My husband & I are flying to Toronto, arriving at 10:30am, and after picking up our rental vehicle we will be driving to Ottawa.

1. How long, really, is the drive? One site states 5.5 hours, another site lists 4.5 hours.

2. Does anyone have suggestions for where we could stop for an early lunch?

We're planning on eating at Friday's in Ottawa for dinner. What are thoughts about that?

Thank you.

The drive is about 4.5 or 5 hours (max). I love Friday's. Ask for their special: soup or salad, choice of main course, dessert for $21.75 OR dinner for two $59.75 which includes a bottle of wine! Enjoy

Friends drove to Toronto from Ottawa Friday night and it took over 6 hours, due to a detour at the 416/401 interchange. And invariably when I drive across Toronto on the 401, there is a smouldering tanker or a semi on its side, which tends to slow down the traffic. But 5 hours is conservative without those incidents.

You are staying at the uber-hip, ultra trendy Le Germain in Toronto and eating at Friday's, probably the most old fashioned traditional restaurant in Ottawa? Eclectic tastes, for sure.

Several thoughts --

The time to Ottawa depends, of course, on what you count as leaving and arrivng. Downtown to downtown, or city limits to city limits?

From the Toronto International Airport to downtown Ottawa, assuming no traffic jams and leaving the airport about 11:30, should take under 5 hours, allowing time to stop once for coffee and donuts at a Tim Horton's along the way.

There's no-where to eat on the way.

That, of course, is not really true, but assiming you're in your rental car and leaving the airport grounds around 11:30, you've got 40 minutes worth of driving across the top of Toronto, and you're probably in a mind-set of getting some miles in.

There are restaurants in Port Hope and Cobourg that are good, but I wonder if you really want to stop and spend an hour and a half looking for the restaurant and enjoying a leisurely meal, when you have Ottawa as a target.

My own temptation would be to stop at a Tim Horton's along the highway or just off the highway; there's always one nearby, and have some soup and a sandwich.

Then when you get to Kingston, drive downtown, park near the waterfront park, go for a walk and get a snack or some ice cream, and then get back in the car and head for Ottawa, looking froward to a good dinner. The pause in Kingston will add about an hour to your trip, but it will be fun and a nice break.

BAK

I would concur with BAK: grab a quick bite along the highway and stop in Kingston to stretch your legs.

I disagree with BAK - there's a great little restuarant in Kingston called Chez Piggy - it's a little off the 401 but worth the detour.

The drive should take you no more than 4.5 hours at that hour of the day.

Friday's is a very traditional, old fashioned roast beef restaurant - you could definitely do much better in Ottawa than that...but I don't know what you like or what your price range is...newest place in town is Beckta's on Nepean St, just west of bank St. Fantastic food, a little pricey but worth it...

Kingston is a great stopping point. I have to concur with the previous poster - Chez Piggy is definitely worth a visit! Enjoy your trip.

My two cents as well - definitely get out in Kingston and eat at Chez Piggy's. Don't really think much of the food at Friday's - found the food and service to be disappointing.

Beckta is great!

Good thinking folks -- the traveller asks about an early lunch, and your advice is to drive two and a half hours.

You're in business if you want to answer questions that were not asked, of course.

And Chex Piggy is good, if you want a fancy, expensive lunch mid-afternoon, before driving to Ottawa for another meal that's already planned.

But that was not the scenario painted by the poster.

BAK