Route from Swan River to Thunder Bay
Interactive map, distance, and indicative drive time for the route from Swan River to Thunder Bay — with the live planner for up-to-date turn-by-turn directions.
This page provides the map and indicative distance data for the route between Swan River (Manitoba) and Thunder Bay (Ontario). Use the live planner below to get up-to-date driving directions by car, on foot, or by bicycle.
Distance from Swan River to Thunder Bay
The straight-line distance between Swan River and Thunder Bay is 948.3 km. The estimated road distance by car is around 1072 km, with an indicative drive time of 11 h 54 min.
Trip cost and route type: Swan River – Thunder Bay
Driving directions from Swan River to Thunder Bay
The map shows the locations of Swan River (A) and Thunder Bay (B). Use the form below to calculate the up-to-date road route with turn-by-turn directions, real distance, and estimated drive time.
Turn-by-turn directions
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Driving directions from Swan River to Thunder Bay
Real distance: 1,200.5 km · Estimated time: 14 h 56 min
- Drive east on Main Street East/PTH 10A/PTH 83A. 1.2 km
- Bear right onto Main Street East/Provincial Trunk Highway 10/Main Street East/PTH 10. Continue on PTH 10. 152.4 km
- Turn left toward Dauphin. 14.4 km
- Bear right toward Neepawa/Brandon. 430 m
- Bear right onto Dauphin Bypass/PTH 5/PTH 10. 4.7 km
- Bear right toward Neepawa/Brandon. 289 m
- Bear right onto Highway 10/PTH 5/PTH 10. 3.9 km
- Turn left to stay on PTH 5. 39.7 km
- Turn left onto Northern Woods and Water Route/PTH 68. Continue on PTH 68. 126.7 km
- Turn right onto PTH 6/Northern Woods and Water Route/route provinciale à grande circulation 6. 131.8 km
- Bear left toward 6 South/Winnipeg. 888 m
- Turn left onto Perimeter Highway. 37.2 km
Standard car route without avoiding highways. For advanced options (motorcycle, bicycle, transit, avoid tolls) use the live planner above.
Estimate trip cost: Swan River – Thunder Bay
Indicative estimates based on ~1072 km. Tolls calculated at ~$0.10/km on tolled segments. The calculator updates with the live planner's real distance. Actual consumption, driving style, weather, and toll rates vary.
Origin and destination
How to drive from Swan River to Thunder Bay
The straight-line distance between Swan River (Manitoba) and Thunder Bay (Ontario) is about 948.3 km. The actual road distance varies by chosen route, road type, and travel conditions — especially in winter and across mountain or northern segments.
Before you leave, consider:
- Check current traffic with a navigation app — particularly around major cities.
- Look up any toll segments on your route (Ontario 407, select bridges).
- In winter or at higher elevations, drive times and conditions can change quickly. Carry a charged phone, fuel reserve, and weather-appropriate gear.
- Plan stops at service centres or towns along the way — fuel and rest stops can be sparse on remote sections.
Route description: Swan River – Thunder Bay
How far is Swan River from Thunder Bay? The road estimate is around 1072 km, with an indicative drive time of 11 h 54 min. The route connects Manitoba to Ontario — a long route (over 300 km). Plan multiple breaks and check highway traffic, weather, and fuel availability — particularly in remote sections. Verify the track with the live planner for current instructions.
The trip starts at Swan River (Manitoba) — coordinates 52.1058° N, -101.2670° E. The destination is Thunder Bay (Ontario), at 48.3822° N, -89.2461° E.
Practical tips for the Swan River – Thunder Bay drive
Terrain along the way
The route starts in Manitoba — a province prairie and lake country, with thousands of lakes and rivers — and reaches Thunder Bay in Ontario, Great Lakes shoreline in the south, Canadian Shield forests across the north. The route also passes near Keewatin (Ontario).
When to leave
For a long route, leave early (before 06:30) or wait until after 10:00. Avoid summer long-weekend exoduses and major holidays. Plan a break every 1.5–2 hours of driving — and check weather, especially across the Prairies and through mountain passes.
Alternatives
For this route of about 1072 km, consider VIA Rail Canada — VIA's Corridor service connects many Eastern Canadian cities, and the long-distance trains (the Canadian, Ocean) run through the Prairies and the Maritimes. Cross-border trips may also include Amtrak's Adirondack or Cascades. Check schedules at viarail.ca and amtrak.com.
Explore Thunder Bay
Full information about Thunder Bay: interactive map, GPS coordinates, elevation, nearby cities, and routes to and from Thunder Bay.
Thunder Bay profile →Explore Swan River
Full information about Swan River: map, GPS coordinates, and all routes from Swan River to other Canadian cities.
Swan River profile →Related tools
Driving Directions
Live planner with turn-by-turn directions from Swan River to Thunder Bay.
Interactive map
Open the area between Swan River and Thunder Bay on the map.
GPS coordinates
Find precise coordinates for any point along the route.
Distance calculator
Measure straight-line distances between intermediate points.
Elevation
Check elevation along the route — useful for mountain passes.
Satellite map
View the terrain between Swan River and Thunder Bay in satellite imagery.
Cities along the Swan River – Thunder Bay route
These cities are near the direct route between Swan River and Thunder Bay. They may be useful as a stopover or alternate destination.
Routes with intermediate stops: Swan River → Keewatin · Swan River → Powerview-Pine Falls · Swan River → Kenora
Related routes
From Swan River to other cities:
To Thunder Bay from other cities:
From Thunder Bay to intermediate cities:
Popular routes from Manitoba
Most-searched routes from Manitoba, ranked by popularity.
Frequently asked questions: Swan River – Thunder Bay
What is the straight-line distance between Swan River and Thunder Bay?
The straight-line distance between Swan River and Thunder Bay is about 948.3 km. This is the direct geometric distance between the two coordinates, ignoring road geometry.
What is the estimated road distance from Swan River to Thunder Bay?
The estimated road distance from Swan River to Thunder Bay is about 1072 km — derived by multiplying the straight-line distance by a road-deviation factor (1.13–1.30 based on length). For an up-to-date route, use the live planner.
How long does it take to drive from Swan River to Thunder Bay?
Indicative drive time from Swan River to Thunder Bay is about 11 h 54 min, based on an average highway speed of 90 km/h on a mixed motorway/highway profile. Real time depends on traffic, weather, stops, vehicle type, and conditions.
How do I get up-to-date driving directions from Swan River to Thunder Bay?
Use the live planner on this page: select your transport mode and click "Update route". You'll see the route with turn-by-turn directions, current distance, and estimated time based on up-to-date routing data.
Does the Swan River–Thunder Bay route involve highway tolls?
CanadaDrivingDirections.com does not provide toll details. Toll roads are limited in Canada — Ontario's 407 ETR, a few Quebec bridges, and the Confederation Bridge to PEI are the main ones. Check the operator's site for current pricing.
How does traffic affect the route from Swan River to Thunder Bay?
Traffic varies by time of day, season, and weather. The live planner uses up-to-date routing data; for live traffic, use a navigation app before departure — especially in winter when conditions can change rapidly.
Is there an alternative route from Swan River to Thunder Bay?
A common alternative is going via Keewatin or Powerview-Pine Falls. Use the live planner to compare routes.
Can I open the Swan River–Thunder Bay route in Google Maps?
Yes. Click "Open in Google Maps" on this page to view the route in the Google Maps app or browser. You can also open Google Maps directly and enter Swan River as origin and Thunder Bay as destination.