Seasonal guide · YYZ → YOW

Best Time to Fly: TorontoOttawa

CapitalOttawa
Population41,548,787
CurrencyCAD $ Canadian dollar
LanguageEnglish, French
Time ZoneUTC-04:00 EDT
AirportYOW
Distance363 km
Flight Time55m
Visitors/yr~10,829,942

The honest answer to when you should fly Toronto to Ottawa is mostly about weather and demand at the far end. On three years of daily observations at the arrival airport, Jun-Sep gives the most comfortable combination of temperature and rainfall in Ottawa.

Weather in Ottawa, month by month

Averages below come from three full years of daily readings at Ottawa’s main airport, not from a seasonal generalisation. The warmest month is July (average high 27°C), the coolest is January (average low -13°C), and the wettest is April (135 mm).

MonthAvg highAvg lowRainfallWet daysToronto high
January-5°C-13°C60 mm13-2°C
February-3°C-13°C48 mm100°C
March5°C-5°C80 mm127°C
April12°C1°C135 mm1613°C
May19°C9°C88 mm1419°C
June good24°C14°C118 mm1226°C
July good27°C17°C109 mm1129°C
August good25°C16°C107 mm1126°C
September good23°C12°C40 mm623°C
October16°C7°C74 mm1016°C
November6°C-1°C65 mm128°C
December-1°C-9°C88 mm152°C

Climate data: Open-Meteo reanalysis archive.

Packing for the gap: in September, Ottawa averages 23°C against 23°C in Toronto — close enough that you can pack much as you would at home.

Time difference and jet lag

Ottawa keeps the same clock time as Toronto, so there is no adjustment to plan for and the date you choose is purely about weather and price.

When fares move on this route

We publish observed fares for this route when we have them, and say nothing when we do not — there is no estimate on this page. What holds regardless of the route:

  • The travel date matters more than the booking date. Midweek departures are consistently cheaper than Friday and Sunday, because that is when demand actually sits.
  • Comfortable weather and low fares rarely coincide. Jun-Sep is the pleasant window in Ottawa, which is also when more people want to go. The shoulder weeks either side of it are usually the better value.
  • School holidays and local events override everything. A festival or a public holiday at either end will outweigh any general booking rule.
  • Set an alert rather than watching manually. Fares move at hours you are not looking, and the useful booking window is weeks wide, not days.

Which day to fly

Midweek departures are consistently cheaper than Friday and Sunday on most routes, because that is where demand sits rather than because of any pricing trick. Where we have observed fares for Toronto–Ottawa, the weekday breakdown appears further down this page; where we do not, we leave it out rather than estimate it.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Ottawa?+
What is the weather like in Ottawa?+
What is the time difference between Toronto and Ottawa?+
What is the cheapest day to fly Toronto to Ottawa?+
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Top Activities in Ottawa

Ottawa - Byward Market Food Tour
5.0/5 from 24 reviews · 3.5h · free cancellation
€83 per person
See availability →
Ottawa Ecological Reserve Kayak Tour with TURTLE Sightings
5.0/5 from 23 reviews · 1.8h · free cancellation
€48 per person
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Ottawa Parc Omega Private Tour with Hotel Transfer
5.0/5 from 17 reviews · 4h
€215 per person
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Private Behind the Scenes Brewery tour by bus - 15 or more
5.0/5 from 16 reviews · 4h
€1,184 per person
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Petite Nation Wine & Cider Tour - Day Trip From Ottawa & Gatineau
5.0/5 from 15 reviews · 8h
€119 per person
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Quebec Craft Beer Tour - From Ottawa & Gatineau
5.0/5 from 15 reviews · 4h
€84 per person
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Flying Dress Photoshoot Experience in Ottawa
5.0/5 from 11 reviews · 1h · free cancellation
€349 per person
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Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW
5.0/5 from 5 reviews · 25 min · free cancellation
€35 per person
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Top-rated tours and experiences in Ottawa, ranked by traveller rating. Prices are per person and change with date and group size.

Hotels in Ottawa

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Airlines flying Toronto to Ottawa nonstop

AirlineCodeRole
Air CanadaACOperates
WestJetWSOperates
American AirlinesAACodeshare
2 carriers operate this route nonstop under its own flight number; the rest sell it as a codeshare. From published airline schedules, which are refreshed periodically rather than live. Confirm the operating carrier for your own dates before booking.

More on Toronto to Ottawa

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