Ontario Cottage Country Road Trip
Muskoka, Algonquin and the Haliburton highlands.
North of Toronto, cottage country spreads across the Canadian Shield in a maze of lakes, granite and pine. This loop threads the Muskoka lakes, the Haliburton highlands and the southwest gate of Algonquin Park — Ontario's quintessential summer escape.
Flying in? This route starts in Toronto — pick up wheels at the airport.
Rent a Car in TorontoBest Time to Drive
June to October for lakes and colour; January to March for ski and snowshoe.
How Many Days
2-3 days with lakefront overnights.
Where to Stay
Muskoka lakefront lodges or Algonquin-area cabins.
Drive this route
A rental car, stops to sleep and roadside cover.
The route, stop by stop
- 1
Gravenhurst & Muskoka
170 kmSteamship cruises on the Muskoka lakes and the region's classic cottage towns.
- 2
Bracebridge & High Falls
200 kmA roadside waterfall in town and the gateway to Muskoka's interior.
- 3
Haliburton highlands
250 kmHighland Forest trails and the Haliburton Sculpture Forest.
- 4
Algonquin Park (west gate)
300 kmCanoe routes, the Lookout Trail and some of Ontario's best moose spotting.
- 5
Dorset & the Lookout Tower
340 kmA fire tower with panoramic fall-colour views on the loop back south.
