Illinois to Vermont via Canada

Last October I was coming home on the 401 and hit Toronto at 1:00PM. I never even had to drop off the cruise once on the entire time through the city. Middle of the day is best. I took 407 one time with only my car and the bill came 2-3 months later. They would only accept Visa or Master Card. I had Amex and Discover. I offered to send a check but they couldn't accept that. After consulting with the mgr. for 5-7 minutes she came back and said just forget it. I avoid it at all costs with a MH because they can fine you $250 for not having a transponder.

Why Port Huron, i won't have to deal with Detroit, Google maps and mapquest planned that route and that's the route I took about six years when I had to drive to Toronto for an emergency. Didn't mean to be wrong about Provincial parks. I was looking at Rockwood and Guelph Lake just outside of Guelph. Why Guelph you might ask? It is just a bit over halfway of the trip and my mother lives there. She has been bugging DW and I to come to Canada to see her for the past ten years or so. So this trip that started getting planned a few months ago seemed like a good opportunity to see her. I am greatly disturbed after seeing a post about Rockwood. That is the place I was leaning toward. Does anyone happen to know when the reservations start for those two places?
Thanks for all the info on the routes around/through Toronto. And any other info on places to stay near Guelph would help. Some place close that my mother could drive to to see us. We will not be going to her place to visit (very long story).
Thanks

Just out of curiosity, why are you entering Canada at Port Huron? Wouldn't coming into Canada at Detroit be a shorter route? Come across the bridge and just follow the highway to the 401. Also IMHO the 407 is nothing but a rip off. Go through Toronto on the 401 after rush hour. The advice to gas up before Toronto is good. Stay safe and have fun.

We like to take that same route. Don't think you will have any trouble finding fuel every 160 miles. We can comfortably go about 250 miles between fuel stops, but usually stop sooner because we need a rest stop, so just fuel up at the same time. Upper New York and Vermont are lovely.

Gas is more expensive in New York than it is in Vermont. We try to only get as much as needed in New York to get us to Swanton Vermont. I think that gas on the St Regis Reservation was cheaper but that may have changed.

407 = quicker and expensive
401 = more direct and more traffic

Perfect.

Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
I would stay at Milton Heights Campground in Milton Ontario just west of Toronto close to the 401. A very nice well managed park. Take the Guelph Line exit and go north and then take the first right and run along that for maybe 3 km and you will see the campground on your right. Entrance on Tremaine Road.

Also I totally disagree on avoiding the 407, it is wonderful and we use it whenever crossing Toronto or even going into Toronto. We always take the TT on the 407. It misses the Toronto zoo, gridlock and is a pleasure to drive. Totally bypasses Toronto with very few large trucks. It ends at Brock Road and just take that south to get back on the 401. You will not regret taking it. Well worth the toll.

You will not get into Rockwood or Darlington in July unless you get really lucky making a reservation 6 months ahead and you have already missed that window.

Don't get me wrong I take the 407 whenever I can and I prefer it, but I grew up in the area. I am thinking from the perspective of someone who has never visited the Toronto area. It is a highway that will cost about $40 to cross Toronto with 2 additional axels (one of the highest tolls per mile I have ever come across anywhere in North America). That could be a bit of sticker shock. Also for someone not familiar, having a highway just end in the middle of nowhere (and the 407 & Brock Rd looks like the middle of nowhere if you have never been there) could be confusing (even though it really isn't). There have been too many times when my GPS knew exactly where it was going but I was sweating thinking I was lost.
I think what both our comments point out:
407 = quicker and expensive
401 = more direct and more traffic

I would stay at Milton Heights Campground in Milton Ontario just west of Toronto close to the 401. A very nice well managed park. Take the Guelph Line exit and go north and then take the first right and run along that for maybe 3 km and you will see the campground on your right. Entrance on Tremaine Road.

Also I totally disagree on avoiding the 407, it is wonderful and we use it whenever crossing Toronto or even going into Toronto. We always take the TT on the 407. It misses the Toronto zoo, gridlock and is a pleasure to drive. Totally bypasses Toronto with very few large trucks. It ends at Brock Road and just take that south to get back on the 401. You will not regret taking it. Well worth the toll.

You will not get into Rockwood or Darlington in July unless you get really lucky making a reservation 6 months ahead and you have already missed that window.

cmarkj wrote:
Yes, crossing in Port Huron. Thanks for the info about Toronto. I need 3 or 4 nights total at one of the two provincial parks outside of Guelph. Any idea when the reservation site starts up again for the season?

Not meaning to nit pick, but there are no Provincial parks near Guelph. From Port Huron there is Pinery Provincial Park about 30min after the border a little north of the 402. There is also Darlington Provincial Park right off the 401 about 30min east of Toronto. They start booking about 5 months before the date, but Piney is big but very popular. In Guelph there are 2 Conservation Areas (more like municipal parks) Rockwood and Grand River.
As mentioned, take the 401 thru Toronto and avoid rush hour. If you are leaving Guelph in the morning you will hit morning rush hour going into Toronto, that will cost you several hours and your sanity. If you are driving during the week, leave your Guelph stop over before 6am or after 9am. I would avoid the 407 when you hit Toronto, it is a toll ring road. It is very expensive especially with additional axels. It is also not completed on the east side of the city, you will have to take about 5mi of side road in Pickering to get back to the 401 east of the city.

Just thinking what I would have to do to cross the border.

Odd comment, to most people, crossing a border is no big deal! :)

cmarkj wrote:
Yes, crossing in Port Huron. Thanks for the info about Toronto. I need 3 or 4 nights total at one of the two provincial parks outside of Guelph. Any idea when the reservation site starts up again for the season?

I'm not sure what provincial park you're referring to. Below is a link to Provincial Parks in Ontario. We stayed at Green Acre Park a couple of years ago. Nice private park near the town of St. Jacobs.

Green Acre Park


Provincial Park Link


We usually cross the border once or twice per year. Never experienced any long delays or problems. You must abide by the laws and carry a valid passport.