10 campsites near Toronto you should visit at least once

Camping in Ontario is a must see every summer, and there are plenty of amazing places to camp around Toronto, each proof that you really don’t have to travel far for an unreal city break.

Here are the places near Toronto for camping that you should visit at least once.

Sand Hill Park

Located on the north shore of Lake Erie just a two-hour drive from Toronto, Sand Hill Park is home to immense sand hills that rise more than 100 meters above the beach. Many campgrounds surround the beach and the dunes, which are among the highest in the province.

Balsam Lake Provincial Park

About a two hour drive into the Kawarthas, you’ll find shaded campsites and a sandy beach at Balsam Lake. Activities like swimming, boating and paddling abound in this well-maintained park atop the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Balsam Lake offers shaded campsites in the Kawarthas. Photo courtesy of Richard BH/ flickr.

Sibbald Point Provincial Park

The 10 different campgrounds at Sibbald Point all offer easy access to a quiet, sunny beach on the south shore of Lake Simcoe. It’s the perfect summer getaway for discreet beachgoers, and you won’t have to travel more than an hour from Toronto.

Algonquin Provincial Park

Algonquin might just be one of Ontario’s favorite provincial parks – it was beautiful enough to inspire the Group of Seven, after all. Choose between campgrounds with amenities or in the backcountry.

Georgian Bay Islands National Park

The world’s largest freshwater archipelago exists just two hours from the big city and its secluded campsites. Made up of over 60 small islands in Georgian Bay, this national park can only be accessed by boat. Once there, you are far from society and immersed in nature.

The largest freshwater archipelago in the world is found in Georgian Bay. Photo courtesy of Georgian Bay Islands National Park.

Elora Gorge Conservation Area

A full range of activities keep night campers busy at Elora Gorge. Whether it’s braving the gorge rapids in a tube or a kayak and swimming through a limestone quarry to conquer the trails that offer many awe-inspiring viewpoints, it sure won’t be boring.

Pinery Provincial Park

La Pinery is easily one of the most scenic spots on Lake Huron because of its beautiful beach, miles of rare forest, and rolling dunes. Staying overnight gives you more time to explore one of the province’s largest freshwater coastal dune ecosystems.

Ontario’s largest freshwater coastal dunes are found in Pinery Provincial Park, along the shores of Lake Huron. Photo courtesy of Amy G/ flickr.

Darlington Provincial Park

This peaceful park on the shores of Lake Ontario offers three different campgrounds. The area of ​​undeniable natural beauty and tranquility is only an hour from the city, but you will feel much further than that.

Rockwood Conservation Area

Spend the weekend at one of Rockwood’s 120 campsites and spend your days exploring hiking trails, beaches, an extensive cave system, and the epic ruins of an ancient mill.

Glen Rouge Campground

You don’t even have to leave town for a top notch camping experience with the Rouge Valley right in our backyard. Rouge National Urban Park has rare Carolinian forests, beaches, some of the region’s largest marshes, a range of hiking trails, and the city’s only campsites. To note: it is currently closed for infrastructure upgrades.