Driving routes between Ottawa and Wasaga Beach

[patvetzal]

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..

[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.

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.

[rf2]

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?

[Fox]

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.

[rf2]

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?

[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.

[patvetzal]

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....

[Fox]

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.

[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.
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.....

[Bluebulldog]

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.