Road Trip Itinerary from Montreal to Toronto Including Ottawa, Thousand Islands, and Niagara Falls
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Detailed trip itinerary for planning your trip, including a link to a Google Map of the route, recommended duration for each destination, detailed articles about the attractions at each destination, and recommended hotels.
This itinerary includes 3 of Canada's largest and most famous cities. However, it also integrates amazing natural sites such as Niagara Falls and the Thousand Islands.
It starts and ends in two cities with direct flights from Israel: Montreal and Toronto.
Route Map:
♦ Link to Google Map with the route
Destinations Along the Route
Destination |
|
Overnight Days |
Montreal |
3 |
|
Ottawa |
1-2 |
|
Thousand Islands |
|
1-2 |
Toronto |
2-3 |
|
Niagara Falls |
|
2-3 |
Toronto |
|
1 |
Total trip days: 10-14 days.
Route length: 900 km. Total driving time without stops: about 10 hours.
Destinations and Recommended Accommodations and Articles for Each Destination on the Route:
Each destination includes a link to a detailed article of mine featuring photos, attractions, and essential tourist information.
Montreal
Montreal is one of the most diverse cities in North America. It blends old with new, European culture with American culture, sports with concerts. The official language of the city (and the entire province of Quebec) is French, but residents speak fluent English. Sitting on an island, Montreal is considered the most romantic city in Canada.
Montreal is also a wonderful destination for fans of entertainment, action, and of course shopping.
Nature lovers and active recreation enthusiasts will enjoy taking a day or multi-day trip to the nearby natural park: Mont-Tremblant.
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Article: ◄ Family Trip to Montreal
Ottawa
Ottawa, Canada's capital city, is located in the province of Ontario, about 200 km (about two and a half hours) west of Montreal. The city is known for its impressive government buildings that offer tours, as well as its large, numerous, and diverse museums. Highly recommended: National Gallery of Canada, Canadian Museum of Nature, Canadian War Museum, Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Royal Canadian Mint building.
Recommended Hotels in Ottawa:
Fairmont Chateau Laurier Gold Experience- The most luxurious and impressive hotel in the city. A 5-star resort featuring an indoor pool, fitness center, free bike rentals for guests, restaurant, and an art gallery. The hotel is housed in an impressive castle with large, pampering double rooms (maximum 3 per room). Free Wi-Fi. Parking for an additional fee.
Swiss Hotel- A 3-star hotel located in the city center. Adults only. Double rooms only, some with hot tubs and fireplaces. Free Wi-Fi. The hotel does not have parking.
Residence Inn by Marriott Ottawa Airport- A quality suite hotel from the Marriott chain located north of the airport and south of the city center. Features spacious studio units and one-bedroom suites suitable for 2-6 guests. Each suite has a fully equipped kitchen. Features an indoor swimming pool and fitness center. Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi and parking.
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Ottawa Airport- A 3-star hotel from the Marriott chain. Located next to the airport with spacious rooms and suites suitable for 2-6 guests. Features a fitness center and hot tub. Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi and parking.
Recommended Attractions in Ottawa:
- Parliament Hill guided tour. A successful (free) guided tour is offered on-site. It is also recommended to take the elevator up to the bell tower observation deck for scenic views.
- A visit to Ottawa's charming ByWard Market is highly recommended, considered one of the most vibrant and successful markets in Canada.
- A visit to the Royal Canadian Mint where you can watch the Canadian coin manufacturing process.
- A visit to the Rideau Canal, where you can watch how boats are raised and lowered manually through the locks.
Recommended guided tours in the city to book via Viator:
♦ Ottawa River cruise along various city highlights: Ottawa Boat Cruise - Paul's Boat Line
♦ Guided bike tour in Ottawa, lasting about 2 hours: 2Hour Ottawa Express City Bike Tour
♦ 4-hour guided vehicle tour of Ottawa's main attractions: Ottawa Premium City Tour with Parliament Hill & Canal Cruise
Thousand Islands
The Thousand Islands are an archipelago actually comprising 1,864 islands located in the St. Lawrence River, forming the border between Canada and the US. Some islands belong to Canada (in the province of Ontario) and others to the US. Some islands are tiny while others are large; some are inhabited, but most are not. Some are privately owned, and others belong to national parks.
The town of Gananoque in the Thousand Islands is a great lodging base for travelers visiting the area. Located about 170 km southwest of Ottawa (about a two-hour drive), it is a picturesque town considered one of the most beautiful waterfront towns in all of Eastern Canada.
In the Thousand Islands, it is recommended to go up 1000 Islands Tower located near the US border on Hill Island. The tower offers fantastic views of the area, the islands, and the St. Lawrence Channel. It is also worth taking a scenic guided boat tour that navigates among some of the islands. Another option: renting a boat for self-guided cruising, including stops at some islands and fishing right off the deck. Kayak enthusiasts can set out on a self-guided or guided kayak tour in the area.
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♥ Recommended Hotels in Gananoque
♦ Comfort Inn & Suites Thousand Islands Harbour District
♦ Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites 1000 Islands - Gananoque
Toronto
Toronto is located about a 3-hour drive (290 km) from Gananoque. Toronto, the capital of the province of Ontario, is the largest city in Canada. About 2.8 million residents live in the city itself, and together with its surrounding metropolitan area, there are over 6 million residents. Toronto is Canada's financial center and one of North America's most important and safest cities.
It is definitely desirable to dedicate a visit of several days to this impressive city, but if time is short, you can manage with a trip of at least two days in this beautiful, cosmopolitan city that blends old with new and visit its main attractions.
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Article: ◄ Trip to Toronto City
Niagara Falls
The town of Niagara Falls, Canada, where it is recommended to stay, is about 130 km away (about an hour and a half from downtown Toronto, without traffic).
The Canadian side of the falls is much more impressive than the American side and features many diverse attractions, both related and unrelated to the falls. Nearby lies another magical town called Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is highly recommended to visit.
Niagara Falls consists of two massive waterfalls located on the Niagara River, which forms the border between New York State, USA, and Ontario, Canada. The falls feature numerous tourist attractions, and the huge volume of arriving tourists encourages developers to continuously add new attractions.
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Articles: ◄ The Mighty Niagara Falls ◄ New Attractions in Niagara Falls
End of the Itinerary:
You cannot drop off a rental car picked up in Canada across the border in the United States, so the most convenient and affordable option after touring and staying in Niagara Falls is to return to Toronto and fly out from there. If your flight is in the afternoon or evening, there is no need to split your stay in Toronto—you can drive directly from the falls to Toronto Airport, which is located west of the city.
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I recommend renting a car for the trip through the website:
♦ Car Rental from Rentalcars.com :
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