11 Best Family Campgrounds in Ontario

Family Campgrounds in Ontario Overview

When it comes to camping for families, the first major question to ask is what part of the province you want to visit. Climates, landscapes, and even types of forest vary greatly from region to region. 

Of course, if you’re looking to spend time outside the campground, then you’ll also want to consider what family-friendly things there are to do nearby.

If you plan on staying mostly within the camp, then on-site amenities and programs are going to be high on your radar.

Top Family Campgrounds in Ontario

In this list, we’ve highlighted some of the best private family campgrounds Ontario offers as well as some of the most unique and beloved Ontario provincial parks.

Best Private Family Campgrounds in Ontario

Planning a camping trip to private family campgrounds in Ontario is an appealing choice when you’ve got kids to entertain.

A good private campground Ontario offers will have lots of amenities and programs to keep everyone cozy, comfortable, and entertained.

1. Cedar Rail Family Campground

☑️ Nearest Town: Chesley
☑️ Location: 15259 Grey Bruce Line, Chesley, ON N0G 1L0, Canada
☑️ Operating Season: May – October

Type of Camping: Trailer/RV (back-in sites, pull-through sites, serviced, unserviced), group camping, cottages

Amenities: Meeting halls and wedding venue, modern bathrooms, heated pool, river with floating play equipment, shuffleboard, volleyball/badminton, basketball, canoe/kayak/SUP equipment, games room, horseshoes, planned activities, convenience store, dog park, laundry, library

Why camp at Cedar Rail Family Campground with your family?

We love the experience the quaint countryside of Bruce County in Cedar Rail Family Campground. It’s one of the best private campgrounds in Ontario.

Guests at Cedar Rail Family Campground Ontario cannot say enough about the hospitality of the owners, and the relaxing environment they feel when at the best kid-friendly campgrounds Ontario offers, like this.

Cedar Rail has the unique feature of a floating playground on the river for the kids to keep busy on sunny summer days!

Located in southern Bruce County, the village of Chesley is a short 30-minute drive to one of Ontario’s most popular beaches, Sauble Beach. It’s also in close proximity to amazing hiking routes along the Bruce Trail.

Take an easy day trip to Collingwood, Blue Mountains, Owen Sound, or even up to Tobermory to explore the unique landscapes of the southern Georgian Bay region.

Why camp at Windmill Family Campground with your family?

Windmill Family Campground is a go-to summer getaway for so many families in southwestern Ontario, including ours. And for good reason!

As one of the best private campgrounds Ontario offers Windmill Family Campground offers a ton of amenities, activities, and events for the whole family.

There’s always something to do to keep people of all ages busy. From fireworks to yard sales to bingo, this private camping Ontario option is perfect for nightly, weekly, monthly, or seasonal camping.

It’s some of the best camping in Ontario for families and also has a 24/7 secured entry to help you feel even more relaxed with your little ones around.

Located less than an hour’s drive from London, Kitchener/Waterloo, Grand Bend, Stratford, and Goderich, there are a ton of awesome day trips nearby to take as well.

3. Rock Glen Family Resort

☑️ Nearest Town: Arkona
☑️ Location: 8685 Rock Glen Rd, Arkona, ON N0M 1B0, Canada
☑️ Operating Season: January – December

Type of Camping: Serviced sites (RV), Villa rentals

Amenities: Indoor pool, outdoor pool, splash pad, fitness center, clubhouse, tennis, basketball, pickleball, craft center, store, outdoor stage, indoor playground, patio, laundry

Why camp at Rock Glen Family Resort with your family?

Rock Glen Family Resort is a favorite member-only campground in southwestern Ontario. We love that the member-only option keeps the crowds down in the summers.

Situated right next to the hidden gem of Rock Glen Conservation Area means that you will have lots to do outdoors, from swimming in a picturesque waterfall to hiking in the lush Carolinian forest to hunting for Devonian-era fossils in the riverbed!

The resort itself also boasts lots of activities for the whole family, keeping it easy to entertain the kids while you relax beside the fire. Rock Glen is also a short drive from Grand Bend and Ipperwash Beach, making it the perfect spot for beach lovers.

4. Barrie KOA Holiday

☑️ Nearest Town: Springwater/Barrie
☑️ Location: 8685 Rock Glen Rd, Arkona, ON N0M 1B0, Canada
☑️ Operating Season: May – October

Type of Camping: Serviced sites (RV), Tent, Cabins

Amenities: Pool, concrete RV pads and landscaped patios, wifi, snack bar, dog park, fishing access, kid’s mining attraction, planned activities, gourmet coffee station

Why camp at Barrie KOA Holiday with your family?

The Barrie Area is a camping and cottaging hotspot that our family loves. Barrie KOA Holiday is the best KOA in Ontario and some of the best tent camping in Ontario, too.

Situated on Lake Simcoe and a key stop along the way to the Muskoka region, Barrie is filled with things to do both on water and on land.

This is one of the Ontario private campgrounds that boasts spacious sites perfect for RV camping, with some unique amenities and activities, like its children’s mining attraction and the beautiful Copeland Forest trails a short drive away.

Campers can choose to stay in the family section or adult-only section, which is a nice option for anyone camping without kids.

There are plenty of nature-filled day trips close to Barrie, including the hopping Wasaga Beach and the quaint beach towns of Simcoe County. 

5. West Montrose Family Camp

☑️ Nearest Town: West Montrose/Elmira
☑️ Location: 6344 Line 86, West Montrose, ON N0B 2V0, Canada
☑️ Operating Season: May – October

Type of Camping: Car camping, RV (serviced/unserviced), group camping

Amenities: Two swimming pools, canoe access to Grand River, playgrounds, volleyball nets, fishing, horseshoes, store, rec hall with events and games, kids activities

Why camp at West Montrose Family Camp with your family?

West Montrose Family Camp is a highly rated private campground for camping in Southwestern Ontario located only a short drive from many of southwestern Ontario’s best summer attractions.

It features two pools, access to the Grand River for fishing, swimming and water sports, and a fair amount of onsite amenities for guests of all ages. And it’s some of the best car camping Ontario has to offer.

The nearby Elora Gorge and Elora Quarry are prime summer outings for the whole family, offering exciting things to do like white water rafting, tubing down the Grand River, and swimming in the beautiful limestone quarry.

West Montrose Family Camp also offers picturesque views of the historic West Montrose covered “kissing bridge”, and is close to St Jacobs Market, Canada’s largest year-round farmers and flea market.

The camp has 24/7 secured entry for additional peace of mind.

Why camp at Fanshawe Conservation Area with your family?

Fanshawe Conservation Area includes 3000 acres of primarily forested land situated on Fanshawe Lake and dam, giving guests the feeling of being in a provincial park all while being so close to the city of London.

My family thinks it’s one of the best seasonal campgrounds in Ontario but also offers overnight camping.

Guests can enjoy beautiful hiking and biking trails, including the Fanshawe Lake Trail around the entire perimeter of the lake.

The conservation area also includes the unique attraction of the Pioneer Village, which features historic buildings with live reenactments and hands-on activities.

Camping so close to London also means there are a ton of easy day trips to keep your longer stays interesting. 

Why camp at Black River Wilderness Park with your family?

With 180 beautiful acres of nature in Ontario’s Simcoe County, Black River Wilderness Park is one of your more unique options for wilderness camping aside from the provincial parks. I love it!

Owned and operated by the Chippewas of Rama First Nations, Black River Wilderness Park offers the unique features of interpretive wilderness trails and an island campsite.

Plus, you can buy indigenous cultural lessons and experiences such as medicine walks, craft making, and drums and songs.

Located just an hour and a half north of Toronto, this park is a great option for a more wilderness camping experience, with the comforts you always expect in a campground. The park is also pet-friendly and has a controlled entry for safety.

Best Family Campgrounds in Ontario Provincial Parks

A family camping trip to an Ontario provincial park is one of the best ways to see Ontario’s natural beauty with the people you love most.

Below you’ll find the best Ontario provincial parks for family camping. Car camping is the most popular way to visit family campgrounds in Ontario parks.

However, backcountry camping (where available) is a fun challenge that can come with great rewards for those who want a more authentic wilderness experience.

8. Algonquin Provincial Park

☑️ Nearest Town: Varies depending on entrance
☑️ Location: Ontario 60, Ontario K0J 2M0, Canada
☑️ Operating Season: January 1 – December 31

Type of Camping: Car camping, RV (serviced/unserviced), backcountry camping, group camping, backcountry cabins, soft-sided shelter (yurt)

Amenities: Hiking and biking trails, extensive backcountry canoe and portage routes (over 2100km), canoe rentals, Discovery Program, fishing, swimming, cross-country skiing/snowshoeing trails, skating, dog sledding

Why camp at Algonquin Provincial Park with your family?

Algonquin Provincial Park is Ontario’s best backcountry camping and is a classic Canadian wilderness destination.

Perfect for the average car camping family, the ambitious canoe trippers, and even the brave winter campers, my family thinks Algonquin camping pretty well trumps it all.

With rugged bedrock islands and high rocky cliffs, natural waterfalls, and even a moose or bear sighting, there’s simply nothing like camping in the vast Algonquin Park.

A family trip to Algonquin is an excellent opportunity for bonding and for teaching your kids how to survive in the wild (even if the next campsite is just a few dozen meters away).

It’s also most popular for the endless canoe routes throughout the interior of the park and will keep even the most skilled campers on edge.

9. Pinery Provincial Park

☑️ Nearest Town: Grand Bend
☑️ Location: 9526 Lakeshore Rd, Grand Bend, ON N0M 1T0, Canada
☑️ Operating Season: January 1 – December 31

Type of Camping: Car camping (serviced/unserviced), RV, cabin, soft-sided shelter (yurt), group camping

Amenities: Hiking and biking trails, comfort stations (flush toilets, showers, laundry), store, dog beach, picnic tables and shelters, sports equipment rentals (water/land), visitor center, Discovery Program

Why camp at Pinery Provincial Park with your family?

Pinery Provincial Park (The Pinery) is a large provincial park, with over 10 km of sandy shoreline on Lake Huron.

The Pinery is a short 9 km bike ride or drive away from one of Ontario’s best beaches, Grand Bend. It’s one of the best camping in Ontario with beach options on this list!

The roads winding throughout the park are long and seemingly endless, and the bike path is just as extensive.

In fact, visitors can even bike between The Pinery and Grand Bend, which is one of the park’s biggest draws and my favorite activity!

There are also various hiking trails throughout the sand dunes ecosystems. The Old Ausable Channel runs throughout the park, offering excellent fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and SUPing opportunities, with rentals available at the park store.

Perhaps the best feature of the park is the stellar sunsets as you look out due west over Lake Huron. Our only warning is that The Pinery can be a hotspot for young adults, and you might get a bit of noise carrying over from a nearby campsite on a long weekend. 

10. Bon Echo Provincial Park

☑️ Nearest Town: Cloyne
☑️ Location: 16151 Hwy 41, Cloyne, ON K0H 1K0, Canada
☑️ Operating Season: May – October

Type of Camping: Backcountry camping, Car camping, RV (serviced/unserviced), cabin, soft-sided shelter (yurt)

Amenities: Canoe, kayak and SUP rentals, comfort stations (flush toilets, showers, laundry), hiking trails, canoe routes, interpretive boat tours to Mazinaw Rock, and indigenous pictographs

Why camp at Bon Echo Provincial Park with your family?

Bon Echo Provincial Park is known for its northeastern Ontario wilderness, including natural sandy lake beaches, tall rock cliffs, and most uniquely, the over 260 indigenous pictographs that line the 100-meter-high Mazinaw Rock.

Bon Echo offers families beautiful backcountry camping in addition to their standard sites. It’s some of the best family camping Eastern Ontario offers and one of our family’s favorites.

Bon Echo is a fantastic option for a family canoe trip (if you dare!) or for a camping trip with a history lesson on Canada’s indigenous cultures. A favorite among campers for its pure natural beauty, Bon Echo is worth the drive for those who visit!

11. Arrowhead Provincial Park

☑️ Nearest Town: Huntsville
☑️ Location: 451 Arrowhead Park Rd, Huntsville, ON P1H 2J4, Canada
☑️ Operating Season: January 1 – December 31

Type of Camping: Car camping, RV, cabins

Amenities: Comfort stations, store, dog beach, picnic shelters, sports rentals (water/land), visitor center, hiking trails, natural sandy beaches, cross-country skiing/snowshoeing trails, winter skating on the ice trail

Why camp at Arrowhead Provincial Park with your family?

Arrowhead Provincial Park is one of the highlights of the Muskoka region. A lookout over the picturesque circular forested island with its ring of water surrounding it is the main attraction for most campers.

The beauty doesn’t stop there though! The Park also boasts a beautiful natural lake for swimming, and the Stubb’s Falls trail takes you right beside a gorgeous, rushing waterfall and through a lush forest.

Additionally, for winter campers, the Ice Skating Trail (open for ‘Fire and Ice’ nights) is one of the most popular things to do in the park and a top cross-country ski destination across Ontario.

If you’re looking for family camping resorts in Ontario’s prime cottage country, Arrowhead Provincial Park should be high on your list. It’s one of the best provincial parks in Ontario for families, including mine!

How to Book a Campsite at Ontario Provincial Parks

Ontario Provincial Park camp sites can be booked online or by phone at 1-888-ONT-PARK (1-888-668-7275).

When can you start booking the best campsites in Ontario?

Ontario Parks campsites can be booked up to 5 months in advance. Most Ontario Parks kid friendly campgrounds Ontario will get a large part of their bookings well ahead of time.

The sooner you know your travel plans the better, especially if you have your eyes set on a specific type of accommodation or campsite location. 

Private campground Ontario options may have different policies and will require you to use their designated booking system to reserve.

Why is Camping Good for Families?

Camping is truly one of the most rewarding and bonding activities to do as a family! It’s an opportunity for kids (and let’s be real, adults too!) to get away from the distractions of technology and spend real face-to-face time together as a family. 

If you choose to take on a canoe trip or backcountry camping, the rewards get even greater: your kids can learn valuable life skills that are hard to be taught elsewhere.

From navigating a canoe route to learning how to filter lake water for consumption, to how to survive in the elements. It’s hard to argue that the outdoors is one of humanity’s best teachers!

While family camping does require some planning and a little more packing than the average vacation, the payoff is what keeps many families coming back to the campground year after year. 

FAQs About the Best Family Campgrounds in Ontario

Do you still have questions about the best family campgrounds in Ontario? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions.

Is Jellystone Park Camp a good place for families?

Yes, Jellystone Park Camp is a nice destination for families. The campground offers a range of activities and amenities designed to provide a fun and educational experience for visitors of all ages. The park’s peaceful setting in the middle of nature makes it the perfect place to relax and get away from it all.

Can I camp at Long Point Provincial Park?

Yes, you can camp at Long Point Provincial Park. It offers both private and public camping opportunities. Private camping spots can be reserved in advance, while public camping is first-come-first-served. Camping fees vary depending on the type of campsite you choose and how long your stay is.

What are the best family camping tents Canada has available?

The CORE Large Multi Room Tent is perfect for accommodating big families with its spacious design and high center height.

If you’re looking for great views and air circulation, the PORTAL Family Camping Tent is a fantastic option, featuring net doors, windows, and large vents.

For those who value privacy and space, the Camppal Family Tent with Two Separated Rooms offers innovative design and practicality.

Need something easy to set up? The 8 Person Camping Tent with its waterproof design and large mesh windows is a great choice.

Lastly, the stylish VEVOR Camping Tent is suitable for various outdoor adventures and can be easily set up by a single person.

Conclusion: Best Family Campgrounds in Ontario

If you came to this article looking for the single best place to camp, We’re sorry to disappoint you. Kid friendly camping Ontario options abound everywhere.

There is no one best in all the family campgrounds in Ontario. There are no best family trailer parks near me in Ontario either.

All of the best family campgrounds in Ontario on this list are here for a reason, though. They’re family friendly campgrounds that are clean, fun, and well-organized for a good time with the kiddos!

Each family’s camping interests are as diverse as the best family camping Ontario opportunities that abound throughout the province.

Regardless of which best campgrounds for kids you choose, you’re sure to have a marvelous time camping together!