Best Day Trips from Ottawa

Ottawa is surrounded by small towns, heritage villages, and natural areas worth a day's visit. Every destination on this list is within two hours of downtown.

Under 1 Hour

Gatineau Park

Gatineau Park is the closest day trip — a 361-square-kilometre conservation park just 15 minutes from downtown. Highlights include the Champlain Lookout (335 m elevation), Pink Lake Trail (2.5 km), and the Mackenzie King Estate. Free entry; parking $2.75/30 min (max$15/day) in summer.

Wakefield — 30 km (30 min)

A charming village in the Gatineau Hills on the Gatineau River. The Wakefield Covered Bridge (Pont Gendron) was faithfully rebuilt by volunteers after fire and reopened in 1997. Browse the fudge shop, galleries, and boutiques, or paddle the Gatineau River. Eco-Odyssée offers a pedal-boat maze through aquatic channels in summer.

The former Hull-Chelsea-Wakefield steam train is permanently closed — the tracks were removed in 2017 and the rail bed is now an 18 km walking trail along the river.

Almonte — 50 km (45 min)

A small town on the Mississippi River, known for Grand Falls — the river drops 65 vertical feet across four locations, viewable from free platforms behind the Victoria Woollen Mill. Walk the 1.3 km Riverwalk along the river, then browse independent shops on Mill Street.

Hummingbird Chocolate Maker, an award-winning bean-to-bar factory, offers guided tours and tastings on Saturdays. Almonte is also the birthplace of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of basketball — a statue downtown honours him.

Merrickville — 60 km (45 min)

Named "Canada's Most Beautiful Village" by Communities in Bloom in 1998. This 19th-century village sits along the Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Merrickville Blockhouse (1832–33), the largest of four defensive blockhouses built along the canal, is now a free museum managed by Parks Canada.

Streets are lined with galleries, artisan studios (glassblowers, potters, jewellers), and boutiques. The lockstation operates mid-May to mid-October.

Montebello — 80 km (1 hr)

Home to Fairmont Le Château Montebello, which claims to be the largest log building in the world — built in 1930 from 10,000 red cedar logs on 300 acres overlooking the Ottawa River. The lobby is freely accessible.

Nearby, Manoir Papineau National Historic Site is the former estate of Louis-Joseph Papineau, a key figure in the 1837 Rebellions. Open June to September; adults $9. Kenauk Nature, a private reserve north of Montebello, has 70+ lakes and a population of rare blonde black bears.

1–1.5 Hours

Perth — 83 km (1 hr)

One of Ontario's oldest towns, established in 1816 as a military settlement. Stewart Park on the Tay River features stone bridges, willow trees, and rock wall gardens. The heritage downtown preserves 19th-century stone buildings, including Perth Town Hall (1863). Last Duel Park marks the site of the last fatal duel in Upper Canada (1833).

Perth hosts the Festival of the Maples (last Saturday of April, 20,000+ visitors) and the Stewart Park Festival (free music festival, July).

Parc Omega — ~1 hr

A 2,200-acre wildlife park near Montebello with a 12 km drive-through safari where you can observe — and feed — Canadian wildlife from your car. Animals include elk, bison, wolves, black bears, moose, caribou, muskox, cougars, lynx, and more. Bring or buy carrots for the deer.

Open year-round. Adults ~$46, Children (6–15) ~$34. Average visit: 3 hours. Winter activities include cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Upper Canada Village — 79 km (1 hr 10 min)

A living history village depicting 1860s rural Ontario life, with over 40 heritage buildings, costumed interpreters, a working farm, bakery, and blacksmith shop. Located in Morrisburg.

Open May to mid-September. Adults $26, Seniors$24, Students $20, Youth (5–12)$17, under 5 free. In winter, Alight at Night transforms the village with over one million holiday lights (late November to early January, separate admission).

Westport — 100 km (1 hr 15 min)

A small village on Upper Rideau Lake. Foley Mountain Conservation Area has 9 km of trails and the Spy Rock lookout with panoramic views over the lake. Sandy beach with changing facilities. Day pass $10/vehicle.

Calabogie — 100 km (1 hr 15 min)

A four-season destination on Calabogie Lake at the base of Dickson Mountain. Calabogie Peaks Resort has the highest vertical drop among public ski hills in Ontario (232 m). Summer offers hiking, mountain biking, and lake activities. The nearby Eagles Nest Lookout is a popular hike with panoramic valley views.

1.5–2 Hours

Brockville — 115 km (1 hr)

Gateway to the 1000 Islands. The Brockville Railway Tunnel — Canada's first railway tunnel (construction started 1854) — runs 527 metres under City Hall and is now a free walkable experience with sound and light effects.

1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises depart from Blockhouse Island. 90-minute tour: ~$37/adult. Cruises operate May through October.

Gananoque — 164 km (1 hr 40 min)

The main 1000 Islands cruise departure point. City Cruises Gananoque offers 1-hour sightseeing tours (~$35/adult) and 5-hour Boldt Castle stopovers (~$80/adult, includes castle admission). Peak season June through September.

Kingston — 195 km (1 hr 53 min)

Ontario's first capital, with a walkable historic downtown and Fort Henry National Historic Site — part of the Rideau Canal and Kingston Fortifications UNESCO World Heritage Site (2007). Fort Henry admission: Adults $20, Family$60. Open mid-May to early September.

Kingston has Ontario's oldest public market, most restaurants per capita in Canada, and nine breweries including Ontario's oldest brewpub.

At a Glance

Tips

• Pair destinations: Almonte + Perth, Merrickville + Upper Canada Village, Montebello + Parc Omega, and Brockville + Gananoque are natural combinations.
• Rideau Canal route: Merrickville, Westport, and Kingston are all along the Rideau Canal corridor — combine for a multi-stop road trip.
• Fall foliage drives: The Gatineau Hills (Wakefield route) and Calabogie area are among the most scenic fall colour drives near Ottawa.
• Book ahead for Parc Omega, Upper Canada Village, and 1000 Islands cruises in peak season.