Looking for the best day trips from Toronto to go on?
Whether you’re into impromptu road trips or planned adventures, there are plenty of awesome day trips you can go on from Toronto.
No matter what the season is, there’s always something fun to do no matter where you do a day trip in Ontario!
If you don’t have a car, rent one for your excursion!
You can get a day long rental (picking up and dropping off in downtown Toronto) from Expedia for as low as $91, which includes unlimited mileage and free cancellation up to 6 hours before pickup.
If you’re not coming from downtown, you can get car rentals as low as $58 from places in the GTA, such as Richmond Hill, Markham, or Pickering!
Whether you’re into wandering around cute towns, sipping glasses at wineries, or hiking through nature, there are all kinds of cool local places to road trip to in Ontario.
Here are some fun day trips from Toronto to road trip to, no matter what the season!
Be sure to also follow me on Instagram and TikTok – I share a lot more content on those platforms that don’t make it to the blog!
If you’re looking for more fun things to do in Ontario, you might enjoy these posts:
- Searching for more road trip ideas around Ontario? Go on one of these weekend trips from Toronto or winter getaways in Ontario.
- In the mood for a hike? Try one of these hikes in Durham Region.
- Love visiting local farms? Check out these lavender fields in Ontario or pumpkin farms in Ontario.
- Looking for Instagrammable spots? Visit one of these Instagram-worthy spots in York Region.
Best day trips from Toronto
Meander through Prince Edward County
Prince Edward County has become a popular spot for day trips from Toronto, filled with Instagrammable places and cool spots.
Stop by one of their dozens of wineries and breweries for an afternoon of tasting, or hit up the Prince Edward County Lavender Farm for some cute photos.
There are also beautiful beaches and nature spots to go hiking in, if that’s what you’re into!
Here are some ideas for things to do during your Prince Edward County day trip:
- Visit the white sand dunes at Sandbanks Provincial Park
- Check out the limestone bluffs at Little Bluff Conservation Area
Best time to visit: summer through fall
Prince Edward County is a 2 hour 10 minute drive from Toronto (204 km). Drive east along the 401.
Explore the historic town of Port Hope
Port Hope is a charming little heritage town in Ontario, and there are tons of fun things to do downtown all year round.
If you visit during the fall, you can even do some salmon fishing right in the heart of downtown Port Hope.
It’s also the town they filmed the It movies in, so you can go around and find all the filming locations!
We visited while they were filming, which is why you see American flags in the photo above.
It: Chapter 2 is available on Crave Canada if you want to watch before scouting locations in Port Hope!
Best time to visit: spring through fall
Port Hope is a 1 hour 10 minute drive from Toronto (107 km). Drive east along the 401.
Lay out in the sun at Sauble Beach
Sauble Beach is more than just an Instagram-worthy sign.
Read a book with your toes in the sand, play some beach volleyball, or venture out into the clear blue water!
It’s the perfect spot to take a day trip from Toronto.
If you want to drive out a bit further, you can head an hour up north to Tobermory as well.
Best time to visit: summer through fall
Sauble Beach is a 2 hour 35 minute drive from Toronto (218 km). Take the 410 north, then highway 6 north.
Dive into the Grotto in Tobermory
Tobermory is most notably known for their Grotto, an incredible swimming hole you wouldn’t think was in Ontario.
Paid parking is limited and you have to reserve online ahead of time, even if there are empty spots when you arrive.
Also, be sure to check the weather beforehand – we booked our parking and didn’t end up going because there was an awful thunderstorm on the way!
This is the farthest drive out of all these day trips from Toronto, but it’s definitely doable if you’re willing to head there early and leave late!
Best time to visit: summer
Tobermory is a 3 hour 30 minute drive from Toronto (296 km). Take the 410 north, then highways 10 and 6 north.
Hike at Mono Cliffs Provincial Park
If you want to see cliffs, crevices, and caves, Mono Cliffs is the place to go.
The park itself will take a couple of hours to hike, but you’ll want to explore outside the park as well!
I have a separate blog post all about how to spend a day hiking at Mono Cliffs Provincial Park.
Best time to visit: year-round
Tobermory is a 1 hour 5 minute drive from Toronto (94 km). Take the Gardiner Expressway west, then highways 427 and 410 north.
Prance through lavender fields in Milton
Lavender fields forever…
Take the drive out to the stunning Terre Bleu Lavender Farm in Milton and get some cute Instagram photos.
Visit right when it opens in the morning, because it gets busy very quickly!
Terre Bleu is the largest lavender farm in Ontario, with over 40,000 lavender plants that bloom at different times during the year!
Oh, and you’re going to want to try the lavender ice cream – it’s amazing.
Best time to visit: summer
Milton is a 45 minute drive from Toronto (54 km). Drive west along the 401.
Shop vintage in Guelph
The Aberfoyle Antique Market is heaven for vintage shopping.
You’ll find all kinds of cool gems like license plates from the 70’s and vintage coke signs from old diners.
There’s a ton to see around the market, and you’ll definitely be able to spend a whole day here.
One day might not even be enough to explore the whole thing!
The Aberfoyle Antique Market is open every Sunday throughout the summer and fall, so you can definitely make multiple trips.
Don’t forget to bring reusable tote bags for your goodies!
If you’re looking for even more cute vintage shops in Guelph, check out Outpost Vintage and Wild Rose Consignment.
Best time to visit: year-round
Guelph is a 1 hour 10 minute drive from Toronto (94 km). Drive west along the 401 and transfer onto highway 6 north.
Go hiking in Cambridge
Cambridge is one of the prettiest cities in Ontario, with its mix of historic buildings and colourful street art.
There’s an adorable café called Monigram Coffee Roasters that makes great sandwiches, and plenty of hiking trails within the city!
Best time to visit: year-round
Cambridge is a 1 hour 5 minute drive from Toronto (97 km). Drive west along the 401.
Go tubing in Elora
Laze around down the Elora Gorge and let the river carry you!
It’s located in the Elora Gorge Conservation Area, so you can do a little hiking on the trail afterwards if you’re in the mood for it.
Don’t forget to bring water shoes, and don’t do this if you hate bugs.
If you can’t swim (like me lol), make sure you’re with someone who knows how – the ending requires you to swim to shore.
If you’re in the mood to do some actual swimming, stop by the gorgeous Elora Quarry afterwards!
Best time to visit: summer
Elora is a 1 hour 30 minute drive from Toronto (115 km). Drive west along the 401 and transfer onto Guelph Line/Halton Regional Rd 1.
See a theatre show in Stratford
Fancy seeing a live theatre show?
Stratford is all about arts and culture, and you probably already know them for the Stratford Festival.
I saw To Kill a Mockingbird last year, and it was fabulous!
This Shakespeare-loving town is filled with quirky boutiques, awesome local eats (the Stratford Chef School is located here), and tons of fun things to do.
Best time to visit: year-round
Stratford is a 1 hour 40 minute drive from Toronto (149 km). Drive west along the 401 and transfer onto highway 8.
Walk through waterfalls in Hamilton
Hamilton is known as the waterfall capital of the world, with over 100 waterfalls to explore.
Spend a road trip in Ontario exploring Hamilton’s beautiful waterfalls and eating at some of the best Hamilton restaurants on King William Street!
If you enjoy hiking, you should definitely do the Dundas Peak hike for the incredible views.
There are also a bunch of cute and Instagrammable spots in Hamilton, including Motel Restaurant and Hello Baked Sugar Shop.
I’ve got a blog post all about how to spend a day in Hamilton!
Best time to visit: summer through fall
Hamilton is a 50 minute drive from Toronto (69 km). Drive west along the 403.
Go wine tasting in Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake is the perfect place for wine lovers, with almost 100 wineries located here.
Stop by one or two and explore Niagara Falls, or just spend a whole day visiting as many wineries as you can!
Definitely stop by Stratus Vineyards – they make probably my favourite icewine.
Also a fun fact: icewine is spelt as one word here in Canada!
If you’re in the mood to eat, try this icewine and chocolate tasting tour or Winter Wonderland food tour.
Best time to visit: summer through fall
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a 1 hour 20 minute drive from Toronto (132 km). Drive west along the 403 and transfer to the Queen Elizabeth Way.
Get touristy at Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is just one of those day trips from Toronto that never gets old no matter how many times you visit.
Take in the views of Horseshoe Falls, do some touristy activities along Clifton Hill, and ride the Niagara SkyWheel while watching the sunset!
You can also check out these other fun activities in Niagara Falls:
- Zipline over the Niagara River Gorge
- Journey Behind the Falls to see the icy falls up close
- Stop into the Butterfly Conservatory
- Head up the Skylon Tower (free entry if you dine at the restaurant)
- Take an epic helicopter flight
It’s the perfect place for a day trip, but you can also spend a weekend in Niagara Falls.
Best time to visit: year-round
Niagara Falls is a 1 hour 20 minute drive from Toronto (128 km). Drive west along the 403 and transfer to the Queen Elizabeth Way.
Algonquin Park – Interior site on Tim Lake
Camp at Algonquin Provincial Park
Algonquin Provincial Park is the perfect day trip if you’re looking to getaway in nature and wilderness.
From canoeing, to fishing, to whitewater rafting on the Madawaska River, there are plenty of fun things to do in Algonquin.
If you’re looking to do a tour, this day tour is a great option and departs from and returns to Toronto!
Best time to visit: year-round
Algonquin Provincial Park is a 3 hour drive from Toronto (276 km). Take the 400 north, then highways 11 and 60 north.
Walk around the Toronto Islands
If you’d rather stay as close to the city as possible, the Toronto Islands is the perfect day trip within the city.
All you need to do is take a ferry over to the islands, and you can spend a day walking or cycling around!
I have a separate blog post all about things to do at the Toronto Islands.
Best time to visit: spring through fall
Best day trips from Toronto:
- Prince Edward County
- Port Hope
- Sauble Beach
- Tobermory
- Mono Cliffs Provincial Park
- Terre Bleu Lavender Farm in Milton
- Aberfoyle Antique Market in Guelph
- Cambridge
- Elora Gorge
- Stratford
- Hamilton
- Niagara-on-the-Lake
- Niagara Falls
- Algonquin Provincial Park
- Toronto Islands
Toronto is near a lot of great towns and places for day trips, no matter what activities you’re interested in doing!
I’ve also got a blog post all about road trip tips that you might find helpful.
Will you be doing any one day road trips in Ontario this summer? What are some of your favourite day trips from Toronto? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram!
If you’re looking for more fun things to do in Ontario, you might enjoy these posts:
- Searching for more road trip ideas around Ontario? Go on one of these weekend trips from Toronto or winter getaways in Ontario.
- In the mood for a hike? Try one of these hikes in Durham Region.
- Love visiting local farms? Check out these lavender fields in Ontario or pumpkin farms in Ontario.
- Looking for Instagrammable spots? Visit one of these Instagram-worthy spots in York Region.
Be sure to keep up with me on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest if you aren’t already!
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