Making Your Reservation

Ontario covers an area of 1,076,395 km² and has 329 Provincial Parks, many of which offer camping (both electrical and non-electrical) for the R-Podder.  With such a huge area to cover, and such a wide variety of Parks, it would be impossible to provide a complete guide on how to book your visit.  The following information is believed to be accurate, and I have included some of my own personal tips.  I invite anyone to add their own thoughts.

Cheers,

David

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Reservations can be made online through https://reservations.ontarioparks.com/ or by telephone at 1-888-668-7275.

The online search form enables you to pick your reservation type (e.g. campsite, yurt), arrival date, and either select a specific park or region (Southwest or Central, Southeast, Algonquin, Near North, or Northern) or search all parks.   

You will be asked for your site requirements: rv length, party size, barrier free, electrical service, pull-through, radio free, walk in, full sun/no shade, or double site.

A map of the campground will be displayed with those sites highlighted which meet your requirements.  You can then select a site to reserve.

[NOTE:  Not all sites need to be reserved in advance.  Some are available on a first-come basis.]   

How to pay for your reservation

The online reservation service allows you to book and pay for a specific campsite by credit card.  A non-refundable reservation fee is charged per reservation in addition to site-use fees.  The fees for 2014 can be found here http://www.parkreports.com/fees/camping/2014

Ontario Parks has three levels of fees for camping - premium, middle and low. Each fee level reflects the popularity of a campsite and the availability of facilities such as flush toilets and showers, and personal services such as educational programs.

[NOTE:  Cancellation and change fees can be significant.  Please confirm the terms of your reservation.]

[TIP:  If for any reason you will be arriving at the Park a day late, you must telephone the specific Park to advise them.  Otherwise your reservation will be cancelled.]

Operating dates

Most Provincial Parks offer camping generally from May to October.

In 2014 a few Parks are open from the April 25-27^th weekend:  

Southwest and Central Parks:  Wheatley, Rondeau, Pinery, MacGregor Point, Sauble Falls, Craigleith, Bronte Creek

Southeast Parks:  None

Northern Parks – None

Near North Parks – Killarney

Algonquin – Rock Lake and Coon Lake, Mew Lake, Tea Lake, Kiosk, Brent, Achray

A number of Parks are opening at the beginning of May, with the remainder by the Victoria Day long week-end (3^rd weekend in May).

[NOTE:  Many Parks have a ban on alcohol for the 11 days preceding the Victoria Day long week-end.]

Closing dates for camping vary.  Some Parks close as early as Labour Day (September 1, 2014), while others stay open until the beginning of October or following Canadian Thanksgiving/United States Columbus Day (October 10-13, 2014).  Many will then re-open for winter activities. 

[NOTE:  For those Parks that open early in the season or close later, they may not have all of their campgrounds or comfort stations open.  In addition, their Interpretive Programs may also be limited.]   

[TIP:  On the positive side, for those Parks that open early in the season or close later, you will be able to enjoy Spring and Fall camping in a less-crowded campground and have a better opportunity to spot wildlife.  Those campsites that remain open are typically those with electrical service.]  

When to make your reservation

You may make reservations 5 months in advance and you should certainly do so for the following 20 most popular Parks:  Algonquin, Arrowhead, Awenda, Balsam Lake, Blue Lake, Bon Echo, Charleston Lake, Grundy Lake, Killarney, Killbear, Long Point, MacGregor Point, Pinery, Point Farms, Port Burwell, Presqu’ile, Rushing River, Sandbanks, Sauble Falls, and Sleeping Giant.

Parks are often fully booked on week-ends and during July and August (school holidays).

[NOTE:  For any Park, you should check out what local conditions will prevail: weather, water temperature, insects, wildlife, etc.  Each Park publishes its own newspaper guide.  Check out the Ontario Parks website, the Ontario Parks YouTube Channel, and videos from other campers.  Many Parks have a “Friends of … (insert name of Park) …” group which will have their own website. ]

[TIP:  If you are flexible with your plans, you will have the best chance of making a reservation for Monday to Thursday.   However, if you have your heart set on one of the most popular parks and can arrive on Thursday, make a reservation 5 months in advance for that day.  You will then have your booking done one day before those who are trying to book for the Friday.]

As the slogan goes … “Ontario, Yours to Discover!”

Grundy Lake (Near North)

This park is located about half-way between Sudbury and Parry Sound on Highway 69 and has 586 campsites, of which 139 have electrical service (30 amp). There are a range of paddling and hiking options for both the novice and the experienced hiker and numerous day trips to choose from. For the more adventurous who wish to explore the interior of the park there are backcountry sites that are only accessible by canoe.

We stayed in Hemlock Campground, which is a “radio free” or “noise free” campground.  We had unusually good weather and the only potential drawback was that the adjacent Comfort Station was closed for the season.  However, the vault toilets are actually Dometic marine toilets, of which we are all familiar.

Campers with families would likely prefer the neighbouring Trailer and Poplar Campgrounds which are right by the beach.  These campgrounds also have some pull-through sites.

Grundy Lake Prov. Pk. Is best visited in the late summer or fall because of the absence of mosquitoes and black flies.

We will definitely be back.      

[PHOTO: Admiring the sunset on Grundy Lake]

Murphys Point (Southeastern)

This park is located on the Big Rideau Lake, equal distance from Perth and Smiths Falls. It is also accessible from both the Rideau Trail and the Rideau Waterway.  It has 123 regular campsites, 44 electric sites, 14 back country or interior sites, 2 soft sided shelters, and 1 camp cabin.

The park has a particularly strong interpretive program which includes the Lally Homestead, and the Silver Queen Mica Mine through which guided tours are offered.     

We stayed at one of the electric sites in Hogg Bay.  Sites 63-72 are close to the beach, sites 55-62 are somewhat more secluded, while sites 50-54 are near the new soft-sided shelters and camp cabin.  There are no motorboats allowed on Hogg Bay or Loon Lake.

[PHOTO: Lally Homestead]

Arrowhead Provincial Park (Near North)

This park is located just off Highway 11 near Huntsville.  It has 378 campsites, of which 185 are electric. At this year-round park in the heart of Muskoka, you can hike or bicycle on trails that wind through maple forests and past waterfalls, beaver ponds and homesteaders’ farms. Quiet Arrowhead and Mayflower Lakes and the meandering Little and Big East Rivers, are ideal for paddling, fishing and swimming. There is a “testing” mountain bike trail that circles Arrowhead Lake.  Return in the winter to ski on groomed trails, tube down a hill or skate on an outdoor rink.  There is a pet swimming beach.

French River Provincial Park (Near North)

This park is located about 1 hour and 20 minutes north of Parry Sound and 1 hour south of Sudbury on Highway 69. It has NO campsites accessible for vehicles (R-Pods included) but has a wonderful picnic area and Visitors Centre.  The parking lot features double parking spots for your tv and R-Pod.  [Camping is available at beautiful Grundy Lake Provincial Park – 15 minutes away] 

French River Provincial Park offers backcountry camping only.  There are many channels, bays and inlets to choose from and the stunning views of classic Canadian Shield scenery with rocks and pines are seemingly endless.  A river of national historic significance, the French River is the first designated Canadian Heritage River and was the key travel route to the western Great Lakes and Canada before there were roads.

Look for the “French River Rest Area” sign and brown picnic table sign instead of the usual blue and green Ontario Parks sign.

   

Sounds like Hershey Park's campground in Hershey, PA.  They do mention the rail line that runs right next to the campground, just not that it sounds and feels like each locomotive is about to run right through the camper, at 1 pm.  And 3 pm.  And 5 pm, 7, 9, 11, 1 am, 3 am...

We also found out how important rainfall is for noise suppression.  It hadn't rained in a while until near the end of our stay and I was amazed how much quieter (but still roaring!) the trains were after it rained.

The only advantage to staying there is you get to enter the park an hour earlier, and that wasn't worth it!

Windy Lake Provincial Park (Near North)

This park is located about 1 hour north of Sudbury and has 93 campsites, of which 56 have electrical service (30 amp).  The official description states that “Windy Lake Provincial Park offers large, quiet and well secluded campsites including a number of large sites set aside for double family occupancy and also walk-in campsites for those preferring greater seclusion or who want to try an easy backcountry experience.  There are also several group campsites, including a lakefront beauty. Yurts are available for year-round use.”

What the official description fails to tell you is that the campsite is located immediately beside the main Canadian Pacific railway line and highway crossing.  During our stay, we had SEVEN 100-car freight trains pass by with their horns blaring and their freight cars shaking the ground.  [For a more relaxing and secluded camping experience try Halfway Provincial Park, about 30 minutes further north]

The park is best known for its long beautiful day-use beach which often has 130 cars parked.  There is room to park your R-Pod while you swim.

Nearby you can visit High Falls in Onaping that A.Y. Jackson of the Group of Seven captured in his painting "Spring on the Onaping River".

Marten River Provincial Park (Near North)

This park is located about 50 minutes north of North Bay and has 190 campsites, of which 62 have electrical service (30 amp).  The park is the southern gateway to the Temagami area and is a base for canoeists, boaters, hikers and anglers.

We stayed at site 140 right on the river.  It is described as a “windy” site and, while the wind did pick up during the night, this was not a problem in the R-Pod.  The wind actually had the advantage of keeping any bugs away.

Our neighbour was able to moor his fishing boat at the river’s edge.  Some might find the view and low hum from the nearby Highway 11 a distraction and would prefer an interior site.

[PHOTO: Our view of Marten River from Site 140]

Charleston Lake Provincial Park (Southeastern)

This Park is located just north of Gananoque, about 20 minutes from the 401 and the Hill Island Bridge connecting Ontario with New York State (Interstate 81).    Given its proximity to Southern Ontario, the park is well-used and you should reserve early to get the best sites.

Three campgrounds have 238 campsites, 86 of which have electrical service. The most popular campgrounds are the forested Bayside and Shady Ridge campgrounds which are close to the lake and beach areas.  Shady Ridge campground is less level and some of the sites are a bit of a challenge for the novice.  The prime lake-view sites are all non-electric.  We would recommend non-electric sites 306, 327, 331, 332, 335, 338, 341 352, and electric sites 354 and 355.  Bayside has electric sites by the lake, of which 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250 are good, and more secluded wooded electric sites 225, 229 and 231.    

You can take a side trip to cruise on the Thousand Islands or a longer trip to historic Kingston and Old Fort Henry.

Voyageur Provincial Park (Southeastern)

We have now stayed at three different sites in the park.  Our first stay was in site 26, a pull-through site with electricity.  Our second stay was in a non-electric site 89 with a stunning view of Champlain Bay.  Our third site was in 177 which is in a woodland setting with a wide variety of birds.

While in the area, we took a short side trip to Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co. in Vankleek Hill, bought some local Oka cheese and deer pate (next time we will get some local cinnamon honey) and sent the girls off to Calypso water park.