The city is accessible by road from the east and west on the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy. 11-17) or from the U.S. in the south, by Hwy. 61 from Minnesota.

Trans-Canada Link

Driving to Thunder Bay by car is easy as our highway system is a central connector to points: east, west and south. In addition, Thunder Bay is only a short 45-minute drive from the international border crossing at Pigeon River. The Trans-Canada Highway runs through Thunder Bay connecting to Winnipeg in the West and Sault Ste. Marie in the east.

Driving distances from Canadian cities

Distance from:

Kilometres 

Miles 

Driving Hours

Montreal, PQ

1585

985

17.5

North Bay, ON

1105

687

12

Ottawa, ON

1465

910

16

Sault Ste. Marie, ON 

690

428

7.5

Sudbury, ON

995

618

11

Timmins, ON

770

478

8.5

Toronto, ON

1375

858

15

Winnipeg, MB

685

425

7.5

Connections to American Midwest

Highway 61 takes you 45 minutes south to the Pigeon River Border Crossing with connections to the American Midwest through Duluth, MN. From Duluth, Interstate Highways are direct links to major centres in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Chicago all within a day's drive of Thunder Bay.

Driving distance from U.S. cities

Distance from:

Kilometres

Miles

Driving Hours

Buffalo, NY

1603

994

16

Chicago, IL

1060

657

10

Detroit, MI

1263

783

12

Duluth, MN

314

194

3.5

Milwaukee, WI

945

586

9.5

Minneapolis, MN

556

345

6

Driving in Ontario

If you are visiting Ontario for less than 3 months and plan on driving while you're here, you can use a valid driver's licence from your own province, state or country. Visit the Ministry of Transportation to find out what documentation you will require.

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