Ontario Highway 7 - Toronto to Ottawa

Drivelapse video heading from Toronto to Ottawa via Highway 7, starting on Highway 400 at the Highway 401 interchange and then heading easterly on Highway 407, to the 115, to Highway 7 and then finally Highway 417.

[@awsomeness4016]

Great video as always. I’ve always found Highway 7 between Toronto and Ottawa to be the better and more scenic route than the 416 & 401.

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

I agree. The 401 and 416 is probably an easier drive because it's all freeway, but I often choose Hwy 7 over the 401 when I travel to Ottawa. Thanks for the comment.

[@john15008]

Great video. For anyone who is a highway history buff, you can still still see the original, narrow Highway 7 alignment west of Perth for several kilometres on the south side. It’s flanked by trees. Amazing to see what now looks like a trail was once a major provincial highway.

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

There are a few old alignments of Highway 7 that dart off to the side. I think my favourite is Beatty's Curve Road, between Actinolite and Kaladar. You can't really see it in the video, but it's pretty narrow and low by modern standards. Thanks for the comment.

[@john15008]

@@AsphaltPlanet1 Indeed, I think the westernmost visible stretch is in Kaladar just west of the Highway 41 junction.

[@robertwhelan9132]

Nice. Done that trip by bus, back when Grayhound was a thing. Great vid

[@jimfraser9898]

I drive from SW Ontario to Ottawa fairly often. No more 401 through Toronto. No more gridlock in TO. I am happy to pay for the 407 to the 35/115 and then a beautiful drive through highway 7 to the 417. Very happy.

[@GreatAussieDrives]

I really loved this one, longer videos between cities like these are my favourite. Looks like a nice alternative to the 401 + 416, though I think I'd personally prefer to stick to the freeway 😂

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Hwy 7 is a nice alternative, but I drove to and from Ottawa two weeks ago and drove the 401/416 both ways. Thanks for the comment.

[@chronocross7174]

Awesome this is the route I took (by mistake) when I was visiting from Alberta last September. Fun trip! 😅

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Hwy 7 is a scenic alternative, even if it isn't a full freeway the whole way. Hope you enjoyed your trip to Ontario, thanks for the comment.

[@FreewayAndrewCAN]

I always enjoy watching the longer form videos from you. It sure is a pleasant surprise! It’s funny the timing actually, because I plan on maybe filming this westbound next weekend. I’m heading out to Montreal June 27-30 and am planning to head back through Ottawa via A-50 and back to Toronto via Highway 7/115. I’m not entirely sure what to expect next Sunday given that the holiday is on the Monday, so I’m assuming there won’t be much traffic, but still not sure. Nice work on the video! Glad I can get a glimpse of this road, before I potentially drive it myself. I have never driven this portion of 7 personally.

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

I drove Hwy 7 westbound a few weeks ago on the way back from Montreal myself. They were doing some night paving between Carleton Place and Perth (it was well after dark when I drove it). As long as you aren't coming back on the Holiday Monday traffic shouldn't be too bad. Thanks for the comment.

[@CrystalClearWith8BE]

What a long drive along the TCH Central Ontario Route! We know that ON 7/TCH starts in Petersborough, ON and ends at the 417 as the TCH Ottawa Valley Route.

[@-smokem]

Long gone are the good ole days before the entire or partial downloading of many roads that were once Ontario highways.

[@alexishoude4449]

I honestly never expected an almost one hour long video. But honestly, this is an amazing way to start off the summer! I personally ended high school just a few days ago & now I'll get ready for my adult life. I plan to be a trucker in the upcoming years & possibily film highways as well. Have a great summer AP, btw Also, some bad news the Canadian actor Donald Sutherland died yesterday at 88 years old from a long illness

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

I read about Donald Sutherland -- too bad. Congrats on finishing high school. Thanks for the comment.

[@jimfraser9898]

a beautiful drive from 115/35 to the 417. I do it many times every year.

[@InterstateRaziTV]

Great Video Brotha!

[@SomaC-7]

Nice long drive! Both metro areas are in nice scenic regions :)

[@ronmurray7349]

For non Canadians watching. We do not have a 4 Lane coast to coast highway. There is no national highway system like the USA. This 2 lane is always busy and it connects the Provincial and National capitals.

[@jacobsmith5543]

I remember how disappointed I was when I found out that the trans Canada highway was actually a network of different roads rather than a single, consistent highway across the country.

[@Aviat0rAKA]

You and Freeway Andrew have a lot in common when it comes to these types of videos

[@n085fs]

Since you didn't want the vehicle in frame, I won't ask what type vehicle, but I'll ask: What's the door sticker say for the point of view vehicle's GVWR?

[@dennisdeng3045]

Do you find Highway 7 narrower between Havelock and Marmora than east of Marmora? Whenever I drive on Highway 7 between Kanata and GTA, I can't help but feel that.

[@thevultrantransituniverse1487]

Also I’m looking to ride the Flixbus or rider express bus when I head to Ottawa myself via Highway 7 rather than the 416. Highway 7 looks like a scenic route!

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

Hwy 7 is a nice alternate to the 401 and 416.

[@thevultrantransituniverse1487]

@@AsphaltPlanet1 Would the 401 and 416 get you to Ottawa around the same time or slightly quicker?

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

@@thevultrantransituniverse1487 I've never timed it, I don't think that either drive is vastly different in terms of time. Hwy 7 is definitely less distance wise, and it's without a doubt faster from the 407.

[@thevultrantransituniverse1487]

@@AsphaltPlanet1 Yes and with the 407 you don’t get stuck on the holiday traffic jam on the 401 in Whitby.

[@wombat613]

pre tornado/inverted tornado or whatever hit the tweed/madoc area. The trees are still there. Looks like a bomb went off these days.

[@ronmurray7349]

I played it at half speed for realism

[@malcolmhamilton5200]

Moved up to the Ottawa Valley in 77' from the Quinte region. Always used the 401 to whip down to Hogtown. Avoid hwy Seven like the plague, whenever possible. Known many drivers who've been involved in fatal crashes on 7.

[@erikbrickman4461]

I noticed that Highway 417 through Ottawa has random and constantly changing signage, some of the arrows are diagonal while others are the normal pointing down ones and more than one sign has arrows with pointed sides rather than straight sides.

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

There is a lot of legacy signing in Ottawa that is non-standard from what appears in other parts of Ontario. Some of it is just old, but eastern Ontario has always had a propensity to design odd signs. The must-exit sign for Richmond heading east through the 416 interchange is particularly unique (even though I rather like the sign). Thanks for the comment.

[@barrysims9906]

I always wanted to take this drive at 220KMH.

[@RoadsOfAsiaBen]

Great drive! Do you think Highway 115 meets the US Interstate Highway standards defined by AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials)?

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

I would think that the 115 is probably for the most part up to 400 series highways standards, so I'd suspect it's pretty much in line with interstate standards as well.

[@oldgordo61]

Nice video AP and yes I know St. Hubert Chicken but imo Benny BBQ is better both of them from Montreal. Anyways thanks for taking us with you on this drive.

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

I've never tried Benny & Co., maybe I'll give it a try next time I'm down that way.

[@TMBpk]

Many ghost towns and villages exist on Highway 7 apparently.

[@gledatelj1979]

Isn't Highway supposed to be 3 lanes miniimum ?

[@Pyeknu]

Nice video. How much did travelling on the 407 cost you?

[@AsphaltPlanet1]

I'm not sure how much the 407 bill was for this trip. I filmed this in 2021. If i were to guess the trip probably would have cost about $30. I filmed the westbound 407 from Peterborough to Downtown Toronto the morning before I filmed this, so the 407 made a good buck on me that day.

[@marshallbowen8693]

@@AsphaltPlanet1It is too expensive and literally highway robbery . Well in excess of $50 from Mississauga to 15/35 . In contrast Buffalo to Boston was $20 - 30 nine years ago.

[@oneastrails]

Still a shame it is not 4 lane from Peterborough to Carleton Place. 7 is a Death Race.

[@RobS282]

i wish i could drive to ottawa in an hour

[@thisspacenotforrent]

18:14 always has to be at least one black truck in the passing lane not passing...wish they would enforce the drive in the driving lane rule in this province...

[@JruGordon]

36:15 a RED Ontario plate?

[@ronmurray7349]

Red Plates are usual diplomats often foreign.

[@oneastrails]

Go to Ottawa, you will see lots of red plates. Diplomatic

[@attprepaidservicecontacts7654]

Don’t get into accidents with them.

[@ConnorL-ti9we]

I live in the area, it's a really good drive. Many decades ago the MTO was planning to extend the 115 north as a freeway to Lakefield & hwy 28. Possibly one of the most wasteful ideas ever proposée by the mto

[@xz1891]

407 is too dear, hwy 7 is stunning in autumn

[@RKM514]

Drive NORMAL speed and ditch the music