Military town, river town, and gateway to Algonquin.
Petawawa exists because of Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, and that shapes everything about the town. The population swells and contracts with postings. Businesses open and close on military cycles. The rental market is tight when a new unit rotates in and loose when one deploys. If you are moving here for a posting, the town is functional and practical, not charming. If you are passing through on your way to Algonquin Park, it is a useful last stop for groceries and fuel.
The town sits at the confluence of the Petawawa and Ottawa Rivers, about 170 km northwest of Ottawa along Highway 17. The population hovers around 18,000, though the base adds thousands more. The commercial core runs along Petawawa Boulevard with the usual chain stores, a Walmart, Canadian Tire, and a handful of local restaurants. It is not a destination town. It is a place where people live, work on the base, and use as a launch point for the outdoors.
That said, the natural setting is better than the strip-mall main drag suggests. The Petawawa River is a serious whitewater destination. The Ottawa River shoreline is beautiful. And the 16-kilometre Emerald Necklace Trail network connects most of the town's green spaces and is genuinely pleasant for walking, running, or cycling.
Petawawa Point, where the Petawawa River meets the Ottawa, is the best spot in town. There is a sandy beach, a playground, picnic shelters, and a view across the Ottawa River to Quebec. On summer weekends it fills up, but on weekday evenings it is a quiet spot. The swimming is decent though the current can be strong near the river mouth — keep kids in the shallow areas.
The Petawawa River upstream offers some of the best whitewater in Ontario. The 49-kilometre route from Cedar Lake to McManus Lake includes named rapids like Devil's Chute, Crooked Chute, Rollway, and The Natch. This is intermediate-to-advanced paddling. If you are new to whitewater, start with a guided trip through one of the outfitters in the area.
The Emerald Necklace is a 16-kilometre multi-use trail network that loops through town connecting parks, schools, and natural areas. Most of it is paved or hard-packed gravel, flat, and stroller-friendly. It passes through Petawawa Terrace, a 215-hectare conservation area with over 100 documented bird species and several rare plant communities. The Terrace section has boardwalks through wetland areas and interpretive signage. It is the best outdoor walk you can do without leaving town limits.
The base has been operating since 1905 and is one of Canada's largest military installations. The CFB Petawawa Military Museum on the base is open to the public and covers the base's role in both World Wars, peacekeeping operations, and recent deployments. Admission is free. You will need photo ID to enter the base.
The base also opens the CFB Recreation Complex at 30 Festubert Boulevard to military families, with a pool, gym, and fitness classes. The Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) runs programs for families new to the area — useful if you have just been posted and know nobody.
Petawawa is about 90 minutes from the east gate of Algonquin Park via Highway 17 to Renfrew and then Highway 60. The town is the last place with full services (grocery stores, gas, LCBO) before you enter the park from the east side. Stock up here. There is nothing inside the park except the Portage Store and a few camp stores with limited, expensive supplies.
See also: Pembroke (20 minutes south), Deep River (30 minutes northwest), and the things to do guide for the wider county.