Barrie is located in the central portion of Southern Ontario, approximately 90 km (56 mi) north of Toronto within the Greater Golden Horseshoe subregion. It is accessible via Highways 26, 400, 11 and has convenient access to Highway 401, the Highway 407 Express Toll Route and to neighbouring Toronto. Pearson International Airport in Toronto is less than a one hour drive from Barrie via Highway 400.

The City of Barrie is one of Canada’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas in Ontario. Barrie can attribute much of its growth to that of Toronto, only 90 km south. Because of the proximity to Toronto, Barrie effectively serves as a bedroom community of the larger metropolis with a third of its residents commuting outside the municipality for work.

Barrie’s population expansion is largely due to the young population profile and a growing number of Canadians moving into the city for economic and technological opportunities, and the fact that Barrie has been designated an Urban Growth Centre by the Province of Ontario.

Due to Barrie’s extensive population growth, the city has expanded its urban area beyond the confines of the valley, particularly to the south and south-east, into the rural town of Innisfil, Ontario.