A Travel Price Comparison for Canada Kamloops vs. Ottawa for Attractions, Families, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Kamloops or Ottawa?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kamloops and Ottawa can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Kamloops

Kamloops is a laid-back, outdoorsy, and nature-filled city. It's also popular because of the food, hiking, and shopping. See Kamloops travel costs.

Ottawa

Ottawa is a friendly, welcoming, and cultural city. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food. See Ottawa travel costs.

Kamloops and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kamloops or Ottawa?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Kamloops than Ottawa. While Ottawa is larger than Kamloops, Kamloops has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Kamloops is more popular for its skiing, nightlife, and hiking, while Ottawa is known for its museums and attractions. Kamloops is popular for its hiking trails, bike paths, and golf courses. It is also home to Sun Peaks Resort. Ottawa is popular for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Kamloops different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Ottawa and Kamloops. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is Kamloops or Ottawa Better for Skiing?

Kamloops is a very popular place for skiing and snowboarding. However, Ottawa is not a skiing destination.

Kamloops draws a large crowd in the winter for its impressive snow skiing opportunities. There's a long ski season that runs from mid-November to mid-April. The region has two major ski resorts - Sun Peaks Resorts and Harper Mountain.

Ottawa is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Kamloops or Ottawa?

Ottawa is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Kamloops is lacking in options for its museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Ottawa. As the country's capital, there are a large number of museums to explore. There are summer national museums in town which include the National Gallery of Canada, the Museum of History, the Science and Technology Museum, the Aviation and Space Museum, the Agriculture and Food Museum, the Museum of Nature, and the War Museum.

Kamloops offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are a couple of museums in the area that highlight the local culture and the region's heritage.

Is the Food Better in Kamloops or Ottawa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Kamloops and Ottawa can be difficult as they are each good in their own way.

Kamloops has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. You'll find restaurants that range from casual to fine dining. There are also international options like Jamaican, Indian, or Chinese.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Ottawa area. The culinary scene highlights many Canadian classics like poutine and maple donuts (and, of course, the classic Tim Horton's), but you'll also find plenty of international options like shawarma.

Is Kamloops or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

Kamloops is a popular place for its evening party scene. However, Ottawa is lacking in good options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Kamloops. You'll find pubs, bars, breweries and night clubs around town that range in personality and style.

Ottawa is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. It's not the first place that comes to mind when you think about partying, but there are live music venues and a some great bars around town.

Is Kamloops or Ottawa Better for Hiking?

Kamloops is a popular place for its hiking trails. However, Ottawa is not a hiking destination.

Kamloops is a good destination for hiking. The area is filled with hiking trails that pass through grasslands, desert landscapes, and pine forests. There is something for every skill level.

Ottawa is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Kamloops or Ottawa?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Kamloops and Ottawa.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Kamloops. Downtown you'll find local boutiques and eclectic shops. You could also head to Aberdeen Mall for all of the major brands and recognizable stores.

Many visitors go to Ottawa to go shopping. You'll find large malls, outlets, and shopping streets that are fun to browse. Some of the favorite shopping areas include ByWard Market, Sparks Street, and CF Rideau Centre.

Is Kamloops or Ottawa Better for Families?

Kamloops is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Kamloops. There are great parks and outdoor spaces for kids as well as the Deep Creek Tool Museum, Westsyde Centennial Park and Petting Zoo, and Hells Gate Air Tram. You can also take a ride on the Kettle Valley Railway Steam Engine. Animal lovers will enjoy a visit to either Kamloops Wildlife Park or Kangaroo Creek Farm.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Ottawa. As the country's capital, you'll find a number of museums that will keep a kid's attention. In particular, check out the aviation, science, and nature museums. If you have a car, you can head out to Calypso Water Park, which is fun as well.

Is Kamloops or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Both Kamloops and Ottawa are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

Kamloops makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The area is filled with great hikes and nice parks. There are also great restaurants that make for a good date night.

Ottawa is a good city for couples to visit. The city is filled with parks and green spaces where you can enjoy flowers or peaceful walks. Commissioners Park is particularly nice and known for its tulips during the spring season. Dow's Lake is a nice place for ice skating in the winter or kayaking in the summer. The city also offers a number of romantic restaurants and charming hotels.

Is Kamloops or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ottawa is a city with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Kamloops is lacking in options for backpackers.

Ottawa is a good city to visit for backpackers. Although the city is often overlooked by tourists, there are a surprising number of hostels around town.

Kamloops is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's often overlooked by backpackers, but there is a hostel in town.

Is Kamloops or Ottawa Better for Students?

Ottawa is a city with good options for its student-friendly activities. However, Kamloops is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Ottawa. It appeals to international and Canadian students alike. It's known for its livability and diverse cultural scene.

Kamloops is not popular with students.

Is Kamloops or Ottawa Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Ottawa is a city with good options for times when you don't have a car. However, Kamloops is lacking in options for its public transit.

Ottawa has some public transit options. There is both a public bus and light rail system.

Public transit is generally limited in Kamloops. There is a bus system through the city.

Is Kamloops or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Ottawa is a city with good options for its high level of walkability. However, Kamloops is lacking in options for its ease of walking around.

Ottawa is a somewhat walkable place. Many of the urban neighborhoods are very walkable.

Kamloops is generally not very walkable. The downtown is the most walkable part of town.

For even more information, also check out Is Kamloops Worth Visiting? and Is Ottawa Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Kamloops?

How long in Kamloops or Ottawa?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Kamloops and Ottawa. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Ottawa than in Kamloops. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Kamloops, and 2-3 days is enough time in Ottawa.

Families should spend more time in Kamloops than Ottawa. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Kamloops, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Ottawa than Kamloops if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Ottawa.

One day in Kamloops or Ottawa?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and skiing when visiting the destination of Kamloops. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

The city of Ottawa offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Kamloops or Ottawa?

Kamloops is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Ottawa is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Ottawa, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Kamloops or Ottawa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Kamloops. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Ottawa is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Kamloops or Ottawa?

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the nature-filled destination of Kamloops. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Ottawa is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, The Best Camping Tours in Canada, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kamloops and Ottawa, we can see that Ottawa is more expensive. And not only is Kamloops much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kamloops would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kamloops and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Ottawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ottawa than you might in Kamloops.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kamloops Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Kamloops or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Kamloops. When comparing the sizes of Kamloops and Ottawa, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Kamloops or Ottawa?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Kamloops or Ottawa in the Summer?

Both Ottawa and Kamloops are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Kamloops for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Ottawa in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Kamloops is around the same temperature as Ottawa. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kamloops in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Ottawa averages at about 21°C (71°F).

In July, Kamloops usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Kamloops gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Kamloops or Ottawa in the Autumn?

Both Ottawa and Kamloops during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Kamloops in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Furthermore, most visitors come to Ottawa for the shopping scene during these months.

In October, Kamloops is generally a little warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Kamloops average around 11°C (51°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Kamloops usually gets less rain in October than Ottawa. Kamloops gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kamloops or Ottawa in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kamloops and Ottawa. Most visitors come to Kamloops for the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Ottawa because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Ottawa can be very cold. Kamloops can be very cold during winter. Kamloops is much warmer than Ottawa in the winter. The daily temperature in Kamloops averages around -3°C (27°F) in January, and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

In January, Kamloops usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Kamloops gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Kamloops or Ottawa in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Kamloops as well as Ottawa.

In the spring, Kamloops is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kamloops in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Ottawa averages at about 6°C (44°F).

Kamloops usually gets less rain in April than Ottawa. Kamloops gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and Kamloops