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Voykit pocket guide · Canada
Prescott
Give Prescott one night, or a half-day stop on Highway 401: Fort Wellington, the windmill and the riverfront fill 3–4 hours.
Prescott is a town of about 4,000 on the St. Lawrence River in eastern Ontario, directly across from Ogdensburg, New York. It is a War of 1812 and 1838 rebellion site with two national historic sites, a small walkable waterfront and Highway 401 exit 714. Most travellers pass through between Kingston and Montréal; one night is enough, and a half-day stop covers the forts.
- Country
- Canada
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (forts closed, cold)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CAD
- Money
- Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget C$90–140 excl. bed · Mid C$140–220 excl. bed · High C$220+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Rogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores. Canadian data is expensive — an eSIM is often cheaper.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Fort Wellington NHS +1 613-925-2896 · Prescott Taxi +1 613-925-2228
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Same as the US.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: CAD 1–2 per drink.; Taxi: 10–15%.; Housekeeping: CAD 3–5 a night.; Guide: 10–20% of the tour price.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).
- Toilets
- Free in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | C$2–5 |
| Pub main course | C$18–28 |
| Fish and chips, takeout | C$14–20 |
| Beer: draught in a pub / can at a store | C$7–9 / C$2–4 |
| Taxi across town | C$10–15 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | C$20–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YOW · Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier
- About 40 min north by car; the closest major airport.
- OGS · Ogdensburg, NY
- Small airport across the bridge; a few flights a day (check).
- YUL · Montréal-Trudeau
- Alternative; about 2 h by car.
Typical fares
- Taxi across town
- C$10–15 (check)
- River Route bus from Brockville
- check the operator for the current fare and timetable
- Highway 401, Prescott to Kingston
- about 1 h by car
Get around
The centre is walkable in 15–20 min. Fort Wellington and the windmill are about 2 km apart on Highway 2 (King St E), so a car or taxi helps. Two local taxi firms serve the town. VIA Rail no longer stops in Prescott; the nearest station is Brockville, about 25 min west.The centre is walkable in 15–20 min. Fort Wellington and the windmill are about 1.2 mi apart on Highway 2 (King St E), so a car or taxi helps. Two local taxi firms serve the town. VIA Rail no longer stops in Prescott; the nearest station is Brockville, about 25 min west.
See and do
Known for
- Fort Wellington National Historic Site
- Battle of the Windmill National Historic Site
- St. Lawrence River waterfront
- St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Brockville | River Route bus or 25 min west on Highway 401 | About 30–40 min |
| Morrisburg | Highway 401 east, about 30 min | About 35 min |
| Ogdensburg, New York | Cross the international bridge at Johnstown, then NY 37 | About 20 min plus border time |
| Kingston, Ontario | Highway 401 west, about 1 h | About 1 h 15 min |
| Gananoque | Highway 401 west, about 45 min | About 1 h |
Sleep
- King Street West / downtown
- Walk to the waterfront, pubs and restaurants; Zens Inn and B&Bs here.
- Highway 2 west of town
- Riverside motels and cottages; you need a car.
- Johnstown / near the bridge
- Closest beds to the Ogdensburg crossing; motel-style.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| Where is the toilet? | Where is the toilet? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Bonjour' first in Québec; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks English
- Queues: Line up and wait your turn; avoid: Pushing in
- Apologising: 'Sorry' is politeness, not admission of fault; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Canada vs US: Treat Canada as its own country; avoid: Calling Canadians American
- Indigenous culture: Buy from Indigenous-owned businesses and ask before photos at ceremonies; avoid: Wearing headdresses as costume
Scams and watch-outs
- Fort Wellington is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays except in July and August; check before you drive out.
- The national historic sites run May–October only; off-season the forts are exterior-only.
- Highway 401 exit 714 is the town exit; the 416 from Ottawa joins at exit 721 near Johnstown.
- The border crossing at Ogdensburg needs a passport or equivalent; check current US entry rules.
A quiet, low-crime small town; the real risks are winter driving on Highway 401, river currents at the waterfront, and border paperwork at Ogdensburg.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Prescott yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Fort Wellington National Historic Site
- Battle of the Windmill National Historic Site
- St. Lawrence River waterfront
- St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Fort Wellington National Historic Site (Parks Canada): www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/on/wellington
- Battle of the Windmill National Historic Site (Parks Canada): www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/on/windmill
- River Route: riverroute.ca/
- Wikivoyage: Prescott (Ontario), revision 5246576 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5246576
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Prescott
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Fort Wellington NHS+1 613-925-2896
- Prescott Taxi+1 613-925-2228
No embassies in Prescott; the US consulate-general is in Toronto and most others are in Ottawa (check).
English is the working language; no phrase card needed.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/prescott-ontario). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.