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Major city · Canada

PembrokePembroke, Ontario

Give Pembroke one night, two at most: it is a small Ottawa Valley city on the Trans-Canada, best used as a bed and a waterfront walk before or after Algonquin Park.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep for the river and park; late Sep–early Oct for fall colour
avoid Jan–Feb (deep cold, −20 °C nights); blackfly and mosquito season late May–Jun
Airports
YTA · YOW
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
  • Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
  • Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.

Pembroke is a city of about 14,000 on the Ottawa River, 160 km west of Ottawa on Highway 17 and roughly 40 km from the east edge of Algonquin Provincial Park. It has a compact downtown of murals and 19th-century buildings, a riverfront trail, a seasonal museum and a handful of good places to eat. Most travellers pass through on the way to Algonquin or use it as a half-day stop; one night covers the centre, and a second night only pays off if you are paddling, camping or day-tripping into the park.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Pembroke, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeC$2.50–5 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Sit-down mealRestaurant main courseC$18–32 (≈ US$14–25)
  • Street or quick mealDeli sandwich or lunch plateC$12–20 (≈ US$9–15)
  • BeerDraught beer in a barC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Champlain Trail Museum)checkabout C$6 (≈ US$5)
  • Budget bedHostel or B&B room, a night, per personC$45 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per roomC$160 (≈ US$120)
  • High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per roomC$260 (≈ US$190)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$160 (≈ US$120) · High C$280 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Ottawa River waterfront and marinaHeritage murals downtownChamplain Trail Museum and Pioneer VillageGateway to Algonquin Provincial Park
Airports
YTA Pembroke Airport (No scheduled flights; general aviation only.) · YOW Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International (The practical gateway: about 1 h 45 min by car west on Highway 17.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Pembroke: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−6°C

−17°C

12 rd

Feb

−4°C

−16°C

9 rd

Mar

3°C

−9°C

10 rd

Apr

11°C

0°C

10 rd

May

19°C

6°C

11 rd

Jun

24°C

11°C

11 rd

Jul

27°C

14°C

10 rd

Aug

26°C

13°C

10 rd

Sep

20°C

8°C

11 rd

Oct

13°C

3°C

12 rd

Nov

5°C

−3°C

12 rd

Dec

−3°C

−12°C

13 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is the practical way to reach Pembroke and to see anything outside the centre; Highway 17 runs through town. Downtown, Pembroke Street and the waterfront are walkable in 15–20 minutes end to end. Ottawa River Transit runs an on-demand bus service inside the city; taxis are the fallback after dark. Ontario Northland intercity buses stop at Giant Tiger on Alexander Street, with pickup and drop-off on the Prince Street side.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Algonquin Provincial Park (east gate)

go

Door to door: About 45 min to the gate

Drive Highway 17 west, then Highway 60 into the park

A full day minimum; day-use permit needed for the Highway 60 corridor.

Petawawa

go

Door to door: About 25 min

Drive Highway 17 west, or Ontario Northland bus

Riverfront and military museum; pairs well with a park day.

Renfrew

go

Door to door: About 35 min

Drive Highway 17 east, or Ontario Northland bus

Small historic downtown on the Bonnechere River.

Ottawa

go

Door to door: About 1 h 45 min

Drive Highway 17 east, or Ontario Northland bus

The nearest big city and the main airport for this region.

Barry's Bay and Madawaska Valley

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Drive Highway 62 south then Highway 60 west

Lakes, lookouts and small-town food; better with a car.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown Pembroke Street

Walk to restaurants, murals, the library and the river; limited rooms, so book ahead in summer.

Highway 17 east end

Chain hotels and the mall near the highway; easiest with a car and for an early start to Ottawa or Algonquin.

Riverside Park and west end

Seasonal camping and trailer sites on the Ottawa River, Victoria Day to Thanksgiving.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
C$90–140 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
Mid
C$150–230 (≈ US$110–170) excl. bed
High
C$250 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel double room1 × 1 night × C$160C$160
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$160C$320
Riverside Park campsite, one night2 × C$32 · checkC$64
Algonquin day-use permit per vehicle1 × C$21 · checkC$21
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25C$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$62
Trip total≈ C$339 per person per day, bed includedC$677≈ US$500

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; long-distance travel and park permits excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeC$2.50–5 (≈ US$2–4)
Deli sandwich or lunch plateC$12–20 (≈ US$9–15)
Restaurant main courseC$18–32 (≈ US$14–25)
Draught beer in a barC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)
Museum entry (Champlain Trail Museum)checkabout C$6 (≈ US$5)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Pembroke is a small, low-crime city and the centre is fine on foot in daylight and early evening. The real risks are winter driving on Highway 17, wildlife and cold water in the park, and long unlit stretches between towns after dark.
  • Winter driving: Highway 17 can ice up and close in snow squalls between Renfrew and Petawawa.
  • Blackflies and mosquitoes are heavy near the river and in the park from late May into July; bring repellent.
  • Some downtown businesses close early and on Sundays; check hours before you plan an evening around them.
  • Hotel rooms fill on hockey-tournament weekends in November and early December.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

PembrokePembroke, Ontario

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No embassies in Pembroke; the US consulate general and most other missions are in Ottawa (check addresses).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Ontario Northland bus Ottawa → Pembroke: about C$35–55 (≈ US$30–40), roughly 2 h (check)
  • Taxi across town: C$10–18 (≈ US$8–14)
  • Fuel, Pembroke → Algonquin east gate and back: about C$15–25 (≈ US$11–19) (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you / Merci — Thank you
  • Please / S'il vous plaît — Please
  • Where is the waterfront? — Where is the waterfront?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is there a table for two? — Is there a table for two?
  • Where is the washroom? — Where is the toilet?

Tipping is expected: 15–20% at restaurants and bars, 10–15% for taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Pembroke. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep for the river and park; late Sep–early Oct for fall colour · avoid Jan–Feb (deep cold, −20 °C nights); blackfly and mosquito season late May–Jun · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for YOW: last Ontario Northland departure field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Pembroke Street downtown, the waterfront trail, the east-end mall strip.
  3. Place pages with verified opening hours (Champlain Trail Museum, Hydro Museum, courthouse) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter and hostile-weather fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources