Booking Activity Surges as Thousands Plan Ahead for Summer and Fall Camping Adventures
MORRISBURG, ON – Parks of the St. Lawrence, a division of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission (SLPC), is celebrating a successful launch of its 2026 transient camping reservations, with thousands of guests securing their getaways along the St. Lawrence River on opening day.
Parks of the St. Lawrence’s reservation model allows campers to book any available 2026 dates (May to November) as soon as reservations opened, rather than waiting for dates to open throughout the season. This approach continues to be popular with campers planning peak summer and fall trips or multiple stays. Opening day activity remained steady from morning through late afternoon, with more than 5,000 reservations processed in the first hour and sustained interest throughout the day as guests explored returning favourites and new offerings for the upcoming season.
Guests showed particular enthusiasm for new and enhanced camping experiences. Parks of the St. Lawrence continues to reinvest in its campgrounds by expanding roofed accommodations, increasing walk‑in and waterfront site options, building new and renovating existing washrooms, enhancing shoreline access, and advancing upgrades on the Long Sault and Thousand Islands parkways. Recent upgrades include new Prospector Tents, Adventure Ready Campers, premium waterfront walk‑in sites, and a series of campsite improvements across multiple properties. Glengarry Campground now features a brand-new, modern comfort station, including AODA-accessible washrooms and showers, an RV dump station, and upgraded guest amenities that offer a more seamless, accessible experience beneath its signature pine canopy. Brown’s Bay campground also unveiled a new, accessible washroom building with canteen and licensed waterfront patio in 2024. Together, these improvements support a more comfortable and enjoyable stay for guests while preserving the natural landscapes that define the region.
Additional accommodations and upgraded sites will be added to the reservation system throughout the season as they become ready, including more Adventure Ready Campers, new walk‑in waterfront campsites, and new pull‑through sites at Farran Park Campground to meet growing RV demand. Adventure Ready Campers provide a simple, equipment‑free camping experience, while expanded walk‑in waterfront options will offer privacy and shoreline access. Prospector Tents, which saw strong uptake last year, are also being expanded for the 2026 season.
Parks of the St. Lawrence is also introducing Canada’s first Suspended Tree Tent sites at the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary Campground. These offer private waterfront decks, two suspended sleeping tents gently elevated above the ground, and direct access to sheltered shoreline areas, providing guests with a private outdoor adventure nestled in the forest. Each site also has a picnic table, firepit, and charcoal BBQ.
“Each year we see how much our campers value being able to plan their full camping season at once, and 2026 is no exception,” remarks Lyle Harper, Regional Parks Manager, Parks of the St. Lawrence. “The enthusiasm we saw on launch day reflects how excited people are to return to the river and to try the new experiences we’re introducing this year.”
McLaren Campground recorded the highest number of reservations on launch day, surpassing Farran Park’s leading position in 2025. Guests continue to favour McLaren for its easy waterfront access, warm shallow bays, two sandy beaches, paddling routes around Hoople Island, and a broad mix of amenities along the Long Sault Parkway. The campground’s combination of family‑friendly recreation and scenic water access remains a strong draw for both returning and new campers.
This year, Mille Roche Campground and Mille Roches Beach & Day Use Area will be unavailable, while undergoing major infrastructure improvements to strengthen guest amenities and modernize essential services. During this time, all other Parks of the St. Lawrence Campgrounds, including McLaren and Woodlands Campground and Woodland Beach & Day Use Area on the Long Sault Parkway, are ready to welcome you.
Every Parks of the St. Lawrence campground offers its own hidden gems, from quiet bays and towering pines to sandy beaches, island sunsets, and expansive riverfront views. Guests can choose from basic, waterfront, and premium waterfront campsites, as well as serviced options that provide varying levels of electricity, water, and sewer hookups. The campground collection also includes a range of roofed accommodations, offering everything from simple glamping experiences to bright, cozy cabins and fully turn‑key stays. The Family Lodge and the iconic Robin’s Roost Treehouse provide inviting spaces for group getaways and special gatherings. From the western‑most campgrounds at Brown’s Bay and Ivy Lea in the Thousand Islands, known for clear aqua‑blue water ideal for swimming, paddling, wildlife viewing, and fishing, to Glengarry Campground near the Quebec border, where distant views of the Adirondack Mountains and towering pine forests define the setting, these diverse accommodations give guests the flexibility to choose the style and comfort level that best suits their trip.
Parks of the St. Lawrence looks forward to welcoming guests for another memorable camping season along the St. Lawrence River in 2026. Learn more at www.stlawrenceparks.com.
About Parks of the St. Lawrence
Parks of the St. Lawrence operates a network of campgrounds and day‑use areas across Eastern Ontario. Parks of the St. Lawrence campgrounds line the shores of the St. Lawrence River from the 1000 Islands Bridge border crossing to the Quebec border, close to attractions and activities. Parks of the St. Lawrence invites guests to enjoy our spacious campsites and waterfront cabins, winding bike paths, pristine nature trails, boat launches, picnic areas, scuba diving and remarkable fishing. We are the perfect destination for campers, runners, cyclists, photographers, anglers, scuba divers and explorers alike.
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Katie Forrester
Communications and Media Relations Officer
St. Lawrence Parks Commission
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