There are 11 ways to get from Ottawa to Brainerd by plane, bus, train, taxi, bus (Flixbus, Greyhound, Amtrak), or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, bus
best- Fly from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)YOW - MSP
- Take the bus from Minneapolis / St Paul Airport to Perkins Restaurant & Bakery - Brainerd
11h 15m$373–1,163Fly Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Duluth International Airport, bus
cheapest- Fly from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to Duluth International Airport (DLH)YOW - DLH
- Take the bus from Duluth to Brainerd
13h 57m$105–520Train, taxi
- Take the train from Ottawa to Toronto Union Station
- Take the train from Toronto Union Station to Windsor
- Take the train from Detroit to Chicago Union Station
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Staples Station
- Take the taxi from Staples Station to Brainerd
28h 47m$339–694Bus
- Take the bus from Ottawa to Detroit Bus Station
- Take the bus from Detroit Bus Station to Milwaukee Intermodal Station
- Take the bus from Milwaukee Intermodal Station to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Take the bus from St. Paul to Brainerd
33h 10m$179–462Drive 1,012 mi
- Drive from Ottawa to Brainerd1,012 mi
20h 9m$232–335Train to Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, fly to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport
- Take the train from Ottawa to Dorval
- Fly from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD)YUL - BRD
13h 18m$137–558Train to Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, fly to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, bus
- Take the train from Ottawa to Dorval
- Fly from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)YUL - MSP
- Take the bus from Minneapolis / St Paul Airport to Perkins Restaurant & Bakery - Brainerd
11h 9m$345–1,247Fly Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Thunder Bay International Airport, drive
- Fly from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT)YOW - YQT
- Drive from Thunder-Bay-Airport-YQT to Brainerd
10h 39m$203–513Fly Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport
- Fly from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD)YOW - BRD
11h 44m$110–464Fly Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Winnipeg J. A. Richardson International Airport, drive
- Fly from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to Winnipeg J. A. Richardson International Airport (YWG)YOW - YWG
- Drive from Winnipeg-Airport-YWG to Brainerd
11h 12m$208–613Train, bus
- Take the train from Ottawa to Toronto Union Station
- Take the train from Toronto Union Station to Buffalo
- Take the train from Buffalo Depew Station to Chicago Union Station
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to St. Paul-Minneapolis
- Take the bus from St. Paul to Brainerd
33h 42m$213–661
Ottawa to Brainerd by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Ottawa to Brainerd is to fly which costs $110 - $470 and takes 11h 44m.
The fastest way to get from Ottawa to Brainerd is to fly and drive which takes 10h 39m and costs $200 - $550.
No, there is no direct bus from Ottawa to Brainerd. However, there are services departing from Ottawa and arriving at Brainerd via Detroit Bus Station, Milwaukee Intermodal Station and St. Paul. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 33h 10m.
The distance between Ottawa and Brainerd is 1014 miles. The road distance is 1017.9 miles.
The best way to get from Ottawa to Brainerd without a car is to bus which takes 33h 10m and costs $170 - $470.
It takes approximately 11h 15m to get from Ottawa to Brainerd, including transfers.
Ottawa to Brainerd bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from Ottawa station.
The best way to get from Ottawa to Brainerd is to bus which takes 33h 10m and costs $170 - $470. Alternatively, you can fly, which costs $110 - $470 and takes 11h 44m.
Ottawa to Brainerd bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Detroit Bus Station.
Brainerd is 1h behind Ottawa. It is currently 10:29 AM in Ottawa and 9:29 AM in Brainerd.
What companies run services between Ottawa, ON, Canada and Brainerd, MN, USA?
You can take a bus from Ottawa to Brainerd via Detroit Bus Station, Milwaukee Intermodal Station, Saint Paul Union Depot, and St. Paul in around 33h 10m. Alternatively, Porter Airlines, Delta, and two other airlines fly from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD) every 4 hours.
- Website
- aircanada.com
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–650
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via Toronto
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–600
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 53m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–600
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via Toronto
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 54m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–650
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Thunder Bay International Airport via Toronto
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 58m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–370
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Winnipeg J. A. Richardson International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 58m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $95–470
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Winnipeg J. A. Richardson International Airport via Toronto
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 9m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–490
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Winnipeg J. A. Richardson International Airport via Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–500
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via Toronto
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–600
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via Newark
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–700
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 53m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–600
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–650
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Thunder Bay International Airport via Toronto
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $70–370
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Duluth International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–450
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Winnipeg J. A. Richardson International Airport via Toronto
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–490
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via Winnipeg J. A. Richardson International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 20m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $270–1,200
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Detroit, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–460
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Chicago O'Hare, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–470
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Toronto, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 25m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $95–450
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–600
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 38m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–650
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Newark, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 16m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $110–550
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Winnipeg J. A. Richardson International Airport, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–850
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Chicago O'Hare, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–460
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Toronto, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 15h
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $90–440
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Washington Dulles, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 58m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $110–550
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Duluth International Airport via Winnipeg J. A. Richardson International Airport, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 47m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $180–1,000
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Winnipeg J. A. Richardson International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $100–550
- Website
- flyporter.com
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Thunder Bay International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 29m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–400
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Thunder Bay International Airport via Toronto
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 49m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–400
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Winnipeg J. A. Richardson International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 58m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–490
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Winnipeg J. A. Richardson International Airport via Toronto
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–490
- Website
- westjet.com
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via Winnipeg J. A. Richardson International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 20m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $270–1,200
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–600
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 38m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–650
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Duluth International Airport via Winnipeg J. A. Richardson International Airport, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 47m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $180–1,000
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Winnipeg J. A. Richardson International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $100–550
- Phone
- +1 888 842-7245
- Website
- viarail.ca
Train from Ottawa to Toronto Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 24m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $40–110
- Website
- https://www.viarail.ca/en
- Economy Adult - same day booking
- $50–110
- Economy Adult - Advanced Booking
- $50–85
- Economy Escape Advanced Booking - Adult
- $40–60
Train from Toronto Union Station to Windsor
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 18m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $35–100
- Website
- https://www.viarail.ca/en
- Economy Adult - same day booking
- $40–100
- Economy Adult - Advanced Booking
- $40–80
- Economy Escape Advanced Booking - Adult
- $35–50
Train from Ottawa to Dorval
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 37m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $22–85
- Website
- https://www.viarail.ca/en
- Economy Adult - same day booking
- $24–85
- Economy Adult - Advanced Booking
- $24–65
- Economy Escape Advanced Booking - Adult
- $22–35
Train from Toronto Union Station to Buffalo
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 6m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $23–85
- Website
- https://www.viarail.ca/en
- Economy Adult - same day booking
- $26–85
- Economy Adult - Advanced Booking
- $26–70
- Economy Escape Advanced Booking - Adult
- $23–40
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Detroit to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 6m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–130
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Staples Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $150–280
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Buffalo Depew Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 33m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $65–200
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to St. Paul-Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 24m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $70–200
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 320-316-0943
- Website
- groometransportation.com
Bus from Minneapolis / St Paul Airport to Perkins Restaurant & Bakery - Brainerd
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 20m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $60
- Schedules at
- groometransportation.com
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Ottawa to Detroit Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $85–150
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from Detroit Bus Station to Milwaukee Intermodal Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 55m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $50–110
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from Milwaukee Intermodal Station to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $45–100
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Milwaukee Intermodal Station to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $50–85
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Milwaukee Intermodal Station to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–130
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
Bus from St. Paul to Brainerd
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $12–75
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Duluth to Brainerd
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- $11–65
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from Milwaukee Intermodal Station to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Estimated price
- $65–80
Want to know more about travelling around United States
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the US: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide
Need to know: Greyhound
Read the travel guide
More Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between Ottawa to Brainerd is 1018 miles. It takes approximately 20h 9m to drive from Ottawa to Brainerd.
There are 78+ hotels available in Brainerd.















