Route from Thunder Bay to McLean
Interactive map, distance, and indicative drive time for the route from Thunder Bay to McLean — 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 Thunder Bay (Ontario) and McLean (Saskatchewan). Use the live planner below to get up-to-date driving directions by car, on foot, or by bicycle.
Distance from Thunder Bay to McLean
The straight-line distance between Thunder Bay and McLean is 1095.4 km. The estimated road distance by car is around 1238 km, with an indicative drive time of 13 h 45 min.
Trip cost and route type: Thunder Bay – McLean
Driving directions from Thunder Bay to McLean
The map shows the locations of Thunder Bay (A) and McLean (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 Thunder Bay to McLean
Real distance: 1,243.9 km · Estimated time: 15 h 9 min
- Drive east. 46 m
- Turn left onto May Street South. 2.0 km
- Bear right onto Memorial Avenue. 762 m
- Turn left onto Harbour Expressway. 2.8 km
- Bear right toward Cochrane/Sault Ste. Marie. 1.8 km
- Turn left onto Oliver Road. 6.4 km
- Turn right onto Mapleward Road. 8.4 km
- Turn left onto Dawson Road/102. Continue on 102. 22.4 km
- Turn right onto 11/17/Highway 11/17. 639.5 km
- Take exit 348A onto 100 West toward Brandon. 40.4 km
- Take exit 42B onto PTH 1 West toward Brandon. 517.4 km
- Turn right toward McLean. 296 m
Standard car route without avoiding highways. For advanced options (motorcycle, bicycle, transit, avoid tolls) use the live planner above.
Estimate trip cost: Thunder Bay – McLean
Indicative estimates based on ~1238 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 Thunder Bay to McLean
The straight-line distance between Thunder Bay (Ontario) and McLean (Saskatchewan) is about 1095.4 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: Thunder Bay – McLean
The route connects Ontario to Saskatchewan: from Thunder Bay to McLean you cover roughly 1238 km on the road (geometric distance 1095.4 km). A long route (over 300 km). Plan multiple breaks and check highway traffic, weather, and fuel availability — particularly in remote sections. The live planner calculates the optimal route with step-by-step instructions and trip cost.
The trip starts at Thunder Bay (Ontario) — coordinates 48.3822° N, -89.2461° E. The destination is McLean (Saskatchewan), at 50.5170° N, -104.0670° E.
Practical tips for the Thunder Bay – McLean drive
Terrain along the way
The route starts in Ontario — a province Great Lakes shoreline in the south, Canadian Shield forests across the north — and reaches McLean in Saskatchewan, prairie to the south and boreal forest, lakes, and Shield country to the north. The route also passes near Steinbach (Manitoba).
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 1238 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 McLean
Full information about McLean: interactive map, GPS coordinates, elevation, nearby cities, and routes to and from McLean.
McLean profile →Explore Thunder Bay
Full information about Thunder Bay: map, GPS coordinates, and all routes from Thunder Bay to other Canadian cities.
Thunder Bay profile →Related tools
Driving Directions
Live planner with turn-by-turn directions from Thunder Bay to McLean.
Interactive map
Open the area between Thunder Bay and McLean 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 Thunder Bay and McLean in satellite imagery.
Cities along the Thunder Bay – McLean route
These cities are near the direct route between Thunder Bay and McLean. They may be useful as a stopover or alternate destination.
Routes with intermediate stops: Thunder Bay → Steinbach · Thunder Bay → Mitchell · Thunder Bay → Hanover
Related routes
From Thunder Bay to other cities:
To McLean from other cities:
From McLean to intermediate cities:
Similar-distance routes from Thunder Bay
Other routes from Thunder Bay with comparable distance (657–1534 km straight line).
Popular routes from Ontario
Most-searched routes from Ontario, ranked by popularity.
Frequently asked questions: Thunder Bay – McLean
What is the straight-line distance between Thunder Bay and McLean?
The straight-line distance between Thunder Bay and McLean is about 1095.4 km. This is the direct geometric distance between the two coordinates, ignoring road geometry.
What is the estimated road distance from Thunder Bay to McLean?
The estimated road distance from Thunder Bay to McLean is about 1238 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 Thunder Bay to McLean?
Indicative drive time from Thunder Bay to McLean is about 13 h 45 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 Thunder Bay to McLean?
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 Thunder Bay–McLean 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 Thunder Bay to McLean?
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 Thunder Bay to McLean?
A common alternative is going via Steinbach or Mitchell. Use the live planner to compare routes.
Can I open the Thunder Bay–McLean 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 Thunder Bay as origin and McLean as destination.