Ontario Highway 33 (King's Highway 33) — Loyalist Parkway

Route and characteristics

The highway begins at the junction with Highway 62 in Bloomfield and travels east through rural and lakeside landscapes, passing through or near communities such as Bloomfield, Glenora and Adolphustown before entering Kingston. A defining feature of Highway 33 is the Glenora Ferry, a provincially operated vehicle ferry that carries the highway across the Bay of Quinte. The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario operates the ferry as part of the route, and the crossing is provided without a toll.

Highway 33 is predominantly a two-lane paved road with varying shoulders and speed limits appropriate to the rural and urban sections it traverses. It links agricultural areas, small towns, shoreline attractions and historical sites, and forms part of a scenic corridor promoted to visitors exploring Prince Edward County and eastern Ontario.

History and name

In 1984, the stretch of road between Trenton and Kingston was officially designated the Loyalist Parkway to commemorate the arrival and settlement of the United Empire Loyalists after the American Revolutionary War. The name recognizes the region’s Loyalist heritage and the early 19th-century settlement patterns that influenced the development of communities along the route. Historical markers and preserved sites along and near the highway highlight that colonial and post-Revolutionary history.

Uses, attractions and significance

• Transportation link: connects Prince Edward County with Kingston and provides access to local roads and provincial highways (Highway 62 and others) for commerce and commuting.
• Tourism and recreation: serves wineries, shoreline parks and historic sites associated with Loyalist settlement, drawing seasonal visitor traffic.
• Unique infrastructure: incorporates a government-operated ferry crossing (the Glenora Ferry) which is an integral, ferry-linked section of the numbered highway.

Local municipalities and provincial agencies work together to maintain the corridor’s safety, signage and scenic qualities. Travelers using Highway 33 can expect a mix of agricultural vistas, waterfront views, and access points to cultural heritage sites that tell part of Ontario’s early settlement story.

Notable facts and distinctions

Highway 33 is notable for combining standard roadway segments with a scheduled vehicular ferry as part of a numbered provincial route — a relatively uncommon arrangement for major highways. The highway’s Loyalist Parkway designation emphasizes its commemorative role and helps guide visitors to sites tied to the United Empire Loyalists and the early European settlement of what is now eastern Ontario.

For further municipal and transportation details, consult provincial resources and local visitor information centers. Related administrative and historical references may be found via government and heritage links: transportation, Ontario provincial, Canada, Prince Edward County, Kingston, United Empire Loyalists, American Revolutionary War, and regional planning pages such as local and highway information hubs.