Thunder Bay to Winnipeg

700 km from Lake Superior to the prairies crossing from Ontario into Manitoba

700 km 7.5 Hours Hwy 17 / Hwy 1
Highway 17 / Highway 1
Thunder Bay, ON to Winnipeg, MB
700 km
~7.5 hours

Route Overview

After the Lake Superior gauntlet, the Thunder Bay to Winnipeg section feels almost relaxed. It is still 700 km and a full day of driving, but the road improves, services appear more frequently, and the landscape gradually transitions from boreal Shield to the lakes and forests that mark the Ontario-Manitoba border.

This section crosses into Central Time. You will pass through Kakabeka Falls, the small towns along Highway 17, and eventually reach Kenora on Lake of the Woods before crossing into Manitoba and the Whiteshell region for the final approach to Winnipeg.

Leaving Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay (population 110,000) is the last real city in Ontario heading west. It sits on the north shore of Lake Superior with full services. The Sleeping Giant, a peninsula that looks like a reclining figure from the harbour, is the iconic image. Fort William Historical Park recreates the fur trade era and is worth a visit if you have a morning to spare. Stock up here on fuel, groceries, and any vehicle maintenance.

Key Stops

Attraction - km 30

Kakabeka Falls

Just 30 km west of Thunder Bay. The Niagara of the North drops 40 metres over a limestone ledge. Provincial park with viewing platforms and a campground. Worth a 15-minute stop.

Town - km 190

Ignace

Small town (population 1,200) at the junction with Highway 599 north. Fuel, a few restaurants, and basic motels. Sits on Agimak Lake and is a popular base for fishing lodges.

Town - km 330

Dryden

Population 7,500. A pulp mill town on Wabigoon Lake with full services including a hospital, Tim Hortons, and multiple gas stations. Roughly the halfway point between Thunder Bay and Winnipeg.

Key Town - km 490

Kenora

Population 15,000 on Lake of the Woods. Last Ontario town before Manitoba. Resort and cottage town with restaurants and shops on the waterfront. Husky the Muskie, a 12-metre fibreglass muskie statue, stands at the harbour. Fill up here as your last Ontario fuel stop.

Tip: The time zone situation in Northwestern Ontario is confusing. Thunder Bay is Eastern Time, but some communities between Kenora and Thunder Bay observe Central Time. Your phone may not auto-adjust correctly in areas with poor cell coverage.

Crossing into Manitoba

The Ontario-Manitoba border is about 60 km west of Kenora. You enter Manitoba through Whiteshell Provincial Park. West Hawk Lake (formed by a meteor impact, Manitoba's deepest lake) and Falcon Lake both have fuel and basic services. From the Whiteshell, it is about 150 km to Winnipeg on a divided highway.

For details on continuing west, see Winnipeg to Regina. For the full Manitoba overview, see the Manitoba corridor guide.

Wildlife: The boreal forest between Thunder Bay and Kenora is prime moose habitat. Drive in daylight if possible, scan the roadside, and reduce speed at dawn and dusk.
Quick Facts
  • Highway: 17 / 1
  • From: Thunder Bay, ON
  • To: Winnipeg, MB
  • Distance: 700 km
  • Drive Time: ~7.5 hours
  • Fuel: Every 50-100 km
  • Cell: Gaps between towns
Route Navigation