The best camping near Ottawa

Explore the Indigenous pictographs and camp by the lake in this popular Ontario Park two hours southwest of Ottawa. The park has more than 500 car camping or walk-in sites, including 200 with electrical hookups, as well as comfort stations with flush toilets. Other options for campers include yurts, cabins, and backcountry campsites.

For campers, Ottawa’s weather is most comfortable in the fall, when the days are crisp and the trees take on their autumn colors. Summer is the busiest season, with hot days and plenty of festivals, concerts, and other activities to keep you busy. Spring can be cool, with snow lingering into March or April. While the city stays active through the icy winters, when heavy snow is common, Ottawa rivals Moscow as one of the world’s coldest capital cities.

• You don’t need a car to explore Ottawa. You can walk, bike, or take public transit around much of the area, but reaching the provincial and regional parks outside the city is much easier with your own wheels.
• You should be able to find whatever provisions you need for your camping expedition in Ottawa. For local produce, check out the stalls outside the ByWard Market from spring through fall. Ottawa has a booming microbrew scene, so think local, too, when you’re stocking up on beer. 
• Many of Ottawa’s restaurants, attractions, and parks are in “The Outauouis” region on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River. The city of Gatineau has its own transit system, which connects the district to central Ottawa. While Ottawa is bilingual, it’s French first as soon as you cross into Quebec.