Hotels in Oshawa

Oshawa is Canada's original Motor City, the place where Sam McLaughlin's carriage works became General Motors of Canada, and the auto industry still shapes its identity, economy and civic pride. The best reminder of that money is Parkwood Estate, the McLaughlin family's grand mansion and gardens, which is a National Historic Site and a frequent film location. The Canadian Automotive Museum fills in the rest of the story. Ontario Tech University and Durham College give the north end a student population, and Oshawa Generals junior hockey games downtown are a genuine local ritual.

This is a working commuter city in Durham Region, about an hour east of Toronto, not a tourist destination. The downtown has spent years trying to revive itself, and most visitors are here for business, family, campus visits or an arena event. Lakeview Park on Lake Ontario offers a pleasant waterfront break. Stay near Highway 401 for the easiest driving and GO train access to Toronto, or downtown if you're coming for a game or concert.