Driving from Toronto to Calgary - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Seabass · 10-27-2008, 08:48 PM

Not sure if anyone has done this. Going through Northern Ontario takes forever. Has anyone ever taken the American route? What do you suggest?

Frank the Tank · 10-27-2008, 08:51 PM

My family and I have done it several times. Have also gone from London to Winnipeg through the states. You have to go the US route, much shorter. I'd have to glance at a map to give you the exact way I have gone. We do cross the boarder at Sarnia/Port Huron of that gives you a starting point.

Seabass · 10-27-2008, 08:55 PM

I am actually in Niagara Falls, I was just going to take Interstate 90 from Buffalo right across to Montana. Probably a lot faster that going through Thunder Bay, Sault Ste Marie etc.

Frank the Tank · 10-27-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

Don't listen to Frank, he's still huffy because Prust is in the NHL. He's a sally.

I hate it when I have to eat my words. HE STILL SUCKS!!!

Frank the Tank · 10-27-2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seabass

I am actually in Niagara Falls, I was just going to take Interstate 90 from Buffalo right across to Montana. Probably a lot faster that going through Thunder Bay, Sault Ste Marie etc.

Oh, well that makes sense. We'd usually cross back to Canada just inside Saskatchewan, right before the Alberta border.....can't remember the name of the town. Its an easy drive, just dull and long as hell.

Seabass · 10-27-2008, 09:05 PM

Only problem is the exchange rate. Gas will cost us more.

Knut · 10-27-2008, 09:10 PM

Sarnia to chicago to Madison to Minneapolis to Fargo to Jamestown ND..

Its get more difficult here...

Jamestown to Minot on ND#52 .... cross the border at Portal, ND

From there angle up on the 39 to Moose Jaw....

This the absolute quickest way.... try to get past Chicago on the 1st night.. so that you are heading through Chicago after 8pm..... stay in Rockford, IL. From there leave Early and hit Minneapolis in the middle of the day... take the bypass....... then stay in Fargo or Minot. From there it is about 7 to 8 hrs to Calgary. About 32 hours total driving.

getbak · 10-27-2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seabass

Only problem is the exchange rate. Gas will cost us more.

But, gas is cheaper in the States, so that'll either balance out, or even work out in your favour.

Nancy · 10-27-2008, 09:27 PM

Plus you'll get to see many riveting attractions as featured in the movie Fargo, like Paul Bunyon and Big Blue:

disco_inferno · 10-27-2008, 09:29 PM

i got stuck in timmins for the summer, coming back i made excellent time coming across from timmins through the north route, down to thunderbay, and then cruising very early in the morning along the number 1 (it was dead). we were doing about 100 - 120 (in a 90) the whole way....beware the bike cops with lidar tho, they are sneaky...he told us "at the speed limit, manitoba is still 3 hours away, if you want to drive like that, do it there.'

Dion · 10-27-2008, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seabass

Only problem is the exchange rate. Gas will cost us more.

Thier cheaper gas will offset the exchange rate.

Dion · 10-27-2008, 09:47 PM

I plotted your trip using Google Maps

Driving directions to Calgary, AB
3,409 km – about 1 day 11 hours

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&saddr...,22.192383&z=5

liamenator · 10-27-2008, 09:50 PM

Drove from Calgary to St. Catharines in August. Took 3 days(ish). Could have done it a bit quicker, but stopped and overnighted in Winnipeg & the Soo. (Day 2 was a LONG day).

Next time I'll likely take the US route, probably quicker by 5-7 hrs I'd say?

4X4 · 10-27-2008, 09:53 PM

I've driven from TO to CAL both the canadian route and the american route (sticking a bit south through SD). I can't give an accurate time estimation because when I took the american route, I was the sole driver, plus the car broke down. But I can say that the american route was alot less boring.
Really the only thing I didn't like about the american route (as frivolous as it may be) is that their distances are in miles. It just seems longer.

Mr.Coffee · 10-27-2008, 10:00 PM

Yep!! I did this in May. Me and my bro drove from Philadelphia to Calgary. He actually came up from Florida but I only joined him in Philly. We went:

Philly- Toronto- Chicago- Sioux Falls- Billings- Calgary.

Pretty long legs... the Sioux Falls-Billings one was a good 11 hrs probably... but we stopped and checked out Mt Rushmore.

Chicago is pretty sweet... tons to see. Also, in South Dakota, you'll see about 1,000 ads for the Corn Palace along the highway. It's about as interesting as it sounds. But also kind of hilarious all at the same time..

But if you see the ads for the big ass mall... go to it... it's pretty hilarious. Forget the name of it though.

All in all though it was a pretty good trek! Good luck! You can also drive faster in the States. Your border crossing is like Sunburst or something like that at the Alberta/Montana border.

Also... turns out it's a big continent. Those maps aren't screwing around.

Nancy · 10-27-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dion

I plotted your trip using Google Maps

Driving directions to Calgary, AB
3,409 km – about 1 day 11 hours

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&saddr...,22.192383&z=5

Don't go through Weyburn... that's the Bermuda Triangle of the prairies. I'd be wary of driving on any road in Sask... unless you like the excitement of driving on broken pavement at 50 kph.

Dion · 10-27-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy

Don't go through Weyburn... that's the Bermuda Triangle of the prairies. I'd be wary of driving on any road in Sask... unless you like the excitement of driving on broken pavement at 50 kph.

That's the route i always take coming back from my brothers place in Minneapolis. I agree it's an awful stretch of highway. That said what other route would you suggest?

chid · 10-28-2008, 12:28 AM

My family has done it three times, first time the Canadian route (Calgary to Toronto) and I never want to do it again. We take the US route now, its quicker. Keep in mind we were a family with multiple pee breaks and long lunches but we had a 3 day drive through the US and closer to 4 with the Canadian route

REDVAN · 10-28-2008, 01:00 AM

I've always wanted to drive across Canada, so one day I might just pick up and leave for a month. Good to know.

Kidder · 10-28-2008, 02:12 AM

Did the cross-Canada drive this summer. Went the northern route on the way out east, and the U.S. route on the way back.

The U.S. route is A LOT safer. Divided interstate all the way, 24 hour gas and food superstations every couple hundred miles or so. I 90 is definitely the way to go. Just make sure you avoid Chicago at rush hour! That will tack on 2-3 hours of stop-and-go right there.

I've heard the Northern route is brutal during the day time. You get caught behind a convoy of semis and there's not a lot of places to pass. I drove it during the night so I was able to just fly. Only problem was the giant MOOSE signs positioned every 5 km. You've basically got bush on either side of the road and curves aplenty, so I was convinced I was going to get a moose through my windshield around every bend. Ended up not seeing even one, but I've heard of other people who weren't so lucky.

402 ---> Sarnia border crossing ---> I 69 ---> I 94 ---> I 294 (Chicago toll highway) ---> I 90

then it's your choice. I 90 all the way to Montana and up the I 15 to Calgary, or I 94 up to Fargo, and then the I 29 up to Winnipeg and back to Calgary via the trans.