Leave your car, take the bus instead: Bus now travels between Toronto and Wasaga Beach

A packed beach with thousands of people in Wasaga Beach, Ont. (CTV News/Mike Lang)

Beachgoers from the city won’t have to worry about fighting cottage country traffic on their own to get to the longest freshwater beach in the world this summer.

People can grab their beach crew and take a direct bus from Toronto’s Union Station to Wasaga Beach.

The new service, known as the Wasaga Beach Line, is part of the Town’s “Take Me to The Beach” campaign, an initiative to promote car-free travel.

“Wasaga Beach is one of Ontario’s most beloved summer destinations, and we’re excited to make it more accessible than ever,” said Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith. “Whether you’re planning a day trip, a weekend getaway, or a visit to one of our many festivals and events, travellers can now step aboard at Union Station and arrive right here at the world’s longest freshwater beach.”

The Wasaga Beach Line will run every day of the week. Tickets can be purchased on the Flix Bus website or through the app.

Depending on the time and day of the week, prices range from $24.98 to $36.98. The travel times also range between two hours and 15 minutes and two hours and 40 minutes.

The bus also runs between Toronto Pearson Airport and Wasaga Beach.

The initiative is made possible through a partnership between the Town of Wasaga Beach and North America’s fastest-growing intercity bus service, Flixbus.

“Travellers are increasingly looking for affordable, convenient ways to reach popular destinations without the expense and hassle of driving, especially during the busy summer season,” said Karina Frayter, head of communications at Flix North America. “As demand for intercity bus travel continues to grow, services like the Wasaga Beach Line make day trips and weekend getaways more accessible, giving more people the opportunity to experience one of Ontario’s most iconic summer destinations.”

The official launch event with ribbon cutting is taking place Tuesday.