Getting There · Canadian Tire Centre · Ottawa
Getting to Canadian Tire Centre — Transit, Rideshare & Walking Routes
Getting to Canadian Tire Centre without the parking-lot headache is usually faster and cheaper than driving — especially on Ottawa Senators game nights and major concerts, when the roads around Kanata, Ottawa fill long before doors. Even at a compact venue holding 18,652, the streets around Kanata, Ottawa tighten up fast during the pre-game window. This guide covers the transit lines that drop you closest to the arena, the rideshare zones, walking routes from Kanata, and what to know about late-night service after the final whistle.
About Canadian Tire Centre
Suburban kanata home of the ottawa senators, formerly scotiabank place and the corel centre. the arena has hosted events at this site since 1996. located at 1000 Palladium Drive, Ottawa, ON K2V 1A5.
Transit Routes to Canadian Tire Centre
OC Transpo runs game-day express bus service to the arena from park-and-ride lots; limited regular transit otherwise in suburban Kanata. Plan to step off at the nearest stop 30-45 minutes before doors. Transit is also the quickest post-event exit from Canadian Tire Centre — you are moving while the parking lots around Kanata, Ottawa are still emptying.
Rideshare Drop-Off at Canadian Tire Centre
Uber and Lyft both serve Canadian Tire Centre. On busy nights the apps route you to a designated drop-off zone near the arena rather than the front gates, keeping traffic and pedestrians separated. Surge pricing is usually shorter-lived at smaller venues. Still, walking a block or two from Canadian Tire Centre before requesting your ride home keeps the wait time down.
Walking to Canadian Tire Centre from Kanata
Canadian Tire Centre is located at 1000 Palladium Drive, Ottawa, ON K2V 1A5, in the Kanata area of Ottawa. While Canadian Tire Centre is not in the core downtown area, the Kanata surroundings have sidewalks and pedestrian access from nearby parking areas, hotels, and transit stops. Walking in from a few blocks away also sidesteps the worst of the event-night traffic and is often the single fastest way to leave once the show ends. The walk to Canadian Tire Centre is mostly outdoors before you reach the arena entrance, so check the forecast for evening events.
When to Arrive at Canadian Tire Centre
Canadian Tire Centre holds 18,652 for a typical event configuration. A compact venue like Canadian Tire Centre means shorter entry lines, but you should still plan to arrive 30-45 minutes before doors on event nights. When the Ottawa Senators have a sold-out crowd, add another 15-20 minutes to your buffer. The smaller footprint means you can get from the gate to your seat quickly once you are inside.
Late-Night Exit from Canadian Tire Centre
If you took transit to Canadian Tire Centre, your post-event exit plan hinges on the last departure from the nearest stop. Before the event, look up the schedule for the specific line referenced in the transit section above — (OC Transpo runs game-day express bus service to the arena from park-and-ride lots; limited regular transit otherwise in suburban Kanata) — and screenshot it. Evening events at Canadian Tire Centre typically let out between 10:00 and 11:00 PM, though encores and overtime can push later. Having the schedule saved means you can decide during the event whether to catch the last train or switch to a rideshare backup.