Getting to Kipawa

[FSZ]

OK, so over the years we've seen hwy 11 dramatically improved, and the 407 etr go in.....  but had the traffic from fort erie to 407 turn nasty, as well as "cottage country" traffic get out of control between 407 and barrie.

Adding to this we recently waited 3 hours and 20 minutes to get return at buffalo on July 7 (when the wait was posted as 1-2 hours).  Thus, the drive up is getting....progressively difficult.

Anyone from NE/NC Ohio go  through UP of Michigan?  Or, how about crossing border at Port Huron  or Windsor to 407 vs Buffalo route?   

Getting into canada isn't to bad, returning via 407-QEW-Ft Niagara has been an absolute night mare that is getting worse every year. 

Any thoughts, experiences greatly appreciated!

[T-Bone]

If coming from NE Ohio going via Buffalo / Peace Bridge is only way to go; we've tried through Detroit before as we were coming from Columbus; all it saves you is crossing at Peace Bridge vs. Ambassador Bridge and the Ambassador probably has longer wait times...all other issues still there.

What I've learned over the years is that it's all about timing. Be north of Toronto my noon at latest...earlier if possible. Cross border before 10AM...on Friday. Coming home, Hodgey has an alternative route to miss the QEW Saturday mess. Can't do much about crossing back into U.S. but the longest we've waited on a Saturday around 3PM is maybe 45 mins.

[Greg]

You guys ever consider going east through Buffalo through Rochester and turn north at Syracuse and head up through Ottawa ?   All 4 lane highways until you reach Arnprior and yes it is doubling back but if you are waiting 3 hours to cross the border it might be worth it - the wait at the border north of Watertown is usually 5 to 10 minutes tops.

Just curious - I am going to play with Google maps to compare from a random town in Ohio.

[smitty55]

You guys ever consider going east through Buffalo through Rochester and turn north at Syracuse and head up through Ottawa ?   All 4 lane highways until you reach Arnprior and yes it is doubling back but if you are waiting 3 hours to cross the border it might be worth it - the wait at the border north of Watertown is usually 5 to 10 minutes tops.

Just curious - I am going to play with Google maps to compare from a random town in Ohio.

\

I was wondering about that too Greg a while back after reading some of these threads. Looking at the map it's definitely a longer tour but I'd rather be driving than waiting anytime. Plus like you say it's a much easier tour with no traffic worries.

[Hodgey1]

@FSZ I live south of Erie PA and have similar problems at times, going to and from. T-Bones tips on scheduling are good ones, go up early as possible, I am going to try and be North of Barrie this year, before 11:00a.

You might find this thread interesting, let me know if you have any questions.


http://kipawafishingforum.net/index.php?topic=805.30

[Hodgey1]

Columbus Ohio to Kipawa

• Via Buffalo 680 miles 10.5 hrs
• Via Detriot 672 miles 10.75 hrs
• Via Syracuse 880 miles 14hrs

Note: Going the Detroit way shows going into the same problem area.

[Jig and drift]

I would agree with the others on timing but we believe in the day theory as well   Always travel north on a Sunday to be opposite the masses. We believe this helps a lot.

[JigginFool]

Going up we normally cross the Peace Bridge between 3:30-4:00 AM and we are sitting in camp by 2:00 PM.  We definitely found the earlier the better and leaving that early we never hit any traffic.

[FSZ]

Thanks for the replies guys.  Timing is everything, the drive through the middle of the night is indeed much easier but we pay for it the next day. 

We have been going saturday to saturday or sunday to sunday.  We normally clear canadian customs going up at 9 am.  The saturday departures we get nailed with cottage country traffic on 400 going up, coming home we catch traffic again from 407 to fort erie but the peace bridge wait isn't too bad.  Sunday departures minimize cottage country traffic going up, but getting back in at buffalo is terrible.  In other words we get hit one way or another.

I could see going through Detroit having the same problems, but I'm intrigued by the port huron option.  I don't really understand it, but coming home that traffic from where 407 goes back to QEW all the way to ft erie is terrible. 

Never tried friday daytime departures maybe we should consider that.  Supposed to be a new bridge going in at detroit in like 5 years I guess its under construction now.  If and when that is completed I bet that route will be quicker. 

[Hodgey1]

This route going back home, suggested by @RoK really worked well. Call it the scenic route, because once through the bustle of Hamilton, its pretty smooth sailing through the country side. It saves around 10-15 minutes and a unmeasurable amount of stress and aggravation as apposed to the 90 mph to zero mph, bumper to bumper madness from the ETR to Peace bridge.

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Queen+Elizabeth+Way+%26+ON-407,+Burlington,+ON/Peace+Bridge,+1+Peace+Bridge,+Buffalo,+NY+14213,+United+States/@43.1623059,-79.7443671,11z/data=!4m34!4m33!1m25!1m1!1s0x882b6201f5ff3133:0x6e0730c19a4d211c!2m2!1d-79.8308136!2d43.3423875!3m4!1m2!1d-79.9383434!2d43.24529!3s0x882c84c3079fede3:0xc2abe8b81a63f01!3m4!1m2!1d-79.7569578!2d43.1687972!3s0x882c97f204557e33:0xf4791d26302ec533!3m4!1m2!1d-79.6142685!2d43.1247909!3s0x882cbba77366181f:0x96cdf6bd8fbad2ee!3m4!1m2!1d-79.4072397!2d43.0430443!3s0x882cb4c2464601b3:0x211a14722175a274!1m5!1m1!1s0x89d3130ab7c0d809:0xf8662354cb148c30!2m2!1d-78.9055856!2d42.9069155!3e0

[FSZ]

Hodgey1,

Thanks for that route to return home!  Next year I will either be trying that going home, or going home via port huron or detroit.  I'm with you I'm having trouble dealing with QEW from 407 to ft erie! 

I go in may and july, the may trip driving is easy its the july trip with summer traffic that is tuff. 

[crackers42]

You can get jammed just as easy in Detroit or port Huron not worth your effort

[Rico]

Left Kipawa Lodge at 6:30 am on Friday morning. Got on the 407 just past Major Mackenzie drive. Got off the 407 at QEW to Hamilton Niagara exit. (note: past the 403 exit). Clear sailing all the way home to Fort Erie.

[RoK]

For those using the Peace bridge during peak periods, check online for the border wait times before arriving there. A good alternative is the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls.

[Paul]

Unfortunately, you hit the July 4th weekend traffic at your Peace Bridge crossing on 7/7.  This past weekend on my return from Kipawa, the Lewiston Bridge was a 35 minute wait. I live in the Western NY area and always take the Lewiston/Queenston Bridge entering and leaving Canada.