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Hugged by the mighty Lake Superior, Thunder Bay is an unconventional Canadian destination, the one that impresses you with its way of life rather than the abundance of sights. The largest city in Northwestern Ontario, it is still very small with a little bit more than 100 thousand people living here. Nevertheless, Thunder Bay is a vibrant town with a diverse culture, lively neighborhoods, and the grand outdoors. The latter is why you should definitely pay a visit to this Ontario lake outpost, there are just so many awesome natural outings around.
Compact and convenient, Thunder Bay Airport is usually used to come to Northwestern Ontario and proceed to either the rest of the province or the prairies of the west. It has only one terminal. Reaching Thunder Bay from here is really easy, you have to take Highway 61 and in approximately 8 minutes you expect to drink coffee in the city center. With 761,000 passengers passing through the airport yearly, it's far from Canada's busiest.
Car rental is an absolute must in Thunder Bay and thankfully you have a good choice of suppliers when you arrive at the airport. Currently, there are five car rentals operating and this includes Avis, Budget, Enterprise, National, and Driving Force. Use holidaycars.com to find the cheapest option online.
Thunder Bay may be small but it's very spread due to the fact that the city is comprised of two separate towns (Port Arthur and Fort William) that were merged in one. That makes car rental the best way to explore the city and most importantly the exciting surroundings. As for the downtown rental offices in Thunder Bay, the choice is quite modest (only Hertz and Enterprise) so it's advised to book directly at the airport.
When imagining what driving is like in Thunder Bay, think of vast spaces with little to no cars and endless highways. Traffic jams are almost non-existent and you can profit from a great quality of roads. The city is located on the interconnection of Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 61 connecting Canada to the US. That's why getting around by car is very straightforward and easy.
What you should pay attention to, though, is the weather. Although a very sunny city, Thunder Bay has very fierce winters thanks to its position in the continental subarctic climate. Snowing may have an effect on the road surface and difficult driving conditions can be an issue during the winter and autumn months. Always use common sense while driving and pay attention to the information from the authorities.
Everything is easy in Thunder Bay, car rental included. You have five offices in the airport with a substantial selection of cars so you can opt for the vehicle that suits your plan for the city. As you will most probably want to go outside of the city exploring the fantastic national parks nearby, booking a bigger car is recommended. Jeep would be a great choice, Avis has cool propositions to choose from. Go to holidaycars.com to see all the options and book in advance with no stress.
There's also a Canadian supplier Driving Force operating in the airport so you can check their proposition too. Keep in mind that you need to have insurance when driving in Canada so ask a car rental company for it.
All roads lead through Thunder Bay. Although the city has a provincial feel and plenty of cool things to do, it's what is outside of it that is worth visiting. Fort William Historical Park is the first destination. It is an interesting historical area with the reenactment of the way of life of the Fort William fur trade post that existed here in the 19th century. Mount McKay Scenic Lookout nearby offers an unparalleled vista of the city, the mesa, and Lake Superior.
Just an hour's drive away you find one of the most spectacular national parks in Canada, the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. Renting a car would be the only way to reach it and you won't be disappointed. It is a vast lakeside area full of magnificent views of the blue glide of Lake Superior. It's an adventure for the whole day with hiking trails, campgrounds, and an amphitheater. Top of the Giant Lookout is where the most beautiful vista is.
Driving to Quetico Provincial Park is another great road trip idea. There are countless lakes making it a perfect place for kayaking.
Our customers rated Thunder Bay airport with an average of 9.3 based on 3 ratings, and these are the most recent tips, experiences and highlights.
