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Ontario Parks

Reservations - Rules and Regulations

Reservations

  • Reservations are accepted up to five months in advance of your arrival date. For example, you can book January 15 for an arrival date of June 15.
  • Reservations with an arrival date of July 29th, 30th & 31st, will first become available on March 1st at 7:00am ET.  The exception will be during a leap year when reservations with an arrival date of July 29th can first be made on February 29th at 7:00am ET.
  • Reservations must be made in the name of the person who will pick up the camping permit. Multiple reservations in the same name for the same time period are not allowed.
  • Ontario Parks can be busy and are often full during the summer months. To avoid disappointment, reservations are always recommended.
  • Your reservation is guaranteed up until 8am the day following your planned arrival date. If you do not check-in for your reservation please contact the park directly.

Reservation fees

  • A non-refundable reservation fee is required for all reservations and is charged at the time of reservation. This fee covers the cost of providing the Ontario Parks reservation system, including call centre agents, online reservations, and more.

Changing and cancelling reservations

  • Reservations cannot be changed or cancelled more than four months in advance of your arrival day.
  • A reservation penalty or administration fee may be applicable.
  • To cancel or change a reservation, login to your reservation account at reservations.OntarioParks.com, or call 1-888-668-PARK (7275).

Transferring (Reselling) Reservations for profit

Reservation holders are not permitted to resell any reservation for profit. Anyone attempting to sell a reservation for profit, for example, listing a reservation on social media or buy and sell websites for re-sale for profit, may have their reservation cancelled and all applicable penalty fees will apply.

Car Camping Rules

  • Full payment of camping fees is required at the time your reservation is made.
  • The campsite permit holder must be sixteen years of age or older.
  • The maximum stay on a campsite is twenty-three nights.
  • No more than six people can occupy a campsite unless these people comprise a single family of parents and their children.
  • Parking for one vehicle is included with your campsite permit. Additional vehicle permits must be purchased for all other vehicles when you check-in. They may need to be parked in a separate designated parking area away from your campsite.
  • Reservations can be made up to 9:00 pm on your day of arrival.
  • Where space permits, you are allowed up to three pieces of shelter equipment plus one dining shelter/tarp on your campsite. Only one piece of shelter equipment can be a tent trailer, house trailer, motor home, or self-propelled camping unit.
  • Check-in time is after 2:00 pm and check-out time is before 2:00 pm.
  • Car campsites can be reserved online or via the call centre using the "build your stay" function which allows you to move campsites throughout your stay. When using the “build your stay” function the five month in advance of arrival date rule is enforced as you move campsites. For example: on December 11th you could reserve a campsite for an arrival date of May 11th but if you planned on switching campsites for your second night beyond May 11th , you would not be able to proceed with that reservation as it is outside of the five month reservation window.

Backcountry rules

  • Full payment of backcountry camping fees is required at the time your reservation is made.
  • The campsite permit holder must be sixteen years of age or older.
  • The maximum stay on any one backcountry site is sixteen consecutive nights with the following exceptions: four consecutive nights at Killarney on George, O.S.A., David, and Killarney Lakes, and a maximum of one night on sites H1-H8 and H37-H54 on the Killarney Hiking Trail.
  • No more than six people can occupy a backcountry campsite at Bon Echo, Charleston Lake, Frontenac and Killarney hiking trail. All other backcountry campsites have a maximum occupancy of nine people.
  • One vehicle is included with your campsite permit. Additional vehicle permits must be purchased for all other vehicles.
  • You must obtain an interior camping permit prior to entering the backcountry. Campers must be able to present their permit to a park warden if requested. How to obtain a permit for the backcountry.
  • Check-in time is after 2:00 pm and check-out time is before 2:00 pm. If a site is vacant prior to 2:00 pm on the day of your arrival, you may occupy it.
  • If entering Quetico from outside of Canada it is your responsibility to clear Canada Customs. For more information visit the Quetico park page.
  • Car campsites can be reserved via the call centre as a starting or end point split with backcountry reservations. The “build your stay” function allows you to move campsites throughout your stay. When using the “build your stay” function the 5 month in advance of arrival date rule is enforced as you move between a car campsite and backcountry reservation. For example: on December 11th you could reserve a campsite for an arrival date of May 11th but if you planned on switching to a backcountry campsite for any additional nights beyond May 11th, you would not be able to proceed with that reservation as it is outside of the five month window.

Roofed Accommodation Rules

  • Full payment of roofed accommodation fees is required at the time your reservation is made.
  • A security deposit may be required upon arrival. Please contact the park directly for details.
  • The roofed accommodation permit holder must be twenty-one years of age or older.
  • The maximum length of stay for rustic cabins and cottages is fourteen consecutive nights.
  • Parking for one vehicle is included with your campsite permit. Additional vehicle permits must be purchased for all other vehicles when you check-in. They may need to be parked in a separate designated parking area away from your roofed accommodation.
  • Smoking and vaping are prohibited in all roofed accommodations. Cooking in yurts is not permitted.
  • You are expected to read and understand the rules, restrictions, amenities, and information on what to bring for the roofed accommodation you are reserving.

Advance Daily Vehicle Permit Rules

  • Daily vehicle permits are available in advance of arrival at participating parks. Buying your permit for one of these parks in advance gaurantees your spot.
  • Advance daily vehicle permits can be purchased up to 5 days before your visit starting at 7:00am ET.
  • Daily vehicle permits purchased in advance are non-refundable and no changes may be made to your arrival date or park.
  • If you are driving a different vehicle than the one you originally identified at the time of booking, only the registered permit holder can change the vehicle licence plate information. To do so please log onto your Ontario Parks account and click the “Preregister” button on the reservation detail page, or update with park staff upon arrival at no additional cost.
  • Seasonal vehicle permit holders MUST obtain an advance daily vehicle permit to guarantee entry. Seasonal vehicle permits must be displayed during your visit.
  • Daily vehicle permits purchased in advance are only valid for the park they were purchased for; they cannot be used to gain entry to other provincial parks.
  • A daily vehicle permit is required for each day you visit, you are required to carry proof of purchase when arriving at the park either by having a digital or printed copy of your confirmation letter.

For more information on purchasing daily vehicle permits in advance, including a list of participating parks, please visit our day use page.

Day Use Facility Rules

  • Full payment of day use fees is required at the time your reservation is made.
  • A security deposit for certain facilities may be required upon arrival. Please contact the park directly for details.
  • The day use facility permit holder must be sixteen years of age or older.
  • One daily vehicle permit is included within the day use facility reservation. Additional daily vehicle permits must be purchased for all other vehicles when you check-in.
  • Smoking and vaping are prohibited in all day use facilities.
  • Consumption of liquor is prohibited in all day use facilities without a valid liquor licence. Contact the park directly for information on how to obtain a liquor licence.

Seasonal Camping Rules

  • Full payment of camping fees is required at the time your reservation is made.
  • The campsite permit holder must be sixteen years of age or older, but if any guests will be under the age of sixteen, there must be at least one occupant who is eighteen years of age.
  • No person other than the permit holder and registered guests are permitted to occupy the campsite for the duration of the season.
  • No person shall:
    • Construct or place structures on the campsite
    • Plant gardens, flower beds
    • Place appliances on the campsites (excluding barbeques)
    • Attach trailer skirting
  • The campsite must be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition at all times
  • No more than six people can occupy a campsite unless these people comprise a single family of parents/guardians and their children.
  • Parking for one vehicle is included with your campsite permit. Additional vehicle permits must be purchased for all other vehicles within the park. Additional vehicles may need to be parked in a separate designated parking area away from your campsite.
  • Where space permits, you are allowed up to three pieces of shelter equipment plus one dining shelter/tarp on your campsite. Only one piece of shelter equipment can be a tent trailer, house trailer, motor home, or self-propelled camping unit. The shelter equipment cannot exceed 340 square feet. The shelter equipment must be placed in a location that is satisfactory to the Crown and must be capable of removal within 24 hours of receipt of any direction or notice from the Crown.
  • All seasonal campsite holders must sign an agreement acknowledging compliance with the terms and conditions in advance of occupying a seasonal campsite. Unique conditions may exist from park to park.

Smoking and Vaping

Smoking tobacco or cannabis, or using an electronic cigarette to vape any substance (including cannabis) is not permitted in certain areas of provincial parks, including:

  • enclosed public places, including washrooms;
  • sheltered areas with a roof and more than two walls;
  • children’s playgrounds and 20 m from the perimeter of the playground;
  • sporting areas, such as volleyball and beach volleyball areas, designated swimming areas, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and adjacent spectator areas, as well as 20 m from the perimeter of the sporting or spectator areas.

For more information

For general information about visiting a provincial park contact us.