Ottawa Airport to Downtown - O-Train Link, Fares & Times

Ottawa gained something in January 2025 that it had never had: a direct rail link from the airport. That changes the calculation for anyone weighing a hotel at the airport against one downtown, and it is worth understanding before you book either.

The O-Train Airport Link

The Airport Link runs from YOW Airport station, on the terminal’s Departures level, to South Keys. There you transfer to Line 2, the Trillium Line, heading north, and change again at Bayview for Line 1, the Confederation Line, into the downtown core.

Two changes sounds like a lot; in practice it is well signposted and the whole trip takes about 35 to 45 minutes. Crucially it is all one fare: a single PRESTO tap of roughly CAD 4.10, with a 90-minute transfer window that covers the connections with room to spare.

Because the station is at Departures level and Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport connects to the terminal by indoor walkway, guests there can reach the rail network without going outside at all.

Buses

OC Transpo local buses also serve the airport and are covered by the same fare system. They are slower than the train for the downtown trip but useful for destinations off the rail lines.

Taxis wait outside arrivals and take roughly 20 to 25 minutes to downtown outside peak hours. For two or more people with luggage, or a late arrival, the cost difference against the train narrows enough to be worth it. Ride-share pickups follow the airport signage.

Staying at the airport or downtown?

The rail link makes an airport hotel more viable for a short Ottawa trip than it used to be: you can stay by the terminal, ride in for a day on Parliament Hill, and ride back. That suits an early departure the following morning. If your business is entirely downtown and your flight is midday, a downtown hotel still makes more sense.

For an event at the EY Centre, neither: Hilton Garden Inn Ottawa Airport is directly opposite it.

Driving in? See park, sleep and fly. Only need a few hours between flights? See day rooms. Watching the budget? See the cheapest YOW hotels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a train from Ottawa Airport to downtown?

Yes. The O-Train Airport Link opened in January 2025 and runs from YOW Airport station, at the terminal's Departures level, to South Keys. From there you continue north on Line 2 and change at Bayview for Line 1 into downtown. It was Ottawa's first direct airport rail connection.

How much does the O-Train cost from Ottawa Airport?

The whole journey is covered by a single PRESTO fare of about CAD 4.10, with a 90-minute transfer window that comfortably covers the changes. That makes it dramatically cheaper than a taxi for a solo traveller.

How long does it take to get downtown from YOW?

Around 35 to 45 minutes door to door on the O-Train, including the transfers. A taxi or ride-share takes roughly 20 to 25 minutes outside rush hour, so you are paying for about fifteen minutes and a lot of convenience with luggage.

Information last verified: August 5, 2026