Best Small Town Escapes Near Ottawa
Eastern Ontario and western Quebec are full of small towns that make for an easy escape from Ottawa. Some sit along the Rideau Canal, others are tucked into river valleys or perched on the edge of the Canadian Shield. The best ones have good food, a bit of history, and enough to fill a slow afternoon without feeling like you need an itinerary. Here are the towns worth driving to.
Merrickville
Distance from Ottawa: 60 minutes south via Highway 416 and County Road 43.
Merrickville calls itself the "Jewel of the Rideau," and for once the self-appointed title is not far off. The town sits on the Rideau Canal between two sets of locks, and the main street is lined with stone heritage buildings that house galleries, antique shops, and a handful of good restaurants.
The Goose and Gridiron on St. Lawrence Street has a patio overlooking the canal and serves solid pub food. Mrs. McGarrigle's Fine Food Shop sells locally made mustards, preserves, and sauces. Merrickville Glassworks is worth a stop even if you are not buying, just to watch the glass blowers at work.
Walk along the canal towpath to watch boats locking through in summer. The locks here are hand-operated by Parks Canada staff using the same mechanisms from the 1830s. The town is small enough to cover on foot in about two hours, making it ideal as a half-day trip or a stop on a longer scenic drive.
Almonte
Distance from Ottawa: 45 minutes west via Highway 417 and County Road 49.
Almonte sits on the Mississippi River (not the famous one, this is the Ontario version) and has quietly become one of the most interesting small towns in the Ottawa Valley. The old mill buildings have been converted into shops, restaurants, and studios, and the town has a creative energy that feels genuine rather than manufactured.
Heirloom Cafe on Mill Street is the standout restaurant, with a farm-to-table menu that changes weekly. Baker Bob's does excellent bread and pastries. Mill Street Books is an independent bookstore that hosts readings and has a carefully curated selection.
In summer, the Almonte Riverwalk follows the Mississippi River through town and past a series of small waterfalls. The Textile Museum, housed in a former woolen mill, tells the story of the town's industrial past. In fall, Almonte is one of the best leaf-peeping destinations within easy reach of Ottawa.
The town hosts Puppets Up!, an international puppet festival in August that draws families from across the region. It is quirky, well-organized, and genuinely entertaining for all ages.
Perth
Distance from Ottawa: About 75 minutes southwest via Highway 7.
Perth is one of the oldest towns in the Ottawa Valley, founded in 1816 as a military settlement. The downtown has been well preserved, with limestone and sandstone buildings along Gore Street and Foster Street that give the town a distinctly 19th-century feel.
The Perth Pie Co. on Gore Street East bakes both sweet and savoury pies and is reason enough to make the drive. Fiddleheads on Wilson Street serves refined Canadian cuisine in a beautifully restored stone building. The Stewart Park Festival in July brings free live music to the park along the Tay River.
Perth also has a Mammoth Cheese Monument, commemorating a 10-ton block of cheese produced locally in 1893 for the Chicago World's Fair. It is exactly as odd as it sounds, and kids find it hilarious. The Perth Museum on Gore Street is small but well done, and the town's heritage walking tour takes about an hour.
Wakefield
Distance from Ottawa: About 35 minutes north via Highway 5 into Quebec.
Wakefield is a village in the Gatineau Hills, straddling the Gatineau River. It is the closest of these escapes and feels like a different world from Ottawa, with wooded hills, a covered bridge, and a main street with maybe a dozen shops and restaurants.
Biscotti and Co. is a bakery and cafe on Riverside Drive that does excellent coffee and pastries. The Wakefield Mill is a historic inn and spa with a dining room overlooking MacLaren Falls. The Black Sheep Inn on Main Street is a live music venue that has hosted surprisingly big acts for a village this small.
In summer, you can swim in the Gatineau River, kayak, or hike in the surrounding hills. The covered bridge on Mill Road is a replica of the original that burned in 1984, and it is a popular photo stop. In winter, the hills around Wakefield offer cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Wakefield works well as a half-day trip or as a stop on the way to or from Gatineau Park.
Westport
Distance from Ottawa: About 90 minutes southwest via Highway 15.
Westport sits at the western end of Upper Rideau Lake, at the highest point of the Rideau Canal system. It is a tiny place, maybe 600 people, but it has an outsized charm. The village is built around a small harbour, and the views across the lake to the Frontenac Arch are stunning.
The Cove Country Inn on Bedford Street serves well-prepared Canadian food and has a patio with lake views. Artemisia is a small shop selling local art and gifts. The Foley Mountain Conservation Area just outside town has a short trail to a lookout over the lake that is one of the best views in eastern Ontario.
Westport is more remote than the other towns on this list, but it rewards the drive. It feels genuinely removed from the city in a way that closer towns do not quite manage.
Kemptville
Distance from Ottawa: About 45 minutes south via Highway 416.
Kemptville is more of a practical stop than a destination, but it has been growing in recent years and has a few things worth seeing. The Kemptville Campus, the former agricultural college, now hosts the Grenville Park Bakery, farmers' markets, and seasonal events. The downtown stretch along Prescott Street has antique shops and a few cafes.
Kemptville works best as a stop on the way to or from Merrickville or Upper Canada Village, rather than a standalone trip. Its location at the intersection of Highway 416 and County Road 43 makes it a natural rest point for families heading south.
Chelsea
Distance from Ottawa: About 20 minutes north via Highway 5 into Quebec.
Chelsea is a small municipality in the Gatineau Hills, best known for Les Fougeres, one of the best restaurants in the entire Ottawa region. The restaurant sits in a converted stone house on Old Chelsea Road and serves a seasonal menu built almost entirely from local and foraged ingredients. Reservations are essential.
Chelsea Pub on Old Chelsea Road is a more casual option with live music and a patio. The Nordik Spa-Nature on Chemin Nordik is one of the largest outdoor spas in North America, with hot and cold pools, saunas, and treatment rooms set in the forest. It is not cheap (day passes start around $80), but it is a memorable experience.
Chelsea is also the main access point for the southern section of Gatineau Park, making it easy to combine a hike or swim with a meal.
Making the Most of a Small Town Trip
Most of these towns are at their best from May through October, when shops are open, patios are set up, and the countryside is green. Several close or reduce hours in winter, so check ahead if you are visiting between November and April.
Combine two or three towns into a loop for a full day out. A popular route runs from Ottawa south to Merrickville, west to Perth, and back via Almonte. The total drive is about 3 hours, plus time in each town. For route ideas, see our scenic drives guide.
If you are travelling with kids, Merrickville and Almonte are the most family-friendly options, with walkable main streets and things to look at that hold young attention. For a broader list of family day trips, including wildlife parks and hands-on attractions, see our family day trips guide. And if you are looking for overnight options rather than day trips, our easy getaways guide covers towns where you might want to stay the night. For weekend planning in Ottawa itself, start with our 48-hour itinerary.