Top 10 Must-See RV Campgrounds in Southern Ontario

Looking to camp in Southern Ontario?

We surveyed local RVers and visited several top-rated campsites in order to share the top 10 campgrounds within a few hours’ drive from Ontario’s biggest cities, perfect for both tent camping and RV campers. Whether you prefer traditional camping or RV camping, these destinations offer activities like kayaking, canoeing, and fishing, making them ideal for a rustic experience.

In this guide, you’ll discover breathtaking destinations and find out why these campgrounds are some of the best in the province.

Whether you want to tent camp or RV, this article has everything you need to plan the perfect road trip or weekend getaway in Ontario.

Let’s get started!

Key Takeaways

• Southern Ontario offers a strong mix of RV resorts, provincial park camping, waterfront campsites, and family-friendly campgrounds.
• Campground amenities vary widely, from full hookup RV sites and dump stations to dry sites, pull-through sites, beaches, laundry, fire pits, and pet-friendly areas.
• Provincial and national park campgrounds often require advance reservations, especially during peak summer weekends.
• Destinations like Muskoka, Bruce Peninsula National Park, Niagara Falls Ontario, and Prince Edward County offer very different RV camping experiences.
• Before booking, check site types, hookups, availability, and RV length restrictions to make sure the campground fits your setup.

Do you need an RV rental for your road trip? With RVezy, you can drive, tow, or get your RV rental delivered directly to your favorite campsite.

Table of Contents

1. Sun Retreats Sherkston Shores
2. Fifty Point Conservation Area
3. Presqu'ile Provincial Park
4. Sandbanks Provincial Park
5. 1000 Islands Ivy Lea KOA Holiday
6. Bon Echo Provincial Park
7. Algonquin Provincial Park
8. Huntsville Lagoons
9. Bruce Peninsula National Park
10. Pinery Provincial Park

Honorable mentions

11. Killarney Provincial Park
12. Pukaskwa National Park

The best RV parks and campgrounds in Ontario

Sun Retreats Sherkston Shores

490 Empire Road

Sherkston, ON L0S 1R0

Distance from Toronto: 152 kilometers (94 miles).

Distance from Ottawa: 556 kilometers (345 miles).

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Why you should camp here

Families love staying at Sun Retreats Sherkston Shores because of the miles of private beaches, waterpark, and many outdoor activities. The campground is located along Lake Erie, and it's the perfect place to spend your days in the water and your nights underneath the stars.

Campground Information

• A mix of full hookup RV sites and seasonal camping options.
• Picnic tables and fire rings.
• Dog park.
• Propane, firewood, and ice sales.
• Restaurant, beer, and liquor store.
• Flush toilets, showers, and laundry room.
• Campground fees include free passes to the Family FunPlex.
• Pool, hot tub, splash pad, and fitness center.
• Vacation cottages, tent camping, and seasonal RV sites are also available.

Fifty Point Conservation Area

1479 Baseline Road

Winona, ON L8E 5G4

Distance from Toronto: 78 kilometers (48 miles).

Distance from Ottawa: 484 kilometers (300 miles).

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Why you should camp here

Fifty Point Conservation Area, located on Lake Ontario, is less than an hour from Niagara Falls and close to several regional wineries. The conservation area is known as an important location for observing migrating birds, but it's also a popular location for camping, boating, fishing, and swimming.

Campground Information

Fifty Point Conservation Area is open year-round for outdoor recreation and seasonally for camping.

• 70 full-hookup RV sites.
• Flush toilets, showers, and laundry room.
• Pet-friendly.
• Community fire pits.
• Marina and restaurant.

Presqu'ile Provincial Park

328 Presqu'ile Parkway

Brighton, ON K0K 1H0

Distance from Toronto: 154 kilometers (96 miles).

Distance from Ottawa: 308 kilometers (191 miles).

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Why you should camp here

Presqu'ile Provincial Park sits on a long spit of sand surrounded by Lake Ontario. The park's location puts it in the path of migratory butterflies and birds and attracts nature lovers year-round. During the warmer months of the year, Presqu'ile attracts campers and people who love to spend time outside. Visitors can step into nature and immerse themselves in hiking, paddling, and fishing or visit the Lighthouse Interpretive Center to learn about the park's cultural and natural history.

Campground Information

The Presqu'ile greater campground area operates seasonally and has eight loops that accommodate RVs and tents.

• 300+ RV and tent sites.
• A mix of dry, electric, and electric and water campsites.
• Camp office.
• Potable water faucets.
• Comfort station with flushing toilets and showers.
• Outhouses.
• Dump station.
• Laundry facilities.
• Firewood for sale.

Sandbanks Provincial Park

3004 County Rd 12

Picton, ON K0K 2T0

Distance from Toronto: 218 kilometers (135 miles).

Distance from Ottawa: 288 kilometers (179 miles).

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Why you should camp here

Sandbanks Provincial Park is located along Lake Ontario and two smaller lakes and is known for its sandy beaches and the world’s largest baymouth barrier dune formation. The family-friendly beaches are some of the best in the region because of the shallow waters and gentle drop-offs. The park also has walking trails and wetland habitats to explore, and it's close to some of Southern Ontario's best vineyards and wineries.

Campground Information

Sandbanks Provincial Park has over 500 seasonally operating RV, tent, group campsites, and roofed accommodations. The RV and tent campsites have various amenities and features throughout the park's different outlets. No matter which campground you choose, you'll have access to the park's services.

• 500+ RV and tent sites.
• A mix of dry, electric, and electric and water campsites.
• Discovery center and gift shop.
• Potable water faucets.
• Comfort station with flushing toilets and showers.
• Outhouses.
• Dump station.
• Laundry facilities.
• Firewood for sale.

1000 Islands KOA Ivy Lea Holiday

514 Thousand Islands Parkway

Lansdowne, ON K0E 1L0

Distance from Toronto: 299 kilometers (186 miles).

Distance from Ottawa: 121 kilometers (75 miles).

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Why you should camp here

This campground is a prime location if you want to explore 1000 Islands. KOA Ivy Lea is within walking distance of cruises, boat rentals, and other attractions, making it easy to get from the campground to your adventure within minutes. This KOA has everything you need for campers who want to relax, from full campground amenities to heated pools and bike rentals.

Campground Information

• A mix of full hookup or water and electric-only RV sites.
• Dedicated tent sites and cabin rentals.
• Campground store, laundry, and fitness room.
• Flushing toilets and showers.
• Dump station.
• Dog park and a dog wash.
• Adult spa, family pool, and splash pad.

Bon Echo Provincial Park

16151 Highway 41

Cloyne, ON K0H 1K0

Distance from Toronto: approximately 290 kilometers (180 miles).

Distance from Ottawa: 194 kilometers (121 miles).

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Why you should camp here

Bon Echo Provincial Park is the place to camp if you want to avoid crowds. At Bon Echo, you can enjoy a serene getaway filled with fishing, hiking, kayaking, and mountain biking. The park, known for its pictographs, has family-friendly events, wildlife and bird watching, and designated canoe trails.

Campground Information

Bon Echo operates from May through October and has RV, tent, canoe-in campsites, backcountry camping, and yurt and cabin rentals. Each camping loop has different amenities, but all campers may use the park's services during their stay.

Mazinaw Lake Campground

• A mix of RV and tent sites with electricity and water.
• Gift shop and visitor center.
• Flushing toilets and showers.
• Potable water faucets.
• Outhouses.
• Dump station.
• Laundry facilities.
• Picnic shelters.
• Canoe, kayak, and stand-up paddleboard rentals.

Hardwood Hill Campground

• Dry tent and tent trailer sites.
• Flushing toilets and showers.
• Potable water faucets.
• Outhouses.

Algonquin Provincial Park

Ontario Highway 60

Ontario K0J 2M0

Distance from Toronto: 276 kilometers (171 miles)

Distance from Ottawa: 243 kilometers (151 miles).

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Why you should camp here

Algonquin Provincial Park is known for its vast wilderness and numerous lakes and has outdoor recreation such as canoeing, swimming, fishing, hiking, hunting, wildlife watching, and tons of winter activities. The park is often considered a transition area between Northern and Southern Ontario landscapes, and because of its size, the facilities, campgrounds, and activity areas can be hours apart.

Pro tip: Stay near the Highway 60 Corridor to stay closest to the park's more developed and populated areas.

Campground Information

Algonquin Provincial Park has nine developed campgrounds along the Highway 60 corridor for RVs and tents, as well as tent-only campgrounds, backcountry, group camping, and backcountry cabins. Each campground has different amenities and features, so you can pick from a more secluded dry site in the radio-free zone or opt for electricity. Before booking your campsite, find the campground closest to the amenities you need because the park's expanse makes it challenging to get from one spot to another quickly.

• Nine developed campgrounds for RVs and tents with a mix of dry and electric sites and amenities.
• Park store.
• Flush toilets and showers.
• Outhouses.
• Three dump stations.
• Potable water faucets.
• Pet exercise area.
• Picnic shelter.
• Canoe and bike rentals.

Huntsville Lagoons

100 Lagoon Trailer Park Drive

Huntsville, ON P1H 2J4

Distance from Toronto: 225 kilometers (140 miles).

Distance from Ottawa: 346 kilometers (215 miles).

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Why you should camp here

Huntsville Lagoons is located in the Muskokas, one of Canada's top vacation destinations, and has a type of camping for everyone, including RV, tent, trailer, glamping, cottage, and cabins. Here, you can camp along the water, spend your days paddling, or walk along the beach, all along a beautiful, tree-lined backdrop.

Campground Information

• RV sites with water and electricity.
• Flushing toilets, outhouses, showers, and laundry.
• Dump station.
• Dog park.
• Beach, playground, and miniature golf.

Bruce Peninsula National Park

469 Cyprus Lake Road

Tobermory, ON N0H 2R0

Distance from Toronto: approximately 300 kilometers (186 miles).

Distance from Ottawa: 651 kilometers (405 miles).

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Why you should camp here

Cyprus Lake Campground is just a short walk away from the area's most popular natural attraction, the Grotto, an ancient limestone cave surrounded by clear, turquoise water. If you like outdoor recreation, you won't run out of things to do, like bouldering, hiking, swimming, paddling, and viewing wildlife.

Cypress Lake Campground

Cyprus Lake Campground is the only RV campground as much of Bruce Peninsula National Park is reserved for yurt, group, backcountry, or tent camping. The campground is best for travel trailers, truck campers, and motorhomes less than 27 feet (8 meters) long.

• 232 dry RV sites.
• Potable water faucets.
• Comfort station with flushing toilets and showers.
• Outhouses.
• Dump station.
• Firewood for sale.

Pinery Provincial Park

9526 Lakeshore Road RR2

Grand Bend, ON N0M 1T0

Distance from Toronto: 234 kilometers (145 miles).

Distance from Ottawa: 611 kilometers (380 miles).

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Why you should camp here

Pinery Provincial Park is located on the shores of Lake Huron in southern Ontario, making it the ideal park for beach camping. Pinery has coastal dunes, hiking trails, tons of outdoor recreation like paddling and fishing, and winter activities like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Campground Information

The Pinery has several RV and tent camping campgrounds as well as cabins and yurts for rent. All three campgrounds have access to the park's dump station and amenities. In addition, some campgrounds have a radio or pet-free loop.

Riverside

• A mix of dry and 30- and 50-amp pull-through electric sites.
• Potable water faucets.
• Comfort station.
• Laundry facilities.
• Open year-round

Burley

• Back-in, dry camping sites with no electricity.
• Potable water faucets.
• Comfort station.
• Laundry facilities.
• Walking distance from the beach.
• Open seasonally.

Dunes

• A mix of 30- and 50-amp electric and dry sites.
• Potable water faucets.
• Comfort station with flushing toilets and showers.
• Laundry facilities.
• Walking distance from the beach and park visitor center.
• Open seasonally.

Honorable mentions

Southern Ontario isn't the only part of the province known for its incredible camping. Two of our favorite campgrounds lie outside of Southern Ontario, but we like them so much we had to recognize them as honorable mentions.

Killarney Provincial Park

South of Sudbury on Georgian Bay.

Pukaskwa National Park

East of Thunder Bay on Lake Superior.

Explore Ontario in an RV

You'll never run out of places to camp when you traverse Ontario in an RV. Whether you try and visit each of the province's six national parks or camp near a lake or river, each destination will be memorable.

Check out some of the best RV rentals in Ontario to see how you can explore the province in a motorhome or have an RV delivered and set up at your favorite campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of RV sites are available at Ontario campgrounds?

Ontario campgrounds offer a mix of dry sites, electric sites, water and electric sites, and full hookup RV sites. Some locations also include pull-through sites for larger RVs.

Do Ontario campgrounds have dump stations and hookups?

Many Ontario campgrounds include dump stations, water access, and electric hookups. Full hookups are more common in RV resorts, while provincial and national parks vary by campground.

When is the best time to camp in Ontario?

The best time to camp in Ontario is usually late spring through early fall, especially for waterfront campsites, hiking, paddling, and family-friendly activities. Summer weekends can book quickly, so advance reservations are important.

Are there pet-friendly campgrounds in Ontario?

Yes, many Ontario campgrounds are pet-friendly, and some offer dog parks or pet exercise areas. Rules can vary by campground, beach area, and camping loop, so confirm pet policies before booking.