Sleeping in Ottawa Airport - Overnight at YOW & Hotels

At Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier the terminal building stays open overnight, but security closes, and little is open after the shops close. This guide covers an overnight in the terminal and the hotels nearby.

Overnight in the terminal

The terminal is open 24 hours, but the security checkpoints close overnight, so an overnight stay happens landside in the public area regardless of what your boarding pass says. There are no designated quiet areas or rest zones.

The spots travellers use are the couches and leather benches near baggage claim, by the windows along the exit route. They are more comfortable than the standard row seating, and YOW is quiet overnight, so you are unlikely to be moved along. There is no shower, no nap room and nowhere open to buy a hot meal overnight.

The walkway hotel

ALT Hotel Ottawa Airport opened in April 2026 and is connected to the terminal by an indoor walkway. It is the only hotel at YOW you can reach without stepping outside, including in the winter months from November to March. Rooms in the One King Bed with View category look over the runways, and the gym is open 24 hours.

Hotels minutes away by free shuttle

Four hotels are a short ride from the terminal, all with free shuttles. Hilton Garden Inn Ottawa Airport is a kilometre away and publishes shuttle hours of 7:00 am to 11:00 pm, so its shuttle does not run for a 06:00 departure. Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Ottawa Airport is 2.5 kilometres out, with the same published shuttle hours and free breakfast from 6:00 am, Homewood Suites by Hilton Ottawa Airport five minutes away with full kitchens, and Days Inn by Wyndham Ottawa Airport is the lowest-priced option.

The Homewood Suites and the Days Inn do not publish shuttle hours; confirm the early-morning schedule when you book.

If your stop is in daylight, see day rooms and layovers. For what exists in the way of pods and rest areas, see sleep pods and rest zones. For freshening up between flights, see showers and lounges at YOW; YOW has no showers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sleep overnight inside Ottawa Airport?

Ottawa Airport's terminal stays open around the clock, but security closes overnight, so you spend the night landside in the public area whatever your ticket says. The usable spots are the couches and leather benches near baggage claim, by the windows on the exit route.

Is sleeping at YOW comfortable?

YOW has no dedicated rest zones or sleep pods, and no showers anywhere in the terminal. Ottawa is a small airport with a quiet overnight period: there is less noise than at a hub, but fewer places are open.

Which hotel is best for a very early departure from YOW?

The ALT Hotel is connected to the terminal by an indoor walkway, and it is the only YOW hotel you can reach without going outside. The shuttle hotels that publish hours, the Hilton Garden Inn and the Fairfield, run their shuttles from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm, so for a departure before 7:00 am confirm transport with the hotel.

Information last verified: September 30, 2026