One-Day Trips from Ottawa: Explore Brockville in a Day (2 Hours Away)
- Anu ranasinghe
- Jun 30
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 4
#Travel Canada with Us #DayTripsFromOttawa #1
Looking for an easy family day trip from Ottawa that's packed with fun, nature, history, and beautiful waterfront views?
After visiting Brockville a few times over the years, we've found this itinerary works really well, especially if you're travelling with kids. Best of all, it's only about a two-hour drive from Ottawa, making it perfect for a spring, summer, or fall adventure.
One thing about our family is... most of our one-day adventures aren't planned weeks in advance. 😄
More often than not, the conversation starts the night before or even over breakfast that morning!
"Where shall we go today?"
After a quick weather check and a little Google search, we're usually on the road a couple of hours later.
Over the years, we've discovered some wonderful destinations within a 2–3 hour drive of Ottawa that make perfect family day trips.
Brockville is one of those places we've returned to a few times because it offers a little bit of everything, interactive fun for the kids, beautiful waterfront views, history, great food, and a relaxed atmosphere.
If you're looking for an easy day trip from Ottawa that the whole family will enjoy, here's the itinerary we followed.
A Little History about Brockville
Nestled along the beautiful St. Lawrence River, Brockville is one of Ontario's oldest communities and proudly holds the distinction of being Ontario's first incorporated town, receiving its charter in 1832. Its strategic waterfront location made it an important port for shipping, trade, and transportation long before Canada's railway network expanded.
Brockville played a significant role in Canada's early railway history. It is home to Canada's first railway tunnel, an impressive engineering achievement built between 1854 and 1860. The 527-metre tunnel was constructed to connect the timber trade of the Ottawa Valley with the busy shipping routes on the St. Lawrence River. Today, the beautifully restored tunnel welcomes visitors with an immersive light and sound experience, making it one of the city's most unique attractions.
As Brockville grew throughout the 19th century, it became a thriving centre for shipping, manufacturing, and railway transportation. Many of its elegant limestone buildings, heritage homes, and historic downtown streets still reflect that prosperous era, giving the city a timeless charm.
Today, Brockville perfectly blends its rich history with scenic waterfront views, a vibrant downtown, and easy access to the breathtaking Thousand Islands region, making it one of Eastern Ontario's most rewarding places to explore.
Our One-Day Brockville Itinerary
8:00 -9:00 AM – Leave Ottawa
Have breakfast at home before you leave and pack a picnic lunch if you can. It'll save money and you'll get to enjoy lunch by the beautiful St. Lawrence River.
Drive time:🚗 Approximately 2 hours from Ottawa
10:00 -11:00 AM – Arrive at the Aquatarium
If you're travelling with children, this is easily the highlight of the day.
While the Aquatarium has fewer live animals than it did a few years ago, there are still plenty of interactive exhibits that kept our boys entertained for hours.
Some of our favourite experiences included:
🦦 Watching the otter and beaver feeding (arrive by 10:00 AM if you don't want to miss it!)
🌊 Interactive water play stations
🚣 Rowing simulator
🧗 Indoor climbing wall
✋ Hands-on touch tanks where children can gently touch live aquatic creatures, including starfish, toads, spider crabs, and other fascinating species.
🐟 Educational exhibits showcasing the wildlife and ecosystems of the St. Lawrence River and the Thousand Islands.
It's the kind of place where kids can learn through play, making it both educational and fun for the whole family.
1:00 PM – Picnic at the Waterfront
One of our favourite parts of the day.
Pack sandwiches, fruit, snacks, or leftovers and enjoy lunch under the large shade trees beside the river.
There are plenty of picnic tables, beautiful views, and public washrooms nearby.
If you don't feel like packing lunch, Brockville also has several cafés and restaurants within walking distance.
This was one of our kids' favourite ( not only kids' parents' too ;) )experiences in Brockville!
The AQ Train is a fun way to explore the waterfront and downtown without doing too much walking. The miniature road train takes you past many of Brockville's highlights, including Canada's first railway tunnel, a National Historic Site that's well worth exploring.
Good to know: You can explore the railway tunnel on foot or arrive by the AQ Train. If you have the time, we highly recommend doing both! Walking through the tunnel lets you enjoy the full light and sound experience at your own pace, while the train ride is a fun attraction in itself, especially for kids.
Brockville Railway Tunnel
Now open for the 2026 season!
🕘 Open daily: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
AQ Train (2026)
🚂 Runs: June 19 – August 30, 2026
📅 Operating Days: 7 days a week
🕥 First Departure: 10:40 AM
🕟 Last Departure: 4:40 PM
⏱️ Runs approximately every 20 minutes
💲 Approximately $7.50 per rider - The discounted Aquatarium AQ Train (Brockville) ticket price , in celebration of the attraction's 10-year anniversary
🌦️ Operates weather permitting
You can book your AQ Train tickets online before your visit.
Tip: Always check the latest operating hours, train schedule, and ticket prices before visiting. The AQ Train is seasonal and typically does not operate during the winter months.
Watch the full video of train ride below.
2:30 PM – Thousand Islands Cruise
If you have extra time, treat yourself to one of the Thousand Islands sightseeing cruises.
You'll experience:
Beautiful river scenery - Traiditional sightseeing cruises are about 1.5 -2.25 hours.
Historic islands
Millionaire's Row
Stories about the region's fascinating history, It's one of the best ways to experience Brockville.
You can find more information here.
4:00 PM – Ice Cream & Downtown Walk
No family day trip is complete without ice cream!
Grab a cone from one of the local shops and take a leisurely walk through historic downtown Brockville.
You'll find:
Boutique shops
Historic buildings
River views
Public art
Plenty of photo opportunities
Things to Remember
✔ Leave Ottawa around 8.00 AM - 9:00 AM.
✔ Bring your own picnic lunch.
✔ Bring hats, sunscreen, and water.
✔ Check Aquatarium hours before leaving.
✔ Check whether the waterfront train is operating (it usually runs seasonally).
✔ Consider an annual family membership if you plan to visit often during the summer.
✔ Don't forget your camera, the waterfront is beautiful!
Final Thoughts
Sometimes the best family adventures don't require a long drive or expensive vacation.
For us, Brockville has become one of those places we keep coming back to. Between the Aquatarium, waterfront picnic, mini train, Thousand Islands cruise, and relaxed downtown atmosphere, it's an easy and enjoyable day trip from Ottawa for families with children.
Have you visited Brockville? I'd love to hear what your favourite stop was!
Happy Reading!
Anu
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