Eastern Canada Maple Road Self-Drive Loop
A self-drive grand loop from Toronto, connecting Algonquin, the Laurentians, La Mauricie, and historic French-speaking cities.
This loop combines Algonquin, Mont-Tremblant, and the Thousand Islands—popular stops on autumn group tours—with the quieter La Mauricie National Park. With an average daily drive of about three hours, the pace is more relaxed than an 8-day tour, allowing time for a hike at each stop. Best suited for a road trip from late September to mid-October, following the fall foliage as it progresses from north to south.
Peak foliage in Algonquin often occurs in late September; book accommodations months in advance, as weekends can be very crowded with visitors and cars.
Day by day
Day 1 · North to the Muskoka Lakes
Muskoka Lakes（Muskoka Wharf & RMS Segwun、Lions Lookout, Huntsville）
Drive from Toronto via Highway 400 and Highway 11 to Huntsville (approx. 215 km, 2.5 hours).
Avoid northbound Friday afternoon traffic leaving the city.
Stay: Huntsville
Day 2 · Drive Highway 60 through Algonquin
Algonquin Provincial Park（Track and Tower Trail、Lookout Trail、Algonquin Visitor Centre、Algonquin Logging Museum）
Drive about 100 km along Highway 60 through the park, stopping to hike short trails along the way.
Autumn day-use permits must be reserved online in advance; trail parking lots fill up quickly.
Stay: Whitney
Day 3 · Barron Canyon to Ottawa
Algonquin Provincial Park（Barron Canyon Trail） → Ottawa（ByWard Market）
Take the detour from Whitney to Barron Canyon, then follow Highway 17 to Ottawa (approx. 340 km, 4.5 hours).
The road in and out of Barron Canyon has long unpaved gravel sections; drive slowly after rain.
Stay: ByWard Market
Day 4 · Parliament Hill & Gatineau Fall Foliage
Ottawa（Parliament Hill、Rideau Canal & Ottawa Locks、Gatineau Park）
Explore downtown on foot in the morning, then drive 30 minutes to the lookouts in Gatineau Park in the afternoon.
Stay: ByWard Market
Day 5 · Over the Hills to Mont-Tremblant
Mont-Tremblant（Tremblant Pedestrian Village、Panoramic Gondola & Summit）
Drive via Autoroute 50 and Route 327 to the pedestrian village (approx. 200 km, 2.5 hours).
The panoramic gondola may only operate on weekends in autumn; check the official website first.
Stay: Mont-Tremblant Pedestrian Village
Day 6 · Chute-du-Diable in the National Park
Mont-Tremblant（Mont-Tremblant National Park、Chute du Diable、Lac Monroe、La Roche Trail）
Drive about 40 minutes from the pedestrian village to the Diable sector of the park, followed by short drives within the park.
Stay: Mont-Tremblant Pedestrian Village
Day 7 · East to La Mauricie National Park
Trois-Rivières（La Mauricie National Park）
Drive from Mont-Tremblant to La Mauricie National Park (approx. 260 km, 3 hours), plus a 60 km scenic drive inside the park.
Stay: Shawinigan
Day 8 · Trois-Rivières to Old Quebec
Trois-Rivières（Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site、Old Trois-Rivières） → Greater Québec City（Fortifications of Québec、Château Frontenac & Dufferin Terrace）
Drive from Shawinigan via Trois-Rivières to Quebec City (approx. 170 km, about 2 hours total).
Stay: Upper Town
Day 9 · Half-Day in the Old Town & Île d'Orléans
Greater Québec City（Quartier du Petit-Champlain、Montmorency Falls、Île d'Orléans）
Explore the Old Town on foot in the morning, then drive 30 minutes in the afternoon for a 70 km loop around the island.
Stay: Upper Town
Day 10 · West to Montreal
Montreal（Old Montreal & Old Port、Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal、Mount Royal Park）
Drive along Autoroute 40 to Montreal (approx. 255 km, 2 hours 50 minutes).
Stay: Old Montreal
Day 11 · Along the River to the Thousand Islands
Kingston & Thousand Islands（1000 Islands Tower、Thousand Islands Cruises）
Drive along Autoroute 20 and Highway 401 to Gananoque (approx. 300 km, 3 hours).
Stay: Gananoque
Day 12 · The Limestone City & Back to Toronto
Kingston & Thousand Islands（Fort Henry National Historic Site、Kingston City Hall & Market Square） → Toronto & Niagara Falls
Drive 30 minutes to Kingston, then follow Highway 401 back to Toronto (approx. 260 km, 3 hours).
Highway 401 entering Toronto gets heavily congested in the evening; aim to pass through before 3:00 PM.