The best camping in Voyageur Provincial Park, ON

Located halfway between Ottawa and Montreal, Voyageur Provincial Park is steps away from the Quebec border. As such, visitors enjoy bilingual service from all park staff. They also get access to four beaches set along the Ottawa River and two boat launches, so it’s easy to explore the water and go fishing and birding. Bald eagles are frequently spotted here, as are osprey, snow geese, and great blue herons. Voyageur Provincial Park offers car camping in three campgrounds: Champlain, Iroquois, and Portage.

• Best for quiet camping: Iroquois Campground has radio-free and dog-free sites for those who want a serene camping experience. 
• Best for big groups: Voyageur Campground has a group camping section. Four of the group sites can accommodate up to 100 people and one can accommodate groups of 50.
• Best for swimming: Champlain Campground is within walking distance to swimming spots and the day-use area, which has several beaches and a pet area.

1. All Ontario provincial parks accept reservations up to five months in advance of arrival.
2. Campsite reservations cannot be changed or cancelled more than four months in advance. As such, if you don’t get a reservation when sites open up, wait until the four-month mark when some cancellations might come in. Campers receive a full refund provided they cancel before noon on their day of departure. If you need a last-minute site, check around noon to see if you can grab a spot vacated by someone who is leaving early.
3. Voyageur Provincial Park allows for all-season reservations. Instead of the usual 23-day camping limit, these spots welcome campers for the duration of the season and are often snapped up by RV campers.

Voyageur Provincial Park is open from mid-May until mid-October for camping and again from mid-December to mid-March for winter day use. Campsite reservations are popular for the Canada Day long weekend (July 1). As the park is just down the road from Ottawa, this is a very busy time for the entire region. Visitors should also book early to claim a spot around Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, celebrated across Quebec on June 24.

• You might hear Voyageur called “Carillon Provincial Park.” When first established in 1971, this was the original name. However, a similarly named site in nearby Quebec created lots of confusion and led to the park being renamed in 1994. 
• Voyageur Provincial Park has a park store, but if you’re in search of more than the basics, head to the nearby town of Hawkesbury. It has plenty of grocery options, hardware stores, restaurants, and a Canadian Tire store with camping supplies.

• The nearby village of Vankleek Hill is home to Beau’s Brewery, one of the most popular craft breweries in southeastern Ontario. Ask about the DAVIDsTea London Fog, an Earl Grey latte-inspired ale.