The Ottawa Valley is the best-value camping region in Ontario. The parks are less crowded than Georgian Bay or Muskoka, the campsite fees are lower, the private parks charge $35-55 instead of $60-85, and the natural settings are genuinely excellent. Bonnechere Provincial Park on Round Lake, Samuel de Champlain on the Mattawa River, and Driftwood on the Ottawa River are all parks that would be famous if they were closer to Toronto. Their distance from the GTA is precisely what keeps them affordable and available.
Bonnechere is a hidden gem. Three campgrounds on Round Lake: Tall Pines (59 sites among spectacular white pines, 43 with electrical hookups), River Loop (55 non-electrical sites), and Sandy Flats. Sites are large -- each has two picnic tables, which tells you something about the space. Washrooms and comfort stations are clean and well-maintained. The park has rustic cabins right on the river with included canoe rental, and a lakeside cottage sleeping six.
Round Lake is big enough for motor boats without disturbing paddlers on the river side. The water is very clean. Swimming is warm and safe for families. Fishing is excellent. The overall atmosphere is relaxed in a way that larger, busier parks cannot match.
The honest assessment: Bonnechere does not have the dramatic scenery of Killbear or the celebrity of Algonquin. It has large, well-maintained sites in a beautiful forest on a clean lake with low crowds and lower prices. For families who want a comfortable week of camping without the reservation fight and the Muskoka premium, Bonnechere is one of the best choices in the province. Located near Killaloe, about 90 km southeast of Algonquin Park.
Samuel de Champlain sits on the historic Mattawa River, one of the original fur trade routes through Ontario. The Babawasse Campground has sites with 15/30-amp electrical hookups on the river. The new washroom and shower facilities are excellent -- Maytag washers and dryers, spotless. Rated 8.7/10 on RV LIFE. Less crowded than big-name parks with good mid-week availability even in July.
The warnings: the park access road is rough enough to be genuinely problematic for large rigs. One reviewer reported 20 minutes to cover 1.5 km pulling a fifth wheel. Some sites are on steep hillsides with barely enough level ground for a small tent. Call ahead and ask for specific site recommendations for your rig size. The fishing is excellent in both lake and river, and the Etienne Trail has good river views.
For east-west travellers on the Trans-Canada, Samuel de Champlain is the best overnight stop between North Bay and Pembroke. See our Highway 17 RV guide for corridor details.
Driftwood is the most overlooked park in the Ottawa Valley. The day-use area has a long sandy beach on the Ottawa River, picnic tables under mature trees, and the driftwood-strewn shoreline that names the park. Two trail systems: Oak Highlands Trails (2.3 km Beaver Pond and 1 km Riverview sections) and Chevier Creek Trails. Fall colours here feature the area's rare oak trees. Most east-west Highway 17 travellers drive right past it, which is their loss.
Pembroke and Petawawa (about 20 km apart) form the main service centre for the upper Ottawa Valley. Pembroke has full shopping, medical facilities, and multiple fuel stations. Riverside Park in Pembroke has municipal camping on the Ottawa River with electrical sites and a walkable location to the town centre. Basic but clean, excellent river views, and cheap. Private parks in the Petawawa area offer full hookups, pools, and organized activities at $35-55 per night.
The last natural-setting campground before Ottawa. Electrical and non-electrical sites in a wooded setting on the Ottawa River with a beach and boat launch. For RV travellers approaching Ottawa from the west, Fitzroy is the smart overnight stop -- 45 minutes to downtown Ottawa the next morning, without navigating a large rig through the city at night. See our overnight stops guide.
The Ottawa Valley does not have the marketing budget of Muskoka or the name recognition of Algonquin. Its parks are further from Toronto, which reduces the GTA weekend-warrior pressure that overwhelms parks closer to the city. The result is campgrounds that are easier to book, less crowded once you arrive, and 20-30% cheaper across the board.
The natural settings are genuinely comparable. Round Lake at Bonnechere is as pleasant as most Muskoka lakes. The Mattawa River at Samuel de Champlain is more scenic than anything in the Highway 400 corridor. Driftwood's Ottawa River beach is as good as many of the more famous beaches in the province. The Ottawa Valley is where experienced Ontario campers go when they are tired of fighting for reservations everywhere else.
The 60 km from North Bay to Mattawa has limited services. The 90 km from Mattawa to Deep River has even fewer. Fill up in North Bay before heading east, and top up again in Deep River or Pembroke. Weekend hours at smaller stations may be reduced. See our Highway 17 guide for the full distance and fuel chart.
The Ottawa Valley delivers comparable quality to Muskoka at lower prices with easier booking.
Choosing a Campground