Last updated on March 26th, 2024 at 10:13 pm
Recently updated on March 26th, 2024 at 10:13 pm
The first thing to think about when planning a family trip is where you want to go and which tent you are carrying with you. There are many different climates, types of land, and even types of wood worldwide. So, you will have to figure out which place is best for family camping and which tent suits you the best.
In this article, we have reviewed some of the best private campgrounds in Ontario due to their appealing features and widespread praise from previous visitors. These campgrounds have everything a family trip requires for entertainment and a peaceful stay.
So, you can easily choose the best camping sites in Ontario near you based on your choices. If you spend some time away from your campsite and have fun with your friends and family, these sites will offer fantastic opportunities, including hiking, fishing, skiing, etc. However, if you plan to spend most of your time at your campsite, you’ll get vast playgrounds, free firewood for bonfires, and beautiful picnic spots.
Along with other luxuries, including food stalls with a variety of eateries, electricity supply, and secured parking areas, you will get basic facilities like fresh water supply, flush toilets, laundry, and much more.
Let’s find which camping ground in Ontario you like the most for family camping in Ontario!
Note: We’ve also got you covered with our list of the 8 best family camping tents choose a tent that suits your needs the most.
- Best Private Campgrounds in Ontario – Our Top 10 Picks
- 1. Fanshawe Conservation Area
- 2. Cedar Rail Family Campground
- 3. Bon Echo Provincial Park: One Of The Best Ontario campgrounds
- 4. Killbear Provincial Park
- 5. Barrie KOA Holiday
- 6. Windmill Family Campground
- 7. Algonquin Provincial Park
- 8. Rock Glen Family Resort
- 9. West Montrose Family Camp
- 10. Black River Wilderness Park
Best Private Campgrounds in Ontario – Our Top 10 Picks
- Fanshawe Conservation Area
- Cedar Rail Family Campground
- Bon Echo Provincial Park
- Killbear Provincial Park
- Barrie KOA Holiday
- Windmill Family Campground
- Algonquin Provincial Park
- Rock Glen Family Resort
- West Montrose Family Camp
- Black River Wilderness Park
1. Fanshawe Conservation Area
Location
Fanshawe Conversation Area is situated near London. You can find this beautiful private campground in London at 1424 Clarke Road on N5V 5B9.
Operating Season
This campground is available for visitors from May to October. The campers can also enjoy overnight camping at this beautiful site.
Topography
Although it is so near London, visitors to Fanshawe Conservation Area will feel like they are in a national forest because of its 3,000 wooded acres around Fanshawe Lake and its dam. The Fanshawe Lake Trail, which goes all the way around the lake, is only one of several excellent paths for hikers and cyclists.
The Pioneer Village, a collection of historic structures hosting live reenactments and interactive exhibits, is another standout feature of the campground. Due to its proximity to London, campers in the area have several opportunities for day excursions. Therefore, it’s never-ending fun to camp here with friends and family.
Facilities and Fun Opportunities
From river accessibility for fishing to rowing, paddling, swimming, a splash pad, and much more, this campsite offers excellent riverside fun. Moreover, it provides numerous trail choices for nature lovers, including a green playground, the unique Fanshawe Pioneer Village, a Children’s Safety Village, a laundromat, and a swimming pool.
With all these facilities, this campground is a complete package for your next camping trip.
2. Cedar Rail Family Campground
Location
Cedar Rail Family Campground is presently located in Chesley. You can find this beautiful private campground in Chelsey at 15259 Grey Bruce Line, N0G 1L0, Canada.
Operating Season
The camping area is open to the public from May through October for all camping types, from trailers and RVs to group camping and cottages.
Topography
Cedar Rail Family Campground is a great place to stay and observe Bruce County’s beautiful countryside. This is one of the best private campgrounds in Ontario; campers have raved about how lovely the hosts are and how peaceful the area is. Cedar Rail is one of the few places in the world with a riverside playground that floats, giving kids a fun and unique way to spend warm summer days.
The town of Chesley is in the southern part of Bruce County. It takes about 30 minutes to drive to Sauble Beach, a famous Ontario beach. It is also close to some of the best hiking places on the Bruce Trail. It’s easy to plan day trips to Collingwood, the Mountain Range, Owen Sound, and other exciting places with beautiful views of southern Georgian Bay.
Facilities and Fun Opportunities
This campsite has a natural playground, picnic areas, modern meeting rooms, and a wedding venue. These features make it an excellent place for family camping and business trips. At the Cedar Rail Campground, guests can access modern bathrooms, a heated pool, a river with floating playground equipment, and more. The cherry on top is that there are a lot of other amenities inside, like a games room, convenience store, dog park, laundry room, and library.
3. Bon Echo Provincial Park: One Of The Best Ontario campgrounds
Location
Near Cloyne, this park is located at 16151 Hwy 41 on K0H 1K0 postal address, Canada.
Operating Season
This stunning Canadian campsite is open from April to October, making summertime the perfect time to visit.
Topography
The 100-meter-tall Mazinaw Rock in Bon Echo Provincial Park is a popular place to visit in the countryside of northern Ontario. It has beautiful white beaches, tall rock cliffs, and more than 260 native symbols. Aside from the usual campsites, Bon Echo also lets families camp in some of the most beautiful places in the wilderness.
If you choose Bon Echo as your vacation spot, you and your family can go on a canoe trip or a camping trip that depicts the true colors of Canada’s native traditions. Campers should go to Bon Echo because it has beautiful natural scenery and is well worth the trip.
Facilities and Fun Opportunities
You can stay comfortable in the park because the bathrooms are very nice. They have flush toilets, showers, and even a laundry room. Campers can take advantage of hiking trails, canoe routes, kayak, stand-up paddleboard (SUP) rentals, boat trips to Mazinaw Rock and native pictographs, and much more. So, people who want to have real adventures and fun with their loved ones will find heaven here.
4. Killbear Provincial Park
Location
People who live in the Nobel neighborhood of Prince Edward Island, Canada, can stop by this park at 35 Eddie Ramsay Parkway, P0G 1G0, and enjoy it.
Operating Season
Killbear Provincial Park, like the best private campgrounds in Ontario, is open from April to November. It provides adventurers and campers with a variety of camping and recreational opportunities.
Topography
Killbear is one of Canada’s most popular campsites on the coast and is surrounded by water on all sides. It’s an excellent place for families, as there are 880 campsites spread out over seven routes. Most of the areas are flat, with a mix of sand, bushes, and dust. They are in pine or tropical woods. Although it can accommodate hundreds of campers in one place, creating excellent harmony for adventurers, it only offers a few natural scenes. However, numerous fun opportunities for visitors make it worth visiting.
Facilities and Fun Opportunities
Other exciting possibilities include Seven different coastlines surrounding the Killbear campsite. They make it easy to get to Georgian Bay for canoeing, paddling, and other water sports.
5. Barrie KOA Holiday
Location
Near the Spring water town, aka Barrie, located at Barrie KOA Holiday campground. It is situated at 8685 Rock Glen Road in Arkona. Surrounded by a beautiful scenic landscape, this is another spot among the best private campgrounds in Ontario.
Operating Season
The campground welcomes visitors from April to October for camping and overnight stays.
Topography
Travelers looking to camp or stay in a cottage can find several options in the Barrie area. Because of its location on Lake Simcoe and the abundance of water and land activities available there, Barrie is a popular stop on the route to the Muskoka area. The Barrie KOA Holiday has large RV-friendly sites, a kid’s mining activity, and easy access to the scenic Copeland Forest trails.
Facilities and Fun Opportunities
There is a lovely alternative for those vacationing without children to stay in the adult-only portion of the campground. Nearby, Barrie, visitors may enjoy a variety of natural destinations, such as the lively Wasaga Seaside and the picturesque beach villages of Simcoe County. With a swimming pool, Internet, a food court, a dog park, angling access, a kid-friendly mining attraction, and scheduled events, this RV park has it all.
So having a natural environment and breathtaking picnic spots, Barrie KOA Holiday is the choice of most Ontario campers.
6. Windmill Family Campground
Location
Who would think that one can find a perfect campground near Fullarton where camping becomes great fun? The Windmill Family campground is located just by 2778 Perth County Road 163, Canada.
Operating Season
Families can enjoy their vacations in this park from the end of march to November. During this duration, the park offers its services at full capacity.
Topography
In southern Ontario, most families spend their summers at Windmill Family Campground, and for a good reason! This private campground is excellent for camping for a night, week, month, or a whole season. Activities like fireworks and bingo are available.
If that wasn’t enough to make you feel safe with kids, the building also has a locked entrance that is constantly under surveillance around the clock. There are a lot of great day trips within a few hours’ drive of London and its suburbs.
Facilities and Fun Opportunities
There is always something to do here. Visitors may enjoy many facilities for people of all ages. The amenities and fun opportunities include hot tubs, cafes, mini-golf, a park for pets, pony rides, a jumping pillow, a recreation hall with an arena, and many playgrounds. The campground also has volleyball courts, chess, horseshoes, picnic areas, shops, recently renovated bathrooms with showers, a token laundry, fire circles, and Internet.
7. Algonquin Provincial Park
Location
This is one of the largest provincial parks for camping in Ontario that links with several towns depending on your chosen entrance. However, one can find it on the map using the location of Ontario 60, Ontario K0J 2M0, Canada.
Operating Season
The park’s most important feature is that it is open all year, from January to December. Because of this, it has the most camping spots for tourists to choose from at any time.
Topography
If you’re looking for a traditional Canadian forest experience, go no further than Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario. Algonquin camping is the best of the best. It’s perfect for everyone, from the average family on a road trip to the adventurous canoe trippers and the hardy people who camp in the dead of winter.
Camping in Algonquin Park is an unforgettable experience, with its pristine wilderness, beautiful streams, and the chance of seeing a deer or bear on one of the many rocky islands or cliffs. Algonquin Park is a lovely place to take a family vacation and a great place to teach kids how to survive in the wild.
Facilities and Fun Opportunities
The park has a lot to offer, like a long canoe and kayak routes through the wilderness and paths for walking and biking. There are also great discovery programs and trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. You can also fish, swim, and ride boats in the lakes.
8. Rock Glen Family Resort
Location
Near Arkona, at 8685 Rock Glen road, you will find Rock Glen Family Resort, one of the best private campgrounds in Ontario.
Operating Season
The park remains open throughout the year as it always offers something joyful for visitors who like family camping in nature.
Topography
Rock Glen Family Resort is a popular camping spot in southern Ontario, but only its paying members can go there. Close to Rock Glen Conservation Area, you can swim at a beautiful waterfall, hike through a dense Carolinian forest, and look for artifacts from the Devonian period in the stream.
Guests can sit back and relax by the fire while the kids do one of the many things to do at the resort. From Rock Glen, it’s easy to get to Grand Bend and Ipperwash Beaches. This campground is the perfect place for anyone who likes to stay at the beach.
Facilities and Fun Opportunities
You may enjoy various amenities at the Rock Glen Family Resort, including a swimming pool (indoor and outdoor), a splash pad, a fitness center, a cafeteria, and various sports fields. Additionally, this resort offers its campers all the essentials, such as potable water, flush toilets, laundry facilities, firewood, picnic areas, and more.
9. West Montrose Family Camp
Location
This campsite is conveniently located for families in the West Montrose area at 6344 Line 86. The park’s mailing address is N0B 2V0, Canada.
Operating Season
From April till October, you and the family may go camping since this is when the park is open and accessible to guests.
Topography
The private campground West Montrose Family Camp in southwestern Ontario has gotten good reviews and is close to many of the best outdoor activities in the area. There are two pools, and people of all ages can fish, swim, and do other things in the water on the Grand River, which is close by.
At the nearby Elora Gorge and Elora Quarry, you and your whole family can have fun doing things like whitewater rafting, tubing down the Grand River, and swimming in the beautiful limestone quarry all summer long.
The famous West Montrose “kissing bridge” and Canada’s largest farmer’s market, St. Jacobs Market, are close to West Montrose Family Camp. Campers can feel safe knowing that the entrance is under survelliance of the park’s security.
Facilities and Fun Opportunities
Kids might like swimming in pools, playing on playgrounds, fishing, or riding horses. There are also food stands with dishes that make your mouth water and a recreation center with many games and events.
10. Black River Wilderness Park
Location
This park is one of the largest in Ontario. It is close to Washago Town. The road 7476 Simcoe County Rd 169, Canada, can help you find it on a map.
Operating Season
The park welcomes all kinds of campers from April to October.
Topography
Black River Wilderness Park in Simcoe County, Ontario, is one of the most appealing places to camp in nature that isn’t a state park. It has a large natural area and a lot of trees. The Crepe Sole of Rama First Nations still owns and runs Black River Wilderness Park. The park offers ways to learn about and experience indigenous culture, such as healing trails, making handicrafts, drumming, and singing. It also has guided forest trails and an offshore camping area.
This park, about 1.5 hours north of Toronto, is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to camp in a more natural setting without giving up the amenities they’ve come to expect from a campsite. This dog-friendly park has a gated entrance to ensure people and their pets are safe.
Facilities and Fun Opportunities
This is one of the best private campgrounds in Ontario. You can go rafting, paddle boarding, snorkeling, and fishing along the river. Besides the apparent camp sports and activities, you can also go wilderness trailing, explore a thin forest, and see some unique plants and animals.
Visitors can use many facilities, like a grocery store, playground, well-kept bathrooms and showers, a café, and much more.
Note: If you are new to camping and looking for the perfect camping tent, remember to read our Best 8 Person Tent for Comfortable Group Camping review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you camp on any Crown land in Ontario?
Most non-residents need a non-resident camping permit to camp on government land. Non-local campers can only stay at a site for 21 days per year. If you want to camp on Crown land, you should make sure you have permission to do so. Camping is not allowed in green places.
Where can you park overnight for free in Ontario?
Whether in a car, van, or RV, a rest area is a great place to spend the night for free or “boondock” (camp without a campsite). Many tourist centers and parking lots of other big stores, like Walmart and the Real Canadian Superstore, also let people camp overnight.
How much does it cost to camp in an Ontario provincial park?
Camping fees at Ontario Provincial Park range from $13 to $20 per night. Rates might change depending on what amenities the park management decides to offer.
Is there free camping in Canada?
Boondocking is a type of free camping that is available all over Canada. It is also called dry backpacking or wild camping. However, don’t let the idea of having to pay to camp or dealing with crowded campsites stop you from camping in 10 of the best private campgrounds in Ontario we have reviewed for you.
Conclusion
I hope this article has been helpful to you and that now you better know about the best private campgrounds in Ontario. The budget for your next family camping vacation will depend on factors like the facilities you’d like to have and the quality of the campsite you choose; this article will help you weigh those factors. Please, as usual, share your thoughts or ask questions in the section below.
