Rome2Rio

How to get fromWaterloo to Ottawaby car, plane, bus, train, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), or bus (Greyhound, Amtrak, Flixbus)

Find Transport to Ottawa

See all options

There are 9 ways to get from Waterloo to Ottawa by car, plane, bus, train, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), or bus (Greyhound, Amtrak, Flixbus)

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Drive to The Eastern Iowa Airport, fly to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport

    best
    1. Drive from Waterloo to Cedar-Rapids-Airport-CIDcar car
    2. Fly from The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)plane plane CID - YOW
    6h 43m
    $131–628

  2. Bus, train via Detroit

    1. Take the bus from Waterloo to Chicago Bus Stationbus bus
    2. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Detroittrain train
    3. Take the train from Windsor to Toronto Union Stationtrain train
    4. Take the train from Toronto Union Station to Ottawatrain train
    24h 42m
    $478–1,090

  3. Bus

    1. Take the bus from Waterloo to Chicago Bus Stationbus bus
    2. Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Detroit Bus Stationbus bus
    3. Take the bus from Detroit Bus Station to Ottawabus bus
    27h 40m
    $256–417

  4. Drive  1,632.7 km

    1. Drive from Waterloo to Ottawacar car 1,632.7 km
    18h 40m
    $326–470

  5. Fly Waterloo Municipal Airport to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport

    1. Fly from Waterloo Municipal Airport (ALO) to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)plane plane ALO - YOW
    7h 49m
    $143–638

  6. Drive to Mason City, fly to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport

    1. Drive from Waterloo to Mason-City-Airport-MCWcar car
    2. Fly from Mason City (MCW) to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)plane plane MCW - YOW
    10h 5m
    $148–688

  7. Fly Waterloo Municipal Airport to Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, train

    1. Fly from Waterloo Municipal Airport (ALO) to Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)plane plane ALO - YUL
    2. Take the train from Dorval to Ottawatrain train
    11h 13m
    $187–927

  8. Bus via Lansing

    1. Take the bus from Waterloo to Chicago Bus Stationbus bus
    2. Take the bus from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing Amtrak Stationbus bus
    3. Take the bus from East Lansing to Detroitbus bus
    4. Take the bus from Detroit Bus Station to Ottawabus bus
    29h 29m

  9. Bus, train

    1. Take the bus from Waterloo to Chicago Bus Stationbus bus
    2. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Buffalo Depew Stationtrain train
    3. Take the train from Buffalo to Toronto Union Stationtrain train
    4. Take the train from Toronto Union Station to Ottawatrain train
    29h 54m
    $631–1,342

Waterloo to Ottawa by bus, foot, train, and car

Calendar5Weekly Services
Duration24h 42mAverage Duration
Ticket$478Cheapest Price
See schedules

Comparing Your Travel Options

Map of how to get from Waterloo to Ottawa.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 1,457.3 km
  • Duration: 6h 43m

What companies run services between Waterloo, IA, USA and Ottawa, ON, Canada?

You can take a bus from Waterloo to Ottawa via Chicago Bus Station and Detroit Bus Station in around 27h 40m. Alternatively, American Airlines, United Airlines, and two other airlines fly from Waterloo Municipal Airport (ALO) to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) every 4 hours.

Airlines
Train operators
Bus operators

Want to know more about travelling around Canada

Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.

Related travel guides

Need to know: Greyhound

Read the travel guideNeed to know: Greyhound

Booking & Getting There