The best waterside camping near Brantford

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When Wayne Gretzky was born here in 1961, nobody knew he would make his whole city famous. Now, both area buildings and streets bear his name. But there’s more to Brantford than #99. Home to the Bell Homestead—where Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone—here you can dial in all sorts of urban outdoor adventures. Buy or rent a tube and take a float down the Grand River, a lazy, all-ages ride that will fill a whole afternoon. Pedal down the local network of trails (70 kilometres) and bikeways (18 kilometres), or hit the dedicated bike park with its jumps, obstacles, and rated routes. Then settle in for a beer—Brantford is home to a number of good microbreweries.

99% (919) 17 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Brantford

Spring Arbour Magic Forest &Trails!

1. Spring Arbour Magic Forest &Trails!

97%
(359)
58km from Brantford · 13 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Pitch your tent in our picturesque Carolinian forest in the heart of Norfolk county! Choose from 9 tent sites and 1 lodging site spread across 10 acres of wooded area on our 49 Acre farm. Well-kept trails to explore throughout. We are proud to have made the runner-up list for best Hipcamp in Ontario 2023 The terrain is mostly flat but interesting. Campsites are private with good separation from each other. Sites contain a picnic table and fire pit. Campfires are permitted according to our approved burn plan before midnight. 5G/LTE cellphone service is good for Bell, Rogers and Telus networks. FREE Firewood can be gathered on the forest floor or pay for on-site pre-cut wood. Outhouses are close to campsites....but not too close 💩 Port Rowan is only 12 minutes away by car, most amenities can be purchased only 1 minute away at the local Busy Bee gas station. We are situated in the middle of a Recreation Hotspot! Our site is within 3 minutes of paddling the Big Creek, 3 to 10 minutes to several A+ hiking trails, 15 minutes to amazing freshwater beaches of Long Point and Turkey Point, and the area is abound with cycling trails, motorcycle routes, geocaching, boat launches (we have room here for your boat!), cider/wine tours, and more! We are the perfect basecamp for everything the Long Point Bay area has to offer We have some great watering holes nearby like burning kiln winery, hounds of Erie and Charlotteville brewing company. Birders Paradise! The ‘Long Point Birding Area’ in Norfolk County is one of Canada’s premier birding locales. With over 400 species of birds observed, Long Point looms large as one of the most exciting places on the continent to observe our rich birdlife. For all tourism options check out https://www.norfolkcounty.ca/visiting/ We look forward to hosting you!
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
CA$35
 / night
Hicks Haven

2. Hicks Haven

100%
(37)
65km from Brantford · 5 sites · Tents, Lodging
On Trans Canada Trail, this haven is the perfect getaway. Enjoy serene acreage bordered by ravine, farmland and apple orchards. Watch the sunset at the Sunset Lounge overlooking corn fields. If renting The Love Shack your morning coffee awaits at the Paris cafe while birds and frogs serenade you. Spend your day at the beach and return home to a hot shower and bbq. A Provincial Park pass is provided free with accommodation of The Love Shack. There is a queen sized bed and a small loveseat in the accommodation. A fully equipped kitchen, full bathroom with flush toilet and even air conditioning for those that wish. An oasis with all the comforts of home! Should you wish to tent, the property is yours to enjoy with Natures Nook. Bring your camping gear and let nature absorb your senses. There is an outhouse for tenters and a Berkey water filtration system for drinking water. There are various chairs around the property and a dining area (sitting 5) A communal firepit is available for your enjoyment. Additional tenting is available for family/friendship gatherings on the property. Life is good!
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
CA$40
 / night
Private EPIC Waterfront Group Camp

3. Private EPIC Waterfront Group Camp

100%
(7)
70km from Brantford · 1 site · Lodging
Welcome to Birdwell Bluffs, a one-of-a-kind Foraging Farm on Lake Erie offering Costal Camping experiences for PRIVATE GETAWAYS (1 to 4 people in our charming Lakefront Cabin or LARGE GROUPS (of up to 30 people!) along one of Canada's most unique shorelines. This place will be ALL YOURS! Completely SECLUDED, PRIVATE and GORGEOUS! No sharing with other campers or guests, we ONLY book to ONE Group at a time to ensure you have the BEST possible stay. As stewards of one of Canada’s most vulnerable ecological corridors, our mission is to protect and celebrate the rare biodiversity of the Costal Carolinian forest while inviting others to experience land and water in harmony. We practice light-touch agro-tourism, regenerative foraging, and place-based learning—offering immersive experiences that deepen our shared connection to nature. Every trail we walk, every plant we nurture, every bird we protect—it all begins with ecological respect and the belief that conservation is a lived relationship. The Land Perched atop massive 80-foot clay cliffs overlooking the warm, shallow waters of Lake Erie, our Foraging Farm is home to some of the most pristine shoreline left in Southern Ontario. From the sun-soaked sandy Private Beach below to the rare Carolinian forest above, Birdwell Bluffs is a sanctuary for humans and wildlife alike. Our soil is rich in natural clay, believed for generations to offer skin-soothing and detoxifying benefits. In summer, the lake warms to a silky embrace, perfect for swimming, floating, or simply watching the eagles circle overhead.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
CA$207
 / night
Maitland Shores Resort

4. Maitland Shores Resort

63km from Brantford · 3 sites · RVs, Lodging
Luxury Camping. Amenities include a private boat slip & dock, salt water pool + slide, recreational area for off-roading vehicles (atv's, side-by-sides, dirt bikes ect.) private deck, fire pit, & parking. Located on the Grand River minutes from Lake Erie whether you're travelling by land or water. The space has 2.5 bedrooms & sleeps 8 comfortably. Brand new modern trailer equipped with full kitchen & bathroom/shower, outdoor bba, wifi, cable and tv streaming services. Heat & air conditioning
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from 
CA$77
 / night
Quiet Family Horse Farm

5. Quiet Family Horse Farm

100%
(20)
64km from Brantford · 2 sites · Tents, RVs
Welcome to our quiet family horse farm!We are located on a 50-acre horse ranch in Dunnville, ON. You’ll be surrounded by wildlife such as deer, birds, and coyotes. You’ll love the tranquility of this place and as well, the occasional howling of the coyotes in the evenings! This location is minutes to local beaches, Lake Erie, and Golf courses. 5 mins to the popular restaurant on the lake.There are trails on-site for hiking and many activities to do in the area including fishing, swimming, hiking, and wildlife watching.  This is intended to be a back-to-nature tranquil experience, so no parties, no events, quiet hours are from 10 am to 7 am. Please do not enter any horse paddock or feed animals.We hope you enjoy the farm as much as we do and we look forward to hosting you!
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
CA$65
 / night
Maitland Shores

6. Maitland Shores

63km from Brantford · 1 site · Lodging
GO ON A ROAD TRIP… OR… Luxury Camping. Amenities include a private boat slip & dock, salt water pool + slide, recreational area for off-roading vehicles (atv’s, side-by-sides, dirt bikes ect.) private deck, fire pit, & parking. Located on the Grand River minutes from Lake Erie whether you’re travelling by land or water. The space has 2.5 bedrooms & sleeps 8 comfortably. Brand new modern trailer equipped with full kitchen & bathroom/shower, outdoor bbq, wifi. Heat & air conditioning.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
CA$203
 / night

When Wayne Gretzky was born here in 1961, nobody knew he would make his whole city famous. Now, both area buildings and streets bear his name. But there’s more to Brantford than #99. Home to the Bell Homestead—where Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone—here you can dial in all sorts of urban outdoor adventures. Buy or rent a tube and take a float down the Grand River, a lazy, all-ages ride that will fill a whole afternoon. Pedal down the local network of trails (70 kilometres) and bikeways (18 kilometres), or hit the dedicated bike park with its jumps, obstacles, and rated routes. Then settle in for a beer—Brantford is home to a number of good microbreweries.

99% (919) 17 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Brantford

Spring Arbour Magic Forest &Trails!

1. Spring Arbour Magic Forest &Trails!

97%
(359)
58km from Brantford · 13 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Pitch your tent in our picturesque Carolinian forest in the heart of Norfolk county! Choose from 9 tent sites and 1 lodging site spread across 10 acres of wooded area on our 49 Acre farm. Well-kept trails to explore throughout. We are proud to have made the runner-up list for best Hipcamp in Ontario 2023 The terrain is mostly flat but interesting. Campsites are private with good separation from each other. Sites contain a picnic table and fire pit. Campfires are permitted according to our approved burn plan before midnight. 5G/LTE cellphone service is good for Bell, Rogers and Telus networks. FREE Firewood can be gathered on the forest floor or pay for on-site pre-cut wood. Outhouses are close to campsites....but not too close 💩 Port Rowan is only 12 minutes away by car, most amenities can be purchased only 1 minute away at the local Busy Bee gas station. We are situated in the middle of a Recreation Hotspot! Our site is within 3 minutes of paddling the Big Creek, 3 to 10 minutes to several A+ hiking trails, 15 minutes to amazing freshwater beaches of Long Point and Turkey Point, and the area is abound with cycling trails, motorcycle routes, geocaching, boat launches (we have room here for your boat!), cider/wine tours, and more! We are the perfect basecamp for everything the Long Point Bay area has to offer We have some great watering holes nearby like burning kiln winery, hounds of Erie and Charlotteville brewing company. Birders Paradise! The ‘Long Point Birding Area’ in Norfolk County is one of Canada’s premier birding locales. With over 400 species of birds observed, Long Point looms large as one of the most exciting places on the continent to observe our rich birdlife. For all tourism options check out https://www.norfolkcounty.ca/visiting/ We look forward to hosting you!
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
CA$35
 / night
Hicks Haven

2. Hicks Haven

100%
(37)
65km from Brantford · 5 sites · Tents, Lodging
On Trans Canada Trail, this haven is the perfect getaway. Enjoy serene acreage bordered by ravine, farmland and apple orchards. Watch the sunset at the Sunset Lounge overlooking corn fields. If renting The Love Shack your morning coffee awaits at the Paris cafe while birds and frogs serenade you. Spend your day at the beach and return home to a hot shower and bbq. A Provincial Park pass is provided free with accommodation of The Love Shack. There is a queen sized bed and a small loveseat in the accommodation. A fully equipped kitchen, full bathroom with flush toilet and even air conditioning for those that wish. An oasis with all the comforts of home! Should you wish to tent, the property is yours to enjoy with Natures Nook. Bring your camping gear and let nature absorb your senses. There is an outhouse for tenters and a Berkey water filtration system for drinking water. There are various chairs around the property and a dining area (sitting 5) A communal firepit is available for your enjoyment. Additional tenting is available for family/friendship gatherings on the property. Life is good!
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
CA$40
 / night
Private EPIC Waterfront Group Camp

3. Private EPIC Waterfront Group Camp

100%
(7)
70km from Brantford · 1 site · Lodging
Welcome to Birdwell Bluffs, a one-of-a-kind Foraging Farm on Lake Erie offering Costal Camping experiences for PRIVATE GETAWAYS (1 to 4 people in our charming Lakefront Cabin or LARGE GROUPS (of up to 30 people!) along one of Canada's most unique shorelines. This place will be ALL YOURS! Completely SECLUDED, PRIVATE and GORGEOUS! No sharing with other campers or guests, we ONLY book to ONE Group at a time to ensure you have the BEST possible stay. As stewards of one of Canada’s most vulnerable ecological corridors, our mission is to protect and celebrate the rare biodiversity of the Costal Carolinian forest while inviting others to experience land and water in harmony. We practice light-touch agro-tourism, regenerative foraging, and place-based learning—offering immersive experiences that deepen our shared connection to nature. Every trail we walk, every plant we nurture, every bird we protect—it all begins with ecological respect and the belief that conservation is a lived relationship. The Land Perched atop massive 80-foot clay cliffs overlooking the warm, shallow waters of Lake Erie, our Foraging Farm is home to some of the most pristine shoreline left in Southern Ontario. From the sun-soaked sandy Private Beach below to the rare Carolinian forest above, Birdwell Bluffs is a sanctuary for humans and wildlife alike. Our soil is rich in natural clay, believed for generations to offer skin-soothing and detoxifying benefits. In summer, the lake warms to a silky embrace, perfect for swimming, floating, or simply watching the eagles circle overhead.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
CA$207
 / night
Maitland Shores Resort

4. Maitland Shores Resort

63km from Brantford · 3 sites · RVs, Lodging
Luxury Camping. Amenities include a private boat slip & dock, salt water pool + slide, recreational area for off-roading vehicles (atv's, side-by-sides, dirt bikes ect.) private deck, fire pit, & parking. Located on the Grand River minutes from Lake Erie whether you're travelling by land or water. The space has 2.5 bedrooms & sleeps 8 comfortably. Brand new modern trailer equipped with full kitchen & bathroom/shower, outdoor bba, wifi, cable and tv streaming services. Heat & air conditioning
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from 
CA$77
 / night
Quiet Family Horse Farm

5. Quiet Family Horse Farm

100%
(20)
64km from Brantford · 2 sites · Tents, RVs
Welcome to our quiet family horse farm!We are located on a 50-acre horse ranch in Dunnville, ON. You’ll be surrounded by wildlife such as deer, birds, and coyotes. You’ll love the tranquility of this place and as well, the occasional howling of the coyotes in the evenings! This location is minutes to local beaches, Lake Erie, and Golf courses. 5 mins to the popular restaurant on the lake.There are trails on-site for hiking and many activities to do in the area including fishing, swimming, hiking, and wildlife watching.  This is intended to be a back-to-nature tranquil experience, so no parties, no events, quiet hours are from 10 am to 7 am. Please do not enter any horse paddock or feed animals.We hope you enjoy the farm as much as we do and we look forward to hosting you!
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
CA$65
 / night
Maitland Shores

6. Maitland Shores

63km from Brantford · 1 site · Lodging
GO ON A ROAD TRIP… OR… Luxury Camping. Amenities include a private boat slip & dock, salt water pool + slide, recreational area for off-roading vehicles (atv’s, side-by-sides, dirt bikes ect.) private deck, fire pit, & parking. Located on the Grand River minutes from Lake Erie whether you’re travelling by land or water. The space has 2.5 bedrooms & sleeps 8 comfortably. Brand new modern trailer equipped with full kitchen & bathroom/shower, outdoor bbq, wifi. Heat & air conditioning.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
CA$203
 / night

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best waterside camping near Brantford guide

Where to go

Selkirk’s start of the show is Wheeler’s Walk Trail, an easy, 40-minute boardwalk stroll that winds through wetlands and a white pine plantation. You can also paddle along Spring Creek, or take a dip at one of two beaches (a small, sandy one, and a larger, pebbly beach on Lake Erie). 

Brant Conservation Area

Set on a big bend of the Grand River just west of town, this park offers riverbank hiking trails and two canoe launches on either side of rushing waters running over Wilkes Dam. It’s a great place for a swim, too, thanks to a huge, 1.25-acre swimming pool.

Elora Gorge

A place where the Grand River narrows and rushes over rapids below 22-metre cliffs, this major attraction offers amazing views just a little more than an hour north of Brantford. Hike along the top to take photos from several overlooks, or splash through the falls below on a kayak or tube.

One of the closest provincial parks to Brantford, the biggest attraction here is the beach, which stretches for two kilometres along Lake Erie’s Long Point Bay. You can also hike three separate trails (the longest, Fin and Feather, runs along an old hatchery pond) or hit the nearby eco-park for ziplining and axe-throwing.

When to go

One of the warmest parts of Southern Ontario, summers in Brantford tend to be hot and humid—perfect for anyone who wants to paddle or swim. It’s also the busiest season, especially on long weekends (Victoria Day in May, Canada Day on July 1, Civic Holiday in August, and Labour Day in September) when beaches and bike paths fill up. April can be rainy, but the weather warms significantly through May and June. September and October are far quieter and feature beautiful fall colours, as the seasons change. You can expect cold weather between December and March, the primary months for those who love snow.

Know before you go

  • The city is connected by the 403 freeway to the Queen Elizabeth Way (the QEW), with the latter connecting Toronto with the Niagara region along the Golden Horseshoe. The route gets very busy on Fridays and Sundays, especially in summer.
  • Brantford is serviced by VIA Rail, a train ride that comes with comfy seats and free wifi.
  • The neon lights and frozen treats at Dairee Delight have drawn crowds since 1953—people still drive from out of town to grab a cone at this local landmark.
  • You’ll always have Paris—Ontario. This charming village is just a five-minute drive away.