The maritime regions of Québec are home to several national parks that are great places to go camping. These parks offer campsites for all tastes, whether you’re travelling in an RV or prefer sleeping in a tent in the backcountry. Here are our recommendations.

Bas Saint-Laurent

Featuring magnificent capes and coves, Parc national du Bic offers 238 campsites in total, as well as several different glamping options. The Rioux campground sits in the middle of the park, within walking distance of several points of interest. Staying here means you’ll be at the heart of the action during the daytime while enjoying quiet surroundings after nightfall. The park can accommodate all types of campers, including tent glampers. The Rivière-du-Sud-Ouest campground, which is larger, is located at the eastern entrance of the park along Route 132, while the La Coulée campground, which is only accessible by foot, bike or sea kayak, is tucked along the shoreline just below Pic Champlain, the highest point in the park.

A stay in the Grand-Lac-Touladi campground in Parc national du Lac-Témiscouata is a great opportunity to fully enjoy the wonderful natural setting of the Notre-Dame Mountains. Located in the park’s historic centre near the Garden of Memories archaeological site, the campground is right on the beautiful lake of the same name, making it an ideal spot to stay if you’re a canoeing enthusiast. You’ll find all the services and amenities you need on site, including a small convenience store. Both this campground and the Anse-à-William campground, which is located closer to Lake Témiscouata, also offer RV and tent sites. If you’d rather go glamping, “ready-to-camp” tents are available in the park’s Anse-à-William and Grands-Pins campgrounds.

Gaspésie

In Parc national de la Gaspésie, the De la Rivière campground is conveniently located close to the trailhead leading to the summit of Mt. Albert as well as the Discovery and Visitors Centre. Fall asleep while listening to the sounds of the Sainte-Anne River, which flows nearby in a dense and peaceful forest. In the evening, you can go for a stroll in a magnificent cedar grove along this river. There are three other campgrounds in the park: Mont Albert (which offers glamping units), Mont Jacques-Cartier and Lac Cascapédia. The park also offers tent platforms for trekkers to use during backpacking trips.

In Forillon National Park, at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, the Cap-Bon-Ami campground overlooks the Gulf of St. Lawrence and gives you access to unique views of the cape’s breathtaking cliffs. The campground, which sits at the foot of impressive Mt. Saint-Alban, can only accommodate tents, but RV campers can choose between the park’s two other campgrounds: Des-Rosiers, which is also in the North Area (and also offers oTENTik tents and Ôasis units), and Petit-Gaspé, which is in the South Area (and also offers oTENTik tents). Backcountry enthusiasts can enjoy rustic sites along the International Appalachian Trail (IAT), which ends in the park at Cap Gaspé.

Côte-Nord

Home to unusual geological formations and unique wildlife, the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve is made up of a string of over a thousand islands and islets stretching along the coast, on the eastern side of Côte-Nord. Six of these islands offer rustic campsites that guarantee a complete change of scenery. If your camping gear is limited or you prefer to travel light, you’ll be happy to know that you can also enjoy the tranquility of the archipelago in an oTENTik tent or Ôasis glamping unit. If you can time your stay with the peak period of the Perseid meteor shower in August, your experience will be even more magical!

Located in the middle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Anticosti Island offers three campgrounds. Right along the water, on the north side of the island near Pointe-Carleton, you’ll find the Wilcox campground, which overlooks the wreck of the same name, one of many that dot the Anticosti shoreline. Further east along the same side of the island, the Baie-de-la-Tour campground is on the edge of the lake it’s named for, while the Chicotte campground is located on the southern side of the island near a river. All three campgrounds offer 10 sites each, along with access to washroom facilities and showers.

On the western side of the region, Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay has set up tent platforms along the spectacular Saguenay Fjord. Accessible to backpackers and kayak campers, these sites are located in quiet settings and provide breathtaking views, especially at sunrise and sunset. Campgrounds that offer RV sites and glamping options in addition to tent sites are available in the Baie-Éternité and Baie-Sainte-Marguerite sectors.

Come and experience a night or more of camping in the exceptional natural environments found in the national parks of Québec by the Sea. And don’t forget to book early to secure your spot! Happy camping!