Getting to Gananoque: Parking, Transit and the Border
Last updated: September 22, 2026
Gananoque is on Highway 401, 29 km east of Kingston, about 2 hours from Ottawa and about 3 hours from Toronto or Montreal. Coming from the west, take exit 645 into town; from the east, exit 648 onto King Street. Downtown street parking is $1.50 an hour with a 3 hour limit, and the Playhouse has a free lot at 300 Arthur Street. VIA Rail and FlixBus both stop in town. The Thousand Islands Bridge to New York is about 15 minutes east, off exit 661, and every adult crossing needs a passport or another approved document.
How long does it take to drive to Gananoque?
Gananoque is about 30 minutes from Kingston, 35 to 40 minutes from Brockville, 2 hours from Ottawa and 3 hours from Toronto or Montreal, all by Highway 401.
| From | Distance or time | Take this 401 exit |
|---|---|---|
| Kingston | 29 km, about 30 minutes | Exit 645 (eastbound) |
| Toronto | About 3 hours | Exit 645 or 647 (eastbound) |
| Brockville | About 52 km, 35 to 40 minutes | Exit 648 or 645 (westbound) |
| Ottawa | About 2 hours | Exit 648 or 645 (westbound) |
| Montreal | About 3 hours | Exit 648 or 645 (westbound) |
| Thousand Islands Bridge (US border) | About 15 minutes | Exit 661 |
Times are without traffic.
Which Highway 401 exit do you take for Gananoque?
Take exit 645 if you are coming from Kingston or Toronto, and exit 648 if you are coming from Brockville, Ottawa or Montreal. Here is what each exit does:
- Exit 645, County Road 32. Comes into town from the north as Stone Street North and ends at King Street (Highway 2). It is also the exit for the VIA station on North Station Road.
- Exit 647, 1000 Islands Parkway. The eastbound split where the Parkway begins on the east edge of town. Use it for the Parkway, Ivy Lea and the 1000 Islands Tower by the scenic route.
- Exit 648, Highway 2. A partial interchange onto King Street East from the 401 westbound.
- Exit 661, Highway 137. Hill Island and the Thousand Islands Bridge to Interstate 81.
- Exit 685. The east end of the Parkway, where it rejoins the 401 near Brockville.
Where do you park for the Gananoque boat cruise?
For the 1 hour cruise, the town pay spaces on Main and Water Streets near the 280 Main Street dock work, but for the 3 or 5 hour cruises use a lot with no 3 hour limit, such as the town's 600 King Street East lot ($12 a day).
Town parking in 2026 ($1.50 an hour with a 3 hour maximum unless the row says otherwise):
| Where | Days and hours enforced | How to pay |
|---|---|---|
| Main, Water and Mill Streets, Bay Road (pay and display) | Monday to Sunday, 8 am to 6 pm | Machine or HonkMobile |
| King, Stone and Charles Streets (meters) | Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 6 pm | Meter or HonkMobile |
| Lots at 79 Pine Street and 155 Garden Street | Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 6 pm | Machine or HonkMobile |
| 600 King Street East (seasonal lot) | $12 a day, $50 a week, $120 a month | HonkMobile only |
| 121 Main Street and 21 Bay Road (marina) | Seasonal pass holders only in July and August | Pass |
Rules that catch visitors:
- 3 hour maximum on street spaces and the Pine and Garden lots. The 5 hour Boldt Castle cruise runs past it.
- Overnight parking is allowed only through HonkMobile, April 2 to November 14, 6:01 pm to 7:59 am. Any one spot has a 24 hour maximum.
- Winter overnight ban: no parking 1 am to 7 am from November 15 to December 31 and January 1 to April 1.
The cruise line, City Cruises Gananoque, also has parking at its dock. City Cruises lists dock parking at $9 (debit, Visa or Mastercard). Questions: 613-382-2144.
Where do you park for the Thousand Islands Playhouse?
Parking for the Playhouse is free. Use the street around 185 South Street or the free lot at 300 Arthur Street, about a 6 minute walk.
- The small on-site lot at the Firehall Theatre is for Patron Members and accessibility pass holders only, first come, first served.
- Do not park in private lots, driveways or on sidewalks. The Playhouse asks you to respect the neighbours.
- It suggests arriving at least 45 minutes before the show.
- Box office for parking questions: 613-382-7020.
Heads up: It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken (October 22 to November 8, 2026) is a Playhouse production staged at the Kingston Grand Theatre, not in Gananoque. Check your ticket before you drive.
Can you get to Gananoque by train?
Yes. VIA Rail stops at Gananoque station on North Station Road, but only some Toronto to Ottawa trains stop there. Kingston station, 29 km west, is staffed and more trains stop there.
| Station | Address | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Gananoque | North Station Rd | Sign post station (an unstaffed stop). Unaccompanied minors cannot travel to or from it. North of the 401 via exit 645, so arrange a ride into town. |
| Kingston | 1800 John Counter Blvd, Kingston | Staffed station with a ticket counter, taxis, car rental and paid parking. 29 km west of Gananoque. |
| Brockville | 141 Perth St, Brockville | Staffed 9:15 am to 5:30 pm; opens as a shelter 30 minutes before trains outside those hours. About 52 km east. |
Buy tickets and check which trains stop at Gananoque on viarail.ca. Toronto to Montreal trains do not stop at Gananoque.
Is there a bus to Gananoque?
Yes. FlixBus stops in front of Town Hall at 30 King Street East on its Ottawa to Toronto route. When the Town announced the stop in August 2025, the schedule was 4 stops a day (2 eastbound, 2 westbound), connecting to the Ottawa VIA station, Toronto Union Station and Pearson Airport. The Town said stops may become on-demand in the off-season, so book on flixbus.ca before you count on one. Tickets can be bought up to 30 minutes before departure.
Town Hall is downtown, so most of the centre is a short walk from the stop.
Do you need a passport to cross the Thousand Islands Bridge?
You need a passport or another approved travel document to cross the Thousand Islands Bridge into the United States. For land crossings, US rules accept:
| Traveller | Accepted at the land border |
|---|---|
| Canadian citizen, 16 and over | Passport, Enhanced Driver's Licence, or NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST card |
| US citizen, 16 and over | US passport, passport card, Enhanced Driver's Licence, or NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST card |
| Canadian or US citizen under 16 | Birth certificate (original, photocopy or certified copy) or other proof of citizenship |
| Children under 19 with a school, religious, cultural or youth sports group | Birth certificate, if the group is supervised and has parental consent |
| Everyone else | Passport, plus any US visa or travel authorization they need |
Coming back into Canada, the CBSA recommends a valid passport for everyone. NEXUS cardholders should carry their passport too in case an officer asks for proof of citizenship.
The bridge. Take 401 exit 661 onto Highway 137. The Canadian border post (Lansdowne) is at 860 Highway 137 on Hill Island at the base of the bridge and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The US side is the Alexandria Bay port on Interstate 81. The 1000 Islands Tower is also on Hill Island, on the Canadian side, so visiting it does not cross the border.
The toll. The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority's 2026 passenger car toll is US$4.00 or C$5.50, in effect since January 1, 2026. E-ZPass, cash and major credit cards are accepted in all lanes. Rates for other vehicles are on tibridge.com.
Do you need ArriveCAN to drive into Canada?
No. ArriveCAN's Advance Declaration is optional, and it only works for travellers whose first point of arrival is one of the participating Canadian airports. At the Lansdowne crossing you give your declaration to the border officer in person.
How do you get to Gananoque by boat?
Gananoque Municipal Marina at 21 Bay Street, at the end of Clarence Street, takes transient boats up to 48 feet. Call ahead on VHF channel 68.
- 2026 hours: daily, 8 am to 4 pm.
- Transient docking: $3.62 per foot per day for serviced (30 amp) dockage, plus HST and a 4% capital improvement fee.
- On site: 398 slips, 30 and 50 amp power, washrooms, showers, ice, night security, pump-out (staff assist during business hours) and a convenience store.
- Launching: free at the marina ramp for boats under 24 feet, and at the Lions launch (Kate Street at St. Lawrence Street) for boats over 24 feet.
- Phone: 613-382-2149, extension 1514 in summer, 1414 in winter.
In 2025 the marina closed November 24 for dock replacement work and reopened for the 2026 season.
How do boaters report to customs in Gananoque?
Boaters coming from the US must report to the CBSA as soon as they land, anchor, moor or tie up to another boat in Canadian waters, and Gananoque Municipal Marina is a designated CBSA telephone reporting site.
Entering Canada at Gananoque (CBSA):
- Dock at the marina during its business hours.
- Only the operator gets off the boat, to call the CBSA Telephone Reporting Centre at 1-888-226-7277. Everyone else stays aboard until cleared.
- Report everyone aboard and all goods. Declare firearms, cannabis and CAN$10,000 or more in currency.
- Write down the report number the officer gives you and keep it for the trip.
If everyone aboard is a NEXUS member, the operator calls 1-866-99-NEXUS (1-866-996-3987) between 30 minutes and 4 hours before arrival instead. Boats carrying 30 or more people cannot clear by phone and must give the CBSA 72 hours' written notice.
You do not need to report if you only cruise, fish or swim in Canadian waters and do not land, anchor, moor or come alongside another boat.
Entering the US (CBP):
- Report immediately when you land in the US.
- The free CBP ROAM app (you need a login.gov account) satisfies the in-person requirement for most boaters. It does not cover anyone who needs an I-94 or owes duty.
- The nearest in-person reporting spot is Heart Island (Boldt Castle), open 9:30 am to 6:30 pm, May to October. Cape Vincent is open 8 am to 8 pm, May to October.
- NEXUS members and holders of an I-68 Canadian Border Boat Landing Permit can report by phone. I-68 applications are made in person, including at the Alexandria Bay port, 315-482-2065.
FAQ
Where do you park for the Gananoque boat cruise?
Town pay spaces on Main and Water Streets near the 280 Main Street dock cost $1.50 an hour, 8 am to 6 pm, with a 3 hour limit. For the 3 or 5 hour cruise, use the town lot at 600 King Street East, $12 a day through HonkMobile.
Is parking free at the Thousand Islands Playhouse?
Yes. Street parking around 185 South Street is free, and there is a free lot at 300 Arthur Street, about a 6 minute walk. On-site spaces at the Firehall Theatre are for Patron Members and accessibility pass holders.
Is there a train station in Gananoque?
Yes, on North Station Road north of the 401. It is an unstaffed sign post stop served by some Toronto to Ottawa VIA trains. Kingston station, 29 km west, is staffed and more trains stop there.
Do you need a passport to cross the Thousand Islands Bridge?
Adults need a passport or another approved document: an Enhanced Driver's Licence or a NEXUS card work for Canadian and US citizens, and a passport card works for US citizens. Canadian and US children under 16 can use a birth certificate.
Do you need ArriveCAN to drive into Canada?
No. ArriveCAN's Advance Declaration is optional and only works at participating airports. At the Lansdowne crossing you declare to the officer in person.
Do boaters have to report to customs in Gananoque?
Yes, if you arrive from the US and land, anchor or moor. Gananoque Municipal Marina is a CBSA telephone reporting site: the operator calls 1-888-226-7277 and everyone else stays aboard until cleared.
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