Must-Knows When Traveling From Ottawa to Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls will always have a special spot in my heart and will remain one of the most memorable places my family and I have visited together.
Because apart from its panoramic view, the place is also a great spot for fun activities that both locals and tourists could enjoy.
Given that it is relatively close to Ottawa, my family makes it a point to visit the majestic falls at least once or twice a year to unwind and have fun!
How far is Niagara Falls from Ottawa?
Niagara Falls is 371.4 kilometers away from Ottawa. It will take you about 7 hours by car, 8 hours by bus, and 9 hours by train.
The quickest way, however, is to fly from Ottawa to Billy Bishop Toronto City, then take the train service. You’ll get there in about 5 hours for an average cost of $365.
If you’re weighing your options, allow me to provide you with more details regarding the various modes of transportation you can use to get to Niagara Falls.
Getting to Niagara Falls
As mentioned above, there are various ways to get to Niagara Falls from Ottawa – via car, bus, train, or plane. But since there are no direct flights, you will need to transfer to a bus or a train at one point in your travel.
Ottawa to Niagara Falls by Car
Distance: 563 km
Estimated travel time: 6-7 hours
Average cost: $60
As going on a real road trip often comes with stops along the way, it is safe to assume that getting to Niagara Falls would require at least 2 days of driving and about 6 – 7 hours on the road.
The estimated travel time, however, will still depend on how many stops you make and how long you stay for each. If you’re in a hurry, you may go for a non-stop drive, which gets you to Niagara Falls in about 5 hours and 22 minutes.
Ottawa to Niagara Falls by Bus
Distance: 607 km
Estimated travel time: 8-9 hours
Average cost: $77
Traveling to Niagara Falls by bus would take you around 8 – 9 hours to get there. This estimated time already includes the average layover time of approximately 1 hour in total.
Seven buses, which are operated by Red Arrow and Greyhound USA, typically run each week. Schedules on weekends and holidays, however, can change so we recommend checking things out in advance.
To keep track of the latest schedule updates, you may check the Rail bus schedules and the Bank/Gladstone bus schedules.
Ottawa to Niagara Falls by Train
Distance: 576 km
Estimated travel time: 9-10 hours
Average cost: $107
Covering an estimated distance of 576 km, the journey from Ottawa to Niagara Falls via train will take around 9 – 10 hours. The total travel time already takes into account the average layover time of about 1 hour.
Eight trains, which are operated by GO Transit and VIA Rail, typically run each week. Again, since weekend and holiday schedules can vary, we suggest checking train schedules in advance.
Ottawa to Niagara Falls by Plane
Distance: 494 km
Estimated travel time: 5-6 hours
Average cost: $365
Flying non-stop from Ottawa to Niagara Falls on a private plane gets you to your destination in about 58 minutes. Going for a commercial flight, however, would take you roughly 6 hours in total.
This includes all the extra travel time spent at the airports and on the road getting to your destination. For available flight schedules, you might want to check out the following airline carriers: