25 Best Day Trips from Ottawa: Charming Towns, Nature & Hidden Gems

We have so many charming towns and hidden gems surrounding Ottawa, all with their own unique draws. Whether you are looking for a relaxing spa day, a rugged nature hike, or a historic main street to explore, you don’t have to drive far with these day trips from Ottawa. Visiting these towns is my perfect change of scenery, each with its own mix of attractions and adventures.

You’ll also be interested in: Guide to Road Trips from Ottawa

Day Trips from Ottawa Under 30 Minutes Away

Perfect for a spontaneous morning out or a quick afternoon change of scenery.

Chelsea, QC

Chelsea is a massively popular spot for anyone entering or leaving Gatineau Park, making it the perfect mix of outdoor adventure and cozy village vibes. Every time I visit, I don’t want the day to end.

• Drive Time: 15 minutes
• Best For: Nature lovers, foodies, and ultimate relaxation.
• Don’t Miss: Spend the morning hiking the local trails in Gatineau Park, then unwind at Nordik Spa-Nature. Grab a world-famous ice cream at La Cigale, a coffee at Café Palmier, or a fresh brew at the Chelsea Pub.
• Seasonal Fun: Chelsea is one of the best areas for fall colours

Aylmer, QC

This underrated gem is a historic riverside sector that boasts incredible heritage architecture, a vibrant culinary scene, and beautiful main street.

• Drive Time: 22 minutes
• Best For: Sunset views, historic architecture, and local cafes
• Don’t Miss: Park your car and explore the historic brick buildings along Rue Principale. Grab a specialty coffee at Café Mulligan before exploring the local shops. Head down to the Aylmer Marina around golden hour for one of the region’s most stunning sunset views, especially paired with fresh, delicious gelato from Cassis.
• Seasonal fun: Aylmer Christmas Market

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Carp, ON

This is technically a neighbourhood in Ottawa, but it had to make the list because its small-town charm will make you feel like you’ve gone further, and it’s perfect for a quick adventure.

• Drive Time: 20 minutes
• Best For: Farmers’ markets, local culinary finds, and country charm
• Don’t Miss: Having grown up here, I have a massive soft spot for all our wonderful local businesses that you can easily spend a full day exploring, from Ottawa’s best pub, the cutest ice cream spot, a winery and more!
• Seasonal Fun: the Carp Fair in fall

Wakefield, QC

You will absolutely love spending a full day wandering through the vibrant, artistic, and postcard-perfect waterfront town of Wakefield.

• Drive Time: 25 minutes
• Best For: Riverside walks, indie shopping, and water sports.
• Don’t Miss: Start your morning with a relaxing brunch right by the water, then rent a kayak or paddleboard to head out on the river. Take a stroll across Wakefield’s iconic Gatineau River Covered Bridge, which is the famous red bridge, and leave plenty of time to browse the independent boutiques and galleries dotting the main strip.

Day Trips from Ottawa Under 1 Hour Away

The sweet spot for a classic day trip. These destinations offer historic main streets, outdoor adventure parks, and plenty of independent shops.

Arbraska Laflèche, QC

If you want to inject some major adrenaline into your weekend, this aerial adventure park tucked into the Quebec woods is an absolute must-visit.

• Drive Time: 34 minutes
• Best For: Thrill-seekers, ziplining, and cave exploring.
• Don’t Miss: Get ready to challenge yourself as you go ziplining high through the forest canopy and tackle their massive treetop obstacle courses. Underneath the forest, you can also tour and explore the historic Laflèche Cave. If you want to extend the fun into a staycation, look into their wild sleep in a cave overnight package!

Carleton Place, ON

Head out to Carleton Place for a classic, easy-going day trip centred around a beautiful waterfront and charming main street.

• Drive Time: 40 minutes
• Best For: Main street shopping, historic architecture, and river views.
• Don’t Miss: Find a parking spot along the Mississippi River and spend your hours exploring Bridge Street, which is absolutely packed with one-of-a-kind shops and independent restaurants. On a warm day, grab a scoop of local ice cream and walk down to enjoy it right by the water’s edge. You can even visit their year-round Halloween-themed cafe, Dark and Deadly Cafe.

Almonte, ON

Almonte feels like you’re walking through an episode of Gilmore Girls. It’s affectionately known as the friendly town for its welcoming locals and as “Hollywood North” for all the movies filmed here.

• Drive Time: 42 minutes
• Best For: Picturesque waterfalls, heritage buildings, and scenic hiking.
• Don’t Miss: This is a town I visit all the time because it’s so charming. Spend an afternoon exploring the local boutiques along Mill Street and doing the scenic riverwalk over the falls. Make sure you leave time to visit the Mill of Kintail Conservation Area, which features acres of gorgeous, dog-friendly walking trails.

Pakenham, ON

Pakenham is a lovely, quiet community that feels like stepping back in time, centred around some of the unique historic landmarks in the Ottawa Valley.

• Drive Time: 42 minutes
• Best For: Retro bakeries, historic bridges, and winter sports.
• Don’t Miss: You’ll know you’ve arrived the second you see the iconic, historic Pakenham Five-Span Stone Bridge. Head into the town center to explore the local shops; one of my personal childhood favourites is Penny’s Fudge Factory, where you can sample dozens of homemade flavours. Depending on the season, you can also head to Fulton’s Sugar Bush for a winter pancake breakfast and trail walk, or hit the slopes at Mount Pakenham, which is actually where I first learned to snowboard!

Merrickville, ON

Widely dubbed the Jewel of the Rideau, this remarkably preserved scenic village sits directly along the historic Rideau Canal system. From incredible local businesses to ruins, there’s plenty to do here.

• Drive Time: 53 minutes
• Best For: High-end artisan crafts, antiquing, and canal history.
• Don’t Miss: Merrickville is a spectacular road trip destination in absolutely any season. Walk along the locks to watch the boats pass through, and then head up to the main street to browse an amazing collection of local glassblowers, makers, antique shops, and restaurants.

Smiths Falls, ON

Smiths Falls is a historic heartland deeply connected to Ottawa not just by country highways, but by the winding waters of the Rideau Canal.

• Drive Time: 59 minutes
• Best For: Canal heritage, museums, and lock stations.
• Don’t Miss: Head down to the massive Smiths Falls Combined Lock Station to experience the engineering marvels of the canal up close. The town is full of heritage architecture, parklands along the water, and great local eateries that make it a fantastic, relaxing day out.

Day Trips from Ottawa Over 1 Hour Away

Pack a travel mug and a great playlist. These spots are a slightly longer drive from the city, but they reward you with dramatic lookouts, historic villages, or famous wine regions.

Parc Omega

Parc Omega is hands-down one of my all-time favourite activities in the entire region, offering an immersive look at Canadian wildlife like nowhere else. I’ve been a bunch of times and it never gets old.

• Drive Time: 1 hour
• Best For: Wildlife viewing, family adventures, and nature photography
• Don’t Miss: Pack a bag of carrots and drive your vehicle straight through this massive natural park where elk, deer, and bison will walk right up to greet your car! It’s an incredible day immersed in nature. If you want to turn it into an unforgettable staycation, book an overnight stay in one of their famous accommodations, like the luxury Wolf Cabins, where you can sleep next to panoramic glass walls facing the wolf pack.

Montebello, QC

While Parc Omega sits just up the road, the actual town of Montebello is well worth its own dedicated stop along the shores of the Ottawa River.

• Drive Time: 1 hour
• Best For: Gourmet chocolate, local cheeses, and luxury resort history.
• Don’t Miss: Head straight into the cute town center to visit the local artisanal fromagerie (cheese shop) and the famous ChocoMotive chocolate factory housed in an old train station. To experience the area to the fullest, turn your day trip into a historic staycation at the stunning Fairmont Le Château Montebello, which is the world’s largest log cabin. Don’t miss this local waterfall too

Calabogie, ON

Calabogie is a massive playground for outdoor enthusiasts, offering rugged topography, thick forests, and plenty of rewards after a long hike.

• Drive Time: 1 hour, 2 minutes
• Best For: Hiking, motorsports, and craft beer.
• Don’t Miss: The absolute highlight here is hiking the Eagles Nest Lookout trail; it rewards you with a breathtaking, sweeping panoramic view of the wilderness below from a dramatic clifftop. Afterward, head into town to grab a well-deserved pint at the Calabogie Brewing Co. or check out the action at the local motorsport track.

Perth, ON

If you want a day trip that feels like a slice of Europe, you need to go on this day trip from Ottawa. Perth is an exceptionally beautiful heritage town famed for its centuries-old stone architecture, lush green spaces, and vibrant downtown core.

• Drive Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes
• Best For: Kayaking, boutique shopping, and picnicking in the park.
• Don’t Miss: Rent a kayak or canoe to paddle directly along the peaceful Tay River right through the center of town. Spend some time wandering the beautiful paths of Stewart Park, and then explore the historic, independent shops and restaurants built into the old stone storefronts.

Rideau Ferry & Port Elmsley, ON

This day trip combo is the ultimate recipe for a nostalgic, old-school summer road trip that finishes with a classic movie night under the stars.

• Drive Time: 1 hour, 7 minutes
• Best For: Waterfront dining and retro drive-in movies.
• Don’t Miss: Head out to Rideau Ferry in the late afternoon to grab a delicious bite right by the water at CC’s on the Rideau. Afterward, make the short drive over to the historic Port Elmsley Drive-In Theatre for a double feature. For a helpful tip, make sure to book your movie tickets online in advance, because this retro drive-in routinely sells out!

Cornwall, ON

Nestled right up against the sprawling St. Lawrence River, Cornwall offers a fantastic mix of active waterfront paths and trendy downtown dining.

• Drive Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
• Best For: Waterfront cycling, gourmet burgers, and sweet treats.
• Don’t Miss: Bring your bikes along and enjoy a scenic ride along the extensive St. Lawrence River Waterfront Trail. Afterward, head to Pitt Street downtown to explore the shops. You absolutely have to pop into The Happy Popcorn Co. for an incredible selection of retro candy and gourmet treats or Love and Lee that’s full of incredible clothes and jewellery.

Morrisburg, ON

This is the perfect spot to add onto Cornwall for some seasonal fun! Morrisburg is your gateway to living history, sitting right on the river and hosting one of Ontario’s most beloved open-air heritage attractions.

• Drive Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
• Best For: Living history museums and spectacular seasonal light festivals.
• Don’t Miss: Spend a summer day exploring Upper Canada Village to experience what Canadian life was like back in the 1860s, complete with costumed interpreters and historic trade shops. However, this is also a year-round destination: visit in the fall for Pumpkinferno to see thousands of glowing, hand-carved pumpkins, or in the winter for Alight at Night, when the historic village is illuminated by close to one million holiday lights.

Westport, ON

This cute village sits right on Upper Rideau Lake. It gives me major cottage country vibes and its the perfect mix of exploring and slowing down.

• Drive Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
• Best For: cottage vibes and easy exploring
• Don’t Miss: Spy Rock in Foley Mountain Conservation Area will give you an incredible panoramic view of the town. Walk around the village and pop into the shops and brewery. Make sure to grab pizza at Scherumann’s winery.

Pembroke, ON

Known as the Heart of the Ottawa Valley, Pembroke rewards day-trippers with vibrant public art, a beautiful marina, and a thriving local food scene.

• Drive Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
• Best For: Outdoor wall murals, local shopping, and drive-in movies.
• Don’t Miss: Take a self-guided walking tour downtown to check out the massive, beautiful heritage murals painted across the sides of the buildings, making sure to walk all the way down to the waterfront marina. I found some incredible local boutiques here, and had one of the literal best grilled cheese sandwiches of my life at a local cafe! Cap off your evening with a nostalgic double feature at the Skylight Drive-In Pembroke. You could also spend the whole day or a portion of it at Bonnechere Provincial Park

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1000 Islands & Boldt Castle

The 1000 Islands region is a stunning archipelago of lush islands scattered across the St. Lawrence River, loaded with maritime romance and wealthy Gilded Age history.

• Drive Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
• Best For: River cruises, panoramic lookouts, and historic castles.
• Don’t Miss: Hit the water by renting a kayak or booking a classic 1000 Islands boat cruise. For an unforgettable view of the whole region, head up to the top of the 1000 Islands Tower. If you bring your passport along, you can take a tour of the spectacular, tragic, and historic Boldt Castle located on Heart Island. There is so much to do here you could easily turn it into a full weekend staycation!

Chutes Coulonge, QC

This historic logging park tucked into the Pontiac region offers the ultimate mix of rugged white-water beauty and high-flying canyon adventure.

• Drive Time: 1 hour, 46 minutes
• Best For: Ziplining, Via Ferrata climbing, and historic waterfall walks.
• Don’t Miss: Adrenaline junkies can zipline directly across a roaring canyon or tackle the Via Ferrata, which is a thrilling rock-climbing experience using steel cables and anchor points built right into the canyon wall. If you want something more laid-back, their low-cost historical park is an absolute steal at around $6, allowing you to walk along the Coulonge River to various breathtaking waterfall lookouts, with access to a splash pad and low obstacle courses for kids.

Mont-Tremblant, QC

While Mont-Tremblant is globally famous as a premier winter ski destination, its pedestrian village and alpine peaks are equally magical in the summer and fall.

• Drive Time: 2 hours
• Best For: Alpine hiking, European-style villages, and autumn colors.
• Don’t Miss: While you can technically pull this off as an action-packed day trip from Ottawa, I highly recommend expanding it into a full weekend staycation. Explore the endless hiking trails inside the National Park, ride the panoramic gondola up to the summit for a bird’s-eye view of the Laurentians, and enjoy dinner inside the colorful, European-inspired pedestrian resort village.

Montreal, QC

Montreal is a cultural powerhouse where historic European old-world charm seamlessly blends with vibrant, modern North American energy.

• Drive Time: 2 hours
• Best For: World-class dining, festivals, and historic old-quarter charm.
• Don’t Miss: Because Montreal is absolutely packed with incredible neighbourhoods, world-renowned restaurants, and endless activities, it is another spot that is best experienced as a full weekend road trip. Wander through the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal, grab a world-famous smoked meat sandwich or fresh St-Viateur bagels, and hike up to the top of Mount Royal for a spectacular view of the downtown skyline.