Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Ottawa Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
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Found these fantastic level, flat leather benches that — believe it or not — looked more like mattresses than seating. The best bedding I’ve ever had in an airport. – Ray
YOW Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Ottawa Airport.
What to Expect
Ottawa Airport (code: YOW) has a single terminal spread over three levels. Travellers here appreciate the efficient security lines and free WiFi. A few restaurants and shops will help you pass the time, and one eatery stays open 24 hours in the pre-Secure area. A few airport lounges offer additional creature comforts for travellers willing to pay the entry fee.
Sleeping in Ottawa Airport
Because security checkpoints close nightly, all overnight campers are restricted to staying in the pre-security landside areas until the early morning. Travellers recommend grabbing a couch by the windows as long as you’re there early enough. Bring along earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones, as airport noise is common. Reviewers have reported being questioned by staff while waiting overnight.
Prefer an uninterrupted night of sleep? See Airport Hotels in the guide below.
Read the latest traveller reviews for more tips. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Ottawa Airport Guide.
To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.
Airport Hours
The airport is open 24 hours. However, the security screening checkpoint hours are 4:00 AM – last flight for Domestic & International departures (May – November) and 3:00 AM – last flight (November – April).
Rest & Relaxation Zones
There are a small number of rocking chairs available near the gates.
Take precautions even when sleeping in the rest zones. In December 2019, a traveller at another airport reported that money and credit cards had been stolen from their bag even though the bag was right beside them. Protect and lock your bags as you would sleeping elsewhere in public.
Airport Hotels
If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Ottawa Airport:
- Days Inn Ottawa Airport » Check Rates
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Ottawa Airport » Check Rates
- Hampton Inn by Hilton Ottawa Airport » Check Rates
- Hilton Garden Inn Ottawa Airport » Check Rates
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ottawa Airport » Check Rates
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Ottawa Airport » Check Rates
- Residence Inn by Marriott Ottawa Airport » Check Rates
- Sandman Signature Ottawa Airport Hotel » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels in Ottawa, search for deals and read traveller reviews.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and learn how to gain access with just an economy class ticket!
- Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge – Location: Airside, near gate 18. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
- Aspire Lounge – Location: Airside, near gate 18. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs • Pay at the Door.
Related Pages: Ottawa Airport Lounges
Drinking Water
Thirsty? Water fountains and water bottle filling stations can be found both landside and airside.
Food & Drinks
Food concessions throughout the airport operate with varying schedules. Most are open from 4:30 AM. There are currently no 24-hour food options.
Luggage Storage & Lockers
Luggage storage and coat check service are provided by PARS 2000. Luggage Storage Rates: $7.00/day • $10.00/overnight • $40.00/week • $85.00/month. Winter coat/boot storage is also available, and storage spaces are big enough to store the belongings of 2-4 passengers. Location: Arrivals Hall, landside, Level 1. Hours: Open 24 hours.
Mobile Charging
A reader tells us there are charging ports at most of the boarding gates by the seating area. (crafted axe / January 2020)
Showers
Unavailable. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.
WiFi / Internet
Free WiFi is available at Ottawa Airport.
Security & Safety
At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Ottawa Airport. However, sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:
- Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
- Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
- Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.
Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.
More Airport Information
Chapel – An interfaith chapel is available landside on Level 1. Hours: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM.
Family Services
- Baby Care Facilities – Feed and change your baby in comfort and privacy in one of the airport’s Breastfeeding Rooms. A changing table and rocking chair are available. Locations: US Flights, airside, Level 2 • Can/Intl Flights, airside, Level 2, near Gates 14 and 18 • Arrivals Hall, landside, Level 1, opposite the chapel. Hours: All Breastfeeding Rooms are accessible 24 hours a day.
- Child Care Rooms – Most restrooms in the terminal have adjacent nursing rooms.
- Children’s Play Areas – Location: Near gate 19, domestic/international holdroom.
Information Desk – An Information Booth is Landside in the Arrivals Area. Hours: Unknown.
Luggage
- Baggage Carts – Need a hand with your luggage? Baggage carts are available free of charge.
- Luggage Storage & Lockers – see “Luggage Storage & Lockers” above.
- Luggage Wrapping – Safe Bag offers a luggage wrapping service for a small fee. Location: Level 3, landside. Hours: 12:00 AM – 8:00 PM.
Money
- ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: Landside, Levels 1 and 3 • Airside, Level 2.
- Currency Exchange – ICE (International Currency Exchange) has kiosks in these locations: US Flights, Airside, Level 2. Hours: 4:30 AM – 5:30 PM • Arrivals Hall, Landside, Level 1. Hours: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM • Can/Intl Flights, Airside, Level 2 (opposite Gate 15). Hours: 4:30 AM – 8:00 PM.
- ReadySTATION cash conversion kiosk – Passengers can convert their cash into a prepaid Mastercard card that can be used anywhere in the world that accepts Mastercard. Hours: Open 24 hours.
Observation Deck – Relax and watch planes taking off and landing from the vantage point of the airport’s observation deck. Location: Landside, Level 3.
Shoe Shine – Location: Can/Intl Flights, Airside, by Gate 15. Hours: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Shopping – Duty-free shopping is offered airside in Canadian/International Departures (near Gate 15) and US Departures (near Gate 12).
SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
Smoking – There is a designated smoking area at the North end of Level 1, in Parking Lot 02.
WiFi – see “Airport WiFi/Internet” above.
Bus
Bus route 97 runs between the airport and downtown Ottawa. There is a ticket machine on Level 1, or fares can be purchased in cash directly on the bus. For timetables, fares and a route map, visit the OC Transpo website.
Car Rentals
On-site car rental agencies include Alamo • Avis • Budget • Enterprise • Hertz • National.
Hotel Shuttles
Several area hotels provide airport shuttle service: Days Inn Ottawa Airport • Hampton Inn by Hilton Ottawa Airport • Hilton Garden Inn Ottawa Airport • Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Ottawa Airport • Ramada Ottawa On The Rideau.
See also Airport Hotels above.
Taxi
All licensed taxis, limousines and shuttles pick up passengers on Level 1 and drop off on Level 3.
Last updated: 2024-08-26
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.