Ottawa Road Trips Under 3 Hours | Best Spontaneous Getaways

Ottawa has so much to offer as the capital of Canada, but sometimes it’s nice to get out of the city and explore somewhere new. Within a few hours, you can visit a National Park, Provincial Parks, waterfront cities, an historic castle, small towns, and more. There’s something for everyone on the list. Sometimes it’s hard to think of road trip ideas yourself. Whether you’re looking to take a family road trip, a cute date idea or explore somewhere new with friends, read on for inspiration for your next Ottawa road trips!

Parc Omega

Parc Omega is about a 1 hour Ottawa Road Trip, near Montebello, Quebec. Open year round, you can feed carrots to elk, watch the bird’s of prey show or see the wolf feeding! It is a drive-through safari that is sure to excite you, your friends and your family. It’s a perfect destination for families or even a romantic date night. You can make a night of it by sleeping in a teepee or a Wolf Cabin!

Read more: Parc Omega | The Best Way to see Canadian Wildlife

Wakefield, Quebec

This charming village is only 30 minutes from downtown Ottawa. For a small village, it has tons to offer! Rent a canoe/kayak/paddleboard and explore the Gatineau River, explore an outdoor water maze at Eco-Odyssee, eat at local restaurants, wander along the River Walk, and more.

Read more: Wakefield, Quebec is a Charming and Wonderful Day Trip from Ottawa

Upper Canada Village

When the St. Lawrence seaway was flooded, hundreds of people we were relocated further inland. Touring Upper Canada Village takes you back to life before the flooding, in the 1800s. Complete with authentic buildings from the era, enjoy farm animals, history of living in the era, and interact with people who live there! This is an excellent Ottawa Road Trips for your family as it is friendly for all ages. If you visit during the fall, stop by for the Pumpkinferno event. Or, the Alight at Night event for the holiday season.

Cornwall

Cornwall is about an hour south of Ottawa, with gourmet pizza, a Waterfront Trail (part of the 3,600 km Great Lakes Trail network), bike tours, and a colourful wharf! It’s a slow city with beautiful views of the St. Lawrence River. They’ve really done a lot recently to revive the city.

Read more: Visit this Beautiful Waterfront City in Ontario | Cornwall

1000 Islands

The 1000 Islands is a region of Ontario spanning 80 km along the St. Lawrence River between Ontario and New York. Take a helicopter tour, visit Boldt Castle, cruise along the river, kayak, taste test at wineries and breweries, and more!

Kingston

Kingston is a beautiful, historic city on Lake Ontario. Only a 2 hour drive from Ottawa, or 2.5 hours from Toronto, you’ll love this magical city! Walk along the waterfront, visit multiple National Historic Sites of Canada, enjoy hundreds of restaurants, take a spooky haunted walk, visit Canada’s oldest prison, and more.

Read More: A Kingston Road Trip is the Perfect Day Trip Destination

Perth

A small town with a lot to pack in, enjoy a visit to Perth, Ontario. Only an hour from Ottawa, you’ll find the best cheese in the Ottawa Valley, outdoor adventures, the Perth Museum, Stewart Park, shop at local small businesses, eat at any number of restaurants, and stop at Perth Chocolate Works!

Brockville

Brockville is a city within the 1000 Islands, but is an excellent city to visit on it’s own. There is a historic railway tunnel, Fulford Place, Blockhouse Island, the Aquatarium, and Hardy Park to visit. If you day trip to Brockville in the summer, check out on of the many festivals including Rib Fest, Poutinefest, Tall Ships, and more!

Gatineau Park/Chelsea

Gatineau Park in Quebec, Canada is just across the provincial border and Ottawa River in the Outaouais region. It is about a 15 minute drive from the Byward Market to the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre. Gatineau Park is a fantastic year-round outdoor recreational destination. You’ll find a variety of trails, from easy walks to difficult hikes with beautiful lookouts and great picnic areas. The trails are free to visit in the summer, or for a daily/season price in the winter (to pay for maintenance of the trails).

Read more: Gatineau Park and Chelsea: A Quick Fun Day Trip from Ottawa

Kemptville

Only 40 minutes from Ottawa, Kemptville is a wonderful small city to visit for a day trip. Stop by the historic Kemptville downtown for lunch at Salamanders, kayak through the Kemptville creek, visit the Dairy Barn for delicious ice cream, and more! Make a bonus stop at Saunders Country Critters Zoo Sanctuary or Ferguson Forest on your way home.

Merrickville

About 20 minutes southwest of Kemptville you’ll find Merrickville, a small quaint village with a lot of character. Set on the Rideau Canal, stop by the Yellow Canoe for breakfast, Wick Witch Apothecary for the best soy candles, Nellie’s Room for local knick knacks, Gray Art Glass for beautiful blown glass pieces, the Village Bean coffee house, and Mrs. McGarrigle’s Fine Food Shop for kitchen wares.

Rock Dunder

Rock Dunder is a fantastic hiking trail with a beautiful lookout. There are two trails to enjoy so take the Summit Loop to overlook Morton Bay. Parking is limited so plan to get their early, or see if there is parking in the overflow lot.

Read more: Ultimate Guide to Visiting and Hiking Rock Dunder

Prince Edward County

One of my all-time favourite destinations in Ontario is Prince Edward County. This area is booming in recent years! Stop for wine tours, breweries, provincial parks, a sand dune beach, lavender fields, berry picking, farm-to-table restaurants, and more! Best explored on a weekend staycation but do-able in one day.

Read more: Ultimate Prince Edward County Staycation | Ontario Travel Inspiration

Eagles Nest/Calabogie

Eagles Nest Lookout is a hiking trail that has gained a lot of popularity in the last few years because of the scenic lookout year round. It’s at the tail end of the Manitou Mountain Trail (a longer 9 km trail), about 1.5 hours from Ottawa. Make sure to stop at Blackbird Cafe on your way back, and visit the Calabogie Peaks Chairlift in the fall for stunning views of the fall foliage in the valley.

Read more: Ultimate Guide to Visiting and Hiking the Eagles Nest Lookout

Parc des Montagnes Noires de Ripon

An hour drive from Ottawa will bring you to Parc des Montagnes Noires de Ripon. Over 800 acres of parks, trails and a 360 degree observation deck, you can easily spend an entire day here! It is open year round with hiking trails, fat bike trails, cross country skiing and snowshoe trails, and more. There is a daily fee for people from out of town but it’s well worth the visit.

Chutes de Plaisance

This stop is great as an extra stop on multiple Ottawa Road Trips, or to enjoy on it’s own. Included in the Parc Omega Day Trip itinerary and on the way to the Parc des Montagnes Noires de Ripon, you’ll find the Chutes de Plaisance. A beautiful 63 m waterfall in the middle of a park and surrounded by trails and park benches. Pack a picnic and spend an afternoon exploring the area!

Ithaca, New York

Ithaca, New York is about a 4 hour Ottawa Road Trip one way so for those of us who really like road trips, this one is for you! It is in the United States, so you’ll need your passport. It’s absolutely doable in one day, and I even wrote a 24-hour itinerary blog post. With over 100 waterfalls within 10 miles of downtown Ithaca, being in the Finger Lakes region (New York’s largest wine producing region), and fantastic food, Ithaca is one place you don’t want to miss! You can definitely plan to spend a weekend here to explore more but it’s doable in a (long) day trip from Ottawa.

Read more: Ithaca Day Trip | New York Destination to Chase Waterfalls

Pontiac, Quebec

Pontiac Regional County Municipality is in the Outaouais region of Quebec (not the Municipality of Pontiac). Mansfield-et-Pontefract is within the Pontiac Region and located just under 2 hours north of Ottawa. The drive through Quebec is lovely! Stop at the Red Covered Bridge, Café Downtown and book a weekend getaway at the Natural Resting Point.