Kingston, Ontario at a glance
Kingston, Ontario is the easiest day trip from Watertown that ends in another country. You drive north to the Thousand Islands Bridge, cross into Canada and arrive in a historic city with a fort, a City Hall with stone columns and a domed top, and a waterfront. Watertown's own visitor listings describe the drive as within an hour. That figure leaves out the queue at the border, so add time, especially on a summer weekend. Do not confuse it with Kingston in New York State, which is a different place.
A Kingston day trip works best as a plan with three parts: the border crossing, Fort Henry if the season fits, and a walk through the old town. Prices on the Canadian side are in Canadian dollars (CAD) and most are listed before HST. Prices on the US side, such as the bridge toll, are in US dollars.
Our picks: Kingston, Ontario
Kingston is across the border, so bring your passport. The cruise shows the islands from the Canadian side, the trolley is the easy way to see the town in an hour, and the lunch cruise turns the trip into a meal.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Lunch cruise through the Thousand Islands from Kingston
- Starter, main course and dessert
- Live entertainment on board
A seated meal on the water, starting at the Kingston waterfront. The ticket is non-refundable.
Check availability →
Riverboat cruise through the Thousand Islands from Kingston
- Sightseeing cruise
- Live entertainment on board
The cruise leaves from the Kingston waterfront and shows the islands from the Canadian side. The ticket is non-refundable.
Check availability →Kingston city tour by trolley
- Trolley ticket
- Guide on board
A guided loop through Kingston, handy if you want to leave the car parked after the border crossing.
Check availability →Boat tours and day trips around the Thousand Islands
Cruises, castle trips and day tours in the Thousand Islands region, with live prices and availability.
Crossing the border to Kingston
Rules change, and the officer at the booth makes the final decision. This is the state of things as of August 2026.
Bring a valid passport
Every traveller needs a valid passport. Citizens and permanent residents of Canada and US residents follow their own document rules, so check the ones that apply to you.
Visa-exempt visitors: no eTA by road or boat
If you do not need a visa for Canada and you enter from the United States by car, bus, train or boat, you do not need an eTA. If you arrive by air, you need an eTA plus your passport.
Visa-required nationalities
If your nationality needs a visa for Canada, you still need a Visitor Visa at a land or sea crossing. An eTA does not replace it, and it does not guarantee entry.
The way back into the US
Canadian rules do not cover your US re-entry. Check the current ESTA, visa or I-94 requirements for your nationality before you leave Watertown, and carry the same documents you used to enter the United States.
The bridge toll for a standard car, pick-up or motorcycle with two axles is $4 or CAD 5.50, valid since January 1, 2026. A motorhome with two axles pays $7.50 or CAD 10.50, and a car with a one-axle trailer pays $6.50 or CAD 9. E-ZPass, cash and common credit cards are accepted. More on roads and toll rules on our getting there page.
Fort Henry in 2026
Fort Henry stands above the Kingston shore, and its green ramparts are the first thing many visitors see from the water. The 2026 main season runs from May 16 to September 7. After that a special autumn programme runs Wednesday to Sunday from September 9 to 27. The regular summer season is over by then, so check what is on before you plan a trip around the fort.
Main-season prices are in CAD and exclude HST. The Canada Strong Pass applies from June 19 to September 7, 2026. Under it, visitors up to age 17 enter free and visitors aged 18 to 24 get 50 percent off. Fort Henry tickets are for the fort only. They have nothing to do with the Boldt Castle or Singer Castle tickets on the American side.
Fort Henry admission, main season 2026
All prices in Canadian dollars (CAD), plus HST.
| Visitor | Main-season ticket | With Canada Strong Pass (June 19 to September 7) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, 25 to 64 | CAD 20 | – |
| Senior, 65 and over | CAD 18 | – |
| Youth, 13 to 17 | CAD 13 | Free |
| Child, 5 to 12 | CAD 11 | Free |
| Child, 4 and under | Free | Free |
| Ages 18 to 24 | – | 50 percent off |
For most visitors, one adult ticket at CAD 20 plus a walk through the old town makes a full half day. Families with children under 18 should look at the pass dates first, because they can cut the fort cost to nothing in summer.
The old town and the waterfront
Kingston's historic centre is compact. City Hall, Market Square, shops and the waterfront lie within a short walk of each other, which makes the old town easy to see on foot after you park. A local trolley tour starts at 209 Ontario Street, a handy landmark if you want a first orientation before walking. Leave time at the end for the way back, because border queues vary by day and by direction.
Skip the Wolfe Island ferry shortcut
A loop from Cape Vincent by ferry to Wolfe Island and on to Kingston is a route people sometimes expect. Horne's Ferry between Cape Vincent and Wolfe Island is not running in 2026, so that route is not available. The ferry between Kingston and Wolfe Island is a separate link and does not connect with Cape Vincent. Plan on the bridge. If you are staying near the lake, read our Cape Vincent page for what to do there instead.
To see the islands from the water on the American side, start with our guide to Thousand Islands boat tours.
Kingston, Ontario from Watertown: frequently asked questions
Do I need a passport to go to Kingston, Ontario?
Yes. Every traveller needs a valid passport. Rules differ for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and US residents, so check the documents that apply to you.
Do I need an eTA to drive to Kingston?
Visa-exempt visitors who enter Canada from the United States by car, bus, train or boat do not need an eTA, only a valid passport. Visitors who arrive by air need an eTA plus a passport. This is the state as of August 2026. If your nationality needs a visa for Canada, an eTA does not replace it.
Can I take a ferry from Cape Vincent to Kingston?
No. Horne's Ferry between Cape Vincent and Wolfe Island is not running in 2026, so it is not a way to reach Kingston. Use the Thousand Islands Bridge. The Kingston to Wolfe Island ferry is a different link.
How much is the Thousand Islands Bridge toll?
A standard car, pick-up or motorcycle with two axles pays $4 or CAD 5.50. Motorhomes with two axles pay $7.50 or CAD 10.50. A car with a one-axle trailer pays $6.50 or CAD 9. These rates are valid from January 1, 2026.
When is Fort Henry open?
The 2026 main season ran from May 16 to September 7. An autumn programme ran Wednesday to Sunday from September 9 to 27. Check the current schedule before you go, especially outside summer.
Is this the official website for Watertown or Kingston?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not run by the City of Watertown, the City of Kingston, Fort Henry, any tourism body or any tour company.