A Guide To Prince Edward County Camping: The Best Campgrounds, Backcountry Camping Info & More!

Prince Edward County is a wonderful island in Lake Ontario with 800 kilometers of seashore, quaint towns and hamlets, and plenty of wildlife spotting and hiking opportunities to discover. With all of that going on, it’ll come as no surprise that camping in Prince Edward County is very popular.

Thankfully, Prince Edward County campgrounds are well-known for providing a memorable outdoor vacation, something we’ve experienced ourselves. And now we want to share our knowledge with you!

As we know this place so well, we’ve decided to share with you our favorite Prince Edward County campgrounds below (for tents and RVs). All will bring you breathtaking views and wonderful adventures in one of Canada’s most beautiful spots.

We then give you information on backcountry camping in Prince Edward County and the rules around it, then offer some bear safety tips.

And finally, if you’re travelling with kids (or you’re a fun adult!), we have our very own ‘scavenger hunt’ game that’s perfect for camping in Prince Edward County. That’s right at the bottom of this article and you can print it out for free.

So read on to begin your Prince Edward County camping adventure!

The Best Campgrounds In Prince Edward County For Fun, Views & Adventure!

1. Sandbanks Provincial Park

Located on the beaches of Lake Ontario in Prince Edward County’s gorgeous southern reaches is Sandbanks Provincial Park. The park campsite is just three hours away from Toronto and a little over 3 hours away from Ottawa, but provides a wonderful opportunity to get away from city life and into the peace and quiet of rural PEC.

Bordered by beautiful fields, wineries, and quaint old villages, this park is in an exceptional location. And as it sits right on the shoreline, the campground itself has knockout views and is one of the most sought-after campgrounds in Prince Edward County.

The campground has 900 feet of coastline on West Lake and also has direct access to the Sandbanks Provincial Park’s sand dunes, as well as three different beaches. One of those, Outlet Beach is perfect for families, as it has shallow waters and a gentle drop off.

There’s around 500 vehicle accessible campsites here that can accommodate anything from tents to huge trailers. Some of those have absolutely fantastic pitches right beside the beach. Water faucets, toilets, showers, and laundry services are all available and well maintained.

Activities You Can Do On-Site & Close By

This campground sits right beside the water so you can go swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding and more. Or just relax on the beach and watch your kids make sandcastles and have fun!

There’s also ten miles of hiking trails to explore and enjoy in the park. Or if you fancy something a little more leisurely, to the north of the park are many different wineries where you can do wine tours and tastings.

Rates: From $40 per night

Address: 3004 County Rd 12, Picton, ON, KOK 2TO Canada

2. Quinte’s Isle Campark

This campground has been family-owned for almost 40 years, and is just minutes away from Sandbanks Provincial Park. That means it’s close to everything the park offers, but as it also sits alongside 1.25 miles of shoreline, it has its own stunning views and lakeside access.

There’s large, tree-shaded spacious sites that are 42-foot x 80-foot, so they can easily accommodate big rigs. Hookups for water, sewer, and electricity (30/50 amp) are available, or you can choose no hookups at all – it’s your choice!

Regardless, there’s plenty of space with over 600 sites for tents or RVs. There’s also three spacious, spotless washrooms with toilet facilities and coin-operated hot showers.

That’s not where the facilities end though! There’s basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts, a coin-operated laundry and even a small shop that provide snacks, drinks, firewood, and RV parts if you are in need.

With all of that, and more (as you’ll see below), this is easily one of the best Prince Edward County camping options for views, fun and facilities!

Activities You Can Do On-Site & Close By

Alongside those sport courts there’s plenty more on site to enjoy!

There’s a recreation hall where you can play board games and video games, a large pool with water features to splash around in, and even a rock-climbing wall.

There are also activities planned throughout the day, as well as evening entertainment and social events.

And if you find the time to leave this campground after all of that, then there’s miles of hiking trails nearby to try out, lots of watersports on the water, and plenty of wineries to try too!

Rates: From $48 per night

Address: 237 Salmon Point Rd, Cherry Valley, ON K0K 1P0

3. Smugglers Cove RV Resort

Situated in the South Bay beachfront in Prince Edward County, the 28-acre Smugglers Cove RV Resort is located just an hour’s drive from Highway 401 or around 20 minutes from downtown Picton.

The park infrastructure and amenities are modern and well maintained, and their spacious green sites provide you with plenty of space to sprawl out, relax, and take in the pleasant surroundings.

And those surroundings really are fantastic! There’s loads of open space, lots of birdwatching opportunities and direct beach and water access.

The aptly-named waterfront row will bring you superb waterside views and is set aside for short term RVers, so anyone who is holidaying at the resort has a chance of grabbing a site there.

Expect great facilities, lots of things to do on-site, and lovely sunset views (see the picture below!).

Activities You Can Do On-Site & Close By

Smugglers Cove pretty much has everything you will need for a fantastic RV vacation.

They’re right on the water so you have access to beach activities, but also there’s a great pool on-site too.

This Prince Edward County camping option also has basketball nets, volleyball, horseshoe pits, a kid’s playground, and a rec center where activities are held.

Off-site there’s plenty of hiking and fishing opportunities, and Picton with its theatre, restaurants and bars is just a short drive away.

Rates: From $51 per night

Address: 3187 County Rd 13, Picton, ON K0K 2T0

4. East Shore Campark

East Shore Campark began as a fishing camp over 40 years ago and has since evolved into a great getaway – especially for anglers.

This campground sits on the east end of Consecon Lake. The lake has a wide and varied ecosystem and is known for its outstanding fishing where there’s plenty of Rock Bass and Yellow Perch among other species.

With fishing at its heart, this campground has boat launch and dock facilities, as well as a fish hut with cleaning and disposal facilities for fish waste.

The campground is conveniently placed near many local services, yet it also offers exceptional solitude, serenity, and quiet. Cycling, hiking, and horseback riding are all possible on the surrounding lovely rural roads.

The campsites themselves are available for both tents and RVs, and shared facilities include recently refurbished washrooms with showers, a recreation center, a children’s play area and more.

It’s a very social place with lots going on (see below) and some spectacular sunsets. It really is the perfect Prince Edward County camping option for keen anglers.

Activities You Can Do On-Site & Close By

There’s plenty of fun things to do on-site other than fishing! There’s a swimming pool, shuffleboard court, horseshoe pits, and a rec hall which has a variety of indoor activities like darts, satellite TV, board games, a library, and pool tables.

The East Shore Camparks’ Recreation Association hosts a variety of social events for campers and visitors on this campground too. Expect weekly card tournaments, dancing, game nights, toasted marshmallows around campfires, and special long-weekend events.

They have a big Labor Day weekend event with a massive BBQ and live music and lots of dancing. So if your Prince Edward County camping vacation is around Labor Day, East Shore Campark could be a great choice.

This campground is also located in the wineries district of Prince Edward County so it’s easy to find a good glass or wine tour after a fun day of fishing!

Rates: From $35 per night

Address: 181 Melville Rd, Consecon, ON K0K 1T0, Canada

5. County Shores

The family run County Shores campground is located on farm that has been in the same family for over ten generations! It’s a special place with approximately 1300 feet of shoreline that offers spectacular views of the Bay of Quinte and its famous sunsets.

The campsites at the campground are spacious and green and many have beautiful views of the shore and water.

They have serviced sites with convenient access for large RVs (including pull-thru sites), and the campground itself is only 15 kilometres from Highway 401.

There’s also non-serviced sites that are great for campers who want to unplug totally and are camping in a tent or small trailer.

Activities You Can Do On-Site & Close By

This campground has direct beach and water access so there’s plenty of outside activities to take part in. They even have their own harbor and docks where you can launch your boat or try your hand at fishing for Walleye, Pike or Bass.

There’s lots of open space at County Shores to play games, picnic and have fun. Plus there’s plenty of hikes in the surrounding area too, including in nearby Sandbanks Provincial Park.

Rates: From $40 per night

Address: 2281 Prince Edward Road 15 (Northport Road) Picton, ON K0K 2T0

6. Accommodating Bay Trailer Park & Campground

Set in magnificent surroundings with forest and lakeside sites and views, Accommodating Bay Trailer Park & Campground is a fantastic Prince Edward County camping option.

The staff here are welcoming and kind and the setting feels rural and rustic – yet the facilities are anything but.

Hot showers, washers and dryers, full electricity and water hookup sites, a swimming area, as well as docking and mooring amenities are all available at Accommodating Bay. Those facilities are very well maintained, although the RV spots have just 30amp plugs, so you may require a converter.

Activities You Can Do On-Site & Close By

This Prince Edward County campground is perfect for anyone who wants direct water access for fishing and sailing. It’s also ideal if you’re looking for a place in nature for some rest and tranquillity.

Waupoos Estates Winery is a must-see for wine lovers and is within walking distance of this campground. This winery was the very first vineyard established in Prince Edward County (back in 1993) and is situated on a gorgeous 100-acre waterfront property. Today, Waupoos has 20 acres of excellent vineyards with 18 different varieties and has produced some award winning wines.

Rates: From $46 per night

Address: R.R. #2 505 Morrison Pt. Road, Milford, ON K0K 2T0

Backcountry Camping In Prince Edward County & Canada: What You Need To Know

DISCLAIMER: Below we give general advice, but we always recommend staying in an official campsite. If you choose to go backcountry camping/dispersed camping, then make sure you do so with someone who already knows the area where you’re planning on camping for your own safety.

Backcountry camping, also known as wild camping, is generally tolerated in Canada. Although there are certain areas you are prohibited from camping in. These include:

• National Parks
• Cities
• Provincial Parks

Ontario also prohibits camping in nature reserves. It’s worth mentioning that rangers and conservation officers do patrol regularly and will hand out hefty fines to people backcountry camping in these prohibited areas.

Sometimes it is possible to purchase a ‘backcountry’ camping permit. That would then allow you to camp in a park outside of an official campground. Not all parks offer them – and they’re not widely advertised. If there’s somewhere you wish to camp, then get in contact with local authorities to see if these are available.

As for where you are allowed to camp, Canadian residents can camp for free on Crown Land – which is publicly owned land. Thankfully 89% of land in Canada is classed as ‘Crown Land’. However much of that is still off limits – National Parks and Provincial Parks, for example, are also Crown Land.

In general: If land is publicly owned, it’s not one of the prohibited areas that we listed above, and you are far from settlements – you’re likely to be on Crown Land that can be camped on for free. However, keep an eye on local maps for confirmation, and obey any signs that say camping is prohibited

There are rules for backcountry camping on Crown Land, however:

• You may camp in the same place for 21 days only in one calendar year.

• After 21 days you must move to a place at least 100m away if you wish to continue camping.

• While free for citizens and Canadian residents, non-residents must obtain a permit to wild camp on Crown Land.

Camping In Prince Edward County: Bear Safety

Like many areas of Canada, there are a few bears roaming around Prince Edward County. While encounters are extremely rare, you must take steps to avoid attracting them to your campsite. 

With that being the case we advise:

• If you have a vehicle nearby, store food there rather than in a tent.
• Use a bear box or bear canister to store food, rubbish, and anything with a scent.
• Don’t pitch your tent near where food is being stored.
• Never approach any bear, regardless of its size.
• Don’t spray anything with a scent – that can attract bears.

Camping In Prince Edward County: Scavenger Hunt Game!

If you’re looking to keep kids amused while camping in Prince Edward County – or you fancy having some fun for yourself – then we’ve created a printable scavenger hunt game!

Save the image and print it out. Then tick off what you find and achieve during your camping holiday.

The game encourages players to get out and discover wildlife and nature, as well as make new friends and do fun camping activities. Enjoy!