Did you know you can book a group campsite online? Twelve parks in southwestern Ontario are participating in a pilot project aimed at making group camping easier.
You can reserve group sites at these 12 parks through our central call centre service or online as easily as you would a regular car camping site.
Bronte Creek, Earl Rowe, Inverhuron, MacGregor Point, Point Farms, Port Burwell, Rock Point, Sauble Falls, Selkirk, The Pinery, Turkey Point and Wheatley Provincial Parks have unique qualities that give group campers plenty to choose from.
Some parks are known for their spectacular Great Lake beaches, others for their close proximity to Toronto or Niagara Falls. There are world-class birdwatching parks and parks that are fun to hike or bike. There’s even one with a golf course!
Why choose group camping?
Group campsites are meant for large families or youth groups who tent camp (be aware: there’s no hydro and generally trailers aren’t permitted). Group campsites are usually located away from the regular car camping sites, so they tend to be more private.
Group camping is great for big families, often making more economic sense. Everyone pitches in to make meal planning easier. Favourite family recipes are swapped. You save money on food and even firewood since there’s usually only one campfire going.
Your group can split up for the day — some heading to the beach, some curling up with a good book, and others exploring the trails. But the evenings are when group sites get magical. Picnic tables get placed end to end. A delicious meal is served and everyone has a story to share. Cards or a board game by lantern light end most days.
Here’s a spotlight on three parks with stellar group sites:
Port Burwell Provincial Park
For a group campsite with a million-dollar view, try Port Burwell Provincial Park. The view of Lake Erie from Site #402 — high above the lake — is breathtaking. Big trees provide a nice canopy during warm-weather months.
The site accommodates 25-100 campers and although the beach is a fair hike downhill, it’s one of the nicest on the Great Lakes. Family pooches like this park too. The pet-friendly beach is one of the best in Ontario’s provincial park system.
Rock Point Provincial Park
Rock Point’s close proximity to Niagara Falls (less than an hour away) makes it a great option for group camping. You can leave Rock Point after breakfast, spend the day at the Falls, and still make it back to the park before dark.
Rock Point has three group campsites. Each can accommodate up to 40 people and comes with a fire pit and picnic tables. Water tap and flush toilets are close by, and the beach and park store are a short walk away.
Bronte Creek Provincial Park
People love Bronte Creek, in part, because of its close proximity to Toronto, which is only forty minutes away. Families with young children often tent camp here.
The park has four group campsites, each with a mini-comfort station and space for up to 25 people.
On the day-use side of the park (just a short drive from the campground), you’ll find a huge outdoor pool, five hiking trails that showcase the park’s natural beauty, and a children’s farm (including live animals). Fun family events are held throughout the year.
Tips for booking
Take advantage of our five-month booking window and book early to get the best site.
If you’re not familiar with a park, peruse its webpage to get a feel for what it has to see and do. Besides campground maps, each park’s webpage lists amenities, activities and services. Many offer daily summer programming that kids, in particular, love