Our base in Smiths Falls
About Smiths Falls
Smiths Falls is our base on the central section of the Rideau Canal. Its central location gives you fantastic choices for your cruising route; either head north to pretty Merrickville, 6hrs from Smiths Falls, or cruise right into Canada's capital city, Ottawa, on a 7nt one-way trip. Or head south to the Big Lakes this region is so famous for. A week’s cruise will get you as far as Seeley’s bay and back. You’ll need at least 10 to 14 nights to visit Kingston on your boat.
From Smiths Falls it is:
20 hours (20 locks) to our base in Ottawa
What you get on the base
Facilities
Wifi (available in base building)
Parking (unsecure)*
*We have parking both on-site AND off-site parking at Smiths Falls. We will try to offer an ‘on-site’ space to at least one vehicle per booking, although capacity is limited and this is not always possible. You will not be expected to park offsite, until you have checked-in and unloaded your vehicle(s). It is approximately a 10 minute walk back to our base from our off-site parking facility.
Extras & options for your cruise
The following extras are available to prebook or purchase locally at this base. A reduced fee will apply to items that are prebooked. Please see 'Vacation Extras' for more details about each extra. Restrictions apply.
Practical extras
- Early check-in & late check-out
- Boat cleaning
- Eco cleaning pack
- L.E.D. lantern
- Grocery packs
- Top-deck cushions
Fun extras
- Bike hire
- Special occasion gift baskets
- Stand-up paddleboards
- Kayaks
Opening hours
Address
Telephone
Travel to Smiths Falls
By train
Closest train station(s):
Smiths Falls: 2 km
By road
Be prepared
It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with local road rules and abide by them.
Car rental
- Avis Car Rental - Ottawa airport - +1 613-739-3334
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car - Smiths Falls - +1 613-283-3700
- Budget Car Rental - Kingston - +1 613-546-3231
Directions
- From Ottawa Airport: Head southwest on Airport Parkway Private/Airport Pkwy toward Air Cargo Private/Airport 3 Ave.
- Make a U-turn at Air Cargo Private/Airport 3 Ave. Continue onto Airport Pkwy/Route 79 N (signs for Thad Johnson Road).
- Take the Alert Rd exit.
- Turn left onto Lester Rd. Turn right onto Albion Rd S/Ottawa Regional Rd 25.
- Turn right onto Leitrim Rd/Ottawa Regional Rd 14.
- Turn left onto River Rd/Ottawa Regional Rd 19.
- Turn right onto Vimy Memorial Bridge. Use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto Prescott Highway/Prince of Wales Dr/Route 73 S.
- Turn left onto Fourth Line Rd/N Gower Rd/Route 5.
- Turn right onto Roger Stevens Dr/Ottawa Regional Rd 6, Continue to follow Roger Stevens Dr. Continue onto Cornelia St E/Route 4, Continue to follow Cornelia St E.
- Turn left onto Elmsley St N/ON-15 S (signs for County Road 29/Regional Road 43 E). Turn right onto Beckwith St N/ON-15 S.
Distance to Smiths Falls:
Merrickville: 18km
Perth: 19km
Ottawa: 80km
Kingston: 95km
Montreal: 245km
Toronto: 350km
1000 Island Bridge to the USA: 60km
Parking
Pre-bookable parking onsite (limited spaces)
By air
Closest airport(s):
Ottawa: 80 km
Montréal: 245 km
Toronto: 350 km
To book a taxi to or from the base you can contact the number below.
- Access Taxi, 5 Chamber St. (+1 613-283-1441 or +1 613-283-1212)
- Millennium Limousines (+ 1 613 860 5466 | [email protected] – website: www.millenniumlimousines.com)
- GroundAir Limo & Car Services Inc (+ 1 416 897 7216 | [email protected])
Approximate price (4 passengers) from:
Ottawa Airport (YOW) CA$240
Kingston CA$360
Arrival at Smiths Falls
For more details about:
- when to arrive at our bases
- what to expect when you arrive
- how to prepare for check-in
- what happens on your final day when you return your boat
visit our 'arrivals' page.
Local info
Payment Means
Please note that your security deposit, engine hours deposit (see compulsory costs) & any extras added at the base and are required to be paid in local currency by card. Our bases accept Visa & Mastercard, but not American Express.
Hotels
Best Western Colonel By Inn : 88 Lombard St, +1 613-284-0001
Best Inn Motel: 241 Lombard St, +1 613-284-0464
Roger's Motel: 178 Lombard St, +1 613-283-5200
Restaurants
The Lockmaster's Tap House : 32 Beckwith St S, +1 613-283-7151
Matty O'Shea's Pub : 12 Chambers St, +1 (613) 205-0448
C'est Tout Bakery : 14 Beckwith St South, + 1 613-284-0774
Boomtown Fusion Eatery : 27 Beckwith St N, +1 (613) 283-2283
The Vault Eatery & Pub : 2 Russell St E, +1 (613) 283-7009
Harvest Social: 7 Russell St West, (613) 283-0438
Pickled Pig: 1 Chambers St, (613) 283-7707
Shops
Andress' Your Independent Grocer – 25 Ferrara Dr, Mon-Sat : 7am – 9pm, Sun : 7am – 6pm https://www.yourindependentgrocer.ca
Modern Thymes Natural Foods - 11 Russell St E, Mon-Thur: 9am-5:30pm, Fri: 9am-6pm, Sat:9am-5pm http://www.modernthymes.com/
Garden Market - 115 William St W, Mon-Tue & Sat: 8am-6pm, Wed: 8am-7pm, ThurFri: 8am-9pm, Sun: 8am-5:30pm https://www.gardenmarketsmithsfalls.com/
Walmart - 114 Lombard St, Mon-Sun 7am to 10pm https://www.walmart.ca/en/stores-near-me/smiths-falls-supercentre-5811
Giant Tiger - 29 Chambers Street, Mon-Fri : 8am – 9pm, Sat: 8am-6pm, Sun : 9am – 6pm
Valley Custom Cutting: 1-613-205-1111 Tues-Fri 10-6 Sat 10-5 Sun 11-4
Food Basics - 275 Brockville St, Mon-Sat : 8am – 9pm, Sun: 8am – 5pm
Fishing
Fishing License : Canadian Tire, 10 Ferrara Drive, Highway 15, + 1 613-283-3906
Cost:
- Conservation (catch & release): seasonal price $17
- Sport: (keep the fish): seasonal price $30, Daily rate $13
Tourist Info
Town of Smiths Falls Visitors' Centre:
Beckwith St North
https://www.smithsfalls.ca/ + 1-888-983-4124
Medical Facilities
Perth & Smiths Falls District Hospital 60 Cornelia St W, Smiths Falls +1 613 283-2330
Electric car charging points
Electric cars can be charged at this address : KSI118 CCS / CHAdeMO Fast Charging Station, 118 Lombard St, Smiths Falls, ON K7A 5B8, Canada. (900 meters from the base).
More details: https://chargehub.com/en/countries/canada/ontario/smiths-falls.html