Commuting from Union Glen: GO Transit, Highways & Travel Times

Connected to Everywhere That Matters

Location means little without connectivity, and this is where Union Glen truly excels. Whether you commute by train, drive to the office, or travel frequently for business, the community’s transit and highway access makes getting anywhere in the GTA fast and convenient. Here’s the complete commute breakdown.

GO Transit: Your Downtown Express

Mount Joy GO Station is just a 5-minute drive from Union Glen and sits on the Stouffville GO Line, providing direct service to Toronto’s Union Station. For commuters, this is a game-changer.

Mount Joy GO Station Details

• Distance from Union Glen: 5-minute drive
• Travel time to Union Station: Under 45 minutes
• Line: Stouffville GO (Lakeshore East corridor connection at Union)
• Parking: 1,325 spots — one of the best-served stations on the line
• Service frequency: Regular weekday rush-hour and off-peak service, plus weekend trains
• At Union Station: Seamless transfer to TTC subway (Line 1 Yonge-University), streetcar network, UP Express to Pearson Airport, and VIA Rail intercity service

Why GO Transit Matters

For professionals working in downtown Toronto’s Financial District, Distillery District, or Liberty Village, the GO train offers a predictable, stress-free commute. Unlike driving, there’s no traffic variability — the train arrives at Union Station in under 45 minutes regardless of highway conditions. Many commuters use the ride productively: reading, working on laptops, or simply decompressing before arriving home.

Additional GO Stations

Union Glen residents have the luxury of three additional GO stations within easy reach, each offering slightly different travel profiles:

Unionville GO Station

• Drive time: 8 minutes from Union Glen
• To Union Station: Approximately 40 minutes
• Advantage: Alternative option if Mount Joy parking is full; also serves the Stouffville Line

Markham GO Station

• Drive time: 8 minutes from Union Glen
• To Union Station: Approximately 35 minutes
• Advantage: Slightly faster travel time to downtown; closer to Highway 407 for combined car+train commutes

Centennial GO Station

• Drive time: 10 minutes from Union Glen
• To Union Station: Approximately 30 minutes
• Advantage: Fastest GO travel time to downtown from the area; ideal for commuters who prioritize shortest possible train ride

Highway Access: The Complete Network

For drivers, Union Glen provides quick access to every major highway in the eastern GTA:

Highway 404

• Access time: 5–8 minutes east of Union Glen
• Northbound: Direct route to Newmarket, Aurora, and Barrie (connects to Highway 400)
• Southbound: Becomes the Don Valley Parkway (DVP), providing the most direct highway route into downtown Toronto
• Rush hour tip: Southbound morning commute to downtown averages 45–60 minutes; consider GO Transit as the faster alternative

Highway 407 ETR

• Access time: 5–8 minutes south of Union Glen
• Direction: Express east-west toll highway spanning from Burlington to Clarington
• Key advantage: Virtually congestion-free travel across the GTA. Ideal for reaching Pearson Airport, Mississauga, Vaughan, or Oshawa without fighting 401 traffic
• Cost consideration: Tolled highway, but the time savings during rush hour are significant

Highway 401

• Access time: 15 minutes south of Union Glen
• Direction: Canada’s primary east-west corridor
• Connects to: Scarborough, downtown Toronto (via DVP or Gardiner), Mississauga, Hamilton, and beyond
• Note: The 401 is best used for off-peak travel or express toll lanes; rush-hour congestion is significant

Toronto Pearson International Airport

For business travellers and frequent flyers:

• Via Highway 407: 35–40 minutes — the recommended route, virtually congestion-free
• Via Highway 401: 45–60 minutes depending on traffic
• Via GO + UP Express: GO to Union Station, then UP Express to Pearson — approximately 75 minutes total but completely traffic-independent

Local Transit: York Region Transit (YRT)

For daily errands and local connectivity:

• YRT service: Bus routes along Kennedy Road and Major Mackenzie Drive East connect to the broader York Region transit network
• TTC connection: YRT connects to TTC at Finch Station, providing another route into Toronto for those who prefer surface transit
• VIVA Rapidway: York Region’s bus rapid transit system provides fast, frequent service along major corridors

Future Transit Improvements

Markham’s transit infrastructure continues to expand:

• GO Expansion: Metrolinx’s GO Expansion program will increase service frequency on the Stouffville Line, eventually approaching all-day, 15-minute service
• Yonge North Subway Extension: While not directly serving Union Glen, this extension will improve regional connectivity and reduce crowding on existing GO lines

Commute Summary Table

• Downtown Toronto (Financial District): 35–45 min by car | Under 45 min by GO
• North York Centre: 20–30 min by car
• Scarborough Town Centre: 20–25 min by car
• Vaughan Metropolitan Centre: 25–35 min by car
• Toronto Pearson Airport: 35–40 min via 407
• Newmarket/Aurora: 20–25 min via 404

For full details on Union Glen’s transit connectivity, visit our GO Transit page. Ready to call this well-connected community home? Register for priority access today.