Mississippi River town and the corridor's on-ramp.
Why stop
Carleton Place is where the drive stops feeling like leaving Ottawa and starts feeling like the corridor. The bypass will happily carry you straight past it; don’t let it. Bridge Street — the old main drag along the Mississippi River — is a five-minute detour off the highway and a proper small-town downtown: cafés, a bakery or two, and the river running right through the middle.
Practically, it’s also the corridor’s best-stocked town at the Ottawa end: groceries, hardware, every gas brand, and big-box shopping if that’s what the trip needs. Westbound travellers top up here; eastbounders exhale here. Either way it’s an easy place to get everything sorted and still be back on the highway in fifteen minutes.
A piper or pipers at the cenotaph in Veterans Memorial Park, half an hour every Friday evening, honouring the local names on the stone. Runs through to the Friday of the Labour Day weekend.
Saturday-morning market at Market Square behind the town hall — fresh produce, baked goods and handmade goods, rain or shine, with themed festival Saturdays through the season.
Tuesday nights at the arena on Neelin Street, run by the Carleton Place and District Civitan Club — doors at half past four, games at half past six, with a well-stocked canteen and club members working the room.
Thursday nights at the Navy League hall on John Street, raising money for the cadet corps — doors at half past four, cards from half past five, first game at a quarter to seven. Cash only, with 50/50 and break-open tickets and a canteen.
Eight zones of Ukrainian food, live music, dance, a craft market, children's activities and a heritage exhibition, free all day at Riverside Park. It grew out of a 2023 garage sale for Ukrainian families arriving in Lanark County and drew more than four thousand people last year.
Beckwith Park fills with farmers, artisans and food producers from across the county — live music, cultural displays, petting zoo, wagon rides and bouncy castles for the kids. Free admission.
Sunflower Soaps runs a hands-on soap making workshop on the second floor of Anderson's Your Independent Grocer, 455 McNeely Ave. $125; tickets on their site, with a final fall session Nov 21.
The Ontario Festival of Small Halls brings an afternoon of East Coast kitchen-party music to the Carleton Place Arena — first of four Small Halls shows in town this fall.
The last Sunflower Soaps hands-on soap making workshop of the fall, on the second floor of Anderson's Your Independent Grocer, 455 McNeely Ave. $125; tickets on their site.
The town's history museum — mill-town roots, the Roy Brown/Red Baron story, and local life across two centuries. Open Tue–Sat 10–4 and Sunday afternoons in summer; suggested $5 admission.
267 Edmund St · Checked Jul 2026 · museum sources · Map
Ottawa Valley Rail Trail
The 296-kilometre rail trail to Mattawa starts its run here, and the surface through town is paved with signalled crossings at the roads. About 25 km of flat gravel grade west to Smiths Falls; north it links Almonte and Pakenham.
Through town, crossing McNeely Ave · Checked Aug 2026 · Lanark County and Ontario Trails Council · Map
Riverside Park Beach
Lifeguarded sand beach on the Mississippi — washrooms, splash pad, playground, and two public boat launches. The corridor's best-equipped swim-and-launch stop, mid-June through August.
West end of John St · Checked Jul 2026 · municipal sources · Map
Rotary Centennial Trail
Seven kilometres of riverside path along the Mississippi between Carleton Place and the village of Appleton, with a spur down to Hackberry Park if you want to get your feet wet.
From below the McNeely Ave bridge to Appleton · Checked Aug 2026 · Lanark County and Ontario By Bike · Map
Roy Brown Park
A quieter alternative to the river beach — 3 km of walking trails with historical plaques, two picnic pavilions, and a fully enclosed off-leash dog park. Named for the WWI flying ace credited with downing the Red Baron.
93 Griffith Way, Carleton Place · Checked Jul 2026 · Town of Carleton Place parks list · Map
The town arena on Neelin Street, and on Tuesday nights the room where the Carleton Place and District Civitan Club runs its weekly bingo. Doors at half past four, games at half past six.
75 Neelin St, Carleton Place · Checked Sep 2026 · Town of Carleton Place events listing · Map
Home of the local cadet corps, on John Street. Thursday night bingo is what pays for the corps. Cash only, doors at half past four, with 50/50 and break-open tickets alongside the cards.
137 John St, Carleton Place · Checked Sep 2026 · Town of Carleton Place events listing · Map