14 cute small towns for day trips from Ottawa

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Planning a quick day trip from Ottawa and looking for a pretty town or village to visit? No worries—there are all sorts of great small communities in Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais within an hour’s drive of Parliament Hill.

Cute shops, nice restaurants, hiking trails, water views—whatever you’re looking for in a road trip, these charming towns near Ottawa offer just the escape you need.

In fact, you might not even need to leave the city limits, as some of these places are practically towns in Ottawa (in most cases, they’re formerly separate communities that the city absorbed through amalgamation).

Grab your keys and hop in the car to discover these cute towns in Ontario and beyond. All you’ll need for each trip is a single tank of gas (or, if your electric vehicle has a good range, a single charge). To help you plan, the towns are listed in order of their distance from downtown Ottawa.

Note: In winter and spring 2024, I’m working on a major overhaul of this website, with the result that a couple of the posts linked below may be slightly out of date. Even though I’ve updated most of them within the past year, I will be going through them all again with a fine-toothed comb in the first few months of 2024, to clean up any loose ends. If you spot anything out of whack, though, please feel free to drop me an email. And thank you for your patience with these updates—I’m a one-woman band over here!

Aylmer, Quebec

Distance from Parliament Hill: 15 kilometres

Aylmer technically isn’t a small town at all—it’s the most westerly sector of the city of Gatineau. However, I’m taking some poetic licence. After checking out the many shops and cafés along rue Principale, don’t miss the views of the Ottawa River from the beach at Parc des Cèdres and the Aylmer Marina—both great places to watch the sun set.

Chelsea, Quebec

Distance from Parliament Hill: 17 kilometres

Head for the hills—the Gatineau Hills, that is—to visit this postcard-pretty village. The big attractions here are the lakes and trails of Gatineau Park (the main visitor centre is in Chelsea) and the Scandinavian-style Nordik Spa-Nature, with its circuits of hot and cold pools. But don’t miss the yummy pizzas at Roberto Pizza Romana or the ice cream cones at La Cigale. For more Chelsea travel tips, see my beginner’s guide to Gatineau Park.

Manotick, Ontario

Distance from Parliament Hill: 25 kilometres

Manotick is one of those towns in Ottawa that I mentioned earlier. Just follow the Rideau River south and you’ll soon get to this pretty village, where Watson’s Mill has been a major landmark since 1860. Indulge in some retail therapy at Lasting Impressions Gifts or slake your thirst at the Mill Tavern. Feeling energetic? Bring your bike and pedal a 56-kilometre route through Kars and North Gower. For more tips, see my ultimate day trip guide to Manotick.

Cumberland, Ontario

Distance from Parliament Hill: 28 kilometres

Here’s another community that feels like a small town but is actually part of Ottawa. This time, drive eastward just past Orleans to reach the growing community of Cumberland. There, you can stroll among vintage buildings that evoke life in the 1920s and 1930s at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, fuel up with goodies at the Black Walnut Bakery, then hike through a unique sculpture park. Learn more in my post three great reasons for a day trip to Cumberland.

Wakefield, Quebec

Distance from Parliament Hill: 35 kilometres

When it comes to reasons to take a day trip from Ottawa, Wakefield has lots. Some people come to the Gatineau Hills town for live music shows at venues like Le Hibou and Kaffé 1870. Others make the trip for the fudge at La Confiserie Wakefield. The red covered bridge over the Gatineau River is popular with Instagrammers, families enjoy piloting pedal boats through the aquatic mazes at Éco-Odyssée and thrill seekers head straight to Great Canadian Bungee. Want to learn more? Here’s my detailed guide to visiting Wakefield.

Carp, Ontario

Distance from Parliament Hill: 37 kilometres

For the third of my towns in Ottawa, I’m going to point you westward, just past Kanata and Stittsville. Carp’s best-known claim to fame is The Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum, a restored 1960s underground bunker where you can pretend to be Dr. Strangelove. But there’s much more to enjoy in Carp, including craft beer, pretty shops and lots of restaurants. Check out my day tripping to Carp and Richmond guide.

Mississippi Mills, Ontario (Almonte and Pakenham)

Distance from Parliament Hill: 52 kilometres (Almonte) and 59 kilometres (Pakenham)

With this outing, you get two pretty towns near Ottawa for the price of one! Almonte and Pakenham are both part of the larger Town of Mississippi Mills, just west of the capital. Almonte, the larger community, has great restaurants (don’t miss the crostini at Café Postino), the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum and lovely boutiques (check out the products from local crafters at Cheerfully Made). Smaller Pakenham has eco-friendly beers at Cartwright Springs Brewery and custom-made clothes at Paddye Mann. Want to hike? Try the trails at the Mill of Kintail in Almonte or those at High Lonesome Nature Reserve in Pakenham. For more ideas, see my ultimate guide to Almonte.

Carleton Place, Ontario

Distance from Parliament Hill: 53 kilometres

Less than 15 minutes south on Highway 29 from Almonte (and only about 20 minutes southwest of the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata), you’ll find the Lanark County town of Carleton Place. Like Mississippi Mills, it’s on Ontario’s Mississippi River, so there are riverside parks, some waterfront restaurant patios, and lots of kayaking and swimming opportunities. Try the great farm-to-table fare at Black Tartan Kitchen and sample some Big Papa pale ale at the Stalwart Brewing Company. For more ideas, see my guide to day trips from Ottawa to Carleton Place.

Casselman, Ontario

Distance from Parliament Hill: 56 kilometres

The town of Casselman makes a good base for exploring the wider region of Prescott-Russell, immediately east of Ottawa. Drop into the St. Albert Cheese Co-op in St. Albert for curds and cheddar, take the kids to the Calypso Theme Waterpark in Limoges, fuel up at Pearson Street Smashburgers ‘n’ Melts (which is actually on Blais Street) in Embrun, shop for hand-thrown mugs at Embrun Pottery, enjoy culinary events at Domaine Cléroux in Casselman or take a self-driving tour of the Popsilos—silos painted with striking, colourful murals.

Kemptville, Ontario

Distance from Parliament Hill: 58 kilometres

If you love the outdoors, Kemptville is a great day trip destination just south of the Ottawa city limits. Ferguson Forest has a network of hiking trails, a winter multi-use trail, a big off-leash dog park and a kayak launch on Kemptville Creek, as well as picnic facilities. Pick up local foods for that picnic at the Kemptville Farmers’ Market or B&H Your Community Grocer, or head to one of the nearby orchards or vineyards. I have many more tips in my day tripping to Kemptville and North Grenville post.

Arnprior, Ontario

Distance from Parliament Hill: 66 kilometres

In Arnprior, you can hike through an old-growth forest, hang out on an Ottawa River beach, buy local honey and cool antiques, and visit a fascinating civic museum. It’s also the start and end point for a scenic drive to nearby White Lake and Burnstown. I’d argue that it’s one of the lesser-known towns near Ottawa for day trippers, even though it has a lot to offer. Get the detailed scoop on this community northwest of the capital in my tips for day trips to Arnprior.

Smiths Falls, Ontario

Distance from Parliament Hill: 78 kilometres

Smiths Falls is one of the few destinations on this list you can reach on public transportation, as VIA Rail connects Ottawa to the Rideau Canal town. Bring your walking shoes to explore the Cataraqui Trail, pre-order a picnic to eat in Confederation Park or see vintage steam engines at the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario. That’s just the tip of the iceberg; see my complete guide to Smiths Falls for everything you need to know for a great Ottawa day trip.

Morrisburg, Ontario

Distance from Parliament Hill: 79 kilometres

Ever wonder where Bank Street goes when it leaves Ottawa? Drive straight south for about an hour and you’ll get to the end of the road at Morrisburg Waterfront Park, overlooking the St. Lawrence River. Morrisburg is a great summer day trip from Ottawa for families. Stop for ice cream at the seasonal Docksyde Café, head to Morrisburg Beach for some fun in the sun, then drive a few kilometres east to immerse yourself in 1860s life at Upper Canada Village. For more ideas, see my tips for day tripping to Morrisburg and Iroquois.

Merrickville, Ontario

Distance from Parliament Hill: 83 kilometres

Ask any dedicated day tripper to name the prettiest villages in Eastern Ontario and chances are high that they’re going to mention Merrickville. With its stone buildings, blooming flower boxes and scenic location on the Rideau Canal (bring your kayak), it’s definitely high on the cuteness meter. Plus, it has a glass blower, a mustard shop and a caramels shop! What’s not to like? Learn more in 10 things you didn’t know about Merrickville.

Montebello, Quebec

Distance from Parliament Hill: 83 kilometres

This pretty village on the eastern edge of the Outaouais may be best known for its namesake log hotel, Fairmont Le Château Montebello, but that’s far from the only attraction there. History buffs can learn about 19th-century life at Manoir Papineau, families can drive past bears and moose at Parc Oméga, and gourmets can sample locally made chocolate, cheese and beer. Learn more in my Montebello day tripping guide.

Perth, Ontario

Distance from Parliament Hill: 86 kilometres

I haven’t done a scientific survey or anything, but I suspect Perth would be running neck and neck with Merrickville in the photogenic town sweepstakes. Another community brimming with gorgeous limestone buildings and hanging flower baskets, Perth offers paddling on the Tay River and Tay Canal, nice restaurants, lots of boutiques and locally made kombucha (the fermented beverage all the cool kids are drinking). Find out more in my post about day tripping to Perth.

Renfrew

Distance from Parliament Hill: 95 kilometres

Just squeaking under the one-hour time limit (Google Maps clocks it at 59 minutes) is Renfrew. My highlights in this town on the Bonnechere River include the packed-to-the-rafters McDougall Mill Museum and the nearby swinging bridge, both overlooking the Second Chute (waterfall) of the Bonnechere River; the Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail; and the cupcakes at the Bonnechere Bakery and Bistro. My day tripping guide to Renfrew has lots of other ideas.

Prescott

Distance from Parliament Hill: 95 kilometres

Another town that comes in right at the one-hour mark, Prescott is worth the drive for all sorts of reasons. In summer, you can see theatre under the stars at the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival. You can delve into history at Fort Wellington or the Battle of the Windmill National Historic Site. And year round, you can pick up yummy baked goodies from Katarina’s Coffee Shop (try the double-baked croissants) or gourmet Spanish foods at El Rebost de les Mil Iles. For more ideas, see my detailed guide to Prescott.

The astute among you will have noticed that there are more than 14 towns on this list. What can I say? After I finished the post, I kept adding to it, but the Internet doesn’t like it when you change a post title. So consider the extra content a bonus!

P.S.: Many of you have wondered why popular spots such as Westport and Kingston aren’t on this list. It’s because this post focuses on places within a one-hour drive of Parliament Hill…but this post on great destinations within one to two hours of Ottawa covers those two communities and 14 others.

Looking for more tips on things to see and do in and around Ottawa? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter. And for lots more detail about these towns near Ottawa and many others, pick up my guidebook, Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100km 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.