Best Places to Camp in Ontario for a beginner???
 

For those that indulge in this past time, where are the best places to camp in Ontario, which of these places comes with ablution and other facilities? Also for the absolute beginner, what is a good tent to purchase for a typical family that will last a long time, budget being considered?

We are talking weekend and long weekend to start with, and then see how it goes from there.

Ta

Re: Best Places to Camp in Ontario for a beginner???
 

I don't think you can go wrong with one of the many provincial parks in Ontario. Most have good shower block facilities and a site shop for essentials. We started at Long Point on Lake Erie and have progressed to Algonquin this year :ohmy:

Re: Best Places to Camp in Ontario for a beginner???
 

Best place with good facilities in Ontario

Pinery Provincial Park on Lake Huron
For the luxury camping aspect you can always book a Yurt (may need to book a long time in advance).
The Pinery has a nice selection of beaches, three camping zones
One with electricity suitable for trailers (Riverside), one more family orientated (Dunes) and a third popular with the younger element..
Good faculties, good toilets and washrooms, bike and boat rentals on site and a small but reasonable shop and a restaurant

Re: Best Places to Camp in Ontario for a beginner???
 

What's a typical family (kids age/gender), what budget are you thinking of?
Do you have the other equipement? cooker, water container, pots,airbed etc.?

We are not the Canadian wildlife campers who like to canoe somewhere and then use the axe to get the fire wood ;) I need some comfort lol

We have been so far to Quinte Isle Camppark, Sandbanks. Very nice with pool and close to the Provincial Park.

Coles Creek State Park, NY with showers, beach, playground.

Fitzroy Provincial Park is supposed to be nice too

Re: Best Places to Camp in Ontario for a beginner???
 

We went to Killbear a couple of years ago. Also Six Mile Lake is nice.

Re: Best Places to Camp in Ontario for a beginner???
 

In the reasonably close to Ottawa category for 'car' camping, I'd recommend Bon Echo Provincial Park, Bonnecherre Provincial Park (near Killaloe, Ontario). I would avoid Silver Lake Provincial Park as it is very close to Hwy 7 and its noise. If you just want to try it out close to home, Fitzroy Harbour Provincial Park or Rideau River Provincial Park are close to Ottawa.

Re: Best Places to Camp in Ontario for a beginner???
 

Nina.....we will like some comfort as well, we don't have a canoe and don't like to use an axe either :D

We don't have the cooker, tent and airbed yet, but plan to purchase this items once we figure out which equipment is best and will last longer.

We are a family of 2 adults, a teenager and a toddler. We will rather not drive for hours from our Ottawa location. I like the idea of driving to the U.S side, especially if we can make a shopping out of it.

Ta

Re: Best Places to Camp in Ontario for a beginner???
 

If you're going to head to the US...I'd head to the Adirondacks..years and years ago I went here

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/24482.html

there is lots to do in Saranac Lake and Lake Placid

Re: Best Places to Camp in Ontario for a beginner???
 

Super tame but St Lawrence park in Brockville has bogs / showers / beach etc and you can walk to downtown for fish and chips at Dons. Close to Thousand island bridge for shopping in Watertown.

Re: Best Places to Camp in Ontario for a beginner???
 

I agree with the poster who suggested Bon Echo..
You can stay in a busy campsite with good facilities and walk to the beach or drive deeper into the woods (5km) and stay in a quieter site or you can rent a canoe and paddle to your site on another part of the park. am not sure of each campsites name but check out the website. really is a spectacular park.

Re: Best Places to Camp in Ontario for a beginner???
 

If you want one close to home how about this.
http://ottawacampground.ca/Contact.html

Re: Best Places to Camp in Ontario for a beginner???
 

Adirondacks is great (Lake Placid, Lake Champlain) but at least 3.5 hours from Ottawa plus boarder stuff. Nice for 4 or 5 nights but wouldn't do the trip just for a weekend. Esp. with younger kids.

Re: Best Places to Camp in Ontario for a beginner???
 

Nina...did you get my response to your post in another thread? If you don't mind sending me a pm about the questions I asked please

Ta