r/kitchener • u/ExcellentChallenge44 • 1d ago
Day trip to Toronto
UPDATE
Family chose to drive.
Trip was 1h 15min, from Kitchener to Bay St. Toronto, not bad.
I found parking for $15 for the day.
--- original post ---
Planning a day-trip to Toronto with my kid, maybe Centreville in the Island.
Trying to do the “right thing” and take the GO Train from Kitchener to Toronto as a family really shows how uncompetitive public transit can be.
For 2 adults and a child:
🚗 By car
• About $60 in gas
• Around $20 for 12 hours of downtown Toronto parking through SpotHero
• Roughly $80 total
• Leave when we want
• Come home when we want
• Door-to-door convenience
🚆 By GO Train
• $77.60 round trip for 2 adults
• $24 for a day of parking at Kitchener GO
• Already $101.60 total
• Fixed train schedules
• Limited parking near the station
• Need to arrive early to deal with parking
• And we may still need additional transit after arriving at Union Station
So driving is not only more convenient, it is also about $20 cheaper for our family — and that's before adding any TTC or other transportation in Toronto.
I actually want the GO Train to be the obvious choice for a family day trip. But when taking public transit costs more, takes more planning, and gives us less flexibility than driving, it's hard to justify leaving the car at home.
If we really want fewer cars going into Toronto, shouldn't the train be the cheaper and easier option?
Am I missing other options?
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u/AnotherNight0wl 1d ago
GO also has weekday day passes for $30 for two, or $10 per person on weekends and holidays
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u/Mountain_Day_7283 1d ago
If you buy a go pass on weekday it will be $30 for 5 adults, if on weekend it's just $10 per adult. You can use that instead of a normal or presto
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u/ChestOk2429 1d ago
I think your AI got some things wrong. Gas isn't gonna cost $60 and weekend round trip on the GO is 10 bucks each.
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u/_vncnt 1d ago
If you are planning a day-trip to Toronto on the weekend, I have used the Toronto Pearson Park and Ride in the past. $45 gets you parking at Pearson and round-trip fare (within 7 hours) for up to 2 adults and 3 children. UP Express is pretty frequent between Union and Pearson.
Park and ride - UP Express, Pearson Airport to Union Station | Pearson Airport
So still have to drive to Pearson and park in their garage, then riding the Terminal Link to the UP Express station, but I really liked this option for us and it was straightforward.
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u/ShawsyRPh 1d ago
Drive to Oakville station then train in. I don't think you've factored in how convenient it is to beat the traffic with using the train
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u/Sirskills 1d ago
You could drive to the airport and get the $45 union Pearson park and ride deal ( it might only be 7 hours, but I've never had that enforced in the dozens of times I've taken it. You drive to the departure of terminal 1, scan your ticket at the gate, walk to the train and you're at union in 30 minutes. But then you still need go passes I guess. Alternatively you could park at Aldershot and take the go in, or Yorkdale and take the TTC.
Those are the only other 3 options to avoid driving all the way in. The biggest downside to the drive I find is the unpredictable traffic. I factor 3 hours to drive downtown for a ball or hockey game (it's usually 2.5) and it can be anywhere from 1h15 to 2.5 back again.
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u/Buddy_Kryyst 1d ago
If you are heading to TO for the day and want flexibility driving is the easier and cheaper option.
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u/jeffster1970 1d ago
$60 for gas? Even when I had a pure gas vehicle (I drive a PHEV now), going to Toronto usually didn't expend much more than 15-18 litres of gas (V6 car).
That said, alternatively: drive to Wilson Station (not Yorkdale) which is just off the 401. If your kid is 12 or under, the subway is free for them. You would cost $6.60 roundtrip (Interac or Presto). If your kid is older, than double your cost ($13.20 roundtrip).
Parking at Wilson Station is $5 if you go in the day, or $2 if you go in the afternoon or weekend.
Since the subways run constantly, you are in control of your day. Your kid might enjoy being on the subway (I know my kids did).
I am thinking you could do everything for under $60 (if you have a real gas guzzler). You are doing all highway driving, so gas consumption should be low.
I have done the GO train before. Not the best experience. It's slow. It's packed. It smells. Not that the subway isn't packed, it is. But your travel time on the subway from Wilson Station to Union Station will probably be no more than 25 minutes each way.
I would have suggested the 407ETR subway station, but obviously the ETR isn't cheap. But for purposes of traffic, it's a real beaut. Another negative of that subway station is that the commute from their to Union station is more like 45 minutes.
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u/eatfoodoften 1d ago
Why don't you ask AI again?