Family camping Vacay - Ottawa-Saguenay-Ville De Quebec-Montreal

[Le Poisson]

We are looking at a 10-day vacation later this summer, and being frugal, I'm hoping you folks have tips for good (cheap) places to crash along the way. Our family includes 2 adults and 2 kids. Our plan is:

Leave Toronto in family vehicle, possibly with a tent (free!), possibly with a rented pop-up trailer ($400/wk) and find cheap, but nice campsites to stay at.

Our first stop will be the Ottawa area. Likely we'll stay for 3 days or so and do the museums and historic sites.
Next stop is Lac St. Jean and the Saguenay Fjord - I want to see the fjord, do some cycling, and chill.
Next up - Ville de Quebec - Momma wants to hit the historic sites and old city
Last is Montreal - Biosphere, museums, stuff.

Quebec's parks (Sepaq.com) run around $30 per night. Private campgrounds can be had for about the same, but have pools and playspaces for the kids. We are avoiding the construction holiday - but if you were about to warn us, I appreciate your concern for booking this late.

Can anyone recommend either places that are a really good value for similar prices, or camps that are preferable to others? Is there anything similar to crown land camping in Quebec - no fees but no service either?

[nereo]

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Quebec's parks (Sepaq.com) run around $30 per night. Private campgrounds can be had for about the same, but have pools and playspaces for the kids. We are avoiding the construction holiday - but if you were about to warn us, I appreciate your concern for booking this late.

Can anyone recommend either places that are a really good value for similar prices, or camps that are preferable to others? Is there anything similar to crown land camping in Quebec - no fees but no service either?

Glad to hear that you know about the "construction holiday" :-)
AFAIK we have no equivalent to the Crown Land here in Quebec, and most everything I've found does cost some money.  With Sepaq you can buy a annual pass, which would make sense for you if you plan on visiting multiple parks/parcs on this trip.  I'd recommend parc Jaques-Cartier just north of Quebec City - it's a glacial carved valley with lots of good hikes, mountain biking, water activities (canoeing, kayaking, tubing), plus ample moose sightings.  Bonus, it's on the way to the Saguenay.

Nearby to Parc Cartier there's also Forêt Montmorency, which is leased by Université Laval and about an hour outside Quebec City.  They have cabins to rent and camping in the summer (i think - we go there mostly for winter day trips to ski/snowshoe).  Nice trail system with a really good waterfall.

Try Cape Tourmente if you like bird watching

There's also some private camp grounds on Ile d'Orleans, which puts you about 20-30 mintues from the old city in Quebec.  Wonderful berry picking, roadside stands and road biking around the island. If boating is your thing you can rent and launch a boat there and drive just under the old city for some spectacular views of the ramparts and old city.

[Le Poisson]

Setting the bar...

Our current plan is as follows:

Ottawa - Ottawa Municipal Campground - Rates not posted online - http://www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places-to-visit/greenbelt/things-to-do/camping-greenbelt
Saguenay - Centre Touristique du Lac Kenogami - $29.75 - http://www.sepaq.com/ct/ken/tarifs.dot
Quebec - Camping de la Jolie - $31.00 - http://www.campingdelajoie.com/tarifs.php
Montreal - Parc national des Iles de Boucherville - $31.25 - http://www.sepaq.com/pq/bou/tarifs.dot

Anyone have anything better/cheaper for each spot?

[Le Poisson]

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Quebec's parks (Sepaq.com) run around $30 per night. Private campgrounds can be had for about the same, but have pools and playspaces for the kids. We are avoiding the construction holiday - but if you were about to warn us, I appreciate your concern for booking this late.

Can anyone recommend either places that are a really good value for similar prices, or camps that are preferable to others? Is there anything similar to crown land camping in Quebec - no fees but no service either?

Glad to hear that you know about the "construction holiday" :-)
AFAIK we have no equivalent to the Crown Land here in Quebec, and most everything I've found does cost some money.  With Sepaq you can buy a annual pass, which would make sense for you if you plan on visiting multiple parks/parcs on this trip.  I'd recommend parc Jaques-Cartier just north of Quebec City - it's a glacial carved valley with lots of good hikes, mountain biking, water activities (canoeing, kayaking, tubing), plus ample moose sightings.  Bonus, it's on the way to the Saguenay.

Nearby to Parc Cartier there's also Forêt Montmorency, which is leased by Université Laval and about an hour outside Quebec City.  They have cabins to rent and camping in the summer (i think - we go there mostly for winter day trips to ski/snowshoe).  Nice trail system with a really good waterfall.

Try Cape Tourmente if you like bird watching

There's also some private camp grounds on Ile d'Orleans, which puts you about 20-30 mintues from the old city in Quebec.  Wonderful berry picking, roadside stands and road biking around the island. If boating is your thing you can rent and launch a boat there and drive just under the old city for some spectacular views of the ramparts and old city.

Wow! Thanks for the great tips!! I have to run to work now, but will research these later!