10 Best Road Trips in Ontario

A one-of-a-kind waterfront community, Gananoque & the 1000 Islands makes for an unbeatable road trip in Ontario. The gateway to the 1000 Islands – an archipelago made up of 1,864 islands in the St Lawrence River – Gananoque is a picturesque waterfront town, brimming with artisan shops, galleries, museums, theatres, restaurants, and more.

Whether you’re travelling with young kids or looking for adrenaline-fueled fun, the 1000 Islands has something for everyone. Thrill-seekers can have a go at treetop treks and scuba diving or take an exhilarating helicopter tour. Little adventurers can enjoy taking an island cruise, exploring ancient castles, or hitting the beach for swimming and kayaking. This is surely one for the bucket list.

Dividing Georgian Bay and Lake Huron, the Bruce Peninsula has buckets of natural beauty and is a popular road trip in Ontario. You can visit the Bruce Peninsula National Park – a spectacular park along the Niagara Escarpment, featuring towering cliffs, rugged landscapes, beautiful beaches, and turquoise water.

There are tonnes of things to see and do at Ontario’s Bruce Peninsula – from hiking and cycling to paddling, kayaking, fishing, and canoeing. It’s also a great place to see rare plants and flowers, birds and wildlife – you might even spot a black bear. Plus, the park caters well for families with picnic areas, toilet facilities, car parking, and a children’s playground.

Thunder Bay is the largest city in Northwestern Ontario and makes for a great road trip in the county. Sitting on Lake Superior – the largest freshwater lake in the world – it offers a range of activities including hiking, mountain biking, sailing, and more. Plus, in the winter, it becomes a winter wonderland where you can ski and ice climb.

Thunder Bay has many historical sites, such as the Fort William Historical Park, one of the largest living history sites in the USA. Be sure to visit Marina Park city centre, for stunning views of Lake Superior and the Sleeping Giant rocks. For family-friendly fun, Prince Arthur’s Landing waterfront park has gardens, picnic areas, and splash pads for the kids.

With breathtaking mountain scenery, dramatic coastline, forests, wetlands, and more than 50 lakes, Killarney Provincial Park is not to be missed. A popular Ontario day trip destination, the park spans 645 square kilometres and encompasses the Georgian Bay Coast and La Cloche Mountains.

Known for its incredible hiking trails, the Killarney Provincial Park is heaven for lovers of the great outdoors – with canoeing and kayaking as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. If you’re planning an overnight stay, head to the George Lake Campground for the best camping in the park, including backcountry and paddle-in options.

One of Ontario’s best outdoor adventure destinations, the city of Sault Ste. Marie is home to rivers, lakes, the Canadian Shield Mountains, and some of the best beaches in the region. It’s situated on the St. Mary’s River, near 3 of the Great Lakes, and is a top spot for boat tours and water sports – with plenty of rentals available.

If you prefer to keep your feet on dry land, Sault Ste. Marie has outdoor pursuits to suit every visitor. There are numerous hiking trails, with stunning lake views, or try some of the best mountain biking in Ontario. The city also offers restaurants, farms, spas, markets, and more – you won’t be short of things to do.

Located in central Ontario, Petroglyphs Provincial Park is home to the largest collection of petroglyphs (rock carvings) in Ontario and would make a great road trip in the region. These Aboriginal rock carvings can be found in “The Teaching Rock” at the centre of the park and are between 500 to 1,000 years old – depicting turtles, snakes, birds, humans, and more.

As well as the petroglyphs, the Petroglyphs Provincial Park also features pristine lakes, forests, and wonderful wildlife. Be sure to check out the blue-green waters of McGinnis Lake – one of the few “meromictic” lakes in Canada, where the layers of water don’t intermix. There are also several hiking trails in the park, with many different terrains and landscapes to discover.

Situated on the shores of Lake Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake is a historic 19th-century town, which is well worth a visit for a day trip or stopping-off point on the way to Niagara Falls. This charming old-world town has much to offer thanks to its rich history, pretty tree-lined city centre, quaint shops, and top-notch eateries.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of Ontario’s largest wine producers and is a popular spot for wine connoisseurs with many quality wineries offering wine tours, experiences, and events. The town also hosts the annual Shaw Festival – named after George Bernard Shaw – featuring a series of theatre productions at different venues throughout the year.

A community situated in the Bonnechere Valley, Eganville is just a 1.5-hour drive from Ottawa and a great road trip destination in Ontario. Discover the Bonchere Caves – formed about 10,000 years ago along the Bonchere River – or visit Shaw Woods, with a huge area of old-growth forests, wetlands, and hiking trails.

Thanks to its waterfront location, Eganville is also a good spot for water sports, and you can canoe, kayak, paddle, or take a boat out here. Plus, it’s known as the Ordovician fossil capital of Canada, situated in a deep limestone valley and home to fossils formed around 500 million years ago. You can join an organised fossil hunt or see a vast collection at the Bonnechere Museum.

Named one of the prettiest towns in Canada, try to squeeze in a road trip to Paris during your Ontario stay and you won’t be disappointed. The town has plenty of old-world charm and narrow streets, brimming with restaurants, galleries, and boutiques. Be sure to check out – or take an organised tour of – the cobblestone buildings that have given Paris the name of “Cobblestone Capital of Canada.”

Located in Brant County, Paris is also a top destination for getting active outdoors. You can hike or bike through the stretches of Carolinian Forests or along the Grand River trail. Plus, the Grand River is a playground for water sports enthusiasts, with great opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, and white-water rafting.

Located in the Algoma District, just east of Lake Superior, be sure to stop off at the historical hub of Wawa on your Ontario road trip. Thanks to its position on Lake Wawa, the township is a popular fishing destination and hosts annual competitions for anglers such as the Wawa Salmon Derby. It’s also a top spot for kayaking or beach days – plus, it has a snowmobile trail and cross-country skiing in the winter.

Wawa is also famous for the 28-foot-tall Canadian goose monument that resides there – created to celebrate the name of the town, as ‘Wawa’ means ‘Wild Goose’. It’s one of the most photographed monuments in North America – so don’t miss the photo opportunity on your visit.