenic High Falls.
Pukaskwa National Park is a great place for longer stays and backcountry adventures. A day hike to the White River Suspension Bridge is a popular activity.
The Terrace Bay Lighthouse, Schreiber Railway Museum and Rossport Community Park are roadside stops where you can stretch your legs and learn about these small northern communities.
Nipigon is a great base for exploring the local region. With excellent hiking options, the Panorama Amethyst Mine, Eagle Canyon Adventures, and the awe inspiring Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park there’s lots to see and do.
One of the area’s best day hikes is in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. If time permits, add a day to your road trip and enjoy this hike. Our article Hiking Sleeping Giant – The Best Day Hike in Ontario will help you tackle this great hike.
The Highway 17 southern route ends at Thunder Bay.
Our road trip from Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay guide has full details on the stops above and more.
Thunder Bay
Enjoy a few days in Thunder Bay. Visit Fort William Historical Park. See a replica of the North West Company fortified headquarters.
Explore Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park. The magnificent falls are second only to Niagara as the highest waterfall in Ontario. Enjoy hikes in the boreal forest to see the streams and waterfalls at the Cascades Conservation Area.
Our article 2 days in Thunder Bay has full details to plan your stay.
This is the half-way point of the journey. There are several options to return to Southern Ontario. You can return by the Highway 17 route, visiting the stops you missed along the way.
Our preference is to drive the northern Highway 11 route, via Timmins and North Bay.
Thunder Bay to North Bay – The Highway 11 Route
This route was part of the first Trans-Canada highway, before the southern route along Lake Superior was completed. Although this route is less travelled by tourists, it is a great drive through a remote region of Ontario.
We’ve broken the drive into two sections:
- Thunder Bay to Timmins,
- Timmins to North Bay
Thunder Bay to Timmins
Bid Thunder Bay farewell and return to the Nipigon area. Complete any attractions that you didn’t have time for earlier in the trip.
Leaving Nipigon, continue on Highway 11 north. The area’s natural beauty is on display on this route through an area rich in mining and lumbering history.
From Nipigon to Hearst there are a number of small towns. A great roadside picture is beside the 10-metre-tall World’s Largest Snowman, in the town of Beardmore.
Make Hearst an overnight stop. There are plenty of motels in town. Hearst proclaims itself the Moose Capital of Canada. Visit the Heritage Sawmill Marketplace which celebrates the local logging and paper industry.
Continue east to Kapuskasing. Visit the historic train station and museum in this pulp and paper town. Moonbeam Ontario’s unique UFO Monument is another great rest stop on the way to Cochrane.
Visit the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat, a sanctuary dedicated to the care of polar bears. Learn about and see these large animals as they roam in huge outdoor enclosures. With an extra day, ride the Polar Bear Express train north to Moosonee, on James Bay. See the remaining historic buildings of one of Canada’s oldest trading posts.
Continue to southwest to Timmins by Highways 11 and 101.
Timmins
This mining town has a large open pit mine in the centre of the city. After watching the live mining operation, visit the Timmins Museum. Learn more about the history and importance of mining to the city.
Our guide to one day in Timmins has full details to explore its gold mining heritage.
Timmins to North Bay
Travel east on Highway 101 from Timmins to Matheson to continue the journey south on Highway 11.
To explore another northern Ontario mining town, take Highway 66 for 15 kilometres to Kirkland Lake. The Museum of Northern History, located in Sir Harry Oakes Chateau, focuses on mining in the Kirkland Lake area. Kirkland Lake’s Miners’ Memorial, a tribute to its hard working miners, is nearby.
Spend a day exploring Temiskaming Shores, an amalgamation of the communities of Haileybury, New Liskeard and the Dymond. The Shores are a summer playground so don’t forget to bring swimsuit. Relax and enjoy the sheltered beach and big water slide at Haileybury.
Try one of several hiking trails in the area. Hiking to the face-like rock outcrop at Devil’s Rock Lookout or to the waterfalls at Pete’s Dam Park are just two options.
Just west of Haileybury is one of the most famous mining towns in Ontario, Cobalt. The entire town has been declared a National Historic Site. A driving tour along the Heritage Silver Trail visits several of the original silver mines. For more details about visiting the town, see our full Cobalt article.
Back on Highway 11, travel south to the interesting sites in the Temagami area.
In the town of Latchford, drive across the World’s Shortest Covered Bridge. Get an adrenaline rush by climbing up the Temagami Fire Tower to lookout over the town of Temagami and the beautiful wilderness of northern Ontario. Explore the replica lumber camp at Marten River Provincial Park’s Logging Museum.
This northern road trip ends at North Bay.
Our road trip article from North Bay to Thunder Bay has full details on the stops above and more.
North Bay
Spend one day in North Bay. Board the Chief Commanda II and cruise around Lake Nipissing. Back on shore, stroll the beautiful waterfront park and drop into the North Bay Museum.
Our article has full details on how to spend one day in North Bay.
North Bay to Toronto
Continue south on Highway 11 to Barrie and south towards Toronto.
Arrowhead Provincial Park makes for nice stop with its beautiful sandy beaches and hiking trails. Stay overnight in one of their comfortable camp cabin accommodations.
Travelling through the Muskoka region, there are several charming towns on the way including: Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst.
This is the end of our Ultimate Northern Ontario journey, an unforgettable 3-week road trip.
Explore All of our Northern Ontario Road Trip Guides
Discover our complete series of detailed Northern Ontario guides to help you plan your perfect road trip.
Main Article: Northern Ontario Road Trips (You’re reading this guide now!)
Part 1: Road Trip: Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie – Lake Huron’s North Channel and coastal towns
Part 2: Road Trip: Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay – Lake Superior’s windswept north shore and wilderness parks
Part 3: Road Trip: North Bay to Thunder Bay – Boreal forests, lakes, and remote northern towns
Part 4: Sudbury – Mining heritage, nickel city, Science North
Part 5: Manitoulin Island – Freshwater island, steep cliffs, waterfalls, and Indigenous heritage
Part 6: Sault Ste Marie – Locks, industrial waterfront, Bushplane Heritage Centre, and Algoma art
Part 7: Thunder Bay – Fort William history, waterfalls, and waterfront activities
Part 8: Sleeping Giant Hike – Headland hike to panoramic viewpoint of Lake Superior
Part 9: North Bay – Lake Nipissing waterfront and gateway to the north
Part 10: Cobalt – Silver rush mining heritage in this historic town
Part 11: Timmins – Gold mining heritage and outdoor activities
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