Ontario Highway Map
All highways including 400, 417, and provincial routes.
About Highway 401
Highway 401, officially named the Macdonald-Cartier Freeway, is Ontario's primary east-west transportation corridor and the busiest highway in North America. Stretching 828 kilometers from Windsor to the Quebec border, it carries over 500,000 vehicles per day through the Toronto area. The highway connects Ontario's major economic centers including Windsor, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, the Greater Toronto Area, Oshawa, Kingston, and Cornwall. Originally opened in segments starting in 1947, the 401 has evolved into a critical artery for both personal travel and commercial transportation.
The highway varies significantly along its route. Through Toronto, it features 12-18 lanes in some sections, including collector and express lanes separated by concrete barriers. The section through Toronto is the widest highway in the world. West of Toronto toward London and Windsor, the highway typically has 6 lanes. East of Toronto toward Kingston and Montreal, sections range from 4 to 6 lanes. The highway handles approximately 40% of Ontario's GDP in goods movement annually, making it vital to Canada's economy.
What This Map Shows
- Complete Highway 401 route from Windsor to Quebec border (828 km)
- Major cities and towns along the route
- Key highway junctions and connections (400, 403, 404, 427, etc.)
- Toronto's collector-express system sections
- Rest areas and service centers along the route
- Major geographical features and landmarks
Best For
- Planning long-distance trips across Southern Ontario
- Understanding the route between major cities
- Commercial trucking and logistics route planning
- Identifying service areas and rest stops
- Finding alternative routes during congestion
- Business travel and commuting navigation
Major Sections and Cities
The Windsor to London section (approximately 190 km) serves southwestern Ontario's agricultural and manufacturing region. The London to Toronto section (approximately 190 km) passes through Woodstock, Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, and Milton, serving the technology corridor. The Toronto section (approximately 60 km) features the complex collector-express system with multiple junctions connecting to Highways 400, 404, 427, Don Valley Parkway, and Highway 403. The Toronto to Kingston section (approximately 260 km) passes through Oshawa, Port Hope, Cobourg, Trenton, and Belleville. The Kingston to Quebec border section (approximately 130 km) continues through Brockville and Cornwall, connecting to Quebec's Highway 20 toward Montreal.