If you’re looking to book a hotel or a vacation rental in Eastern Ontario for an upcoming road trip from Ottawa, you’ve come to the right place! Using the handy maps below—one for each of a number of popular destinations—you can compare prices and options from Booking.com and VRBO.com, then make your booking.
For each destination, I’ve also provided some extra tips or links to posts elsewhere on this site to enhance your travel planning.
I’m going to keep expanding this post, so please check back often.
Disclosure: I’ve stayed in some of the hotels mentioned for free or at a discount for the purposes of reviewing them. Also, if you book a place to stay using these maps or most of the links, I’ll receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It’s an easy way to help me keep this site going. Thank you, and happy travels!
Brockville accommodations
If you don’t want to drive too far for your weekend getaway, consider Brockville. This city on the St. Lawrence River has a nice downtown, boat tours of the Thousand Islands, a free sound-and-light show in a Victorian railway tunnel and the Aquatarium—a sort of interactive museum of river ecology. Check out my post about quirky Brockville facts. And if you’re looking for a memorable place to stay, the Sir Isaac Brock B&B Luxury Suites is a beautifully restored heritage home whose owners serve amazing breakfasts.
Calabogie accommodations
A little over 100 kilometres west of Ottawa, this Madawaska Valley town is a magnet for outdoorsy types, because you can go hiking, paddling, fishing, snowmobiling, kicksledding and more (not all in the same season, of course). I really enjoyed my stay at the Somewhere Inn, a former motel that has been transformed into a hipster haven, complete with an onsite boutique/bottle shop.
My guide to Calabogie and Eganville offers all sorts of ideas for weekend getaways to the area.
Kemptville accommodations
Kemptville is so close to Ottawa—about 45 minutes south of Parliament Hill—that it’s a popular day trip. But why not make it a relaxing mini-break? There’s lots to see in this small town and the surrounding township of North Grenville, including 150 kilometres of hiking trails, two wineries and an alpaca farm; I have all the details in this post. And if you like your accommodations on the spacious side, check out Abbott Road Suites.
Gananoque accommodations
Gananoque is a wonderful base of operations if you’re visiting the Thousand Islands. In fact, if you’re driving from Ottawa, I highly recommend taking the Thousand Islands Parkway the last few kilometres into Gananoque; it’s much more scenic than Highway 401.
Once you get to “the Gan,” you can take a boat tour, catch a play or visit a boat museum. You’ll find details on all that and more in my guide to Gananoque and Chaffeys Lock. And if you’re looking for a homey place to stay right on the St. Lawrence River waterfront, try the Gananoque Inn & Spa.
Kingston accommodations
Just down the road from Gananoque, the Limestone City has more than enough to entertain just about every type of visitor. Don’t believe me? Check out my extensive guide to Kingston.
I’ve visited Kingston countless times and I’ve stayed in all types of hotels and inns. For views of Lake Ontario, try the Holiday Inn Kingston–Waterfront or the somewhat posher Delta Hotels by Marriott Kingston Waterfront. If Victorian inns are more your style, the Secret Garden Inn is lovely. And if you’re travelling with kids, the indoor pool (with slide!) and nearby family restaurants were a big hit with our daughter when we stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott Kingston Highway 401.
Perth accommodations
With its limestone buildings, cute shops and location on the Tay River, this community an hour southeast of Ottawa appears on many lists of beautiful Eastern Ontario towns. (Here are some of my top Perth recommendations.) If you want to have an onsite manicure or massage during your weekend getaway, I highly recommend the Best Western Plus Perth Parkside Inn & Spa, overlooking Stewart Park.
Prescott accommodations
This small town an hour south of Ottawa is known for two national historic sites (Fort Wellington and Battle of the Windmill), the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, and a very pretty waterfront. Learn more in my guide to visiting Prescott.
Westport accommodations
Westport is the quintessential Rideau Valley cottage town, but it’s also fun outside of the summer months. (There are usually some lovely Christmas sales, for instance.) For an overnight stay, the Cove Inn makes a nice base of operations. Not only does it have rooms overlooking the nearby lake and pond, but it also has live music in its restaurant many nights of the week.
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.
