Where to Go Camping Near Montreal, Canada

Quebec’s Eastern Townships region covers part of the Appalachian mountain range, with rolling hills that are home to long-fringed highland cattle and where the calm waters of the Missisquoi River slice through white powdered valleys. It’s here, in Au Diable Vert, where campers flock all year round to rent ecocabins and trailers, pitch tents or sleep 15ft (5m) high in tree houses. Just a 1½-hour drive from Quebec, it’s the ideal weekend getaway for those looking to skip town and try their hand at snowshoeing. Recommended by local insider Caitlin Stall-Paquet

If you like camping in solitude, Poisson Blanc is for you. The campsites here, in the Poisson Blanc Regional Park in Notre-Dame-du-Laus, are spread across a series of isolated islands and peninsulas on the crystal-clear waters of the Poisson Blanc reservoir. You have to book, but you get a whole island to yourself and a bag of firewood. And if the s’mores aren’t enough to entice you, seeing the Milky Way in clear definition might. Recommended by local insider Caitlin Stall-Paquet

What’s only 60 minutes by car is light years away from Montreal’s concrete jungle. Oka National Park is home to a sandy beach, lining the blue waters of the Lake of Two Mountains (where camping is allowed), a great expanse of hiking trails and three 18th-century chapels. Go solo and bring a tent, or rent any of the 42 ready-to-camp tents, replete with beds, a space heater and a fridge. Recommended by local insider Tess Boissonneault

Sommet Morin Heights Camping and Cabins is at the heart of the Laurentian Mountains, close to the ski resort and just an hour’s drive from Montreal. The campsite is well equipped with tent sites, log-cabin rentals and RV spots. In the winter, campers have easy access to the ski slopes (cue the freshest powder in Canada), plus mini-golf clubs and a children’s amusement park. When warmer weather hits, there’s a water park and zip-line activities. Recommended by local insider Tess Boissonneault

The lovely region of the Eastern Townships is where poutine – gravy-soaked fries topped with cheese curds – abounds. And Domaine du Lac Libby family-run campsite has been in business here for more than 40 years. Sitting on the shores of Lac Libby, it hosts tents, RVs and log cabins, with a focus on sustainability and the local environment. In summer, you can rent kayaks, pedalos and paddleboards. Recommended by local insider Tess Boissonneault