You're standing in downtown Montreal. Maybe you've just finished a smoked meat sandwich at Schwartz’s, or you're staring at the clock in a generic office building near Place Ville Marie. You need to get to the nation's capital. The question isn't just a number on a map; it's about how much of your day is about to disappear into the 417 or the 40.
So, how far is Ottawa from Montreal?
The short answer is about 200 kilometers. But honestly, if you’ve ever driven it on a snowy Friday afternoon in February, you know that "200 kilometers" is a dirty lie told by GPS satellites that don't understand Canadian winters. Depending on where you start in Montreal—because the island is huge—the distance fluctuates. From the West Island, you're looking at a breezy 165 km. From the East End? You're pushing 210 km.
It's a weirdly short hop that feels long because the scenery on Highway 417 is, frankly, a bit repetitive. It's mostly trees, flat farmland, and the occasional glare of a Tim Hortons sign.
The geography of the Ottawa-Montreal corridor
Let's break down the actual physical space. Most people assume there’s just one way to do this, but the distance changes based on your philosophy of travel.
If you take the most direct route—Highway 40 in Quebec which magically turns into Highway 417 once you cross the Ontario border—the distance is roughly 190 to 200 kilometers (118 to 124 miles). Most drivers can knock this out in 2 hours flat if the traffic gods are smiling. They usually aren't.
Then you have the "scenic" route.
Some people prefer taking Route 148 on the Quebec side (the North Shore). It’s slower. It’s about 210 kilometers. It takes you through small towns like Lachute and Montebello. It’s beautiful, especially in the fall when the leaves are doing their thing, but it adds at least 45 minutes to your trip because of the lower speed limits and the occasional tractor.
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The physical distance is just one part of the equation. You have to account for the "Montreal Factor." Leaving downtown Montreal at 4:30 PM? That 200 km might as well be 500 km. You'll spend an hour just trying to get off the island and past Vaudreuil-Dorion.
How far is Ottawa from Montreal by train or bus?
Not everyone wants to drive. I get it. The 417 is boring.
VIA Rail is the classic choice. The train distance is almost identical to the driving distance, but the experience is worlds apart. You leave from Gare Centrale and arrive at the Ottawa station on Tremblay Road. The ride is usually between 1 hour and 50 minutes to 2 hours and 20 minutes.
The cool thing about the train? You bypass the traffic. While drivers are losing their minds in a construction zone near Rigaud, you're sipping a coffee and looking at a cow in a field.
Then there's the bus. Since Greyhound folded its Canadian operations a few years back, companies like Orléans Express have filled the gap. The distance hasn't changed, but the stops have. If you catch an express bus, it’s the same 2-hour window. If it makes stops in places like Kirkland or Casselman, add another 30 minutes.
Air travel: Is it even worth it?
People actually ask this. Can you fly?
Technically, yes. Air Canada often runs "Rapidair" flights between Montreal-Trudeau (YUL) and Ottawa International (YOW). The flight distance is about 150 km as the crow flies.
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The flight itself takes maybe 35 to 45 minutes. But here is the reality: by the time you get to YUL two hours early, clear security, fly, land, and take a cab into downtown Ottawa, you could have driven there, had a Beavertail on the canal, and driven halfway back. It's almost never worth it unless you're connecting to a long-haul flight.
Why the "time distance" matters more than the "km distance"
In Canada, we don't measure distance in kilometers. We measure it in hours.
If you ask a local "how far is Ottawa from Montreal," they won't say "199 kilometers." They’ll say, "Eh, about two hours, maybe two-fifteen."
This is because the infrastructure between these two cities is a lifeline. Thousands of people commute—maybe not daily, but weekly—between the two. You have government workers living in Montreal who need to be in the capital for meetings, and Montrealers heading to Ottawa for the museums or the tulip festival.
The Winter Variable
Everything I just said goes out the window from December to March. A "2-hour drive" can easily become a 4-hour survival mission. The stretch of highway near the Ontario-Quebec border is notorious for whiteout conditions. The wind whips across the fields and turns the 417 into a skating rink. If you're planning a trip in winter, the distance remains 200 km, but the mental energy required makes it feel like a trek across the Arctic.
Stopping along the way: Making the 200km count
Since it’s a short trip, most people just power through. That’s a mistake. If you have an extra hour, there are spots that make the distance feel shorter by breaking it up.
- Montebello: If you take the 148, you have to stop at the Fairmont Le Château Montebello. It’s the world’s largest log cabin. Even just seeing the lobby is worth the detour.
- St-Albert: Slightly off the path of the 417 is the St-Albert Cheese Factory. Honestly, you haven't lived until you've had cheese curds so fresh they actually squeak against your teeth. It’s a literal rite of passage for people traveling between these two cities.
- Rigaud: The "last stop" in Quebec. There are some great sugar shacks around here if it's springtime.
Beyond the pavement: The Ottawa River
We often forget that Ottawa and Montreal are connected by water. The Ottawa River was the original highway. Explorers and fur traders covered this distance by canoe for centuries.
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While you probably aren't going to paddle to your business meeting, it's worth noting that the river roughly follows the path of the land travel. The river distance is slightly longer because of the bends and turns, totaling around 210 kilometers of navigable waterway. There’s a certain romance in knowing that while you’re hitting 110 km/h on the highway, the ghost of Samuel de Champlain probably did the same trip at 5 km/h.
Comparing the trip to other Canadian routes
To give you some perspective on how close these cities really are:
- Montreal to Quebec City: ~255 km (Longer, feels like a real "trip")
- Montreal to Toronto: ~540 km (The "Big One," usually a grueling 5-6 hours)
- Ottawa to Toronto: ~450 km (A solid 4.5 hours)
Montreal and Ottawa are essentially neighbors. In some parts of the world, 200 km is a massive distance. In the context of the vastness of Canada, it’s practically a walk to the corner store.
Practical tips for your trip
If you're making this trek soon, here's the "expert" advice you didn't ask for but definitely need.
Gas up in Ontario if you can.
Historically, gas is a few cents cheaper once you cross the border into Ontario. It’s not a huge saving on a 200 km trip, but it feels like a win. There are several stations right at the border near Bainsville or Lancaster if you take the southern route (Hwy 20 to 401), though the 417 route is more direct.
Watch the speed trap in Casselman.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) loves the stretch of the 417 near Casselman and Embrun. The road is so straight and flat that it’s easy to find yourself doing 130 km/h without realizing it. Don't do it. They’re waiting.
Check the Montreal bridge status.
Before you even leave your house in Montreal, check the bridges. Whether you're taking the Galipeault (Highway 20) or the Île-aux-Tourtes (Highway 40), one of them is inevitably under construction. In 2024 and 2025, the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge has been a nightmare. Sometimes it’s faster to take a longer route off the island just to avoid a 30-minute crawl.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are planning this trip right now, here is exactly what you should do to make the 200 km go by smoothly:
- Check Waze immediately. Don't trust the static distance. If there’s a multi-car pileup near Vaudreuil, you need to know before you get trapped on the bridge.
- Book VIA Rail 2 weeks out. If you decide not to drive, train prices jump significantly if you wait until the last minute. You can get an "Escape" fare for around $45-$60 if you're lucky.
- Download your podcasts. There are several "dead zones" for radio between Rigaud and the outskirts of Ottawa where the signal gets fuzzy.
- Plan for the "Transition." Remember that you're moving between two provinces. The signage will change from French-first to English-first. The driving culture changes slightly too—Ontario drivers tend to stay in the left lane a bit longer than Quebecers would like. Just be patient.
The distance from Ottawa to Montreal is just enough to require a bit of planning, but short enough that you can easily do it for a day trip. Whether it's for the Jazz Fest in Montreal or Winterlude in Ottawa, that 200 km stretch of asphalt is the bridge between two of Canada's most distinct cultures. Pack some snacks, keep an eye on the weather, and enjoy the ride.