Route from Fort Simpson to Big River
Interactive map, distance, and indicative drive time for the route from Fort Simpson to Big River — 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 Big River (Saskatchewan). Use the live planner below to get up-to-date driving directions by car, on foot, or by bicycle.
Distance from Fort Simpson to Big River
The straight-line distance between Fort Simpson and Big River is 1220.1 km. The estimated road distance by car is around 1379 km, with an indicative drive time of 15 h 19 min.
Trip cost and route type: Fort Simpson – Big River
Driving directions from Fort Simpson to Big River
The map shows the locations of Fort Simpson (A) and Big River (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 Big River
Real distance: 1,789.8 km · Estimated time: 23 h 53 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. 62.5 km
- Turn right onto Northern Woods & Water Route/55. 1.9 km
- Turn right onto Northern Woods & Water Route/36/55. Continue on 36/55. 17.8 km
- Turn left onto Northern Woods & Water Route/55. Continue on 55. 88.5 km
Standard car route without avoiding highways. For advanced options (motorcycle, bicycle, transit, avoid tolls) use the live planner above.
Estimate trip cost: Fort Simpson – Big River
Indicative estimates based on ~1379 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 Big River
The straight-line distance between Fort Simpson (Northwest Territories) and Big River (Saskatchewan) is about 1220.1 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 – Big River
The journey from Fort Simpson to Big River covers roughly 1379 km on the road, equal to 1220.1 km straight line. The trip connects Northwest Territories to Saskatchewan and is classified as a long route (over 300 km). Plan multiple breaks and check highway traffic, weather, and fuel availability — particularly in remote sections. Open the interactive planner for the route map, turns, and a fuel-or-EV cost calculator.
The trip starts at Fort Simpson (Northwest Territories) — coordinates 61.8082° N, -121.3200° E. The destination is Big River (Saskatchewan), at 53.8370° N, -107.0350° E.
Practical tips for the Fort Simpson – Big River 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 Big River in Saskatchewan, prairie to the south and boreal forest, lakes, and Shield country to the north.
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 1379 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 Big River
Full information about Big River: interactive map, GPS coordinates, elevation, nearby cities, and routes to and from Big River.
Big River 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 Big River.
Interactive map
Open the area between Fort Simpson and Big River 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 Big River in satellite imagery.
Related routes
From Fort Simpson to other cities:
To Big River from other cities:
Popular routes from Northwest Territories
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Frequently asked questions: Fort Simpson – Big River
What is the straight-line distance between Fort Simpson and Big River?
The straight-line distance between Fort Simpson and Big River is about 1220.1 km. This is the direct geometric distance between the two coordinates, ignoring road geometry.
What is the estimated road distance from Fort Simpson to Big River?
The estimated road distance from Fort Simpson to Big River is about 1379 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 Big River?
Indicative drive time from Fort Simpson to Big River is about 15 h 19 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 Fort Simpson to Big River?
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–Big River 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 Big River?
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 Big River?
For alternative routes, use the live planner: pick between highways, secondary roads, and shorter or scenic options.
Can I open the Fort Simpson–Big River 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 Big River as destination.