Should I cross at Niagara Falls or Thousand Islands?
Both routes are the same distance for me but I was wondering if one would avoid the friday traffic more than the other.
Any advice is appreciated.
Should I cross at Niagara Falls or Thousand Islands?
Both routes are the same distance for me but I was wondering if one would avoid the friday traffic more than the other.
Any advice is appreciated.
Niagara Falls will take you through Hamilton I believe and then up the 400? Avoid those 2 places like the plague on a Friday.
If you do come up the 401 on Friday to the 400, take the 407. It’s our toll highway ,but well worth the extra cost as it takes you around Toronto and avoids it entirely. Traffic will be bad going North Friday.
Should I cross at Niagara Falls or Thousand Islands?
Both routes are the same distance for me but I was wondering if one would avoid the friday traffic more than the other.
Any advice is appreciated.
Coming up from Niagara Falls and getting on the 407 to the 400 (as previously advised) has the benefit of keeping you on major highways with higher capacity and speed limits…that is unless you hit the 400 after noon and it’s already started jamming up with cottagers…
I believe the Thousand Islands route will take you on secondary back road highways (401 to to 7 and 35 I think…??), with lower speed limits and often one lane of traffic. These can really get jammed up, either with heavy equipment, slow country drivers or cottagers taking their sneak routes. Plus they take you through a lot of small towns where the speed limits drop. They can also be poorly marked in some areas and it’s easy to either miss a turn, have different route names then what’s used on maps or search engines, or simply be provided a navigational aid at all. Fine if you have a GPS though.
$0.02
Thanks.
I do have GPS however I could see the potential disaster in taking the single lane backroads.
Take the 1000 Islands route (401 to 12 north at Oshawa to 169 and 11 into Huntsville). Depending on time of day though traffic can be heavy on the 401 or QEW anywhere between Whitby and Hamilton and along the 400 to Orillia (especially on a Friday), so you might want to consider cutting through Peterborough and by-passing much of the 401 altogether.
I live in Kingston we do the 62/35 route takes 4-5 hours. We leave at 10:00am on Fridays (have done several Muskoka events) find traffic at that time not too bad. BUT I have learned to enjoy the journey as well.
Rick
This is the best route. 12 to 11 and up. through thousand islands for sure. Much less risk of hitting any traffic. I have also heard of some lane restrictions at Niagara. If you want to go that way take the Queeston/lewiston bridge as it is much quicker.
If you want a really nice relaxing drive with beautiful scenery cross at Thousand Islands, turn north on Hwy 62 at Belleville to Bancroft, east to Haliburton and continue east to the Muskokas. The other route is a miserable drive through the urban sprawl.
Take the 1000 Islands route (401 to 12 north at Oshawa to 169 and 11 into Huntsville). Depending on time of day though traffic can be heavy on the 401 or QEW anywhere between Whitby and Hamilton and along the 400 to Orillia (especially on a Friday), so you might want to consider cutting through Peterborough and by-passing much of the 401 altogether.
http://maps.google.ca/...&ie=UTF8&z=9
I’m from Belleville orginally, and now live on the other side of Toronto in Waterloo. So I know the joys of Toronto traffic on a Friday very well.
For speed, Deej’s route is the way to go.
For beauty, I give cerveloguy’s route the edge.
Niagara Falls/Hamilton/Toronto/Barrie shouldn’t be in the equation unless you’re closer to Niagara.
Is that Black Plague as in the University of Waterloo Black Plague…?
That’s why you bypass most of the QEW and 401 altogether using the 407. Hardly anyone on it, even at rush hour…
Is that Black Plague as in the University of Waterloo Black Plague…?
Yeah, I’m surprised you know it. What’s your connection?
Is that Black Plague as in the University of Waterloo Black Plague…?
Yeah, I’m surprised you know it. What’s your connection?
WATER…WATER…WATER…
I would pick Cerveloguy’s route rather than taking 12 through Whitby since there seems to be more and more traffic and homes being built on 12 as it heads north. I live just north of Trenton and when I go to Muskoka I usually take backroads north towards Peterborough and then across to 12 and head north that way to Orillia. The last time I got off the 401 for 12 I was stuck in heavy traffic and what seemed like and endless string of stop lights for too long 
The problem with the backroads routes towards Peterborough/Lindsay is that the “best” way can be tricky to find so exiting the 401 at Port Hope and heading up towards Peterborough might be easier.
You can by-pass the 401 via the 407, but that will not avoid having to take the 400 north - the 400 north should be avoided on a Friday afternoon period. And for the out of towners, the 407 is a toll road but the bill for the toll will be in the mail.
Alum from the early days. Knew some of the black plague volleyballers from the late 80’s early 90’s…
Nice…I played for UW in the early 2000’s. I know a couple guys who are currently on the team and they’re bringing back the whole Black Plague thing. Maybe you knew Owen Jones, Fred Koops, or the Smith bros? The alumni game is tomorrow actually…some of those guys might be there. Alas, I can’t make it.
Accck! I’m married to a UofW engineer… I have to run into UofW alum’s on the ST board as well??? Geez, I need to find a knitting chatboard or something
Nice…I played for UW in the early 2000’s. I know a couple guys who are currently on the team and they’re bringing back the whole Black Plague thing. Maybe you knew Owen Jones, Fred Koops, or the Smith bros? The alumni game is tomorrow actually…some of those guys might be there. Alas, I can’t make it.
Yeah, I know Freddie and the Smith bro’s. I used to run homecoming and Freddie would handle the beach volleyball tournaments for us in the big tent. He’s the dope sh!t, Freddie is…