Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine on Wikimedia
The Ontario ONroute System is a collection of 23 plazas that span from Chatham-Kent to Bainsville, or close to the Detroit border, all the way to the outskirts of Ottawa, if you prefer to use more well-known locations.
ONroutes are located among highways 400 and 401, open 24/7, and contain all the amenities you could require while on the road. Gas stations, EV chargers, wifi, bathrooms, water fountains, convenience or variety stores, and several fast-food and coffee chains are widely available. The space also has picnic tables, truck-specific rest stops, pet relief areas, and a large indoor seating area are staples of this roadside chain.
The ONroute system was created as a joint venture between hospitality company HMSHost and Kilmer van Nostrand, but is currently owned by Arjun Infrastructure Partners and Fengate Asset Management.
Rest stops were incorporated along the 400 and 401 highways in the 1960s, which were owned and operated by restaurant operator Scott’s Hospitality from the 1980s to 2010. The provincial government then decided they wanted to rebuild the 60-year-old rest stops, completing the construction of all the ONroutes in 2013.
The ONroute system is well-loved due to its excellent spacing along the highways, usually appearing every 80-100 km (49 to 62 miles), making it a convenient and frequent spot for travelers to stretch their legs, fuel up, or rest in a safe and secure area.
But there is something more, something cultural, that exists within this system that calls to the southern Ontarians. It may be nostalgia-based, with many of us having a particular ONroute we call home, or the one that is closest to home. It could be tradition, as families making regular trips may have designated locations they always stop at. For new drivers, or those new to southern Ontario in general, stopping at your first ONroute is almost like a rite of passage. Bonus points if you’re stopping at one before 7 in the morning, as is the early Canadian road trip way.
Canadians and Americans who didn’t grow up along the ONroute corridor also find them to be magical, seemingly in awe of the convenience and luxury that exists within these spaces. Or maybe it's that they’re used to the minimal rest stops that are much more frequent in other parts of North America.
Whatever it is, ONroute continues to be a wildly successful business. The company’s estimated annual revenue is $176.5 million each year, and Ontario continues to have some of the safest roads in North America, with the lowest road fatality rate per capita. According to the 2021 Ontario Road Safety Annual Report, fatalities have dropped 36% over 20 years, despite a 29% increase in licensed drivers during the same period.
While ONroutes are not the sole reason behind this decrease in road fatalities, it’s not an unfair assumption that they’ve likely helped to curb some potentially dangerous situations, whether that be drowsy driving, extreme weather conditions, or other circumstances.
Despite it being a roadside stop, ONroutes have become a beneficial, welcome part of southern Ontario’s highway system.
