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

View our Smiths Falls base on Google Maps

What you get on the base

Facilities

• Toilets and showers 
• Wifi (available in base building)
• Parking (ungated)*
• Luggage storage available (at own risk)

*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.

Travel to Smiths Falls

View our Smiths Falls base on Google Maps

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

• Budget Car Rental – Kingston – +1 613-546-3231
• Avis Car Rental – Ottawa airport – +1 613-739-3334
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car – Smiths Falls – +1 613-283-3700

Directions 

• 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.
• 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).
• 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: 18 km
• Perth: 19 km 
• Ottawa: 80 km
• Kingston: 95 km
• Montreal: 245 km
• Toronto: 350 km
• 1000 Island Bridge to the USA: 60 km 

Parking 

• Pre-bookable parking onsite (limited spaces).

By air

Closest airport(s):

• Ottawa: 80 km
• Montréal: 245 km
• Toronto: 350 km

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.

Map of Smiths Falls

Le Boat base

Point of interest