9 camping escapes to reconnect with nature in Ontario

Smells like campfire season! The weather’s perfect, the map’s open, and the tent’s waiting in the trunk.⁠

Here are nine escapes across Ontario worth the drive:⁠

⁠Kelso Conservation Area

Open: May 16⁠
Distance: 1 hour drive from Toronto
Highlights: Cliffside views, stand-up paddleboarding and mountain biking in the heart of the escarpment.⁠

Darlington Provincial Park

Open: May 2
Distance: 1 hour drive from Toronto
Highlights: Campsites just steps from Lake Ontario with top-tier birdwatching during spring migration.⁠

⁠Valens Lake Conservation Area

Open: year-round, reservable April 1 – Oct. 31
Distance: 1 hour and 30 minute drive from Toronto
Highlights: Boardwalk trails through wetlands and peaceful lakeside camping close to the city.⁠

Long Beach Conservation Area

Open: May 16
Distance: 1 hour and 30 minute drive from Toronto
Highlights: ⁠A sandy beach stretching along Lake Erie is ideal for walks and lakeside RV camping.⁠

⁠Rock Point Provincial Park

Open: May 9
Distance: 1 hour and 30 minute drive from Toronto
Highlights: Fossils of a coral reef over 350 million years old are embedded in the shoreline, with a mix of beach, forest and marsh in one park.⁠

Point Farms Provincial Park

Open: May 9
Distance: 2 hour and 30 minute drive from Toronto
Highlights: Perched on a bluff with sweeping sunset views over Lake Huron and remnants of a Victorian resort.⁠

Murphy’s Point Provincial Park

Open: May 9
Distance: 4 hour and 30 minute drive from Toronto
Highlights: ⁠Historic Silver Queen Mine tours, wildlife-filled wetlands and part of the Rideau Waterway.⁠

Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park

Open: May 9
Distance: 5 hour drive from Toronto
Highlights: Paddle the same river fur traders once did and explore scenic routes through the Mattawa Valley.⁠

Fushimi Lake Provincial Park

Open: May 16
Distance: 10 hour drive from Toronto
Highlights: Remote and quiet. Some campsites are only accessible by canoe, offering private island options and prime fishing opportunities.

—Photos via ontarioparks.ca and Instagram.