Top-rated campgrounds
Top-rated campgrounds
Stories from the community
The best star host camping near Collingwood guide
Where to go
Georgian Bay
On the northeastern arm of Lake Huron, Georgian Bay spans 15,000 square kilometres, making it the largest freshwater archipelago in the world. Also known as the 30,000 Islands, Georgian Bay features picturesque blue waters ideal for swimming, fishing, sailing, paddling, and even scuba diving. Look to the air for bald eagles, prairie warblers, monarch butterflies, and mouse-eared bats. Book an oTENTik (a raised canvas tent crossed with an A-frame cabin) at Georgian Bay Islands National Park—these permanent structures are great for families with two queen-sized and one double-sized bed each.
Highlands Nordic
Dubbed Ontario’s premier cross country ski centre, Highlands Nordic is a full winter destination for snowshoeing and skate skiing, too. Campers can warm up by the fireplace in the chalet after a day out on the groomed trails, but thanks to its setting on the Niagara Escarpment, Highlands Nordic isn’t just for snow seekers. The rest of the year, mountain bikers find thrills across challenging terrain (rent bikes on-site or bring your own), as well as 25 kilometres of hiking trails for all ability levels across 800 acres of meadows, hills, and forest. For a more leisurely activity, try disc golf. Nearby cozy cabins and modern lakeside cottages provide creature comforts, while RV parks and tent camping sites sit near Lake Huron.
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
The busiest provincial park in Ontario, Wasaga Beach welcomes over 1.5 million visitors every year and features 50 kilometres of hiking trails that pass through forest, sand dunes, and wetlands. Guided birdwatching tours, nature walks, and children’s programs give depth to the area’s natural story, too. Summer is especially popular for sunbathers, swimmers, and beach volleyball players, where the beach often reaches capacity by mid-morning on weekends. Visitors must buy a daily vehicle permit or Ontario parks seasonal pass, but once you’re here, stay at one of the park’s 300 campsites in wooded areas with easy beach and park access ranging from primitive tent campsites to trailers, RV parks, yurts, and cabins.
When to go
Warm and sunny summer months are especially popular for basking in the sunshine on the shores of Lake Huron. This also brings the crowds, especially to Wasaga Beach on the weekends. Hipcampers are encouraged to plan accordingly or look for more remote campsites. Typically, camping season runs from late May to early October. For a cooler, quieter trip, plan for an early fall visit instead.