Best Ontario Provincial Parks for Camping

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Camping at Killarney Provincial Park, photo by alexindigo
Killarney Provincial Park, photo by alexindigo
Camping at Killarney Provincial Park, photo by alexindigo
Killarney Provincial Park, photo by alexindigo

We’ve just had a taste of summer for the past two weeks in Toronto, a weather teaser that is enough to kick-start the May 24 long weekend and summer vacation planning. It’s time to book your Ontario campsite online or call 1-888-668-7275 to reserve your site at your favourite Ontario provincial park. Some of Ontario’s best provincial parks including Pinery Provincial Park, Killarney Provincial Park and Sandbanks Provincial Park will be booked up soon.

Provincial park fees are calculated based on the park’s popularity and facilities. Premium campsites cost $46.50 (electrical), $41 (non-electrical) and $39.50 (non-electrical without showers) per night, middle campsites cost $42.75 (electrical), $37.25 (non-electrical) and $35.75 per night (non-electrical without showers), and low campsites cost $37.25 (electrical), $32 (non-electrical) andĀ  $30.25 (non-electrical without showers) per night.

Killarney Provincial Park

Killarney Provincial Park is less crowded than other Ontario provincial parks while the actual campsites themselves are more private. The scenery, which inspired the Group of Seven, is spectacular with wispy Jack pines, granite rock cliffs and sparkling lakes. Hike along the park’s trails and witness sweeping views at The Crack, Silver Peak and Granite Ridge lookouts. If you’re canoeing, you’ll have to deal with some portages. Enjoy great swimming at the main beach and spot moose, deer and bears throughout the park. Killarney Provincial Park campground has 128 campsites, none of which have electrical service; however, the park has flush toilets, showers, laundry, radio-free camping and a boat launch.

Sandbanks Provincial Park

Sandbanks Provincial Park Outlet Beach
Outlet Beach at Sandbanks Provincial Park

Sandbanks Provincial Park in Prince Edward County has 549 sites, 140 of which are serviced, as well as flush toilets, showers, laundry, swimming and a boat launch. The provincial park’s magnificent beaches include the grand Outlet Beach and the more sheltered Dunes Beach. Both beaches offer fabulous swimming. You can reach Sandbanks Provincial Park by taking Hwy 401 then exiting south along Hwy 49, which is east of Belleville, to Bloomfield. Drive southeast for about 10 minutes from Bloomfield to the entrance of the provincial park.

Algonquin Provincial Park – Pog Lake

Enjoy the sound of loons crossing the small Pog Lake, which has two rivers flowing at each end. Situated in a pine forest, Pog Lake has three comfort stations with showers, flush toilets and laundry and hiking trails that lead to Two River Lookout and the more difficult Lookout. The park has several packed gravel bike trails, as well as the Beaver Pond Trail where you’ll see a beaver dam. Thirty-two campsites are radio-free and dog-free. Join the wolf howl with the park’s naturalists on Tuesday evenings.

Pinery Provincial Park

Located in Grand Bend along the shores of Lake Huron, Pinery Provincial Park is one of Ontario’s largest campgrounds with 1,000 sites, 404 of which are serviced sites. Pinery Provincial Park has flush toilets, showers, laundry and beautiful beaches for swimming in Lake Huron. If sleeping on the ground does not appeal to you, rent a yurt available at select Ontario provincial parksĀ for $91.50 per night and enjoy glamping. The Pinery requires a minimum three-night stay for the May long weekend and the August Civic Holiday long weekend and a minimum two-night stay for the Canada Day long weekend and the Labour Day weekend.

Camping at Pinery Provincial Park, photo by FerdC
Camping at Pinery Provincial Park, photo by FerdC

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