Toronto Montreal Train vs Bus vs Car

Toronto Montreal train, bus or car: the short answer

The VIA Rail train is the best choice for most people travelling from Toronto to Montréal. It averages 5 hours 18 minutes, the bus takes at least 6 hours 25 minutes, and both start in the centre of Toronto. For the other ways to move around the city before you leave, see getting around Toronto.

Here is the whole comparison in one table.

Key Takeaway Pick the train for the shortest trip between city centres, the bus when the advertised fare matters most, and the car only if you need it once you reach Quebec.

Travel time: train vs bus vs car

The train is the fastest public way, at 5 hours 18 minutes on average from Toronto. VIA Rail's route page also gives 538 km. Going the other way, VIA lists an average of 5 hours 22 minutes, with sample trains from 5 hours 9 minutes to 5 hours 23 minutes.

The bus takes longer. Megabus says the fastest bus from Toronto to Montréal takes 6 hours 25 minutes. It trails the average train by more than an hour.

Is driving faster than the train? No. Montréal Tourism says the drive between downtown Toronto and downtown Montréal takes around 5.5 hours of highway time on the 401. The train averages 5 hours 18 minutes, so the car is not quicker. Stops and traffic make the drive longer.

Montréal Tourism gives highway time only, not a door-to-door time, and its page gives no distance. Destination Toronto lists Montréal at 545 km from Toronto, city to city. No official page we found gives a full driving time with stops.

Rush hour adds a risk the train does not have. Destination Ontario tells drivers to avoid Highway 401 in rush hour, about 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. Its page covers Toronto to Ottawa and gives no Montréal time. Plan the drive with your own map and add time for stops.

Pro Tip Book a train that leaves in the early afternoon and you can still spend the morning in Toronto, because VIA's sample trains for one day leave Toronto at 15:23, 17:08 and 18:38.

Departures and stations: train vs bus vs car

The train leaves from Union Station and arrives at Montréal Central Station, in the middle of both cities. VIA Rail lists 47 departures a week. That works out to about six or seven a day, but VIA does not give a daily number, so check the schedule for your date.

On paper, buses leave more often. Megabus says it runs up to 25 trips a day, with the first departure at 12:30 a.m. and the last at 11:30 p.m. In Toronto it leaves from the Union Station Bus Terminal at 81 Bay St. Megabus also lists a stop in Scarborough, and it warns that not every schedule serves every stop. In Montréal the main stop is on St-Antoine West at Mansfield St, and Megabus asks you to check your ticket for the right boarding location.

Both start at Union Station, so one subway ride gets you there. The TTC subway map shows which line to take, and the UP Express links Union Station with Pearson airport. A car has no timetable, but it also has no central station, so you pay for parking at both ends.

Price: train vs bus vs car

A train ticket has no fixed price, and no official page we opened shows a dollar amount for it. When we opened VIA Rail's route page, it listed "from" prices for Economy, Business and Sleeper Plus without any amounts. The only figures we found were CA$101 for Economy and CA$164 for Business, both one-way samples for one Friday in November. They came from a search snapshot of that page, so treat them as a rough guide, not a quote.

VIA Rail says fares may vary with the day of the week and the departure time. The "from" prices are one way, per person, before sales taxes, and the same in both directions. VIA says the sooner you buy, the better your chance of the lowest regular fare. It also says Escape fare tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable, and that the number of seats is limited.

Is the bus cheaper than the train? On advertised fares, yes. Megabus shows "From $2.00" beside every date from 30 October to 5 November 2026. The page does not name the currency and does not say what conditions come with that fare. It is a starting fare, not a typical one, and no official page says how big the gap is on your date. Compare VIA's price and Megabus's price for the same day before you choose.

A car has costs that no official page adds up for this trip. Fuel, parking and any toll roads are on you. Rental cars add one more detail. Highway 407 ETR is an all-electronic toll road with no booths, and cameras read the plate. Its charges are billed to the rental company first and then passed on to you.

Is Montréal more expensive than Toronto? This guide has no official city-to-city price comparison to quote, so it does not give a verdict. Compare hotel prices for your own dates.

What the train does not tell you

Some answers are not on VIA's pages. The route page does not say whether the train has wifi or power outlets, and it gives no baggage rules. Megabus lists individual power outlets "subject to availability" and does not mention wifi. Read the fares and conditions page of the carrier you choose before you pay.

The train is the wrong pick in one case. When your plans include small towns between the two cities, or you need to carry a lot of luggage on a tight budget, the bus or a car can fit better. Fares for the train also change, so the cheapest day to travel may not be the day you want.

A good trip between two cities starts with knowing where the station is.

Make a day of it in Toronto before the train

Book a tour if you have at least three free hours and want a local to choose the route and explain what you see. Do it on your own if you have only an hour or two, or if your train leaves early. On your own, leave your bags at your hotel, walk to the waterfront or St. Lawrence Market, and be at Union Station in good time.

All three tours below show free cancellation up to 24 hours before, for a full refund. Ratings run from 4.67 to 4.9 on GetYourGuide, with 322 to 646 reviews each. Each one names the company that runs it. Prices and ratings are as shown on GetYourGuide, and each tour lasts 3 to 3.5 hours.

This city walking tour costs from €36 per person and runs 3 hours. Buzz Tours runs it for a small group of up to 12, and the listing shows a rating of 4.9 from 322 reviews. You meet at Simcoe St and King St W, and the walk ends at St. Lawrence Market. It includes a local guide and entry to Union Station, the PATH, Queen's Quay Terminal, Brookfield Place and St. Lawrence Market. Food, drinks and tips are not included. The listing says it is not suitable for wheelchair users or for people with a low level of fitness.

To see the city by bike instead, the Heart of Downtown bike tour costs from €79 per person and lasts 3.5 hours. Toronto Bicycle Tours runs it for a small group, and the listing gives no maximum number of guests. The listing shows a rating of 4.9 from 488 reviews and free cancellation up to 24 hours before. You meet at 124 St Patrick St. The bike, a helmet, water and snacks are included, and the listing names nothing as not included.

If you arrive the night before an early train, the premium night driving tour with CN Tower entry costs from €89 per person and lasts 3 hours. See Sight Tours runs it for up to 9 people, and the listing shows a rating of 4.67 from 646 reviews. There is no single meeting point. Free hotel pickup and drop-off at one of 10 downtown hotels is included, and so is CN Tower admission. Tips are not included. This guide has no start time for it, so check the listing before you plan around an early train.

The Best Travel Destinations' count of GetYourGuide listings for Toronto in October 2026 found 22 guided city tours, from €4.48 to €89.05 per person. Walks, bike and bus tours are in the count, and food tours are not. The full range is on the city tour toronto page.