Route from Windsor to Thunder Bay

Distance from Windsor to Thunder Bay

The straight-line distance between Windsor and Thunder Bay is 1342.3 km. The estimated road distance by car is around 1517 km, with an indicative drive time of 16 h 51 min.

Trip cost and route type: Windsor – Thunder Bay

Driving directions from Windsor to Thunder Bay

The map shows the locations of Windsor (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.

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Driving directions from Windsor to Thunder Bay

Real distance: 1,728.8 km  ·  Estimated time: 23 h 32 min

1. • Drive southwest. 893 m
2. • Bear right onto Rue Saint-Laurent. 38 m
3. • Make a sharp right onto Rue Principale S/143. 1.2 km
4. ← Turn left onto Rue Saint-Georges/249. 1.4 km
5. → Turn right to take the 55 ramp. 16.8 km
6. • Take exit 88 onto 116 toward Acton Vale/Richmond/Danville/Victoriaville. 632 m
7. ← Turn left onto Route 116/116. Continue on 116. 33.5 km
8. → Turn right onto Rue d'Acton/116. Continue on 116. 19.5 km
9. ← Turn left to take the 20 Ouest ramp toward Montréal. 64.8 km
10. • Keep left to take 25/Autoroute 25. 7.7 km
11. • Take exit 17 onto 440 toward Autoroute Laval. 4.3 km
12. • Keep left to stay on 440/Autoroute Jean-Noël-Lavoie. 7.1 km
13. • Take exit 22-S. 1.5 km
14. • Take the 15 Nord exit toward Airport Mirabel/Saint-Jérôme. 1.0 km
15. ← Take the 15 Nord ramp on the left toward Airport Mirabel/Saint-Jérôme. 33.0 km
16. • Keep left to take 15/Autoroute des Laurentides. 69.7 km
17. ↺ Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto 117/Route 117. 32.4 km
18. ↺ Exit the roundabout onto 117/Route 117. Continue on 117. 14.1 km
19. ↺ Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto 117/Route 117. 5.7 km
20. ↺ Exit the roundabout onto 117/Route 117. Continue on 117. 342.6 km
21. ↺ Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto 117/Boulevard Tétrault. 8.3 km
22. ↺ Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto 117/3e Avenue. 23.7 km
23. ↺ Enter Rue Royale and take the 2nd exit onto 117/Rue Royale. 51 m
24. ↺ Exit the roundabout onto 117/Rue Royale. Continue on 117. 74.2 km
25. → Turn right onto 117/Route Osisko. 38.4 km
26. ← Turn left onto Route de Duparquet/393. Continue on 393. 15.7 km
27. ← Turn left onto Route 388/388. 96.1 km
28. → Turn right onto 11/101/Highway 11 & 101. Continue on 11. 79.4 km
29. ← Turn left onto 11/Highway 11. Continue on 11. 613.3 km
30. • Take the 11 West/17 West exit toward Thunder Bay. 114.0 km
31. ← Turn left onto Harbour Expressway. 3.1 km
32. → Turn right onto Memorial Avenue. 2.8 km
33. → Turn right. 9 m
34. Show all 33 steps ↓

Standard car route without avoiding highways. For advanced options (motorcycle, bicycle, transit, avoid tolls) use the live planner above.

Estimate trip cost: Windsor – Thunder Bay

Indicative estimates based on ~1517 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 Windsor to Thunder Bay

The straight-line distance between Windsor (Quebec) and Thunder Bay (Ontario) is about 1342.3 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: Windsor – Thunder Bay

Driving directions from Windsor to Thunder Bay: estimated road distance 1517 km, indicative time about 16 h 51 min by car. The route connects Quebec to Ontario — a long route (over 300 km). Plan multiple breaks and check highway traffic, weather, and fuel availability — particularly in remote sections. Use the live planner for an up-to-date track with turn-by-turn directions.

The trip starts at Windsor (Quebec) — coordinates 45.5667° N, -72.0000° E. The destination is Thunder Bay (Ontario), at 48.3822° N, -89.2461° E.

Practical tips for the Windsor – Thunder Bay drive

Terrain along the way

The route starts in Quebec — a province St. Lawrence valley framed by the Laurentians and the Appalachians — and reaches Thunder Bay in Ontario, Great Lakes shoreline in the south, Canadian Shield forests across the north. The route also passes near Capreol (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 1517 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.

Related tools

Cities along the Windsor – Thunder Bay route

These cities are near the direct route between Windsor and Thunder Bay. They may be useful as a stopover or alternate destination.

Routes with intermediate stops: Windsor → Capreol · Windsor → Garson Mine · Windsor → Sudbury

Related routes

From Windsor to other cities:

To Thunder Bay from other cities:

From Thunder Bay to intermediate cities:

All info about Windsor →  ·  All info about Thunder Bay →

Popular routes from Quebec

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Frequently asked questions: Windsor – Thunder Bay