Downtown Kingston Hotels Near the Harbour

For families on the Toronto to Montreal drive, this Courtyard is a calm overnight stop 5 km from central Kingston. Every room has a microwave and refrigerator, so breakfast and bedtime snacks are easy, and the indoor swimming pool gives children a reward after hours in the car. The restaurant and bar save a trip out for dinner. Downtown Kingston, with its waterfront and Fort Henry across the harbour, is a short drive away for a morning of sightseeing.

Donald Gordon Hotel sits in a quiet residential corner of the Queen's University campus, a calm base for families visiting a student or exploring Kingston. Daily breakfast is included, which keeps mornings simple, and rooms have plush bedding and free WiFi. Parking is free and the front desk is open 24 hours. Downtown Kingston is within 3 km, and Portsmouth Olympic Harbour is a 4-minute drive for a walk by the water.

Every room at the Kingston Marriott looks over Old Kingston or the harbour, a real plus with children who like watching boats. The hotel is downtown, two blocks from the harbour and about a 10-minute walk from the Marine Museum, so families can explore on foot. A restaurant and bar on site cover meals, and pets are accepted. I would choose it for families who want views and a walkable base in Kingston.

For a family road trip through Kingston, I would pick this Holiday Inn Express for its practical details. The deluxe breakfast is included, parking is free, and every room has a refrigerator, a microwave and a Keurig coffee station, which simplifies meals with children. The indoor pool and the outdoor patio give everyone room to relax after a day out. The historic downtown is about 5 km away, so a car makes visits to the waterfront and Fort Henry much easier.

Super 8 by Wyndham Kingston is 5.6 km from historic downtown Kingston, a short drive for families visiting the city. The outdoor pool is the treat for children, and the grab-and-go breakfast suits early starts. Every room has a microwave and refrigerator for simple meals, plus cable TV with a Blu-ray DVD player for quiet evenings. On-site laundry helps on longer trips, and pets are accepted. A score of 8.1 from 994 reviews shows dependable comfort.

Confederation Place Hotel is a simple two-star choice on Kingston Harbour, and I would recommend it to families who want to walk to the sights. St. George's Cathedral, Kingston 1,000 Islands Cruises and the Wellington Street Theatre are all within half a mile. The seasonal outdoor pool is a summer bonus, some rooms look over the lake, and WiFi, a coffee maker and a flat-screen TV come with the room. Pets are welcome, which helps if the dog travels too.

Families get practical rooms here rather than resort extras: each guestroom has a microwave, a small bar fridge and a Keurig coffee maker, enough for easy breakfasts and snacks between outings. Downtown Kingston is about 2.5 miles away, so a car or a taxi helps. Fort Henry National Historic Site is within reach for an afternoon of military history, and the hotel accepts pets, which is handy if the family dog travels too.

I like this Holiday Inn for families who want to explore Kingston on foot. The waterfront, Slush Puppie Place and the 1000 Island Cruises departures are all about a five-minute walk away, so a harbour stroll or a boat trip needs no car. Back at the hotel, the indoor pool works in any season, and rooms with a small fridge and microwave make simple breakfasts and snacks easy. In summer, the restaurant patio looks out over Lake Ontario.

Strata Hotel is a five-minute drive from downtown Kingston, which suits families who arrive by car and want easy parking at no cost. Rooms have a refrigerator and microwave for snacks and simple meals, plus a 55-inch flat-screen TV that makes a quiet movie night easy after a day of sightseeing. WiFi is free, the front desk is open 24 hours and pets are welcome. A guest score of 7.9 from 800 reviews suggests reliable, practical comfort.

Comfort Suites Kingston Central gives families an indoor pool, which is a dependable evening activity whatever the season, and air-conditioned rooms with flat-screen TVs. A fitness centre is on site and pets are accepted. The hotel is about 5 km from the K-Rock Centre and Queen's University, so it suits families visiting students or attending events, with a short drive into town. I would choose it for a practical stay rather than a downtown experience.