You're standing at Cleveland Hopkins, clutching a coffee, and realizing that Toronto is actually closer to you than Cincinnati. It's right there. Just across the lake. But when you look to fly Cleveland to Toronto, things get weirdly complicated for a trip that should take less time than a movie.
I’ve done this shuffle. Most people assume there’s a bridge or a constant stream of tiny planes buzzing back and forth like a shuttle bus. There isn't. It’s a specialized route. If you don't time it right, you'll end up sitting in Detroit for four hours on a layover, which is basically the travel equivalent of walking backward.
The direct flight reality check
Let’s be real. Air Canada is usually the only game in town for non-stops. They run Jazz Aviation (the regional branch) using those nimble CRJ-900s. You take off, the flight attendants barely have time to hand out a bag of pretzels, and you’re descending into Pearson.
It's fast. Like, 55 minutes fast.
But here is where they get you. Because it's a "business" route, the prices fluctuate wildly. I’ve seen tickets for $150 and I’ve seen them for $600. If you’re booking last minute for a weekend getaway, you’re going to pay the "I forgot to plan" tax. Honestly, it’s annoying.
Why Pearson (YYZ) isn't your only option
Most people just type "Toronto" into Google Flights and click the first thing they see. That’s a mistake. Toronto Pearson International is huge. It’s also about 25 minutes (on a good day) or 90 minutes (on a Friday afternoon) from downtown.
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) is the secret weapon. It’s on an island. You take a tunnel or a tiny ferry—which takes like 90 seconds—and you are literally at the foot of Bathurst Street. The problem? No one flies direct from CLE to Billy Bishop anymore. You’d have to stop in Montreal or somewhere else, which defeats the purpose. So, if you fly Cleveland to Toronto, you’re almost certainly hitting Pearson. Just factor in the UP Express train cost ($12.35 CAD) to get downtown so you don't get stuck in a $70 Uber in Gardiner Expressway traffic.
The "Hidden" Porter Connection
If you’re okay with a layover, Porter Airlines is incredible. They fly out of Billy Bishop. They give you free beer and wine in real glassware. It feels like 1962 in the best way possible.
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However, from Cleveland, you usually have to connect through Dulles or somewhere else. It adds three hours. Is free wine worth three extra hours? Maybe. It depends on how much you hate the TSA lines at Hopkins.
What about the drive?
I know, I know. This is an article about flying. But we have to talk about the QEW.
Driving from Cleveland to Toronto takes about 4.5 to 5 hours. If you fly, you have to get to Hopkins two hours early because of international customs. Then a one-hour flight. Then 45 minutes to get through customs in Canada. Then 30 minutes to get downtown.
The math is almost identical.
So why fly? Because the Peace Bridge at Buffalo is a gamble. Sometimes it's 10 minutes. Sometimes it’s a two-hour crawl behind a semi-truck carrying industrial rotors. When you fly Cleveland to Toronto, you’re paying for the certainty of not being stuck in traffic in Hamilton, Ontario.
Dealing with Customs at Hopkins vs. Pearson
Here is a pro tip that most people miss. When you fly back—Toronto to Cleveland—you go through US Customs in Toronto. It’s called Pre-clearance.
It is both a blessing and a curse.
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- It’s a blessing because when you land in Cleveland, you just walk off the plane like a domestic passenger. No lines. Just grab your bags and go.
- It’s a curse because the US Customs line at Pearson Terminal 1 can be a nightmare.
If you don't have Global Entry or the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app, give yourself an extra hour. Seriously. I’ve seen people miss their 4:00 PM flight to CLE because they thought 90 minutes was enough time. It wasn't.
The baggage trap on regional jets
When you fly Cleveland to Toronto, you’re usually on a smaller plane. The overhead bins are tiny. If you have a standard "full-sized" carry-on, the gate agent is going to take it from you. They’ll "sky-check" it.
This means you leave it on a cart at the end of the jet bridge and pick it up on the jet bridge when you land. Don't leave your passport or your meds in that bag. You won't have access to it during the flight.
Hidden costs you haven't thought about
Canada is expensive right now. Not just the exchange rate, but the fees.
- The Nav Canada Fee: It's baked into your ticket, but it’s part of why short flights cost so much.
- The Airport Improvement Fee: Pearson charges this to every departing passenger.
- Roaming Data: If you haven't checked your phone plan, do it now. AT&T and Verizon usually include Canada, but smaller carriers will charge you $10 a day the second you ping a tower in Mississauga.
When to book to save cash
Tuesday. Always Tuesday.
Business travelers dominate the Monday morning and Friday afternoon slots. If you try to fly Cleveland to Toronto on a Monday at 7:00 AM, you are competing with every consultant in the Midwest. They don't care about the price; their company is paying. You care.
Look for the Wednesday mid-day flights. They are often half the price.
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Why the lake matters
Window seat. Left side going to Toronto. Right side coming back.
If the weather is clear, you get a stunning view of the Lake Erie shoreline. You can see Cedar Point if you look closely enough. Crossing the lake by air gives you a sense of scale that you just don't get from the 90. It’s the prettiest 15 minutes of flight in the Great Lakes region.
The "Nexus" factor
If you do this route more than once a year, get NEXUS. It’s $50 (though the price is slated to rise soon) and it lasts five years. It includes Global Entry and TSA PreCheck.
But the real magic is the NEXUS kiosks in Toronto. While everyone else is standing in a 400-person line for customs, you walk up to a machine, it scans your irises or face, and you’re through in 20 seconds. It makes the Cleveland-Toronto jump feel like a commute rather than an international expedition.
Is it worth it?
Honestly, flying is for when you value time over money. If there are three of you, drive. If it's just you and you have a meeting at 2:00 PM at Bay and King, fly.
Toronto is an incredible city. It’s basically "Clean New York." The food in Scarborough and Richmond Hill is world-class. The museums are better than they have any right to be. And the transit—the TTC—actually works.
To make this trip work, follow these specific steps:
- Download the MPC (Mobile Passport Control) App: It’s free and it’s almost as fast as Global Entry for getting back into the US.
- Check Air Canada’s "Standard" vs. "Basic" fares: Basic doesn't allow a carry-on anymore. Don't get caught at the gate paying a $60 surcharge.
- Take the UP Express: Don't bother with a taxi from Pearson unless you have four suitcases. The train is cleaner, faster, and has Wi-Fi.
- Book 21 days out: That is the "sweet spot" for Air Canada’s pricing algorithms on this specific regional route.
Skip the Detroit layovers. Avoid the Buffalo traffic jams. Get your documents in order and just make the jump across the water.
Practical Next Steps
- Check your passport expiration: Canada requires your passport to be valid for the duration of your stay, but many airlines won't let you board if it expires within 3 months.
- Verify your phone's roaming settings: Log into your carrier's app and toggle "Travel Pass" or "International Day Pass" to "On" so you don't get hit with per-megabyte charges the moment you land.
- Compare YYZ vs. BUF: If CLE-YYZ is over $500, check the price of flying from Buffalo (BUF) to Toronto. It’s a shorter drive from Cleveland than Toronto is, and sometimes domestic Canadian flights from nearby Hamilton (YHM) are significantly cheaper if you're willing to cross the border on the ground first.