12 spontaneous summer day trips that are less than 3 hours from Toronto
Including small towns, beaches and more! ☀️
A person in a small town in Ontario. Right: A person at a conservation area near Toronto.
Summer is just around the corner! While the season is perfect for getting out and exploring, you don't necessarily have to go far to find breathtaking sights and outdoor adventures.
There are so many short day trips from Toronto that are worth embarking on this summer. If you're not sure where to go, we've rounded up some of the best day trips that lead to charming small towns, white-sand beaches, and beautiful provincial parks, each taking less than 3 hours on the road.
Ready to get going? Here are 12 perfect day trips from Toronto you can do in under 3 hours this summer.
Elora
Distance: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Address: Elora, ON
Why You Need To Go: Just an hour and a half from Toronto, you can escape the busy city and head to this charming small town.
Known as "Ontario's most beautiful village," Elora is a quaint day-trip spot in Wellington County, offering tons to see and do.
Here, you'll find historic buildings, fun festivals and events, and a cute downtown area with boutique shopping and tasty restaurants.
There's also plenty of nature to explore in the area, including the famous Elora Gorge and Elora quarry swimming hole.
Wasaga Beach
Distance: 1 hour 50 minutes
Address: 1 Jenetta St., Wasaga Beach, ON (Beach Area 1)
Why You Need To Go: Less than 2 hours from Toronto, you can escape to a gorgeous beach with soft sand and beautiful views.
Wasaga Beach is the world's largest freshwater beach, with 14 kilometres of white-sand shores, and makes for an easy day-trip spot.
The beach has busier sections like its Beach 1 Area that definitely give off tropical vacation vibes, while other sections of the beach like 2 and 3 are perfect for families and low-key days spent lying on the sand.
Besides the stunning beach, there's a lively boardwalk with restaurants, shops and tons of things to eat, see and do.
St. Jacobs
Distance: 1.5 hours
Address: Woolwich, ON
Why You Need To Go: Located just outside of Waterloo along the Conestoga River is a quaint village that will transport you back in time.
Just an hour and a half from Toronto is St. Jacobs Village, a charming spot with authentic sights and sounds, including a rich Mennonite heritage.
You'll find eclectic boutiques, bakeries, cafes, a brewery and more here, as well as buildings and streets that will make you feel like you're stepping into the past.
One must-see spot in the village is Hamel Brooms, a broom manufacturer founded in 1908 that is the last of its kind in Canada.
Forks of the Credit Provincial Park
Distance: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Address: 17760 McLaren Rd., Caledon, ON
Why You Need To Go: Located on the Bruce Trail, this provincial park provides a great spot for hiking, fishing and picnics.
Just an hour-and-a-half-drive from Toronto, Forks of the Credit Provincial Park is home to several hiking trails, including hikes that will take you through a river valley and a lush meadow.
Here, you can visit the scenic Cataract Falls and even stop for a riverside picnic on the way.
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Distance: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Address: Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Why You Need To Go: This beautiful small town is home to cobblestone streets and heritage buildings that will transport you abroad.
A must-do part of any visit to the Niagara region and often described as the prettiest town in Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake is a well-preserved 19th-century village and the heart of the province's wine country.
There are so many wineries and vineyards in the area where you can taste local wines, and the town is also home to world-class theatre.
In the town's Heritage District, you'll find horse-drawn carriages, boutique shops, and tons to see and explore.
Blue Mountain
Distance: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Address: 190 Gord Canning Dr., Blue Mountains, ON
Why You Need To Go: Blue Mountain is known as a winter ski destination in Ontario, but it also offers plenty of activities perfect for summer.
Located at the foot of the Blue Mountain ski hill, the Blue Mountain village is a charming area full of cobblestone streets lined by postcard-worthy buildings.
Here, you'll find a number of restaurants, shops and even a Scandinavian Spa. There are also lots of outdoor adventures to be had at the resort, including hiking, biking, a mountain coaster and more.
Limehouse Conservation Area
Distance: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Address: 12169 Fifth Line, Limehouse, ON
Why You Need To Go: This serene hiking spot allows you to connect with history, and is located on the scenic Bruce Trail.
The conservation area is home to a unique limestone landscape, including deep ravines and fissures.
You can hike here through mossy forests and along streams, crossing dirt trails and wooden boardwalks.
One point of interest here is the "Hole in the Wall," where a ladder leads to cracks in the escarpment rock. As you walk through the park, you'll also discover remnants of the lime industry, including huge lime kilns and an old powderhouse.
Rattlesnake Point
Distance: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Address: 7200 Appleby Line, Milton, ON
Why You Need To Go: Rattlesnake Point Conservation area in Milton, just over an hour from Toronto, is a classic hiking spot in the GTA for beautiful views.
The conservation area has tons of nature and wildlife, and a trail system with five lookouts that provide spectacular views of the countryside.
The Buffalo Crag Lookout Point offers picture-perfect scenery, with "one of the best views on the escarpment."
The lookout can be reached on an easy 3.4-kilometre loop hike that can be accessed from the conservation area's parking lot.
Unionville
Distance: 55 minutes
Address: Markham, ON
Why You Need To Go: Located in Markham, Unionville is a tree-lined town with quaint shops and historic buildings that look straight out of a movie.
Founded in 1794, it has many original buildings from the 1800s that are as charming as ever, as well as quaint boutiques, restaurants and cafes.
The town was featured in the 2000 series Gilmore Girls, serving as the fictional U.S. town of Stars Hollow for the show's pilot episode. Today, you can take a walking tour of the town and see the buildings and sites that were featured in the show.
Be sure to snap a photo at the town gazebo, which is decorated for every season.
Sandbanks Provincial Park
Distance: 2 hours and 40 minutes
Address: 3004 County Rd.12, Picton, ON
Why You Need To Go: Located in the charming Prince Edward County, Sandbanks Provincial Park has everything you need for the perfect outing.
Here, you'll find the world's largest baymouth barrier dune formation, huge sand dunes that were formed by glaciers more than 12,000 years ago.
The park is perhaps most famous, however, for its beaches. You'll find three natural sand beaches here each more scenic than the last with beautiful blue water.
There are also several hiking trails here that will take you past the dunes and other areas of the park.
Stratford
Distance: 2 hours
Address: Stratford, ON
Why You Need To Go: Located on the banks of the Avon River, Stratford is a charming city that will transport you to Europe this summer.
Just 2 hours from Toronto, the city is home to the Stratford Festival, North America's largest theatre festival that draws visitors from around the world, and also has Shakespearean gardens where you'll feel like you're walking in the English countryside.
In town, there are museums, galleries, restaurants, gift shops, boutiques, self-guided trails and more to explore.
Mono Cliffs Provincial Park
Distance: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Address: 795086 3rd Line EHS, Shelburne, ON
Why You Need To Go: Located on the Bruce Trail about an hour and a half from Toronto, Mono Cliffs Provincial Park is a perfect day trip for outdoor adventure, with plenty of hiking opportunities and scenic views.
The area is characterized by a floor of ferns, a canopy of cedars and exposed, rocky cliffs.
There are nearly 20 kilometres of trails in the park to choose from, including biking and hiking trails. The Cliff Top Side Trail will take hikers past 30-metre cliffs, while the Spillway Trail allows you to walk right through a canyon.
Happy travels!
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.