Canada / Ontario
Campervan Rental Ontario Lakes, Shield Country and Fall Colors
Ontario's camping revolves around the Canadian Shield — granite, pine forests and thousands of lakes. Toronto is eastern Canada's main rental hub with all fleet companies and strong peer-to-peer options. Algonquin Provincial Park is the crown jewel. Muskoka cottage country is the weekend escape. Fall foliage season (late September to mid-October) rivals New England — and gets a fraction of the tourists.
Ontario Rental Options
| Platform | Pricing (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise Canada | $150-$375/night | GTA depot, one-way to Montreal or Halifax |
| CanaDream | $140-$375/night | Newer vehicles, good family options |
| RVshare | $110-$300/night | Strong Ontario selection, trailers available |
| Outdoorsy | $120-$325/night | Growing Ontario inventory |
Best Road Trips in Ontario
Algonquin Provincial Park
3 hours north of Toronto on Highway 60. 3-5 days minimum. Ontario's oldest and most famous park — 7,653 sq km of forests, rivers and lakes. Moose are common along the Highway 60 corridor at dawn. The park has 8 drive-in campgrounds. Mew Lake and Pog Lake are the best for RVs ($40-$47 CAD/night with electric). Canoe trips into the interior are the real Algonquin experience — 2,000+ km of canoe routes. The Visitor Centre has a viewing deck and interpretive exhibits. Fall colors in late September are spectacular. Wolf howling programs on Thursday evenings in August are unforgettable.
Bruce Peninsula and Tobermory
3 hours northwest of Toronto. 3-5 days. The Grotto — a stunning turquoise sea cave on Georgian Bay — is the headliner. Parks Canada limits access with timed entry reservations (book early). Cyprus Lake campground in Bruce Peninsula National Park ($28 CAD/night, books 5 months ahead). The Bruce Trail runs the full length of the peninsula — Canada's oldest marked hiking trail. Tobermory at the tip has glass-bottom boat tours over shipwrecks in Fathom Five National Marine Park. Take the Chi-Cheemaun ferry to Manitoulin Island for a side trip — the world's largest freshwater island.
Muskoka
2.5 hours north of Toronto. Weekend or 3-4 days. Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and Huntsville are the main towns. Lake of Bays and Lake Muskoka have dozens of access points for swimming, paddling and boat cruises. Arrowhead Provincial Park has good RV sites ($40 CAD). The Muskoka Steamships cruise is a classic experience. Less wilderness than Algonquin but more accessible with better town amenities — craft breweries, bakeries and restaurants. Summer weekends are packed. Go mid-week or in September for a better experience.
Killarney Provincial Park
5 hours north of Toronto. 3-5 days. The La Cloche mountains are white quartzite ridges that inspired the Group of Seven painters. The Crack trail is a steep scramble to a panoramic viewpoint (6 km return). George Lake campground has RV sites ($40-$47 CAD). Killarney is less accessible than Algonquin — fewer crowds and more wilderness feel. Canoe and kayak the Georgian Bay shoreline. The town of Killarney has one restaurant (Herbert Fisheries) famous for fish and chips. No cell service in the park. That's the point.
Thousand Islands
3 hours east of Toronto along Highway 401. 2-3 days. 1,864 islands on the St. Lawrence River straddling the US-Canada border. Boldt Castle boat tour ($31 CAD) from Gananoque. Ivy Lea campground in Thousand Islands National Park. Kingston (halfway there) is worth a full day — Fort Henry, the waterfront and excellent restaurants. Continue east to Ottawa or Montreal for a longer eastern Canada route. One-way rentals to Montreal are available from most fleet companies.
Ontario Camping Tips
- → Ontario Parks booking is ruthless. Ontario Parks opens reservations 5 months ahead. Popular parks (Algonquin, Killarney, Bruce Peninsula) sell out within hours of opening. Set calendar reminders and book at 7am on opening day. ontarioparks.com. Weekday stays are much easier to get than weekends.
- → Traffic leaving Toronto is brutal. Friday afternoon on the 400-series highways heading north is one of the worst traffic situations in Canada. Leave Thursday evening or early Friday morning. Saturday departures are much easier. Google Maps live traffic is your friend.
- → Ontario has limited free camping. Unlike BC or Alberta, Ontario doesn't have widespread Crown land camping near popular areas. Provincial parks ($35-$50 CAD/night) are your main option. Some Crown land areas north of Highway 17 allow free camping — check the Ontario Crown Land Atlas. Private campgrounds ($40-$70 CAD/night) fill the gaps.
- → Fall colors are world-class. Late September through mid-October. Algonquin's Highway 60 corridor and Muskoka put on a show that rivals Vermont. Rentals are cheaper than summer and campgrounds are quieter. The color change starts north and moves south over 3-4 weeks.
- → Bug season is real. Blackflies (May-June) and mosquitoes (June-August) are fierce in Ontario's north. Bug spray with DEET, head nets for hiking and choosing campsites with a breeze all help. By September, bugs are minimal and the experience is dramatically more pleasant.
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