7 Top picnic spots in Ottawa to visit this summer

Looking for a simple date idea or a fun dinner with the family? Have your next meal outdoors, enjoying the weather with a summer picnic in Ottawa.   

Grab your blanket and sunnies before heading to one of the best picnic spots in the city. Waterfront views, urban oases, expansive greenspace? Check; we have them all! Plus, you don’t need to pack your picnic food; since CAA has many restaurant partners, you can pick up something tasty on the way. These are the top picnic locations in Ottawa!   

Commissioners Park

Location: Preston St. & Queen Elizabeth Driveway, Ottawa, ON   

Situated between the vibrant Little Italy neighbourhood and the historic Rideau Canal is an expansive green space where you can picnic. Commissioners Park is home to the Canadian Tulip Festival each May when the gardens explode with colour from over 250,000 tulips. Tulips are replaced by annual blooms come summer. It’s a gorgeous park to hang out in, watching bikers zoom by along the Rideau Canal Pathway and the glistening water of Dow’s Lake.   

Another nearby picnic location that offers beautiful canal views and is within walking distance of the park is Patterson Creek. It is a smaller area along the Rideau Canal, where you can relax under a willow tree.  

Dominion Arboretum

Location: Arboretum, Ottawa, ON 

Visible across Dow’s Lake from Commissioners Park is The Dominion Arboretum. An idyllic picnic location filled with countless species of trees and rolling lawns, it is Canada’s oldest arboretum.  Covering 86 acres of expansive grass and blooming gardens, this is one of five public areas maintained by the city’s Central Experimental Farm. There is a scenic lookout spot to enjoy, the quaint Heart Bridge that goes over a small channel connected to the Rideau Canal and Hartwells locks at the one end. Trails will lead you through the arboretum, including along the canal and through Fletcher Wildlife Garden.  

Major's Hill Park

Location: Mackenzie Ave., Ottawa, ON  

Thanks to its prime downtown location, Ottawa’s first park, Major’s Hill, is a favourite for locals and tourists alike. Whether you are planning a picnic lunch between exploring the Byward Market and nearby museums or are searching for an urban oasis to relax in surrounded by stunning views, this is the spot. Enjoy the seasonal gardens against the backdrops of the Rideau Canal locks, Ottawa River, Parliament buildings and Fairmont Château Laurier.  

Walk through the park to Alexandra Bridge Lookout, for a stunning view over the Ottawa River, featuring Parliament Hill and the Canadian Museum of History.   

Hog's Back Park

Location: 600 Hog’s Back Rd., Ottawa, ON  

Snack next to central Ottawa waterfalls that hold as much history as they do beauty. While the landscape began forming millions of years ago, the construction of the Rideau Canal in the 1800s further altered the terrain. Enjoy your meal on a picnic table under the park’s pavilion, lay out on the grassy area or walk along the water to locate a large, flat rock to sit on.   

This waterfall-focused park connects to Vincent Massey Park and Mooney’s Bay Park and Beach, so there is no shortage of perfect picnic locations nearby. Stroll the walking trails, relax on the sandy beach, and take advantage of the additional picnic tables. 

Rockcliffe Park

Location: Rockcliffe Driveway, Ottawa, ON  

Speckled with picnic tables and rock statues, Rockcliffe Park is one of the city’s oldest recreational parks. It is a picturesque spot for East-enders who enjoy a waterfront view. There is abundant green space surrounded by trees, a true natural haven in the city. Stroll along the parkway and take advantage of the view from Rockcliffe Lookout.   

It’s also a sub-20-minute walk from Rideau Hall, where you can further explore the spacious grounds with their rolling hills and landscaped gardens.  

Andrew Haydon Park

Remic Rapids Park

Location: Kichi Zībī Mīkan, Ottawa, ON   

Soak in the sun or opt for a shady patch under a tree and enjoy a picnic as you gaze out over the Ottawa River. Remic Rapids Park has picnic tables and Muskoka chairs perched to enjoy the waterfront view, surrounded by an open lawn. The park is also where you’ll find balanced rock sculptures recreated by John Felice Ceprano by hand each year. This free, public art installation beautifully complements the natural elements surrounding it.   

Catch a closer look at the Remic Rapids from Bate Island, which features more stunning park views of the Ottawa River. It’s about a 20-minute from the park, along the Ottawa River Pathway and Champlain Bridge.   

Petrie Island

Megan Johnson | CAA North & East Ontario

Location: 795 Tweddle Rd., Ottawa, ON  

Sand or grass, sun or shade, you can take your pick during your picnic on this Ottawa island. There are more than seven kilometres of nature trails, two public beaches that are supervised in the summer, and watercraft like canoes, paddle boards and kayaks to rent, pre- or post-meal. There are many spots to hang out, including an area with about 40 tables.  

Make your picnic a simple one

Take the prepping and packing out of your picnic adventure and grab some takeout to the park. As a CAA Member, you can save money at several different restaurant partners.    

Enjoy 10%* off at Harvey’s, New York Fries, when ordering takeout online at Kelseys, or for online or mobile app orders at Montana’s and East Side Mario’s. 

*Conditions apply. Partners and offers are subject to change without notice.