9 very short road trips from Ottawa

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Sometimes, you’re just looking for a quick change of scene—a short scenic drive, an afternoon trip to a cute town, a brief stop at a pretty park. Well, you’re in luck, as you can enjoy any of these quick road trips from Ottawa in a couple of hours. A number of them are even within the Ottawa city limits. Save gas, save time and still enjoy a mini-getaway!

I’ve grouped them by distance from various areas of the city to make it even easier for you to pick one close to home. And if you don’t want to drive, don’t worry—some of these you can reach by bus, train or bike.

Quick day trips from Kanata/Stittsville

Distances measured from the Canadian Tire Centre.

Almonte

It always surprises me that the lovely village of Almonte (28.8km) is so close to Kanata. You can drive there in less time than it takes to watch the average sitcom episode.

That roughly 25-minute drive is well worth it. Spend an hour or two strolling the super-cute downtown, dropping into Mill Street Books for a novel to enjoy on your getaway or L.G. Lee and Sons for cool gifts and gadgets. There’s usually a fascinating exhibition at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum or the Mill of Kintail (around the latter, you can also explore six kilometres of trails). Here’s a detailed guide to fun in Almonte.

Carleton Place

Rather than driving to Carleton Place (29km), you can easily do the trip by bike, primarily along the Ottawa-Carleton Trailway section of the Trans-Canada Trail (see map below).

Whether you cycle or drive, you’ll find Carleton Place a very pleasant spot to while away the afternoon. Quench your thirst with a craft beer from Stalwart Brewing Company or Braumeister Brewing Company, or learn about the town’s connection to the Red Baron at the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum. Several restaurants, including the Waterfront Gastropub, have nice views of the Mississippi River. For more inspiration, see my tips for visiting Carleton Place.

Short jaunts from Barrhaven

Distances measured from the corner of Greenbank Road and Strandherd Drive.

Manotick

The pretty Rideau Canal community of Manotick (7.4 kilometres) is practically in Barrhaven’s backyard. You can cycle there from Barrhaven in about half an hour, but you’ll need to be careful, as the routes follow busy roads such as Greenbank Road and Mitch Owens Drive (see map below). If you’re driving, you can get there in about 10 minutes.

So what can you see and do in Manotick? Watson’s Mill, a fully operational 1860s landmark, is open from Victoria Day to Labour Day for free visits. You can also drop into nearby Dickinson House, the mill founder’s former home. A short walk from there will bring you to all sorts of charming shops and restaurants; I’m partial to the Black Dog Bistro for lunch and the Gingerbread Man for cookies and other treats. Find out more in my complete guide to Manotick.

Kemptville

From Barrhaven, you can reach the town of Kemptville (36.3 kilometres) quite easily.

Kemptville is a great destination for dog lovers, as the Ferguson Forest dog park offers lots of off-leash fun for Fido. There are even separate areas for large dogs and small pooches. The forest itself has over 22 kilometres of mixed-use trails, open to hikers, cyclists, horseback riders and leashed dogs; in winter, there are five kilometres of ski, snowshoe and fat bike trails. After all that outdoor fun, reward yourself with coffee and a treat from Bubba and Bugs Coffee Bar or Brewed Awakenings. For all the details, see my big guide to Kemptville and North Grenville and my one-hour walk in Kemptville.

Smiths Falls

No car? No problem. Hop aboad a VIA Rail train at the Fallowfield station and you’ll be in Smiths Falls (54.9km) in about half an hour. Depending on traffic, that can be quicker than driving!

Speaking of trains: One of my favourite places to visit in Smiths Falls is the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario, open from late spring to early fall. It’s about a 2km walk from the VIA Rail station, and it’s housed in a vintage train station packed with railway memorabilia (the restored locomotives and rolling stock are parked outside).

And speaking of walking: Smiths Falls in the starting point of the Cataraqui Trail, a rail-to-trail conversion you could follow for 104 kilometres all the way to Strathcona, Ontario, if you were so inclined.

Alternatively, you could order a picnic box from one of the shops that participate in the local PICNIC program and settle down at a table by the Rideau Canal to watch the boats go by. I have lots of other ideas for things you can see and do in Smiths Falls.

Afternoon road trips from Orleans

Distances measured from Place d’Orleans.

Cumberland

Like Manotick, Cumberland (12km) is a community within Ottawa’s boundaries that feels worlds away. Step back in time at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, with its collection of 1920s and 1930s buildings. Contemplate the meaning of life while hiking past spiritually themed sculptures at the Humanics Sanctuary and Sculpture Park. And treat yourself to a scone from popular Black Walnut Bakery. See my post about Cumberland for tips on all three spots.

Navan

Did you know there are two wineries in Navan (12.5km)? Well, now you do. (They’re called Domaine Perrault and Vignoble Clos du Vully, in case you were wondering.) Also in Navan, Bearbrook Game Meats is a wonderful place to buy locally raised meats and other products; try the summer sausage.

Range a bit beyond Navan and you can discover a village that was once a Victorian spa, hit a popular hamburger/poutine stand and shop for mid-century modern furniture. If you do have time to make a day of it, you could also explore the boardwalks and trails of Mer Bleue, an ancient peat bog with its own microclimate. This post about day tripping in Ottawa’s rural southeast has the details on all of these spots.

Fun side trips from downtown Ottawa

Distances measured from Parliament Hill.

Pine Grove

Just about anywhere in the Greenbelt is a possible trip from downtown, but I’m mentioning Pine Grove (17.2km) in particular because I think it’s a bit further off most people’s radar than popular places such as Stoney Swamp. Plus, you can get there on OC Transpo! (That won’t be a quick trip, but it is doable; take the bus to Conroy Road/Park Lane. Trail 44 crosses Conroy Road just south of the bus stop.) If you drive, parking is free in all of Pine Grove’s parking lots.

The forest is largely flat, making it a good choice for novice hikers. It’s the biggest forest in the entire Greenbelt, so you can hike for hours. Leashed dogs are welcome, and the nearby Conroy Pit is a well-known off-leash dog park. (P.S.: Looking for other in-town hiking ideas? Check this post.)

Ottawa River adventures

It’s surprising what you can get up to within sight of the Peace Tower. You can fly between Ontario and Quebec on the Interzip Rogers zip line, high above the Ottawa River; it’s just 2km from Parliament Hill. Nearby, you can go whitewater rafting or “turbo tubing” with Ottawa City Rafting. It’s easy to get to either on foot, by bike or by bus from downtown. Who says you have to leave the city to have an adventure?

Looking for more tips on things to see and do in Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais, northern New York state and beyond? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide.

As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.