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Rideau River
Overview
Rideau River Provincial Park offers a tranquil retreat along the historic Rideau Canal waterway in Eastern Ontario. This destination is highly regarded for its **natural beauty and historical significance**, providing a relaxed environment where travelers can enjoy the gentle flow of the river. Surrounded by lush greenery and diverse local wildlife, the park serves as an ideal escape for those looking to reconnect with nature while staying in a well-maintained provincial setting.
Location & Surroundings
Situated just south of Ottawa in Kemptville, Ontario, the park boasts an accessible location along the **Rideau River shoreline**. The landscape is defined by its flat terrain and mature deciduous trees, offering a mix of shaded and sunny spots for campers. Its position on a **UNESCO World Heritage Site** makes it a unique destination for travelers who want to explore one of North America’s oldest continuously operated canal systems and its scenic lock stations.
Amenities & Park Features
The park caters well to RVers with a variety of **electrical hookup sites** capable of accommodating various rig sizes. Visitors have access to clean comfort stations equipped with **flush toilets and showers**, as well as laundry facilities for longer stays. For those traveling with families, the park features a large sandy beach area, multiple playgrounds, and a convenient boat launch that provides easy water access for motorized boats and paddlecraft alike.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Water-based activities are the primary draw here, with excellent opportunities for **kayaking and fishing** for walleye, bass, and muskellunge. The Shoreline Trail provides an easy walking path with scenic vistas of the river, perfect for morning strolls. Just a short drive away, the town of Kemptville offers charming local shops and dining, while the historic village of **Burritt’s Rapids** allows visitors to witness the manual operation of the canal locks in person.
Who This Park Is Best For
This park is ideal for families and retirees looking for a **peaceful waterfront experience** without being too far from urban conveniences. It is a perfect fit for RVers who enjoy birdwatching or paddling and those seeking a quiet home base to explore the Ottawa Valley region. If you prefer a **natural provincial park vibe** over a high-traffic commercial resort, this scenic riverside location will likely suit your travel style perfectly.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Brent
It's a beautiful little park. Spent a few hours here hiking the trail and checking out the beaches. The campsites seemed quite small and close to each other. The facilities were clean and they had a park store with extremely friendly staff. They also had a playground right beside the water, which was nice.
Neil Rowland
Nice little Provincial Park. We stayed at site 49 and had decent privacy left and right. There is one river trail that runs the length of the park. This is obviously a small park located right off the highway so don't stay here if you're expecting quiet wilderness where you can hear nothing but owls at night. However - if you do want a decent beach, great Rideau River access and maybe a base camp for a day trip to our nation's capital and many other historical places, then this is a great place. Friendly staff and clean facilities here for our 5 day visit over the civic holiday weekend.
stephanie stephanie
Very cute campground! 2 small beaches. Perfect depth for small children. Very clean washrooms and showers. 2 playgrounds for the kiddos to play at, one with swing sets plus climbing structure and one with seesaw and climbing structure. Only one hiking trail but a very nice one that takes you along the Shoreline. We saw a turtle and lots of frogs. A great park to ride your bicycles as it's nice and flat. Enjoyed our stay!
Harley
My friends and I stayed at the campground for a few nights and had a great experience. The sites were fairly priced although a little small and close to the road in our particular area (104,103). The grounds had a mix of outhouses and bathrooms with lights and running water, as well as hot showers. There are fire pits with flip up grills and a picnic table on every site. The road in and out is a bit wonky but once you get near the sites they are clearly labeled when yours will be. The beach has lots of seating in the shade or by the water and the docks had room to tie off multiple boats.
Kayla Sheehan
Sites were well maintained (clean, fire pit, good picnic table) however it was so close to the main road there was an almost constant sound of cars. The beach was nice but sadly there was no water access points for dogs. Unfortunate as it is a dog friendly park. The bathrooms closest to our site were out of order half of the time.