to and from Lavigne Ont

bump

Sorry you have not had any response to your questions. I am in Ontario about 60 mi. north of Detroit, but not knowing what kind of campgrounds you prefer, or what sights you might be interested in, it is hard to make recommendations.

One thing I can note is that if you enter Canada at Detroit, you will be on the 401 Hwy. which leads you east into the traffic hotspot that is the Greater Toronto Area. If you search this forum on the 401 and Toronto, you will find advice on the best time of day to avoid the parking lot that this area can become. By the way, the 401 from Windsor/Detroit is not terribly interesting, but does have fuel/food service stops en route.

Google Maps will want you to take the 407 Hwy. which is a toll road. It does avoid some of the worst of the Toronto traffic, but can be pricey for a truck/trailer combo. The 407 has reciprocal agreements with many states and will bill you (there are no toll booths).


From the 401/407, you will probably take 400 Hwy. north. This is also a "hotspot" for 50-60 mi. on certain days and times, particularly on weekends, as many locals head north.
There are several provincial parks with camping off the 400/69 route. Reservations are available, but there are unreservable sites available if you get there early enough.

For what it's worth, we usually go through Michigan to travel to Northern Ontario, but as you are headed further east, six of one, etc.

Hopefully, others can give you more (and better) advice.

I don't have to go to Detroit. I assumed it was the preferred way to enter Canada. I'd be grateful for any alternatives such as 402.

If you want a more scenic, and less hurried route, then think about coming in at Sarnia - head north along Lake Huron to Southampton, across to Meaford, then make your way along Georgian Bay to the 400 and up 69 to your cut-off at 64 and on to Lavigne. You will find a number of Provincial Parks along the way (see www.ontarioparks.com) - but note that Southern Ontario Parks are busy during the summer months - and reservations are a good idea.

Have a good trip.


Jay

Everyone has given you good advice on your route up there, but you say you're in no "great rush".

I'd suggest though on the way back you take the north route, Hwy 17 / 11 to Thunder Bay, then on down to Duluth and onto I-35 and on through to OKC.

If you've never done the top of the lakes, your missing some incredible rugged scenery.

JaxDad wrote:
Everyone has given you good advice on your route up there, but you say you're in no "great rush".

I'd suggest though on the way back you take the north route, Hwy 17 / 11 to Thunder Bay, then on down to Duluth and onto I-35 and on through to OKC.

If you've never done the top of the lakes, your missing some incredible rugged scenery.

That's a great suggestion! We just completed that leg and are now north of Winnipeg in Riding Mountain National Park, we will return to southern Ontario in July taking the reverse route. Chutes Provincial Park near Massey will take your toy hauler as will Rabbit Blanket campground in Lake Superior PP north of Sault St Marie (sites 29 and 30 are our choices for a longer site). Near Marathon you have Pukaskawa National Park, Neys PP and there is an in-town park (Penn Lake) with full services, it's run by the town and you can get info on the town's website. We normally stop at the Thunder Bay KOA as it's close enough to TB to shop and explore while being out of town. They won the award for being the best KOA in North America last year!

actually I've been as far north as Thunder Bay. I was thinking about coming from Indy the previous weekend for the Moto GP race.

I'd like to see some of those parks on the way north, I wouldn't mind seeing Detroit or Toronto since I've never been there.

thanks Ranger, Almcc and Jack

There is a lot of truck traffic at both Detroit and Port Huron. If you are not too long you could save some time by crossing on the ferry at Algonac or Marine City to Ontario. The ferrys do accomodate some semis. Algonac has a great state park on the river to watch the lake freighters. If you are in the Detroit area you should stop in Dearborn for the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Henry Ford opened this in 1929 and it is "where history comes to life".
Definitely avoid the 407 ETR. If you are over a certain weight or size you are required to have a transponder. If you don't have one they can stop you and give you a $250 fine every time a different officer spots you. You won't need to use the 401 for very long either because you will be going up the 400 to the North Bay area. For a slow trip you could just follow the road that follows the Lake Hruon shoreline. very slow but a lot of small interesting towns.

my Gross wt is under 17k lb. most likely under 15k in travel config.

would I require a transponder?