Looking to experience the magic of an overnight visit to Algonquin Provincial Park for yourself? Each of these nine Algonquin Park campgrounds is situated beside an unspoiled lake and nestled amid the park’s famous hardwood and pine forests. We’ve also included a private camping option that’s rich with amenities and just minutes from Algonquin Park’s West Gate. All nine campgrounds are centrally located along Algonquin’s popular Highway 60 corridor and easily accessed within a 3- to 4-hour drive of Toronto.
[This article is part of the Ultimate Algonquin Park Travel Guide. Find all the resources you need to plan an adventure-filled trip to Algonquin Park.]
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Algonquin Park campgrounds
Rock Lake Campground
Rock Lake Campground lays farther off Highway 60 than any other developed Algonquin Provincial Park camping areas. Accessed via an 8-km gravel road, the campground occupies two pine-shaded points of land on the northeast shore of beautiful Rock Lake. What these campsites lack in seclusion from your camping neighbours (or day-trippers travelling along Rock Lake Road), they more than make up for with breathtaking views, a stunning sandy beach and sublime canoeing opportunities on island- and cliff-studded Rock Lake. The campground is also a short walk from the start of the wonderful Booth’s Rock Trail. Cyclists enjoy direct access to the eastern end of the 16-km Old Railway Bike Trail.
Rock Lake Campground is located 8 kilometres south of KM 40 on Highway 60. Amenities include 121 campsites, electrical sites and a comfort station with flush toilets, showers and laundry facilities. Those seeking a secluded camping experience should look elsewhere; however the open nature of this camping area means everyone gets to enjoy the spectacular views and sunsets. Open mid-May to mid-October.
Best campsites in Algonquin Park for: canoeing, hiking, cycling and sunsets.
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Coon Lake Campground
Tiny Coon Lake Campground is the most rustic of Algonquin Park’s Highway 60 camping areas. For those who enjoy an old-fashioned camping experience, Coon Lake offers an added bonus: a little-known side trail links campers to the Centennial Ridges Trail, a breathtaking 10-km loop that offers day-hikers what many consider the finest views in Algonquin Park. Trailheads for the equally lovely Booth’s Rock Trail and the Old Railway Bike Trail lay just down the road.
Accessed via gravel Rock Lake Road, 6 kilometres south of KM 40 on Highway 60, Coon Lake Campground offers 48 non-electrical sites and basic amenities. Campers hoping for more than a vault toilet must travel 2 kilometres south to Rock Lake Campground for shared shower and laundry facilities. Open mid-May to early September.
Best campsites in Algonquin Park for: rustic peace and quiet, tent or van camping, hiking Centennial Ridges Trail.
Pog Lake Campground
Largest of the eight Algonquin Park vehicle camping areas found along Highway 60, Pog Lake Campground encompasses sprawling pine forest and generous lake and river shoreline. All of the 286 well-spaced campsites here are within a short stroll of the water, and many are perched right beside Pog Lake. This campground also boasts two beaches, direct access to the Old Railway Bike Trail and peaceful canoeing along the Madawaska River to Lake of Two Rivers or Whitefish and Rock Lakes.
Accessed from Highway 60 at KM 37, Pog Lake Campground accommodates everything from tents to large recreational vehicles. Over 100 sites offer electrical hook-ups, there is a dedicated loop for radio- and dog-free camping, and three large comfort stations have flush toilets, showers and laundry facilities. Those seeking an exceptionally secluded camping experience should reserve campsites in Pog Lake Campground’s Section C. Open May long weekend and mid-June to early September.
Best campsites in Algonquin Park for: greatest campsite selection, waterfront campsite views, canoeing and cycling.
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Kearney Lake Campground
Tucked across the highway from Pog Lake, the much smaller Kearney Lake Campground offers two loops of campsites on either side of Kearney Creek at the head of clean, clear Kearney Lake. Two fine swimming beaches, easy access to the park’s family-friendly Old Railway Bike Trail and a more rustic camping experience are the highlights here.
Located just north of Highway 60 at KM 36.5, Kearney Lake Campground has 104 campsites, flush toilets and showers. This campground does not offer electrical hook-ups, but some sites can accommodate recreational vehicles. Open May long weekend and mid-June to early September.
Best campsites in Algonquin Park for: swimming, family cycling and rustic camping.
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Lake of Two Rivers Campground
The oldest and best known of Algonquin Park campgrounds, Lake of Two Rivers Campground features an excellent swimming beach and central location close to many park attractions. Lake of Two Rivers is an excellent starting point for canoeists—from the campground, you can paddle up the Madawaska River toward Cache Lake or across Lake of Two Rivers into Pog Lake and beyond. Meanwhile, cyclists enjoy direct access to the Old Railway Bike Trail, with bicycle rental and repair available right at the campground entrance.
Located near KM 32 adjacent to Highway 60, Lake of Two Rivers Campground offers 241 campsites—many with electrical hook-ups suitable for larger RVs. Amenities include flush toilets, showers and laundry facilities, as well as the Two Rivers Store, which has groceries, camping and fishing supplies. The campground’s open white pine forest means campers should expect less seclusion than other Algonquin Park campsites. Highway traffic noise can also be heard at some sites. Open May to late October.
Best campsites in Algonquin Park for: bike and canoe rentals without leaving your campground plus easy-access routes for both. Watching the sunrise.
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Mew Lake Campground
Mew Lake Campground is Algonquin’s only campground open year-round, making it perfect for those who want to experience the park in all four seasons. For those who love snow, but aren’t ready to try camping in the cold, Mew Lake also has a handful of heated yurts available for rent. Don’t forget your ice skates and hockey sticks—when temperatures remain below freezing, the park maintains a lighted, outdoor ice rink for campers near the comfort station.
Two exceptional trails are accessible directly from the campground: bring bicycles (or rent bikes at the adjacent Two Rivers Store) to enjoy a leisurely ride along the 16-km Old Railway Bike Trail. Ride to the west end of the bike trail, then hike up the Track and Tower Trail to take in a premier vista of Algonquin Provincial Park. During snow season, the Railway Trail is groomed for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and fat-biking.
Centrally located at KM 30 on the Highway 60 corridor, Mew Lake Campground offers all modern amenities as well as seven yurt rentals. Many of the campground’s 131 campsites are tucked beneath towering white pines, while some sites are more open with scattered trees. Features electrical hook-ups, radio- and dog-free camping, nice swimming beach and a winterized comfort station with flush toilets, showers and laundry facilities. Open January to December.
Best campsites in Algonquin Park for: experiencing winter camping and activities in the park. Combining biking and hiking (or snowshoeing).
Canisbay Lake Campground
Nestled away from any road noise on the south shore of a lovely backcountry lake, Canisbay Lake Campground offers fully serviced vehicle camping with excellent access to Algonquin’s labyrinth of interior canoe routes. Paddle from the campground’s sandy swimming beach to one of Canisbay Lake’s 16 backcountry campsites for a scenic picnic or refreshing dip away from it all. Trail enthusiasts will find five day-hiking trailheads nearby and direct access from the campground to the Minnesing Mountain Bike Trail.
Located north of Highway 60 at KM 23, Canisbay Lake Campground offers 242 spacious and well-secluded campsites suitable for everything from tents to larger recreational vehicles. Roughly 60 sites offer electrical hook-ups, while campers looking for an exceptionally quiet experience can reserve sites on the campground’s radio- and dog-free loop. Situated in hardwood forest, the campground features comfort stations with flush toilets, showers and laundry facilities. Open May to October.
Best campsites in Algonquin Park for: avid mountain bikers who love fall colours, stargazing and seclusion.
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Tea Lake Campground
Tea Lake Campground is the nearest vehicle camping to Algonquin’s popular Canoe Lake and Smoke Lake access points, making this small campground a convenient choice for canoeists heading out into the interior of the park. Paddle from your campsite or the campground’s beach to either of these larger lakes in just a couple of kilometres.
Located adjacent to Highway 60 near KM 12, Tea Lake Campground offers 42 campsites set in mixed hardwood and evergreen forest. This compact campground is one of the park’s least busy—it offers flush toilets, shower and laundry facilities, but no electrical hook-up sites. Reserve a lakeside site for the quietest camping; sites closer to the highway experience traffic noise. Open May to early September.
Best campsites in Algonquin Park for: paddle access to iconic Canoe Lake, Smoke Lake and the Oxtongue River.
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Algonquin Pines Campground
For travellers heading to Algonquin Park from Highway 11 and points south or west, the privately managed Algonquin Pines Campground in Dwight offers a convenient base that’s equidistant to the park’s West Gate (20 km) and the amenities of Huntsville (23 km). Along with 98 spacious, serviced sites for tents, trailers and RVs, Algonquin Pines has 10 cozy canvas “glamping” tents and a rustic cabin for rent.
Nestled amid shady pine trees at the intersection of Highway 60 and Highway 35, Algonquin Pines Campground is two minutes from Dwight Public Beach. On-site features include a renovated comfort station with showers and laundry, heated pool, volleyball court, playground, mini-putt, hiking trails and a camp store. Open May to October.
Backcountry camping & canoe campsites
Experience Algonquin Park at its most rugged and wild: a vast landscape of maple hills, rocky ridges, spruce bogs and thousands of lakes, ponds and streams. Enter the backcountry by paddle and portage to sample more than 2,000 kilometres of canoe routes and over 1,900 canoe campsites. Additionally, Algonquin has three backpacking trails that await those seeking seclusion in the park on foot. Discover some of our favourite Algonquin backcountry sites here: Plan Your Dream Backcountry Camping Trip Now.
Glamping in Algonquin
In recent years, glamping—also known as luxury camping—has exploded in popularity. Glamping accommodations offer first-time campers a comfortable segue into more rustic traditional camping, and glamping is also a great way for experienced campers to enjoy a bit of pampering! Basically, luxury camping means camping with many of the same comforts you’d have at a high-end hotel—with birdsong and natural beauty just outside your tent door. Expect a spacious canvas-walled tent on a wooden platform, complete with a real bed, linens, duvet, lighting, deck chairs and more cozy touches conceived to make sleeping outdoors as cushy as possible.
Bartlett Lodge is the only resort offering glamping inside Algonquin Park. However campers can choose from a growing number of luxury camping retreats located on the edges of this vast park. Minutes from the Highway 60 East Gate park entrance, Four Corners Algonquin offers some very unique accommodations in a beautiful forest setting. For easy access to Algonquin Park’s western access points, check out Algonquin Pines Campground (see listing above), the Northridge Inn on Lake Bernard and Northern Edge Algonquin Nature Retreat on Kawawaymog Lake.
Winter camping
Algonquin Provincial Park is a terrific destination for first-time winter campers. On Highway 60, Mew Lake Campground offers the park’s only developed winter camping area—complete with firewood, winterized comfort station, an ice surface for skating and access to groomed trails for Nordic skiing, snowshoeing and fat biking.
If you’re not sure about winter camping, or don’t have the right equipment, Algonquin Outfitters can provide expert advice and gear rentals. Mew Lake Campground also has seven heated yurts available for rent year-round—a perfectly comfy solution for would-be winter campers who aren’t quite ready to sleep in the snow! Learn more about winter in the park here.
Fees
Ontario Parks charges fees for all developed and backcountry camping in Algonquin Park. Expect to pay around $42–$48 per night for a vehicle campsite, or $54 for an RV site with electric hook-up. This covers one vehicle and a maximum of six people per campsite. Backcountry camping fees are charged per person: around $12 for each adult, $6 each for those under 18.
Campsite bookings and reservations
Campgrounds in Algonquin Park fill up quickly—reservations are strongly recommended to avoid disappointment. Reservations can be made up to five months prior to your arrival date (for example, you can book February 1st if you plan to arrive July 1st), and can be site-specific for developed campgrounds.
Book campsites online at www.ontarioparks.com, or by calling 1-888-ONT-PARK (1-888-668-7275).
Campground maps
Viewing individual campground maps will aid you with campsite selection for your stay. Follow the links in each of the above campground descriptions to see maps of these camping areas. For even more maps of the park, visit Don’t Get Lost In The Woods: A Guide To Algonquin Park Maps.
Explore Algonquin Park from the comfort of your campsite. | Feature photo: Courtesy Ontario Tourism
