However, owing to its historic nature, it is lined with residences outside of urban Thunder Bay.

On a 32.8 km (20.4 mi) eastward journey, the surroundings quickly change from isolated muskeg-ridden foothills to urban development as the highway enters Thunder Bay from the north.

It zig-zags southeast, passing alongside Mud Lake and briefly curving back to the east.

[4] Within the city limits, the density of residences surrounding the highway rapidly increases as the terrain flattens.

The highway intersects Mapleward Road, then diverges from the power transmission lines and curves southeast into suburban Thunder Bay.

The history of the Dawson Road began in 1857 when Henry Hind and Simon Dawson were commissioned to survey the territorial claims of the Hudson's Bay Company, as well as to survey a route between Lake Superior and the Red River.

The latter recommended avoiding the Kaministiquia River, but ultimately Hind and Dawson's route was chosen.

When Colonel Garnet Wolseley arrived at the present site of Winnipeg, the rebels had fled.

[citation needed] The following table lists the major junctions along Highway 102, as noted by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.