Eastern Ontario is where the Canadian Shield meets the St. Lawrence lowlands, and the camping here reflects that transition. You get Sandbanks' enormous freshwater sand dunes on Lake Ontario, Bon Echo's 100-metre cliff face on Mazinaw Lake, Charleston Lake's clear water and ancient limestone, and Frontenac's 54 backcountry sites on the Shield's southern edge. The range is wider than any other Ontario camping region, and much of it is accessible via Highway 401 -- the most-travelled highway in the country.
Sandbanks has the best freshwater beaches in Canada. That is not marketing language; it is a simple fact that anyone who has walked Outlet Beach comes to accept. The Outlet Beach is a Blue Flag beach stretching kilometres along Lake Ontario -- fine sand, shallow water that stays wadeable for 50+ metres. Lakeshore Beach has a gentle slope ideal for young children. Dunes Beach has a steep drop-off that catches people off guard, and the swimming area is the smallest of the three.
Campgrounds: Five campgrounds with 500+ sites. Outlet River A has the most waterfront-adjacent sites but they are packed close. Woodlands has 15-30 amp electrical at every site (the RV favourite). Outlet River B, Cedars, and Richardson's offer additional options. The entire park is in Prince Edward County, giving you access to farm stands, wineries, Slickers ice cream in Picton, and the County's considerable small-town charm.
The problems: Sandbanks is arguably the hardest park to book in Ontario. Poison ivy is everywhere on the dunes between parking and beach -- Ontario Parks does not remove it because it stabilizes the dunes. Day-use parking fills by 10 AM on summer weekends, even with a campsite. Lake Ontario's water stays cold until late June and can have cold upwellings through July.
Bon Echo's centrepiece is Mazinaw Rock: 100 metres of cliff rising straight from Mazinaw Lake with 260+ Indigenous pictographs, some over 1,000 years old. The canoe paddle to the rock base (45 minutes each way, rentals available) is one of Ontario's signature experiences. Even teenagers who have declared camping boring tend to find the cliff impressive.
Mazinaw Lake Campground: Three loops. Sawmill Bay has five walk-in sites on the lake, with site 160 offering a direct Mazinaw Rock view. Midway is radio-free -- genuinely quieter nights. Fairway is the most conventional. Exploration Tents in Sawmill Bay sleep five on a platform (good for families not ready for full tent camping). Yurts have bunk beds, propane BBQ, electricity, and electric heat -- barrier-free.
North Beach has the best swimming with the cliff as backdrop. The Abes and Essens Trail offers good hiking. Ontario Parks has capped stays at seven days at Bon Echo, same as Killbear and Sandbanks, to combat reservation hoarding.
Charleston Lake is one of the most underrated parks in Ontario. The lake is clear, deep, and full of islands, coves, and reefs. The car-camping sites are roomy, well-treed, and arranged in loops (not grids) with genuine privacy between neighbours. The rock formations along the lakeshore have fossils embedded in ancient limestone.
Five hiking trails (Tallow Rock, Sandstone, Shoreline, Hemlock Ridge, and Beech) are all excellent and distinctly different from each other. Paddling is outstanding with sheltered coves and island-hopping routes. The park rarely fills to capacity even in peak season, which makes it the reliable backup when Sandbanks, Bon Echo, and Killbear are booked solid.
The warnings: Bring serious bug spray -- mosquitoes can be fierce. Do not leave food out at night. The raccoons at Charleston Lake are numerous, bold, and experienced at raiding camp kitchens. They are not afraid of you. Secure your food properly or you will be feeding the local wildlife.
Frontenac is backcountry camping on the southern edge of the Canadian Shield, only a few hours from Toronto, Ottawa, or Montreal. 54 campsites across 19 locations, all accessible by hiking trail (some also by paddle). Over 120 km of well-maintained trails and 20+ lakes. Year-round access.
The honest assessment: Frontenac's signage is poor. Signs indicate campsite locations but not distances or which loop you are on. Always bring a park map (available at the gatehouse) and do not rely on trail signs alone. The trails vary significantly in difficulty -- some are gentle, others involve significant elevation changes and rocky terrain. The reward is genuinely quiet backcountry camping within a few hours of major cities.
Presqu'ile sits on Lake Ontario near Brighton with 300+ sites, a beach, and a lighthouse. Rated 9.1/10 on RV LIFE. The park is best known for birding -- it is a major stopover on migration routes. Over half the sites have electrical hookups. Cell reception is poor throughout the park. The camp store covers basics. Some vault toilets are dated. A good overnight stop for 401 corridor travellers and a comfortable weekend destination for families from the GTA or Ottawa.
If you are camping at Sandbanks, budget time for Prince Edward County itself. The farm-to-table restaurants, craft breweries and wineries, antique shops, and small-town character make the County a destination beyond the beach. Picton is the main town -- small, walkable, with good food and a friendly atmosphere. The County adds a dimension to a Sandbanks trip that no other campground location in Ontario can match.
For family campground comparisons, see our family-friendly guide. For waterfront-specific recommendations, check waterfront campgrounds. For the Ottawa Valley parks accessible from Eastern Ontario, see our Ottawa Valley guide.
Sandbanks is the hardest park to book in Ontario. Our guide has the strategy.
Booking Guide