Toronto, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec are Canada's top two major cities and are located 543 kilometres or 337 miles away from each other.
Typically, when one is travelling between the two, the easiest and fastest way is to hop in a personal vehicle and head down highway 401 in Ontario and connect to highway 20 in Quebec and you're there is less than five hours.
However, what if you don't have a personal vehicle? There are several options available, via mass transit, that are surprisingly not overly expensive.
However, some are much more convenient than others.
For comparison's sake, in the following info we're using pricing for round trip travel on an arbitrary date.
Fares can change without notice.
VIA Rail Train is arguably the most comfortable and can take just five hours from Toronto's Union Station to Montreal's Central Station.
One way fares range from $45 to $286.
The lowest available round trip fare for our sample dates is $88.
14, including taxes.
This price is based on VIA Rail's Economy-Escape fare and is non-refundable.
Flight (Toronto Pearson to Montreal Trudeau) The lowest fare through Air Canada is $243 round trip, including taxes.
There are many flights daily between the two cities via Air Canada and pricing is the same throughout the day.
Flight time from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Montreal Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport is 1:15.
The return flight takes eight minutes longer at 1:23.
If Westjet is your preferred Canadian airline, there are also several flights a day between the two cities.
The price for our sample dates was just four dollars more for the round trip than the Air Canada, at $247.
Oddly, flight time stated is shorter at 1:11 to Montreal and 1:18 on the return leg.
Flight (Toronto City to Montreal Trudeau) If starting off from downtown Toronto is more convenient for you, the price and flight time are slightly better when departing from the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on Toronto Island.
Round trip flights via Porter Airlines are $237.
00, including taxes, on our sample date.
Flight time is 1:10 in either direction.
Several Porter flights each day are available.
Greyhound Bus Fare on the Greyhound bus can be cheap but the drive is very long.
The lowest fare for our sample dates is $40 return, including taxes.
This is an internet special and is half the price of the lowest fare if walking into the station to buy your ticket.
However, drive time is anywhere from seven hours and forty-five minutes to nine hours.
All Greyhound buses from the Toronto Coach Terminal to the Gare D'Autocars de Montreal connect in Ottawa, even on the buses marked as express.
The non-express bus makes up to 21 stops between Toronto and Montreal, including the transfer at Ottawa.
Station location is convenient at both ends with the Toronto Coach Terminal located in the heart of downtown at Bay and Dundas.
The Gare D'Autocars de Montreal is located next to the Berri-UQAM Metro Station, the main hub in the city's subway system.
Megabus Relatively new on the scene is Megabus Canada.
The lowest fare on our sample date is $35.
84 return, including taxes.
Broken down, it's $19 for the first leg and just $12 for the second.
Fares go even lower and can even, on the rare occasion, be had for just $1.
The price is not a whole lot cheaper than Greyhound but Megabus is a direct drive from Toronto to Montreal with just one stop in Kingston to change drivers and possible pickups in Cornwall, Ontario and Kirkland, Quebec.
Drive time is around six hours.
The buses depart Toronto from the same Toronto Coach Terminal as Greyhound.
Megabus currently uses a terminal at 1000 de la Gauchetiere at street level.
This is conveniently located just above the Bonaventure Metro Station.