Driving routes between Ottawa and Wasaga Beach

I will be heading to Wasaga Beach from Ottawa shortly, and I was wondering if anyone had any advice on the best driving route between the two locations. Here are the parameters that should be taken into consideration:
- Two families travelling together in two vehicles
- Both families with two young children (one with a 7 month old)
- Goal is to get there as quickly and safely as possible
- Leaving on a Saturday morning

I've made the trip several times. Usually I take the 416 to the 401, to the 400. The last time I bit the bullet and took the 407 to avoid Toronto, and found that it was an improvement. I hate taking the 400 because I find that it is always very busy.
One time (a long time ago) I took TransCanada Highway 7 through Peterborough, then up around lake Simcoe and through Orillia. This was without children, but I remember that it was very annoying because of lots of slow traffic and very few places to pass.
I've noticed that there seems to be another route farther north (highway 17, Renfrew, Bancroft, Orillia), which is (distance-wise) the shortest.

I was planning to again take the 416-401-407-400 route, but I'm wondering if the PanAm games would have any negative effect on the traffic flow. Also, I find this route very boring. Considering the parameters above, is this the most sensible route?

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.79528...2855,14z?hl=en

Enter your starting address and your destination and it will give you a couple of different routs.

Don't know the route north along 17 and down through Orillia but the 416-401 to Brock road up to the 407 to the 400 seems the best bet.

depending on time of day, would have to be about 5:00 am , you could bring the 401 right across Toronto to the 400 anytime after 6:00 am unless it's Sunday morning the traffic is already bad on the 401 past Brock Rd.

we go across the city from west to east every Saturday morning and it's amazing sometimes what even 15 minutes later can do to your drive.

I guess what I'd like to know is: are the two alternate routes (the non-401 routes I identified) a bad idea when travelling with kids? I would like to try the alternate route through Renfrew, Bancroft, Orillia just for the sake of seeing different scenery, but because of the kids, we will proably have to stop a few times for bathroom/food breaks. Will it be difficult to find reststops along the alternate routes? Will the alternate routes end up taking a lot more time due to slow traffic/no passing spots?
Does anybody know of major road construction on ANY of these three routes that would result in significant delays?

This site is your friend for construction

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/tra..._reports.shtml

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rf2

I guess what I'd like to know is: are the two alternate routes (the non-401 routes I identified) a bad idea when travelling with kids? I would like to try the alternate route through Renfrew, Bancroft, Orillia just for the sake of seeing different scenery, but because of the kids, we will proably have to stop a few times for bathroom/food breaks. Will it be difficult to find reststops along the alternate routes? Will the alternate routes end up taking a lot more time due to slow traffic/no passing spots?
Does anybody know of major road construction on ANY of these three routes that would result in significant delays?

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Well. here's my $.02

The Hwy 7 route, through Peterborough isn't a bad one these days. I drive from Orangeville ( about 45 mins South of Wasaga) to near kaladar almost every weekend. There have been lots of passing areas added.

The 17, Pembrooke, bancroft route is actually much the same.

The advantages to taking the two laners at 80, vs. the 4 lane+ at 100 is this....

Plan your trip. Look at various centers along the way ( want to stop at that roadside place selling butter tarts and blueberry baking...it's easy. With small kids, it's also a nicer trip, the 400 - 401- 417 route gives them nothing to look at or distract, the other routes have lots to see, and lots of places to stop.

Time isnt everything. I would avoid the torrana stretch as much as possible. Another possible and enjoyable route is across hwy 60 through the park and south on 11 then head cross country at Barrie to wasaga. Pack a lunch and take your time and most importantly enjoy the scenery.

I used to drive a truck from toronto to Ottawa. . Would have a stop in Peterborough on way out.. Than have to go along 401 on my way back.. loved the 417-7-115/35-7a... follow to 404 or whatever than go through newmarket to 400.

Can actually do the whole route without getting on a 400 series hwy..

Used to be a burger place on 7.. thinking near Sharbot lake. . Boasted biggest burgers on hwy7... Was a good burger. . Needed a fork and knife to eat it

I live in Wasaga and we have done it mostly along 7, then 12 to Orillia. Not the fastest route by any means but not as boring for kids, or adults, as the 401/400. When we go to Scarb we tend to take the 404 rather than the 400.