West Through Northern Ontario Route 11 or 17?

almcc wrote:

Agree! I've seen a Class A motor home on the side of the road out of fuel, driver posted a sign asking for help.

The longest section on 17 (from memory) is just north of Sault St. Marie to Wawa, well over 100 km. There is gas in Wawa and in Marathon. The husky travel stops in SSM and in Dryden are convenient for larger RV's and Dryden has the cheapest gas in northern Ontario.

In the 70s when I was driving that Wawa--- Sault Ste Marie stretch all seasons, I thought of it as 131 miles.

:C

Beverley&Ken wrote:
As Tripalot said "One thing we would recommend is driving on the top of your gas tank. We found there were some long stretches with no gas stations (maybe 60 - 100 kms.) and no signs warning of this.
Top up in the larger communities and you will be OK.
"
We asked a police officer where the next gas (or diesel) was available. He said next gas station is about 100km down the road, but it closes at 7pm. Fortunately we had enough gas to get there. Spent night in there parking lot. One thing we did learn was not to shop around for cheaper prices, there was usually only one station a a town.

Ken

Agree! I've seen a Class A motor home on the side of the road out of fuel, driver posted a sign asking for help.

The longest section on 17 (from memory) is just north of Sault St. Marie to Wawa, well over 100 km. There is gas in Wawa and in Marathon. The husky travel stops in SSM and in Dryden are convenient for larger RV's and Dryden has the cheapest gas in northern Ontario.

As Tripalot said "One thing we would recommend is driving on the top of your gas tank. We found there were some long stretches with no gas stations (maybe 60 - 100 kms.) and no signs warning of this.
Top up in the larger communities and you will be OK.
"
We asked a police officer where the next gas (or diesel) was available. He said next gas station is about 100km down the road, but it closes at 7pm. Fortunately we had enough gas to get there. Spent night in there parking lot. One thing we did learn was not to shop around for cheaper prices, there was usually only one station a a town.

Ken

Go via one route, come back another.

I did this last year, got home to Maritimes on Oct 10, 2015.

-Going, crossed St. Lawrence Riviere du Loup up Saguenay and prowled -around up that way 2 or 3 days, Val d'or, etc.
-Over to Kirkland Lake, Timmins, picked up 11 and across to Thunder Bay.
-On to Manitoba, major through way, don't remember number.
-Rounded Winnipeg going north and worked my way north so that I would -get to Northwest Territories, ie. Hay River.
-Had to come way back south because so late in year to get to BC and up to Yukon
-Whitehorse residents sent me off to Skagway, AK rather than Dawson City.

Service Stations, eateries, etc. always had people with suggestions, or travel motto, talk to locals.

Coming back, One tourist attraction on my list many times more than any others, The Royal Tyrrell Museum. To which I say, was I ever right about that.
- Then via close to Winnipeg again, should have changed that for something different.
- Kept to 17 back through ON. Hey, ya know I worked out of Sudbury 72-78. 17 has changed since I went through in 2004. Since I know the towns I wasn't happy about change. Dropped down to Manitoulin Island for a day. Very much the same as 38 years before. Worth it.
- Quit 17 before Ottawa and went south to pick up my rovings to QC border and south.
- Finally connected with Hartland Covered Bridge.

Like I said, go one way return another. Talk to locals.

:B

We just did 17 this summer, doing the 400 to Sudbury and we went as far as Dryden where the highway starts to level out a bit as you get closer to Winnipeg.

Yes there are hills, the most challanging being the Montreal River hill north of the Sault, it's twinned going up so you can climb slowly. If your Rv has the capacity it shouldn't be a problem. There were lots of delays because of construction but a lot of that should be finished when you travel that route.

The twinned section from Sudbury going west is very rough as is some sections north of the Sault and around the Wawa area.

The road requires you attention and you will be a bit tired after doing those hills and turns but the scenery is great. If you need camp ground recommendations for a larger RV let me know, we have a 39 ft 5th wheel.

We drove Hwy. 17 a couple of summers ago. The scenery was great, lots of nice places to stop. You might run into some places being closed after Labour Day. One thing we would recommend is driving on the top of your gas tank. We found there were some long stretches with no gas stations (maybe 60 - 100 kms.) and no signs warning of this.
Top up in the larger communities and you will be OK.

If you can, try and spend a couple of nights at Whiteshell P.P. on the Ont/Man. border. It puts our P.P. to shame - also half the price of Ontario parks.

We did the 17 last year. Conditions are good and the scenery is spectacular. I wouldn't say it was overly twisty, not to the point of concern, but there are some long grades to climb.

I would highly recommend a couple of nights at Sleeping Giant PP.

Thanks obgraham, I am inclined towards 17 as I can see trees and rocks here in New Brunswick.

I understand that some of 17 has been twined around Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie with a median, any idea where and how much is multi-lane?

Lived up there in my mis-spent youth.

11 is longer, road surface had its issues last time I drove it (10 years). As you say, it's flat and miles. Gets a bit twisty by Nipigon and west.

17 is likely a better surface. The hills and curves are gentle. It's the main route. That's the way I'd go.