From one capital to another
Flights from Ottawa to Washington, DC take you from Parliament Hill to Capitol Hill.
When your flight from Ottawa to Washington, DC lands, there’s no better place to get a feel for the city than the National Mall. The area is filled with iconic, must-see attractions like the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. As you stroll all the way down to United States Capitol, have your camera ready for a photo op at all times in this collection of densely-packed landmarks.
Flights from Ottawa to Washington, DC bring you to the hub of cultural institutions, from the National Air and Space Museum to the National Museum of Natural History. These are just two of the 19 museums run by the Smithsonian Institution, which are sure to keep you busy for countless hours. If you exhaust the Smithsonian’s collections before exhausting yourself, there are always more museums, including the extensive National Gallery of Art.
Discover more of the art offered in this cultural capital at Ford’s Theater, where art and history go hand in hand. Along with live theatre, the building features exhibits on its most famous event, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
When visiting all the famous landmarks has made you hungry, Washington’s restaurants offer a delicious fix. You’ll find food from all over the world cooking in the city’s multicultural kitchens. The eclectic tastes will have you believing you’ve travelled around the globe when you fly from Ottawa to Washington, DC.
To wind down after an eventful day, Washington’s quiet suburbs are the place to go. Walk the streets of Georgetown, where boutique stores and galleries will show you the more relaxed side of this iconic city after your flight from Ottawa to Washington, DC.
Shaw, DC
To the beat of its own drum
With flights from Ottawa to Washington, DC, there’s a buzz beyond the landmarks, with a visit to the neighbourhood called Shaw.
Shaw, DC has a deep history steeped in jazz music that helped shape the neighbourhood. The area’s clubs have even hosted famous musician like Duke Ellington.
The Lincoln Theatre is one of Shaw’s most famous venues. Having the likes of Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughan grace its stage, this iconic location is a must-see for music lovers. Opened in 1922, and reopened in 1994, the Lincoln Theatre also features more than just music, with comedy performances lined up to tickle your funny bone.
You’ll find a delicious meal at another Shaw landmark just next door to the Lincoln Theatre. Ben’s Chili Bowl, open since 1958, is one of the neighbourhood’s most classic restaurants. For the full Ben’s experience, you can’t go wrong with ordering a chili dog.
In 1968, after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, riots brought Shaw into disrepair. Today, the neighbourhood’s slow rebuild from a difficult history has seen old Victorian row houses and shops stand alongside new coffee shops and boutique stores, to mix Shaw’s past with the present.
With Shaw’s rich African American history, they are the perfect host for the African American Civil War Museum. Explore the displays from the creation of the United States Colored Troops, through to Barack Obama’s inauguration as President. Your flight from Ottawa to Washington is sure to give you a taste of the past.
Musical and historical appeal make Shaw the perfect addition to your trip with flights from Ottawa to Washington, DC.
Foggy Bottom
A clear choice
Its name may be Foggy Bottom, but this neighbourhood’s appeal is as clear as day when you fly from Ottawa to Washington, DC.
Foggy Bottom get its name from its climate, as sitting on the shores of the Potomac River often causes fog to roll into this low-lying neighbourhood. As one of Washington, DC’s oldest neighbourhoods, the fog is considered part of its charm.
Housed in the Harry S. Truman Building is the US Department of State. With beautifully decorated Diplomatic Reception Rooms, booking a tour through this department is a capital idea.
Flights from Ottawa to Washington, DC provide an extensive look into another department of government when you visit the Interior Museum. Artifacts, maps, photos, and watercolour illustrations are just some of the ways in which the museum educates visitors and explains the inner workings of the Department of the Interior.
After learning more about various departments of government, head to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. At this centre, drama, dance, and music play on the venue’s nine stages. If you get there in the evening, you might be able to catch a free show on the Millennium Stage.
John F. Kennedy isn’t the only President with a presence when you fly from Ottawa to Washington and visit Foggy Bottom. See where Richard Nixon’s downfall began, at the Watergate Hotel. Now more luxurious than scandalous, the renovated rooftop bar is a great place to grab a drink.
Whether you walk to nearby Georgetown, or take the metro to any one of the city’s other neighbourhoods, Foggy Bottom is the perfect place to start when your flight from Ottawa to Washington, DC lands.
How to get to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
Porter’s check-in desk is on the third floor, in the departures area.
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) is about 10 km / 6 mi from downtown Ottawa.
Transportation to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft offer services to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport and can drop customers off alongside regular passengers and taxis.
Please allow sufficient time to drop off your car rental before your departing flight.
Take the OC Transpo 97 Airport / Bayshore and Bells bus to the airport stop. The fare is $3.50 CAD.
Taxis to Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) from downtown cost about $35 CAD. Car service costs about $90 CAD.
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Parking
Driving to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport? There are two main parking options at Ottawa Airport with convenient access to all terminals.
The Parkade is close to the terminal with rates of $5 for every 30 minutes with a daily maximum of $24. The Parkade also offers BIZ Park on Level 3, which includes a dedicated parking area with guaranteed space and easy in-and-out access. Rates are $10 for the first hour and a $28 flat rate for 24 hours.
The information and figures above are for reference only, and may not be current. Please visit each airport's website for up-to-date details.
Landing in Dulles
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is about 44 km / 28 mi from downtown Washington, DC.
Washington Dulles International Airport Transportation to Downtown
Uber and Lyft are available at Washington Dulles International Airport. Exit on the arrivals level where all ride-sharing vehicles meet travellers.
Car rental car services are available at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Take the shuttle bus from doors 2, 4, or 6 of the baggage claim area of the main terminal to get to the rental lot area.
Taxis to downtown cost about $55 USD. Car service costs about $80 USD.
The Silver Line Express shuttle bus provides service from the airport to Wiehle Avenue Metrorail Station, on the Metro Silver Line. The fare is $5 USD.
The information and figures above are for reference only, and may not be current. Please visit each airport's website for up-to-date details.
Flights may be operated by Porter Airlines (Canada) Ltd or Porter Airlines Inc.
