A Weekend Road Trip: Ottawa to Montreal

If you’re looking for a weekend road trip with your loved ones or just looking to explore the beautiful region between these two cities, look no further! This list of things to do in Ottawa and things to do in Montreal will make your trip a memorable one. The region between these two cities is dotted with quaint towns and picturesque natural sights, perfect for a road trip. This weekend road trip will take you from Ottawa to Montreal, passing through some of Canada’s most picturesque and historic towns and cities.

Getting to Ottawa from Montreal

If you’re coming from the Montreal area, take Highways 10 and 20.

What to do in Ottawa

The capital of Canada, Ottawa has been called one of the most livable cities in the world. Home to over a million Canadians and situated on the shores of the scenic Ottawa River, the city is close to nature and within driving distance of many popular destinations. Ottawa is home to many national institutions including Parliament Hill, built in 1857. Other notable landmarks include Rideau Hall, Canada’s Royal residence; the National Gallery of Canada; and Major’s Hill Park, with its beautiful view of downtown Ottawa. If you love museums then you will love Ottawa. The city is home to a number of fascinating museums; some are free, making them perfect for families on a budget. Visit the Canadian War Museum or the Museum of Nature for an educational escape from everyday life that’s fun for all ages!

What to do in Montreal

Montreal is a hub for culture, history and cuisine. The world-renowned Montreal Comiccon will be opening on September 8th, and it’s not too late to get tickets! Get ready to be wowed by celebrity appearances and comic book talent at this action-packed event. You can also explore Montreal’s rich history by visiting the Notre Dame Basilica or the Pointe-à-Callière Museum. This museum chronicles Montreal’s founding as a city and its development into one of North America’s most cosmopolitan cities. As for food, there are several iconic dishes that you should try when in Montreal. Le Montréalais is a specialty bagel with smoked salmon, cream cheese and dill; poutine is a dish of French fries covered in brown gravy with cheese curds; and the Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich is made with juicy meat smoked overnight until it’s soft enough to cut with a fork.

Plan your trip

The first step in planning your weekend road trip is to plan a route. This can be the most difficult part of any road trip, but there are a few ways you can make this easier. 

  1. Google Maps: This is the easiest and most popular way to create your route. Just enter your starting point and destination and Google will generate a list of routes with distances, time estimates, and travel times. You can even use the map to view pictures from that area or street view photos.
  2. Road Trip Planner: The Montreal Ottawa Bus is an easy website where you enter your starting point and destination for a list of routes with information about gas prices, drive times, scenic views, tolls, traffic jams, etc. It’s a great resource for those who need help finding their way around.
  3. Road Trippers: Montreal Ottawa Bus offers several different route options from Point A to Point B which comes complete with interesting stops along the way and comments on attractions in each town. It also has helpful information like how much time you’ll spend on highways vs city streets or how many bridges you’ll cross during your drive.