A North Bay to Thunder Bay road trip is a great way to explore some of the less-visited areas of the province. While this road trip may not as popular as the Lake Superior route, it’s still an impressive and beautiful area of Northern Ontario.

With plenty of lakes and forests, this area of Northern Ontario is a perfect for those who love the outdoors. Fishing, boating and paddling are popular in the summer, while snowmobiling is fantastic in the winter.
Outdoor activities aside, the towns in Northern Ontario are also rich in culture and proud to share their heritage.
You will find plenty of historical landmarks, strong francophone communities and some interesting sights along the way, making the drive from North Bay to Thunder Bay fun for the whole family!
So get ready for a fantastic Northern Ontario road trip! Hop in your car and check out these fun stops on the drive from North Bay to Thunder Bay.

Ontario is home to 250,000 lakes! And while I’m not sure how many of those lakes are in the north, I can guarantee you that there are plenty!
As you drive north along Hwy 11/TransCanada Highway, you are sure to see plenty of lakes alongside the highway. And if you venture off into some of the small towns and communities, there are even more lakes to discover!
But Northern Ontario isn’t just lakes. Along the TransCanada Highway, there are quite a few interesting things to see along the roadside. Some, like the wildlife, you might expect to see in Northern Ontario, while others are quite the surprise!
>>If you are travelling with kids, there’s a bingo-style card at the bottom of this post that you can print out and use for this Northern Ontario road trip.
These fun roadside stops are also a great excuse to get out and stretch the legs for a few minutes!
North Bay to Thunder Bay Road Trip
This Northern Ontario road trip takes you along the northern part of the TransCanada Highway, beginning in North Bay and finishing in Thunder Bay.
It’s just over 1,100 km and takes about 12.5 hours, driving non-stop. We suggest breaking the drive from North Bay to Thunder Bay into three or four sections, with a few overnight stops along the way.
Once you reach Thunder Bay, you can return along the same route, or head south along Lake Superior and make this road trip into a circular route (which we did). You can read about the Lake Superior Road Trip Itinerary here.

Interesting Stops along the drive from North Bay to Thunder Bay
Start in North Bay
Located on the shores of Lake Nipissing, North Bay is a perfect place to start your Northern Ontario road trip. It’s known as the “Gateway to the North” but don’t be too quick to head north. Stop and explore North Bay!
Stretch your legs and hike the trail at Duchesnay Falls or visit one of the many conservation areas around the city.
Stroll along the waterfront, grab an ice cream and watch the boats on the pier or hang out at the beach for awhile! Marathon Beach also has a fantastic playground for kids!
There are plenty of accommodations in North Bay. Check here for availability.
Head north to Cochrane
The first stretch of this Northern Ontario road trip heads north towards Cochrane. The drive is about 4 hours but along the way there are 5 great stops to break up the drive.
Heading north for about 45 minutes, you’ll reach Marten River. Stop for a quick photo with the large fish, welcoming you to Marten River. This fish is the first of many fun roadside attractions you’ll see in Northern Ontario. There’s also a provincial park of the same name if you’re looking to camp overnight.
Another 30 minutes drive north brings you to the town of Temagami (Te – mah-ga-mee). Park the car for a quick hike up the Temagami Fire Tower!
It’s one of the last fire towers left in Ontario that you can climb, but it’s not for the faint of heart!
It’s a steep climb, especially the last part but my 6 year-olds did it without a problem (and then asked to climb it again!). For those with a fear of heights, there is a lookout platform providing amazing views across the area and a few hiking trails as well.
Continue north for another 45 minutes to reach the town of New Liskeard. At the turn off to the town, you’ll find the tourist information booth along with a large cow statue. Stop for a quick stretch and photo opportunity!
A quick 15 minutes drive brings you to Thornloe Cheese. This popular cheese factory produces some excellent cheeses, which you can purchase in the store – it makes a great snack for the road trip! They also serve Chapman’s ice cream (with some unique Northern Ontario flavours!) and there is a food truck (not associated with Thornloe Cheese) in the same parking lot.
Hop back in the car for a short 10 minute drive north to Earlton. Just past the town, you’ll find Earl, a large bison, standing on the side of the highway. There’s a spot to pull over and park so you can walk around the bison, and of course, take a #roadsideattraction photo!
Explore Cochrane
Arriving in Cochrane, you’ve completed approximately one-third of this Northern Ontario road trip from North Bay to Thunder Bay!
Cochrane has been voted one of Canada’s Top 50 Small Towns. It’s the birthplace of Tim Horton and is well-known for polar bears.
You may be wondering why polar bears, when it isn’t in the Arctic!
Cochrane is home to the Canadian Polar Bear Habitat, the only captive bear facility in the world dedicated to polar bears. It’s also the starting point for the Polar Bear Express, a train ride that takes you north to Moosonee.
After taking a photo with Chimo, the polar bear welcoming you to Cochrane, walk down to the train station, where you’ll find another polar bear statue and a historic steam train, (similar to Thomas the train!). If you have more time, head down to the lake and walk along the boardwalk path that circles the lake.
Cochrane makes a good spot to stay overnight. Accomodation isn’t as plentiful as you might expect in larger cities, but there are a few choices to choose from. Check here for availability.
Head west to Hearst
The drive from Cochrane to Hearst is easy and flat, with many fields dotting the side of the road. Expect to see a tractor or two sharing the highway with you.
Stop in the town of Moonbeam for a look at the large UFO statue right on the side of the highway. It’s one of the most unique roadside attractions we saw in Northern Ontario and makes for a great place to stretch the legs (and of course, get a photo!).
If you are camping, along this portion of the road about a one hour drive from Cochrane, is Rene Brunelle Provincial Park. While we haven’t stayed there (yet), it’s highly recommended and an excellent provincial park for families.
Hearst
Entering the town of Hearst, you’ll see a large moose and wolves standing guard over the Hearst sign. It’s known for being the “Moose Capital of Canada”, however we didn’t have the luck of seeing any…
Hearst is the most Francophone community in Canada. Visit Rheault Distillery to pick up some Loon Vodka, visit the Ecomuseum and do some shopping at the local boutiques in town.
If you’re continuing on the drive from North Bay to Thunder Bay, pick up some supplies at the Independent Grocery Store in town, or grab something to eat before heading back on the road.
If you are planning to stay overnight here, check here for accommodations.
Fushimi Lake Provinicial Park
For those that prefer to camp, Fushimi Lake Provincial Park is 30 minutes past Hearst.
Located on Fushimi Lake, it’s known for excellent fishing. Boating, canoeing and kayaking are also popular and there’s also a sand beach and play equipment for young kids.
Kids activities are offered on weekends in the summer and be sure to pick up a Discovery Book at the park office!
Programs and staff are bilingual in French and English.
Head west towards Longlac
This is a LONG stretch of the drive, at 400 km and taking just over 4 hours. There are a quite a few roadside rest stops along the way, a few towns and a provincial park to explore to help break up your drive.
About 2 hours past Hearst is MacLeod Provincial Park. There is overnight camping available or you can visit for the day. Hike, rent a canoe or just enjoy the sandy beach for the afternoon.
Continuing on Hwy 11/TransCanada, you’ll pass through Longlac. Stop at the tourist information center for a quick stretch and rest before continuing on.
Beardmore is a small town with a large statue alongside the highway. You can’t miss it.
Along with the requisite Beardmore sign, there stands a large snowman holding a fishing pole. Yes, a snowman with a fishing pole. Pull over and snap a photo!
Heading south to Nipigon
The TransCanada Highway starts to head south here along the shores of Lake Nipigon. The scenery is stunning, with forest and cliffs on one side, and the lake on the other side.
Unfortunately, we don’t have photos to share of the stunning views, as the haze from forest fires made the view look like there was a grey filter over everything. Take my word for it though, the scenery is stunning.
Nipigon
Arriving in Nipigon feels almost anti-climatic but don’t get too excited – there is still at least an hour to go and a few more stops on the drive from North Bay to Thunder Bay.
Just after you cross the bridge into Nipigon, turn left and you’ll see a large lookout tower. There’s plenty of parking here so take a quick stop and climb the lookout tower for view of the river and the bridge that you just crossed.
If you are travelling with young kids, continue on into Nipigon and visit the Paddle-to-Sea playground.
It’s an excellent playground with different activities representing the trip a child’s hand carved canoe takes, from Nipigon through Lake Superior and the Great Lakes.
Kids will love the rolling logs, tunnels, a steering wheel and a splash pad in the summer months.
Nipigon is a good spot to stay overnight as there are lots of attractions in the nearby area to stop at before reaching Thunder Bay. However there are not a lot of hotels, so check availability well in advance!
Nipigon to Thunder Bay
Although this is about a one hour drive, there is plenty to see and do along this stretch before you arrive in Thunder Bay.
Ouimet Canyon
Take a short detour off the highway to see the stunning Ouimet Canyon, one of Ontario’s Natural Wonders. While this isn’t technically a roadside stop, it’s only a few kilometres from Hwy11/TransCanada and a stop well worth making. There’s a short 1km path that takes you to a viewing platform overlooking the large canyon.
On this same road is Eagle Canyon, home to Canada’s largest suspension bridge. If you’re feeling adventurous, stop and take a walk across the suspension bridge – there are actually two that you can cross and a trail that takes you along the bottom of the canyon.
Arriving in Thunder Bay
As you near Thunder Bay, you’ll notice the large Terry Fox monument, high on a hill overlooking the highway.
Follow the sign to turn off the highway and head up to the hill for a fantastic view of Sleeping Giant across the water and pay tribute to Terry Fox, a Canadian hero who raised awareness for cancer research by running across Canada.
Now that you’ve arrived in Thunder Bay, stay for a few days and enjoy the city!
There are plenty of things to do in Thunder Bay and it’s well worth staying a few days before continuing on to Northwestern Ontario or heading back to Southern Ontario. Search below for available accommodation.
If you are heading back south, be sure to check out the Lake Superior route. There are a few more roadside attractions but the best part of the Lake Superior route is the stunning scenery and fabulous views along the way.
Let us know which of these stops from North Bay to Thunder Bay was your favourite!
Click on the image below to download a copy of this bingo game for kids.