Ontario Travel Guide

Plan Ontario around Toronto, Ottawa, Niagara, the Great Lakes, cottage regions and the vast distances of Northern Ontario.

Ontario contains both Canada's busiest urban corridor and enormous northern regions that require a completely different scale of planning.

Build one regional route

Choose a compact cluster before adding another part of the province or territory.

  • Toronto and Niagara
  • Ottawa and Eastern Ontario
  • Georgian Bay, Muskoka and central lakes
  • Northern Ontario and Lake Superior

Planning realities

  • Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal can form a rail-based corridor.
  • Northern Ontario road trips involve long distances and fewer services.
  • Great Lakes weather can shift quickly.
  • Provincial parks and summer accommodations may book well ahead.

How to get around

Match transport to the exact region. A gateway city may work without a car, while rural and remote areas may require a rental vehicle, ferry, flight or local operator. Never assume that a provincial map represents easy same-day travel.

Season and booking order

Check weather, daylight, road reports, ferry or flight schedules and major reservation windows before booking non-refundable accommodation. In remote areas, transport and lodging often come before activities.

Who this destination suits

Major cities, museums, waterfalls, lakes, canoe routes, road trips and travellers seeking many trip types in one province.

Verify before departure

  • Official provincial or territorial tourism information
  • Provincial or territorial road and wildfire information
  • Parks Canada or the relevant park agency
  • Transport operators, ferries and airports
  • Local businesses for current seasonal hours