Regional commutes: K-W, Woodstock, St. Thomas and more

Last reviewed October 30, 2026

Not every London commuter heads to Toronto. Many work elsewhere in Southwestern Ontario and choose London for its amenities, healthcare and housing options. These commutes are shorter and often easier, and they're growing as major employers invest in the region.

St. Thomas (≈ 30 km south)

St. Thomas is a short drive south of London via Highway 4 or local roads. It's home to Volkswagen's PowerCo battery cell plant, where construction is under way (PowerCo has said cell production will start in 2029, later than first planned; see CTV News London), and is one of the largest industrial projects in the region, along with established manufacturers. Expect related supplier and service jobs in the surrounding area.

Where to live in London: the south and southwest, including Lambeth, Talbot Village, White Oaks and Westminster, keep the drive short.

Woodstock and Ingersoll (≈ 40–50 km east)

Woodstock is home to a Toyota vehicle assembly plant, and the Woodstock–Ingersoll area has other manufacturing and logistics employers. It's an easy 401 drive.

Where to live in London: the east and southeast near the Highbury Avenue and Veterans Memorial Parkway interchanges.

Kitchener–Waterloo and Cambridge (≈ 100–120 km east)

K-W's tech, insurance and education sectors draw some London commuters, usually on hybrid schedules. The drive is roughly an hour to an hour and a half via the 401 and Highway 8, depending on your destination and traffic. VIA's Sarnia–Toronto route also stops in Kitchener, though with very limited service.

Where to live in London: the east and southeast.

Sarnia (≈ 100 km west)

Sarnia's petrochemical and industrial sector, plus the Blue Water Bridge border crossing, are reached via Highway 402. Some London residents commute west, particularly for shift work.

Where to live in London: the west and southwest, close to the 402. Byron, Riverbend, Westmount and Lambeth work well.

Windsor (≈ 190 km southwest)

Windsor's auto sector and the NextStar Energy battery plant are too far for most daily commutes, but some people with hybrid or rotating schedules make it work.

Within London's orbit

Many London residents also work in nearby Middlesex and Elgin county communities, including Strathroy, Komoka, Ilderton, Dorchester and Thorndale, with short drives against the main traffic flow.

Approximate road distances from central London.

Shift work considerations

Manufacturing and healthcare shifts often start early or end late, outside transit hours. If you work shifts, prioritize a home with a garage or easy parking, a short drive to the highway, and a quiet bedroom for daytime sleep.

Two-commute households

If partners work in different directions, for example one in St. Thomas and one in Woodstock, look at central-south London, which balances access to both the 401 and the roads south.

Healthcare and education commuters

London's own hospitals and universities also draw commuters from smaller communities, while some Londoners work at hospitals and colleges elsewhere in the region. If your job is in healthcare or education, check postings in neighbouring communities too, since a short reverse commute can be very pleasant.