In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Canada
Longlac
Stop for one night if you are driving Highway 11 or riding The Canadian; there is no reason to build a trip around Longlac.
Longlac is a town of a couple of thousand people in Greenstone, northern Ontario, and one of only two places in the province on both the Trans-Canada Highway and The Canadian rail line. It is a fuel, food and bed stop between Thunder Bay and Hearst, with a waterfront, a gold-rush past and a winter carnival. One night covers it; the surrounding bush and the rail line are the real draw.
- Country
- Canada
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Dec–Mar (deep cold, snow), blackfly season late May–Jun
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CAD
- Money
- Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget C$90–140 excl. bed · Mid C$140–220 excl. bed · High C$220+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Rogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores. Canadian data is expensive — an eSIM is often cheaper.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · OPP non-emergency 1-888-310-1122
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Same as the US.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: CAD 1–2 per drink.; Taxi: 10–15%.; Housekeeping: CAD 3–5 a night.; Guide: 10–20% of the tour price.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).
- Toilets
- Free in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | C$2–4 |
| Diner breakfast | C$12–20 |
| Burger or sandwich plate | C$15–25 |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can at the store | C$7–9 / C$2–4 |
| Gasoline, per litre | C$1.50–1.80 (check) |
| Motel room, one night | C$100–180 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | C$20–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YGQ · Greenstone Regional (Geraldton)
- About 50 km west; private aircraft only, no scheduled service.About 31 mi west; private aircraft only, no scheduled service.
- YQT · Thunder Bay International
- Nearest airport with scheduled flights; about 305 km by road.Nearest airport with scheduled flights; about 190 mi by road.
Typical fares
- Kasper Bus, Thunder Bay → Longlac
- about 4 h 15 min (check)
- Kasper Bus, Geraldton → Longlac
- about 30 min (check)
- Taxi across town
- C$10–15 (check)
Get around
The town is small enough to walk end to end in about 20 minutes. A car or the local taxi is needed for the trailer park, the marina and anything on the highway. No public transit.
See and do
Known for
- Trans-Canada Highway 11 stop
- The Canadian rail stop
- Little Long Lac gold rush
- Waterfront and Summerfest
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Geraldton | Highway 11 west, about 40 kmHighway 11 west, about 25 mi | About 35 min |
| Hornepayne | Highway 11 east, then north; also a VIA Rail stop | About 2 h by road |
| Kapuskasing | Highway 11 east | About 3 h |
| Hearst | Highway 11 east | About 2.5 h |
Sleep
- Highway 11 strip
- Motels on Keewatin Avenue and Dieppe Road; park at the door, walk to food.
- Queen Street and the waterfront
- Closer to the lake, the marina and the picnic and swim areas.
- Sky-View Trailer Park
- East of town on Highway 11; RV and tent sites for drivers.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank you / Merci |
| How much is it? | How much is it? |
| Where is the gas station? | Where is the gas station? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| Where is the hospital? | Where is the hospital? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Bonjour' first in Québec; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks English
- Queues: Line up and wait your turn; avoid: Pushing in
- Apologising: 'Sorry' is politeness, not admission of fault; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Canada vs US: Treat Canada as its own country; avoid: Calling Canadians American
- Indigenous culture: Buy from Indigenous-owned businesses and ask before photos at ceremonies; avoid: Wearing headdresses as costume
Scams and watch-outs
- Fuel up before leaving: the next gas eastbound is in Hearst, about 208 km away.
- The nearest hospital is in Geraldton, about 40 km west; plan for that gap.
- Winter brings long, very cold spells and highway closures; check road conditions before driving.
- Cell coverage is patchy on Highway 11 outside town.
A quiet town with no real street crime problem. The genuine risks are the drive (moose at dusk, winter ice, long gaps between fuel) and the distance to a hospital.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Longlac yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Trans-Canada Highway 11 stop
- The Canadian rail stop
- Little Long Lac gold rush
- Waterfront and Summerfest
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Municipality of Greenstone: www.greenstone.ca
- VIA Rail — Longlac station: www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/stations/ontario/longlac
- Kasper Bus: gokasper.com
- Wikivoyage: Longlac, revision 5246671 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5246671
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Longlac
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- OPP non-emergency1-888-310-1122
No embassies in Longlac; the nearest consulates are in Toronto. US citizens: the US consulate general is in Toronto.
English is the working language; French is spoken in some households.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/longlac). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.