North Bay's Jack Garland Airport (YYB) sits on the northern edge of the Muskoka corridor. MuskokaLimousineServices.com runs pre-booked chauffeured cars from the airport south on Highway 11 to Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst and the Lake of Bays, and to Parry Sound on the Georgian Bay side. It is a small airport with a short walk from plane to curb, and the transfer is a straightforward two-to-two-and-a-half-hour drive.
This page covers the real distances, what the airport itself offers on the ground, how the road behaves, and when the bus or the planned Northlander train is the better choice. If you are looking for a "North Bay to Huntsville" ride, it also tells you when a local option is enough.
How do you get from North Bay airport to Huntsville?
Pre-book a chauffeured car. From Jack Garland Airport the car joins Highway 11 south through Powassan, South River and Burk's Falls to Huntsville, about 134 km and roughly two hours off-peak. Bracebridge is about 168 km and Gravenhurst about 182 km. The booker shows one fixed, all-inclusive fare before you pay.
Those figures come from a route planner and assume dry roads. Winter squalls on Highway 11, a closure after a collision or a slow convoy of trucks add time, and a morning flight that lands early does not change the chauffeur's schedule, because flight tracking is on every airport pickup.
Distances from YYB to Muskoka
| From YYB to | Road distance | Typical time off-peak | Main road |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | about 134 km | about 2 h | Highway 11 |
| Bracebridge | about 168 km | about 2 h 25 | Highway 11 |
| Gravenhurst | about 182 km | about 2 h 35 | Highway 11 |
| Parry Sound | about 155 km | about 2 h 15 | route confirmed at booking |
For Dorset, Baysville, Port Carling, Bala or Rosseau, the booker works out the exact distance from your pickup and drop-off addresses and shows a fixed fare. See the Muskoka hub for each town.
What to expect at Jack Garland Airport
The airport's own site lists its contact address as 50 Terminal Street in North Bay, and its ground transportation page says availability varies by time of day, so it recommends arranging transport in advance. That advice is exactly why a pre-booked car makes sense here.
What the airport itself lists:
- Car rental counters inside the terminal.
- A taxi provider with a courtesy phone in the terminal.
- Public transit. North Bay Transit connects the airport with downtown North Bay and the Municipal Transit Terminal. It does not run to Muskoka.
The page does not state a distance from the airport to downtown, so we do not either. What matters for you is that nothing local reaches Huntsville, and that a long trip south is best arranged before you land.
If the schedule shows a weekday morning arrival, tell the booker the flight number. The chauffeur tracks the flight and waits at the pickup point. The Meet and Greet service is a booker add-on, with a name board inside the arrivals area or an alias if you prefer.
Who flies into North Bay and why
Scheduled service at small airports changes, so check the airport before you rely on any route. When Propair launched flights between North Bay and Toronto in February 2026, news coverage described a weekday service on an 18-seat aircraft to the Stolport terminal at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport rather than to Pearson. Confirm what is currently scheduled on the YYB site.
That detail matters because it changes where connecting passengers start. If you arrive via Billy Bishop, our Toronto Billy Bishop page covers that airport, and the Toronto Pearson page covers the bigger one. If you land at North Bay itself, the car meets you here.
Typical passengers on this transfer are northern Ontario residents heading south for a family weekend, visitors to a Muskoka resort who live north of the lake country, workers going to a job, and cottagers who drove up and want to fly home. For private aircraft, the private jet and FBO transfers page covers the ramp pickup.
The road south: Highway 11 in practice
Highway 11 is the spine of the whole route. Leaving North Bay you cover about 134 km to Huntsville by way of Powassan, Trout Creek, South River, Sundridge, Burk's Falls and Katrine. Most of it is two lanes with passing zones, long straight stretches, and few places to stop at night.
Three practical points:
- Wildlife. Deer and moose cross the corridor at dawn and dusk. A chauffeur who drives this every week slows early.
- Weather. Open-country snow squalls can cut visibility quickly in winter. Ontario 511 shows road conditions, closures, construction and snowplow positions, and the chauffeur checks it before leaving.
- Fuel and food. Burk's Falls and South River are the usual breaks. Tell the desk if you want a stop added to the booking.
South of Huntsville, Highway 11 becomes busier, and in summer the stretch between Huntsville and Gravenhurst fills with cottage traffic. Our Highway 400 and Highway 11 guide covers what a Friday looks like.
North Bay to Muskoka without a private car
| Mode | Door-to-door time | Cost note | Luggage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private chauffeured car | about 2 h to 2 h 35 | fixed fare via booker | per vehicle class | late arrivals, groups, luggage |
| Ontario Northland coach, North Bay to Huntsville | scheduled, plus the trip from the airport | public fare on ontarionorthland.ca | coach allowance | solo, weekday, daytime |
| Northlander train | not running as of this writing | to be announced | to be announced | a future option |
| North Bay Transit to downtown, then coach | longest | local fare plus coach fare | carry-on friendly | one traveller, no deadline |
| Rental car | about 2 h plus counter time | rental rate plus fuel | your own boot | confident drivers |
Ontario Northland operates a Toronto, Barrie, Bracebridge, Huntsville and North Bay line, so North Bay to Huntsville is a stop on its coach network. Its proposed Northlander timetable lists North Bay, South River, Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst, but the company's home page says it is working toward reinstatement, so do not plan around it. Our Northlander guide tracks the plan.
When the bus is the better choice
A solo traveller landing at a reasonable hour with one bag should look at the coach. The terminal-to-terminal ride is simple, and a public fare is likely to come in below a private car for one person. We would say so plainly.
It stops being the better choice as soon as the coach timetable fails you: a late flight, a day with no convenient departure, a transfer from the airport to the coach station, or a Huntsville address that is not at the station.
When the private car wins
- Late flights. The last coach has gone, and a delayed small aircraft often arrives after it.
- Two or more people. An Executive Sedan carries up to 3 passengers with 2 large bags, and a Business SUV carries up to 6 with 6.
- Cottage luggage. Groceries, skis, fishing gear and coolers need a boot, not a seat-back.
- Children. Child seat, toddler seat and booster seat options are in the booker. See family travel.
- Resort arrival times. The chauffeur drives to the resort entrance, not a station. The resorts hub lists the properties.
- Privacy. There is no shared vehicle, and you can ask the desk to keep your details private.
Heading north: Muskoka to North Bay airport
The same road works in reverse. For a weekday morning flight from YYB, take the planner time from Huntsville (about 2 h), add the time you want to be at the counter, and add a winter buffer. In January that usually means a pickup in the dark and a cautious chauffeur.
Because small airports can have short check-in cut-offs, ask your airline for its deadline and give it to the desk. A pickup that is half an hour early costs nothing in stress; one that is half an hour late does.
For visitors flying north after a Muskoka stay, the Huntsville and Bracebridge pages list the pickup points in each town.
Groups, crews and events
An Executive Sprinter (Mercedes-Benz Sprinter) carries up to 12 passengers and 12 bags, and a Jet Sprinter Executive carries up to 7 with 5 bags. Both suit a crew, a wedding party or a corporate team arriving together. Coaches of 20 to 56 seats are available on request. Corporate accounts can be invoiced monthly, and the travel desk handles multi-leg itineraries. Large vehicles are not the same as a stretch limousine or party bus, which carry little luggage and suit local evenings; availability of those is confirmed at booking.
For group transport in general, the Sprinter and group transportation page is the place to start, and the fleet page lists every vehicle class.
Fare, extras and cancellation
What you are quoted is what the trip costs. The booker shows one all-inclusive figure for your exact addresses and vehicle, HST included, and it appears before you pay. For the thinking behind the pieces, read how private car fares work.
Cancellation is counted from the scheduled pickup. More than 72 hours out: free. 72 hours or less: 10%. 48 hours or less: 50%. 24 hours or less, or a no-show: 100%. Peak dates can carry a different deadline, printed on the confirmation.
Other airports on this corridor
North Bay is one of several airports within reach of Muskoka. The airport transfers hub lists all of them, including Sudbury to the west and Muskoka Airport in Gravenhurst.
Frequently asked questions
How far is North Bay airport from Huntsville?
About 134 km by Highway 11, which a route planner estimates at roughly two hours off-peak. Bracebridge is about 168 km and Gravenhurst about 182 km. Winter weather, construction or a collision on Highway 11 can add time, so book the pickup with a margin.
Is there a bus from North Bay to Huntsville?
Yes. Ontario Northland runs a coach line that includes North Bay, Huntsville, Bracebridge and Barrie on the way to Toronto. Check ontarionorthland.ca for current times. The local North Bay Transit bus only connects the airport with downtown, so a private car covers the gap between the airport and a coach.
Does the Northlander train stop in Huntsville?
Its proposed timetable lists Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst and North Bay. Ontario Northland says it is working toward reinstatement, and the train is not running as of this writing. Do not build a trip around it until the company confirms a start date.
Can the chauffeur meet me inside the terminal?
Yes. The Meet and Greet service inside arrivals, with a name board, is a booker add-on, and you can use an alias. The car is waiting whether you arrive early or late because flight tracking is on every airport pickup.
What if my aircraft lands early or late?
The chauffeur follows the actual landing, since flight tracking is on every airport pickup. Waiting is free for 30 minutes after a domestic landing and 60 after an international one, counted from landing. Other pickups include 15 minutes.
Is Highway 11 safe in winter?
It is a main provincial highway and is ploughed, but squalls reduce visibility and wildlife is active at dusk. Chauffeurs check Ontario 511 before leaving and drive to conditions. If a storm closes the road, we would rather rebook than push on.
Can I add a stop at Burk's Falls or South River?
Yes. Extra stops and return trips can be added to one booking, and the fare stays fixed. Tell the desk how long you want to stop for a meal or a break.
What will the North Bay transfer cost?
Add your flight and your Muskoka address and the booker returns a single total for that trip, 13% HST included, before payment. It does not run a meter, so a slow stretch of Highway 11 does not change what you pay.
