If you’re thinking of exploring Ontario this summer, we’ve rounded up the best Provincial Parks in Southern Ontario for families to camp at or just visit for the day.

Summer in Ontario is a great time to be outdoors, and for many families, that means camping. And in a province that’s filled with forests, rivers and over 250,000 lakes, there are plenty of fantastic places to camp!

While there are plenty of options from to camp at, Ontario Provincial Parks are a great choice, offering campground amenities while surrounded by nature. There are 340 provincial parks in Ontario, 100 offering car camping, and they all have something unique to offer!

Pin this post for later

We’ve rounded up 10 of the best provincial parks in Southern Ontario for families, whether you are spending the day exploring and hiking or camping overnight with kids.

Side note: While we’re not from Toronto, we’ve included distances to each provincial park from Toronto as a reference.

So, in no particular order, here are 10 of the best provincial parks in Southern Ontario for families.

  1. Algonquin
  2. Arrowhead (alternative to Algonquin)
  3. Pinery
  4. MacGregor (alternative to Pinery)
  5. Awenda
  6. Long Point
  7. Rock Point (alternative to Long Point)
  8. Bon Echo
  9. Sandbanks
  10. Presqu’ile (alternative to Sandbanks)

**While some of the provincial parks we mention here are quite popular (Sandbanks, Algonquin, Pinery and Long Point), we’ve also included some great alternatives that are just as lovely, but not as popular. This wasn’t done on purpose, but after editing and realizing which provincial parks we chose, we realized each of the popular ones weren’t our favourites, but the nearby alternative provincial park WAS our preferred park.

Algonquin

Algonquin Provincial Park is the biggest provincial parks in Southern Ontario and a great place to spend time outdoors with the family
Algonquin Provincial Park

Often thought of as a National Park, Algonquin is actually a provincial park. While it’s not the largest provincial park in Ontario, it is the biggest in Southern Ontario.

Known for canoeing and camping, Algonquin has two main parts to the park: the interior, accessible only by paddling or hiking in, and the Hwy 60 corridor, which you can drive through or access the many campsites and hiking trails from.

While we’ve not camped overnight at Algonquin (yet!), we have visited quite a few times and driven through on Hwy 60.

Located just under 3 hours north of Toronto, it’s a popular place to escape into nature for many people in Southern Ontario.  Summer can be quite busy and you will need to reserve campsite well ahead of time.

Algonquin also offers plenty of hiking opportunities. There are many trails within the park; some are shorter hikes for families with small children, while others are longer including some multi-day hikes.

As with hiking, canoeing and kayaking is also possible for single day use or for longer multi-day canoe and kayak trips. Portages connect the lakes and waterways, and although I haven’t personally done a portage with my boys, I have done a few pre-kids and saw many families along the way. It’s on our list for next summer though!

Algonquin is a pretty popular park in the summer, especially for camping and day hikes, but the fall is also a fantastic time to visit! The fall colours are stunning and the hike to Dorset Tower provides some impressive views of the fall colours over the park. I’ve seen it for countless years and it’s still a sight I love to see every year!

Arrowhead

green trees in the middle of a bend in the river at Arrowhead Provincial Park
Arrowhead Provincial Park

Arrowhead is a great provincial park for families! Growing up, we visited Arrowhead quite often.

Located just north of Huntsville, about 2 hours from Toronto, it’s an easy weekend or few days away from the bustle of Southern Ontario.

Canoeing is popular here, as the two lakes are quiet and motors are not permitted. You can rent canoes, kayaks and paddleboards during the summer and explore the lakes within the park.

Campsites are large and private and there are three sand beaches on Arrowhead Lake that are perfect for families.

There are also a few hiking trails, including Stubb’s Falls trail which is an easy 2km trail passing a waterfall.

Arrowhead is also a great place to visit in the winter for cross country skiing, showshoeing and of course, skating!

The well-known skating trail is a 1.3km trail, passing through the forest and a really fun way to get outdoors in the winter!

Pinery

pebble beach with sand dunes and grass on top, and a fenced set of stairs leading down to the beach at Pinery Provincial Park
Pinery Provincial Park

Another popular favourite is Pinery Provincial Park, on the shores of Georgian Bay about 2.5 hours from Toronto. While Pinery IS a great park, it’s also a popular one, so campsites book fast!

Pinery is a great park for families. The dunes alone would entertain most kids, but then add in the great sand beaches and numerous hiking trails and the whole family will be sure to enjoy spending time at Pinery.

If you’re camping at Pinery, Dunes campground is great, as it’s only a short walk to the beach. The campsites aren’t as private as other provincial parks, but the proximity to the beach more than makes up for that!

Head to the beach after dinner and enjoy the fantastic sunsets over Lake Huron! In fact, Pinery’s sunsets were voted as one of the top 10 best sunsets in the world by National Geographic.

MacGregor

wood boardwalk with a railing on one side and sand beach on the other. Trees and grass along the side of the boardwalk
MacGregor Provincial Park

Honestly, I think this is our favourite provincial park in Southern Ontario! Nature trails abound, campsites are pretty private, yet still close to the beach – and what a beach it is!

We visited in September, so didn’t swim or use the beach as much as we would have in the summer, but it’s still a great beach to enjoy year-round.

Aside from spending time at the beach, there are also a few hiking trails, including one with a boardwalk and a lookout tower that my kids loved. (Give them a tower though and they’re happy as can be!)

The campsites were pretty private, yet only a short walk from the beach. Make sure to head to the beach to catch one of Lake Huron’s famous sunsets!

Awenda

Awenda is one of our favourite provincial parks - it's a great park for families with quiet sites and a great sand beach.
Awenda Provincial Park

Awenda is located on Georgian Bay near Penetanguishene, just 2 hours from the GTA. We had come on a recommendation from a friend, but quickly realized it was one of our favourite provincial parks!

Situated among tall trees, the campsites at Awenda are private and spaced a little farther apart than at other provincial park. However the campsites are located a bit of a distance from the beach, so you may want to drive or bike to get to the water.

But the effort to get to the beach is worth it!

The sand beaches are located on Georgian Bay, and are a perfect spot to spend the day with kids. There are also plenty of hiking and biking trails and even an interior lake to paddle canoes on.

Long Point

Like its name suggests, Long Point Provincial Park is a 40km long ‘point’ or sandspit, jutting into Lake Erie. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve, it’s also an important Bird Area and one of the largest bird migration areas in North America.

During the summer months, activity books are available to help children observe nature and explore the park.   

Long Point is a great provincial park for families to visit.

Located on the shores of Lake Erie, the water is warm, although there is an undertow, so be cautious swimming! There’s 2km of soft sandy beach with one beach available for day use, while the others are located within the park and open only for those camping at Long Point Provincial Park.

Rock Point

two boys running on the sand, with trees bordering the beach behind.
Rock Point Provincial Park

Rock Point is one of the many provincial parks on Lake Erie. Only a hour from Hamilton (two hours from Toronto), Rock Point may not be one of the more popular parks but it’s a great park for families!

There is a sand beach on Lake Erie, but as with many spots along Lake Erie, there is an undertow, so be cautious swimming!

During the summer months, Rock Point offers daily programming designed for kids.

Learn about turtles or other natural features in the park.

After the program, head out on one of the hiking trails and discover the natural habitats for yourself! The trails are kid-friendly (although not stroller friendly) and some even crisscross through the campsites.

After spending a day exploring nature throughout the park, spend an evening at the beach and watch the sun go down over Lake Erie!

Bon Echo

the famous Mazinaw Rock rises from the water at Bon Echo Provincial Park
Bon Echo Provincial Park

Located in Eastern Ontario, about 3 hours from Toronto, Bon Echo is a popular provincial park with campsites for every type of camper, including tent, trailer, or RV sites. Roofed accommodations are also available to rent.

Families love Bon Echo for the sand beach as well as the canoeing, kayaking and fishing opportunities at Mazinaw Lake.

But Bon Echo is best-known for the Mazinaw Rock, which rises 100m above Mazinaw Lake and features Indigenous pictographs and rock paintings. It’s considered one of Ontario’s natural wonders.

There are some great views from the top of the rock over the entire park, although it’s not necessarily a kid-friendly option!

But even if you choose to just view the Mazinaw Rock from below, it’s still a spectacular site!

Sandbanks

Sandbanks is one of the most popular provincial parks in Southern Ontario for families.

As its name suggests, the park has fantastic sand beaches.

In fact, some say the beaches at Sandbanks are among the best in Canada!

Although all of the three beaches are great, Outlet Beach is perfect for families, with safe and shallow waters.

Situated on the shores of Lake Ontario, Sandbanks is also a popular place for birdwatching, especially during the bird migration in the spring and fall.

There are plenty of walking trails, ranging from an easy 2km along the shores of Outlet River to a more moderate 2.5km loop through the dune system.

Sandbanks is also a great provincial park for families to visit as a starting point to explore Prince Edward County. Tour the area on bikes, visit some wineries or shop for antiques before heading back to your campsite!

While we haven’t camped here YET, it’s on our list to explore this summer!

Presqu’ile

Presqu'ile Provincial Park in a great provincial park for families in Southern Ontario
Presqu’ile Provincial Park

Presqu’ile Provincial Park is just under 2hrs east of Toronto, situated along the shores of Lake Ontario. A popular bird migration and bird watching spot, it’s also a great spot for families with a large, sandy beach.

We visited in September, when the summer crowds had dispersed and had the beach all to ourselves! Well, there were quite a few people walking along, or enjoying the nice weather, but we were the only ones spending the day there.

Campsites are fairly private and only a short drive to the beach. The beach was also wheelchair accessible, with carpets leading from the parking lot to the beach.

A popular spot at Presqu’ile is the lighthouse! Drive down (or walk!) to the lighthouse and walk along the trails there that follow the shoreline.

Even if you aren’t camping, it’s a great spot to spend the afternoon or bring a picnic lunch and spend some time soaking up the outdoors.

Tips for Visiting Provincial Parks

Reservations for campsites can be made up to five months in advance. Especially during the summer months and on weekends, sites book up quickly.

There is a fee for advance reservations, but it may be worth it if you are planning to camp during peak seasons or weekends. Reservations can be made here.

There are a variety of sites at each provincial park, ranging from basic tent sites to larger sites accommodating trailers. Some sites offer electricity hook-ups while others are non-electric.

Yurts and cabins are also available in some parks for those who prefer options other than tent camping.

If you prefer to stay at a nearby hotel, you can still visit these provincial parks with a day-use permit. Check available accommodations on booking.com here.

Booking.com

If you have any suggestions to add to this list of best provincial parks in Southern Ontario for families, let us know! We’d love to try them out this summer!

Pin this post - the Best Provincial Parks in Southern Ontario for families
Pin this post for later

For more family travel ideas and inspiration in Ontario, be sure to check out these posts:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.