ONroute

Construction of Ontario Highways 400 and 401 began in the early 1950s, with the last section of 401 completed in 1968. Both roads were intended as bypasses, going around populated areas instead of through them (the highways 11/27 and 2 which they replaced were Main Street in nearly every served community) and therefore initially had few services. A series of rest stops was constructed as part of the highway in the 1960s in rural areas to provide a full-service restaurant (later replaced with franchised fast food) and a service station (eventually curtailed to fuel only, no repair services). All but a few of these dated from the same era with strong similarity in design.

From the late 1980s to 2010, rest areas on the two highways were individually franchised to different fast food operators (mainly McDonald's) and gasoline distributors (mainly Esso and Petro Canada); however around the financial crisis of 2007–2008, many of the companies announced that they would not renew their leases once they expired.

The government of Ontario selected HKSC as the new franchisee for all of its rest areas in 2010.[2] Since 2010-11, HKSC has demolished the 1960s-era rest stops, leaving most rest stops out of operation for a year or more, and used the sites to construct new ONroute service stations. Most of the remaining redevelopment projects were completed in 2013.[2] Partners in the redevelopment projects included EllisDon Construction, Quadrangle, and Bruce Mau Design.[5] All of the redeveloped locations were designed to meet the LEED certification standards of the Canadian Green Building Council, as well as current standards of accessibility for travellers with disabilities.[5]

The rest areas on Highway 401 at Ingersoll and Newcastle (both serving only the westbound carriageway), as well as the southbound rest area on Highway 400 at Maple (in Vaughan) were redeveloped in the late 1990s, and the original structures remain in service as they were already more modernized than the older locations. Unlike all other ONRoute rest areas, Esso remains as the gasoline distributor at these locations.

On June 13, 2019, HMS Host announced the sale of all 23 ONroute centres to Arjun Infrastructure and Fengate Asset Management.[6] Arjun is a British company which is the minority shareholder in the similar Welcome Break chain of motorway service areas in the United Kingdom, while Fengate is a Canadian asset management firm.

In 2020, seating areas were temporarily closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.[7]

Canadian Tire gas station at ONroute Cambridge South

Signs for the restaurants inside ONroute Cambridge South

Each ONroute location features a Canadian Tire gas station, a Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce ATM, and a 24-hour convenience store called M Market. While each location offers a different selection of fast food providers, all locations feature a Tim Hortons together with some combination of A&W, Big Smoke Burger, Brioche Dorée, Burger King, Cinnabon, East Side Mario's Pronto, Extreme Pita, KFC, Taco Bell, Mr. Sub, New York Fries, Pizza Pizza, PurBlendz, Starbucks, Swiss Chalet, Wendy's or Yogen Früz outlets.[8] In some cases, selection at the food outlets is more limited or prices higher than in non-highway locations of the same-brand chains.

All ONroute locations have free Wi-Fi.[9] In addition, the westernmost (Tilbury) and easternmost (Bainsville) locations along Highway 401 also feature Ontario Tourist Information Centres, as they serve as gateway locations for tourists entering the province from Michigan or Quebec.[5]

ONroute locations are sited along Highway 401's entire length, while there are only four rest areas located on Highway 400 along the freeway's southern section between Toronto and Barrie (southbound at Innisfil and Vaughan and northbound at King City and Barrie).

As of 2016, ONroute locations are open along Highway 401 in Tilbury (2), West Lorne, Dutton, Ingersoll, Woodstock, Cambridge (2), Newcastle, Port Hope, Trenton (2), Greater Napanee, Odessa, Mallorytown (2), Morrisburg, Ingleside and Bainsville, and along Highway 400 in Vaughan, King City, Barrie and Innisfil. In most locations, individual ONroute service centres are accessible only from one carriageway of the highway, with a separate location serving the other carriageway either directly opposite or nearby. Bainsville (near Highway 401's eastern terminus just west of the Quebec boundary) is the only current exception, having only a westbound location, with services for eastbound motorists available at a similar freeway rest area located on Quebec's Autoroute 20 just east of the provincial boundary. The former Highway 400 location in Cookstown was accessible directly by southbound motorists but could be reached by northbound traffic exiting on westbound Highway 89 then turning at a driveway just west of Highway 400, but it has since been relocated to another location only accessible by southbound motorists.

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