Option 1: Driving
- Travel time: ~2 hours
- Highway 417 (Ontario) and Autoroute 40 (Québec) directly connect Montréal and Ottawa by freeway.
- Pros: Fastest option outside of rush hour, direct, flexible if your destination is in the suburbs
- Cons: Rush hour traffic in both cities, paying for parking can be expensive
- The gist: Driving between Montréal and Ottawa is a convenient option but be wary of traffic and expensive pay parking.
Option 2: Intercity Train
- Travel time: ~2 hours
- Via Rail Canada offers multiple daily departures between Montreal Central Station and Ottawa Station.
- Fares: Starting at $42 CDN
- Pros: Fast, comfortable seating, business class, wi-fi, drinks and food available to purchase, convenient onward transit connections
- Cons: Few late night options, delays, very expensive if not booking in advance, Ottawa Station is not downtown
- The gist: VIA Rail is a fast and relaxing way to travel but be sure to book well in advance to save and be aware of delays.
Option 3: Intercity Bus
- Travel time: ~2-3 hours
- Several Intercity carriers offer frequent, direct, daily coach bus service between Montreal Coach Terminal (Gare d’autocars de Montréal) and Ottawa. Unfortunately, Ottawa does not have a central bus terminal. Coaches depart from either Ottawa (Tremblay) Station (VIA Rail, O-Train) or the nearby St-Laurent Station (O-Train). Surprisingly, given the size of these two cities, this route doesn’t have a multitude of carriers operating.
- Orléans Express
- Ottawa – Train Station (Tremblay)
- Autobus Matheux
- Fares: Starting at $45 CDN
- Pros: Budget friendly, flexibility, express services, wi-fi, outlets
- Cons: Long travel time, less space than train, traffic delays, lack of downtown-to-downtown service, surprising lack of agency options
- The gist: Coach bus service between Montréal and Ottawa is competitive and frequent with multiple options to choose from. Some routes conveniently stop at the
Option 4: Airplane
- Travel time: ~1 hour not including check-in, security and transit to downtown (~3 hours total when factored in)
- Air Canada andPropair offer multiple daily flights between Montreal International Airport (YUL) and Ottawa Airport (YOW).
- Fares: Starting at $280 CDN
- Pros: Fastest, direct, multiple carriers to choose from
- Cons: Expensive, travelling to/from the airport, check in/security times, high carbon output, less scenic
- The gist: Flying is a fast and convenient option. But a very expensive option if you don’t book far enough in advance.
Option 5: Shuttle Bus
- Travel time: ~2 hours
- Tour Express offers daily shuttle bus service between Montréal and Ottawa.
- Montréal – 1597 Rue St-Hubert, Montreal Airport
- Fares: Starting at $44.00 CDN
- Pros: Direct, ideal for students, direct service to Montréal Airport (YUL)
- Cons: Small buses, few amenities, no proper terminal to terminal service, aside from airport few onwards transit connections
- The gist: A good, direct option if you are travelling light.
Option 6: Carpool
- Travel time: ~2 hours
- Poparide offers several carpool rides between Montréal and Ottawa.
- Fares: Starting at $20 CDN
- Pros: Very budget friendly
- Cons: Traffic, risk of cancellations, less predictable
- The gist: With lots of commuters driving between the two cities, there are plenty of drivers offering rides. Be wary of who you are carpooling with.