Getting Around Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay is a spread-out city that resulted from the 1970 amalgamation of two separate communities—Fort William and Port Arthur—separated by what is now the suburban Intercity area. This legacy means the city is not particularly walkable overall, though walking is viable in the downtown cores during non-winter months. Visitors should plan to use public transit, taxis, or ride-hailing services to move between the city's different districts.
Public Transit: Thunder Bay Transit Buses
Thunder Bay Transit is your primary public transportation option. The system operates 20 routes across the urban area with bus frequencies typically ranging between 15 and 45 minutes on most routes. The base fare is $3.25, with other pass options available.
The transit system is anchored by two major terminals, located in each downtown core (the northern Port Arthur area and southern Fort William area). Three additional minor hubs are located at Lakehead University, Confederation College, and Intercity Shopping Centre, making these useful transfer points.
For up-to-date schedules and route information, contact Thunder Bay Transit at +1 807-684-3744 or visit their website.
Specialized Transit Services
HAGI Transit (Handicapped Action Group Incorporated) operates a door-to-door transit service for seniors and persons unable to use regular city transit. Registration with HAGI is required to use this service, which is funded by the City of Thunder Bay.
Intercity Bus Services
For travel to and from other communities, several intercity bus operators serve Thunder Bay:
- Ontario Northland (+1-800-461-8558) provides routes connecting Thunder Bay to Winnipeg, Sault Sainte Marie, and points in between, with connections available to Toronto and Ottawa through transfers.
- Kasper Bus (+1-807-699-7200 or +1-855-566-2378) operates routes to Longlac, Sioux Lookout, and White River, with connections to other northern Ontario communities.
Ontario Northland's intercity bus service stops at 1475 Walsh St. W.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxi services are available throughout the city. Established taxi companies include Diamond-Lacey's Taxi (+1 807-622-6001) and Roach's Taxi (+1 807-344-8481). A taxi ride from Thunder Bay International Airport to downtown costs approximately $30.
Walkability and Cycling
Thunder Bay is not considered a walkable city due to its spread-out layout. However, within each downtown core (the north end in Port Arthur and the south end in Fort William), walking is viable during non-winter months, though winter weather requires appropriate bundling up.
The city is expanding its network of bicycle paths. While inline skates can work on dedicated paths, sidewalks are often uneven and not suitable for skating.
Getting from the Airport to the City
Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT) is located 15 minutes west of the downtown centre. Several ground transportation options are available:
- Public Transit: One local transit bus serves the airport, with service every 30-40 minutes daily.
- Taxi: A taxi to downtown costs approximately $30.
- Hotel Shuttles: The Airlane Travelodge and Valhalla Inn operate hotel shuttle buses for their guests.
Rail and Heritage Routes
Thunder Bay is no longer served by passenger rail. Via Rail's The Canadian service previously terminated in Thunder Bay but was relocated to the northern route, with service ending on January 15, 1990. The nearest passenger rail services are located at Longlac (northeast), Sioux Lookout (northwest), Armstrong (north), and White River (east), all at considerable distances from the city.
Two historic railway stations remain: the CPR Union Depot (built 1910) in Fort William and the CNR station (built 1905) in Marina Park, which now provides tourism-related services.
Arriving by Air
Thunder Bay International Airport has scheduled service to and from Montreal, Ottawa, Sault Sainte Marie, Sioux Lookout, Toronto, and Winnipeg, as well as seasonal service to Calgary and select Mexican and Caribbean destinations. Airlines operating from Thunder Bay include Air Canada, WestJet, Bearskin Airlines, Flair Airlines, North Star Air, Porter Airlines, and Wasaya Airways. The airport has no direct flights to the United States.
Arriving by Road
Thunder Bay is served by Highways 11 and 17, both part of the Trans-Canada Highway system. The city is approximately 7-8 hours' drive from Sault Sainte Marie to the east and Winnipeg to the west. The highways merge north of the city and split east of Nipigon. Note that hitchhiking on these main highways is not recommended, as drivers in the area are known for not stopping for hitchhikers.