Ontario is a heaven for adventure lovers, blessed with one-fifth of the world’s freshwater, almost 330 provincial parks, and five national parks. Explicitly talking about camping, Ontario will never disappoint you.

There are a lot of beautiful campgrounds in Ontario and RV parks here that bring you closer to nature.

1. What’s Special About the Campgrounds in Ontario?

You can find a perfect campsite in Ontario according to your budget and needs. The campgrounds here provide remarkable outdoors, too. So why not spare time for ourselves and explore the beauty around us?

The provincial parks also have RV parking sites. Some parks have radio-free sites, others have pet-free areas, and others have particular sites for group camping. A few campgrounds in Ontario have rustic cabins, too. Hence, these are excellent options for a hassle-free camping experience in the wild.

The parks have ample activities. For instance, boating, hiking, swimming, and biking can be quickly done at any park. Besides these, skiing and snowshoeing can also be done during winter at many of the campgrounds in Ontario.

Along with this, some of the campgrounds arrange interpretive programs on special occasions that are fun things to do. Moreover, the campgrounds might also arrange tours and programs. 

1. Bon Echo Provincial Park

2. Niagara Falls 

Have you ever thought about experiencing a rugged way to enjoy the beauty of Niagara Escarpment? Well, camping is the perfect option, and it is affordable as well. Many campgrounds surround the escarpment. The Niagara Falls Campground and Yogi Bear’s Campground provide excellent services. 

3. Bruce Peninsula National Park

The sheer variety of things to do near the Bruce Peninsula National Park makes camping here the best option. These include enjoyable family adventures like swimming and boating in Georgian Bay. Perhaps taking a glass-bottom boat trip to Fathom Five National Underwater Park would be fascinating.

4. Algonquin Provincial Park

Algonquin Provincial Park is most probably the busiest park in Ontario. The park covers an area of about 8,000 square kilometres and has several campgrounds. It preserves a range of scenic, historic, and biologically diverse assets. As a result, you’ll find a wide variety of plant species here. 

The campgrounds at Algonquin Park offer several amenities, including shower stations, dumping stations, laundromats, and many more. Hiking and biking trails also surround these campgrounds. A few of the campgrounds have sandy beaches, too. As a result, you can easily enjoy swimming, boating, and other water activities. 

5. Pinery Provincial Park

Located on Lake Huron near Grand Bend, Ontario, Pinery Provincial Park is a massive campground with almost 1200 camping sites. It is a natural provincial park to conserve the oak savannah and beach dune ecology. The park has over 800 vascular plant species and 300 bird species. Thus, it is a biologically diverse area. 

The campground has over 10 km of sandy beach in front of the beautiful Lake Huron. You can enjoy boating, swimming, kayaking, and canoeing here. 

Another fun activity is exploring the Old Ausable Channel, a wetland. You can rent paddle boats, kayaks, canoes, or hydro bikes easily. Along with these activities, you can also enjoy hiking or biking in the 10 km hiking trails and 38 km biking trails.

6. Arrowhead Provincial Park 

Located in the heart of Musoko, Arrowhead Provincial Park offers 378 camping sites. There are three sandy beaches on Arrowhead Lake, too. There are 7 RV pull-through sites as well. The campground also has bike, canoe, and kayak rentals. 

7. Killbear Provincial Park

Killbear Provincial Park is a famous campground on the Georgian Bay in Northern Ontario. The park combines the Canadian Shield’s rocky cliffs with the Great Lakes’s sandy beaches.

Enjoy the 6 km hiking and biking trails and the spectacular views of pine trees on the Rocky Islands. Along with boating, swimming, and kayaking in the Great Lakes, you can also enjoy sailing and windsurfing here. 

There are more than 800 campsites, with some being radio-free, pet-friendly, and car camping sites. Nonetheless, these campsites have all the necessities like shower stations, dump stations, washrooms, and picnic shelters. However, you can visit the nearby towns that sell local food and items.

8. Awenda Provincial Park

Set in a large area of over 2900 hectares along the Georgian Bay, Awenda Provincial Park is another serene campground near Toronto. With an impressive 31 km of different hiking trails, you can easily explore the beauty of the place. One of these trials will also lead you to the dunes near this provincial park.

 The price per night is around $20. Moreover, shaded campsites exist for RV parking, car camping, and radio-free camping. Camps are dispersed over six different areas, all providing a serene environment.

Some of the facilities at Awenda Provincial Park include comfort stations, on-site laundry, dumping stations, and many more. Apart from this, there are grassy picnic areas where you can enjoy relaxing.

You can enjoy mountain biking, boating, canoeing, and fishing at Georgian Bay. Do not miss out on its 17 km backcountry skiing and snowshoeing in winter. However, if you bring your four-legged companion along, they can also enjoy their time on beaches. 

9. Rattlesnake Provincial Park

Located at the Niagara Escarpment, the Rattlesnake Point Conservation area is just an hour’s drive from the city. It lets you enjoy hours of nature trails, limestone cliffs for rock climbing, and fantastic sceneries. The famous Bruce Trail also cuts through this area. 

The flora and fauna of this area will leave you in awe. The old cedar trees and the white vultures soaring high up in the skies will surely fascinate you. There are five lookout points where you can click pictures or enjoy the scenic beauty. 

You can enjoy various activities, including bird watching, geocaching, rock climbing, and biking. And group camping can also be done here. In summary, it would help if you pre-book by visiting their official website.

10. KOA campgrounds 

The famous KOA campgrounds have headquarters at Thunder Bay, filled with nature’s beauty. You can easily enjoy a canoe trip to Lake Superior, too, and with this, you can enjoy admiring the open-pit amethyst mines. Moreover, it would be best not to forget the Ouimet Canyon and the 130-foot Kakabeka Falls.

The city has a lot of historic buildings here. Including the Fort William Historical Park, to get to know the local history. During autumn, spruce, poplar, and many trees fill the campgrounds. Besides, the local community arranges many events. Moreover, animals are also allowed here. 

11. Sauble Falls Provincial Park

Located in South Bruce Peninsula, Bruce County, Sauble Falls is another famous site for camping in Ontario. The park is in the lower drainage basin area of the Sauble River. As a result, it drains into Lake Huron.

One hundred fifty campsites have shower stations, dump stations, picnic shelters, and a kids’ playing area. Moreover, you can enjoy hiking, boating, swimming, and fishing at Sauble Beach. Furthermore, the park can be pretty crowded; therefore, pre-booking your tickets is handy. 

12. General Tips For Camping in Ontario

The campgrounds mentioned above are mostly away from the central city. So make sure that you consider the following tips before you embark on your camping adventure.

• Get enough food if you are not planning to cook something in your camp.
• Water is of the utmost essence. So, you must carry enough water with you before you head camping.
• Camping can often turn into a rough experience. As a result, you can get bug bites, which might cause trouble. So carry comfortable and protective clothing layers. 
• If you are heading camping, especially in cold hotspots or rainforest areas, take essential drugs with you; they will aid you in times of need. 
• As for camps, you should keep checking the official websites for open slots. As camping on the sites mentioned above is popular, booking your base beforehand is better. 

Summing Up

Camping is one of the most adventurous pastime activities that one can pursue, and Ontario offers a platter of options that you can choose from.

The province of Ontario boasts a variety of incredible national and provincial parks, each with unique intricacies, from the rugged beauty of Algonquin to Lake Superior. Campers can immerse themselves in Ontario’s pristine beauty and engage in fishing, hiking, and wildlife-watching activities.

Last Updated on March 8, 2024 by soubhik