Stays

Set on Route 510, about 32 km southwest of historic Red Bay, Pinware River Provincial Park is a small gem ideally placed on the Labrador coast. It's the only real campground in the area, and it turned out to be such a practical base that we stayed two nights instead of one.

The park has 22 sites in a fine wooded area. Each site comes with a picnic table, a fire pit and a spot for the vehicle. Seven sites near the beach are pull-through and can take larger RVs. There's a washroom building with showers and laundry, a dump station, drinking water, a beach, hiking trails and even Wi-Fi.

The Pinware River, which gives the park its name, is full of trout and salmon — it's one of the most renowned salmon rivers in all of Labrador. The campground is dry camping (no full hookups at the sites), but the nature is spectacular: beaches on the Strait of Belle Isle, wooded trails and abundant wildlife, from moose and black bears to seabirds.

The location is perfect for day trips: Red Bay and its UNESCO site, the Whaler's Quest excursion, L'Anse-Amour and its lighthouse, the Brador falls and Blanc-Sablon are all within driving distance. The park is open from June 1 to September 17.

On Route 510, the famous Trans-Labrador Highway, Penney's Pitstop is exactly what the name promises: a stop. And on a road where you can count the services on one hand, that's precisely what you need. At 200 Route 510, in Port Hope Simpson — a village of about 400 people founded in 1934 — the place is the gathering point for travellers and locals alike.

You'll find gas and diesel, a well-stocked convenience store, pet supplies, auto services and something to eat. A nice little surprise: Penney's Pitstop also showcases « Timeless North » Indigenous crafts, a fine selection of handmade pieces that tell the heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador. A good chance to bring home a souvenir that means something.

For the night, we're a long way from a proper serviced campground: this is a highway pull-off, frankly, with no pool and no activities. But after more than 280 km of Route 510 with not much in between, a safe, level place to settle in, with a charge for the Tesla and a coffee within reach, is worth its weight in gold.

That's part of the charm of this kind of trip too: accepting that some nights are purely practical. Port Hope Simpson sits well for tackling the coastal stretch toward Mary's Harbour, Red Bay and L'Anse-Amour the next day. And the village itself, tucked along Alexis Bay, has plenty of character.

At the end of the 546 km of Route 500 from Labrador City — the longest leg of our trip — Gosling Lake Campground welcomed us like a genuine oasis. This family campground is on Route 520, between the communities of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, North West River and Sheshatshiu, right in the heart of the Big Land.

The place is in the middle of a transformation, and you can feel it: the owners are putting a lot of energy into making it a true RV destination. There are about 140 serviced sites and some twenty tent sites, plus RV rentals. Water, electricity and a dump station are available, and new facilities are added every summer. Rates run from about $24 to $210 depending on the type of accommodation, and the season goes from mid-May to mid-October.

The great asset is the site itself: a beach, a magnificent lake, sunsets and starry nights of a kind you only see in Labrador. A convenience store on site and a very warm family atmosphere — several travellers note the kindness and generosity of the owners, who never hesitate to lend a hand.

The location is also central for exploring the region: the Labrador Military Museum, the Birch Island Boardwalk, Peace Rock, the nearby waterfalls and Spruce Meadow farm are all close by. A fine stop to catch your breath before tackling Route 510 toward the coast.

Gateway Labrador, at 1365 Route 500 in Labrador City, is a good deal more than a campground: it's the official welcome point for all of Western Labrador. On site you'll find a tourist information centre, the Edmund Montague exhibition hall, which traces 3,500 years of human activity in the region, a gift shop and an RV Park.

On the camping side, the offering is modest but well thought out: 5 sites with full services, 3 partially serviced sites and 2 tent sites. Rates run from about thirty dollars to a little over $68 depending on the type of site. Each site comes with a fire pit and a picnic table, with access to the washrooms, the Wi-Fi and all the amenities of the welcome centre.

The advantage is obvious: you sleep literally at Labrador's front door, with all the services of Labrador City and Wabush a few minutes away. It's also the ideal place to get informed before setting out on Route 500 toward Churchill Falls and Happy Valley-Goose Bay — a leg you'd rather not improvise.

A small tip: with only about ten sites, it fills up fast in high season. Book ahead, especially if you're arriving late after the long road from Fermont.

Run by the Association Loisir Plein Air de Fermont (ALPAF), this campground sits on an exceptional site, right in the middle of the taiga, less than a kilometre from the services of the town of Fermont. It's the ideal base for exploring the Mur, the monts Severson and the whole mining area of Quebec's Far North.

The campground has 117 sites, most of them with 2 or 3 services. It also has a boat launch for pleasure craft giving access to lac Daviault, right nearby. Swimming, kayaking, fishing, hiking, campfires in the evening: everything invites you to unplug completely. There's also a children's playground, basketball and soccer courts, and pets are welcome.

What stays with you most is the striking contrast between the compact, urban feel of the Mur de Fermont and this quiet immensity of taiga, barely minutes away. Rates are very affordable — on the order of $15 to $30 a night — and the campground is open from June 15 to September 10, a necessarily short season at this latitude.

A genuine little northern paradise, where contact with nature comes with quiet and wide open space. Book ahead: the season is brief and the spots are in demand!

Before visiting the Daniel-Johnson dam, the Motel de l'Énergie is THE place to stop on Route 389. At km 211, roughly 211 km north of Baie-Comeau, it is quite simply the only accommodation available in this stretch — which is to say you don't choose it by chance, but you're very glad it exists!

The place offers literally everything under one roof: motel rooms, a restaurant, a gas station and a licensed convenience store. For campers, a campground service is also available, perfect for anyone travelling by RV, by tent or, in our case, by Tesla. You'll find everything you need for a fine night under the northern stars, in a wild and perfectly silent setting.

What gives the place its charm is precisely its isolation. Hundreds of kilometres from the first real town, surrounded by boreal forest and mountains, you genuinely feel you're into something. The atmosphere is rustic, the welcome warm and typically Côte-Nord, and being able to have dinner and sleep in the same place is a luxury you appreciate at its full value on this road.

One practical tip: book the guided tour of Manic-5 on the Hydro-Québec website BEFORE you set out on the 389. 

In Sainte-Agathe-de-Lotbinière, right in the heart of Chaudière-Appalaches, the Parc de la Chute Sainte-Agathe is one of those places that marry rustic camping, hiking and the outdoors beautifully. A small campground set very close to the Palmer River, it's the ideal spot for tents and small recreational vehicles. In short, a perfect stop for anyone looking to disconnect in the middle of nature, far from the bustle of the big commercial campgrounds. The park's great star is, without question, its majestic waterfall on the Palmer River, which rises in the Appalachian hills and empties into the Bécancour River a few kilometres downstream. The site offers two short hiking trails, a beach, picnic areas, a volleyball court, a rustic campground and a restaurant. The showstopper? The suspended footbridge that hangs over the rapids facing the falls.

On the camping side, the Parc has about thirty semi-serviced sites, reachable by car, most of them nicely shaded. There is also a group site (15 to 20 tents) and 3 wilderness sites along the river. For adventure lovers, the site offers an original signature activity: canyoning, a vertical and aquatic adventure course, lets you truly « live » the river. An adrenaline-filled experience absolutely worth trying! And the weekends come alive with the warmest sort of programming: outdoor shows, a beach bar (Thursday to Sunday) and varied activities keep the site humming. In short, the Parc de la Chute Sainte-Agathe is the perfect antidote to everyday stress: a spectacular waterfall, a singing river, shaded trails and an authentic atmosphere. A genuine little corner of paradise to discover!

Tucked away in Lac-Etchemin, right in the Etchemins region of Chaudière-Appalaches, Camping Lac-Etchemin is a family address par excellence. With its warm atmosphere in the Appalachians, only 1 km from the Éco-Parc des Etchemins, it offers an ideal setting for unplugging out in nature. What sets this campground apart is the incredible variety of on-site activities — there really is something for every taste! Enjoy an unforgettable experience at this campground with its modern facilities: heated pool, spa, water play features, play structures, DEK hockey, volleyball and accessible trails. Discover what is new: a relaxation pool, a BMX track, a giant trampoline. You also find a soccer field, pétanque, billiards, hiking, fishing and a remote-control track. In short, the children are never bored — and neither are the parents! The location is also a major asset: the campground is ideally placed about 20 minutes from the Miller Zoo, close to the Éco-Parc, the Golf Lac-Etchemin, the Moulin La Lorraine and the regional bike paths. Not to mention the Sanctuaire Notre-Dame d'Etchemin and the Mont-Orignal ski station, all within easy reach. The campground is open from May 1 to October 31 — the summer high season offers the best programming. 

One honest reservation: some visitors have mentioned that the campground can be quite lively in the evening during high season (musical shows), which can bother families with young children. But for anyone who likes a lively atmosphere and varied activities, that is part of the charm! In short, Camping Lac-Etchemin is a perfect stop for families looking to combine activities, modern services and the beauty of the Appalachians in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Tucked into the Sainte-Agnès area, 10 minutes from downtown La Malbaie, the DACO (Domaine à Ciel Ouvert) is one of those addresses that genuinely stands out in the Quebec lodging landscape. Opened in 2023, this property offers a unique immersive outdoor experience: staying in harmony with nature and sleeping under the stars thanks to cabins fitted with a panoramic glass roof. Picture yourself gazing at the starry sky… straight from your bed. That's exactly what DACO is! The concept is as original as it is charming. Each cabin comes with a telescope, astronomy gear and small extras such as a wood stove, a composting toilet and even a wood-fired hot tub. For fans of traditional camping, the property also offers sites suited to van life and rustic tent sites, with access to the washroom block, the shared spa and more. The atmosphere? Warm, friendly and deeply human. From the moment you arrive, you're welcomed with a warmth and a passion that truly define this singular place. DACO breathes good humour, modernity, inclusiveness and an undeniable appetite for fun. The little welcoming committee includes three dogs, some hens and a few cats. As for activities, there's plenty to do all year. In summer: outdoor movies, music shows, campfires, stargazing, the shared spa, a dog park. In winter: a tubing run, the spa, telescopes, the dog park. You can also go hiking and even mushroom foraging with an experienced guide. Special mention for animal lovers: this is a place where animals are genuinely welcome, in all the cabins, the campsites and the common areas! 

In short, DACO is far more than a simple campground: it's a genuine poetic pause, where you reconnect with nature, with the sky and with yourself. A must for anyone who loves unusual experiences!

Located in Saint-Apollinaire, only 30 minutes from Quebec City, Camping Domaine de la Chute is one of the largest campgrounds in the Chaudière-Appalaches region. Known for its lakes and waterways, the campground guarantees its campers a busy summer, with more than 1,000 spacious sites including full-service seasonal and overnight spots, as well as RVs, chalets and cabins for rent. Run by the large company Parkbridge, it is a resort-style campground that will please some… and rather less so others. On services and activities, you could not ask for more: a developed beach and lake, a pool, a family activity program, mini-putt, food service, and even disco nights for the young ones. With sites for RVs of every kind (motorhomes, trailers) and 30 to 50 amp hookups, it is the dream spot for anyone who likes the atmosphere of a big, lively, well-equipped campground. 

Our reservation: let us be honest, the experience was not entirely to our taste. It is a very large, very commercial campground, and outright packed in high season. As one online review summed it up well: "We were not impressed by this immense site where the trailers are stacked one on top of the other." Most of the sites are taken by seasonal campers, which sometimes creates the impression of moving through a small permanent village rather than an outdoor campground. For lovers of quiet, nature and privacy, it is probably not the best address. That said, this style does not appeal only to unhappy customers, far from it! Plenty of families are looking for exactly this kind of atmosphere: lots of young people, lots of company, a full activity schedule, modern facilities and a sense of a little summer community. If that is your kind of holiday, the Domaine de la Chute ticks just about every box. 

Located in Notre-Dame-des-Pins, in the middle of the Beauce, only 3 kilometres from Saint-Georges, Camping Domaine de la Rivière is a genuine little summer paradise for families and outdoor lovers. For more than 35 years, the campground has offered one of the finest sites in the Beauce, near the Chaudière River. About an hour south of Quebec City, it's the ideal place for a nature getaway without having to go too far. With its 126 very pleasant sites and its affordable rates, everything is set up to receive you comfortably. Half the sites are shaded — perfect for hot summer days. For those without equipment, you can rent fully equipped four-season cabins on site, mobile homes with pool access and all services, or even an Indigenous-style tipi — a wonderfully original option for a night unlike any other! On the services side, it's complete: a heated in-ground pool, an outdoor spa, a snack bar, Wi-Fi, pets welcome, a children's playground, not to mention washer/dryer, propane, ice and a community hall. The snack bar is, in fact, reputed to serve the best homemade fries in the world — at least, that's what they say around here! As for activities, you're spoiled for choice! Fishing, canoeing, hiking, and a bike path only 1 km from the campground, running alongside the Chaudière River. Nearby, you can also visit the Vieux Pont Couvert (2.2 km away), the Centre de ski Saint-Georges (4.3 km) and the Parc des Sept-Chutes (5.2 km). The site also offers access to the Beauce gold discovery museum — a nod to the fascinating history of a region once marked by the gold rush! A perfect stop for discovering the Beauce, enjoying the Chaudière River and spending fine family days in a warm, distinctly beauceronne atmosphere.

Tucked into the White Mountain National Forest, only 5 miles east of Lincoln, on the famous Kancamagus Highway (Route 112), Hancock Campground is one of the finest rustic campgrounds in New Hampshire. At the western end of the scenic Kancamagus Highway, this campground is an excellent starting point for your adventure in the White Mountains. It has 56 wooded sites, several of them with direct access to the beautiful Pemigewasset River. The grounds have two sections: one for tents (with shared parking and walk-in access) and another for car and RV camping. That layout gives more privacy, and with the river running along the back, you come to forget there are other campers around. For outdoor lovers, it's paradise! The nearby Lincoln Woods Visitor Center is the trailhead for many hikes leading into the Pemigewasset Wilderness. The Kancamagus Highway is a popular scenic route, dotted with hiking trails, picnic areas and swimming holes. The town of Lincoln and the Loon Mountain ski area are close by as well. And with the White Mountains at your feet, climbing emblematic summits such as Mount Lafayette or Little Haystack by way of the Franconia Ridge Trail becomes a real possibility! One particular feature: the campground is open year-round, with limited services in winter — one of the few in the area to offer that. Handy for fall outings (spectacular foliage!) or winter getaways. The rate is $25 a night (1 vehicle), $5 for an additional vehicle. First come, first served for most of the sites — plan to arrive early in high season! Rustic camping in the noble sense of the word: no RV hookups, but flush toilets, spectacular nature and a singing river for a lullaby. A real return to the essentials!