RV'ing in Ontario Parks
Ontario Parks offers many advantages to the RV traveller:
- Spectacular scenery, innovative public education programs and fascinating visitor’s centres
- Easy access; signed from all provincial highways
- Over 19,000 car camping sites including some seasonal camping opportunities and pull-through and larger sites for the RV traveller
- Many sites with 15/30 amp electrical service
- Trailer dumping and water filling stations in most camping parks
- Comfort stations with hot and cold running water, flush toilets and individual shower facilities, (some parks have laundromats)
Facilities and Services
- Over 3000 campsites offer electrical service (15 and 30 amp). More electrical sites are being added each year.
- Waste and grey water dumping stations and water filling stations are located in most parks.
- Campground maps and campsite photos are also available online (link to reservation service) to further help you select the right site for you and your equipment. You can also contact the park directly if you have any questions or concerns.
- Cellphone service is still intermittent at some parks. Wi-Fi is available at the following provincial park visitor centres: Algonquin (through the Friends of Algonquin Park), Killbear (for a fee- through the Friends of Killbear Provincial Park), Pinery, Point Farms, Presqu’ile (Lighthouse Visitor Centre), and Restoule.
- Showers are not coin-operated; washers and dryers are.
- Dogs are always welcome at parks, but some rules apply. Here is a list of parks with pet exercise areas.
Rentals
If you don’t own an RV, organizations like the Ontario Recreational Vehicle Dealer’s Association or GO RVing provide links to businesses who offer rental services. Also, there are a few rental locations close to the entrances of some of our most popular park entrances (e.g. Pinery, Killbear, Sandbanks) that will also set up the pop-up tent trailers in the parks for you. Contact the park or the local tourism office directly.
Four-season travel in your RV!
Spring and fall are outstanding times to explore nature and camp in your RV, especially spring and fall bird migrations, hiking fall colours and wildlife viewing.
Winter is also a great time to visit Ontario Parks. There is a small group of people, we like to call “Winter Warriors”, who will camp year-round in their RVs. Provincial Parks like MacGregor Point and Algonquin (Mew Lake) cater to winter campers and feature heated comfort stations with hot showers. You’ll want to understand any potential issues for staying warm and maintaining water systems in your RV prior to attempting this! Bring a snowbrush or a broom. Sites are plowed and access maintained for picnic tables. The park locator will help you identify winter camping opportunities.
Travelling the Ontario Parks’ system in your RV
Touring is a popular way to explore Ontario and your RV makes this type of travel an easy vacation experience. Traditional routes like: Lake Superior Route, Georgian Bay Coastal Route and the Rideau Waterway are all well-supported by route information along with attractions and services. Check out more information on these and other suggested routes.
Did you know that your camping permit will allow you day access to other provincial parks for the duration of your stay. Some parks make a great base camp for exploring a region.
Tips:
Be sure to select the right site for your equipment. Camping sites can be reserved by trailer size - up to: 18, 25, 32, and over 32 feet. A few parks cannot accommodate trailers of more than 32 ‘.
Be sure to bring at least 100ft of extension cord. Many of our posts are quite far from a campsite.
If you are unfamiliar with the site you have reserved for your 32 ft+ RV, be sure to check with the park regarding access to the site. Many of our campgrounds were built years ago and their roads can be narrow and winding.
In our online reservation service, under step 4 “Pick your site requirements:” you can select more options and the opportunity to search for electrical and trailer pull-through sites are available. There are campground photos of all sites to further assist you in selecting your site.
Be sure to make yourself aware of all rocks, campfire pits and trees on your site before parking your RV. For new towable RV owners, it is advisable to practice in a parking lot before leaving home to familiarize yourself with parking and backing up. One tip is to place your hand at the bottom of your steering wheel and move your hand to the left to go left and right to move your trailer right.
Please use non-formadehyde-based chemicals to treat your black and grey-water tanks. There are many “green” options available.
In cases where an RV is towing a second vehicle and the RV remains stationary on the campsite, normally no additional vehicle parking permit is required for the campsite.
Keeping a neat and garbage-free campsite is just as important while camping in an RV. Be sure to secure all food, coolers and highly-scented products. Bears will go through screens and canvas. Garbage and recycle containers are located at the entrance to most campgrounds. For more information on visiting bear country visit the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Bear Wise site.
Your valid camping permit allows you free access to other nearby parks for day trip explorations. Also a seasonal permit is an excellent way to gain entry to provincial parks for the day while en route travelling throughout Ontario.
There are many more interesting tips from Ontario Parks and its users generated in our social media spaces – you may want to check them out.
Trailer Storage
The following parks offer Trailer Storage onsite. Please contact the park directly for availability and pricing:
| Northwest | |
|---|---|
| Blue Lake | 807-227-2601 |
| Caliper Lake | 807-484-2181 |
| Quetico | 807-597-2735 |
| Rushing River | 807-548-4351 |
| Sioux Narrows | 807-226-5223 |
| Sleeping Giant | 807-977-2526 |
| Northeast | |
|---|---|
| Esker Lakes | 705-568-7677 |
| Fushimi Lake | 705-362-4164 |
| Ivanhoe Lake | 705-899-2644 |
| Kettle Lakes | 705-363-3511 |
| Lake Superior | 705-856-2284 |
| Missinaibi | 705-234-2222 |
| Nagagamisis | 807-868-2254 |
| Pancake Bay | 705-882-2209 |
| René Brunelle | 705-234-2222 |
| The Shoals | 705-864-1160 |
| Wakami Lake | 705-233-2853 |
| White Lake | 807-822-2447 |
| Near North | |
|---|---|
| Driftwood | 613-586-2553 |
| Finlayson Point | 705-569-3205 |
| Grundy Lake | 705-383-2286 |
| Halfway Lake | 705-965-2702 |
| Marten River | 705-892-2200 |
| Restoule | 705-729-2010 |
| Samuel de Champlain | 705-744-2276 |
| Sturgeon Bay | 705-366-2521 |
| Algonquin/Central | |
|---|---|
| Emily | 705-799-5170 |
| Southeast | |
|---|---|
| Charleston Lake | 613-659-2065 |
| Ferris | 705-653-1566 |
| Fitzroy | 613-623-5159 |
| Sharbot Lake | 613-335-2814 |
| Voyageur | 613-674-2825 |
| Southwest | |
|---|---|
| Earl Rowe | 705-435-2498 |
| Inverhuron | 519-368-1959 |
| MacGregor Point | 519-389-9056 |
| Port Burwell | 519-874-4691 |
| Rock Point | 905-774-6642 |
| Turkey Point | 519-426-3239 |