Eastern Ontario district, Ontario, Canada

Places to visit near Ottawa

Ottawa is a city in Eastern Ontario district, Ontario, Canada, home to about 812,129 people. Within 50 km by road there are 211 places to visit — 54 forts & heritage, 45 churches, 41 parks and 16 lakes, dams & reservoirs. The must-see places are St. Barnabas Church (1 km), Dundonald Park (1 km) and Centretown United Church (1 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Ottawa on the map

Ottawa, Ontario
Ottawa, Eastern Ontario district, Ontario, Canada. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Ottawa at a glance

Location
Eastern Ontario district, Ontario, Canada
Population
about 812,129
Coordinates
45.4112° N, 75.6981° W
Places within 50 km
211 (125 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for forts & heritage; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for churches and parks

Top places to visit near Ottawa

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Ottawa: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Ottawa

Things to see near Ottawa, by type

Forts & heritage near Ottawa

58 forts & heritage within 100 km of Ottawa. The closest is John R. Booth Residence (1 km); the best-known is Canadian Tribute to Human Rights (1 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Ontario →

Churches near Ottawa

46 churches within 100 km of Ottawa. The closest is St. Barnabas Church (1 km). Best time: year-round.

All churches in Ontario →

Parks near Ottawa

43 parks within 100 km of Ottawa. The closest is Dundonald Park (1 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

All parks in Ontario →

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Ottawa

27 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Ottawa. The closest is Rideau Canal (1 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

  • Rideau Canal · lake · Eastern Ontario · ~1 km · Must-see
  • Dow's Lake · lake · Eastern Ontario · ~2 km · Must-see
  • Lac Leamy · lake · Eastern Ontario · ~6 km · Must-see
  • McKay Lake · lake · Eastern Ontario · ~6 km · Must-see
  • The Pond · lake · Eastern Ontario · ~6 km · Must-see
  • Pink Lake · lake · Outaouais · ~13 km · Must-see

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Ontario →

Rivers, islands & mangroves near Ottawa

18 rivers, islands & mangroves within 100 km of Ottawa. The closest is Patterson's Creek (1 km); the best-known is Lemieux Island (3 km). Best time: september to february.

All rivers, islands & mangroves in Ontario →

Museums near Ottawa

12 museums within 100 km of Ottawa. The closest is Canadian Museum of Nature (1 km); the best-known is National Gallery of Canada (3 km). Best time: year-round.

All museums in Ontario →

A one-day trip from Ottawa

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 6 km on the road.

  1. Start in Ottawa
  2. 1 km Dundonald Park · park, Eastern Ontario
  3. 1 km McPhail Memorial Baptist Church · monument, Eastern Ontario
  4. 1 km St. Patrick's Basilica · church, Eastern Ontario
  5. 1 km St. Barnabas Church · church, Eastern Ontario
  6. 1 km Centretown United Church · church, Eastern Ontario
  7. 1 km Back to Ottawa

Plan a longer trip from Ottawa — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Ottawa

No traveller has reported from around Ottawa yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Ottawa

    All places near Ottawa by distance

    Within 15 km of Ottawa

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Ottawa by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Forts & heritage5458John R. Booth Residence (1 km)
    Churches4546St. Barnabas Church (1 km)
    Parks4143Dundonald Park (1 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs1627Rideau Canal (1 km)
    Other attractions1520Ottawa Chinatown Arch (1 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves1818Patterson's Creek (1 km)
    Museums1212Canadian Museum of Nature (1 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens27Canadian Heritage Garden (5 km)
    Waterfalls55Chaudière Falls (3 km)
    Beaches & coast22Nepean Bay (2 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints11Lieutenant Colonel John By (2 km)

    Ottawa: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Ottawa?

    St. Barnabas Church (church, about 1 km), Dundonald Park (park, about 1 km), Centretown United Church (church, about 1 km), St. Patrick's Basilica (church, about 1 km), McPhail Memorial Baptist Church (monument, about 1 km), Carleton Dominion Chalmers Centre (church, about 1 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Ottawa?

    211 places on Spotwander: 54 forts & heritage, 45 churches, 41 parks, 16 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 15 other attractions.

    Which is the nearest fort to Ottawa?

    John R. Booth Residence, about 1 km by road; Victoria Memorial Museum Building (1 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest church to Ottawa?

    St. Barnabas Church, about 1 km by road; Centretown United Church (1 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest park to Ottawa?

    Dundonald Park, about 1 km by road; Central Park (1 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Ottawa?

    Start in Ottawa, visit Dundonald Park, then McPhail Memorial Baptist Church, then St. Patrick's Basilica, then St. Barnabas Church, then Centretown United Church, and drive back — about 6 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Ottawa?

    October to February for forts & heritage; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for churches and parks.

    Towns near Ottawa

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Ottawa’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Ottawa on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.