Ready to discover the great outdoors, but don’t want to drive all day to get there? The idea of camping near such a large metropolis as Toronto might not seem like it’s a possibility, but it really is! You don’t have to drive all the way into the deep wilderness to escape the city for a weekend with the kids. So, pitch a tent and camp out in our Guide to Camping in and around the Greater Toronto Area to find a bunch of our favourite spots within a two-hour drive of downtown (heavily dependent on traffic, of course!).

(Click on the title links for more information)

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Albion Hills
Date: May 8 – October 18, 2026
Address: 16500 Regional Road 50, Caledon
Set in the hills of Caledon on the banks of the Humber River, Albion Hills Campground offers dramatic scenery, exciting activities and excellent facilities, just 40 minutes from Toronto! After a day of hiking or mountain biking, fall asleep beneath the stars at Albion Hills.

Indian Line Campground
Date: May 8 – November 1, 2026
Address: 7625 Finch Ave. West, Brampton
The closest campground to downtown Toronto, Indian Line is the perfect spot for your urban camping adventure. Here you can tent, trailer or RV at this lakeside campground near the Village at Black Creek. Leashed pets are permitted and it also features a swimming pool and children’s play area.

Provincial Parks — North of Toronto

Bass Lake
Date: May 8 — October 13, 2026 (also open for winter roofed camping)
Address: 2540 Bass Lake Sideroad East, Oro-Medonte Township
Just a 10-minute drive west of Orillia, Bass Lake has a sandy beach for summer swimming, a 2.8 km hiking trail, various camping options plus picnic shelters and a day-use area.

Earl Rowe
Date: May 8 — October 13, 2026
Address: 4998 Concession Road 7, Alliston
If you get there in spring, you could see salmon spawning up the fish ladder! Earl Rowe also has great hiking trails, including one paved trail for accessibility, as well as canoeing, swimming and fishing.

Sibbald Point
Date: May 8 — October 26, 2026
Address: 26071 York Rd 18 (Park Road), Sutton West
At the southern shore of Lake Simcoe, Sibbald Point has a large beach with boating launch, spacious electrical and non-electrical campsites with pull-through trailer sites, grassy picnic areas and a forested hiking trail.

Provincial Parks — East of Toronto

Balsam Lake
Date: May 8 — October 26, 2026
Address: 2238 County Road 48, Kirkfield
This park gives you the full Kawartha Lakes experience: sandy beach, canoe/kayak/paddleboat rentals, easy hiking trails, and fishing for walleye, muskellunge and bass.

Darlington
Date: May 1 — October 18, 2026
Address: 1600 Darlington Park Road, Bowmanville
On the banks of Lake Ontario, Darlington is known for its sandy beach, nature trails and picnic facilities.

Emily
Date: May 8 — October 13, 2026
Address: 797 Emily Park Road, Omemee
Near Peterborough in the Kawartha Lakes, Emily PP offers a relaxed family camping experience featuring boating on the Trent-Severn Waterway and excellent fishing opportunities.

Presqu’ile
Date: April 24 — October 26, 2026 
Address: 328 Presqu’ile Parkway, Brighton
On Lake Ontario, enjoy the vibes of Prince Edward Country without the crowds (and even closer to home!) with 300 car camping sites in a variety of settings from shoreline to forest, plus a kilometre-long marsh boardwalk trail and a 2.5 km sandy beach.

Provincial Parks — South of Toronto

Bronte Creek
Date: May 8 — October 25, 2026
Address: 1219 Burloak Drive, Oakville
There’s so much to do at Bronte Creek. This campground has the typical sites available for booking, plus hiking trails, a children’s farm, disc golf and more.

Rock Point
Date: May 8 — October 25, 2026
Address: 215 Niece Road, Dunnville
Located on Lake Erie, this park features a kilometre-long sandy beach, and embedded in limestone shelf along the beach are exposed fossils of a coral reef dating back to over 350 million years!

Turkey Point
Date: May 1 — October 25, 2026
Address: 194 Turkey Point Road, Turkey Point
Just a bit further west from Rock Point on the northern shore of Lake Erie in the village of Turkey Point, this park has a shallow and buoyed swimming beach perfect for kids. A marina, restaurants, zip lining and a winery are all within two kilometres.

National Parks

Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site
Date: May 15 — October 12, 2026
Address: 2155 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough
In Peterborough at the historic Trent-Severn Waterway locks, there are numerous housing options, including oTENTik sites and rustic cabins. For something a little unusual, try to book one of the adorable Ôasis cabins that look like a big egg!
(With the Canada Strong Pass, enjoy free lockage and 25% off camping and roofed accommodations from June 19 to September 7, 2026.)

Conservation Hamilton

Fifty Point
Date: April 1 — November 30, 2026
Address: 1479 Baseline Road, Winona
Around the bend from the GTA on the shores of Lake Ontario, Fifty Point has 70 fully serviced sites (sewer, hydro and water) plus a comfort station that is equipped with individual showers, accessible shower, washrooms and laundry facilities.

Valens Lake Conservation Area
Date: April 1 — October 31, 2026
Address: 1691 Regional Road 97, Flamborough
Valens Lake is a popular family campground between Hamilton and Cambridge, with 225 campsites, including 125 sites with electrical and water hookups, 6 group areas and walk-in sites.
Note: The campground is being expanded. Therefore, there will be some weekday construction activity and noise in Cedars and Ironwood areas through June. Due to this construction, walk-in campsites and their parking lot are closed, with work expected to be completed in Summer 2026.

Looking for Day Trips in and around the GTA? Click here for more!