Sleeping in Ottawa Airport

If you’re dealing with a long layover or an early morning flight departure at Ottawa Airport, you might wonder if sleeping in the airport is possible. Our guide to sleeping in Ottawa airport provides essential information for seasoned airport sleepers and newbies to help travellers arrive prepared for the experience.

We keep this guide up-to-date with the help of airport sleepers who have generously shared their experiences and airport reviews. If you have any tips or photos to contribute, please take a moment to write a review. Your feedback will help us stay informed about the latest advice for future sleepy travellers.

Sleeping in Ottawa Airport Overnight

The Ottawa Airport is open 24 hours, but if you arrive after Security checkpoints close, you’ll have to wait in the landside/public zones overnight until the checkpoints reopen in the early morning.

Locations & Seating

The small airport offers some seating, though you’ll likely be in the landside areas if you sleep here overnight. If so, head to the couches by the windows or in the baggage claim area.

Do you have a good location, airport tip or photos to add? Click here for our review form.

Rest Zones

At the time of this update, there are no designated rest zones within the airport.

Hotels

Do you prefer the privacy and comfort of a hotel room? You’ll have to exit the airport altogether, but a few hotels are located within a 5-minute drive of the airport. Here are a few:

Hampton Inn by Hilton Ottawa Airport » Check Rates
Hilton Garden Inn Ottawa Airport » Check Rates
Residence Inn by Marriott Ottawa Airport » Check Rates
Fairfield Inn & Suites Ottawa Airport » Check Rates
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ottawa Airport, an IHG Hotel » Check Rates
Homewood Suites by Hilton Ottawa Airport » Check Rates
Sandman Signature Ottawa Airport Hotel » Check Rates
Days Inn by Wyndham Ottawa Airport » Check Rates

For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Ottawa Airport, search for deals and read traveller reviews.

Lounges

While Ottawa Airport has a few lounges, none has designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you want to relax in a comfortable seat for a few hours before your flight, check out the pay-to-use lounge details in our Ottawa Airport Guide.

More Airport Services & Facilities

For information about drinking water, 24-hour food & drink options, luggage storage, showers, mobile charging and WiFi, visit our Ottawa Airport Guide.

Airport Conditions

If you plan to spend the night at the airport, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Temperature: Expect the airport to cool down at night, with air conditioning running and fewer people inside.
Noise: Even as overnight flights slow down or stop entirely, the airport may still run announcements, and cleaning crews may make the rounds, so anticipate some noise.
Lighting: The airport may stay bright thanks to around-the-clock lights, but certain corners may be dimly lit.

Arrive prepared! We recommend earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones, an extra layer of warmth, eyeshades, or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.

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.