First impressions pulling into Bas Saint-Laurent KOA Resort were WOW! As soon as we pulled into the campground we were immediately struck by the view of many camping trailers seemingly positioned on the side of a large hill, each with an amazing view of Lac Saint-Mathieu. The parking area to use for check-in was well identified and provided lots of room to allow for large rigs and not block the entrance. On check-in we attended the modest-sized shop which appeared very clean and organized with an assortment of camping supplies, snacks and necessities. The staff were very friendly, and thankfully spoke English, making registration a breeze and then escorted us down to our campsite.
Campsite: Our site ended up being ground-level off to the right past the entrance, rather than up the steep hill to the left. The sites were pull-through, which was great but when we asked if we could arrange our trailers to face each other we were told ‘no’, as it was “against the rules”. That being said, we observed several sites where this was done. The site itself was a good size, reasonably level for the trailer and had full service (electrical, water, sewer x 2 dump locations to accommodate various trailer styles). The section our campsite was in appeared to be a newer addition to the campground, the trees were very small and did not provide for shade or privacy but luckily the wind was down and we were able to use our awning. The firepit was excellent, nicely positioned, large with openings at the bottom for good air flow.
Campground: The campground itself was absolutely huge! It branched off in several different camper trailer and RV sections which included the lower level where we were, what appeared to be seasonal sites lining the roadway to the upper levels, a level at the top of the first climb which was a very large area, some of the sites having panoramic views of the water, and the final upper area, which was smaller than the first but still large on its own, providing ample campsites. There was a small path from the upper level which led around from one end to the other, containing multiple tent nooks in well-treed areas. The tent spaces were not very large, but reasonable for standard-sized tents. All the roads were wide with generous turns, making maneuvering with a camper trailer a breeze. Across the road from the main campground was an off-shoot of more trailer sites and waterfront cabins.
Behind these was a large sandy beach on Lac Saint-Mathieu with access to paddle boards and kayaks. Back at the main campground area, the bathroom, shower and laundry facilities were located underneath the main registration / camp store building and were standard but reasonably clean. The additional amenities included a decent size pool, a smaller shallow kiddie pool, and an extremely small adult-only hot tub (which was no warmer than the pool), minigolf, playground, bouncy pillow, splash pad, shuffleboard, horseshoes and the unique addition of a BMX bike track. Had we brought our bikes, I know the kids would have had a blast!
Value: At $68 CAD per night we found this to be an excellent price for all that was offered. The only part that is a little disappointing was that while every other campground we visited on this east coast trip has never charged a fee for having a third child (being a family of five), this campground charged us an additional $12 for the third child.
Caution! While checking in we didn’t have an issue with the language barrier, we found that several other staff members did not speak any English and all the signage was posted in French only. This was challenging when trying to learn the rules at the beach and the pool.
Tip! This campground rents golf carts at a reasonable rate of $60 CAD from 2pm through noon the following day. We took advantage of this which made trips between the main campsite and the beach with our beach gear, as well as exploring this vast campground, a fun adventure. Highly recommend!
Final word: I think I could easily say this is one of the most fully-loaded KOAs we have been to and by far the most unique and scenic.
We’d love to hear about your adventures! Feel free to leave comments describing your own experiences, good or bad, or join our private Facebook community Glamping Essentials Campfire Collective. Should you have any specific questions, please email Jason@GlampingEssentials.ca.
~ Jason
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