Getting to Ottawa

Located close to the southeast coast of Canada, Ottawa can be reached via a number of different means of transport. While most international visitors arrive via Ottawa International Airport, a good many US visitors choose to reach the city across land and for this option, they can choose between buses, trains or self-drive in a private vehicle.

By car

It’s perfectly viable to drive from destinations in the USA to Ottawa, and from other Canadian cities. If travelling from New York, take I-81 to Route 401 east on the Canadian side of the border, followed by Route 416 north. Drivers coming from Montreal should take Route 17 until joining with Route 417, while if coming from the west, the best route is via Toronto, following Route 401 east to Route 416 north.

By rail

Trains operated by VIA Rail (tel: +1 613 244 8289) connect various major Canadian cities with Ottawa Station, which is located in the southeastern region of the city. America’s AMTRAK rail services also connect with the VIA Rail network.

By bus

Greyhound Canada operates services to Ottawa from all major Canadian cities, with buses running regularly throughout the week. Greyhound America also provides services from a variety of cities, with connecting services on the Canadian side of the border.

By air

Ottawa International Airport is the chief air gateway into Canada’s capital city and is a reasonably busy facility, serving over three million passengers per year. The airport is a 20-minute drive south of the city and is well-served by a variety of ground transportation options.

Holidaymakers and business travellers arriving at or departing from the airport will find Ottawa International Airport a modern facility with no shortage of passenger services and amenities.

Ottawa International Airport

Serving over three million passengers each year, Ottawa International Airport is rated as second in the world in terms of customer satisfaction and as such, is a highly efficient facility, operating to the highest standards in all aspects of its operation.

The airport runs a single passenger terminal that provides services to a small number of North American carriers, which between them operate flights between the city, the US and a number of international destinations. The terminal offers an excellent selection of passenger services and amenities, with all the essentials covered.

There are several ATMs on hand as well as bureau de change counters located on two levels of the facility. For refreshments and dining, a good selection of bars, cafés and restaurants are available including Tim Horton's, Second Cup News Café and Nate's Rideau Bar & Grill. For shopping, there are duty-free shops beyond security plus a number of other outlets including a bookshop, sports store, newsagent, record store and boutique.

Ottawa airport transportation

A hotel shuttle service provides connections between the airport and major downtown hotels such as Novotel, Radisson and Sheraton. Shuttles operate every 30 minutes between 05:00 and 00:05. Meanwhile, buses operated by OC Transpo provide connections between the airport and downtown Ottawa; passengers can pick up Route 97 from bus stop 14, situated outside the level 1 Arrivals area. Taxis are also available from outside of the airport on arrival or by prior booking (tel: +1 613 523 1234).