Pet-Friendly Hotels in Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa, in Durham Region on the shore of Lake Ontario east of Toronto, has three published hotels that accept pets, and each answers a different need. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oshawa Downtown - Toronto Area by IHG puts you downtown with an indoor pool and hot tub. The TownePlace Suites by Marriott Oshawa suits longer stays, with kitchenettes and a garden with an outdoor fireplace. Tru By Hilton Oshawa is the highest rated, at 9.1, and keeps things simple with free parking and breakfast. Three options is a short list, so I compare them directly here rather than padding the page with hotels that do not take animals.
Oshawa is the largest city in Durham Region, on the north shore of Lake Ontario about an hour east of downtown Toronto. Long shaped by the automotive industry and General Motors, it now combines a compact downtown with Ontario Tech University, lakeside parks and the Parkwood Estate national historic site.
Downtown Pool, Suites or Top Score
I choose between these three by length of stay and by what you want besides a pet-friendly room. For a short city stay with a swim, the Holiday Inn Express downtown is the practical pick. For a week or more with a dog, the TownePlace Suites gives you a kitchenette, a garden and free bicycles. For the best guest score and free parking, Tru By Hilton Oshawa leads at 9.1, but it has no pool. Each hotel sets its own pet fees and rules, so I recommend naming your animal and its size when you book.
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oshawa Downtown - Toronto Area by IHG is the only one of the three in the downtown core. It offers an indoor pool, a hot tub, a 24-hour fitness centre and a complimentary hot breakfast every day, and it scores 8.4 from more than 460 reviews. Downtown Oshawa puts the Tribute Communities Centre arena and the Canadian Automotive Museum within easy reach, a reminder of the city's long history with General Motors. With a dog, I would ask for a ground-floor room or one near the stairs, since short walks are easier when the exit is close.
The TownePlace Suites by Marriott Oshawa is built for longer stays. Family rooms have kitchenettes and private bathrooms, and guests can use an indoor swimming pool, a fitness room and a garden with an outdoor fireplace, which is pleasant on cool evenings with a dog at your feet. Free bicycles are available, a rare extra that makes it easy to explore the Oshawa Creek trails. It scores 8.7, though from about 125 reviews, so the figure rests on a smaller sample. I would book it for a week of work or family visits in Durham Region, cooking some meals and saving the cost of eating out.
Tru By Hilton Oshawa has the highest score of the three, at 9.1 from more than 260 reviews. It offers family-friendly rooms with a work desk, a fitness room, a 24-hour front desk, free private parking and a continental buffet breakfast. Its listing does not mention a pool or a hot tub, so I would not pick it if a swim matters. Free parking is a real advantage in Oshawa, where most visitors arrive by car along Highway 401, and the round-the-clock desk helps when a late arrival with a pet needs a quick check-in after a long drive from Toronto or Kingston.
Oshawa is a good base for walks with a dog. Lakeview Park, on the shore of Lake Ontario south of downtown, has open lawns and a beach, and the Michael Starr Trail follows Oshawa Creek through the city. Parkwood Estate, the historic home of Sam McLaughlin, founder of General Motors of Canada, has gardens worth a visit, though pets are not generally allowed inside the house. The Oshawa GO station connects the city to Union Station in Toronto, useful for a day in the city. In winter, the downtown hotel's indoor pool or the TownePlace Suites fireplace make a cold evening easier.
A traveler's takeFor a pet-friendly stay in Oshawa, I would book the TownePlace Suites by Marriott Oshawa for more than a few nights, for its kitchenettes, garden fireplace and free bicycles along the Oshawa Creek trails. For one or two nights with a swim, my choice would be the Holiday Inn Express downtown, with its indoor pool and hot tub. If you want the best score and free parking without a pool, I recommend Tru By Hilton Oshawa, rated 9.1.
4.6Tru By Hilton Oshawa
Pet-Friendly · 263 reviewsModern comfort with family rooms and a continental breakfast
Why guests love itTru by Hilton Oshawa keeps a family stay simple: the air-conditioned family rooms are modern, the continental buffet breakfast is included each morning, and parking and WiFi are free. The hotel is pet-friendly, so the dog can come along, and there is a fitness room for parents who want a workout. The front desk is open 24 hours, which helps with late arrivals after a long drive. Guests rate it above 9.
4.4TownePlace Suites by Marriott Oshawa
Pet-Friendly · 125 reviewsFamily-friendly suites with kitchenettes, an indoor pool, and free bikes
Why guests love itFamily rooms with kitchenettes at the TownePlace Suites Oshawa make simple meals and snacks easy with children, and the indoor swimming pool covers rainy or cold days. Free bicycles invite a ride around Oshawa when the weather allows, and the garden with an outdoor fireplace is a pleasant spot for an evening. Rooms are air-conditioned with free WiFi, and pets are accepted. With an 8.7 rating from 125 reviews, I rate it highly.
4.2Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oshawa Downtown - Toronto Area by IHG
Pet-Friendly · 463 reviewsDowntown comfort with an indoor pool, hot tub, and pet-friendly amenities
Why guests love itHoliday Inn Express & Suites Oshawa Downtown is an easy pick for families visiting Oshawa. The free hot breakfast each morning saves time and money on the first meal of the day, and the indoor pool and hot tub give children a reliable treat whatever the weather. Free WiFi keeps devices running, and pets are welcome, so the dog can come along. Parents can use the 24-hour fitness centre. Guests rate it 8.4/10 across more than 450 reviews.
Local tips
- 1Name your pet and its size when you book: each of the three Oshawa hotels sets its own fees and room rules.
- 2Choose the Holiday Inn Express downtown if you want an indoor pool and a hot tub during your stay.
- 3Book the TownePlace Suites by Marriott Oshawa for a long stay with a kitchenette and free bicycles.
- 4Pick Tru By Hilton Oshawa for the best score and free parking, accepting that it has no pool.
- 5Walk your dog in Lakeview Park on Lake Ontario or along the Michael Starr Trail beside Oshawa Creek.
- 6Use the Oshawa GO station for a day trip to Toronto's Union Station instead of driving the 401.