5 short but sweet ferry rides near Ottawa that are perfect for summer adventures
Ahoy ye landgrubber! ⛴️
Person at the Lakeside Motel in Prince Edward County. Right: Wolfe Island ferry.
Have you ever gone on Google Maps, looked somewhere in Ottawa, and then zoomed out? If you did, you probably noticed that Ottawa, despite being a 5-hour drive away from the massive Great Lakes and an 8-hour drive away from the vast Atlantic Ocean, has plenty of water surrounding our nation's capital (in the form of rivers and lakes).
And with the Thousand Island just down the road, ferries are a typical form of transportation across the Ottawa Valley and the Outaouais Region across the river. Each ferry has its own flare and independent charm, taking ferry-goers to day-trip-worthy destinations all over.
After all, who doesn't love a ferryboat ride? It's time to embrace your inner little kid who loves a boat that goes toot-toot, so toss that sailor's hat on and scrub the poop deck.
Without any further adieu, here are five short and sweet ferry rides that are perfect for a summer adventure with the squad.
Wolfe Island Ferry
Price: Free
When: 7 days a week, 5:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Address: 275 Ontario St, Kingston, ON
Why You Need To Go: The Wolfe Island Ferry is quite possibly one of the most well-known ferries in Eastern Ontario. It leads to the largest of the 1000 islands, Wolfe Island! Hop on board and take a 20-minute journey from downtown Kingston, enjoying the scenic views along the way.
Wolfe Island has an East Coast vibe and is only two hours from Ottawa. It has a beautiful, long, white sandy beach, wind turbines everywhere the eye can see, and incredibly sweet and approachable locals. There's also a small ferry to a neighbouring farming island, Simcoe Island, which is $5 for vehicles and $2 for bikes.
It's perfect for a romantic weekend getaway from the city or a day trip with the fellas. It's a surprisingly bikable island, and bikes are only $25 to rent at Cycle Wolfe Island in Marysville (cash only). Big Sandy Bay Beach is a short drive from Marysville and costs $15 per adult and $10 if you arrive on a bike.
Ferries depart from the downtown Kingston ferry dock every hour, on the hour, and like most of the ferries on this list, operate on a first-come-first-serve basis. Cars, bikes, and pedestrians are welcome onboard, and a yellow school bus will be waiting at the ferry dock in Wolfe Island to shuttle passengers to Marysville, the largest village on the island
Amherst Island Ferry
Price: $10 - $20 per vehicle, $2.00 for motorcycles, $1.50 for bikes, and ferry passage is free for pedestrians.
When: 7 days a week, 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Address: Millhaven Ferry, 5604 Bath Rd #5594, Bath, ON
Why You Need To Go: To the east of Wolfe Island is the smaller but equally charming Amherst Island, a 20-minute ferry ride from Millhaven Ferry to the tiny village of Stella and only a two-hour drive from downtown Ottawa.
Similar to Wolfe Island, the best way to navigate Amherst Island is by car or bicycle. Bike rentals are available in Stella, right near the ferry dock. There's a large picturesque beach called Back Beach that wraps around a large chunk of the southern coast of the island.
Unlike Wolfe Island, though, the beach on Amherst Island is free to use, as it's part of a public park. A few Airbnb rentals are also available for those searching for an island vacation.
Glenglora Ferry
Price: Free
When: 7 days a week, 6 a.m. to 1:15 a.m.
Address: 11245 Hwy 33, Greater Napanee, ON
Why You Need To Go: Prince Edward County is a shining gem of Lake Ontario and feels just like an island! Head over to the Adolphustown Ferry Dock and hop on a quick ferry ride across the narrow crossing to Glenora.
Prince Edward County is an ideal destination for driving around and exploring—and there's much to see! Drive on over to the heart of Prince Edward Country, Prince Edward, for a small charming town filled to the brim with gorgeous heritage homes, cutesy birdhouses, and tasty restaurants.
Once you've had your fill of town, drive on over to one of the most well-known beaches in Ontario — Sand Banks Provincial Park. This incredibly long beach has a sand dune-like appearance.
And if you're a big wine fan, don't forget to check out Closson Chase Vineyards, which is a local winery with an iconic purple-coloured barn.
Horne Ferry
Price: $30 - $10 per vehicle ($5 if returning on the same day) and $5 for bikes and pedestrians.
When: 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Address: Horne Transportation, 2262 Highway 95, Wolfe Island, ON
Why You Need To Go: Heads up, you'll need a passport for this one! On the other side of Wolfe Island is the Horne Ferry, which transports passengers from the gorgeous Wolfe Island to the charming waterside village of Cape Vincent in upstate New York. Since this departs from Wolfe Island, you must also take the Wolfe Island Ferry in Kingston, which is free, to get to Cape Vincent.
Despite being in upstate New York, Cape Vincent is a magnificent little town with surprisingly French vibes. It's rumoured that Napoleon himself ran away to Cape Vincent after being exiled from Europe. This little slice of heaven is filled with vibrantly coloured homes, a picturesque lighthouse, restaurants, and pretty little shops.
Tibbetts Point Lighthouse is only an 8-minute drive or a 14-minute bike ride from Cape Vincent. It is an incredible sight and incredibly picture-ready.
Masson / Cumberland Ferry
Price: $13 - $21 per vehicle, $2 for bikes and pedestrians.
When: 24/7
Address Traversier Ecolos, 700 Onesime Guibord Rd, Rockland, ON.
Why You Need To Go: Only a 45-minute drive from the heart of Ottawa is a small ferry connecting Clarence-Rockland to the small Quebec village of Thurso. Hop on board, take the incredibly brief ride across the Ottawa River, and arrive in Thurso.
Thurso is a pretty average Quebec village, but right next to the ferry terminal is an incredibly unique hiking trail that leads through a strip of land surrounded by water on either side and stretches out almost 10 kilometres. The trail has a $10 entrance fee, making it relatively secluded and worth it if you want to change things up for your next hike.
This ferry is also good. If you're looking to make your road trip to Quebec a bit more interesting, rather than taking one of the bridges in the city, take the ferry to Clarence-Rockland instead.
Stay safe, and land aho!
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