Ottawa Bluesfest 2027 RV Rental and Camping Guide

Which rental brands suit Ottawa Bluesfest?

One brand returned vans in our live search for a Montreal pick-up: Cruise Canada (the Canadian arm of Cruise America). Its Montreal depot is at 705 Rue Dubois in Saint-Eustache, northwest of the city and on the way to Ottawa. It offers four motorhomes: the Ultra Compact 18 ft (sleeps 2), Compact 21 ft (sleeps 4), Standard 25 ft (sleeps 5) and Large 30 ft (sleeps 7). All four have a toilet, shower and fridge, so they meet the self-contained rule at RV parks such as Rolling Hills.

CanaDream also has a depot near Montreal, but it returned no vehicles in our Montreal or Toronto searches for these dates, so we cannot offer it for Bluesfest right now.

• Pick the size for the city: Bluesfest has no RV parking, and the City of Ottawa bans vehicles longer than 6.5 metres from parking on any street except designated truck routes. Going by the model names, the Standard 25 ft (about 7.6 m) and Large 30 ft (about 9.1 m) are over that limit, so treat them as campground-only vehicles and use transit into town.
• Power: in Canada only the Large 30 ft has a generator. The Ultra Compact needs external power for its furnace and air conditioning, so book a powered (30 or 50 amp) site. Every campground in our camping section offers them.
• Cancellations: Cruise America's FAQ says that for areas where special events such as music festivals occur, cancelling within 45 days of pick-up forfeits your reservation down payment. It does not say whether this covers Ottawa, so ask before you book.
• Toronto instead: Cruise Canada's Bolton depot near Toronto returned the same four models for the same dates at lower nightly prices, but it is about 477 km (296 miles) from the festival, more than five and a half hours each way.

Compare these vehicles for your dates on our Montreal motorhome and campervan page.

What does an RV for Ottawa Bluesfest cost?

Live prices from the Campervan Rental Guide search for a Montreal pick-up on Wednesday 14 July 2027 and return on Saturday 24 July 2027 (10 nights), searched on 19 October 2026. Prices are Canadian dollars per night, with the total for 10 nights.

• Ultra Compact 18 ft (sleeps 2): C$293.63 a night, C$3,005.22 total
• Compact 21 ft (sleeps 4): C$300.53 a night, C$3,074.25 total
• Standard 25 ft (sleeps 5): C$354.44 a night, C$3,613.29 total
• Large 30 ft (sleeps 7): C$356.48 a night, C$3,633.69 total

The same dates from Toronto (Bolton) were C$247.34 to C$311.27 a night, but the extra 610 km or so of round-trip driving adds kilometre charges and two long travel days.

What is not in those prices

• Kilometres: Cruise America's FAQ says Canadian rentals are charged for an estimated 160 km per night (1,600 km over 10 nights) at 39 cents per kilometre, collected up front, with unused kilometres refunded and extra ones charged at return. The FAQ does not state the currency. Our suggested loop below is roughly 620 km plus local driving. A Half Price Mileage Deal (promo code FRDM) is listed for departures through 31 October 2027.
• Kits: a Personal Kit is listed at 75 dollars per person and a Vehicle Provisioning Kit (cookware, crockery, cutlery, kettle) at 125 dollars per vehicle, currency not stated.
• Generator: the Large 30 ft generator is listed at 3.50 dollars an hour, currency not stated.
• Campground fees: 2026 nightly rates were C$70 to C$80 plus HST at Camp Hither Hills and C$63.89 to C$70.16 plus HST for powered sites with water at Wesley Clover Parks. 2027 rates may change.
• Festival passes: tickets are separate. Ottawa Bluesfest had not announced 2027 dates or prices when we checked on 19 October 2026.
• Cancellations, one-way fees and extras: check Cruise Canada's terms before you pay the down payment.

Where to stay in an RV for Ottawa Bluesfest

Ottawa Bluesfest has no camping and no RV parking. Its help centre says the festival is an urban venue next to downtown Ottawa on several rapid transit routes, and points campers to Ottawa Tourism's campground list. The festival site is LeBreton Flats Park, 1 Vimy Place, beside the Canadian War Museum, and there is no public parking in the museum garage. The best plan is to book a powered site at a nearby RV park, leave the motorhome there and ride transit in.

Camp Hither Hills (south Ottawa)

• Where: 5227 Bank Street, which Ottawa Tourism places 17 km south of the Parliament Buildings. About 20 km (12 miles) and 25 minutes by road from LeBreton Flats.
• Sites: 30 amp back-in sites with water, electric and sewer (C$70 a night in 2026), 30/50 amp back-in sites (C$75) and 30/50 amp pull-through sites (C$80), plus HST. Weekly rates and one free day for every 7 booked.
• Good to know: season 15 April to 31 October in 2026, Starlink Wi-Fi, a heated salt water pool and free pets. The park warns that it can fill quickly during big events in downtown Ottawa, and says the new O-Train line is nearby.

Wesley Clover Parks Campground (west Ottawa)

• Where: in the National Capital Greenbelt in Nepean, about 19 km (12 miles) and 20 minutes by road from the festival.
• Sites: 50, 30 and 15 amp sites, most with water, and most sites fit motorhomes up to 45 feet. 2026 daily rates were C$70.16 (50 amp plus water) and C$63.89 (30 amp plus water) plus HST, with a C$6 booking fee. Rates may change for 2027.
• Good to know: 2026 season 1 May to 13 October. Check-in 1 PM to 6 PM, check-out 12 PM. Dump station included for registered campers, showers, flush toilets and laundry. The campground backs onto the Watts Creek Pathway, and it says you can cycle to Parliament Hill in about an hour.

Rolling Hills RV Park (Cumberland, east of Ottawa)

• Where: 1566 Canaan Road, Cumberland, the site older directories list as Recreationland. About 36 km (22 miles) and 32 minutes from the festival.
• Sites: every site has 30/50 amp power, water and sewer, with pull-through sites over 60 feet and back-in sites up to 80 feet.
• Good to know: adults only (21 and over), RVs must be self-contained, quiet hours from 11 PM are strictly enforced, generators are not allowed in summer, and full payment is taken when you book.

Philippe Lake Campground, Gatineau Park (Quebec)

• Where: in the National Capital Commission's Gatineau Park, about 46 km (29 miles) and 55 minutes from LeBreton Flats.
• Sites: reopened in June 2026 after three years of work. The NCC lists about 30 sites with both electricity and drinking water, plus tent sites and mini-chalets, and Smith Beach inside the campground.
• Good to know: the 2026 season ran 12 June to 12 October, and 2027 reservations open at a later date. The NCC does not publish an RV length limit, so check when you book. It suits the days before or after the festival better than a nightly commute.

Renfrew / Ottawa West KOA Journey

• Where: 2826 Johnston Road, Renfrew, which KOA describes as an hour west of Ottawa. About 98 km (61 miles) and 1 hour 20 minutes from the festival.
• Sites: 50 amp maximum service and a 90 foot maximum length, on a spring-fed lake. A fallback if the city parks are full, not a nightly base.

Can you park the RV near the festival instead?

Not easily. The festival sells off-site parking in Gatineau for C$15 a day (2026), a 15 minute walk away, valid from 4 PM with no in and out, but its page does not mention RVs or oversized vehicles. OC Transpo Park and Ride lots do not allow overnight parking, and city streets ban any vehicle over 6.5 metres. See the rules in our tips below.

Getting from Montreal to Ottawa Bluesfest

LeBreton Flats Park is on the Ottawa River at the western edge of downtown Ottawa, beside the Canadian War Museum. The festival describes Ottawa as about 110 miles west of Montreal.

• From the Cruise Canada depot (705 Rue Dubois, Saint-Eustache): about 172 km (107 miles), around 2 hours 20 minutes without traffic via Route 148 and Autoroute 50 along the Quebec side of the Ottawa River. To Camp Hither Hills, take Autoroute 50 to Highway 417 instead: about 171 km (106 miles), 2 hours 25 minutes.
• From Montreal-Trudeau airport (YUL): about 187 km (116 miles) to the festival, 2 hours 20 minutes. The depot is 29 km (18 miles) from the airport and Cruise Canada does not offer airport transfers, so arrange a taxi or rideshare.
• From downtown Montreal (Gare Centrale): about 201 km (125 miles), 2 hours 30 minutes.
• From Toronto (Bolton depot): about 477 km (296 miles), around 5 hours 35 minutes.

From your campground to the gates

• Transit is included: OC Transpo, Para Transpo and O-Train service is included with every festival admission pass, from 3 hours before the gates open until 2 hours after they close. Show your pass to board, and at O-Train fare gates use the video chat on the ticket machines to be let through.
• Nearest station: Pimisi station on O-Train Line 1 is OC Transpo's access point for LeBreton Flats. Line 2 runs north to Bayview, one stop west of Pimisi, where you change to Line 1.
• Driving in: the festival says driving is not the best option. Roads around the site close at around 5 PM each festival day and street parking is minimal.
• Taxi and bike: the taxi stand is at Lett Street and Wellington Street (eastbound), and free supervised bike valet parking runs 3:30 PM to 11:30 PM on festival days.

Drive times are free-flow estimates from OSRM, so allow more on a summer Friday. Read the festival's Ways to Get to Ottawa Bluesfest page and compare pick-ups on our Montreal page.

A 10 night Bluesfest road trip from Montreal

This plan matches our live search (pick up Wednesday 14 July, return Saturday 24 July 2027) and targets the expected final festival weekend. Bluesfest has not confirmed its 2027 dates, so shift the plan once they are out. Cruise Canada centres are closed on Sundays, pick-up is normally 1 PM to 4 PM and drop-off 9 AM to 11 AM. Season dates and rates below are from 2026.

Day 1 (Wed 14 Jul): Pick up and drive to Ottawa

Collect your motorhome in Saint-Eustache, shop for groceries and drive about 171 km (106 miles, around 2 hours 25 minutes) to Camp Hither Hills in south Ottawa. The office is open until 8 PM Monday to Saturday.

Day 2 (Thu 15 Jul): Ottawa by transit

Leave the RV at camp and take transit to Parliament Hill and the ByWard Market. If you have a pass for the night, stay on for the evening shows at LeBreton Flats.

Days 3 to 5 (Fri 16 to Sun 18 Jul): Festival weekend

Ride transit to Pimisi each afternoon with your festival pass. There is no re-entry once your pass is scanned, so bring only what you need for the night.

Day 6 (Mon 19 Jul): Gatineau Park

Dump and fill, then drive about 71 km (44 miles, 1 hour 15 minutes) to Philippe Lake Campground in Gatineau Park. Swim at Smith Beach.

Day 7 (Tue 20 Jul): Lakes and trails

Hike, paddle or rent a canoe. La Pêche Lake, in the northwest of the park, offers paddle-in canoe camping.

Day 8 (Wed 21 Jul): Into the Laurentians

Drive about 222 km (138 miles, around 3 hours 30 minutes) via Autoroute 50 and Route 323 to the La Diable sector of Parc national du Mont-Tremblant, which has powered sites (15 and 30 amp) and a dump station.

Day 9 (Thu 22 Jul): Mont-Tremblant

Spend a full day in Quebec's oldest provincial park, created in 1895: paddle, hike or cycle in the La Diable sector.

Day 10 (Fri 23 Jul): Oka, then return on Sat 24 Jul

Drive about 135 km (84 miles, 2 hours) to Parc national d'Oka on Lac des Deux Montagnes for a last beach afternoon. On Saturday morning it is only 23 km (14 miles, about 20 minutes) back to the depot. Empty the tanks and return between 9 AM and 11 AM.

Tips for Ottawa Bluesfest in an RV

• Book the campground first. Camp Hither Hills warns that it can fill quickly during big downtown events. Reserve a powered site as soon as Bluesfest confirms its 2027 dates.
• Leave the RV parked. Your festival pass covers OC Transpo and the O-Train from 3 hours before the gates open to 2 hours after they close, and the roads around LeBreton Flats close at around 5 PM.
• Know the 6.5 metre rule. Ottawa's Traffic and Parking By-law bans vehicles over 6.5 metres from parking on any street except designated truck routes. Shorter vehicles are limited to 3 hours on weekdays and 6 hours on Saturdays between 7 AM and 7 PM unless signs say otherwise.
• No overnight Park and Ride. OC Transpo says overnight parking is not permitted in any of its lots, so do not plan to sleep at a station.
• Respect quiet hours. Shows finish late, and parks such as Rolling Hills enforce quiet from 11 PM. Plan a quiet return and keep the generator off.
• Go cashless and pack light. The festival site is cashless, bags slow entry at the metal detectors, and there is no re-entry on any pass.