Clean-air getaways near Oshawa

Prince Edward County

~2 h 5 min drive · AQI 39 · Good · PM2.5 3.7 µg/m³

▼ 7.6 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Oshawa right now

AQHI 2 — Low risk (Belleville station)

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Island county of beaches, wineries and small hotels, surrounded on all sides by Lake Ontario air.

Bancroft

~2 h 20 min drive · AQI 36 · Good · PM2.5 11.6 µg/m³

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Mineral-country town on the York River between Hastings highlands and lake country.

Whitney

~2 h 50 min drive · AQI 34 · Good · PM2.5 12.2 µg/m³

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Hamlet at Algonquin Park’s East Gate, with lodges and cabins on the park’s quieter side.

Cobourg

~50 min drive · AQI 46 · Good · PM2.5 12.3 µg/m³

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Victorian lakefront town with a long sandy beach an easy hop east of the GTA.

Haliburton

~2 h drive · AQI 36 · Good · PM2.5 16.9 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

AQHI 2 — Low risk (Dorset station)

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Highlands village surrounded by hundreds of lakes and a large cottage-rental market.

Bobcaygeon

~1 h 10 min drive · AQI 43 · Good · PM2.5 18.6 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

AQHI 2 — Low risk (Peterborough station)

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Kawartha canal town spread across three islands between Pigeon and Sturgeon lakes.

Fenelon Falls

~1 h 5 min drive · AQI 48 · Good · PM2.5 23.5 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

The “Jewel of the Kawarthas,” a falls-side village on the Trent–Severn Waterway.

Niagara-on-the-Lake

~1 h 5 min drive · AQI 86 · Moderate · PM2.5 24.4 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

AQHI 5 — Moderate risk (St. Catharines station)

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Wine-country town where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario, dense with inns and B&Bs.

Bracebridge

~2 h drive · AQI 37 · Good · PM2.5 27.7 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

AQHI 2 — Low risk (Dorset station)

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Waterfall town in the heart of Muskoka with a deep bench of cottages and resorts.

Huntsville

~2 h 30 min drive · AQI 37 · Good · PM2.5 27.7 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

AQHI 2 — Low risk (Dorset station)

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Muskoka’s biggest town, ringed by lakes and resorts on the edge of Algonquin Park.

Collingwood

~1 h 55 min drive · AQI 94 · Moderate · PM2.5 30.2 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Georgian Bay harbour town at the base of the Niagara Escarpment, with bay breezes and plenty of hotels and rentals.

The Blue Mountains

~2 h 5 min drive · AQI 94 · Moderate · PM2.5 30.2 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Resort village on Georgian Bay with escarpment elevation, a walkable pedestrian base and year-round lodging.

Wasaga Beach

~1 h 45 min drive · AQI 79 · Moderate · PM2.5 31.3 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

AQHI 8 — High risk (Barrie station)

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

The world’s longest freshwater beach, with open Nottawasaga Bay air along the whole strip.

Orillia

~1 h 25 min drive · AQI 55 · Moderate · PM2.5 33.9 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

AQHI 8 — High risk (Barrie station)

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Sunshine City between Lakes Couchiching and Simcoe, with a full range of waterfront stays.

Gravenhurst

~1 h 50 min drive · AQI 45 · Good · PM2.5 34.7 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Gateway to Muskoka on Lake Muskoka’s steamship wharf, the closest cottage country to the GTA.

Elora

~1 h 55 min drive · AQI 115 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · PM2.5 36.7 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

AQHI 10 — High risk (Guelph station)

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Limestone village above the Elora Gorge, with a boutique mill hotel and quarry swimming.

St. Jacobs

~2 h 10 min drive · AQI 115 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · PM2.5 36.7 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

AQHI 11+ — Very high risk (Kitchener station)

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Mennonite-country village and market just outside Waterloo, an easy countryside reset.

Port Dover

~2 h 30 min drive · AQI 127 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · PM2.5 38.2 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Lake Erie beach town with a palm-tree pier vibe and steady south-shore lake air.

Turkey Point

~2 h 45 min drive · AQI 127 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · PM2.5 38.2 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Low-key Lake Erie cottage beach beside marshes and vineyards, far from major highways.

Midland

~1 h 55 min drive · AQI 58 · Moderate · PM2.5 39.8 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Harbour town on Georgian Bay’s 30,000 Islands shore, with bay cruises and shoreline trails.

Stratford

~2 h 45 min drive · AQI 134 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · PM2.5 40.3 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Festival town on the Avon River with a deep stock of inns and B&Bs.

Parry Sound

~2 h 50 min drive · AQI 45 · Good · PM2.5 41.2 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Oshawa

AQHI 3 — Low risk (Parry Sound station)

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Deep-water port on Georgian Bay’s island-studded coast, with open-bay air off the sound.