5 Places for Epic Winter Experiences in a Karma Campervan (East Coast Edition)

If you want to actually enjoy winter this year, a Karma Campervan road trip is one of the best ways to do it.

Our vans are fully winter-equipped and built for cold-weather adventure

With winter-ready tires and a powerful, one-button start Eberspächer heater. Easy on the fuel tank and keep the van warm all day (even when you’re out exploring), plenty of space to hang and dry gear, smart storage beside, above and under the bed for your bulky clothes, gear, skis and boards and anything else you’d like to bring along. Select Karma locations provide 4×4 vans for that extra confidence on the snow-covered mountain roads, Tire chains available upon request.

With Karma Campervan’s East Coast pickup hubs in Ottawa, Toronto, and Moncton, Perfectly positioned to reach some of the best winter destinations in Eastern Canada and with seamless cross-border travel, you can easily dip into the north eastern U.S. for some of their great winter fun, too!

Whether you’re into backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, exploring quiet forests, or chasing snowy powder at the resort, here are five incredible East Coast winter destinations to get you outside, experience the majesty of winter and have your warm, Karma Campervan basecamp, waiting for your return after a great day of snow-filled adventure. 

1. Murdochville, Québec – Backcountry Skiing & Cat Skiing with Chic-Chac

Murdochville is one of Eastern Canada’s most underrated winter adventure hubs. Tucked into the wild Chic-Choc Mountains on Québec’s Gaspé Peninsula, this once-quiet mining town has reinvented itself into a paradise for slope lovers and backcountry skiers.

At the centre of it all is Chic-Chac, founded by Guillaume Mollaïson and Éloïse Bourdon, who revived the Mont Miller ski hill, opened up Lac York’s steep and deep, powder coated mountain terrain for cat or heli-skiing and transformed the town’s abandoned houses into cozy guest accommodations for travellers. 

Why it’s epic for winter van travel:

• Warm underground passageway connecting the hostel to the pub and tech shop
• Walking distance to Mont Miller’s lifts and the historic church-turned-Chic-Chac winter culture pub hub with amazing food, service and beverages
• Easy access from your van to the meeting spot for Lac York’s cat skiing, heli-skiing, and guided touring in the nearby Chic-Chocs
• Big terrain, deep snow, and classic Gaspésie storm cycles
• Lively après, and an authentic Québec mountain culture experience, welcoming for both French and English speakers

If you love chasing powder, Murdochville belongs on your list.

2. Mount Bohemia, Michigan – Steep, Deep & Wild

Mount Bohemia, tucked into Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is one of the most unique ski destinations in the East. Fueled by massive Lake Superior snowstorms, this mountain is steep, ungroomed, and unapologetically rugged. A haven for skiers and riders who want to take on terrain with character, it brings a vibe you won’t find anywhere else.

Not only do they offer dozens of untamed, “no beginners allowed” front and backcountry terrain, they also have the largest (and least pretentious) Nordic spa in the United States, at the base.

Recover from a day of shredding with your choice of a dozen super unique saunas, cold plunges, hot tubs, steam rooms, float pods, and mineral baths. All while enjoying some token pepperoni pizza from the food shack. Then, walk just 500m across the road to your van-life camping spot.

Why it’s perfect for your Karma Campervan:

• Inexpensive overnight van camping in the parking lot across the road from the ski hill and spa, reserve your spot for just $25
• Affordable skiing, including their legendary $99 season pass sale in early December
• Access to the largest Nordic spa in the U.S. (saunas, float pods, cold plunges, tiki rooms, mineral baths, and more)
• A welcoming community of vanlifers and road-trippers, Options to upgrade to yurts, cabins, or hostel stays

This place feels like a ski cult classic — because it is.

3. Parc du Massif du Sud, Québec – Fat Biking & Forest Adventure

Parc du Massif du Sud is a winter playground carved into ancient boreal forest, quiet valleys, and beautifully marked trails in the Chaudière-Appalaches region. It’s peaceful, pristine, and perfect for hours of uninterrupted winter adventure.

For van travelers, the experience is effortless: inexpensive and easy overnight parking, with 24/7 access to heated bathrooms and showers, on-site equipment rental facilities for fat bikes, cross-country skiing, snowshoes and ski hoks. One of the nicest lodges in Québec, with a fully loaded kitchen, comfy couches, fireplaces, laundry, showers and wifi.

Why it’s amazing for van travel:

• Overnight van parking in main lot, 24/7 access to bathrooms, showers, wifi and a modern heated lodge
• Full communal kitchen, on-site laundromat, Indoor lodging options
• Groomed fat biking trails, on-site winter equipment rentals, XC skiing, snowshoeing, ski-hok, and winter hiking

If you love quiet trails weaving through deep winter forest, this place is magic.

4. Mount Carleton Provincial Park, New Brunswick – Quiet Winter Haven

Mount Carleton Provincial Park is one of the Maritimes’ most peaceful winter retreats. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks and frozen lakes, it offers the perfect blend of adventure and quiet. The kind of place where you snowshoe a mountain summit in the morning then spend the afternoon warming by a fire.

Their Lodge-Café serves home-cooked food, hot drinks, and beautiful lake views. After hours, winter campers have access to a warm section of the lodge for the night, with stacked, dry wood and a fireplace, power outlets, and toilets making it one of the coziest van-camping setups in Atlantic Canada.

As a designated Dark Sky Preserve, you can even rent a telescope from the main lodge and catch some of the Maritimes’ best stargazing just steps away from your van.

What makes it amazing for van camping:

• Designated winter van-camping area, Dark Sky Preserve, incredible opportunity for stargazing
• 24/7 access to a heated lodge with: A fireplace and stacked wood, Tables and comfortable seating, Wi-Fi and power outlets (for electronics, no van plug-ins)
• XC skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, and winter hiking trails, On-site equipment rental for fat bikes, xc skis, snowshoes, telescopes
• Hot food and beverages during Lodge-Café hours and a chance to catch maple sugaring season, if your timing is right!
• 500 km of nearby snowmobile routes through the legendary Christmas Mountains

When you want both adventure and calm, Mount Carleton is the spot.

5. Marquette, Michigan – Fat Biking, Skiing & Small-Town Winter Vibes

Marquette is one of the coolest winter towns in the Midwest, famous for its friendly community, cozy cafés, and lively downtown. In winter, the city transforms into an outdoor hub with beautifully maintained fat bike trails for all levels, plus access to XC skiing, downhill laps, snowshoeing, and winter hiking.

The best part for van travelers is Rippling River Resort, right beside Marquette Mountain. You can literally step out of your van, click into your skis, and be on the hill in minutes.

Why van travelers love Marquette:

• Ski-in/ski-out van camping at Rippling River Resort, Great restaurants, breweries, cafés, and bakeries
• Quick access to XC skiing and winter hiking
• A fun small-town vibe with an outdoor-loving community, Extensive fat bike trail network for every skill level

It’s the perfect mix of adventure, comfort, and small town charm.

Now, What Are You Waiting For?

Winter doesn’t have to be something you survive, it can be something you chase. 

Whether you’re riding powder in the Chic-Chocs, soaking in a Nordic spa in Michigan, pedaling through a quiet boreal forest, or settling beside a warm lodge after a day in the snow, a Karma Campervan makes enjoying winter easy.

Warm, comfortable, winter-ready, and adventure-proof, these vans are the ultimate basecamp for cold-weather exploring. Pick up in Toronto, Ottawa, or Moncton, road trip through Canada, or cross the 49th parallel, and start creating epic winter memories you’ll won’t forget.

Load up the van, pack up your layers, and hit the road. Your winter adventure is waiting.

A special thanks to Ali Becker for putting this guest blog together! stay tuned for more Karma guest adventure. Follow along more of Ali’s adventures on Facebook, instagram, Youtube and TikTok