Kingston
Kingston, Ontario, sits on the St. Lawrence River, where Fort Henry and the waterfront draw most visitors and the city makes a practical overnight stop between Toronto and Montréal.
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Kingston sits where the St. Lawrence River leaves Lake Ontario, and most visitors start with the waterfront and Fort Henry. Many of the older buildings are made of local limestone. The fort was built in the 1830s on high ground above the harbor to guard the southern end of the Rideau Canal, which still links Kingston to Ottawa. Kingston was also the first capital of the Province of Canada, from 1841 to 1844.
Kingston works as a city visit of one to two days, or as an overnight stop on the drive between Toronto and Montréal, roughly midway. Give Fort Henry and the waterfront a full day, and leave time for the older streets and the lake shore. Princess Street and Market Square are a short walk from the water, so you can cover much of downtown on foot. Late spring through early fall is the easiest season for walking outdoors, and winter is quieter.
Kingston in five
- Check Fort Henry's season firstFort Henry's 2026 main season ran from May 16 to September 7, with fall programming Wednesdays to Sundays into late September and Fort Fright in October. It says it returns in spring 2027.Fort Henry admissions
- Budget Fort Henry ticketsFort Henry's 2026 main-season prices were $20.00 for adults, $18.00 for seniors and $13.00 for students, plus HST. Guided tours last 50 minutes and left every half hour.
- Spend a night on the Toronto to Montréal corridorKingston sits roughly midway between the two cities, a natural overnight that avoids one long day of driving or rail.Montréal
- Walk the waterfront before you book toursDowntown and the harbor sit within a short walk of each other, and cruise and ferry boats leave from the waterfront. Check each operator's season, which is mostly spring to fall.
- Pair Kingston with Toronto or NiagaraA Lake Ontario route reads well from Toronto through Kingston and on to Montréal, with Niagara Falls on the Toronto side.Niagara Falls
Things to do in Kingston
See all attractions in Kingston
Need to know
- Airport
- Kingston (YGK) is small; Toronto and Montréal are the main gateways
- Getting there
- Road and rail along the Toronto to Montréal corridor
- Getting around
- Walk downtown; Fort Henry is a short ride east of the center
- Best base
- Downtown near the waterfront
- Time needed
- 1 night on a corridor trip; 2 with Fort Henry and a boat trip
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCloudy11 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh-2°Low-8°Cold, snowJanuaryCloudy
Poor
- High
- -2°
- Low
- -8°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow
- FebruaryCloudy11 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-8°Cold, snowFebruaryCloudy
Poor
- High
- -1°
- Low
- -8°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow
- MarchCloudy12 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh4°Low-3°ThawMarchCloudy
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Thaw
- AprilRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low2°Cool, springAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, spring
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Fort Henry opensMayPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fort Henry opens
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°Warm, long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh25°Low18°Warm, harbor daysJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 119 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, harbor days
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh25°Low18°Warm, busiestAugustRain
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 107 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busiest
- SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°Fall programsSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall programs
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Fall colorsOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 154 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall colors
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh7°Low1°Cold, quietNovemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- DecemberSnow13 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh1°Low-4°Cold, quietDecemberSnow
Poor
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 129 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
Average daily high and low in Kingston, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Kingston
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
15
- Feels like
- 11°
- Humidity
- 62%
- Wind
- 16 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 6%
Kingston
03:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today15°8°6%Monday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Tue16°11°56%Tuesday: Rain. High 16°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 56%.
- Wed18°13°23%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Thu16°13°73%Thursday: Rain. High 16°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Fri13°11°34%Friday: Drizzle. High 13°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 34%.
- Sat11°9°26%Saturday: Rain. High 11°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 26%.
- Sun10°8°12%Sunday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 12%.
Updated 12:58 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.397 CAD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Wolfe Islanda short ferry crossingA quiet island across the channel, easy by car, bike or on foot.
- The Thousand Islandsby road or by cruise boatIslands and castles along the St. Lawrence east of the city; check cruise seasons.Read the guide
- Toronto or Montréala rail or road corridorEach is a long day return; Kingston works better as the overnight between them.Read the guide
Before you go to Kingston
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Kingston, checked
- Fort Henry 2026 main season: May 16 to September 7; adult $20.00 plus HST; guided tours are 50 minutes. It says it returns in spring 2027.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Kingston
Western end of the corridor
Read the guideMontréalEastern end of the corridor
Read the guideOttawaUp the Rideau route
Read the guideThousand IslandsCruises and the national park
Read the guideNiagara FallsOn the Toronto side of Lake Ontario
Read the guideAll of CanadaeTA, regions, cities and money basics
Read the guideGetting around CanadaTrains and car hire
Read the guideKingston FAQ
Is Kingston worth visiting?
Yes as an overnight between Toronto and Montréal. A day covers the downtown, the waterfront and Fort Henry in season. It is a poor fit if you only have a day in the whole region.
Is Fort Henry open all year?
No. Its 2026 main season ran from May 16 to September 7, with fall programming and a haunted event in October. The fort says it returns in spring 2027.
How much does Fort Henry cost?
In the 2026 main season the adult ticket was $20.00 plus HST, seniors $18.00, students $13.00 and youth $11.00. Check the fort for 2027 prices.
How many days do you need in Kingston?
One night is enough on a corridor trip. Stay two if you want Fort Henry, a boat trip and an unhurried waterfront evening.
What is the best time to visit Kingston?
June to September for the fort and harbor boats, with September and early October for fall color. Winters are cold and several seasonal attractions are closed.