How to get from Toronto to Montréal

The train is the fastest sensible option for most travellers because it starts and ends in the city centre. Union Station in Toronto and Gare Centrale in Montréal are both on the metro, so you skip the airport transfer on each end. On the corridor, VIA Rail's faster services cover the distance in about 5 hours; slower departures take longer.

The cheapest option is usually the coach. Several operators run Toronto–Montréal, often overnight or early morning, with fares that undercut the train when booked in advance. The trade-off is 6–7 hours on the road and a drop-off that may be at a bus terminal rather than the centre.

Flying only wins if you are connecting to another flight or your time is worth more than the airport hassle. Toronto Pearson and Billy Bishop both serve Montréal-Trudeau; add 2 hours on each end for security, baggage and transfers, and the door-to-door time lands near the train's.

Use the table to pick by priority: speed, cost or flexibility. Prices are 2026 estimates in Canadian dollars and change with demand and how far ahead you book.

Book the train on VIA Rail's own site or app. Corridor fares are tiered: the cheapest Escape fares sell out first, so booking 2–6 weeks ahead usually saves money. Business class adds a meal and lounge access; economy is fine for a 5-hour run. Print or save the e-ticket; you scan it at the gate.

Bus tickets are cheapest on the operator's own site, and advance fares are lower than walk-up. Flights are usually cheapest 3–8 weeks out; check both Toronto airports before you commit, since Billy Bishop is closer to downtown but has fewer Montréal departures.

If you are driving, book parking in Montréal in advance if your hotel does not include it. Downtown hotel parking runs CAD 25–40 a night (check).

Sit on the left leaving Toronto if you want lake views in the first hour; the rest of the route is farmland and small towns.

Arrive at Union Station 20–30 minutes before departure. It is a large station and the corridor platforms are a walk from the concourse.

Kingston is roughly halfway and makes a good stop if you are driving; the train also stops there.

In Montréal, Gare Centrale connects underground to the metro and to much of downtown, which is useful in winter.

Winter weather can delay trains and flights; build a buffer if you have a connection.

The corridor runs southwest to northeast: Toronto – Oshawa – Kingston – Brockville – Cornwall – Montréal. The drive follows Highway 401 for almost the whole way, with the option of Highway 2 along the lake for a slower, prettier run.

Distances: Toronto to Kingston about 260 km, Kingston to Montréal about 290 km, total about 540 km (check).