The best camping near Plaisance National Park

The word “Plaisance”' means pleasure, and that’s exactly what you’ll find at Plaisance National Park (Parc national de Plaisance) in Quebec. This genteel provincial park, 90 miles (145 kilometres) from Montreal and 50 miles (80 kilometres) from Ottawa, offers a supervised swimming pool, canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding, plus hiking, cycling, and fishing. Visitors should keep their eyes on the skies—the park is part of a major migratory route and nearly 250 different birds have been spotted. Parc national de Plaisance has more than 100 sites for tents and RVs. 

• Best for families: The Shores Campground has ready-to-camp units with two rooms, plus small refrigerators, heating, and a stove.
• Best for RVs and campervans: Fer-à-Cheval is set apart from the rest of the park and tent-free.
• Best for classic park views: La Baie Campground has many sites with water views and shade from mature trees.

1. A two-night booking rule typically applies for Friday or Saturday visits. However, you can get around this requirement—reservations open up for one-night weekend stays 72 hours before arrival, a great option for last-minute campers.
2. If you have more than six people in your party but don’t want to book a group campsite,  call the campground directly to inquire about exceptions for large families with multiple kids.
3. Cyclists don’t have to worry much about reservations. Parc national de Plaisance has partnered with Vélo Québec to set up exclusive Bienvenue Cyclistes camping sites that don’t require advanced reservations.

The park is open year-round. However, the Discovery and Visitors Center (which hosts the reception desk, nature boutique, exhibitions, and equipment rentals) is only open from early June to mid-October. The area is busiest from late June to early September. Visitors should book well in advance to get reservations for Canada Day weekend and Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (celebrated across Quebec on June 24).

• The park’s star attraction is La Zizanie-des-Marais, a floating walkway highlighting plant and animal life along the marsh. Rebuilt after serious flooding in 2017, it’s now wheelchair accessible.
• The park offers a comprehensive guided discovery program, which includes rabaska canoe rides led by a park naturalist.
• The park has 16 miles (26 kilometres) of biking trails. Bike rentals are available on-site and they’re free for kids.
• Visitors looking for groceries, gas, and restaurants can find all the basics just outside the park gates. A little bit further down the road, Papineauville and Montebello have more extensive services and amenities, including hotels and sporting goods stores.