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.

Understand̝ edit

Ontario, and the northern 3/4 of Malheur County, uses Mountain time, rather than Pacific — a reflection of its close ties with Idaho.

Get in edit

By car edit

  •   &   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 (605 km) (6 hrs) southeast of Portland and 57 mi (92 km) (1 hr) northwest of Boise.
  •   goes around town on the west side from I-84 (Exit #374). Connects Ontario to US Hwy 95 in Weiser ID 18.5 mi (29.8 km) north and to US Hwy 20 & 26 5 mi (8.0 km) south of town in the hamlet of Cairo, Oregon.
  •   &   go another 12.5 mi (20.1 km) 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 (56 km) south and east towards Caldwell ID from Cairo.

By plane edit

The nearest airport for commercial flights is Boise Airport (BOI IATA) which located south of Boise off of Exit 53 of I-84 and 59 miles SE of Ontario.

By bus edit

The 2 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:

  • Eastern Oregon Point, (bus stop) 842 SE 1st Ave (next to Greyhound bus stop.). 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.
  • Grant County People Mover, +1 541-575-2370. It goes west towards John Day through Vale, Prairie City, etc
  • Greyhound Lines, (bus stop) 842 SE 1st Ave (bus stop next to driveway.). Greyhound travels primarily on Interstate 84 (Portland, Hood River, The Dalles, Baker City, Stanfield/Hermiston, Pendleton, La Grande, Ontario, Nampa, Boise, Twin Falls, Burley, Tremonton, Ogden and/or Salt Lake City. Some buses continue east towards Denver contiguously from Salt Lake City.
  • 1 Malheur County Transportation District - Fixed Route Services, (office & hub) 842 SE 1st Ave, +1 541-889-7651. M-F 6AM-5PM; first Sa each month 9AM-3PM. Local bus service in Ontario and commuter service to Vale and Nyssa. Connections to the Snake River Transit District at Wal-Mart.
  • 3 Autobus Los Paisanos, 2615 Blaine St, Caldwell ID (Another 32 mi/50 km SE of town via I-84 & N 21st St in Caldwell ID (Exit 29)), +1 208-459-0253. M Tu Th F 8AM-3PM. Connects Caldwell, Jerome and El Paso, Texas.

Get around edit

 
Map of Ontario (Oregon)

See edit

Do edit

Buy edit

Eat edit

Drink edit

Sleep edit

Most of the listed hotels in the below are east of town at E Idaho Ave & I-84 (Exit #376):

Go next edit

  • 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.
Routes through Ontario
The DallesHuntington  W   E  Payette-FruitlandBoise
BendBurns  W   E  MeridianBoise
PrinevilleJohn Day  W   E  MeridianBoise
The DallesHuntington  W   E  Payette-FruitlandBoise


This city travel guide to Ontario is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.