Getting Around Ottawa

Ottawa, Canada's Capital, is located in the eastern portion of the province of Ontario. It is less than a two-hour drive west of Montreal, a one-hour flight east of Toronto, and a one-hour drive north of the Canada/U.S. border. Getting there is simple, whether by air, rail, road or by boat via the Ottawa River or Rideau Canal.

Air
Ottawa International Airport
Located just a 20-minute drive from downtown, Ottawa's state-of-the art international airport serves airlines offering flights to most major cities in Canada and the Eastern US, with seasonal services to Europe, the Caribbean and South America.

Porter Airlines
Canada's highly renowned regional airline offers fast and convenient daily flights to and from Ottawa and Toronto's downtown Island Airport or Halifax.

Bus & Taxi
OC Transpo
Offering rapid transit services to downtown and across the region from Ottawa International Airport, Ottawa Train Station, and Ottawa bus terminal.

Car Rentals & Limousines
Millennium Limousine Service/Caddy
Stretch limos, sedans, vans and buses for groups, conferences.

National Car Rental / Alamo Rent-A-Car
Full range of rental cars and trucks.

Driving & Parking
Driving Tips
The major highways in the Ottawa area are the 417 (also known as the Queensway), 416, 174, 7, 16 and 31 in Ontario; and the 148, 50 and 5 in Quebec. When heading east on the 417, the point in which the lanes split into two directions (one continues east, the other becomes the 174) is commonly known as ‘The Split'.

The speed limit on major highways (417, 416, 174) is 100 km/h (approximately 60 mph). The limit on other highways (7, 16, 31) and most rural areas is 80 km/h (50 mph). In the city, the speed limit is generally 50 km/h (30 mph) unless otherwise stated. The limit on the 148 in Quebec varies between 50, 70, and 90 km/h.

Many streets in Ottawa, especially downtown, are one-way. Be aware of signs (a white arrow on a black background) that indicate a one-way street.

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

In Ontario and Quebec (except Montreal), drivers are permitted to turn right on a red light unless otherwise stated.