Open washrooms in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais

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It’s among the top questions readers ask: Where can I find an open restroom in and around Ottawa?

You asked, I’ve delivered. This list of public and somewhat public bathrooms in Eastern Ontario and West Quebec will keep evolving, so if you know of a spot I’ve missed (or one that has closed since I wrote this post), please let me know in the comments or send me an email. I’ve done my best to make this list as accurate as possible, but things can and do change!

Many of these are public restrooms (such as those in parks and visitor centres), but others are in privately owned businesses (such as stores, restaurants and malls). In a few cases, the tip has come from a reader (thank you!) and I haven’t been able to verify hours and such with the location yet; in those cases, the location is listed in italics.

A few important notes:

• If you are using the facilities at a business that sells something, please, please, please make a purchase! Even if it’s just a cup of coffee, a chocolate bar or some gas, it will go a little way toward paying the kind people who keep those bathrooms clean and functional.
• On any road trip—especially if you’re planning to rely on portapotties or outhouses—bring a small kit of supplies with you. Items could include disinfecting wipes for the toilet seat, some toilet paper, gloves, hand sanitizer or soap, and paper towels or a small hand towel. (Thanks to reader P. Jean Oliver for this good advice.) Also, if the toilet has a lid, close it before flushing to reduce the release of airborne pathogens.
• If you are at an outdoor site, such as a park or hiking trail, please use the outhouses, portapotties or comfort stations provided, if possible. In some cases (such as backcountry camping), such facilities won’t be available, so please follow responsible disposal guidelines such as those promoted by Leave No Trace Canada. (Thanks to outdoors expert Victoria Walsh of Girl Gone Good for this tip.)
• Other good websites to check include GottaGo! (an Ottawa public washroom advocacy group) and 511 Ontario (information about roadside picnic areas and rest stops across the province).

Okay, with those guidelines in mind, here’s where you can go when you need to go.

Open washrooms in Ottawa

Washrooms in City of Ottawa parks

Public washrooms are available in the following parks, among others. You can use the city’s interactive park map to pinpoint the parks.

• Andrew Haydon Park, 3169 Carling Avenue
• Britannia Park, 2805 Carling Avenue
• Hog’s Back Park, 600 Hog’s Back Road
• Mooney’s Bay Beach, 2960 Riverside Drive
• Petrie Island, 727 Trim Road
• Westboro Beach, 745 Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway

Facilities in NCC parks and Greenbelt spaces in Ottawa

Sanitary blocks, restrooms and outhouses in NCC urban parks and Greenbelt spaces are another option. Here are all the equipped NCC locations in Ottawa that I could confirm:

• Green’s Creek, Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway (east end, just east of Beacon Hill; outhouse near parking lot P8, beside the Ottawa River Pathway)
• Major’s Hill Park, Mackenzie Avenue (ByWard Market)
• Mer Bleue, Ridge Road (southeastern edge of the city; outhouses at parking lots P20, P21, P22 and P23)
• Patterson Creek (Queen Elizabeth Driveway between Linden Terrace and First Avenue in the Glebe)
• Pine Grove, Davidson Road (south end of Ottawa; outhouse at parking lot P18)
• Pinhey Forest, Woodroffe Avenue (south of the Nepean Sportsplex; outhouse by Trail 32 at parking lot P15)
• Shirley’s Bay, Shirley Boulevard at Rifle Road (western edge of the city; outhouse at parking lot P1)
• Stony Swamp, near West Hunt Club Road and Moodie Drive (Bells Corners; outhouses at parking lots P5, P7, P8, P9, P11 and P12)
• Vincent Massey Park, Heron Road (immediately north of Hog’s Back Park; washrooms in central building)

Toilets in downtown Ottawa

GottaGo! has a map of public restrooms in Centretown, which it notes often have little or no signage.

Other restrooms in Ottawa

• Bayshore Shopping Centre, 100 Bayshore Drive
• CF Rideau Centre, 50 Rideau Street
• Dows Lake Pavilion, 1001 Queen Elizabeth Drive
• Elmvale Acres Shopping Centre, 1910 St. Laurent Boulevard (accessible washrooms near the entrance)
• Gloucester Centre, 1980 Ogilvie Road
• Ikea, 2685 Iris Street
• HomeSense, 3201 Greenbank Road (at Strandherd)
• Ottawa Public Library branches (multiple)
• Place d’Orléans, 110 Place d’Orléans Drive
• Real Canadian Superstore, 190 Richmond Road
• Real Canadian Superstore, 760 Eagleson Road
• Rideau Canal: Ottawa Locks (between Parliament Hill and the Fairmont Chateau Laurier); Hartwells Locks (on the edge of the Central Experimental Farm, opposite Carleton University); Hogs Back Falls Locks; Black Rapids Locks, 2453 Prince of Wales Drive; Long Island Locks, 390 Nicolls Island Road, Manotick
• St. Laurent Shopping Centre, 1200 St. Laurent Boulevard
• Tanger Outlets, 8555 Campeau Drive
• Tavern at the Falls, Rideau Falls
• World Exchange Plaza, 45 O’Connor Street (second floor)

Open restrooms in Gatineau and the Outaouais

Facilities in NCC parks and Greenbelt spaces in the Outaouais

As mentioned above, sanitary blocks, restrooms and outhouses on public NCC properties are an option. The NCC’s website has the latest updates on its COVID-19 measures. Note that all of Jacques-Cartier Park (South) is currently closed for rehabilitation. The Gatineau Park Visitor Centre is also closed. Here are all the restroom/outhouse-equipped NCC locations in the Outaouais that I could confirm:

• Leamy Lake Park, Fournier Boulevard, Hull sector
• Jacques-Cartier Park, Laurier Street, Hull sector (washrooms in the Maison du vélo)
• Gatineau Park: multiple facilities, including the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre (washrooms), Pink Lake (dry toilet), Meech Lake (dry toilets at O’Brien Beach and Blanchet Beach), Philippe Lake (washrooms at Breton, Parent and Smith beaches) and La Pêche Lake (dry toilets)

Open restrooms elsewhere in the Outaouais/West Quebec

I realize this Outaouais section is VERY short! I’m working to update it.

Gatineau

• Les Promenades Gatineau, 1100, boul. Maloney ouest, Gatineau
• Rona, 165, boul. du Plateau
• Rona, 777, boul. de la Cité

Wakefield

• Fairbairn House Heritage Centre/Hendrick Park, 45 Wakefield Heights
• Public docks (across from Expeditions Wakefield; portapotty)
• Turntable Park (near the Wakefield General Store; flushing toilets)

Open restrooms in Lanark County

See also “Open washrooms in Ontario provincial parks” and “Open restrooms at Parks Canada sites.”

Carleton Place

• Carleton Place Information Centre, 170 Bridge Street (currently open from 10am to 4pm on weekdays, and 11am to 4pm on weekends)
• Riverside Park, John Street

Glen Tay

• Glen Tay picnic park, Highway 7, north side, 2 kilometres west of Glen Tay Road, 5 kilometres west of Perth (link includes map)

Innisville

• Innisville picnic park, Highway 7, just north of the bridge (link includes map)

Mississippi Mills (Almonte, Appleton, Clayton and Pakenham)

Almonte

• Almonte Beach (Almonte Fairgrounds), 195 Water Street
• Gemmill Park Splash Pad, 182 Bridge Street
• Metcalfe Geoheritage Park, 250 Almonte Street
• Mill of Kintail Conservation Area, 2854 Ramsay Concession 8 (in the museum)

Appleton

• Appleton Bay Park, 510 River Road

Clayton

• Clayton Taylor Park

Pakenham

• Pakenham Beach (end of Margaret Street)
• Pakenham Boat Launch

Perth

• Perth Museum and Visitor Information Centre, 11 Gore Street East
• Also, the following washrooms in Perth are usually open daily.
  • Perth Town Hall, 80 Gore Street East: Exterior, two unisex washrooms.
  • The Crystal Palace at the Tay Basin, 28 Drummond Street East: one men’s, one women’s, one unisex.
  • Conlon Farm Chalet, 127 Smith Drive: one men’s, one women’s.
  • Last Duel Park dock building, 22 Craig Street: one men’s, one women’s.

Rideau Ferry

• Rideau Ferry public docks

Smiths Falls

• Lower Reach Park, Old Slys Road
• Old Slys Lock, Rideau Canal, 9 Old Slys Road
• Smiths Falls Combined Lock, Rideau Canal, 70 Confederation Drive
• Smiths Falls Detached Lock, Rideau Canal, 62 Lombard Street

Open restrooms in Kingston

Washrooms in City of Kingston parks

Toilet facilities are available in the following public parks, usually from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving (but check links to be sure of current hours):

• Breakwater Park, King Street West, between Collingwood Street and Lower University Avenue, just south of Queens University
• City Park, King Street East, between Barrie and West streets
• Grass Creek Park, 2991 Highway 2, 20-minute drive east of downtown
• Lake Ontario Park, 920 King Street West
• Shannon Park, 199 Wilson Street 
• Victoria Park, 487 Brock Street
• Woodbine Park, 1180 Woodbine Road 

Other open restrooms in Kingston

• Cataraqui Centre shopping mall, 945 Gardiners Road
• Farm Boy, 940 Futures Gate at Princess
• Kingston Mills Lock, Rideau Canal, 563 Kingston Mills Road
• Pump House Museum, 23 Ontario Street
• Lower Brewers Lock, Rideau Canal, 1419 Washburn Road
• Upper Brewers Lock, Rideau Canal, 3000 Brewers Mills Road

Restrooms are open at ONroute service centres

If you’ve ever spent any time on Highway 401, you’ll probably be very familiar with the network of ONroute service centres, which pop up reliably every 100 kilometres or so. As well as washrooms, you’ll also find takeout food restaurants, free wi-fi, ATMs, and outdoor picnic spots and pet areas at ONroutes. Here is an interactive map of all ONroute locations. Centres in Eastern Ontario include the following:

• Westbound: Bainsville, Ingleside, Mallorytown North, Trenton North
• Eastbound: Morrisburg, Mallorytown South, Odessa, Trenton South

Public restrooms elsewhere in Eastern Ontario

Note that I haven’t 100% verified the entries in italics.

Actinolite

• Skootamatta River picnic park, Highway 7 just east of Highway 37

Arden

• Salmon River picnic park, west of Arden road

Arnprior

• Antrim Truck Stop, 580 White Lake Road: This spot offers takeout food, gas, a convenience store and a bakery. It also once won an award for Ontario’s cleanest washrooms!

Brockville

• Blockhouse Island, downtown
• Centeen Park, 70 Water Street East
• Hardy Park, Kincaid Street and Water Street West
• Real Canadian Superstore, 1972 Parkedale Avenue (washrooms upstairs, as well as one on the lower level across from the wine store)
• Rotary Park, 148 George Street
• St. Lawrence Park, 525 King Street West

Burleigh Falls

• Eels Creek picnic park, Highway 28, 12 kilometres north of Burleigh Falls

Burritts Rapids

• Burritts Rapids Locks, Rideau Canal, 673 River Road

Cornwall

Facilities are open in the following public parks and facilities in Cornwall:

• Aquatic Centre, 100 Water Street East
• Guindon Park, Vincent Massey Drive, at the boat launch and the picnic area
• Lamoureux Park, 100 Water Street East, at the splash pad
• Optimist Park, 301 Sunnyside Avenue

Dacre

• Tooey Lake picnic park, Highway 41, 6 kilometres south of Dacre

Drummond/North Elmsley

• Lower Beveridges Lock, Rideau Canal, 145 Beveridges Lock Road
• Upper Beveridges Lock, Rideau Canal, 171 Beveridges Lock Road

Eganville

• Tourist information centre, 38 Bonnechere Street West (summer only)

Gananoque

• Gananoque Municipal Marina, 21 Bay Street (at the end of Clarence Street)

Golden Lake

• Golden Lake picnic park, Highway 60, 1.6 kilometres east of Bonnechere River Bridge

Griffith

• Highland Creek picnic park, Highway 41, north of Madawaska River Bridge

Hawkesbury

• Confederation Park, 3 Cartier Boulevard

Iroquois

• Iroquois Beach

Limerick

• Robinson Lake, Highway 62, 1 kilometre north of Hastings Road 620 (about 15 minutes south of Bancroft)

Lyndhurst

• Furnace Falls Park, Lyndhurst Road (County Road 33) (fully accessible, with ramps and electric doors)

Madawaska

• Madawaska picnic park, Highway 60, 4 kilometres east of Madawaska

Merrickville–Wolford

• Edmonds Lock, Rideau Canal, 147 Edmonds Lock Lane
• Lower Nicholsons Lock, Rideau Canal, 41 Nicholson Lane
• Merrickville Lock, Rideau Canal, 111A Main Street East
• Rink House, Main Street West (by the outdoor rink surface, next to Nana B’s Bakery): public washroom, open 10am to 6pm daily
• Upper Nicholsons Lock, Rideau Canal, 121 Andrewsville Road

Millhaven

• Ellesmere Park picnic area, Highway 33, 2 kilometres west of Lennox and Addington Road 4

Montague

• Clowes Lock, Rideau Canal, 495 Heritage Drive
• Kilmarnock Lock, Rideau Canal, 1424 Kilmarnock Road

Morrisburg

• Morrisburg Beach
• Public dock, 1 Lakeshore Drive

Newboro

• Newboro Lock, Rideau Canal, 10 Blockhouse Lane

Odessa

• Parrott’s Bay Park picnic area, Highway 33, 2 kilometres west of Lennox and Addington Road 6

Petawawa

• Petawawa Point Park
• Petawawa picnic park, Highway 17, west of Black Bay Road

Prescott

• Sandra S. Lawn Harbour and Marina, 191 Water Street East

Prince Edward County

Here’s a great interactive map of public washrooms in Prince Edward County, including restrooms in Picton, Bloomfield and Wellington.

Renfrew

• Visitor Information Centre, 190 Mask Road (summer only)

Rideau Lakes (Township of)

• Chaffeys Lock, Rideau Canal, 1723 Chaffeys Lock Road
• Davis Lock, Rideau Canal, 1822 Davis Lock Road
• Four Mile In Park picnic park, Highway 15 just south of Golf Club Road, between Smiths Falls and Lombardy
• Jones Falls Lock, Rideau Canal, 182 Lock Road
• Narrows Lock, Rideau Canal, 1275 Narrows Lock Road
• Poonamalie Lock, Rideau Canal, 22 Poonamalie Road

Rockland

• Walmart, 3001 Richelieu Street

Rolphton

• Melleurs Bay picnic park, Highway 17, 0.48 kilometres east of Stewart Lane

Silver Lake

• Silver Lake picnic park, Highway 7, west of Silver Lake Provincial Park

Westport

• Westport Visitors’ Centre, 3 Spring Street

Wilno

• Wilno scenic lookout, Highway 60 at Shrine Hill Drive, 1.5 kilometres east of Wilno

More possibilities: National chains

A number of readers have mentioned that several national chains may offer public restrooms. Some stores and restaurants are constrained by local bylaws or do not offer facilities for other reasons. However, here are links to search for locations of chains that may offer facilities. Contact the relevant location directly to confirm before heading out. And don’t forget to buy something while you’re there!

• Circle K convenience stores, Ontario (click the Store Locator tab at the top of the page)
• Costco (click the Locations tab at the top of the page)
• Couche-Tard convenience stores, Quebec (click the Nos Magasins tab at the top of the page)
• HomeSense
• McDonald’s
• Real Canadian Superstore
• Rona
• Starbucks
• Tim Hortons
• Walmart

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