Southwestern Ontario district, Ontario, Canada

Places to visit near Waterloo

Waterloo is a town in Southwestern Ontario district, Ontario, Canada, home to about 97,475 people. Within 50 km by road there are 31 places to visit — 1 waterfalls, 5 parks, 9 forts & heritage and 6 lakes, dams & reservoirs. The must-see places are Martin Luther University College (1 km), Waterloo Park (2 km) and Victoria Park (3 km).

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

Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo, Southwestern Ontario district, Ontario, Canada. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Waterloo at a glance

Location
Southwestern Ontario district, Ontario, Canada
Population
about 97,475
Coordinates
43.4668° N, 80.5164° W
Places within 50 km
31 (31 must-see)
Best time to visit
July to January, best August to November right after rains for waterfalls; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for parks

Top places to visit near Waterloo

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Waterloo: 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 Waterloo

Things to see near Waterloo, by type

Waterfalls near Waterloo

27 waterfalls within 100 km of Waterloo. The closest is Elora Gorge Falls (28 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

All waterfalls in Ontario →

Parks near Waterloo

21 parks within 100 km of Waterloo. The closest is Waterloo Park (2 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

All parks in Ontario →

Forts & heritage near Waterloo

21 forts & heritage within 100 km of Waterloo. The closest is Waterloo County Gaol (4 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Ontario →

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Waterloo

15 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Waterloo. The closest is Sunfish Lake (12 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

  • Sunfish Lake · lake · Southwestern Ontario · ~12 km · Must-see
  • Paradise Lake · lake · Southwestern Ontario · ~15 km · Must-see
  • Puslinch Lake · lake · Southwestern Ontario · ~26 km · Must-see
  • Guelph Lake · lake · Southwestern Ontario · ~34 km · Must-see
  • Conestogo Lake · lake · Southwestern Ontario · ~39 km · Must-see
  • Lake Belwood · lake · Southwestern Ontario · ~46 km · Must-see

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Ontario →

Churches near Waterloo

11 churches within 100 km of Waterloo. The closest is Martin Luther University College (1 km). Best time: year-round.

All churches in Ontario →

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Waterloo

10 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Waterloo. The closest is African Lion Safari (38 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

All wildlife, forests & gardens in Ontario →

A one-day trip from Waterloo

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 13 km on the road.

  1. Start in Waterloo
  2. 1 km Martin Luther University College · church, Southwestern Ontario
  3. 1 km Waterloo Park · park, Southwestern Ontario
  4. 4 km Victoria Park · park, Southwestern Ontario
  5. 1 km Waterloo County Gaol · heritage site, Southwestern Ontario
  6. 2 km Woodside National Historic Site · park, Southwestern Ontario
  7. 4 km Back to Waterloo

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

From travellers near Waterloo

No traveller has reported from around Waterloo 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.

Post an update from the map →

How to reach Waterloo

    All places near Waterloo by distance

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Waterloo by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Waterfalls127Elora Gorge Falls (28 km)
    Parks521Waterloo Park (2 km)
    Forts & heritage921Waterloo County Gaol (4 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs615Sunfish Lake (12 km)
    Churches211Martin Luther University College (1 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens210African Lion Safari (38 km)
    Other attractions38Joseph Schneider Haus National Historic Site (4 km)
    Museums37McCrae House (29 km)
    Temples04Hindu Samaj of Hamilton & Region (78 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints01Niagara Escarpment (73 km)
    Buddhist sites01Fo Guang Shan Temple (80 km)
    Beaches & coast01Confederation Beach Park (83 km)
    Mosques & dargahs01Baitul Hamd Mosque (92 km)

    Waterloo: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Waterloo?

    Martin Luther University College (church, about 1 km), Waterloo Park (park, about 2 km), Victoria Park (park, about 3 km), Waterloo County Gaol (heritage site, about 4 km), Woodside National Historic Site (park, about 4 km), Joseph Schneider Haus National Historic Site (attraction, about 4 km).

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

    31 places on Spotwander: 1 waterfall, 5 parks, 9 forts & heritage, 6 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 2 churches.

    Which is the nearest waterfall to Waterloo?

    Elora Gorge Falls, about 28 km by road; Hilton Falls Conservation Area (56 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest park to Waterloo?

    Waterloo Park, about 2 km by road; Victoria Park (3 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Waterloo?

    Waterloo County Gaol, about 4 km by road; Pioneer Memorial Tower (14 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Waterloo?

    Start in Waterloo, visit Martin Luther University College, then Waterloo Park, then Victoria Park, then Waterloo County Gaol, then Woodside National Historic Site, and drive back — about 13 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Waterloo?

    July to January, best August to November right after rains for waterfalls; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for parks.

    Towns near Waterloo

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