Weekends at the cottage are an essential part of Canadian summers, but nobody likes sitting in rush hour traffic just to get in and out of the city. That’s why GO Transit is offering a more convenient way to get to cottage country.
Thanks to a partnership between GO Transit and Ontario Northland, cottagers can now travel from Toronto to Muskoka using the GO ON Muskoka Service.
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This is a combined GO Train and bus service that heads north from the GTA. Every Friday from now until August 30, GTA residents can catch the GO Train from Union Station to Barrie. A bus connection at Allandale Waterfront GO Station will then continue to Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville and North Bay.
Return service will run on Sundays until September 1. The bus will start in North Bay before heading to Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst. Transit users can then catch the 4:20 p.m. train at Allandale Waterfront GO Station to get back to Toronto.
There’s no need to tap your PRESTO card for this service. Transit users can simply purchase a ticket online or at an Ontario Northland bus stop. Tickets start as low as $38.96 and go up to $82.99, depending on how far you’re headed. However, kids aged 12 and under travel for free!
This is the second year the GO ON Muskoka Service has been offered. Last summer, Go Transit and Ontario Northland ran a pilot project, which ended up being very successful.
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But public transit isn’t the only way GTA residents can get to cottage country this year. Those who want an even quicker route can check out Porter’s 20-minute flights between Toronto and Muskoka, which will run until September 3.
