Potholes, congestion, poor road signs—our most-dreaded drives are almost always marked by these steering-wheel-gripping features. Though there’s little we can do about the incessant traffic on the drive home from the cottage, we may find comfort in the fact that these roads are certifiably bad.
CAA has released its annual worst roads report that pinpoints the most frustrating drives in Ontario, as voted on by drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and transit-goers.
For the second consecutive year, Hamilton takes the cake as the biggest loser with Aberdeen Avenue topping the chart. “Frustrations with potholes and poor road maintenance have kept this road in the number one spot,” says CAA’s press release.
Close behind is another Steeltown-dwelling road, Barton Street East, and County Road 49 in Prince Edward County. Both streets have appeared on the worst roads list six and seven times, respectively.
Participants in the report nominated more than 2,400 roads in 208 municipalities across Ontario, up from 2,000 roads in 145 municipalities last year.
Here are the other roads that made this year’s list, plus the worst by region.
CAA’s worst roads of 2025
Aberdeen Avenue, Hamilton
Barton Street East, Hamilton
County Road 49, Prince Edward County
Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto
Hurontario Street, Mississauga
Leveque Road, South Frontenac
Highway 50, Caledon (Bolton)
Sider Road, Fort Erie
Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway, Toronto
Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto
Worst roads by region
Halton-Peel-York-Durham— Hurontario Street, Mississauga
Central—7th Line, Innisfil
Eastern— County Road 49, Prince Edward County
Niagara— Sider Road, Fort Erie
North— Panache Lake Road, Greater Sudbury
Southwest— Banwell Road, Windsor
Western— Dundas Street, London
Ottawa— Carling Avenue
Toronto – Eglinton Avenue West
Hamilton – Aberdeen Avenue
For cottagers, there may be another rural street or two that would top your worst roads list. We want to know: what are the most awful roads in cottage country?
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