Huntsville (Ontario)

Huntsville, a town with a population of about 21,100 (2021), is the largest community in the Muskoka District of Ontario, Canada, making it the hub for many vacations and outdoor adventures in cottage country.

The town, at the junction of Highway 11 and Highway 60, is west of Algonquin Provincial Park. Access to the park is via Highway 60, between Huntsville and Maynooth.

Understand
Huntsville was named after Captain George Hunt. He arrived in 1869 and settled on the east side of the Muskoka River.

The town plays host to thousands of tourists in the summer season, mostly from Toronto and surrounding cities. Huntsville's numerous lakes and rolling hills make it a beautiful and ideal summer destination.

In 2010, Huntsville hosted the 36th G8 Summit, attracting much international attention.

Climate
Huntsville has warm, humid summers and cold winters. The city experiences four distinct seasons, with considerable variance in day to day temperature, particularly during the colder weather season. Huntsville is in the snowbelt region of Central Ontario, near the Great Lakes, so experiences snowy winters. The city has comfortable summer temperatures and occasional heatwaves accompanied by high humidity and active thunderstorm weather. Huntsville and the Muskoka region have the highest annual precipitation of any region in Ontario.

Visitor information

 * Town of Huntsville

By plane
The closest major airport is Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, a suburb of Toronto. Northern Airport Service offers scheduled shuttle service from Pearson to Huntsville.

By car
Huntsville is on Highway 11, a major highway in Ontario. Toronto is 217 km to the south and North Bay is 128 km to the north. Huntsville is also the western terminus of Highway 60, which is the main road to Algonquin Provincial Park (40 km east of Huntsville).

By bus

 * Between North Bay and Toronto including stops in Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Washago (some trips), Orillia (stop trips), and Barrie.

Get around
You can get almost anywhere in Huntsville by walking.

The Corridor 11 Bus is provided by Hammond Transportation and the local government, making local stops on Highway 11 between Huntsville and Orillia. The bus makes three trips a day, Monday to Friday; no services are available on holidays, or in the last weeks of December.

Do

 * Huntsville is on three beautiful lakes so, naturally, the town has many public beaches for swimming and relaxing. Some of the options include:
 * Huntsville is on three beautiful lakes so, naturally, the town has many public beaches for swimming and relaxing. Some of the options include:
 * Huntsville is on three beautiful lakes so, naturally, the town has many public beaches for swimming and relaxing. Some of the options include:
 * Huntsville is on three beautiful lakes so, naturally, the town has many public beaches for swimming and relaxing. Some of the options include:

Buy

 * Take a stroll down Main Street and check out all the little shops where you can find clothing, local art, fine dining and desserts.

Sleep
Room rates at hotels in Huntsville are higher in the summer months than in the spring or fall.

The town also has many quaint bed & breakfasts.

Go next

 * Algonquin Provincial Park - the west gate of the park is about from downtown.
 * Bracebridge - another popular Muskoka town, south, on the way to Gravenhurst and Barrie.
 * Haliburton Highlands - a somewhat quieter, more rural cottage country area.
 * Parry Sound - in Ontario's Near North about west, a town en route to Sudbury. A gateway to the Georgian Bay, and several large provincial parks and nature reserves.