Travelling from Vancouver to Ottawa: what you need to know
Begin planning your trip by checking out the ideal departure point for your flight from Vancouver to Ottawa. Explore your options for leaving from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) or Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base (CXH), two of the city's main airports.
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) is the major arrival point in Ottawa.
A direct flight from Vancouver to Ottawa takes an average of 4 hours 38 minutes. The timezone in Ottawa is UTC-4, making it 3 hours ahead of Vancouver.
The most popular route for flights from Vancouver to Ottawa is from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW). There are 46 services every week between these two airports. If you want to get going as soon as possible, the earliest flight from YVR to YOW is the 07:20 Porter Airlines option. If you prefer to travel later, the final departure is at 22:45 with Air Canada.
For a smooth journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This way, you can comfortably board your flight from Vancouver to Ottawa.
During popular months such as August, it's best to get to the airport earlier. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of an international flight whenever you're travelling during peak periods in general.
When flying domestically within Canada, you won't need a visa or passport. However, you'll have to show another kind of identification, like a driver's licence or ID card. Once you've found cheap flights from Vancouver to Ottawa, make sure your ID is up to date.
Flying from Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Set out from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on a nonstop flight from Vancouver to Ottawa. From YVR, you can fly directly into Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW).
At YVR, there's a good selection of airlines that offer direct flights from Vancouver to Ottawa, such as:
Located around 14 kilometres from the centre of Vancouver, YVR can be reached in about 26 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport takes roughly 33 minutes.
Searching for a convenient hotel near Vancouver International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Vancouver to Ottawa, these stays will have you moments from your check-in counter:
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH)
CXH is about 2 kilometres from central Vancouver. It'll take 5 minutes or so to get to the airport by car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 16 minutes.
Want to spoil yourself with an extra night away before catching your flight from Vancouver to Ottawa? Relax in a hotel near Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport before your holiday officially starts. Here's where you can stay:
Arriving in Ottawa
Ottawa Gatineau Airport (YND)
Ottawa Gatineau Airport (YND) to central Ottawa is around 22 minutes by car. It's approximately 24 kilometres away.
It typically takes 1 hour and 41 minutes if you're travelling by public transport.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Vancouver to Ottawa. Book one of these accommodation options near YND instead:
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
The centre of Ottawa is about 13 kilometres from Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW). Once your flight from Vancouver to Ottawa has hit the runway and you've made your way out of the airport, expect a drive of around 19 minutes.
The journey will take about 43 minutes on public transport.
There are some cosy stays where you can rest ahead of your adventure near YOW. Unwind after your flight from Vancouver to Ottawa at any of these perfectly located options:
How to find the cheapest flights from Vancouver to Ottawa
At the moment, R 1,672 is the lowest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from Vancouver to Ottawa. The cheapest price for a return flight is R 3,933. Remember fares can change due to demand at the time of booking.
Book 10 months before you want to travel. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to secure cheap tickets from Vancouver to Ottawa.
June is the cheapest month for tickets from Vancouver to Ottawa. If you're looking to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices across every month.
Log into your online account or use the app to create a Price Alert. We'll get in touch right away if there's a cheaper deal on this route. It's easy to do, and it'll save you the hassle of looking for cheap tickets from Vancouver to Ottawa every day.
Play around with filters to find your ideal journey. To see the 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from Vancouver to Ottawa, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter by airline, departure and arrival times, and number of stops.
Best time to go to Ottawa
Have a think about your trip dates before booking your flight from Vancouver to Ottawa. The city is vibrant during high season, but rates are typically higher and major attractions can be busy. Go to Ottawa in the low season if you want a quieter vibe.
Before booking a flight from Vancouver to Ottawa, consider the type of weather you like best. July is the warmest month in Ottawa, with the temperature ranging from 13ºC to 27ºC.
January has average temperatures of between -19ºC and -2ºC. Search for cheap tickets from Vancouver to Ottawa sometime then if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
More about Ottawa
Once you've booked your flight from Vancouver to Ottawa, think about where to rest your head in this city. Make one of these options your base for exploring Ottawa:
All great adventures should include a little sightseeing. Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal and National Gallery of Canada are must-visits when exploring Ottawa.
Complete your Ottawa trip with a car rental
Finding you a cheap flight from Vancouver to Ottawa isn't our only party trick. Check out our car rentals in Ottawa and travel at your own pace. We find deals from trusted car rental companies and put them all in one place. Instantly compare offers and then book with no fees.