How Long Does It Take to Get to the Airport in Toronto?
Short answer: from Financial District, allow 30–75 min to Toronto Pearson Airport and 10–40 min to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport by car. The range is almost all traffic: the same trip can take much longer in weekday rush hour than early in the morning.
When should I leave? Pickup time calculator
Find your pickup time in Toronto
Choose where you are leaving from and your flight details. We use the slow end of the typical range and add a buffer.
Drive times from every part of Toronto
Typical time in a private car from each area. Choose an airport:
| Pickup area | Early morning / late night | Midday & weekends | Weekday rush hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial District | 30–40 min | 35–50 min | 50–75 min |
| Yorkville | 30–40 min | 35–50 min | 50–75 min |
| Entertainment District | 30–40 min | 35–50 min | 50–75 min |
| Distillery District | 30–40 min | 40–55 min | 55–80 min |
| North York | 25–35 min | 30–45 min | 45–70 min |
Toronto Pearson Airport: on the Gardiner Expressway and Highway 427. More about Toronto Pearson Airport car service.
| Pickup area | Early morning / late night | Midday & weekends | Weekday rush hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial District | 10–20 min | 10–25 min | 15–40 min |
| Yorkville | 10–20 min | 15–30 min | 20–45 min |
| Entertainment District | 10–20 min | 10–25 min | 15–40 min |
| Distillery District | 10–20 min | 15–30 min | 20–45 min |
| North York | 25–35 min | 30–45 min | 45–70 min |
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport: along the waterfront to the island ferry or tunnel. More about Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport car service.
These are typical ranges based on distances, published averages and normal traffic patterns, not guarantees. Weekday rush hour means about 7–10 a.m. and 4–7 p.m. on weekdays. Weather, events and holidays can add more.
How early to get to the airport
Domestic and short-haul flights
- Arrive 2 hours before departure
- Bag drop usually closes 45 minutes before
- Add 30 minutes at peak times
International flights
- Arrive 3 hours before departure
- Check-in often closes 60 minutes before
- Have passports ready in the car
Busy times to plan around
Roads to the airport are usually slowest in weekday rush hour (about 7–10 a.m. and 4–7 p.m. on weekdays), on the evening before a weekend or public holiday, at the start and end of school holidays, and during major events and trade fairs. On those days, tick the peak-day box in the calculator.
Tips for each airport
Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ)
Most trips from the city go on the Gardiner Expressway and Highway 427. Tell your chauffeur your terminal so they can plan the drop-off.
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)
Most trips from the city go along the waterfront to the island ferry or tunnel. Tell your chauffeur your terminal so they can plan the drop-off.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Financial District to Toronto Pearson Airport?
Usually 35–50 min by car at midday, and 50–75 min in weekday rush hour. Early in the morning or late at night it can take 30–40 min.
Which airport is quickest to reach from Financial District?
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) is usually the quickest commercial airport from Financial District, at about 10–25 min at midday.
How early should I leave for the airport in Toronto?
Plan to reach the airport 2 hours before a domestic or short-haul flight and 3 hours before an international flight. Add the drive time for your area and time of day, plus a 15-minute buffer. The calculator on this page does the math for you.
What is the worst time to drive to Toronto Pearson Airport?
Weekday rush hour, about 7–10 a.m. and 4–7 p.m. on weekdays. Traffic can add a lot of time compared with early morning, so leave earlier at those times.
Let a chauffeur handle the timing
Your chauffeur tracks your flight, plans the route around live traffic and arrives early.
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