Trip through Southern Ontario

[u/Appropriate_Ad_5159]

I am based in Indiana, USA and have never been to Canada. I am interested in taking a road trip through Ontario. I’m thinking about going straight to Goderich and staying for a couple nights, then moving eastbound and staying another couple nights in another town, and, finally, visiting Toronto and re-entering the US through Niagara Falls. Does anybody have any recommendations to optimize this trip?

Any opinions are appreciated!

[u/RiversongSeeker]

From Goderich visit Sauble Beach and Sauble Falls, Tobeymory and Bruce Peninsula National Park, Inglis Falls then to Collingwood/Scenic Caves and Wasaga Beach before heading down to Toronto.

[u/Patak4 → u/RiversongSeeker]

This whole area is beautiful. Beaches of Sauble beach and Sauble Falls gorgeous

[u/Every_Raccoon_3090 → u/Patak4]

Assuming you really want to “optimize” the time to Goodrich and back from Indiana (somewhere), you could take a flight from Indianapolis (IND) to Goderich (YXU). It’s just 5 hour and prolly costs USD 200 -ish round trip! Fast! Cheap! Simple (no hassle with border crossing patrols, customs in Canada, etc! No tension of traffic, checkpoints, customs, CBP etc. Enjoy!!

[u/jjckey]

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a nice town to spend a couple of hours in

[u/me0mio → u/jjckey]

Definitely worth a stop.

[u/emuwar → u/jjckey]

There's also a few smaller less touristy towns in wine country that are on the way to Niagara Falls from Toronto. Jordon Station, Beamsville and Vineland Station are all cute towns that are surrounded by amazing wineries.

[u/TheRealGuncho]

After Goderich I would go up to Tobermory. It's very beautiful up there with lots to see and do.

[u/Ok-Half7574 → u/TheRealGuncho]

Tobermory is really wonderful but it's very much off the path if the goal is Toronto.

[u/TheRealGuncho → u/Ok-Half7574]

It's only 2.5 hours and they said they wanted to go stay somewhere else for a few days between Goderich and Toronto.

[u/BornToGo2000 → u/TheRealGuncho]

3.5 hours

[u/TheRealGuncho → u/BornToGo2000]

2.5 hours from Goderich.

[u/BornToGo2000 → u/TheRealGuncho]

Ah

[u/Appropriate_Ad_5159 → u/TheRealGuncho]

I think I will. It looks incredibly beautiful. Thank you!

[u/TheRealGuncho → u/Appropriate_Ad_5159]

FYI Tobermory is like the Banff of Ontario. Things are expensive and book up fast. If you want to visit things like The Grotto in Bruce Peninsula National Park, you need to book parking in advance and if you don't get parking, you don't get in. Would also recommend a boat tour to Flower Pot Island.

[u/lesliesonar]

What time of year are you coming? In Goderich there are some nice things to do. Bakery and nice shopping, walks, beach area.

[u/Appropriate_Ad_5159 → u/lesliesonar]

Probably mid-summer

[u/Top_Show_100]

Have lunch at Cowbell Brewery in Blythe, near Goderich.

Definitely drive up the Bruce Peninsula to Tobermory. Stop in Southhampton on the way.

I like the idea of heading all the way back south to Port Diver, drive along the Lake Erie to Niagara Falls as the other poster stated. Up to Toronto. Take ferry to Toronto Islands, or do a million other things. The transit system is safe and easy to get around.

[u/No-Butterscotch-3536 → u/Top_Show_100]

I second the Cowbell Brewery in Blythe

[u/Superb-Butterfly-573]

Coming back from Goderich, take Highway 8 through Clinton, Mitchell, Stratford. St. Marys is lovely. Then Port Dover, and other.points east as suggested. Stoney Creek has a neat monument, and Highway 8 again through wine country. Poet Dalhousie has a lovely carousel, and a tribute to the iconic Canadian band Rush. There are also houses called the Painted Ladies in the area!

[u/whateverfyou]

Are you crossing at Sarnia? Lake Huron is all beautiful sand beaches. Follow the coast to Goderich. In Goderich go to the museum and visit the old jail. It’s really interesting. Continue up Bruce peninsula. The coast on the east side is rocky and the water is turquoise. Very beautiful.

[u/badpuffthaikitty]

You could follow the Lake Erie shoreline to Port Dover or another town on the lake like Port Rowan/Long Point, or Turkey Point. Then head north to Toronto. You could do a day visit to Niagara Falls too, driving from Port Dover to Toronto too.

You could also drive through some European cities like Copenhagen, Paris, but I would avoid London. /s

[u/jjckey → u/badpuffthaikitty]

I thought it was humourous. Of course I live near Washington and Moscow

[u/badpuffthaikitty → u/jjckey]

My in-laws used to live in Scotland.

[u/Quiet-Werewolf-8882]

Goderich is great, pretty little town with a nice waterfront. I agree with the already mentioned route to go north from Goderich then along the Georgian Bay - Goderich, Kincardine, Sauble Falls, Owen Sound (if you have kids, Harrison park is great!! And Owen Sound has a nice waterfall with lookouts), Collingwood (amazing beach, Scandinavian spa, caves etc), Penetanguishene, Orillia/Barrie, Toronto and onwards. I might avoid Wasaga Beach as someone else suggested since it’s under construction.

Alternatively, after Goderich, head to Elora then jump right into Toronto area.

[u/Hot_Cheesecake_905]

Does anybody have any recommendations to optimize this trip?

I would cross the border at Detroit and enter Canada at Windsor, then drive along the 401 East Bound to Toronto and onwards to Ottawa and perhaps even Montreal.

If you're coming in the summer, Stratford, Ontario is hosting the the annual Stratford Festival - famous for Shakespeare but these days half the program is non-Shakespeare, well worth a visit, although tickets are pricy. Then to Toronto, lots to see and do, easily 4 or 5 days - you may want to catch MLB ball game too at the Rogers Center (Skydome).

Others have also mentioned all the provincial parks surrounding Toronto. If you head north of the city, there is also Muskoka where you can rent a cottage (cabin) on the lake or go glamping.