What is best-- from Toronto to Ottawa, should we drive, take the train, or fly?

Question

Comfort and relaxation is priority. We will stay in an Ottawa hotel overnight only. Thanks.

Answer 1

How about the bus?  The seats are more comfortable than a train, by driving it won't be relaxing, and the plane is kind of expensive and you won't see much.

Answer 2

For my money, the train would be the most relaxing.

Flying is quicker (although in this case, not by much)

and more expensive.

Both the Ottawa airport and train station are

well served by the city bus system. Unless you

have a ton of luggage it isn't necessary to get a cab.

From the standpoint of cost, it would depend

on how many people are going.

For one person, driving can be costly compared

to the train or plane.  But with more people, the cost

of driving stays pretty much the same, whereas

the others go up with each additional person.

For four people, it is almost sure that driving

will cost significantly less.

The distance is about 450 km, so the drive

would be around 4 or 5 hours.  The train

would be more or less the same. If you fly,

you'll spend a lot more time (2-3 hours) getting

to and waiting at the airport than in the air.  

The actual flight will be about 35-40 minutes.

Answer 3

The seats in the bus are not more comfortable than the train if you're taking Via1, you get good food, drinks and it's quicker than the bus. The station is also closer to get a cab to downtown than the airport. Driving is kinda long and boring expecially if you get stuck in traffic getting out of Toronto.Plane is quick but expensive.

Answer 4

The best method is by Train. Via 1 is worth the extra amount of money as you get a meal, drinks, and comfortable seats. The train station is close to downtown as well, and you'll have a much cheaper Taxi to your Hotel.

Plane is faster, but the Airport is an expensive taxi to the downtown area (unless your hotel has a shuttle). It will also cost you more unless you get a great seat sale.

Bus is cheap, but takes long, and not comfortable at all...

Driving is fine, not as comfortable (unless you're driving some luxury vehicle), and reasonably cheap. But you'll have to pay for parking and possible speeding tickets...

Answer 5

Fly Porter http://www.flyporter.com/fly/Search.aspx... Porter flies out of the Island airport so you don't have to go all the way to Mississauga. Porter costs a little more because of the higher airport charges but you save the cab ride to Pearson which will be $30-50.

If you are able to get to Pearson without issue then WestJet or AirCanada will cost less. I prefer WestJet.

Ottawa's airport is about $25-30 cab ride from the airport to the downtown core where most hotels are located.

Both Ottawa and Pearson have airport shuttles which will take you from the airport to the hotel area and back. When travelling with 2 or more people though it is cheaper to take a cap.

Driving is 5 hours at a casual pace without speeding and with bathroom breaks. It is a fairly easy drive but 5 hours in a car is a lot. I only drive when I really need to have my car with me for the trip.

The train takes as long as driving and costs as much as flying. If you have work to do then the train might be ok but I find it slow.

Answer 6

Oh, if you can afford it, and you'll only be here for a short period, flying is definitely better!

On the outside - The drive would be about 5 hours.. So count

both ways, very time-consuming and boring..

The train takes just as long, and a bit more comfortable, but -

Last time I flew - Only 1 hour!  I had a drink, and I was home!  I loved it.

and welcome to Ottawa :)