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:

---

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?

---

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.

I would take the Orillia, Kinmount, Bancroft, Griffin, Renfrew route without giving any others a thought....Right past our driveway. Been to both Wasaga and Ottawa from here during summer or winter. Not fond of heavy traffic.....
Services get a little thin east of Bancroft or late at night so start out with a full tank of gas. Major food chains in Atherly/Orillia, MacDonalds and Timmies in Bancroft. Small diners and chip trucks all along the route..:thumbup:

I hate the 401, the 400 is worse.

I just drove to Collingwood, with the Pan Am games I would stay away from Toronto if I were you.

I took the 417 to Renfrew, then the 132 to the 41, 28 at Bancroft, 118 from there to the 121 to the 12 in Orillia and down to Collingwood, Wasaga is right around there too.

You could also take Hwy 7 across to Lindsay or so and go around lake Simcoe.

Lake Simcoe is the biggest issue, you go south and you get into Toronto issues, go north and it takes a little longer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fox

I hate the 401, the 400 is worse.

I just drove to Collingwood, with the Pan Am games I would stay away from Toronto if I were you.

I took the 417 to Renfrew, then the 132 to the 41, 28 at Bancroft, 118 from there to the 121 to the 12 in Orillia and down to Collingwood, Wasaga is right around there too.

---

How long did it take you on the Renfrew-Bancroft route? What day and time of day were you travelling?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rf2

How long did it take you on the Renfrew-Bancroft route? What day and time of day were you travelling?

---

Time means very little on that trip, traffic is never that bad along there, just getting to open stores if you drive through the night.

Google says 5h 22m, I left at 9:30am and ended up in Collingwood at 5:30pm but I stopped at Lock Stock and Barrel in Bancroft, then I screwed up and did not take the 503 to the 121 and stayed on the 118 to Gravenhurst, then I stopped at Ellwood Epps.

It was a long expensive trip, ha ha.

If I was to drive straight and not get turned around it would have a 5-5 1/2 hour drive, about the same as if you took the 401 to the 400 but without any of the traffic.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fox

Time means very little on that trip, traffic is never that bad along there, just getting to open stores if you drive through the night.

Google says 5h 22m, I left at 9:30am and ended up in Collingwood at 5:30pm but I stopped at Lock Stock and Barrel in Bancroft, then I screwed up and did not take the 503 to the 121 and stayed on the 118 to Gravenhurst, then I stopped at Ellwood Epps.

It was a long expensive trip, ha ha.

If I was to drive straight and not get turned around it would have a 5-5 1/2 hour drive, about the same as if you took the 401 to the 400 but without any of the traffic.

---

Time is a major consideration when travelling with young children.
Google maps gives the same travel time for both routes, but I have never been able to make the drive along the 401-400 route in 5.5 hours, even when I've done the trip without children. There is always lots of traffic on the 401 around Toronto and along the 400. Usually it takes closer to 6.5-7 hours.

For those of you that have done the Renfrew-Bancroft route (without lengthy stops or detours), realistically, how long does it take?

I think it's decided. I will be taking the Renfrew/Bancroft/Orillia route. Apparently it is pretty scenic, especially west of Bancroft. Thanks for all the input.

The road east of Bancroft is a well known motorbike run because of its scenery and hills. Have the kids play "count the cows" or boats, or riders on bicycles.....Time is only a factor when it is boring with nothing to see or do...
Daughter says it always took 3-4 hours to get here from Orangeville, taking North route, now she gets here from Whitby in two....
Plan to stop at the park in Kinmount or Atherly for chips....Let them out to play in the water and cool down....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rf2

I think it's decided. I will be taking the Renfrew/Bancroft/Orillia route. Apparently it is pretty scenic, especially west of Bancroft. Thanks for all the input.

---

From someone who gets bored easily you picked the right route. There are lots of places to stop to let the kids stretch their legs, even a bunch of spots to swim or wet a line along the way. Scenery is great, no need to have the DVD player as the kids can just watch the goings on outside.

Be aware as you go through Denbigh, leaving town at the top of the hill on the right is a sheep farm, almost hit those stupid Great Pyrenees a few times but besides that you should have a good drive.

There is a park on the river a few miles east of Kinmount that is a nice spot as well. Park in the shade and let the kids out for a swim in the fast water while you make a lunch/snack for them.
it is on the south side of the road where the river crosses the highway.
The boat launch at Atherly is another spot but you need to follow the signs for 1/4 mile to get to it. Both of these places were pet friendly and you could let the kids play near the car instead of a long walk to a controlled beach.....
As kids we used to travel from Bowmanville to the cottage near Dunchurch ( 4 hours) numerous times each summer. The dock at Gravenhurst was the halfway spot so we would stop there to cool off, have lunch and look at the boats. Maybe even get some radio reception........ Three kids in the back seat of a hot car but worth the trip.
Our kids have been hauled thru every state east of the Mississippi by making frequent ( every two hours) interesting stops. Some stops are spur of the moment, others at tourist traps. Once spent six days on the road getting to Florida where we stayed one night.....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by patvetzal

There is a park on the river a few miles east of Kinmount that is a nice spot as well. Park in the shade and let the kids out for a swim in the fast water while you make a lunch/snack for them.
it is on the south side of the road where the river crosses the highway.

---

It's on the Irondale River, and it's one of the better rest stops along the way.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bluebulldog

It's on the Irondale River, and it's one of the better rest stops along the way.

---

Seldom get out that way anymore but with dogs or kids its a rain or shine stop....

Go thru Alqonquion Park, on Hwy 60, very senic and might get to see some moose or deer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by line052

Go thru Alqonquion Park, on Hwy 60, very senic and might get to see some moose or deer.

---

Do you know what this will do to his time?

I tried that trip once, it took forever, my grandpa suggested it but he grew up in Whitney, just outside the park so he drove that just to feel like he was 20 again.

So I took the route through Renfrew, Bancroft, Denbeigh, Orillia. It was great - much better than the 401 - 400. We made it there in 6.5 hours, and this included several stops for food, washroom breaks, changing baby diapers, etc. all things considered, it was much faster and more enjoyable. The family we were traveling with thought that it took too long (they had never driven to Wasaga before), and thought the other route would have been better. They returned the day before us, and decided to take the 400 - 401 route. They made it home in 9 hours.
We took the northern route back, and again, it took us 6.5 hours. It would have been quicker, but we had to drive through a torrential downpour from Bancroft to Ottawa. In Renfrew, it was pouring so hard, that the visibility was equivalent to a winter blizzard. It was crazy.

Driving time aside, I found that when our kids were young the smaller roads were much better for minor emergencies such as pee breaks. We usually packed a lunch not to save money as much as to enable us to stop at roadside picnic spots and let the kids burn off some energy. Can't do that very well at the ONroutes!

Next time take the North route thru Bancroft and stop at the post office park. It's about 1/2 mile longer but there is lots for the kids to do. Or go north another 300yds, grab coffee from Timmies, then go north another 200 yds to the park on the river. More for adults and pets and peace.....

Honk as you pass our driveway and our patriotic beavers...

Good to hear you enjoyed the drive.

I am from KW and living just south of Ottawa, I have driven every single route possible to get to and from SW Ontario, the 401 is my least favourite and generally takes longer.

The biggest problem with me is the cost of sporting good stores, ha ha, best to travel after work on Friday and have them closed the whole way.