Gananoque

Gananoque is a town of about 5,400 people (2021) in Eastern Ontario in the Thousand Islands region on the St. Lawrence River.

Understand
Gananoque traces its history to United Empire Loyalist times; after the American Revolution, Loyalist militia Colonel Joel Stone received a land grant and established a mill site in 1789, The town was attacked during the War of 1812 and stores in the government depot looted by Americans. A five-gun Gananoque Blockhouse, completed in 1813 to defend against further US attacks, stood until 1852.

The Gananoque River watershed was an important water transportation corridor, extending north to the Rideau River watershed. In 1830, water was diverted westward to the Cataraqui River as part of the Rideau Canal, redirecting this traffic to Kingston. A short-line railway, built to haul timber for river shipment, carried mainline passengers to the Gananoque waterfront from 1884 to 1962; the right-of-way is now a hiking trail.

Visitor Information

 * Town of Gananoque

By car
The town is on Highway 2 or 401 on the beaten-path Windsor-Quebec corridor. From Watertown (New York), I-81 north (Penn-Can Highway) ends at the 401; Gananoque is 10 miles (16 km) upriver from the Thousand Islands bridge.

By train

 * Operates between Ottawa and Toronto including stops in Smiths Falls, Brockville, Gananoque, Kingston, Napanee, Bellevile, Trenton, Cobourg, Port Hope, and Oshawa.
 * Operates between Ottawa and Toronto including stops in Smiths Falls, Brockville, Gananoque, Kingston, Napanee, Bellevile, Trenton, Cobourg, Port Hope, and Oshawa.

By plane
There is a tiny airport with no scheduled service. The nearest airport is in Kingston; add a $60-75 taxi ride (one way) from Kingston to Gananoque.

By boat
Cruising on small craft? There is a municipal marina downtown (directly west of the 1000 Islands Playhouse). There are two private marinas which sell gasoline (but not diesel oil):

Get around
Due to the town's small size, there is no local transit system; it is relatively easy to drive or walk anywhere within Gananoque. Visitors to the parkway may wish to bring or rent a bicycle as extensive trails exist.

Local taxis are available from A-One Taxi +1 613-382-3777 or Gananoque Taxi +1 613-382-3399.

Buy
The main commercial district in Gananoque is King Street (Ontario Highway 2) east of the Gananoque River, although there are a handful of businesses near the waterfront at the base of Stone Street South (former Highway 32) including a marina and tour boats. Fuel is usually cheaper on the main street than at the Highway 401/CR32 offramp.

There is no mall and no major department store in town. There are two major supermarkets, a Metro and a No Frills. Housewares are available from Donevan's (downtown), Home Hardware (401 exit 645) and Canadian Tire (King St. E); clothing is available from various small independent merchants on King Street downtown.

There are three tiny art galleries: Little Pump House gallery (2 King St E), Heather Hanes Gallery (27 King St. E) and O’Connor Gallery (130 King St. E).

Eat
Major fast food chains (Tim Horton's, McDonald's, Dairy Queen) are available on King St. East (Ontario Highway 2), along with a few independents. Many of the hotels (including the Gananoque Inn on the waterfront and a few on King St. E.) have restaurants on-site.



Sleep
Various hotel chains (Ramada, HoJo, Holiday Inn Express, Quality Inn, Travelodge) are represented on King Street East (Highway 2) between the downtown and Hwy 401 (exit 648). There are also a few independent motels on King Street West as the old road leaves Gananoque for Kingston. Bed and breakfast is available in central locations, including Stone Street South near the water.



Go next

 * The Thousand Islands and Thousand Islands National Park  — follow the 1000 Islands Parkway eastward through the 1000 Islands region to Brockville.
 * Kingston — one of Canada's most historic cities, about west, and home to Fort Henry and the Lake Ontario end of the Rideau Canal.