Toronto to Ottawa Road Trip: The Best Stops Along the Way
Overview
Toronto to Ottawa is one of Ontario’s most rewarding road trips — a 450-kilometre journey through the province’s historical heartland, with enough detours, scenic stops, and overnight options to turn a straightforward 4.5-hour highway drive into a two-day exploration. The fast route (Highway 401, the Macdonald-Cartier Freeway) is efficient but unremarkable. The interesting routes — through Prince Edward County, along the St Lawrence shore, and through the Thousand Islands — reveal an Ontario that most visitors miss.
This guide covers two main route options and the best stops on each, with a suggested two-day pacing that allows you to arrive in Ottawa with time to spare.
| Route option | Distance | Drive time | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highway 401 direct | 450 km | 4.5 hours | Fast, utilitarian |
| Via Prince Edward County + Kingston | 530 km | 6+ hours + stops | Scenic, wine country, islands |
The second option is decisively better for anyone with two days.
At a glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Distance (scenic route) | ~530 km |
| Driving time | 2 days at a comfortable pace |
| Best season | May–October; October for fall colour |
| Car required | Yes — this is a driving itinerary |
| Start/end | Toronto Pearson or downtown Toronto / Ottawa |
Route: Day 1 — Toronto to Kingston via Prince Edward County
Leaving Toronto
Leave Toronto before 9:00am to beat the highway 401 commuter traffic east of the city. Take Highway 401 east to the 115/35 junction near Oshawa, then follow Highway 35 south toward Lindsay and Peterborough — or stay on the 401 to Belleville and turn south for Prince Edward County.
Stop 1: Peterborough and the Lift Lock (optional)
If you are taking the northern scenic approach (Highway 7 through Peterborough), the Trent-Severn Waterway passes through the city — the Peterborough Lift Lock is the highest hydraulic boat lift in the world, raising boats 20 metres in a giant water counterbalance system. Free to view from the observation deck; Parks Canada interpretive centre explains the waterway history. Worth 45 minutes if you are passing through Peterborough.
Stop 2: Prince Edward County
Turn south from Belleville to Prince Edward County — a limestone peninsula of farmland, vineyards, and lakeside villages that has emerged as Ontario’s most interesting rural destination.
Wellington is the best base — a compact main street with good coffee shops, the Drake Devonshire hotel (excellent restaurant, worth a meal even if you are not staying), and a waterfront park overlooking West Lake. Spend two hours here.
Sandbanks Provincial Park (15 minutes south of Wellington): The province’s most dramatic freshwater beach — massive sand dunes and shallow, warm Lake Ontario water. Even a brief stop to walk the dune crests is worth the detour.
Wineries: Prince Edward County has over 40 wineries. For a focused tasting stop, By Chadsey’s Cairns (oldest licensed winery in the county, excellent limestone cellar) or Keint-he Winery and Vineyards near Wellington are both good for a 45-minute tasting visit. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the county’s strong suits; the natural wine producers (Trail Estate, Closson Chase) are generating the most interest currently.
Leave Prince Edward County via County Road 33 east to the Glenora Ferry — a free car ferry across the Bay of Quinte to Picton Reach. The five-minute crossing is one of the most pleasant transport experiences in Ontario, the ferry running continuously during daylight hours.
Stop 3: Kingston
Drive east from the county ferry to Kingston — 50 kilometres, about 45 minutes.
Kingston is Ontario’s most historically concentrated small city. Walk the downtown waterfront on Ontario Street, visit the Kingston Public Market (open Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday mornings), and spend time at City Hall — an 1843 building in the Italian-Renaissance style that anchors the market square. The Penitentiary Museum adjacent to Kingston Penitentiary (closed in 2013, now offering tours) is one of the more unusual museum experiences in Ontario.
For dinner: Chez Piggy on Princess Street is a Kingston institution — a converted 19th-century livery stable with courtyard dining, serving eclectic Canadian cuisine since 1979. Pan Chancho Bakery around the corner does outstanding bread, pastries, and sandwiches if you want something lighter.
Overnight in Kingston — many good boutique hotels and B&Bs in the downtown historic district. The Rosemount Inn and the Victoria Inn on the Park are both well-regarded.
Route: Day 2 — Kingston to Ottawa via Gananoque and the Thousand Islands
Stop 4: Gananoque and the Thousand Islands
Drive east from Kingston on Highway 401 for 30 kilometres to Gananoque — the departure point for the definitive Thousand Islands boat tour experience.
The Thousand Islands are 1,800-plus islands straddling the US-Canada border in the St Lawrence River. The islands range from rocky outcrops barely large enough to hold a tree to large islands with their own historic communities. The American and Canadian shorelines are lined with 19th and early 20th-century summer estates — the most famous being Boldt Castle on Heart Island, built by the proprietor of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel for his wife and left unfinished after her death in 1904.
1000 Islands Cruise Line in Gananoque offers tours of one, two, and three hours. The two-hour tour is the ideal length — it covers the main island groups, passes Boldt Castle (docking at the US island requires crossing into American territory and a passport), and provides the best sense of the archipelago’s extraordinary landscape. Book in advance in summer; the tours run multiple times daily May through October.
Book a Thousand Islands boat cruise from GananoqueAfter the cruise: The town of Gananoque itself is pleasant — the Stone Street Heritage area has well-preserved 19th-century commercial buildings, and the Gananoque Inn on the waterfront is a good lunch spot.
Stop 5: Brockville
Continue east on the 401 to Brockville — one of the St Lawrence River’s most historically significant towns and the site of the first railway tunnel in Canada (1860, now repurposed as a pedestrian tunnel with light and sound installations). Walk the tunnel (free, open seasonally), then spend time on the Clock Tower Waterfront with views over the St Lawrence.
Brockville Museum covers the town’s remarkably complete historical record — worth 45 minutes for those interested in loyalist settlement and early Canadian history.
Detour: Highway 2 along the St Lawrence
Between Brockville and the Ottawa turn-off, consider taking Highway 2 (the old King’s Highway) along the St Lawrence shoreline rather than the 401. This heritage route passes through small loyalist towns — Prescott, Ogdensburg ferry terminal, Cardinal — with direct views over the river and the US shore. Slower but markedly more scenic than the 401.
Prescott: Fort Wellington National Historic Site preserves a War of 1812 British garrison above the river. The site includes original blockhouses and an excellent interpretive centre on the border skirmishes of 1812–1814. Worth 60 minutes.
Stop 6: Arrive Ottawa
From Brockville/Prescott, Highway 416 north connects directly to the National Capital Region — approximately 90 minutes to downtown Ottawa. Arrive in time for a walk along the Rideau Canal before dinner.
Evening in Ottawa: The Byward Market neighbourhood east of Parliament Hill has the best concentration of restaurants and evening atmosphere. For dinner, the Whalesbone Oyster House on Bank Street is excellent for local fish and shellfish; The Courtyard in the market district is a reliable broader option. The Beckta on Elgin Street is Ottawa’s most ambitious fine-dining restaurant if you want to celebrate a successful road trip.
Book an Ottawa evening highlights tour and Parliament Hill visitDay-by-day summary
Day 1 (Toronto → Kingston, ~4 hours driving + stops)
- Leave Toronto early, Highway 401 east
- Detour south to Prince Edward County (Wellington, Sandbanks, winery)
- Glenora Ferry across Bay of Quinte
- Arrive Kingston by late afternoon
- Dinner at Chez Piggy or Pan Chancho
- Overnight Kingston
Day 2 (Kingston → Ottawa, ~3 hours driving + stops)
- Morning in Kingston (waterfront walk, market)
- Drive to Gananoque for 1000 Islands cruise (2 hours)
- Continue east on 401 or scenic Highway 2
- Optional stop: Brockville tunnel and waterfront
- Optional stop: Fort Wellington in Prescott
- Highway 416 north to Ottawa
- Arrive Ottawa by late afternoon
Budget
Per person, two sharing, in Canadian dollars:
| Category | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (2 nights) | CAD 350–700 |
| Food and drink | CAD 200–350 |
| Car rental + fuel | CAD 250–400 |
| Boat cruise (1000 Islands) | CAD 35–50/person |
| Other activities and entry fees | CAD 50–100 |
| Total per person | ~CAD 885–1,600 |
Budget notes: Prince Edward County accommodation varies widely — the Drake Devonshire is excellent but mid-range boutique pricing; Kingston has B&Bs from CAD 120/night and hotels from CAD 160. Glenora Ferry is free. Sandbanks Provincial Park day-use is approximately CAD 22/vehicle.
Practical tips
Timing: Leave Toronto before 9:00am. The 401 east of the city can be congested during morning rush hour (7:00–9:30am); getting ahead of it saves 30–45 minutes. Weekend days tend to be cleaner than Friday afternoons.
Glenora Ferry: The free car ferry runs continuously from approximately 7:00am to 10:00pm daily. In summer, peak queues can be 20–40 minutes. If time is tight, bypass Prince Edward County and take the 401 directly to Kingston.
1000 Islands booking: The two-hour cruise is the best use of time. Book online in advance for July–August, when boats are often fully booked on short notice. May, June, and September have more availability.
Prince Edward County timing: The county is most beautiful in June (blossom season), late August–September (harvest), and October (fall colour). July and August are peak tourist months; accommodation requires advance booking.
Alternative return route (Ottawa back to Toronto): For the return trip, Highway 7 through the Madawaska Valley (Carleton Place, Perth, Sharbot Lake, Madoc) is Ontario’s most scenic route connecting Ottawa to the 401 — passing through the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve and the granite lakes of the Canadian Shield transition zone. Add 45 minutes to the total driving time but the scenery is significantly better than the 401 all the way.
Variations
Extend to 3 days: Add a night in Prince Edward County (Drake Devonshire) for a full day exploring the county’s wineries and beaches before continuing to Kingston. This is the most relaxed and enjoyable version of the trip.
Reverse direction (Ottawa to Toronto): The itinerary works equally well in reverse. Fly into Ottawa, drive west to Toronto for your return flight. The same stops apply.
Add Algonquin: From Ottawa, detour northwest on Highway 17 and 60 to Algonquin Provincial Park for one or two nights before returning to Toronto via Highway 60 and 400. This adds the wilderness dimension. See the Ontario 10-day itinerary for the full extended version.
Fly into Ottawa, drive to Toronto: For visitors arriving from Europe or Asia who have direct flights into Ottawa (Pearson to Toronto is a domestic connection), driving the route westward makes natural sense — same highlights, opposite order.
Related guides
- Toronto to Ottawa road trip — this page
- Ontario 7-day itinerary — extending to a week including Niagara Falls
- Ontario 10-day itinerary — the full southern and eastern Ontario loop
- GO Transit tourist guide — train-based alternatives for the Toronto–Kingston–Ottawa corridor
- Toronto vs Ottawa — comparing the two cities if you are choosing between them
Frequently asked questions about Toronto to Ottawa Road Trip: The Best Stops Along the Way
How long is the drive from Toronto to Ottawa?
The direct highway route (Highway 401 to 416) is approximately 450 kilometres and takes 4.5–5 hours without stops. Via the scenic route through Prince Edward County and along the St Lawrence, add 1–2 hours of driving plus stop time.
Is there a train from Toronto to Ottawa?
Yes — VIA Rail connects Toronto (Union Station) to Ottawa (Ottawa Station) in approximately 4.5 hours. The train is comfortable and efficient for those without a car. A car trip makes sense if you want to explore the stops along the way; the train is better for a straight city-to-city transfer. The GO Transit tourist guide covers Ontario’s rail options in detail.
What is the best stop between Toronto and Ottawa?
Kingston is the single best stop — historically rich, walkable, with excellent restaurants, and the gateway to the Thousand Islands. If you only have one overnight, Kingston is the answer. Prince Edward County is the best detour if you have a full extra day.
Is Highway 7 worth taking instead of the 401?
Highway 7 through the Madawaska Valley is beautiful in fall and provides a genuine sense of eastern Ontario’s Canadian Shield landscape, but it adds time and the individual communities along the way are small. It works better as a return route (Ottawa to Toronto) than as the outbound route when you want to make specific stops (Prince Edward County, Kingston) that are better accessed from the 401. Consider Highway 7 westbound as a different experience on the way back.