Categories > Guides and Tips
Your Guide to Commuting from Vaughan to Toronto — Find the Most Convenient Option!
- How to Get from Vaughan to Toronto
- Vaughan to Toronto via the TTC
- TTC Ticket Price
- How to Pay the TTC
- Vaughan to Toronto via GO Transit
- GO Transit Ticket Price
- How to Pay at GO Transit
- Vaughan to Toronto via Uber
- How to Pay for Uber
- Vaughan to Toronto via Driving
- Vaughan to Toronto via Carpool
- Vaughan to Toronto via Taxi
Many residents of Vaughan travel to Toronto, and vice versa. Why? For many reasons, such as work, entertainment, and meeting friends.
And it’s not like it’s difficult, given the many transportation options we have in the GTA. Commuting to and from is convenient, but we understand that not everyone knows how to do it, especially if you’re new to the GTA.
Don’t worry, we’re here to help! We’ve done the trip loads of times, considering we travel a lot for work. Here’s our quick guide when taking the journey from Vaughan to Toronto, complete with fares, tips, and affordable options!
How to Get from Vaughan to Toronto
To get from Vaughan to Toronto, you can ride the train or bus via the TTC or GO Transit, request an Uber ride, join a carpool, or drive your own vehicle. The whole trip will take a minimum of 30 minutes, depending on your destination and traffic.
Vaughan to Toronto via the TTC
Estimated Time of Journey: 44 minutes (end-to-end journey) or less, depending on the destination.
Single Fare:
- Adult: $3.30 – $3.35
- Youth (16 – 19): $2.40
- Senior (65+): $2.30
You can take the train or bus when travelling to Toronto via the TTC. Start at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station and alight at your preferred stop in Toronto.
The Line 1 train route (Yonge-University) will take you to Toronto from Vaughan, which includes stops at York University, Queen’s Park Station, and Union Station. The majority of the stops here are in Toronto, so alight at whichever is nearest to your destination.
The end-to-end train journey will take about 45 minutes. But if you’re hopping off at other stations, it will take less time than that.
Some routes will include trains and buses, depending on your preferred stop. You should know that the TTC is known for having an unreliable schedule, so sometimes, you might have to wait longer for the bus or train to arrive.
To see your exact journey, input your destination on the TTC Trip Planner.
TTC Ticket Price
– Media credit: takethettc
The single fare for an adult is $3.35, or $3.30 if you pay with a credit/debit card. When using a PRESTO card, the rate is $3.30. Basically, PRESTO gives discounted prices.
Children aged 12 and under can ride the TTC for free, but remember to bring proof of age, especially if the child is taller than their stated age.
Youths (13 – 19 years) and seniors (35+) pay a single fare of $2.40 and $2.30, respectively. They must bring an Ontario Photo Card or a driver’s license, in case the TTC employees ask for proof.
To see the fare differences when using cash or the PRESTO card, we’ve compiled the table below:
How to Pay the TTC
To ride the TTC, you can use your credit/debit card or a PRESTO card, which you can reload via the PRESTO app.
When you use your PRESTO card, credit/debit card, or smartphone/watch via mobile wallet, you must tap it on the card reader on the turnstile, whether you’re going on an end-to-end journey or transferring stations.
Once you tap, the fare will be deducted from your account. Then, you have a two-hour window to transfer within the TTC, as long as you use the same card or device.
Remember that the two-hour window only applies to the PRESTO card/app, debit/credit cards, and smartphone/wallet payments. Single tickets are for single use only.
Vaughan to Toronto via GO Transit
Estimated Time of Journey: 30 minutes
Single Fare: Depending on the stop
- Rutherford GO Station – Union Station: $6.86 – $10.18
GO Transit provides bus and train journeys from Vaughan to Toronto.
To take the bus, go to the Ruthford GO Station in Vaughan and make a stop at any GO Station in Toronto. You can plan your trip here.
One example is from Ruthford GO Station to Union Station Bus Terminal, which will take a total of 30 minutes. These buses provide accessibility for wheelchair users, which you can also check while planning your journey on the website.
The same goes for trains. Start at Ruthford GO Station and alight at your preferred stop in Toronto.
GO Transit Ticket Price
– Media credit: gotransit
Unlike the TTC, GO Transit doesn’t have fixed pricing. Instead, your fare is based on your destination.
To know exactly what you have to pay, use the trip planner and input which stations you’ll depart from and arrive at.
Seniors and youths can save a couple of loonies by using their PRESTO cards. Kids ride free and don’t need a ticket, while adults can save 15% off the regular rates by tapping their PRESTO card rather than using the GO Transit e-ticket or paper ticket.
How to Pay at GO Transit
PRESTO cards are allowed on GO Transit, which gives you discounted rates. You can also use your debit/credit card or your smartphone/watch by tapping it at the start and end of your journey.
Remember to use the same payment method, or you’ll be charged a separate fee.
Vaughan to Toronto via Uber
Estimated Time of Journey: 30 minutes, depending on the destination, routes, and traffic
Fare per Ride: Starting at $26.
If you prefer a more relaxed way to reach Toronto without all the fuss of commuting, ride an Uber. The journey will take a minimum of 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
This one’s pricier, however. The estimated price is $26, but we found that the actual rate depends on the time of day, traffic, and type of vehicle. Whenever there are events (like sports games), the traffic will be exceptionally bad, resulting in surge pricing.
The cheapest is the UberX, which can reach $35 to $50, while Uber XL for groups of 6 can go up to $80 or more. Expect over $100 for premium vehicles during peak hours.
Do note that getting out of downtown Toronto will be tough during the holidays and large events (like festivals). You might have to leave the area first before finding a ride. And if possible, avoid rush hours and holidays for cheaper fares.
How to Pay for Uber
Paying for Uber rides is easy-peasy because everything’s in the app. You simply need to choose the payment method you prefer, which includes debit/credit cards, mobile wallets (Apple Pay and Google Pay), and PayPal.
Once you reach your destination, the amount will be deducted from your account.
Vaughan to Toronto via Driving
Estimated Time of Journey: 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the traffic
Driving is one way to reach Toronto from Vaughan, if you don’t mind sitting in traffic—or if you’re on a road trip. On a really good day, you only have to spend half an hour on the road, but during rush hours and long weekends, the whole journey can take an hour.
You can take Highways 400 or 407 to reach Toronto. The problem with taking your car? Finding a parking spot in the busy downtown.
If you’re driving to work, prepare a budget of around $1.50 to $6.75 per hour for street parking. Meanwhile, the Green P Parking has a maximum hourly rate of $4.
Vaughan to Toronto via Carpool
Estimated Time of Journey: 30 minutes or more, depending on traffic, route, and drop-off.
Fare per Seat: Approximately $8 – $12
What’s one way to save on gas? By sharing a ride.
Thankfully, Poparide offers carpooling from Vaughan to Toronto. This is a convenient way to get to Toronto without being behind the wheel. Carpooling is also way cheaper than Uber, saving you a ton of money in the long run.
The catch? You have to depend on the driver’s schedule because pickups and drop-offs have specific times and locations.
You can carpool by downloading the app on Apple and Android phones. You can share a ride with a few people, with the exact number depending on the type of vehicle.
Our tips: Pick a verified driver with good ratings. And just like any ridesharing service, take a photo of the vehicle’s plate number or screenshot your ride and send it to someone you trust.
Vaughan to Toronto via Taxi
Estimated Time of Journey: 30 minutes or more, depending on traffic and route.
Single Fare: Approximately $35 or more
It’s possible to ride a taxi from Vaughan to Toronto, although this isn’t going to be cheap. Most taxi services offer rides within the GTA, so the fare will depend on the distance.
Expect around $35 or more, which will vary based on traffic and routes. Remember NOT to ride taxis that do not have a meter, as these aren’t licensed.
And just like our tip earlier, take a photo of the plate number or screenshot the ride details on your app and send it to your trusted person. Safe rides!
