Kemptville, Ontario: History, Things to Do and Travel Guide
Kemptville is the main community in North Grenville, in eastern Ontario’s Southeastern Ontario region. It sits south of Ottawa, close to the Rideau River, with an old village core, creekside streets, forest trails and practical services for travellers moving through the Rideau corridor.
The town is best understood through two landscapes: the early mill village around Clothier Street and Kemptville Creek, and the modern recreation network around Ferguson Forest Centre, Rideau River access and North Grenville’s growing residential areas.
How Kemptville Started
Kemptville began on Clothier Street East, where the early village grew beside the river. North Grenville’s historical walking tour explains that the street paralleled the water because the river was the reason the settlement formed. Lyman Clothier bought land in the 1820s to build a sawmill, and the first businesses and homes developed nearby.
The settlement’s original main street was not today’s full commercial pattern. Clothier Street East held hotels, blacksmiths, general stores, the post office and other service businesses. It was the working edge of the village, close to the mill and the waterpower that made growth possible.
As the village expanded in the 1830s and 1840s, Clothier Street West became important too. North Grenville’s walking tour material notes early homes, businesses and lands connected to Lyman Clothier, Elijah Bottum and St. James Anglican parish. The result was a village with a clear east-west story around the creek and its crossings.
Fire and rebuilding changed Kemptville’s centre. After an 1872 fire destroyed much of Prescott Street, the commercial focus shifted across the river. That is why today’s historic walking routes matter: they show the town before and after its main street changed.
What Kemptville Is Like Today
Kemptville is a service centre, commuter community and local heritage town in one place. It has grocery stores, restaurants, schools, a hospital, parks and road access that make it more practical than many small eastern Ontario villages.
Old Town Kemptville still carries the village story. Clothier Street, Prescott Street, Kemptville Creek, older churches, bridges and heritage houses give the community a walkable centre. The town’s growth has spread outward, but the older core remains the part travellers should slow down for.
Outdoor space is a second identity. Ferguson Forest Centre gives Kemptville a large green-space asset inside the community, with forest, trails, arboretum features, disc golf and winter trail use. Rideau River Provincial Park adds camping and water access a short drive away.
That mix makes Kemptville useful in several seasons. A visitor can spend the morning reading the old village through its walking-tour stops, then switch to forest paths, disc golf or river camping without leaving the North Grenville area.
Things to Do and Places Nearby
Start with the historical walking tours on Clothier Street East and West. They are specific, building-level routes that explain how the village developed around the creek, mills, businesses and residential streets.
Ferguson Forest Centre is the strongest outdoor stop in town. North Grenville describes it as 1,100 acres of multi-use green space, with a tree nursery, 800 acres of forest, 22 kilometres of designated trails, an arboretum, dog park, disc golf and winter trail options. It works for walkers, families, birders and visitors who want fresh air without leaving town.
Rideau River Provincial Park is the nearby camping and water anchor. Ontario Parks lists it on the historic Rideau Waterway, with camping, a boat launch, docks, canoe and kayak rentals, fishing and family facilities. It makes Kemptville useful for travellers who want a base near the Rideau without staying in Ottawa.
Old Town shops, local food stops and seasonal events fill the gaps between heritage and outdoor time. Kemptville is not a single-attraction place; it works best when the day combines a short heritage walk, a forest trail and a simple meal in town.
Quick Facts
- Community: Kemptville
- Province: Ontario
- Region: Southeastern Ontario
- Municipality type: Community within the Municipality of North Grenville
- Population on this page: about 5,000
- Official website: northgrenville.ca
- Main travel areas: Old Town Kemptville, Clothier Street, Kemptville Creek, Ferguson Forest Centre, Rideau River Provincial Park
- Key routes: County Road 43, County Road 44, Highway 416, Rideau River routes
Travel Notes
Kemptville is easy to visit by car from Ottawa or Highway 416. The town has enough services for a practical overnight, but many travellers will use it as a day stop or a camping base.
Spring through fall is best for walking tours, forest trails, paddling and camping. Winter can still work for Kemptville Winter Trail activities at Ferguson Forest Centre, but confirm grooming and access before planning around snow conditions.
If Rideau River Provincial Park is the main reason for the trip, reserve early and check Ontario Parks operating dates. If heritage is the goal, walk Clothier Street first, then cross toward Prescott Street to see how the town centre shifted.