Some trips start with a plan. The best ones start with a full tank, a playlist and the realization that you could be beside a waterfall, a fortress or the Atlantic Ocean within a few hours. Ottawa sits right in the middle of all of it.
Our guide to the best road trip from Ottawa options covers 16 stops, updated for 2026, from 45-minute day trips from Ottawa to a full east coast road trip from Ottawa through New Brunswick, PEI and Nova Scotia. We sorted them by drive time, season and what each stop does best, so whether you want an Ottawa getaway this weekend or a week on the road, you’ll find road trip destinations that fit. Start with the quick picks, then read on for the full list.
In This Guide
- Quick picks: road trip ideas from Ottawa at a glance
- The best road trips from Ottawa right now: day trips, weekend getaways and the east coast
- Tips for planning a road trip from Ottawa worth knowing
- Frequently asked questions about a road trip from Ottawa
- More Ottawa guides worth exploring
Quick picks: road trip ideas from Ottawa at a glance
Short on planning time? These five road trip ideas from Ottawa cover a day, a weekend and a full week.
1. Almonte Riverwalk
Waterfalls and historic mills about 45 minutes from Ottawa. Almonte. Free.
2. 1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises
St. Lawrence River sightseeing cruises from Brockville’s Blockhouse Island. Brockville. Upscale.
3. Kingston Pen Tours
Guided tours inside the former Kingston Penitentiary, about two hours away. Kingston. Mid range.
4. La Citadelle de Québec
Guided tours of an active fortress above the St. Lawrence. Québec City. Mid range.
5. Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park
Flowerpot sea stacks you can walk around on the Bay of Fundy floor at low tide. Hopewell Cape. Mid range.
The best road trips from Ottawa right now: day trips, weekend getaways and the east coast
Every stop below fits the promise from the intro, ordered by distance so you can build anything from a short Ottawa drive to a 7 day road trip from Ottawa. Expect Ontario day trips first, then Niagara and Québec City, then the Atlantic coast, with notes on season and hours for each.
1. Almonte Riverwalk
A riverside boardwalk connects historic textile mills, waterfalls and Almonte’s nineteenth-century downtown. About 45 minutes from Ottawa, the route follows the Mississippi River past restored mills, with Mill Street’s shops and cafés steps away, making it one of the easiest day trips Ontario has from the capital and one of the best things to do near Ottawa in autumn. Pair it with the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum in a restored woollen mill, and watch for slippery sections in winter.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Waterfalls beside historic textile mills
📍 Location: Almonte Riverwalk, Almonte, 14 Bridge Street, Almonte, ON
⭐ Vibe: Scenic, family, date
2. Stewart Park, Perth
Stone bridges, mature trees and landscaped gardens frame the Tay River behind Perth’s historic town hall. The five-acre park links small bridges and views of Code’s Mill, and the free Perth Museum in an 1840 stone mansion, a National Historic Site, is a short walk away, open daily from 10 am to 5 pm by donation. It’s an easy Ontario day trip, a free place to visit in Ontario, and one of the most relaxed places to visit nearby.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Stone bridges over the Tay River
📍 Location: Stewart Park, Perth, Mill Street and Herriott Street, Perth, ON
⭐ Vibe: Scenic, family, kid-friendly
3. Kilborn’s on the Rideau, Newboro
A large independent country store occupies multiple historic buildings in Newboro, combining clothing, footwear and home merchandise. Sitting between Westport and the Rideau Canal communities, it’s a natural stop on a scenic route through the Rideau Lakes, with Westport’s Forno Sourdough Pizza + Bread nearby for lunch. It’s open seven days a week year-round, so it works as a day trip in Ontario even in winter.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: A country store spread across heritage buildings
📍 Location: Kilborn’s on the Rideau, Newboro, 10 Drummond St, Newboro, ON K0G 1P0
⭐ Vibe: Shopping, family, group
4. Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario
A preserved Canadian Northern Railway station displays historic railcars and railway equipment in Smiths Falls. Passenger cars, equipment and exhibits on regional rail fill the station and outdoor displays, making it one of the most kid-friendly places to visit near Ottawa and a fun stop on any eastern Ontario road trip. It opens Tuesday through Sunday during its season, which also makes it one of the best things to do around Ottawa with young train fans.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Historic railcars at a preserved station
📍 Location: Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario, Smiths Falls, 90 William St W, Smiths Falls, ON K7A 5A5
⭐ Vibe: Family, kid-friendly, educational
5. 1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises
Sightseeing cruises depart from Brockville’s Blockhouse Island to explore the St. Lawrence River and Thousand Islands scenery. The Thousand Islands rank among the most beautiful places in Ontario: Ontario’s stretch of the St. Lawrence River is dotted with islands and historic waterfront homes you can photograph from the deck. Cruises are seasonal and weather-dependent, so book popular departures ahead.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Island scenery from the St. Lawrence
📍 Location: 1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises, Brockville, 30 Blockhouse Island Pkwy, Brockville, ON K6V 4S9
⭐ Vibe: Waterfront, anniversary, family
6. The Aquatarium
Interactive exhibits explore the ecology and maritime history of the St. Lawrence River and Thousand Islands region. Inside Tall Ships Landing on Brockville’s waterfront, it opens Friday to Monday from 10 am to 4 pm, with indoor paid parking at $2 an hour. It’s one of the cool places to visit in Ontario when the weather turns, and it pairs well with a seasonal cruise.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Hands-on St. Lawrence River exhibits
📍 Location: The Aquatarium, Brockville, 6 Broad St, Brockville, ON K6V 6Z4
⭐ Vibe: Indoor, family, kid-friendly
7. Joel Stone Heritage Park, Gananoque
A waterfront park combines a sandy beach, marina views and a riverside walking area at the gateway to the Thousand Islands. About 90 minutes from Ottawa, the park shares the waterfront with the free 1000 Islands History Museum and the Thousand Islands Boat Museum, which puts Gananoque among the best road trips in Ontario for river views and the beautiful places to visit in Ontario for a beach day. It’s one of the easier summer vacation spots in Ontario and among the most relaxed weekend trips in Ontario in fall, though seasonal services vary.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: A beach and two museums on the St. Lawrence
📍 Location: Joel Stone Heritage Park, Gananoque, 125 Water St, Gananoque, ON K7G 2M5
⭐ Vibe: Waterfront, family, kid-friendly
8. Kingston Pen Tours
Guided tours take visitors inside the former Kingston Penitentiary, including cellblocks, exercise yards and prison corridors. About two hours from Ottawa on the Ottawa-Toronto route, Kingston is a natural stop on Ontario road trips, and the former maximum-security prison is one of the most unusual cool places in Ontario, with limited tour capacity, so book ahead. Add the waterfront PumpHouse and Great Lakes Museum to turn the four-hour round trip into one of the most popular weekend trips from Ottawa.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Cellblocks of a former maximum-security prison
📍 Location: Kingston Pen Tours, Kingston, 560 King Street West, Kingston, ON
⭐ Vibe: Historic, date, group
That covers the shorter Ontario drives, and the second half stretches out to Niagara, Québec City and the Atlantic coast, where the trips get longer and the scenery gets bigger.
9. Fort George National Historic Site
Reconstructed military buildings and costumed interpretation recreate life at a British fort during the War of 1812. It’s a substantial stop on a road trip from Ottawa to Niagara Falls, near the mouth of the Niagara River, and one of the classic places to see Ontario history up close. Demonstrations vary by season, parking is near the entrance, and operating dates should be confirmed before travelling.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Costumed War of 1812 interpretation
📍 Location: Fort George National Historic Site, Niagara-on-the-Lake, 51 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0
⭐ Vibe: Historic, family, group
10. La Citadelle de Québec
Guided tours explore an active military fortress overlooking the St. Lawrence River and the historic streets of Québec City. About four and a half to five hours by car, this is the classic road trip from Ottawa to Quebec City, and the star-shaped fortress near the Plains of Abraham also houses the Royal 22e Régiment Museum. Tours run year round, though weather affects outdoor sections and military security rules apply.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: An active star-shaped fortress
📍 Location: La Citadelle de Québec, Old Québec, 1 Côte de la Citadelle, Québec, QC G1R 3R2
⭐ Vibe: Historic, family, group
11. Parc de la Chute-Montmorency
An 83-metre waterfall rises above the St. Lawrence River, with a suspension bridge, panoramic stairway and cable car viewpoints. The falls are about 30 metres taller than Niagara, the bridge crosses right above them, and winter ice formations turn the site into beautiful winter landscapes for photographers. Some activities are seasonal, and fees depend on the experience you choose.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: A waterfall taller than Niagara
📍 Location: Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, Québec City, 5300 Boulevard Sainte-Anne, Québec, QC G1C 0M3
⭐ Vibe: Scenic, family, date
12. Croisières Essipit
Indigenous-operated whale-watching excursions depart from Grandes-Bergeronnes to explore the St. Lawrence Estuary aboard inflatable boats. Associated with the Innu community of Essipit, the excursions head into waters frequented by several whale species east of Tadoussac, part of a longer coastal road trip rather than a day out. Tours are seasonal and weather-dependent, so reserve and arrive early for safety instructions.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Indigenous-operated whale watching
📍 Location: Croisières Essipit, Grandes-Bergeronnes, 498 Rue de la Mer, Grandes-Bergeronnes, QC G0T 1G0
⭐ Vibe: Adventure, family, date
13. Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park
Towering flowerpot-shaped sea stacks stand on the Bay of Fundy ocean floor, which visitors can explore during low tide. A major stop on any road trip to PEI from Ottawa, the Bay of Fundy’s extreme tides expose the bases of the formations twice daily, and visitors walk the ocean floor during designated low-tide periods. It’s seasonal, so check tide times before you arrive.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Walking the ocean floor at low tide
📍 Location: Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, Hopewell Cape, 131 Discovery Road, Hopewell Cape, NB E4H 4Z5
⭐ Vibe: Scenic, family, date
14. Green Gables Heritage Place
The farmhouse associated with Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables is surrounded by gardens and wooded literary trails. On Prince Edward Island’s north shore, it’s the centrepiece of a road trip from Ottawa to PEI, with the farmhouse tour and grounds filling a morning. Visitor services are seasonal, and summer and autumn are the popular periods.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: The farmhouse behind Anne of Green Gables
📍 Location: Green Gables Heritage Place, Cavendish, 8619 Route 6, Cavendish, PE C0A 1M0
⭐ Vibe: Literary, family, solo
15. Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse
A white lighthouse with a red lantern stands on exposed granite rocks overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. About 45 minutes southwest of Halifax, it’s the signature stop on a road trip from Ottawa to Nova Scotia, with a fishing village beside the granite. Stay off wet or wave-exposed rocks, and expect winter weather to affect roads.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: A lighthouse on Atlantic granite
📍 Location: Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse, Peggy’s Cove, 185 Peggys Point Road, Peggy’s Cove, NS B3Z 3S1
⭐ Vibe: Scenic, family, date
16. Skyline Trail, Cape Breton
A coastal hiking trail ends at a boardwalk overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the winding Cabot Trail below. The trail crosses highland terrain to an exposed coastal viewpoint that’s especially scenic in autumn, and it’s the far end of a long drive that ranks among the best road trips in Canada. National park fees and seasonal wildlife restrictions may apply, so check conditions before departure.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: A boardwalk above the Cabot Trail
📍 Location: Skyline Trail, Cape Breton Highlands, Skyline Trailhead, Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Highlands National Park, NS
⭐ Vibe: Adventure, date, solo
Tips for planning a road trip from Ottawa worth knowing
With the list sorted, these habits make any road trip in Ontario or beyond easier, from a quick day out to a week on the coast.
The easiest road trips in Ontario’s east are built around one town. Merrickville’s stone storefronts and canal locks make the classic small-town day trip Ontario visitors picture, Westport and Smiths Falls’ Heritage House Museum fill an afternoon, and the Rideau Canal’s Jones Falls lockstation fits the same scenic route, so the Rideau Lakes are the easiest Ottawa day trips to string together. North of Kingston, Frontenac Provincial Park and Gananoque’s Marble Rock Conservation Area add Canadian Shield hiking, so a Kingston Frontenac weekend can mix museums with trails.
For cheap weekend getaways for couples in Ontario, pair free stops like Stewart Park, the Perth Museum and Joel Stone Heritage Park with one paid highlight such as a Brockville cruise, and you’ll have places to visit in Ontario for the weekend without a big bill. Prince Edward County, west of Kingston, is another classic escape, and searching places to go Ontario-wide in fall means booking anything seasonal first, which is the rule behind all the best weekend getaways from Ottawa.
On a road trip from Ottawa to Quebec City, heading east past Hawkesbury, Ontario and Vankleek Hill, home to the Ouimet Farms corn maze, makes an easy first break before you skirt Montreal’s West Island. If you stop in Montreal itself, on-street parking is managed by the Agence mobilité durable, so read the signs, and travellers starting a road trip from Montreal join the same route north-east. Round out Québec City with Canyon Sainte-Anne’s suspension bridges, the Musée de la civilisation and a stay at Le Monastère des Augustines.
Not every road trip needs a full day. Gatineau Park’s Gatineau Parkway lookouts above the Ottawa River make a short fall drive until the parkways close to private vehicles for winter on October 26, and Mont Tremblant, north of the city in Quebec, is a year-round mountain getaway. When you’re searching scenic places near me, places to see near me or weekend getaways near me on a free afternoon, those two and Almonte are the closest answers.
For an east coast loop, build the drive around tides and seasons: Hopewell Rocks follows published tide tables, Fundy Trail Provincial Park’s parkway and Cape Enrage are seasonal, and Cape Enrage’s ziplining and rappelling suit adventure seekers. Fundy National Park (Parc national Fundy) sits between them, and Halifax’s Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, with free Tuesday evening admission, works year round when coastal weather turns.
Frequently asked questions about a road trip from Ottawa
These are the questions people ask most often before planning the drive.
How far is Ottawa from Toronto by car?
Ottawa is roughly 450 km from Toronto, so the Ottawa to Toronto drive usually takes four and a half to five hours along Highway 401, the main highway Toronto-bound travellers use for the classic road trip Ontario drivers know best. A road trip from Ottawa to Toronto works best with a stop in Kingston or Gananoque, and the reverse road trip from Toronto to Ottawa, or any road trip to Ottawa from Toronto, can add Brockville’s waterfront along the same Toronto-Ottawa corridor. Winter can stretch the Toronto to Ottawa drive, so allow extra time, and note that many of the best road trips from Toronto follow the same St. Lawrence route toward Ottawa from Toronto. If you drive Toronto to Ottawa, Ontario’s capital and every stop on this list are covered above.
What’s the best 7-day road trip from Ottawa?
A strong 7-day road trip from Ottawa heads east: Québec City for the Citadelle and Montmorency Falls, then the north shore for whale watching near Tadoussac, before returning along the St. Lawrence. If you’d rather turn a 7 day road trip from Ottawa into an east coast road trip from Ottawa, drive to New Brunswick for Hopewell Rocks and add PEI, though that loop works better with ten days or more. Stop details and seasons are in the list above.
How long is a road trip from Ottawa to Halifax or PEI?
A road trip from Ottawa to Halifax covers roughly 1,450 km, about 14 hours of driving, so most travellers split it over two days through Québec and New Brunswick. A road trip from Ottawa to PEI is similar, and since Hopewell Rocks and the Fundy coast sit on the way, the same drive works for a road trip from Ottawa to Nova Scotia or a road trip to PEI from Ottawa. Seasonal opening dates for each Atlantic stop are covered above.
Can you do a road trip from Ottawa to Vancouver or the Grand Canyon?
Yes, but both are multi-week drives across North America rather than weekend plans. A road trip from Ottawa to Vancouver crosses northern Ontario and the Prairies on the Trans-Canada, with long stretches of highway, highway and more highway between towns, while a road trip from Ottawa to the Grand Canyon heads south through the United States to Arizona. For shorter trip destinations, the Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic stops above are much easier to plan.
More Ottawa guides worth exploring
For days when you’d rather stay close to home, these guides cover more things to do around the capital.
Things to do in Ottawa for visitors: A first-timer’s guide for anyone starting or ending a road trip in the capital.
Outdoor things to do in Ottawa: Trails, rivers and parks without the long drive.
Free things to do in Ottawa: No-cost outings to balance out a road trip budget.
Ottawa plans by budget, season and situation: Ideas sorted by what you want to spend and what the weather is doing.
Family-friendly Ottawa outings: Kid-ready plans for weekends between trips.
The best road trip from Ottawa depends on how much time you have, from a 45-minute day trip from Ottawa to a week on the Atlantic coast, and this list doubles as an Ontario day trips guide for weekends closer to home. Bookmark it before your next drive, because we update it as seasons change and every stop is verified.
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