Estimated Drive time from Toronto: 3 hours 30 minutes.
Map:
View Algonquin Provincial Park. Drive through in a larger map
Description: It is definitely not the best option to experience Algonquin by rushing through. But you can get a glimpse of what you will experience when camping in Algonquin during one of the beautiful summer long weekends. This post is about driving from Toronto to Ottawa or from Ottawa to Toronto through Algonquin Provincial Park. The point is that if you try to make the route using google maps between these 2 points then driving on the highway of Heroes "401"
Ottawa - Toronto:
450 km – about 4 hours 38 mins
Move the route to highway 60 through Algonquin Provincial Park and you get:
567 km – about 6 hours 22 mins
So as a matter of distance it is 120 km, which is much less than if you decided to drive through Algonquin Provincial Park, and you had to drive all the way to the park and back. If you ever researched a great autumn drives in Ontario, then you probably stumbled upon this one as being one of the finest. To tell the truth Algonquin is amazing in summer too. I would probably caution to drive through Algonquin in winter though, as those roads are probably not plowed too frequently.
Activities: So if you decide to drive through Algonquin instead of Highway of Heroes, what can you do there besides driving. 6 hours drive is a long one, so you probably need to stretch a bit along the way.
First of all if you decide to stop anywhere in Algonquin then you need to ensure that you stop at either gate and buy a vehicle permit. A vehicle permit will cost you around 15 CAD, but it will avoid you a ticket of around 150 CAD, in case you park anywhere in Algonquin and you fail to leave a valid vehicle permit on your window shield.
- For children: One of the stops should probably be the Algonquin Visitor Center located at kilometer 43 in the park. (km 43 is clearly marked on the road and it shows the distance from the west gate.)
Visitor Center is a nice museum along with good book store focused on Algonquin Provincial Park history, vegetation and animal life. The museum has natural size moose, bears, an exhibition where you can see how the beavers live and has lots of informational documentaries about the animal life that is completely forgotten when you are somewhere in a city and all you hear about is that stocks are going up or down.
- Hiking:
If you decide to go on a trail, pick up an "information guide" at the gate. You will find a list of all the trails, their length and their difficulty on the back of the paper. Beaver Pond trail (km 45) and Algonquin Logging museum (km 54.5), are relatively easy and small. Either of the trails will only sparkle a glimpse of Algonquin beauty and wilderness. If you are luck, you may spot a beaver at the beaver pond. 
- Fishing:Fishing is allowed in Algonquin following the Provincial fishing regulations. Fishing probably is out of question for a drive though though Algonquin though.
- Photography:Even in the short time in Algonquin, you will find enough scenery to shoot, so definitely take the camera along.
- Camping:Camping for a few days along the highway 60 corridor will give you the opportunity to fish, hike, ride the bike, take a canoe trip or just enjoy yourself in one of the wildest places in south Ontario. The highway 60 corridor, presents around 20 hiking trails of various length and difficulty level and 10 campgrounds to choose from. There are a couple of lakes that allow motor boats with limited power, but most of the lakes will require no type of engine to be started on the lake. They are quiet and splendid in the early mornings. For most information on Algonquin camping stay tuned, as a separate post will be submitted.
- Picnicking:There are plenty of picnic tables along the highway 60 corridor. I would suggest to stop by the lake of 2 rivers as it opens a splendid scenery and it is right on the highway 60. You need to have a vehicle permit to stop anywhere in Algonquin.
- Canoe rental: There are a couple of companies operating canoe rentals in Algonquin. They would also rent out mountain bikes and would offer water taxi to Algonquin interior. If you are camping on the highway 60 corridor, they will offer you discounts and may even bring the rented canoe to your campsite. Phone coverage is limited to none in Algonquin, but there are paid Bell phone boths at the entrance in the campgrounds.Opeongo lake and Canoe lake offer canoe, bike rentals, and gasoline. You could also get some snacks at Opeongo lake or at lake of Two Rivers. For Canoe Routes check out the book from amazon.com
Verdict:
- Children: Children may get tired during such a long trip.
- Camping: Camping is definitely great in Algonquin. One thing that you may experience is that even a few days are not sufficient to cover even 10% of what is available along the corridor only.
- Day trip: To make this as a day trip from either destination, makes it a trip that is too long for one day. Having this planned along something else that had to be done anyway (like a trip to Ottawa and then returning back) is probably a good option if you catch good weather.
Official website:
Algonquin Provincial Park Algonquin Provincial Park's 7,630 square kilometres of forests, lakes, and rivers have assumed an almost incalculable importance as a living link with a vanishing past.
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