The Best Family Campgrounds Ontario Wide

These are the best family campgrounds Ontario has to offer - and we've
​"tested" A LOT of them!

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Here, we hiked to the site of where Tom Thompson painted the Jack Pine in Algonquin Provincial Park.

If you close your eyes and imagine a vision of Canada, what do you see? If the first thing that comes to mind is ‘nature’, you’re not alone.  Canada is filled with cosmopolitan cities and charming towns but its real claim to fame is the pristine, unspoiled wilderness. Happily, you don’t have to go on a massive expedition to the wilderness to get a taste of the true Canadian spirit. Here are 4 breathtaking family campgrounds Ontario wide, all offering a taste of the true north. ​

Algonquin Provincial Park

The piercing laugh and cry of the loon reverberate across the polished glass of Grand Lake. It's a sound I've heard a hundred times before in recordings, but never in the flesh, and I'm taken aback by how haunting it is. When the loon finally settles into a stealthy, silent swim, the entire campground is so quiet you could hear a pin drop. 

Achray Campground in Algonquin Provincial Park has an eerie beauty all its own, a look that’s now synonymous with one word: Canada. It was here that the country’s greatest artist, Tom Thompson, painted his finest works. Today, it’s the perfect spot for anyone who truly wants to get away from it all. Expect no camp store, no cell signal, no showers – but plenty of pristine nature. It's a beautiful place for kids to embrace wide open spaces.It's also where I went kayaking for the first time ever. If I could do it, anyone can! 

Killbear Provincial Park

Photo courtesy Trip Advisor

Photo courtesy Trip Advisor

It’s not every day you drive over a road with snake bridges butKillbear Provincial Park is serious about protecting its unique residents. The endangered Massissauga rattle snake is afforded every consideration, as are the local bears. Happily, despite hours of hiking, I encountered neither but that didn’t stop me from being extra careful (and being scrupulously clean around camp).

A little less menacing but equally intriguing are the dragon flies and damsel flies that call Killbear home. The park rangers offer guided nature walks so you can learn more about these dainty creatures and while the program was designed for children, adults will love it too.

Sandbanks Provincial Park

Photo courtesy Trip Advisor

Photo courtesy Trip Advisor

At times, campingSandbanks (Ontario) threatens to be the opposite of Achray. For instance, in July, the Saturday beach crowd is 20 deep as families pack in to enjoy the white sand beaches of Lake Ontario. The campground is surrounded by shops and amenities and there’s even a campground café. But all this popularity is well deserved.

​The beaches really are spectacular, the campground is clean and modern, and it’s the perfect distance between Ottawa and Toronto. You couldn't ask for a better place to introduce kids to camping for the first time. Just make sure you pack a decent tent! Who can forget the timeour tent blew away at Sandbanks?!

Long Point Provincial Park

Don’t be deceived by your map. Ontario is a massive province and Long Point Provincial Park is at the very southern end of it, making this a long drive from anywhere beyond Toronto. But it’s worth it. Set on the coast of Lake Erie, this campground offers fantastic fishing and also scuba diving among its many ship wrecks. It’s also the perfect place to try out a local form of kayaking and there are plenty of nature activities nearby.

Make sure to take the time to visit the town of Simcoe, home to one of the hottest restaurants in the county. The Combine is passionate about supporting the local farmers and virtually everything is sourced from nearby Norfolk County. But folksy it’s not- the food here is better than anything you’d find in Toronto and the homemade bacon marshmallow s’mores are the stuff of dreams. It's among the best family campgrounds in Ontario for older kids who will appreciate all the water sports and great food.

When All Else Fails.... Think Day Trips!

Overnight camping trips aren't for everyone. Heck, sometimes they're not even really for me! But you can still appreciate the spectacular beautiful and fun programs of these four remarkable parks. Day trips! Visiting a provincial park for the day is inexpensive, fun, and embraces the best parts of the camping experience - all without having to set up a tent or worry about rain, cooking, or even outhouses (most of the time!) Enjoy, relax, and let nature take care of the rest.


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