Some weekends just need a change of scenery: a different main street, a room you didn’t have to clean and a dinner reservation somewhere new. From the capital, heritage villages, river towns and an entire French-speaking city are all within driving range. The hard part is choosing before Friday afternoon traffic decides for you.
This guide to weekend getaways from Ottawa, updated for October 2026, covers 16 escapes we checked, from Almonte’s riverwalk and Merrickville’s canal locks to Kingston, the Thousand Islands and Québec City. We included drive times where we could confirm them, plus the weekend getaways from Ottawa for couples that deserve a reservation. Pick a direction, and the planning is already half done.
In This Guide
- Quick picks: weekend getaways from Ottawa at a glance
- The best weekend getaways from Ottawa right now
- Tips for planning an Ottawa weekend getaway worth knowing
- Frequently asked questions about weekend getaways from Ottawa
- More Ottawa guides worth exploring
Quick picks: weekend getaways from Ottawa at a glance
Need a fast answer? These five escapes cover city, history, water and small-town charm in one shortlist.
1. Le Monastère des Augustines
Stay overnight in a restored seventeenth-century monastery in Old Québec, with wellness programming on site, at upscale prices.
2. La Citadelle de Québec
Tour an active star-shaped fortress above the St. Lawrence in Québec City, at mid-range prices.
3. Kingston Pen Tours
Walk the cellblocks of the former Kingston Penitentiary, about two hours from Ottawa, at mid-range prices.
4. Almonte Riverwalk
Follow a free riverside boardwalk past historic mills and waterfalls in Almonte, about 45 minutes away.
5. 1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises
Cruise the Thousand Islands from Brockville’s Blockhouse Island on a seasonal sightseeing boat, at upscale prices.
The best weekend getaways from Ottawa right now
The quick picks handle the shortlist. The full list below runs from Québec City back toward Ottawa, so you can match the drive to the time you have.
1. Le Monastère des Augustines
A restored seventeenth-century monastery combines heritage exhibitions, accommodation and wellness experiences in Old Québec. Its museum tells the story of the Augustinian sisters and their role in Quebec healthcare, and guests can stay overnight and book wellness programming in the same building. That pairing makes it one of the most distinctive weekend getaways from Ottawa for couples, with Québec City about four and a half to five hours away by car. Reserve rooms and wellness sessions ahead, and confirm parking arrangements before you go.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Overnight stays and wellness inside a 17th-century monastery
📍 Location: Le Monastère des Augustines, Old Québec, 77 Rue des Remparts, Québec, QC G1R 0C3
⭐ Vibe: Indoor, couples, special occasion
2. La Citadelle de Québec
Guided tours explore an active military fortress overlooking the St. Lawrence River and the historic streets of Québec City. The star-shaped fortress near the Plains of Abraham houses the Royal 22e Régiment Museum, and its outdoor sections give elevated river views. Tours run year-round, making it a must visit on any Québec City city break, though weather can limit outdoor access and military-site security rules apply.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: An active star-shaped fortress with year-round tours
📍 Location: La Citadelle de Québec, Old Québec, 1 Côte de la Citadelle, Québec, QC G1R 3R2
⭐ Vibe: Historic, scenic, family friendly
3. Canyon Sainte-Anne
Three suspension bridges cross a dramatic gorge carved by the Sainte-Anne River, with views of a 74-metre waterfall. About 30 minutes northeast of Québec City, it turns a city weekend into a two-stop road trip, with designated walking trails and autumn colour around the gorge. It operates seasonally, so confirm opening dates before building it into your plan.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Three suspension bridges over a 74-metre waterfall
📍 Location: Canyon Sainte-Anne, Saint-Joachim, 206 Route 138 Est, Saint-Joachim, QC G0A 3X0
⭐ Vibe: Adventure, scenic, couples
4. Kingston Pen Tours
Guided tours take visitors inside the former Kingston Penitentiary, including cellblocks, exercise yards and prison corridors. Kingston sits about two hours from Ottawa on the route to Toronto, which makes it one of the easiest weekend getaways from Ottawa by highway. Tour capacity is limited and schedules are seasonal, so book ahead and check parking and photography rules when you reserve.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Cellblock tours inside a former maximum-security prison
📍 Location: Kingston Pen Tours, Kingston, 560 King Street West, Kingston, ON
⭐ Vibe: Historic, groups, unusual
5. Great Lakes Museum
Exhibits inside Kingston’s former waterfront pumping station explore Great Lakes shipping, shipwrecks and maritime heritage. The museum overlooks Kingston Harbour, with maritime artifacts inside and harbour views outside. Indoor displays make it a cold-weather anchor for a Kingston weekend trip, and the PumpHouse museum sits nearby on Ontario Street.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Great Lakes shipwreck and shipping exhibits
📍 Location: Great Lakes Museum, Kingston, 55 Ontario Street, Kingston, ON K7L 2L1
⭐ Vibe: Indoor, waterfront, family friendly
6. 1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises
Sightseeing cruises depart from Brockville’s Blockhouse Island to explore the St. Lawrence River and Thousand Islands scenery. The boat tour passes historic waterfront properties and island landscapes, a classic weekend getaway choice for anniversaries and couples. Cruises are seasonal and depend on weather and demand, so book popular departures in advance.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Thousand Islands sightseeing from downtown Brockville
📍 Location: 1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises, Brockville, 30 Blockhouse Island Pkwy, Brockville, ON K6V 4S9
⭐ Vibe: Waterfront, romantic, special occasion
7. The Aquatarium
Interactive exhibits explore the ecology and maritime history of the St. Lawrence River and Thousand Islands region. Inside the Tall Ships Landing building on Brockville’s waterfront, its kid friendly displays open Friday to Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., which suits a family weekend schedule. Indoor parking off Flint Street costs $2 per hour, and the Brockville Railway Tunnel is nearby in season.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Interactive St. Lawrence River exhibits, Friday to Monday
📍 Location: The Aquatarium, Brockville, 6 Broad St, Brockville, ON K6V 6Z4
⭐ Vibe: Indoor, kid friendly, family
8. Joel Stone Heritage Park
A waterfront park combines a sandy beach, marina views and a riverside walking area at the gateway to the Thousand Islands. Gananoque is about 90 minutes from Ottawa, and the park sits steps from the free 1000 Islands History Museum. Summer brings beach time and autumn brings quieter waterfront walks, while Marble Rock Conservation Area just north offers rugged hiking trails across Canadian Shield ridges.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: A free beach at the gateway to the Thousand Islands
📍 Location: Joel Stone Heritage Park, Gananoque, 125 Water St, Gananoque, ON K7G 2M5
⭐ Vibe: Waterfront, family friendly, relaxed
That’s the halfway point. The second half stays closer to home, with small towns and countryside stops that work as easy one- or two-night escapes.
9. Perth Museum
An 1840 stone mansion contains restored Victorian rooms and exhibits about Perth’s early settlers and the region’s last fatal duel. Housed in Matheson House, a National Historic Site, it opens daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with admission by donation, and the visitor information centre shares the building. Stewart Park’s stone bridges and Tay River views are steps away, so Perth makes a small-town weekend getaway with a free core itinerary.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Admission by donation, open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
📍 Location: Perth Museum, Perth, 11 Gore St E, Perth, ON K7H 1H4
⭐ Vibe: Historic, free, small town
10. 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 to Mill Street’s shops and cafés, with the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum close by. Add Hummingbird Chocolate Maker’s bean-to-bar factory tours and tastings, and Almonte becomes an easy pick among weekend getaways from Ottawa for couples. Sections can get slippery in winter, so wear proper footwear.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Free riverside walk past mills and waterfalls
📍 Location: Almonte Riverwalk, Almonte, 14 Bridge Street, Almonte, ON
⭐ Vibe: Scenic, couples, walkable
11. Brigadoon Restaurant
An 1850s limestone general store has been transformed into a countryside restaurant with British-inspired interiors and a garden patio. The Oxford Mills dining rooms keep their historic details, with Sunday roast and afternoon tea among the established offerings. Pair dinner with a stop in Kemptville, about 45 minutes from Ottawa, where Grahame’s Bakery still bakes in a wood-fired brick oven dating to 1885, and reserve ahead for weekends.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Sunday roast and afternoon tea in an 1850s general store
📍 Location: Brigadoon Restaurant, Oxford Mills, 9 Bridge Street, Oxford Mills, ON K0G 1S0
⭐ Vibe: Heritage dining, couples, special occasion
12. Merrickville Blockhouse
A limestone military blockhouse built in the 1830s stands beside the Rideau Canal locks in Merrickville’s heritage district. It was built to defend the Rideau Canal, the surrounding lockstation is free to explore, and interior access is limited to scheduled seasonal openings. Independent shops like Abel Mountain sit a short walk away on St Lawrence Street, so you can spend time on foot among nineteenth-century stone storefronts.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: An 1830s blockhouse beside working canal locks
📍 Location: Merrickville Blockhouse, Merrickville, 279 St Lawrence Street, Merrickville, ON K0G 1N0
⭐ Vibe: Historic, waterfront, walkable
13. Forno Sourdough Pizza + Bread
Naturally leavened bread and sourdough pizza provide a food-focused stop in Westport’s village centre. Open year-round with evening hours on Fridays and Saturdays, it anchors a Rideau Lakes weekend that can include Kilborn’s on the Rideau in Newboro, a country store spread across connected heritage buildings. Confirm the day’s bread selection before making a special trip.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Sourdough pizza with Friday and Saturday evening hours
📍 Location: Forno Sourdough Pizza + Bread, Westport, 52B Concession St, Westport, ON K0G 1X0
⭐ Vibe: Casual, couples, small town
14. Gillies Grove Nature Reserve
An old-growth forest protects towering eastern white pines, including a tree recognized as Ontario’s tallest. About 45 minutes west of Ottawa in Arnprior, the White Pine Loop, Cross Grove Trail and Hemlock Loop offer free outdoor activities among mature pines and hemlocks. Add White Pine Books and the Arnprior and District Museum downtown for a low-key day trip or a slow weekend.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Ontario’s tallest white pine
📍 Location: Gillies Grove Nature Reserve, Arnprior, 154 Ottawa Street, Arnprior, ON K7S 1X7
⭐ Vibe: Outdoor, free, quiet
15. Restaurant Les Fougères
A countryside restaurant on Route 105 pairs seasonal Quebec cuisine with a gourmet food shop near Gatineau Park. North of Ottawa in Chelsea, it anchors a short getaway that combines dinner with Gatineau Park scenery, especially during autumn colour. Reserve ahead, and start the next morning at Palmier or Biscotti & cie in Old Chelsea before hitting the trails.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Seasonal Quebec cuisine near Gatineau Park
📍 Location: Restaurant Les Fougères, Chelsea, 783 Route 105, Chelsea, QC J9B 1P1
⭐ Vibe: Upscale, couples, anniversary
16. Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum
A four-storey underground Cold War bunker preserves government command rooms, communications equipment and emergency facilities. About 35 minutes west of downtown in Carp, it is a reliable winter outing, with independent cafés and shops in the village nearby. Pair it with the Saturday Carp Farmers’ Market in season, and check tour schedules before arriving.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Four storeys of preserved Cold War command rooms
📍 Location: Diefenbunker, Carp, 3929 Carp Road, Ottawa, ON K0A 1L0
⭐ Vibe: Underground, family friendly, winter
Tips for planning an Ottawa weekend getaway worth knowing
Choosing the destination is the fun part. These tips help the rest of the weekend go smoothly.
Autumn suits most of these trips, since riverwalks, gorges and forest trails all turn colourful, but Canyon Sainte-Anne, Kingston Pen Tours and the Thousand Islands cruises run seasonally. Compare rates across a few weekends to find the best deals, since availability varies by season. In winter, indoor anchors like the Diefenbunker, Perth Museum and Great Lakes Museum keep a trip worthwhile.
For couples, pair one standout meal with one walkable town: Brigadoon with Kemptville, Les Fougères with Old Chelsea, or Hummingbird’s chocolate tastings with Almonte’s Riverwalk. If hot tubs or spa time are part of the plan, Le Monastère des Augustines is the documented wellness option on this list. Ask any other inn directly before booking.
A long weekend opens up multi-city loops, such as Montreal, Quebec City and Canyon Sainte-Anne, or a Kingston and Gananoque run along the St. Lawrence. The Maritimes are better saved for a longer road trip. That includes Hopewell Rocks, Prince Edward Island’s Green Gables Heritage Place and Peggy’s Cove, as well as Tadoussac’s whale-watching cruises.
If Toronto’s CN Tower or Niagara Falls’ Clifton Hill are on your wish list, Kingston and Gananoque sit along the way. Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake also makes a strong history stop on a longer Ottawa-to-Niagara drive.
Before driving into Quebec, confirm your auto insurance coverage and roadside assistance. Several villages also rely on street parking, so allow time to find a spot. The good news for budget travellers is that Perth Museum, Gillies Grove, Joel Stone Heritage Park, Merrickville’s lockstation and the 1000 Islands History Museum all cost nothing to visit.
Frequently asked questions about weekend getaways from Ottawa
With the planning covered, these answers handle the questions people ask most before booking.
What are the best weekend getaways from Ottawa for couples? Le Monastère des Augustines in Québec City and a Brigadoon dinner in Oxford Mills are two of the strongest weekend getaways from Ottawa for couples. The monastery combines overnight stays with wellness programming, while Brigadoon serves Sunday roast and afternoon tea in an 1850s limestone building. Hummingbird Chocolate Maker’s tours in Almonte and a Thousand Islands cruise from Brockville also suit pairs, with full details in the entries above.
How far can you go for a weekend trip from Ottawa? Two nights comfortably covers Kingston at about two hours, Gananoque at about 90 minutes, and closer towns like Almonte, Arnprior and Kemptville at roughly 45 minutes. Québec City, about four and a half to five hours away, works best with a full or long weekend. Atlantic Canada and Tadoussac are better for longer trips, as noted in the tips above.
What is the best time for a weekend getaway from Ottawa? Autumn is the best time for many of these trips, when Almonte’s Riverwalk, Canyon Sainte-Anne and Gillies Grove are surrounded by fall colour. Summer suits waterfront plans like Gananoque’s beach and the Thousand Islands cruises, while winter favours indoor stops such as the Diefenbunker and Perth Museum. Seasonal schedules are listed in each entry above.
Are there family friendly weekend getaways near Ottawa? Yes. Brockville’s Aquatarium, Kingston’s Great Lakes Museum and the Diefenbunker are family friendly attractions with indoor exhibits. Joel Stone Heritage Park adds a beach in Gananoque, and the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario in Smiths Falls displays historic railcars, with more detail in the entries above.
More Ottawa guides worth exploring
If a weekend getaway isn’t in the cards this time, these Ottawa guides make staying home feel like a trip.
Things to do in Ottawa for visitors: Ideas for showing guests the city when they visit you.
Outdoor things to do in Ottawa: Trails and parks for a weekend outside without the drive.
Ottawa plans by budget, season and situation: Plans sorted by what you want to spend and when.
Brunch date spots in Ottawa: A couples’ morning out for weekends spent close to home.
Romantic brunch in Ottawa: Slow, date-worthy brunches for a staycation weekend.
The best weekend getaways from Ottawa don’t need a flight, just a free Saturday and a full tank. Bookmark this guide and check back, since we update it as seasonal sites reopen and new escapes are verified.
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