Kingston is on the Lake Ontario shore of Ontario, Canada. It is roughly 54 miles in a straight line from Oswego.

What are the top things to do in Kingston?

Watch the Fort Henry Guard drill at Fort Henry, and stay for the evening Sunset Ceremony on select summer nights. Tour the former Kingston Penitentiary, a 19th-century federal prison that closed in 2013 and now offers seasonal guided tours. Ride the car ferry to Wolfe Island, the largest of the Thousand Islands, for quiet country roads and lake views.

How much time do you need in Kingston?

Allow 1–2 days to explore Kingston.

Coastal town · Lake Ontario

Kingston

A limestone waterfront city at the meeting of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence.

Photo: DXR · CC BY-SA 4.0

Waterfront, Kingston, East view 20170416 1.jpg by DXR · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Official website Plan a trip around it

On the coast

About Kingston

Kingston's harbor and historic streets connect Lake Ontario with the St. Lawrence River and the Rideau Canal. A stay here can mix military and civic history with waterfront dining and regional excursions. Island cruises are optional additions, not a substitute for time in the city, and routes depend on operator schedules.

LakeLake Ontario

RegionOntario

Representative coordinates44.2298, -76.4810

Live · Kingston

What's going on right now.

Weather, alerts, the water, the sky and local headlines, gathered from official sources as you read.

Gathering the latest conditions…

National Weather Service Environment Canada NOAA buoy observations Aurora forecast

Live data from the U.S. National Weather Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, NOAA's National Data Buoy Center and Space Weather Prediction Center; headlines link to the publishers. Sun and moon times are calculated. Conditions change quickly—check official forecasts before going on the water. Not for navigation.

Best time

July and August for Fort Henry's ceremonies and island cruises; September and October for crisp days and color along the Rideau.

Time needed

1–2 days

Best months

Don't miss

Top things to do in Kingston.

Watch the Fort Henry Guard drill at Fort Henry, and stay for the evening Sunset Ceremony on select summer nights.
Tour the former Kingston Penitentiary, a 19th-century federal prison that closed in 2013 and now offers seasonal guided tours.
Ride the car ferry to Wolfe Island, the largest of the Thousand Islands, for quiet country roads and lake views.
Watch boats rise through the hand-operated locks at Kingston Mills on the UNESCO-listed Rideau Canal.

Know before you go

Tips for visiting Kingston.

Book the Sunset Ceremony and penitentiary tours ahead in July and August; both run on seasonal schedules.
For the densest Thousand Islands scenery, continue east to Gananoque, where shorter island cruises depart in season.
Rooms fill when Queen's University students arrive in late summer and on homecoming weekends; book early for fall visits.

Great for Cities & culture Islands, boats & paddling Harbor towns & villages

Loading the map. The links and itinerary below are always available.

Approximate town center (GeoNames 5992500); not an attraction entrance.

Black-and-white basemap by OpenStreetMap. Great Lakes highlighted in color. Hold Ctrl (or Command) while scrolling to zoom. Use two fingers on touch screens.

Lake outlines: Natural Earth (public domain). Town centers: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Not for navigation.

Good to know

Questions about Kingston

Where is Kingston?: Kingston is on the Lake Ontario shore of Ontario, Canada. It is roughly 54 miles in a straight line from Oswego.
What are the top things to do in Kingston?: Watch the Fort Henry Guard drill at Fort Henry, and stay for the evening Sunset Ceremony on select summer nights. Tour the former Kingston Penitentiary, a 19th-century federal prison that closed in 2013 and now offers seasonal guided tours. Ride the car ferry to Wolfe Island, the largest of the Thousand Islands, for quiet country roads and lake views.
When is the best time to visit Kingston?: July and August for Fort Henry's ceremonies and island cruises; September and October for crisp days and color along the Rideau.
How much time do you need in Kingston?: Allow 1–2 days to explore Kingston.

Travel well

Make it a good visit.

Check access before leaving.

Opening hours, parking, permits and step-free access change by season. Confirm your needs with the official destination; a map pin is not an entrance.

Give the shoreline time.

Leave room for weather delays and a quieter side trail. Stay on marked paths, respect closures and support the local communities that make the coast special.

Travel thoughtfully

Look beyond the air forecast.

Waves and water temperatures can tell a very different story. Use marine forecasts and local beach advisories before any water activity.

Official weather resources

Nearby

More places to visit near Kingston.

Approximate straight-line distance between representative pins—not driving distance, a ferry route or an access recommendation.

About 54 miles · New York

Oswego

A historic Lake Ontario port where the Oswego River reaches the lake.

Explore place

Road trips

Put this place on a longer route.

4-6 days

Toronto to Prince Edward County & Kingston

An Ontario waterfront journey from city promenades to dunes and limestone streets.

View the itinerary

Events

Seasonal traditions on this coast.

These events share the region and lake—not necessarily this destination. Confirm current dates with organizers.

August through Labour Day

Canadian National Exhibition

Toronto's late-summer exhibition near the Lake Ontario waterfront.

Organizer & event guide