The main street was formerly a section of the Trans-Canada Highway and carried much of the traffic coming from the west into Ottawa.

Carp also has a junior ice hockey team called the West Carleton Inferno.

Carp's main attraction is the Diefenbunker, Canada's Cold War museum just north of the village, and was featured in the film The Sum of All Fears.

This former top-secret underground bunker was built to house key members of the government in the event of a nuclear attack on Ottawa.

[6] In 1960, NATO and the Canadian Department of National Defence built a satellite communications (SATCOM) station which supports a 68 ft (21 m) diameter metal space frame radar dome (radome) on its roof, which provides environmental protection for the 50 ft (15 m) diameter SATCOM antenna it houses.

[11] During the remainder of the year, the buildings and grounds serve the popular Carp Farmers' Market held each Saturday from May to October.

[12] The red-painted Exhibit Hall with white trim, which remains a focal point in Carp was included amongst other architecturally interesting and historically significant buildings in Doors Open Ottawa, held June 2 and 3, 2012.