Parks in southeastern Ontario are a favorite of many and offer a variety of landscapes, bodies of water and fun activities.
But they can be very busy, especially on weekends, with both campers and hikers.
Did you have trouble getting a weekend spot at your favorite park? Consider a midweek camping trip!
Avoid the weekend crowds and book a relaxing trip to one of these gems:
Murphy’s Point Provincial Park
1.25 hours from Kingston or Ottawa
Murphys Point is known for its beautiful natural setting on Big Rideau Lake, excellent fishing, wildlife viewing, and Discovery programming.
With two beaches, hiking trails, and rentals available, there are activities for every camper.
Experience a variety of Discovery programming for the whole family to enjoy!
Evening programs, children’s programs and guided walks through the Silver Queen Mine are offered throughout the summer season.
Hogg Bay Campground is ideal for trailers, with a selection of electric campsites and conveniently located close to the main beach and children’s play area. Hogg Bay also offers electric and non-electric sites ideal for tent campers.
Hardwood Campground offers non-electric campsites suitable for smaller trailers and tents, with good privacy and spacious sites. Fallows Campground offers unpowered camping in a mature forest setting.
Ferris Provincial Park
1.5 hours from Kingston and just over 2 hours from Toronto
Home to the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge, Ferris offers magnificent panoramic views of the river, excellent hiking trails and is close to nearby city amenities.
See the best views from the River Gorge Trail, a 3.5km loop that takes you along the riverbank and across the bridge – a must-see while camping in the park!
Ferris has two campgrounds: Valleyview and Bedrock.
Valleyview Loop is located on a forested drumlin, and some campsites offer views of the Trent River Valley.
Bedrock Loop has several electric campsites and is just a short walk from the playground and day use picnic areas.
Both campgrounds offer sites that accommodate large trailers.
Ferris is a great base camp for exploring Northumberland County and day trips to nearby Presqu’ile Provincial Park.
Silver Lake Provincial Park
Just over 1 hour north of Kingston and just over 1 hour south of Ottawa
If you can’t get enough water when you’re camping, look no further than Silver Lake!
Known for its canopy of mature mixed hardwoods, this park is located on the picturesque clear waters of Silver Lake, between Sharbot Lake and Perth along Highway 7.
The park has two sandy beaches, a boat launch, and offers canoe, kayak, and paddleboard rentals for endless opportunities to explore and enjoy the water.
New and experienced anglers enjoy excellent fishing opportunities where they can catch trout, pike and bass.
Be sure to also enjoy a walk along the Marsh Trail (0.5 km), where a boardwalk takes you through the marsh and into the upland forest.
Silver Lake Campground has three camping loops: Wesley, which offers electric pull-through sites, as well as Dawson and Algonquin which offer tent campsites, many of which have water views.
Rideau River Provincial Park
40 minutes from Ottawa and 1.5 hours from Kingston
The Rideau River is known for its large campgrounds, lush greenery, and well-maintained beaches overlooking the historic Rideau Canal.
Just 40 minutes from downtown Ottawa, it’s a great destination to explore everything the nation’s capital has to offer!
Visitors love to fish, paddle, and boat on the Rideau River.
Canoe, kayak and paddle board rentals are available. PFDs are available to borrow through our PFD Loan Program.
For those who want to write to us, borrow gear for free with Tackleshare!
Visit a walk-in discovery program and hike the Shoreline Trail to spot wildlife and explore the park.
With nearly 200 campsites nestled in mature forests, you’ll find plenty of peace, quiet, and summer fun when you book your midweek visit to the Rideau River.