Quebec City is four and a half hours east of Ottawa, and by Saturday afternoon you can be walking the walls of the old town under the Château Frontenac. The 14 weekend getaways here run from Mont-Tremblant, 1h 45m north, to Niagara Falls and Baie-Saint-Paul at 5h 30m. They are cities, the Laurentians and the Adirondacks, the lakes of Ontario and the Eastern Townships of Quebec.
Go to Mont-Tremblant for snow in February, Prince Edward County and the Townships in September, and the cities any time. For a single day out instead, the day trips from Ottawa cover Wakefield, Merrickville, Parc Omega and the Thousand Islands without a hotel.
All costs are in Canadian dollars for two people: fuel there and back, two nights in a comfortable hotel, food and activities. Drive times are one-way from downtown Ottawa in typical traffic.
The short list
| Destination | Best for | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mont-Tremblant | ~1h 45m153 km | Nature | C$1,400–C$2,000 | February |
| Kingston | ~1h 55m196 km | History | C$1,400–C$2,000 | June |
| Barry's Bay | ~2h 5m188 km | Hidden gems (offbeat) | C$1,400–C$2,000 | September |
| Montreal | ~2h 10m199 km | Culture | C$1,400–C$2,000 | July |
| Prince Edward County | ~2h 40m274 km | Nature | C$1,400–C$2,000 | September |
| Lake Placid | ~2h 55m231 km | Nature | C$1,400–C$2,000 | August |
| Lac-Brome | ~3h 5m299 km | Nature | C$1,400–C$2,000 | September |
| Magog | ~3h 15m330 km | Nature | C$1,400–C$2,000 | June |
| Sherbrooke | ~3h 35m350 km | History | C$1,400–C$2,000 | September |
| Toronto | ~4h 30m454 km | Modern | C$1,600–C$2,000 | September |
| Quebec City | ~4h 35m454 km | History | C$1,600–C$2,000 | January |
| Beaupre | ~4h 55m494 km | Nature | C$1,600–C$2,000 | October |
| Niagara Falls | ~5h 30m532 km | Nature | C$1,600–C$2,000 | June |
| Baie-Saint-Paul | ~5h 30m549 km | Nature | C$1,600–C$2,100 | July |
Under three and a half hours, two nights is plenty. Past four hours, take three nights; VIA Rail also runs from Ottawa to Montreal, Kingston and Toronto, and on to Quebec City through Montreal.
Best for a city weekend
Quebec City
Quebec City is the walled old town on the cliff above the St. Lawrence. Walk the ramparts and Petit-Champlain, tour the Citadelle, and drive 15 minutes out to Montmorency Falls. The Winter Carnival runs in February.
Don't miss
- Citadelle of Quebec
- Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac
- Parc de la Chute-Montmorency
- Musée national des beaux-arts du Quebec
Iconic eats: Soupe aux Pois
Quebec City
≈ CAD 1,600–CAD 2,000
4h 35m drive · Best in January
Walk the walls and cobbled lanes of the old town under the Château Frontenac, tour the Citadelle, and drive out to Montmorency Falls.
Top sights
Montmorency Falls
Plains of Abraham
Quartier Petit Champlain
Aquarium du Quebec
Musee de la civilisation
Montreal
Montreal is two hours east. Walk Old Montreal to the Notre-Dame Basilica, climb Mount Royal to the Kondiaronk lookout, and eat a bagel from a wood-fired oven. VIA Rail makes it in about two hours too.
Don't miss
- Basilique-Notre-Dame de Montreal
- Parc du Mont-Royal
- Musee des Beaux-Arts de Montreal
Iconic eats: Montreal Bagel
Montreal
≈ CAD 1,400–CAD 2,000
2h 10m drive · Best in July
The Kondiaronk Belvedere offers a panoramic view of the skyline and Saint Lawrence River.
Top sights
Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal
Mount Royal Park
Parc du Mont-Royal
Jean-Talon Market
Place des Arts
Kingston
Kingston is a limestone city on Lake Ontario. See the sunset ceremony at Fort Henry in summer, take a Thousand Islands cruise, and walk the market and Queen's University.
Don't miss
- Fort Henry National Historic Site
- 1000 Islands Cruises
- Kingston Public Market
- Agnes Etherington Art Centre
Kingston
≈ CAD 1,400–CAD 2,000
1h 55m drive · Best in June
A limestone city on Lake Ontario where Fort Henry's sunset ceremony, the Thousand Islands cruises and Queen's University's old streets meet.
Top sights
Agnes Etherington Art Centre
Fort Henry National Historic Site
Kingston City Hall
Toronto
Toronto is four and a half hours west. Go up the CN Tower, walk the Distillery District and Kensington Market, and take the ferry to the Toronto Islands.
Don't miss
- CN Tower
- Distillery District
- Toronto Islands
- Kensington Market
Iconic eats: Toronto Street Meat Hot Dog
Toronto
≈ CAD 1,600–CAD 2,000
4h 30m drive · Best in September
The CN Tower provides a view from its observation deck high above the lakefront.
Top sights
CN Tower
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Royal Ontario Museum
St. Lawrence Market
High Park
Best for the Laurentians and the Adirondacks
Mont-Tremblant
Mont-Tremblant is the ski resort of the Laurentians, with a pedestrian village at the base. Ski in winter, hike the national park in summer, and soak at the Scandinave spa.
Don't miss
- Mont-Tremblant Resort
- Parc National du Mont-Tremblant
- Place Saint-Bernard
- Scandinave Spa Mont-Tremblant
Iconic eats: Steamie
Mont-Tremblant
≈ CAD 1,400–CAD 2,000
1h 45m drive · Best in February
The pedestrian village at the mountain base bustles with cafes and winter lights.
Top sights
Lac Tremblant
Mont Tremblant Resort
Lake Placid
Lake Placid hosted the Winter Olympics twice. See the ski jumps at the Olympic Jumping Complex, paddle Mirror Lake and hike Mount Jo. It is in New York State, so bring a passport.
Don't miss
- Olympic Jumping Complex
- Mount Jo
- John Brown Farm State Historic Site
- Mirror Lake
Lake Placid
≈ CAD 1,400–CAD 2,000
2h 55m drive · Best in August
Mirror Lake reflects the high peaks of the Adirondacks while providing calm waters for paddling.
Top sights
Mount Jo
Olympic Center
Olympic Jumping Complex
John Brown Farm State Historic Site
Beaupre
Beaupré is past Quebec City on the north shore. See the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, cross the suspension bridges at Canyon Sainte-Anne, and ski Mont-Sainte-Anne in winter.
Don't miss
- Basilique Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre
- Station Mont-Sainte-Anne
Beaupre
≈ CAD 1,600–CAD 2,000
4h 55m drive · Best in October
Canyon Sainte-Anne features a deep gorge spanned by a high suspension bridge.
Top sights
Mont Sainte-Anne - Velo de montagne
Baie-Saint-Paul
Baie-Saint-Paul is an artists' town in the Charlevoix hills above the St. Lawrence. Walk the galleries on Rue Saint-Jean-Baptiste and hike in Grands-Jardins national park. At 5h 30m, take three nights.
Don't miss
- Centre d'exposition de Baie-Saint-Paul
- Parc national des Grands-Jardins
- Rue Saint-Jean-Baptiste
Iconic eats: Sucre a la creme
Baie-Saint-Paul
≈ CAD 1,600–CAD 2,100
5h 30m drive · Best in July
An artists' town in the Charlevoix hills above the St. Lawrence, with galleries on Rue Saint-Jean-Baptiste and the trails of Grands-Jardins national park.
Top sights
Centre d'exposition de Baie-Saint-Paul
Eglise de Baie-Saint-Paul
Espace Museal et patrimonial des Petites Franciscaines de Marie
Moulin de la Remy
Best for lakes and wine country
Prince Edward County
Prince Edward County is an island of wineries, farms and beaches on Lake Ontario. Taste around Picton and Hillier, and walk the dunes at Sandbanks Provincial Park.
Don't miss
- Sandbanks Provincial Park
- Norman Hardie Winery and Vineyard
- Picton Main Street
- Point Petre Wildlife Area
Iconic eats: Apple Galette, Cheddar Cheese, Lake Ontario Whitefish
Prince Edward County
≈ CAD 1,400–CAD 2,000
2h 40m drive · Best in September
Sandbanks Provincial Park features vast dunes against clear turquoise lake water.
Top sights
Sandbanks Provincial Park
Ameliasburgh Museum
Lake on the Mountain Provincial Park
Little Bluff
The Regent Theatre
Barry's Bay
The offbeat pick. Barry's Bay sits on Kamaniskeg Lake in the Madawaska Valley. Nearby Wilno is known as the first Polish settlement in Canada.
Don't miss
- Railway Station Museum
- Upper Madawaska River Provincial Park
Iconic eats: Pickerel
Barry's Bay
≈ CAD 1,400–CAD 2,000
2h 5m drive · Best in September
Settle on Kamaniskeg Lake in the Madawaska Valley and visit nearby Wilno, the country's first Polish settlement.
Top sights
Opeongo River Provincial Park
Railway Station Museum & Water Tower Park
Best for the Eastern Townships
Magog
Magog is at the top of Lake Memphremagog. Take a lake cruise and hike or ski Mont-Orford in the national park next door.
Don't miss
- Parc national du Mont-Orford
- Croisieres Escapades Memphremagog
- Vieux Clocher de Magog
Magog
≈ CAD 1,400–CAD 2,000
3h 15m drive · Best in June
Lake Memphremagog offers cruises that reveal the surrounding mountain slopes.
Top sights
Parc national du Mont-Orford
Vieux Clocher de Magog
Lac-Brome
Lac-Brome is a Townships village on Brome Lake, known for its ducks. Walk the old lakeside streets and the Brome County museum, and cycle the paths.
Don't miss
- Lac Brome Museum
- Lac Brome
- Ligne de chemin de fer de la Yamaska
Iconic eats: Soupe aux Pois
Lac-Brome
≈ CAD 1,400–CAD 2,000
3h 5m drive · Best in September
A Townships village on Brome Lake known for its ducks, with old lakeside houses, the Brome County museum and cycling paths.
Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke is the Townships' city. Follow the mural circuit through downtown, and walk the river paths at Lac des Nations.
Don't miss
- Mural Circuit of Sherbrooke
- Jacques Cartier Park
- Musee des Beaux-Arts de Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke
≈ CAD 1,400–CAD 2,000
3h 35m drive · Best in September
Mural tours across the city center showcase local culture and history on building facades.
Top sights
Saint Michel Cathedral
Sherbrooke Museum of Fine Arts
Best for a long weekend
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is five and a half hours away. Walk behind the Horseshoe Falls in the tunnels of Journey Behind the Falls, then drive the Niagara Parkway to the wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Take three nights.
Don't miss
- Horseshoe Falls
- Niagara Glen Nature Reserve
- Peller Estates Winery
- Fort George National Historic Site
Niagara Falls
≈ CAD 1,600–CAD 2,000
5h 30m drive · Best in June
Journey Behind the Falls takes you through tunnels to the base of the roaring curtain.
Top sights
Niagara City Cruises
Journey Behind the Falls
Fallsview Casino Resort
Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens
Niagara Glen Nature Reserve
Which to skip, and when
Skip Mont-Tremblant in spring melt, when the trails are mud. Skip the Townships and Prince Edward County in deep winter, when many wineries close. In winter, choose Quebec City for the carnival, Mont-Tremblant for skiing, or Montreal.
Common questions
What's the best weekend getaway from Ottawa?
Quebec City, about 4h 35m east, is the strongest weekend getaway from Ottawa: the walled old town under the Château Frontenac, the Citadelle and Montmorency Falls outside town. Montreal, at about 2h 10m, is the closer city weekend.
What's the closest weekend getaway from Ottawa?
Mont-Tremblant, about 1h 45m north in the Laurentians, is the closest of the 14 weekend getaways on this page. Kingston is next at about 1h 55m, then Barry's Bay at about 2h 5m.
How much does a weekend getaway from Ottawa cost for two?
A weekend getaway from Ottawa costs about C$1,400 to C$2,100 for two people on this page, covering fuel, two nights in a comfortable hotel, food and activities. Toronto, Quebec City and the trips past it start at about C$1,600.
What's the best ski weekend from Ottawa?
Mont-Tremblant, about 1h 45m away, is the ski weekend, with a pedestrian village at the base of the hill. Mont-Sainte-Anne near Beaupré and Lake Placid in the Adirondacks are the longer drives.
Do you need a passport for Lake Placid from Ottawa?
Yes. Lake Placid is in New York State, about 3h from Ottawa, so every traveler needs a passport or a NEXUS card. The drive time leaves out any wait at the border.
What's the best wine weekend from Ottawa?
Prince Edward County, about 2h 40m southwest, is the wine weekend from Ottawa, with wineries around Picton and the dunes of Sandbanks Provincial Park. The Eastern Townships around Lac-Brome and Magog are the Quebec option.
The bottom line
Book Quebec City or Montreal for a city weekend, Mont-Tremblant for snow, and Prince Edward County in September. Plan your weekend trip free and the planner ranks these for your dates and budget.
Browse more weekend getaways by city, or keep it to a day with the day trips from Ottawa.
Drive times are routed by road from downtown Ottawa in October 2026. Costs come from the same pricing the planner uses. Check border wait times and seasonal hours before you go.
Written by Namrata · Editor
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