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Flying into Waterloo Region as a group

Region of Waterloo International is a small airport in Breslau, a short hop off Highway 401, with Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph each about 20 minutes' drive away. It's a relaxed place to land with a group, with a couple of details to settle first.

Which building you'll walk out of

The airport has two buildings: the Main Air Terminal Building and a separate Domestic Arrivals Building next door. Find out which one your flight comes into, and agree to meet outside that one so the family doesn't split across two doors.

No pre-arranged or coach pickup point is published, and there's no published staging area. The Region of Waterloo licenses the taxis that work there. For a group vehicle, the meeting spot is agreed in advance; make sure it's spelled out before you travel.

Passenger van interior
Passenger van interior

The terminals

  • Domestic Arrivals Building (beside the main terminal)
  • Main Air Terminal Building

Good to know at Region of Waterloo International Airport

  • Kitchener station (126 Weber Street West) connects to GO Transit and VIA Rail.
  • Grand River Transit serves the airport with Route 78 (to Sportsworld Station) and on-demand Route 79 Breslau on weekday schedules.
  • The airport is in Breslau, minutes from Highway 401 and roughly 20 minutes from the centres of Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph.

Into Kitchener and Waterloo

By road it's about 13 km, some 20 minutes, to Kitchener City Hall. Downtown Kitchener on King Street, Uptown Waterloo by the universities, Fairway Road and the Cambridge hotels near Highway 401 are the usual bases. If part of the party comes by train, Kitchener station on Weber Street West is served by both GO Transit and VIA Rail.

Oktoberfest season

Every year, from late September into mid-October, Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest fills Carl Zehr Square and King Street, and the Thanksgiving Day Parade rolls through on Thanksgiving Monday. Expect downtown street closures on the big days, and give your pickup times a generous cushion.

Out into the countryside

St. Jacobs is about 15 km from Kitchener, around 20 minutes. Coaches reach its farmers' market by the north entrance from King Street, with staff guiding them in. Give the market three hours or more; Tuesdays and Thursdays are quieter. Elora Gorge is about 35 km away and Stratford about 50 km.

Your questions

Is there a bus from the airport?

Grand River Transit has Route 78 to Sportsworld Station plus an on-demand Route 79 around Breslau, on weekday schedules. With suitcases and a group, a booked vehicle is easier.

Would Pearson suit us better?

It has more flights, but it's about 95 km from Kitchener, which is 60 to 75 minutes via Highway 401. Landing at YKF saves that drive.

Can we fit in a day in Toronto?

Toronto's city centre is about 110 km from Kitchener, an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half. A minibus day trip leaves time for the waterfront and dinner before heading back.

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