25 great Eastern Ontario road trips from Ottawa

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Looking for a scenic drive, a pretty town or a great hiking trail near Ottawa? Maybe you have a free afternoon or a weekend to fill—but you’re not sure where to start? Here are 25 great ideas.

Six fun day hikes in and around Ottawa

Itching to stretch your legs? Here are six destinations to consider, all within a 90-minute drive of Ottawa. Many sites have installed directional signs on their trails, so make sure to obey those. Also, if you do encounter people walking toward you, move over to give them two metres of room to pass. (If all else fails, turn your back as they go by. I know, it feels rude, but it’s the right thing to do!)

Mer Bleue, Ottawa

The 1.2-kilometre boardwalk through a peat bog with a subarctic microclimate is the star attraction here; look for plants usually found much further north. Once you’ve checked out the boardwalk, leave time to explore more than 20 kilometres of easy, largely flat trails through forests along the ridge surrounding the bog. See the National Capital Commission website for more info.

Larose Forest, Limoges

Just north of Limoges, this large managed forest features 180 kilometres of trails, open to (depending on the trail) hikers, mountain bikers, ATVs, motorcycles and horseback riders. Check the Prescott-Russell website for maps and trail details.

Ferguson Forest Centre, Kemptville

Right on the edge of downtown Kemptville, this leafy 445-hectare preserve seems miles from anywhere once you’re inside it. You’ll find walking trails, cycling trails and a dog park. The Friends of the Ferguson Forest website has details.

Gillies Grove, Arnprior

For some reason, I love the name of this nature reserve right in downtown Arnprior; it sounds like something out of a Victorian novel. The Town of Arnprior website has a map of this gentle 2.7-kilometre hiking route.

Shaw Woods, Eganville

Actually, the Shaw Woods Outdoor Education Centre isn’t right in Eganville; it’s located partway between Eganville and Pembroke. The 210-hectare woods includes a 50-hectare swath of old-growth forest (as well as 160 hectares of mixed forests and wetlands), and you can explore a 14-kilometre trail network. Note that the washrooms are currently closed; check out the centre’s website for the latest information.

Foley Mountain Conservation Area, Westport, Ontario

Situated on a granite ridge overlooking the pretty village of Westport and the Rideau Lakes, this conservation area has 10 kilometres of hiking trails, many offering gorgeous views. After your hike, you could swing by the Westport Brewing Company for takeout pizza and beer.

Eight lovely towns and villages near Ottawa

OK, the subhead is a bit misleading—a few of these communities are actually within the city limits! And all of them are easy road trips from Ottawa.

Manotick, Ontario: Watson’s Mill and the Rideau River

Here’s one pretty village that’s actually part of the city of Ottawa. If you live in Riverside South or Barrhaven, you’re practically in Manotick already! Watson’s Mill—one of the oldest operating grist mills in Canada—is worth checking out when it reopens for the season. You can get takeout from many Manotick restaurants, and settle down for a picnic—bring a blanket, or check this list of nearby parks to find a picnic table. For more ideas, see my ultimate day trip guide to Manotick.

Carp, Ontario: Shopping and donuts

If you live in Kanata or Stittsville, Carp—also part of the city of Ottawa—is right in your backyard. This November 2019 post features lots of local restaurants and galleries (as well as some Christmassy tips that are obviously not relevant at the minute). Check directly with the businesses mentioned for current hours and restrictions.

Vankleek Hill, Ontario: Beer and gingerbread

The gingerbread is architectural (check out the trim on the house in the photo), but the beer at Beau’s Brewing Company is indeed what you think of as beer—and you can pick it up curbside at the Vankleek Hill brewery. This charming town in Prescott-Russell is a great place for a stroll. Outside of town, you can check out strikingly painted Popsilos. For the latest information on what is open and closed, the local newspaper (The Review) is a good source. And here’s my post about day tripping to Vankleek Hill.

Merrickville, Ontario: More shopping, plus the Rideau Canal

You know, sometimes I feel as though I’m always recommending Merrickville. Then again, it’s always worth recommending! The limestone buildings with their blooming flower boxes are photogenic, and it’s really soothing to watch the world go by on the Rideau Canal. The local chamber of commerce has information on Merrickville businesses. For extra inspiration, see my post, 10 things you didn’t know about Merrickville.

Almonte, Ontario: History and river views

This small Lanark County town began as a mill village, and repurposed mills still dot the downtown; you can spot several of them as you stroll along the Riverwalk, beside the Mississippi River. If ancient geology is more your thing, head to the Metcalfe Geoheritage Park to learn about the period—some 450 million years ago—when this region lay beneath a shallow sea. Just outside town, the Mill of Kintail Conservation Area offers hiking trails (although the museum and washrooms are closed). Takeout food options in Almonte include the Heirloom Cafe & Bistro and Baker Bob’s; the town’s website provides links to many local shops and restaurants, so you can check their current opening hours. And if you don’t know how the town got its name, check out 10 things you didn’t know about Almonte.

Carleton Place, Ontario: The Red Baron and a labyrinth

Not far from Almonte and also in Lanark County, Carleton Place is another pretty Mississippi River town. Contemplative types should head to the meditative labyrinth behind the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum. History buffs can check out the mural of Roy Brown, the local lad who many believe shot down the Red Baron during the First World War. Restaurants offering takeout include The Good Food Company and the Smith & Barrel Pub at the Grand Hotel. See the local chamber of commerce website for links to local businesses. And, yes, I do have a post on 10 things you didn’t know about Carleton Place.

Perth, Ontario: A restful park and an historic duel

Completing my Lanark County trifecta in this post, I’ll recommend a visit to the town of Perth. It’s on the Tay River, rather than the Mississippi, and one of the best places to enjoy the river is from serene Stewart Park. Sitting there, it’s hard to believe this quiet town was the site of Canada’s last fatal duel. You can learn more about that in my 2019 post about day tripping to Perth. And if you’re nostalgic for movies on a big screen, the drive-in theatre in Port Elmsley is just a 10-minute drive from Perth.

Brockville, Ontario: Grand mansions and a riverside trail

Bring your bike: This city on the St. Lawrence River is one of the stops on the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, a 3,000-kilometre recreational route that traverses a good chunk of Southern Ontario. If you prefer to see the sights from your car rather than a bike, drive to the eastern end of King Street on the edge of the city, where you’ll can admire all sorts of Victorian mansions from the road. One of them, Fulford Place, was built by a man who made his fortune in patent medicines; you can find out more in 10 things you didn’t know about Brockville. (Are you sensing a theme here?) The Downtown Brockville BIA has the latest info on businesses there.

Two road trips from Ottawa for boaters and paddlers

In The Wind in the Willows, author Kenneth Grahame wrote, “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing—absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” If you agree, here are two Eastern Ontario boating and paddling destinations you can check out right now.

The Rideau Canal

You can’t talk about boating in Eastern Ontario without highlighting the Rideau Canal. The 202-kilometres UNESCO World Heritage Site stretches from Kingston to Ottawa through all sorts of pretty places (including the aforementioned Merrickville and Manotick). You can put a canoe or kayak in the water in countless places; Parks Canada has lots of information for paddlers, including maps.

If you want to rent anything from a paddleboard to a yacht, the Rideau-Info website has a comprehensive list of rental companies along the entire length of the canal.

Check the latest rules and restrictions from Parks Canada before heading out. Note that reservations for campgrounds and oTENTiks (semi-permanent floored tents) at lockstations will open at 8am on April 21, 2021.

Thousand Islands National Park

The park, among Canada’s smallest national parks, stretches along the river shore and across numerous islands, between Jones Creek and Gananoque. It’s a wonderful spot for canoeing and kayaking, as well as hiking along networks of trails; the 7-kilometre trail network at Landon Bay is particularly popular with birders. If you don’t have a kayak, you can rent one from 1000 Islands Kayaking in Gananoque. If you’re interested in camping, reservations for 2021 open on April 20. As I update this on March 28, 2021, the park is still closed for the season; check the Parks Canada website for the current information on what is open and closed in the park.

To learn more about the region, check out my post, 10 things you didn’t know about the 1000 Islands.

Backcountry camping near Ottawa

When it comes to social distancing, you can’t get much more distant than a tent, right? That must be what the Ontario government has been thinking, as it has been slowly but steadily easing the restrictions on various types of camping. If you can’t wait to wake up to the smell of bacon sizzling in a cast-iron pan over a campfire, consider these Eastern Ontario camping spots. (P.S.: Don’t forget to bring along an early riser who likes to cook!)

Backcountry camping in Ontario provincial parks

In summer 2020, the Ontario government allowed backcountry camping in many provincial parks. Those within easy reach of Ottawa include Frontenac Provincial Park, Bon Echo Provincial Park and Algonquin Provincial Park. Reservations are strongly recommended. The Ontario Parks website provides more details on backcountry camping at its parks during COVID-19. You can reserve now and media reports say all camping spots are filling up very quickly this year.

Backcountry campsites in Foresters Falls

Whitewater rafting company RiverRun also offers campsites along the Ottawa River that are great for paddlers. Maximum five people per campsite. Reservations required.

Two scenic drives in Eastern Ontario

In the mood for a scenic road trip from Ottawa? You’re in luck, as Eastern Ontario is full of beautiful landscapes and fascinating history to discover. Here are two suggested sightseeing drives near Ottawa.

Follow a Group of Seven painter through the Ottawa Valley

Group of Seven member A.Y. Jackson travelled extensively in Eastern Ontario to paint wilderness scenes in and around Algonquin Park, Killaloe, Calabogie and other spots. The Ottawa Valley Tourist Association and a group of local art enthusiasts researched his travels a few years ago and created a website with a map, historical details, and photos of Jackson’s paintings juxtaposed with photos of the same sites today.

Drive the 1000 Islands Parkway near Gananoque

This route was built in the 1930s as part of the main road between Toronto and Montreal. When a section of Highway 401 to the north was completed in 1968, the 1000 Islands Parkway became a popular scenic drive. It takes you past some of the same destinations I mentioned in the section about Thousand Islands National Park, but this time you’ll see them from the air rather than the water. Here’s a great post by Mike Hector about things you can see (and eat!) along the parkway, which runs along the St. Lawrence River between Gananoque and Butternut Bay (west of Brockville). Check with businesses mentioned for the latest information on their current hours.

Three Eastern Ontario cycling routes near Ottawa

June often offers ideal weather for a day-long bike ride. Here are a few suggested bike routes through the countryside.

• Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail: This 72-kilometre trail, which runs past farmers’ fields and through small communities, is a rail-to-trail conversion. It stretches from Hammond to St. Eugene, east of Ottawa.
• Eganville to Douglas: This 32-kilometre semi-loop connects two communities in the Bonnechere Valley, with lots of river views and picnic spots along the way. Note that one of the usual stops on this route, Bonnechere Caves, is currently closed.
• Lanark County: The county promotes itself as a prime cycling destination and has created an extensive list of over two dozen cycling routes through Almonte, Carleton Place, Perth, Balderson, Lanark Village, Maberly, McDonald’s Corners and more—with maps.

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