One of the best things about Ottawa is what surrounds it. Within an hour or two of downtown, you will find canal towns frozen in time, Gatineau Hills lookouts with views that stretch to the horizon, and quiet countryside roads that wind past farms, forests, and heritage villages. The day trip possibilities here are genuinely impressive.
The Rideau Canal corridor to the south offers a string of picturesque towns like Merrickville, Smiths Falls, and Westport. To the west, Almonte and Perth bring heritage architecture, local shops, and riverside walks. The Gatineau Hills to the north deliver year-round outdoor adventure, from swimming and hiking in summer to cross-country skiing in winter. And to the east, the St. Lawrence River towns offer a completely different landscape and pace.
Planning Your Day Trip
Most of these destinations sit between 45 minutes and two hours from downtown Ottawa. A typical day trip means leaving after breakfast, spending the middle of the day exploring, and getting back to the city in time for dinner. Pack a lunch or plan to eat at a local spot. Many of the smaller towns have surprisingly good restaurants and bakeries.
Spring and fall are particularly rewarding times for day trips. The countryside comes alive with colour in October, and spring brings wildflowers, rushing waterfalls, and the first farmer's market stalls of the year. Summer is peak season, of course, with warm days perfect for swimming, paddling, and long walks along village streets.
What to Expect
Eastern Ontario day trips are not about ticking off major attractions. They are about the drive itself, the lunch at a cafe you stumble upon, the view from a bridge over a quiet river. If you approach them with that mindset, you will have a wonderful time. These are places where the journey matters as much as the destination.
Below you will find our favourite day trip guides, from family-friendly outings to scenic drives that show off the best of the region.
