Living in Montreal, with family and friends in Toronto, I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve made the drive from Montreal to Toronto (and back!).
The goal is always to do the Toronto/ Montreal drive as quick as possible, only ever stopping once halfway between both cities for a necessary bathroom break.
Honestly, I never thought that there was anything worthwhile to stop at on the Montreal to Toronto drive… until the last time I made the drive back home to Montreal I decided to take my time. As it turns out, there are tons of places to stop on the way to Montreal from Toronto (or vice versa!).
From small Ontario towns to provincial parks or simply taking a detour with outstanding views. Not to mention a ton of family friendly activities to enjoy.
Maybe next time you’ll consider adding a few extra hours (or even a day to stop in Prince Edward County) to your Montreal to Toronto drive. So here are my top 11 stops on the drive from Toronto to Montreal, or vice versa!
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How Far Is Montreal From Toronto
Montreal and Toronto are about 540 km a part, or about a five and a half hour drive… if you’re lucky.
The problem with the Toronto to Montreal drive is that there’s always traffic.
If you’re driving from Montreal to Toronto, you’ll get stuck driving in to Toronto. There’s always traffic somewhere along the way but you’ll want to try your best to avoid driving during rush hour times.
Driving from Toronto to Montreal you can have issues leaving Toronto, and you’ll probably also get stuck at the bridge driving on to the Island of Montreal.
So more likely than not, you’re looking at a six to six and a half hour drive from Montreal to Toronto.
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Toronto To Montreal Drive – Is It Easy?
The Montreal to Toronto drive itself is almost too easy… For the most part you’re driving along highway 401. The only problem is that they made it SO straight.
Like it’s so straight and so flat that it’s an extremely boring drive that can tire you out from boredom alone!
So although it’s easy in the sense that there aren’t any crazy twists and turns or obstacles. It’s hard to stay awake on the drive sometimes.
In a way, it’s good to turn the Toronto to Montreal drive into a road trip to avoid risking falling asleep at the wheel.
Need To Rent A Car For Your Toronto To Montreal Road Trip?
You can rent a car in both Montreal and Toronto. I love renting cars with Enterprise.
Depending on where you are, there are a Enterprise few locations in both Montreal and Toronto.
Top Stops On The Toronto To Montreal Drive
There are two types of stops on the Toronto to Montreal drive.
First, there are a few places to stop on the way to Montreal that are right off the highway. If you’re looking for some stops but don’t want to add too much time to your drive, these are the ones to do.
Otherwise, stops can be a 10 minute detour off the highway. They’re still worth the stop, but you just have to allot the appropriate amount time for that activity. And as always, it will most likely take longer than you think!
Related
P.S. Take Advantage Of ONroutes
The best part about the Montreal to Toronto drive are the ONroutes in Ontario.
ONroutes every 80km to 100 km or so and are directly off the highway so they don’t add any extra time to your drive. They have a gas station, bathroom, and restaurants with drive through options (but it’s always good to get out and stretch your legs a bit!).
They are pretty good with signs so you’ll always know when the next one is coming up.
1. Scarborough Bluffs Park
The first stop you can make on your way back to Montreal isn’t very far from Toronto at all! It’s in the neighbouring town of Scarborough at the Scarborough Bluffs Park.
It’s about a 10 minute detour off the highway because you’re driving back out to Lake Ontario. This stop will also depend on where you’re leaving Toronto from on whether or not it’s worth it for you to stop at.
It’s not off highway 401 so you’ll have to take a different route there.
I haven’t visited the Scarborough Bluffs yet but they’ve been added to my list for my next Toronto to Montreal drive.
The Scarborough Bluffs Park are actually 11 parks that have different hiking, walking, and biking trails. If you’re interested in taking a dip in lake Ontario, head to Bluffers Park for the beach.
2. The Big Apple
New York isn’t the big apple, this is the BIG apple… literally. The Big Apple is right off highway 401 on the Toronto to Montreal drive, and just under 2 hours from Toronto.
This is your fist quick place to stop on your way to Montreal. It’s right off the highway (you can even see it while driving).
If you’re travelling with kids, this is a great pitstop. They have an orchard, mini putt, a small petting zoo, and with a GIANT candy store!
But for the adults, there’s a nice bathroom to use that isn’t at an ONroute. And you can pick up a fresh apple pie with apple cider!
If you brought your dog along for the ride, there’s also a dog run here for your pup to stretch their legs a bit!
3. Presqu’Ile Provincial Park
This is the next place on my list to visit on my next Montreal to Toronto drive: The Presqu’ile Provincial Park.
It’s a bit off the highway but it’s worth it for an escape to nature. It’s actually the same exit as the Big Apple, but then it’s another 30 minute drive to the trail parking lot.
If you missed the Scarborough Bluffs Park you might want to consider stopping here instead. It’s a flat terrain so the hiking and biking paths are all easy.
If you have your bike it’s an 8km loop. Or hike one of their many trails (I recommend the marsh trail or the 20 minute walk to the lighthouse).
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4. National Air Force Museum Of Canada
If you’re interested in planes and the Canadian air force you can stop at the National Air Force Museum of Canada. It’s only a 7 minute drive off the highway.
I’m not too interested in the Canadian Air Force, but I imagine that if you’re someone that is, this could be a very fun stop. It has a lot of glowing reviews.
The museum delves further into Canadian air force history, touching on WWII. And they have some pretty impressive displays with real planes!
5. Belleville Ontario
To be honest, there isn’t much going on in Belleville but I really liked this small Ontario town for the food and the unbeatable sunsets! Seriously, if you can, try your best to be in Belleville for dinner and sunset.
We actually stayed in Belleville for two nights on our Toronto to Montreal road trip to be able to explore the nearby Prince Edward County for the day (just across the Belleville Bridge).
Heads up though, this is a small Ontario town… so when we were there on Monday and Tuesday night, the downtown was DEAD! Stores were closed and there was nobody around.
But it looked like it had a lot of potential in a few years, and maybe it’s busier on the weekends. I would still make sure to visit downtown Belleville for the view from the Dundas Street W Bridge – otherwise you can avoid it altogether for now.
Instead of visiting downtown Belleville, head to Zwick Island. There’s a park with a walking and biking trail that takes you along the water around the park. If you’re visiting in the summer, they also host Pop Ups On The Bay here with delicious food truck options. Plus you’ll get a view of the Belleville Bay Bridge and Prince Edward County across the bay.
But I also highly recommend going to the Meyer’s Pier for a similar view with some food and a drink. Sit outside on their casual patio dining (P.S. it’s also a great sunset spot!). For delicious seafood, and a bit more formal seating, go to The Boathouse Seafood Restaurant. Make sure to ask for a seat outside on their floating dock!
Extend the drive from Montreal to Toronto and head to Prince Edward County
6. Kingston Ontario – Halfway Point On Toronto To Montreal Drive
Kingston is the largest city on the Montreal to Toronto drive and the official halfway point.
Whenever we drive past Kingston this is when you send the official driving status update to your family and friends.
Kingston is also when we usually have our one and only stop along the Toronto to Montreal drive. But with the amount of times I’ve driven by Kingston it was a bit sad that I hadn’t actually visited the city yet, and Kingston has a lot to offer!
If you take a bit of a longer detour on your Toronto to Montreal road trip, take the time to drive in to Kingston Ontario.
There’s Queen’s University and a bustling waterfront and downtown area. The main attraction though is the Kingston Penitentiary which operated from 1830 until 2013! Now it’s open to the public offering guided tours!
We really enjoyed the hidden Juniper Cafe in Kingston, between the Penitentiary and Queen’s University. It’s really hidden though – like we almost drove right by. It’s behind the Centre For Performing Arts, right on the water. Because it’s so hidden it’s a nice break from most busier cafes – plus I can’t complain about that view either!
If you’re looking to tour historic sites, visit the Murney Tower or Fort Henry.
From the Kingston Waterfront, you can also go on one of the many 1000 Islands Cruises. But don’t worry if you don’t get on one here, you will have more opportunities – Kingston is just barely the start of the 1000 Islands.
In downtown Kingston, you’ll want to check out Confederation Park and city hall. Walk behind city hall to Springer Market Square and hopefully the market is open for you to peruse.
Make sure to walk along Ontario Street and Princess Street for local shops and cafes.
P.S. we found paid street parking in the downtown area, but you can also go into a paid lot, there are a few around the city.
7. Gananoque (1000 Islands Cruise)
Not too far from Kingston is Gananoque – a small but mighty town! The architecture here is to die for, seriously, I could walk around the local streets all day admiring the homes!
Gananoque has a small city centre with restaurants and shops along King Street. We actually went a bit further out to eat at Stonewater Pub – it was delicious!
But Gananoque is the place to come if you want to do a 1000 Islands cruise. This is the towns rise to fame so it makes sense to do it from here.
7.5 Drive The 1000 Islands Parkway
I didn’t add this as a stop on your drive from Toronto to Montreal because you don’t need to stop anywhere here.
But if cruises aren’t your thing but you want to see some of the 1000 Islands, then you can drive the 1000 Islands Parkway instead.
The 1000 Islands Parkway is also the easiest detour on your Toronto to Montreal drive. It’s only a slight detour off highway 401 and now you get a drive with a view.
The detour starts just after Gananoque and brings you almost the entire way to Brockville, Ontario.
There are small parking lots along the way to safely stop and admire the view. You’ll be able to see the incredible homes that have been built on the smallest islands.
This is the only ‘stop’ that’s better to do on route from Toronto to Montreal than from Montreal to Toronto. That’s just because the direction you’re driving in and the side that the parking lots are on.
If you take the 1000 Islands Parkway on your way from Montreal to Toronto, you’ll be on the wrong side of the road. It’s obviously still doable, just a bit harder to turn into the parking lots.
8. Brockville Ontario – Toronto To Montreal Drive
Brockville Ontario is probably one of my favourite places to stop on the way to from Toronto to Montreal. It’s isn’t big, but it’s so quaint and hella cute!
We made a quick stop here for ice cream (at the Fudgery) on our Toronto to Montreal drive. The Fudgery has some of the best ice cream flavours I’ve ever seen though – I got a delicious key lime pie ice cream with pie crust chunks!
The main street in Brockville is (no surprise) King Street and it’s worth walking along for some shops and cafes. You’ll also want to walk (or drive by) the Brockville courthouse and Fulford Fountain.
If you have some more time, walk down to the Brockville waterfront and Marina. And in case you regret not taking a cruise after driving a long the 1000 Islands Parkway, you can still go on one from Brockville!
9. Prehistoric World
If you’re on a Montreal to Toronto drive with kids or a dinosaur lover (or both), then you have to stop at Prehistoric World.
It’s a 1 km walking trail through the prehistoric ages. They have life size dinosaur sculptures to learn about and take fun pictures with along your walk!
It also a very quick less than 5 minute detour off the highway on your Toronto to Montreal road trip.
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10. Upper Canada Village
Upper Canada Village is another family stop in Ontario on your Montreal to Toronto drive. It’s a bit more off the highway and more of a full day activity.
If you’re from Montreal, then you probably already know Upper Canada Village from on your third grade field trip with your school.
But if you don’t, Upper Canada Village is a heritage village with live actors dressed in costumes depicting how Canadian life was in the 19th century.
It’s more of an educational trip, but one that the whole families to enjoy! But you would need to carve out a bit more of your day if you want to visit Upper Canada Village.
11. Château Vaudrieul (Places To Stop On The Way To Montreal)
The Château Vaudrieul is your first or last stop on your Toronto to Montreal drive. Just like the Big Apple, Château Vaudrieul really isn’t out of your way at all – you can even see it from the highway!
I recommend stopping here for a meal on their outdoor terrace if you’re passing by in the summer. It’s all locally sourced ingredients!
For example, if you’re driving to Toronto from Montreal, head out early and stop here for a delicious breakfast. Breakfast is served between 7:00 and 10:00 A.M.. If you’ve already eaten, you can also stop here for a coffee.
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Bonus! Château Vaudrieul Alternative: Patates Et Persil
If you’re looking for a more casual places to stop from food on your Montreal to Toronto drive, you should check out Patates et Persil. It’s also on the water, but it’s more of an upscale casse-croûte (Quebec snack bar).
In the summer, take full advantage of the terrace on the water! But in the colder months, you can cozy up inside! Plus, the food is to die for here, they even have vegetarian poutine!
The only downside is that it’s closed on Sundays…
Staying In Montreal? Hotel Recommendations
I love going on staycations at Hotel Nelligan in the Old Port of Montreal. It’s in a great location, walking distance to everywhere you need to be. When you stay there you can’t miss out on their unique roof top terrace above the hotel. See room rates & availability.
I’ve also stayed at the newly built Homewood Suites in Montreal Midtown (west of the city) and I’d highly recommend it if you’re looking for a hotel that isn’t in the city centre. But they also have a branch downtown as well. It has a little kitchenette in every room and breakfast is included. Even though it isn’t downtown, you aren’t far from it. It’s walking distance to the Namur metro station, which will get you downtown in less than 20 minutes. See room rates & availability.
Here are some other alternatives I’ve heard about if you’re looking to stay in Downtown Montreal;
If you’re looking to stay in the heart of Downtown Montreal check out Auberge Les Bons Matins. This is a one of a kind stay perfect for a romantic getaway in Montreal. In this charming inn in Montreal, you’ll get a taste of local life. See room rates & availability.
You can also stay Le Square Phillips Hôtel & Suites if an auberge isn’t your style. Le Square Phillips Hôtel & Suites is in a supreme location in between the orange and the green metro line that get you anywhere else in the city. Breakfast is also included with your stay! See room rates & availability
For more accommodation options in Montreal, see Booking.com.
Staying In Toronto? Hotel Recommendations
I typically stay with family when I visit Toronto but I have stayed downtown once at the Radisson Blu Downtown Toronto. Located on Toronto’s harbour front, it was a very convenient location (plus you can upgrade your room for a view!). The highlight though of the hotel is by far the outdoor rooftop pool with an outstanding view of the CN Tower. See rates & availability on Booking.com.
If you’re looking to stay in downtown Toronto, One King West Hotel might be the one for you! Located on King Street you’re a short walk to all the main attractions, there are several tram stops, and the subway is just over a 5 minute walk away. See rates & availability on Booking.com.
Staying in Toronto can be quite expensive, Home in Downtown is budget friendly option to visiting the city. Although it has shared bathrooms, you have a private kitchen to use. Plus this apartment style stay has glowing reviews! See rates & availability on Booking.com.
See more accommodation options in Toronto on Booking.com.
P.S. If you’re looking for a long term stay for your family in Toronto, Industrial Luxe on Plum Guide has a minimum 30 night stay. You’ll be living in luxury the whole time you’re here with family movie nights on the projector and bean bags! See rates & availability on Plum Guide.
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Plum Guide is all about quality over quantity. They vet every single home so you don’t have to and only accept only the top 3% of house rentals.
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My Toronto To Montreal Road Trip Necessities!
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