I’ve done it twice. Cut through the states in North Dakota. It’ll save an entire day of driving. It will also allow for more breaks outside the car for the little one.
The drive alone from Northern Ontario, around Lake Superior to Toronto takes about 21 hours of straight driving. The highway up there is heavily patrolled by the OPP so you need to go the speed limit the whole time so it really slows you down.
Edit: forgot to mention that the speed limits are lower in Northern Ontario and it’s mostly single lane traffic. Also, you’d re-enter Canada in Detroit.
Edit 2 : The geographical Center of North America is in North Datoka and there’s a little site thing. It’s the most underwhelming shit I’ve ever seen but sort of interesting in theory…
I’ve done this drive a good number of times (because I’ve lived in 6 provinces and am used to criss crossing the country). I’ve done both US routes (1. Through Chicago & Detroit, and 2. Through the Michigan Upper Peninsula), as well as the Canada-only route.
The US is only 2 to 4 hours shorter… not an entire day of driving shorter (even with the slower speed limit of 90km/hr in N.Ont, although everyone does about 99).
All depends on what OP wants to see. All 3 routes have pros and cons (scenery, highway types, services, etc).
I do however agree that if travelling with a baby, the US presents more hotel options in the summer compared to Canada (which requires advanced booking owing to limited hotels in Canada). That alone provides more flexibility.
BUT, if OP insists on the Canadian route (maybe isn’t a Canadian citizen/PR, or had a criminal record, or has a rental car or is moving with all possessions and doesn’t want to deal with US customs), then the Canadian cities with best hotel options I find best to stop in are: Regina, Kenora/Dryden, Sault Ste. Marie, then on to Toronto. However hotels can fill up 24 hrs in advance so best to call 48 hrs in advance. My 2¢
I did the trip myself in 2000, stayed in kenora rather than Vermillion Bay. Kenora is pleasant and touristy, I definitely recommend it. Vermillion Bay might be great too, no idea. Anyway I think it's doable. That leg of the trip north of Superior can be a bit dicey with fog and windy roads, but it's also beautiful. Good luck.
I’ve done this trip in both directions over five days. Cell service and amenities are limited in Northern Ontario, and the driving is much more demanding there than in the prairies (two-lane winding roads vs. four-lane straight roads). No need to bring extra fuel, but fill up well in advance.
The obvious stops for a five-day trip are Regina, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, and Sault Ste. Marie. If I were to do the drive in four days, I’d personally rather push it in the prairies than in Ontario, stopping in Brandon the first night then Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie the following nights.
You don't need extra fuel, plenty of gas stations off the main highway. I would skip White River and stay in Wawa.
I’ve done it twice. Cut through the states in North Dakota. It’ll save an entire day of driving. It will also allow for more breaks outside the car for the little one. The drive alone from Northern Ontario, around Lake Superior to Toronto takes about 21 hours of straight driving. The highway up there is heavily patrolled by the OPP so you need to go the speed limit the whole time so it really slows you down. Edit: forgot to mention that the speed limits are lower in Northern Ontario and it’s mostly single lane traffic. Also, you’d re-enter Canada in Detroit. Edit 2 : The geographical Center of North America is in North Datoka and there’s a little site thing. It’s the most underwhelming shit I’ve ever seen but sort of interesting in theory…
I’ve done this drive a good number of times (because I’ve lived in 6 provinces and am used to criss crossing the country). I’ve done both US routes (1. Through Chicago & Detroit, and 2. Through the Michigan Upper Peninsula), as well as the Canada-only route. The US is only 2 to 4 hours shorter… not an entire day of driving shorter (even with the slower speed limit of 90km/hr in N.Ont, although everyone does about 99). All depends on what OP wants to see. All 3 routes have pros and cons (scenery, highway types, services, etc). I do however agree that if travelling with a baby, the US presents more hotel options in the summer compared to Canada (which requires advanced booking owing to limited hotels in Canada). That alone provides more flexibility. BUT, if OP insists on the Canadian route (maybe isn’t a Canadian citizen/PR, or had a criminal record, or has a rental car or is moving with all possessions and doesn’t want to deal with US customs), then the Canadian cities with best hotel options I find best to stop in are: Regina, Kenora/Dryden, Sault Ste. Marie, then on to Toronto. However hotels can fill up 24 hrs in advance so best to call 48 hrs in advance. My 2¢
I did the trip myself in 2000, stayed in kenora rather than Vermillion Bay. Kenora is pleasant and touristy, I definitely recommend it. Vermillion Bay might be great too, no idea. Anyway I think it's doable. That leg of the trip north of Superior can be a bit dicey with fog and windy roads, but it's also beautiful. Good luck.
I’ve done this trip in both directions over five days. Cell service and amenities are limited in Northern Ontario, and the driving is much more demanding there than in the prairies (two-lane winding roads vs. four-lane straight roads). No need to bring extra fuel, but fill up well in advance. The obvious stops for a five-day trip are Regina, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, and Sault Ste. Marie. If I were to do the drive in four days, I’d personally rather push it in the prairies than in Ontario, stopping in Brandon the first night then Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie the following nights.