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Stops from the west

From Kenora and Fort Frances

Two highways bring drivers in from the west: 17 from Kenora and Dryden, 11 from Rainy River and Fort Frances. They meet at Shabaqua Corners and run as one road past Kakabeka Falls into the city.

Hosted by Ellie Marchand, a character created for this guideChecked October 14, 2026

Ellie Marchand stands on a granite outcrop beside a calm lake ringed by spruce, holding a steel travel mug.
Ellie Marchand is a character created for this guide. AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or of the casino.

Stop by stop from the west

Every stop, measured to the door

Straight lines from OpenStreetMap · pick the highway you come in on

  1. 79 km to Vermilion Bay
  2. 41 km to Dryden
  3. 95 km to Ignace
  4. 54 km to English River
  5. 41 km to Upsala
  6. 66 km to Shabaqua Corners
  7. 30 km to Kakabeka Falls
  8. On to the city
  9. The door 50 Cumberland St. South, 2.8 km from the expressway
  1. 55 km to Emo
  2. 32 km to Fort Frances
  3. 131 km to Atikokan
  4. 87 km to Kashabowie
  5. 41 km to Shabaqua Corners
  6. 30 km to Kakabeka Falls
  7. On to the city
  8. The door 50 Cumberland St. South, 2.8 km from the expressway

Selected stop

411km to the door

Kenora

On Highway 17. In a straight line the casino lies to the southeast of Kenora. The next stop, Vermilion Bay, is 79 km on.

Route in Google Maps

Roads bend and run longer than these lines. The guide gives no driving times.

Highway 17 from Kenora

Ellie's stops on Highway 17 start at Kenora, 411 km from the casino door in a straight line. Vermilion Bay follows at 342 km, then Dryden at 303 km, and both Kenora and Dryden lie to the northwest of the casino. Ignace comes next at 208 km, English River at 155 km and Upsala at 114 km. Highway 17 passes through each of these places.

And the gaps between them? Kenora to Vermilion Bay is 79 km, and Vermilion Bay to Dryden 41 km. Dryden to Ignace measures 95 km, Ignace to English River 54 km and English River to Upsala 41 km. From Upsala, the next stop is Shabaqua Corners, 66 km on. These are lines between map points: roads bend and run longer, so the guide gives no driving times.

Highway 11 from Rainy River

Highway 11 runs in along the Rainy River side. Ellie's first stop there is Rainy River, 394 km from the door in a straight line. Emo follows at 340 km and Fort Frances at 308 km. Atikokan, at 180 km, lies 3.9 km off Highway 11. The highway passes through Rainy River, Emo, Fort Frances and Kashabowie, which is 93 km from the door.

Measured stop to stop, Rainy River to Emo is 55 km and Emo to Fort Frances 32 km. Fort Frances to Atikokan covers 131 km. Atikokan to Kashabowie is 87 km, and Kashabowie to Shabaqua Corners 41 km. At Shabaqua Corners, Highway 11 meets Highway 17 and the two continue as one road.

Shabaqua Corners and Kakabeka Falls

Shabaqua Corners, 53 km from the casino in a straight line, is where both routes join. From there, highways 11 and 17 run as one road past Kakabeka Falls, 29 km, and on past Thunder Bay. That road is the Thunder Bay Expressway, and the casino at 50 Cumberland St. South is 2.8 km from it.

Coming in by plane? Thunder Bay International Airport is 10 km southwest of the casino in a straight line. And when are the doors open? Doors open at 9 AM and close at 4 AM, 7 days a week, so they are closed from 4 AM to 9 AM. Holiday hours are not published, so the casino line, 807-766-7900, or the casino's own website is the place to confirm them.

Asked before setting out

At which point west of the city do highways 11 and 17 become one road?

At Shabaqua Corners, 53 km from the casino in a straight line. The joined road runs past Kakabeka Falls and Thunder Bay to Nipigon, to the northeast.

How many kilometres separate Dryden and the casino door?

Dryden is 303 km from the casino door in a straight line. It lies to the northwest of the casino on Highway 17; roads bend, so the drive itself covers more ground.

Does Highway 11 run through the town of Atikokan?

It does not: Atikokan lies 3.9 km off Highway 11. The town is 180 km from the casino door in a straight line.

What is the straight-line distance from Fort Frances to the casino door?

Fort Frances is 308 km from the door. Highway 11 passes through the town, and the guide gives no driving time for it.