Day trips from Ottawa - 12 fun destinations you should visit

Plan a day trip to one of these 12 destinations near Ottawa

While there is lots to do in the city of Ottawa, sometimes it is nice to get away just for a day to explore other towns, villages, parks and attractions beyond the city limits. Fortunately, there are lots of great destinations for fun and easy day trips less than a three hour drive away. 

An advantage of day trips is that you save on the cost of overnight accommodation, you have less luggage to pack and less planning overall. With many of these destinations, you could just jump in your car on a Saturday morning and have a fun day trip adventure without much advance planning. 

When I worked with international students studying at the University of Ottawa, they would often want to maximise their time in the country and experience as much of the region as possible when they had time off on the weekend. I have personally been to all the destinations on this list as a long-time resident of Ottawa and I have helped many students plan their own day trips as well, so I hope this article inspires you to start planning your next day trip adventure within three hours of Ottawa. 

Sections

1. 1. Gatineau Park
2. 2. Almonte
3. 3. Merrickville
4. 4. Smiths Falls
5. 5. Calabogie
6. 6. Ottawa Valley
7. 7. Mont Tremblant
8. 8. Kingston
9. 9. Montreal
10. 10. Bon Echo Provincial Park
11. 11. Algonquin Provincial Park
12. 12. New York State

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How to plan a day trip around Ottawa

To plan a day trip from Ottawa, there are only really three directions you can go, either north and east into Quebec, south into the United States or south and west into the rest of Ontario. This list includes a variety of day trip destinations, which are between a 20 minute and 3 hour drive each way from Ottawa. They are listed from shortest to longest driving distance. Many of these locations would also make great weekend getaways as well if you have a bit more time. 

All destinations on the list can be reached by car, three are served by the VIA Rail train system, the major cities are connected by coach bus and it may be possible to cycle to a few places as well. Overall, it will be easiest and most efficient to plan any of these day trips by car. All driving distances provided are calculated using Parliament Hill as the starting point. 

Keep reading to learn about the 12 best places to visit on a day trip around Ottawa!

1. Gatineau Park

Distance to Gatineau Park from Ottawa: 17 km / 20 minutes

Best time of year to visit Gatineau Park: this is a year round destination, but fall is nice for seeing the colours of the autumn foliage, winter is great for cross country skiing and there is swimming available in the summer. The park consists of multiple sectors, and the area near Ottawa gets very busy during weekends in the summer. 

Recommended transportation to Gatineau Park: this is one of the only destinations on the list where you could reasonably bike or take public transport from Ottawa, otherwise it is a short drive across the Quebec border into Gatineau.

What to do in Gatineau Park:

• Visit the Mackenzie King Estate historic site, which has a museum, tea room, historical ruins, gardens and walking trails

• Photographers might enjoy the Carbide Willson factory ruins located on the edge of a waterfall in the forest on the shore of Meech Lake

• Hiking or mountain biking to the Pink Lake lookout to see the unusual bright blue-green water in August or September

• Winter activities include hiking, snowshoeing, and there are many kilometres of groomed cross-country ski trails, the park also offers winter camping which you can reserve in advance

• Stop by the official Gatineau Park Visitor Centre in Old Chelsea to plan your visit

Visit the Gatineau Park website here to start planning your trip.

2. Almonte

Distance from Ottawa to Almonte: 50 km / 40 min drive

Best time of year to visit Almonte: spring is a nice time to see the waterfall at full capacity in the middle of town.

Recommended transportation to Almonte: driving from Ottawa is the most convenient, but you could potentially bike there and back in one day, it is 60km each way. 

What to do in Almonte:

• Stroll down the Almonte Riverwalk, a signposted pathway that follows the river through the centre of town

• Go shopping on Mill Street, which has lots of independent stores, restaurants and historic art murals 

• Visit the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum

• Sample some vodka at the Dairy Distillery

• Have a nature adventure walk around the Mill of Kintail Conservation area 

Special events and celebrations: The Almonte Farmer’s Market operates from May to October on Saturday mornings from 8:30am-12:30 in the Mississippi Mills Public Library Parking Lot.

Read More: 13 things to do in the historic town of Almonte

3. Merrickville

Distance from Ottawa to Merrickville: 80 km / 1 hour drive

Recommended transportation to Merrickville: it will be most convenient to visit by car, but you could potentially take the VIA Rail train to the nearby town of Smiths Falls and then a 20 minute taxi ride from there to Merrickville. 

Best time of year to visit Merrickville: summer is a nice time to visit to see boats out on the Rideau canal.

What to do in Merrickville:

• Stroll down St. Lawrence Street for shopping, cafes and resturants 

• Attend a glass blowing demonstration at Gray Art Glass or visit one of the many other art studios in the area for pottery, sculpture, jelwellry making and more

• Go antique hunting at one of the many shops in town 

• Take a walk along the Rideau Trail

• Enjoy a boat tour of the Rideau River in the summer 

• Learn about the history of the Rideau Canal at the Merrickville Blockhouse, which is listed as a national historic site, the Merrickville Ruins industrial heritage site and see the canal locks, which are still functional today, all three sites are in the same area  

  Start planning your trip here on the official town of Merrickville website.

4. Smiths Falls

Distance from Ottawa to Smiths Falls: 80 km/ 1 hour drive

Best time of year to visit Smiths Falls: summer is a nice time to visit to see boats out on the Rideau canal.

Recommended transportation to Smiths Falls: this is one of the only towns on this list that you could visit on the train, it is between 45-60 minutes from Ottawa with VIA Rail, there are about three trains per day. Otherwise consider driving, you could even add a stop in another nearby town like Carleton Place or Perth on the way there or back and visit two destinations in one day!

What to do in Smiths Falls:

• Experience the Rideau Canal, with five lock stations around the town, this is a great place to experience this UNESCO World Heritage site and the Rideau Canal Visitor Information Center is also located here

• Visit the Rail Museum of Eastern Ontario to learn about local rail heritage

• Stop by the Tweed Visitor Centre to see how cannabis is manufactured 

• Hike the Cataraqui Trail, a converted abandoned railway line that continues to Strathcona, near Napanee

• Learn about the historic life of industrial pioneers at the Heritage House Museum

• Enjoy a boat cruise on the Rideau River

  Start planning your trip here on the official town of Smiths Falls website.

5. Calabogie

Distance from Ottawa to Calabogie: 100km / 1 hour 10 min drive

Best time of year to visit Calabogie: winter is the best time if you plan to ski, but the chairlifts also run in the fall if you want to get a good view of the fall colours in the surrounding landscape.

Recommended method of transportation to Calabogie: driving is the best option, especially if you are travelling with sports equipment. 

What to do in Calabogie:

• Skiing at Calabogie Peaks in the winter

• Hiking the Eagles Nest lookout trail, the trailhead is off highway 508

• Stop by the Calabogie Brewing Co. for a beer tasting

• ATV and dirt bike trails

• Get out on the water with a canoe, kayak or paddleboard rental 

• Practice your swing at one of two golf courses in the area, Ironwoods Golf Course and Calabogie Highlands Golf Resort

6. Ottawa Valley towns of Pembroke, Petawawa and Cobden

Distance from Ottawa to Pembroke: 115 km / 1 hour 15 minute drive

Best time of year to visit Pembroke, Petawawa and Cobden: plan a summer roadtrip to this part of the Ottawa Valley to get out of the city for the day or visit in the fall to see the colours of the leaves and maybe stop by a pumpkin farm or apple orchard. 

Recommended method of transportation: Driving will be the most realistic for a daytrip to the Ottawa Valley so that you can stop in multiple towns, there are also occasional coach buses with Ontario Northland from Ottawa to the major towns. 

What to do in Pembroke, Petawawa and Cobden:

• Go shopping and enjoy the historic art murals in downtown Pembroke 

• Pick some berries or pumpkins depending on the season at Hugli’s Blueberry Ranch and Country Market

• Try paddleboarding or white water rafting on the Ottawa River

• Take a guided snowmobile or ATV tour

• Learn about history at a local museum like the Champlain Trail Museum and Pioneer Village or the Petawawa Heritage Village

• Stop for dinner and some drinks at White Water Brewing in Cobden

  Start planning your trip to the Ottawa Valley here with Destination Ontario.

7. Mont Tremblant

Distance from Ottawa to Mont Tremblant: 150 km / 1 hour 45 minute drive

Best time of year to visit: While Mont Tremblant is certainly known for skiing and winter is obviously peak season, summer is still a nice time to visit for hiking and other outdoor activities.

Recommended method of transportation: Driving from Ottawa will be the most convenient if you have sports equipment but you may also be able to book a visit on a tour bus with a private company in peak season. 

What to do in Mont Tremblant:

• Downhill skiing, snowboarding and tubing at Mont Tremblant Resort

• Cross country skiing at Domaine St. Bernard

• Shopping and taking the gondola through the Mont Tremblant pedestrian village 

• Try another winter sport like snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice climbing, ice skating or ice fishing

• Hike the Montagne Vert trail for panoramic views or try one of the many hikes in the area through the Laurentian mountains  

• Try a new activity in the summer like white water rafting or ziplining 

• Relax at the spa with outdoor pools like the Scandinave

  Start planning your trip here on the Tourism Mont Tremblant website.

8. Kingston

Distance from Ottawa to Kingston: 200 km / 2 hour drive

Best time of year to visit: There is always something going downtown in the summer and it is a nice time of year to be out on Lake Ontario as well. Kingston can get quite busy when the post-secondary students return in September. 

Recommended method of transportation: You actually have several options for getting to Kingston, driving will still be the most convenient, but there are usually six VIA Rail trains per day from Ottawa or twice daily coach bus service with Megabus.

What to do in Kingston:

• Walk down Princess Street for shopping and restaurants

• Visit the Fort Henry National Historic Site 

• Take the hourly ferry over to Wolfe Island 

• Enjoy the shores of Lake Ontario from the Kingston Waterfront area

• See what’s going on in front of City Hall, there is often a market or musical performance 

• Wander around the Queen’s University Campus which has some historic buildings and an Art Centre 

• Stop by the downtown Kingston Visitor Information Centre to plan your day and get a picture with the Kingston sign 

9. Montreal

Distance from Ottawa to Montreal: 200 km / 2 hour 15 min drive

Best time of year to visit: Montreal is really a year round destination, summer is great for outdoor activities, festivals and special events but you could visit anytime to enjoy most attractions like shopping, dining, and museums. 

Recommended method of transportation: In this case, it may actually be more convenient not to drive! There are around five VIA Rail trains per day and several coach buses with Orleans Express, both of these options will drop you right downtown and you avoid paying for parking. Driving is certainly possible but expect traffic and delays trying to enter or leave the island of Montreal during rush hour and finding parking downtown can be frustrating. 

What to do in Montreal:

• Enjoy nature within an urban environment at the extensive Montreal Botanical Gardens, the Olympic Stadium and the Chateau Dufresne Museum are right next door

• Explore Old Montreal by yourself or on a walking tour, don’t miss the Pointe a Calliere archaeological Museum for interactive exhibits on the history of the city 

• Get a new perspective on the Old Port area of Montreal on a carbon neutral boat cruise or take a ride on the Grand Roue observation wheel 

• Pick up some fresh food at the Jean-Talon Market or the Atwater Market 

• Take a walk through Mount Royal Park to get some good views of the city

• See the latest exhibitions at the Montreal Fine Arts Museum 

10.Bon Echo Provincial Park

Distance from Ottawa to Bon Echo Provincial Park: 200 km /  2 hours 15 min drive

Best time of year to visit: the park operates from May to October, check the official site here before your visit to ensure it will be open. 

Recommended method of transportation: from Ottawa, it is only possible to plan a day trip to the park by car.  

What to do in Bon Echo Provincial Park:

• A unique feature of this park is the 100 metre high Mazinaw Rock which displays over 260 historic Indigenous pictographs and is listed as a National Historic Site of Canada

• Go for a hike, there are trails ranging from 1 to 17 km, for beginners to more experienced hikers

• Join an interactive education session with a park naturalist in the summer season

• Relax on one of the three sand beaches in the park or go swimming 

• Try fishing or birding 

• Enjoy a day out in a rental canoe or kayak on a motor boat free lake, or you can take a power boat out on Mazinaw Lake 

• Start your day at the Visitor Centre located in an original cottage 

11. Algonquin Provincial Park

Distance from Ottawa to Algonquin Park: 240 km 2 hours 45 min

Best time of year to visit Algonquin Park: The park is typically open May to October, with some areas available for use in the winter season as well. Check the official park website here before you go.

Recommended method of transportation: from Ottawa it will only be possible to reach the park by car for a day trip. Be aware that you will require a pass to use the park for the day, these are available at the East and West entrance gates. 

What to do in Algonquin Park:

• Go for a hike, there are a variety of trails, many are only a few kilometres long and can be completed in a few hours

• Stop by one of several public beaches for a swim

• Rent a canoe, kayak or paddleboard for the day from one of the outdoor outfitters 

• Learn about the history of the park at the Algonquin Visitor Centre which has a small museum, gift shop and viewing deck

• Explore the Algonquin Park Logging Museum which features historic cabins and a short walking trail 

• Don’t forget winter activities like snowshoeing, cross country skiing and dogsledding 

12. New York State

Distance from Ottawa to Syracuse, USA: 3 hours / 190 miles drive

Best time of year to visit: this is a year round destination for shopping, but upstate New York is particularly nice in the fall when the leaves change.

Recommended method of transportation: it will be most convenient to drive, there are currently no direct buses or trains from Ottawa, you would have to transfer through Montreal or Toronto. Be aware of what travel documents you will require to cross the border and plan accordingly. 

What to do in Syracuse and upstate New York

• Many people plan day trips to New York state for the single purpose of shopping and having access to brands and products that are not available and harder to find in Canada

• If you only want to shop, Watertown, NY is closer to Ottawa than Syracuse and has most major chain stores

• Spend the day at the Destiny USA shopping mall in Syracuse, which is the largest in the state and has stores, restaurants, along with entertainment and special events 

• If you enjoy museums, stop by the Erie Canal Museum, the Salt Museum, the Everson Museum of Art or the Museum of Science and Technology in Syracuse

• Walk around historic downtown Syracuse around Clinton Square to see heritage buildings and seasonal special events

  Start planning your trip on the Visit Watertown website here or the Visit Syracuse website here.

12 best day trips from Ottawa

Now that you know about these 12 destinations you can easily visit in less than 3 hours from Ottawa, all you need to do is pack your car or buy your bus or train ticket and start your next adventure. 

Where are you planning to go on your next day trip from Ottawa? Comment below!

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