Overview
Ontario is a city of 12,000 people (2020) in Eastern Oregon along the Snake River at the Idaho border. The city is the largest community in the region of far eastern Oregon, also known as the Western Treasure Valley.
1 sights · 2 things to do · 1 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 7 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Ontario
Ontario State Recreation Site
Lake Owyhee State Park
Four Rivers Cultural Center and Museum
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Summer highs reach about 93°F; winter lows dip to about 25°F. Very hot (Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Cold months (Jan, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Dec. (climate data from nearby Boise)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BOI Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field, Boise — 49 mi away (major hub). Directions
- MYL McCall Municipal Airport, McCall — 73 mi away. Directions
The nearest airport for commercial flights is Boise Airport (BOI) which located south of Boise off of Exit 53 of I-84 and 59 miles SE of Ontario.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Four Rivers Cultural Center and Museum, Ontario State Recreation Site
- Lunch Romio's Pizza and Pasta
- Afternoon Lake Owyhee State Park
- Evening Bert's Growler Garage
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
- & Interstate 84 passes around the north and eastern part of town to/from the Snake River. Ontario is accessed from Exits #374 (SR-201) and 376 (E Idaho Ave/US Hwy 30). Going west from Ontario US 30 runs concurrently on I-84. Ontario is located 376 mi (6 hrs) southeast of Portland and 57 mi (1 hr) northwest of Boise.
- OR Hwy 201 goes around town on the west side from I-84 (Exit #374). Connects Ontario to US Hwy 95 in Weiser ID 18.5 mi north and to US Hwy 20 & 26 5 mi south of town in the hamlet of Cairo, Oregon.
- & US Hwy 20 and 26 go another 12.5 mi west from Cairo to Vale where they split towards separate directions. US Hwy 20 goes southwest towards Burns and Bend while US Hwy 26 goes up towards John Day and Prineville. Going the other way SR-201 become US Hwy 26 which continues 35 mi south and east towards Caldwell ID from Cairo.
By plane
The nearest airport for commercial flights is Boise Airport (BOI) which located south of Boise off of Exit 53 of I-84 and 59 miles SE of Ontario.
By bus
The Snake River Transit Hub is located in front of the Malheur County Transportation District's office & bus garage at 842 SE 1st which is located SE of the E Idaho/I-84 Jct next to Kirley's Family Dining. SE 1st Ave becomes SE 10th St. It serves as a central bus stop for: *
Go Eastern Oregon Point
It goes across eastern Oregon to Ontario via Brothers, Hamptons, Riley, Buchanan, Burns, Drewser Jct, Harper, Vale, etc from Bend where passengers connect to other buses going towards Portland, Redmond, Florence (via Eugene) and other surrounding towns in Central Oregon.
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See
Do
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Most of the listed hotels in the below are east of town at E Idaho Ave & I-84 (Exit #376):
Camping
Go next
- Baker City, Oregon: The time zone changes to Pacific time about 25 miles from Ontario at the Baker county line.
- La Grande, Oregon: The next city after Baker on I-84
- Boise, Idaho: The capital city of Idaho, and also its largest city.
Understand̝
Ontario, and the northern 3/4 of Malheur County, uses Mountain time, rather than Pacific — a reflection of its close ties with Idaho.
Nearby
My experience
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