What do you think of Boston to Ottawa trip?
Sep 12th, 2014, 08:13 AM
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What do you think of Boston to Ottawa trip?
We are planning to drive to Ottawa from Boston in the middle of October (we are couple). It is 7 hrs drive and it is better to stop somewhere on the way in Vermont. Another question about interesting and beautiful places around Ottawa. We were in Montreal and Quebec so we don't plan to stop there.
Sep 12th, 2014, 02:47 PM
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For your planning, Canadian thanksgiving holiday this year is Oct. 13 so the long weekend will influence traffic, hotels etc.
There should still be some fall foliage colour in mid-October although it varies from year to year.
Depending on your route, the drive from the border to Ottawa can be pretty flat. Continuing up the Ottawa River from the capital, the views are much more scenic if you take the Quebec side of the river.
There should still be some fall foliage colour in mid-October although it varies from year to year.
Depending on your route, the drive from the border to Ottawa can be pretty flat. Continuing up the Ottawa River from the capital, the views are much more scenic if you take the Quebec side of the river.
Sep 14th, 2014, 08:05 PM
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no great suggestions but, looking at a map, i'd consider somewhere on the lake for an over night...maybe kingston, on??? never been there. i travelled through vermont once...i was really looking forward to it but i found it very slow (slowing down constantly for small towns) and i figured i'd just find a hotel/motel in the evening but they were very few and far between so next time, i wouldn't "wing it" and have a destination and reservation ready.
Sep 16th, 2014, 08:18 AM
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As interesting and scenic as Kingston may be, it would be a significant detour from the fastest route to Ottawa from Vermont.
I don't know whether you will be entering Canada on the I91 or I89. If on the I91 you will have an autoroute all the way, and if you want an overnight stop there are many pretty Eastern Township towns such as Sutton, Knowlton, North Hatley and Magog along the way not far from Autoroute 10. The I89 is more direct if you are coming from western Vermont, but from the border it is a not very interesting two lane route until you reach St Jean sur Richelieu.
In any event, as you wish to avoid Montréal and its traffic, you will want to follow Autoroute 30 and cross the St. Lawrence on the new bridge near Valleyfield, which will take you onto Autoroute 40 which becomes Hwy 417 at the Ontario border and continues right to Ottawa.
Southam is correct that the 40/417 route is not very interesting or scenic and that the route along the northern shore of the Ottawa river is much nicer. I would not drive all the way through Montréal just to get on it, however. You might want to cross the river at Hawkesbury and continue all the way to Gatineau, crossing the bridge right into the centre of Ottawa with a great view of Parliament Hill.
If you want to stop for the night after Montréal and before Ottawa, I would recommend the Chateau Montebello in Montebello Québec. It's a huge log building which was built originally as a private club but is now a Fairmont Hotels resort.
I hope you enjoy your trip, and would be happy to recommend sights to see and things to do in Ottawa. You did mention interesting towns around Ottawa--there are many worth seeing including Wakefield Québec, and Perth, Almonte and Merrickville in Ontario to name a few.
I don't know whether you will be entering Canada on the I91 or I89. If on the I91 you will have an autoroute all the way, and if you want an overnight stop there are many pretty Eastern Township towns such as Sutton, Knowlton, North Hatley and Magog along the way not far from Autoroute 10. The I89 is more direct if you are coming from western Vermont, but from the border it is a not very interesting two lane route until you reach St Jean sur Richelieu.
In any event, as you wish to avoid Montréal and its traffic, you will want to follow Autoroute 30 and cross the St. Lawrence on the new bridge near Valleyfield, which will take you onto Autoroute 40 which becomes Hwy 417 at the Ontario border and continues right to Ottawa.
Southam is correct that the 40/417 route is not very interesting or scenic and that the route along the northern shore of the Ottawa river is much nicer. I would not drive all the way through Montréal just to get on it, however. You might want to cross the river at Hawkesbury and continue all the way to Gatineau, crossing the bridge right into the centre of Ottawa with a great view of Parliament Hill.
If you want to stop for the night after Montréal and before Ottawa, I would recommend the Chateau Montebello in Montebello Québec. It's a huge log building which was built originally as a private club but is now a Fairmont Hotels resort.
I hope you enjoy your trip, and would be happy to recommend sights to see and things to do in Ottawa. You did mention interesting towns around Ottawa--there are many worth seeing including Wakefield Québec, and Perth, Almonte and Merrickville in Ontario to name a few.
