Travel to Ottawa

Flying to Ottawa

Air Canada operates direct flights from the UK to Ottawa. Airlines offering direct flights from the USA include Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta and United. Prices tend to be highest in July and August, while cheaper deals are available during the cold winter months. 

Flight times

From London - 7 hours 50 minutes; New York - 1 hour 30 minutes; Los Angeles - 7 hours (including stopover); Toronto - 1 hours; >Sydney - 21 hours (including stopover).

Travel by road

The speed limit on major highways is 100kph (60mph), while in the city, the speed limit is generally 50kph (30mph). Traffic drives on the right. The minimum driving age is 16 years. Proof of insurance is compulsory.

North American and European visitors may use national driving licences, while visitors from other countries are often required to carry an International Driving Permit as well. Many streets in Ottawa, especially downtown, are one-way. Signs displaying a white arrow on a black background indicate a one-way street.

Some Ottawa streets have adopted second names, which can be confusing. For example, Preston Street is also known as Corso Italia, and Gladstone Avenue is also called Via Marconi.

Many major roadways (called the Transitway) in Ottawa are dedicated to OC Transpo buses only. These are marked with a diamond in the lane and/or a sign above the lane. Do not drive in these lanes. There is a three-hour parking limit on all streets unless otherwise marked; overnight parking restrictions come into effect during the winter.

CAA North & East Ontario (tel: +1 613 820 1890; www.caaneo.on.ca) provides a breakdown service and has partnership agreements with various motoring organisations, such as the American Automobile Association (AAA).

Emergency breakdown services

CAA (tel: +1 800 222 4357).

Routes

Excellent highways link Ottawa with major Canadian cities and the United States. You can reach Toronto in a little over four hours on Highways 401 and 416. Montreal is two hours to the northeast on Highway 417. The border to America's New York state is less than two hours' drive south.

Coaches

Greyhound (tel: +1 800 661 8747; www.greyhound.ca) provides services throughout North America. Buses depart from Ottawa Bus Terminal, 265 Catherine Street.

Time to city

From Toronto - 4 hours 30 minutes; Montreal - 2 hours; New York state - 1 to 2 hours.

Travel by Rail

Services

Ottawa's railway station is at 200 Tremblay Road, which is just a 10-minute drive from downtown by car, taxi or bus. It offers rail service throughout the region. It also connects with rail and bus travel into the United States.

There is a second station, Fallowfield Station, at 3347 Fallowfield road, Barrhaven, where trains from Toronto arrive and where buses are available to connect to the city.

Operators

Passenger trains are run by VIA Rail Canada (tel: +1 888 842 7245; www.viarail.ca). There are several daily trains to both Montreal and Toronto.

Journey times

From Montreal - 2 hours; Toronto - 4 hours 30 minutes.