On the road through Eastern Canada

Takeover

We travelled by plane from Zurich to Toronto. As our flight took longer than 8 hours, we had to sleep one night in Toronto before we were allowed to take over a camper van. So if you want to make a trip with a camper van, find out beforehand whether you are allowed to drive the vehicle directly after arrival or whether you also have to plan a stopover. I would certainly plan 1-2 hours for the takeover. There are still forms to fill, today mostly electronically. Take a good look at the vehicle before you set off on your journey. 

Which camper?

There are many different providers, one of them is CanaDream. Our camper was from this provider. Of course, there are also different types of campers. There are small vans, like ours, medium-sized ones ideal for 2-3 people and then of course the huge vehicles. Which one you choose depends on your wishes. If it is important for you to be able to drive into a city with your camper, then choose a small vehicle. If luxury and comfort are important to you, then choose a large camper. I would not consider showers and toilets as a criterion, as (almost) all campgrounds have showers and toilets.

Would we choose the same type of vehicle again? No. We would certainly choose a mid-size camper for next time. Sure it was practical and romantic, but we had a little too little space in the vehicle.

Route planning

Route planning is, of course entirely individual. It depends on what you want to see. What I suggest to you, not to plan too long distances and don't get too tied down. There are always places you like better and places you like less. It's more practical if you can spontaneously stay 1-2 days longer in a place than you thought in advance. Below you will find our route. We spent the night everywhere there were white dots. 

Shopping on the road

If you are travelling with the camper, you will of course need to buy groceries. The most important thing is to have enough water with you, as the distances you cover are very different from the distances here (Europe). Sometimes you have long distances without seeing anyone and no stores.

We mostly went shopping in a Walmart. It's relatively cheap and they have everything. But beware, we usually wasted a lot of time in there and we quickly lost the overview because the shop is really big. It's best to write a shopping list in the camper.

Where to stay?

Wild parking is prohibited in Canada. You cannot park your camper on the side of the road and think that you can spend the night there. There are campgrounds all over Canada. You have to pay for these places. The prices are very different. The campgrounds themselves are also different. You can choose whether you need a water connection, electricity connection or full-hock up. Full-hock up means water connection, electricity connection and waste water connection. 

I will now introduce you to some of the campgrounds we visited, but I will only mention the ones I can highly recommend. 

Algonquin Provincial Park

Algonquin Provincial Park is the largest and oldest park in Ontario. It offers a wide range of outdoor activities and is home to extensive wildlife. The park is home to black bears, moose, beavers, wolves and a variety of bird species. The beautiful lakes invite you to go fishing, paddling or canoeing. Enjoy the untouched nature. In Algonquin Provincial Park, every outdoor fan gets his money's worth!

We were in the park for three days, stayed at the Lake of Two Rivers Campground, but unfortunately we were really unlucky with the weather. But for me it's a must if you're in Eastern Canada. In this park you really feel like in the wilderness. Do you have to be afraid of bear attacks? No. The bears are more afraid of you than you are of them. What is important, though, is not to leave rubbish lying around unnecessarily. This can attract the wild animals.

The campground was very spacious and we were surrounded by trees. The shower facilities were also ok. It is important to note that this campground only has water and electricity connections. No waste water. Therefore, make sure the waste water tank is empty before you go to this park. 

Wesley Clover Park

Situated just 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa in a natural tree-filled setting there is the Wesley Clover Park. It is a beautiful urban getaway equipped with trails, places to bike and more. Most of the sites for the camper offer electricity, water, a picnic table and a fire pit. You can empty the waste water tank on the way out, there is a special station for this.

I liked the campground very much, because you're pretty much on your own and don't see any neighbours. The fireplace is also very nice. Unfortunately I have to say, that the shower facilities was very poor. Old, dirty and nobody seems to take care of it. It was very cold in these rooms. Otherwise, I thought the park was really cool, but it was a shame about the showers. I hope they they will renovate these rooms when they get the chance.

Montreal South KOA

As the campground closest to downtown Montreal, this KOA is in a comfortable, rural/suburban area away from highway noise. It's perfect for "over-the-road" travelers and just 15 miles from Montreal attractions. We used this campground as a stopover because it was really well located. It was really nice and very well maintained. The showers were almost as pleasant as in your own home.