Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay Drive: 21 of the Best Places to Stop Along the Way

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Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay Drive

The Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive is incredibly scenic, and there are a ton of interesting and family-friendly stops to make along the way.

During our Epic Northern Ontario Road Trip, we travelled from Toronto to Thunder Bay. And during the three weeks that we were on the road, we stopped at a variety of different places.

While some places were the quick roadside attractions needed for our family’s “cheesy tourists photos,” others were for bigger attractions like museums or hikes, or necessary overnight stops.

So be sure to take your time, get out of the car and explore the sights, and take in all the amazing things that Northern Ontario has to offer.

What Is The Distance Between Sault Ste Marie and Thunder Bay?

The easiest way to get from Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay is along the Trans Canada Highway (Hwy 17).

At a distance of 703 kilometres, if you were to drive it straight, it would take approximately 7 hours and 46 minutes.

Of course, that absolutely defeats the purpose of a road trip! When we made the trip, we broke it down into two days, spending the night in Wawa.

We also planned to spend more time in some places on the return trip, as our adventure was an out-and-back route.

And with all the wonderful stops on the Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive, you have quite a few options for an overnight stay.

Whether it takes you a couple of days to make the trek or more than a week, there will be plenty to see and do!

Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay Drive – The Best Places to Stop Along the Way

Trying to decide where to stop on a Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive really depends on the amount of time you have and what your family likes to do.

Some of the stops we mention are for longer hikes or possible spots for an overnight stay, whereas others are quick and fun roadside stops.

1. Chippewa Falls

Located in Havilland, Ontario, Chippewa Falls can be found at the halfway point of the Trans-Canada Highway.

In fact, you will even find a plaque describing Dr. Perry E. Doolittle, who is considered the “Father of the Trans-Canada Highway,” and was said to be the first man in Canada to own a car.

The falls are approximately 25 ft high, wide and cascading, and can easily be seen from Highway 17.

In fact, there is a roadside parking lot adjacent to the falls that have become a popular rest stop for people making the Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive.

The trailhead to the upper falls can be accessed from the roadside parking lot.

The trail follows the river a short distance upstream to the top of the main falls, then continues further along the river to the upper falls.

Fun Fact: Chippewa Falls were memorialized in the painting Stream Bed, Lake Superior Country, by A.Y. Jackson from the Group of Seven.

A second option for seeing Chippewa Falls is to cross the highway bridge just past the roadside parking lot. From the other side of the bridge, you will have an awesome view of the falls.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 55.3 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 644 km

2. Batchawana Bay Provincial Park

Batchewana Bay Provincial Park is a day-use-only park and a pretty popular beach destination during the summer.

Given its proximity to Sault Ste Marie, the park is not only popular with tourists who are making the drive to Thunder Bay but with locals as well.

And we have to say, the beach at Batchewana Bay is pretty spectacular!

Not only does it offer stunning scenery, but you will find picnic tables, flush toilets, a children’s playground, and a pretty good visitor’s centre – everything you need for a day at the beach!

And given how warm and shallow the waters are, this wonderfully sandy beach is perfect for families with small children.

It’s definitely a great place for a picnic and to stretch your legs before heading back out on the road.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 65.9 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 634 km

3. Voyageur’s Lodge and Cookhouse

Just two minutes down the road from the Batchewana Bay Provincial Park entrance, you will find the Voyageur’s Lodge and Cookhouse.

There, you will find a gas station, gift shop, accommodations, a restaurant, a liquor/beer store, and a fully stocked General Store.

Grab some stick-to-your-ribs home cooking at the Cookhouse.

With specials like Whitefish Tacos (sourced from Lake Superior!), Bannock and Beans, or Paddlers Poutine, you are sure to find something you like.

But the main attraction at Voyageur’s is their Apple Fritters! Head into the General Store where you will find their Apple Fritter Fry House and some of the best fritters you have ever sunken your teeth into!

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 67.5 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 638 km

4. Canadian Carver And Agawa Crafts

Located right off Highway 17, Agawa Crafts and the Canadian Carver have been popular tourist stops for over 40 years.

There you will also find an Esso Gas Bar, Camper’s Grocery, and a liquor store.

The Canadian Carver features items from some of Canada’s best-known artisans.

You will find a pretty large collection of “cottage-themed” home décor, woodcarvings, whittling, and sculptures of animals, people, and scenes.

Agawa Crafts specializes in Canadian native crafts, furs, moccasins, pottery, jewellery and much more. In fact, as of 2020, both companies are now owned by the Serpent River First Nations.

This stop is the perfect place to find a souvenir of your Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay Drive.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 75 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 625 km

5. Pancake Bay Provincial Park

Pancake Bay is another popular beach destination.

This incredible park is also perfect for camping, hiking, boating, fishing, swimming, biking, and wildlife viewing.

If you are looking to stretch your legs on a scenic hike, head to the Lookout Point Trail located across from the park.

The trail will take you through a forested path to the Lookout Trail viewing platform.

From there, you are able to see across Lake Superior to Whitefish Point.

This stretch of water is known as the “graveyard of the Great Lakes” where the famed Edmund Fitzgerald sank in the fierce November gale of 1975.

🥞 Fun Fact: Pancake Bay got its name from the fur trading era. Voyageurs would camp in this area on their journey from Fort William (now Thunder Bay). But by the time they reached the bay, their food supply would be low. They would then have to make food like bannock and pancakes to stretch out their provisions until they could reach Sault Ste Marie.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 76.7 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 624 km

6. Lake Superior Provincial Park

Lake Superior Provincial Park was definitely one of our favourite places on our Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive.

The incredible vistas, gorgeous beaches, and fabulous hiking opportunities make this park a bucket list item for any Northern Ontario road trip.

Lake Superior Provincial Park is made up of some pretty diverse scenery.

If you are hiking any of the 11 trails found within the park, expect to see cliffs, beaches, river valleys, waterfalls, inland lakes, and the Algoma Hills.

Aside from hiking, the park is home to world-class paddling and boating, incredible trout fishing, a variety of camping opportunities, wildlife viewing, an awesome Visitor’s Centre, and during the winter, skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing.

Agawa Bay Pictographs

At Agawa Bay, you can hike to the Agawa Rock Pictographs.

Here, 35 red ochre images are visible, making it one of the largest collections of pictographs in Ontario, and one of the few sites you can actually access by foot.

This hiking trail is open from mid-May to mid-September but is not for the faint of heart.

The portion of the trail where the pictographs are found can only be accessed by a narrow path along a rock wall.

When Lake Superior, which sits below the path, is not calm, the waves will crash over the rock path making it slippery and extremely dangerous to traverse.

During our visit, the water was pretty rough, so the path was wet and we didn’t want to take the chance of slipping into the water.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 137 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 564 km

7. Wawa

Wawa is one of the largest towns you will come across during your Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive.

With the huge Canada Goose sculpture that sits perched above the highway, you really can’t miss it!

The town of Wawa got its name from the Ojibway word for goose.

This might explain why there are not one, but three giant geese that call Wawa home! If you love large roadside attractions, this is the town for you!

Aside from seeing the geese, Wawa is a good place to stop, gas up, stock up on some snacks or groceries, grab a coffee from Tim Horton’s or even spend the night.

Be sure to visit the Tourist Information Centre located at the junction of Highway 17 and 101.

Open from May to Thanksgiving, the staff are knowledgeable and can answer any questions you may have about the area.

But just a heads up, accommodations book up months in advance, so you will definitely need to plan ahead.

There are a few restaurants in Wawa to choose from. During our stay, we tried out Vikings.

The restaurant was far from fancy, but the fish and chips, burgers, and chicken fingers were all pretty tasty.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 227 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 478 km

8. White River

White River is located on the Trans-Canada Highway and is surrounded by lush boreal forests and an abundance of freshwater lakes and rivers.

If you are looking for some outdoor adventure, you will find hunting and fishing lodges, hiking trails, and plenty of opportunities for paddling on the waterways or having fun on the ATV trails.

If you are only looking for a quick roadside stop, like we were, the White River Visitor’s Centre is the perfect spot.

White River is actually the birthplace of the “real bear” behind the Winnie-the-Pooh stories.

Each year on the 3rd weekend in August, White River celebrates Winnie’s history with a festival.

All year round, visitors to White River can visit the Winnie-the-Pooh statue in the park for a quick selfie, or come into the Visitor Centre to see some memorabilia and read up on the history.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 314 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 385 km

9. White Lake Provincial Park

At this point of your Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive, you have officially left Northeastern Ontario and Algoma Country, and have entered Northwestern Ontario!

White Lake Provincial Park sits right off Highway 17 and is home to White Lake. At 6,500 hectares, this body of water is one of the largest on the Lake Superior Circle Route.

So if you happen to be an angler, White Lake Provincial Park is one of the best fishing spots for walleye and northern pike.

And if you are looking to spot some wildlife, you will find an abundance of bird species like loons, osprey, bald eagles, and blue herons, as well as larger animals like moose, fox, porcupine and beaver.

Even though White Lake Provincial Park only has three hiking trails, it’s a perfect spot to stop and stretch your legs before continuing north.

Of course, you could always decide to spend the day or even night here.

The park has some awesome canoe routes, as well as both back and front-country camping available.

White Lake is also known for being warm and sandy, making it a great place to stop for a quick swim with the kids during the summer months.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 350 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 353 km

10. Pukaskwa National Park

Pukaskwa is the largest and most remote of all of the national parks in Ontario.

As it does not sit directly off Highway 17, you will need to take some back roads in order to access it.

However, this park is seriously incredible and totally worth the effort to get there!

With 1,878 km of boreal forest, along with rocky shorelines, and sandy and driftwood beaches overlooking Lake Superior and the Pic River Dunes, you are sure to be overwhelmed by its beauty.

This is one park where you might want to consider spending a couple of days exploring.

Pukaskwa National Park is home to several incredible hiking trails, front-country camping, paddling, and of course, Parks Canada’s Red Chairs.

Be sure to stop in at the Visitor’s Center where you can learn about the Ojibwe Peoples from park staff who are Ojibwe.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 555 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 317 km

11. Marathon

Just like Pukaskwa Provincial Park, the town of Marathon is located a little ways off of Highway 17.

Considered the midpoint between Sault Ste Marie and Thunder Bay, Marathon is a great place to stop for a meal, take a stretch break, or grab a snack or coffee from one of the cafes.

If you are looking to get out of the car for a little bit, take a walk down to the Mink Creek Waterfall, or head to the edge of town along Lake Superior and explore Pebble Beach.

With Pukaskwa at its doorstep, you can imagine how much opportunity there is for the outdoor enthusiast.

Boasting opportunities for sea kayaking, white water canoeing, golf, hiking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and more, it’s certainly a great year-round destination for any lover of the outdoors.

Head to the edge of town along Lake Superior and explore Pebble Beach before you head out.

Fun Fact: Marathon boasts the largest indoor shopping mall between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste Marie, and one of only three Canadian Tire department stores in the region.

In addition to the traditional pastimes of hunting and fishing, Marathon is also home to a variety of outdoor and recreational opportunities like white water canoeing, sea kayaking, golf, cross-country skiing, hiking, snowmobiling and so much more.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 410 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 300 km

12. Neys Provincial Park

Neys Provincial Park is not only a great place for a hike, but it has a pretty unique history too!

It was actually the home of Camp 100, a POW camp that housed mainly high-ranking German soldiers, and some Japanese-Canadians during World War II.

If you speak to the park wardens, they can actually point you in the direction of some of the remnants of the bunkers.

But Neys is pretty spectacular even without its storied past.

With over 150 campsites (most just steps from the water), awesome hiking trails, and some pretty incredible stretches of beach, you should definitely add Neyes to your list of places to visit along your Northern Ontario Road Trip.

If hiking is what you are after, both the Lookout Trail (1.8 km) and The Point and Under the Volcano Trail (6.3 km) are easy trails with a lot of rewards.

Depending on how much time you have, the hikes offer both forested trails and coastal routes with incredible views.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 433 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 276 km

13. Terrace Bay

Although Terrace Bay is a small town, you definitely won’t drive past it by mistake. In the middle of town, right off the highway, you will see the Terrace Bay Lighthouse.

From May to October, the Lighthouse is open to visitors and is a great place to get out and stretch your legs.

Not only are the views of the lake from the observation deck of the lighthouse pretty nice, but directly behind, you will also find one of the Group of Seven easels.

If you are looking to spend some time outdoors, Terrace Bay Beach is a hidden gem for both swimming and launching your boat.

If you are looking to go for a hike, exploring a portion of the 52 km-long Casque-Isles Trail is the perfect way to spend a part of the day.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 481 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 218 km

14. Aguasabon Falls

Just a couple of kilometres up the road from the Terrace Bay Lighthouse is Ausuasabon Falls.

This incredible waterfall is located where the Aguasabon River drops more than 30 meters over 2.5-billion-year-old igneous rocks into a narrow canyon.

To reach the falls, take Aguasabon Gorge Road about 750 metres to a parking lot.

From there, a short paved pathway and boardwalk will take you directly to the falls and gorge overlook.

The overlook provides a great view of the falls and of the canyon below.

There are also interpretive signs and benches, making this the perfect spot to enjoy a quick stretch break during your Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 483 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 216 km

15. Schreiber

The town of Schreiber is pretty small and can be easily missed when doing a Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive.

Originally built in 1885 as a support town for building the railway, this little town not only has an old west vibe to it, it is also home to the Schreiber Discovery Centre & Railway Museum.

The museum is filled with some pretty interesting Canadian Pacific information and railway-related artifacts.

It also celebrates the rich local Indigenous culture and the town’s history as the oldest railway community on Lake Superior.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 496 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 205 km

16. Rainbow Falls Provincial Park

Rainbow Falls Provincial Park is one of the stops along the Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive that can be a short visit, or you can spend the day (or even overnight) here.

If you are only looking for a spot to stretch your legs, hop on the boardwalk and take a quick walk out to Rainbow Falls.

If you have a bit more time, continue a little bit further where you will be treated to some gorgeous views of Lake Superior.

Rainbow Falls Provincial Park is actually part of the Casque Isles Trail, so your hike will definitely be quite scenic.

But if you are looking to do more than a little hiking, the park also has two campgrounds, gorgeous beaches, and plenty of opportunities for paddling.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 507 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 194 km

17. Nipigon

Nipigon is a great little town to stop for a short time or to spend the night.

When you enter the town, the first thing you will see is the incredible bridge, followed by the Nipigon Lookout Tower.

The Tower offers some pretty great views of both Lake Superior as well as the town itself.

We enjoyed a quick stop here to stretch our legs and get a little fresh air.

If you have kids with you on your Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive, you should consider a visit to the Paddle-to-the-Sea Park.

This amazing group of twelve splash pads and playgrounds lead kids on a journey through the Great Lakes while they explore the waterfront.

Paddle-to-the-Sea Park is the perfect place for the kids to burn off some energy while learning a little about the Great Lakes’ history and geography.

🛞 Fun Fact: Nipigon is home to the smallest Canadian Tire store in Canada. Built in 1986, the entire building including the retail floor, the warehouse and the auto garage bays only encompasses 8,000 square feet.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 586 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 114 km

18. Eagle Canyon Adventures

Located near the town of Dorion, Eagle Canyon Adventures is a must-visit during your Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive!

Test your sense of adventure as you walk across Canada’s largest suspension bridge. And if you have nerves of steel, try out the incredibly fast zipline!

Eagle Canyon’s suspension bridge is approximately 183 metres (600 feet) in length and offers jaw-dropping views of the canyon.

And just a heads up, although it’s only a short hike to get to the suspension bridges (there are actually two), the path is rough and there is a steep hill from the parking area.

The shorter bridge comes first. From there, you will have awesome views of both the longer bridge and the canyon below.

If you are afraid of heights, this is probably NOT the attraction for you. The bridge moves and sways quite a bit, making it a little nerve-wracking.

The Eagle Canyon Zipline is approximately 800 metres (half a mile) long and sits at a dizzying 53 metres (175 feet) high.

Riders can expect to reach speeds of 72 kilometres (45 miles) or more as they zip down the middle of the canyon!

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 628 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 78 km

19. Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park

Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park was by far, one of the most impressive stops on our Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive.

Taking its name from the former Canadian Pacific Railway Station of the same name, the park protects the incredible Ouimet Canyon.

If you are looking for a short hike with incredible rewards, Ouimet Canyon is the place for you!

There is a small picnic area next to the parking lot as well as the trailhead. Cross a short bridge and follow the forested 1 km loop trail and boardwalk to two lookout platforms that sit along the canyon’s edge.

There, you will be treated to some pretty jaw-dropping views of the one-kilometre-deep canyon below.

The interpretive display panels at the lookout will explain more about the significant features of this natural wonder.

And aside from the incredible beauty, what makes the canyon so special, is that you will actually find plant life that is native to the sub-arctic tundra.

Incredibly, these plants would typically only be found over 1,000 km north, which makes sense seeing as the canyon was formed by glaciers millions of years ago.

Somehow, the plants have managed to survive in the unique conditions and climate below the rocks on the canyon floor. In fact, ice can also be found on the canyon floor throughout much of the summer!

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 640 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 82.5 km

20. Amethyst Mine Panorama

One of our kids’ favourite stops along the Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive, was our visit to Amethyst Mine Panorama.

This is one of the largest and most established amethyst mines in North America and has been in operation since 1955.

Amethyst is purple quartz, which is a semi-precious stone, and also happens to be the official gemstone of Ontario.

Amethyst Mine Panorama offers a guided tour of the mining area, as well as an opportunity to search for your own amethyst pieces.

Grab a pail and head out into the yard where you will notice that the amethyst is everywhere!

The kids had a blast searching for their perfect pieces, which totally meant we were leaving with a bag full!

You can purchase your treasures, which are sold by weight and are quite reasonably priced. Or you can purchase larger pieces that are laid out on tables.

If you are looking for something a little more delicate like jewellery, head into the gift shop for an incredible collection of beautiful pieces.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 654 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 59.5 km

21. Terry Fox Memorial Overlook

The final stop on your Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay is the Terry Fox Memorial Overlook.

This scenic spot overlooks Highway 17 and Lake Superior and is located just before you enter Thunder Bay.

The memorial is dedicated to Terry Fox, an iconic Canadian athlete who lost his leg to cancer.

He began his epic cross-country journey called the “Marathon of Hope,” in order to raise money and awareness for cancer research.

Unfortunately, Terry’s cancer returned, and he was forced to abandon the run. He passed away a short time later, becoming one of Canada’s greatest heroes.

The memorial actually marks the endpoint of the Marathon of Hope. In case you are wondering, the starting point can be found in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

There are plaques where you can read up on some of Terry’s history, as well as benches for quiet contemplation.

• Distance from Sault Ste Marie: 685 km
• Distance from Thunder Bay: 16.8 km

Arriving in Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay is one of the largest cities in the province of Ontario, the second-largest city in Northern Ontario (behind Greater Sudbury), and is actually equal in size to France!

After the amalgamation of Port Arthur and Fort William, Thunder Bay became a city in 1970.

Thunder Bay sits along Lake Superior, giving it its nickname the ‘Lakehead’.

The city is the gateway to the prairie provinces and is brimming with natural scenery, fascinating history, and incredible architecture.

You could honestly spend an entire week in Thunder Bay, and only scratch the surface of all there is to see and do.

With a wide array of culinary and cultural experiences, Thunder Bay has much to offer for visitors looking to spend time exploring nature, sampling some good food, or learning about Ontario’s history.

And if you still want to see more of Northern Ontario, you could always continue on from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg and explore the sites before crossing into Manitoba.

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Where to Stay in Thunder Bay

There are a ton of great places to stay in Thunder Bay. Depending on your budget and your preferences, you can find anything from Airbnbs to boutique hotels and everything in between.

The Courthouse Hotel was definitely a favourite with us. Although there was no swimming pool (a must with the kids), we couldn’t resist staying in this unique accommodation.

Built in 1924, the Courthouse Hotel is one of Thunder Bay’s oldest historic buildings.

The hotel is located in the heart of downtown Thunder Bay and has incredible views of the harbourfront, the iconic Sleeping Giant as well as Lake Superior.

The rooms in this gorgeous boutique hotel are spacious with high ceilings, have modern bathrooms, and really comfy beds!

Not only is there plenty of free onsite parking, but we also enjoyed a continental breakfast via room service.

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For something a little more budget-friendly, head to the Hampton Inn and Suites.

The hotel was clean, family-friendly, had a decent-sized swimming pool, and wasn’t too far from many of the attractions we were planning to visit.

There was plenty of free on-site parking, a really great hot breakfast included, and it’s close to gas stations, shopping, restaurants, and grocery stores.

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Tips For a Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay Drive

The Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive is quite lengthy, so you do need to be prepared in order to stay comfortable and to keep everyone smiling.

So whether you are driving this straight, or taking time to explore the attractions, these tips will help to make the road trip go as smoothly as possible.

Have a Flexible Plan

Before we head out on a road trip, we always have an itinerary that includes a list of things we would like to see and do.

We have also learned to keep the list flexible. After all, you just never know when something may catch your eye, or if something unforeseen may come up.

For example, we have had to rearrange our schedule due to bad weather on more than one occasion.

We have also come across an attraction that was not initially part of the plan, but was too interesting to pass up!

Download Maps onto Your Phone or Have a GPS Handy

If you don’t have a GPS unit in your vehicle, be sure to download a map of all the areas you are going to cover before leaving home.

Of course, you could always go old school and bring a paper map!

Expect Spotty Cell Service

You should definitely expect some spotty cell service during your Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive.

If you are with a major provider (like Rogers, Bell, or Telus), you should be ok for the most part while on the highway.

However, as soon as you leave the highway, and are no longer within town limits, you can expect to lose your cell service almost immediately.

Prepare for Traffic

Many people do not give traffic much thought when planning a Northern Ontario road trip.

But since much of Highway 17 is only two lanes, you should expect to be stuck behind a slower transport truck at some point.

Trucks climbing steep hills, construction, weather, wildlife, and accidents are all possible causes of traffic that may slow down your progress.

Try to be patient, keep your schedule flexible, and give yourself plenty of time if you have a reservation at your next destination.

During our Epic Northern Ontario road trip, for example, a serious accident on Highway 17 closed the entire roadway for a full day.

We were forced to reroute our trip from Sault Ste Marie to Wawa.

We ended up missing out on all the stuff we had planned for the day, so we had to try and squeeze it in on the way back.

Aside from a longer-than-anticipated driving day, we were able to enjoy the scenery and make the best of it.

Gas Up at Every Opportunity

One of the best pieces of advice that we can give you, is to fill up your gas tank whenever you have the chance.

Although there are quite a few gas stations along Highway 17, often they are quite a distance apart.

During our Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive, we would fill up every time we stopped in a town.

This was especially important since we did tend to stray off the beaten path every now and then to visit sites that were a little more remote.

Bring Entertainment

There are a ton of great stops on the Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive. However, there are also a lot of long stretches.

Especially if you have kids in the car, you definitely need to have some form of entertainment with you.

My kids have a bunch of games loaded onto their devices, in addition to books, music, and physical card games that they enjoy bringing on road trips.

Always make sure that the games loaded on your kids’ devices can be played even without cell service!

Be on the Lookout for Wildlife

Northern Ontario is bear country, so the chances are good that you will spot wildlife while driving along the Trans-Canada Highway.

You will need to be the most vigilant while driving at dawn or dusk because this is when the wildlife is most active.

But really, you may see animals grazing along the road, or even trying to cross, at any time of the day.

Another word of advice, pay close attention to the drivers in front of you! If they decide to suddenly slow down or stop for wildlife, you need to be prepared.

If you do see any wildlife, especially bears or moose along the road, be sure to give them plenty of space.

And whatever you do, DO NOT attempt to feed them or get out of your vehicle for a closer look!

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Where to Eat in Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay has a really decent food scene, where you can find pretty much anything your heart desires.

From gourmet restaurants to craft breweries, cafes and mom-and-pop establishments, there is no shortage of selection.

We chose to eat at the Red Lion Smokehouse, which had a nice little outdoor patio and was located in the heart of the downtown area.

Finding parking was a little tricky, as it was street parking only.

The Red Lion Smokehouse had some incredible burgers, yummy ribs, as well as a nice selection of craft beer. We definitely left full and ready for a walk!

Treats

If you are looking for a cool treat on a hot day, give Prime Gelato a try! Located in downtown Thunder Bay, this little shop had some incredible gelato!

I was super-impressed with their yummy selection of dairy-free gelato!

Flavours like Wild Blueberry Lemonade (dairy-free) and Banana Dulce de Leche were to die for! Buy a single-serve, or a pint to take home.

You definitely can’t leave Thunder Bay without sinking your teeth into a Persian from The Persian Man.

This local delicacy has deep roots in this Northern Ontario town, and they are Dee-lish!

A “Persian” is an oval-shaped pastry that’s fried and frosted with pink icing. It’s very similar to a cinnamon bun, only with a berry-flavoured frosting that’s out of this world!

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Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay Drive – FAQs

Final Thoughts on a Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay Drive – The Best Places to Stop Along the Way

The Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay drive can be an incredible road trip in itself or as part of an epic road trip across Northern Ontario.

With so many incredible stops, places to visit, and things to do, we would definitely recommend taking your time, and stopping often to enjoy the views!

We guarantee you will never look at Ontario the same way again!

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