Forum Discussion

walker111's avatar
walker111
Explorer
Jun 27, 2016

towing in northern ontario

Hi All
Have driven through N Ontario around the great lakes before but that was 15 years ago solo with the car. Kenora, Dryden, wawa, SS marie, thunder bay, Sudbury etc.

had to watch road construction, wildlife at night etc.

Now it is the family, wife and two boys, 10 and 12.
Wondering how that route would be towing the big toyhauler. Not worried about truck just roads, conditions, general conditions.
Not in a hurry and will be pulled over at 5 or 6 every night.
Calgary to Cape Breton. Did it 5 years ago but stayed mostly in the US as our dollar was good and wanted to visit places I have never see.
Will do the US on the way back as we want to go to a ball game in Minn. and also visit Mt. Rushmore for a few days.

Any input on this route appreciated.
Thanks
Rob

7 Replies

  • suz1500 wrote:
    almcc wrote:
    We are doing that trek right now, we stopped in the Serpent River campground west of Massey overnight and are heading for Wawa today. Get ready for the "construction season"! We were stopped for a half hour just west of Espanolo yesterday, a combination of road re-paving and a bridge repair resulted in stopped traffic for a couple of miles in each direction.
    Almcc, not to but in, doing this trip in September, how did you like the Serpent River Campground?


    We stop at Serpent River CG each year on our way north and on the return. It's a former KOA and the pull through sites are long and easy to get into. We left our 39ft. 5er attached to the truck and still had room front and back. Like most northern Ontario parks, it has only 30 amp and water, the dump is accessible on the way out if you go through the "in" entrance. I wouldn't call it a "destination" park but it works well for us, the provincial parks in the area are too tight with overgrown trees for our 5er.

    One park that you may want to check if you are heading up here is Penn Lake in Marathon, we are parked here now, it's run by town of Marathon, full services with 30 amps (and a couple of 50 amp sites). It's rarely full and they have the fastest free wifi I've seen in any park, must be between 5 and 10 MB/sec!

    For anyone else looking for construction info, there is blasting going on north of Wawa on the trans Canada, 10 or 15 minute delays each way.
  • almcc wrote:
    We are doing that trek right now, we stopped in the Serpent River campground west of Massey overnight and are heading for Wawa today. Get ready for the "construction season"! We were stopped for a half hour just west of Espanolo yesterday, a combination of road re-paving and a bridge repair resulted in stopped traffic for a couple of miles in each direction.
    Almcc, not to but in, doing this trip in September, how did you like the Serpent River Campground?
  • Thanks. That is tolerable. Hope there is not much more but some is to be expected.
  • We are doing that trek right now, we stopped in the Serpent River campground west of Massey overnight and are heading for Wawa today. Get ready for the "construction season"! We were stopped for a half hour just west of Espanolo yesterday, a combination of road re-paving and a bridge repair resulted in stopped traffic for a couple of miles in each direction.
  • Thanks . looks like all positive comments. A buddy drove it last year but in truck solo and he said I will be fine also.
    Much appreciated the info.
  • Have done the Sault Ste Marie to Wawa run every year since 1997. The bridges were redone a year or two ago but even during that construction there was no delays. Light traffic in August as one would expect. Beautiful scenic drive.
  • Have done the trip from Toronto area through Sudbury, SS Marie through to Thunder Bay and Kakabeka Falls. Will also do this run again next week. At least from Thunder Bay to GTA no worries as relatives have just done it recently. Unless new construction and Google Maps will show you that. I tow a 35ft TT through this route with no issues. Just watch for speed traps when coming off passing lanes. Cops seem to like sitting at the end of the passing lane with radar. Also apparently this a high deer population at least around Thunder Bay so be vigilant. If you stop early and do not leave too early should be ok for wildlife.