Route from Fort Simpson to Fort McMurray
Interactive map, distance, and indicative drive time for the route from Fort Simpson to Fort McMurray — 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 Fort Simpson (Northwest Territories) and Fort McMurray (Alberta). Use the live planner below to get up-to-date driving directions by car, on foot, or by bicycle.
Distance from Fort Simpson to Fort McMurray
The straight-line distance between Fort Simpson and Fort McMurray is 796.7 km. The estimated road distance by car is around 900 km, with an indicative drive time of 10 h.
Trip cost and route type: Fort Simpson – Fort McMurray
Driving directions from Fort Simpson to Fort McMurray
The map shows the locations of Fort Simpson (A) and Fort McMurray (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
Prefer another app? Open in Google Maps ↗
Driving directions from Fort Simpson to Fort McMurray
Real distance: 1,577.3 km · Estimated time: 21 h 15 min
- Drive west on Tsetso Trail. 167 m
- Turn left onto Liard Trail/MacKenzie Highway/Mackenzie Highway/MacKenzie Highway/1. Continue on MacKenzie Highway/MacKenzie Highway/1. 11.2 km
- Take the Liard River Ferry. 683 m
- Drive south on Mackenzie Highway/1. 645.2 km
- Turn left onto Highway 58/58. 56.4 km
- Turn right onto Highway 88/88. 427.6 km
- Turn left onto Northern Woods & Water Route/2. 116.3 km
- Turn left onto Highway 55/2. 45.5 km
- Turn left onto 55/63/Northern Woods & Water Route. Continue on 55/63. 22.8 km
- Turn left toward Wandering River/Fort McMurray. 248.8 km
- Turn right onto Morrison Street. 242 m
- Turn left onto Franklin Avenue. 208 m
Standard car route without avoiding highways. For advanced options (motorcycle, bicycle, transit, avoid tolls) use the live planner above.
Estimate trip cost: Fort Simpson – Fort McMurray
Indicative estimates based on ~900 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 Fort Simpson to Fort McMurray
The straight-line distance between Fort Simpson (Northwest Territories) and Fort McMurray (Alberta) is about 796.7 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: Fort Simpson – Fort McMurray
Planning a trip from Fort Simpson to Fort McMurray means budgeting around 900 km on the road and an indicative drive time of 10 h by car. The route connects Northwest Territories to Alberta and falls into a long route (over 300 km). Plan multiple breaks and check highway traffic, weather, and fuel availability — particularly in remote sections.
The trip starts at Fort Simpson (Northwest Territories) — coordinates 61.8082° N, -121.3200° E. The destination is Fort McMurray (Alberta), at 56.7333° N, -111.3830° E.
Practical tips for the Fort Simpson – Fort McMurray drive
Terrain along the way
The route starts in Northwest Territories — a province subarctic and lake-dotted, with the Mackenzie River and tundra to the north — and reaches Fort McMurray in Alberta, prairie in the south rising into the Canadian Rockies in the west.
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 900 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 Fort McMurray
Full information about Fort McMurray: interactive map, GPS coordinates, elevation, nearby cities, and routes to and from Fort McMurray.
Fort McMurray profile →Explore Fort Simpson
Full information about Fort Simpson: map, GPS coordinates, and all routes from Fort Simpson to other Canadian cities.
Fort Simpson profile →Related tools
Driving Directions
Live planner with turn-by-turn directions from Fort Simpson to Fort McMurray.
Interactive map
Open the area between Fort Simpson and Fort McMurray 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 Fort Simpson and Fort McMurray in satellite imagery.
Related routes
From Fort Simpson to other cities:
To Fort McMurray from other cities:
All info about Fort Simpson → · All info about Fort McMurray →
Popular routes from Northwest Territories
Most-searched routes from Northwest Territories, ranked by popularity.
Frequently asked questions: Fort Simpson – Fort McMurray
What is the straight-line distance between Fort Simpson and Fort McMurray?
The straight-line distance between Fort Simpson and Fort McMurray is about 796.7 km. This is the direct geometric distance between the two coordinates, ignoring road geometry.
What is the estimated road distance from Fort Simpson to Fort McMurray?
The estimated road distance from Fort Simpson to Fort McMurray is about 900 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 Fort Simpson to Fort McMurray?
Indicative drive time from Fort Simpson to Fort McMurray is about 10 h, 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 Fort Simpson to Fort McMurray?
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 Fort Simpson–Fort McMurray 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 Fort Simpson to Fort McMurray?
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 Fort Simpson to Fort McMurray?
For alternative routes, use the live planner: pick between highways, secondary roads, and shorter or scenic options.
Can I open the Fort Simpson–Fort McMurray 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 Fort Simpson as origin and Fort McMurray as destination.