Lakeside camping near Markham with campfires

Markham was once a quaint town and bedroom community but has recently developed into a business and industrial centre in its own right. You’ll need to head out of town to find campgrounds, but there are plenty of natural areas to explore nearby, including hiking trails, lakes, and parts of Ontario’s protected Greenbelt.

Rouge Valley

The Rouge River winds through the suburban landscape just east of Markham and makes its way down to Lake Ontario. A large area has been designated as Rouge National Urban Park, which is free to enter (unlike other national parks) and has lots of hiking trails and forest to explore. The park contains Toronto’s only public campground, the Glen Rouge Campground near Highway 401. The park also borders the Toronto Zoo, which makes the campground a great place for a family stay. 

Musselman Lake

There are several camping options north of Markham if you drive up Highway 48. Here you’ll find lakefront parks with RV and tent camping, plus some with family amenities like kayak rentals, pools, and tennis courts. 

East Gwillimbury

Further up Highway 48 you’ll find more campgrounds and glamping sites offering tent camping, cabins, and more. 

Most of the campgrounds near Markham are seasonal and operate between May and September. Some may stay open until early October (Canadian Thanksgiving weekend). Going in May or early June will help you steer clear of the summer crowds. Plus, there are no black flies to contend with this far south.

• Markham is home to a lot of large workplaces, so rush hour traffic can be awful. Avoid arriving or leaving between 8am and 10am or between 4pm and 6pm.

• Many conservation areas near Markham have walking trails, and some feature beaches. None of the nearby conservation areas allow camping, but they are still worth a visit.
• The Markham Fair—an annual event that is held the weekend before Thanksgiving (early October)—is one of the biggest agricultural fairs in Canada. Timing your trip to experience the fair is well worth it.
• The Oak Ridges Trail is a multi-purpose trail over 160 kilometres long, which passes through Richmond Hill, north of Markham. The main trail and side trails offer lots of hiking and cycling options as well as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing when conditions are right.