Top Tips to Reserve Your 2026 Camping Trip (Yes, Book Now)

Winter and spring might feel like the off-season for camping, but seasoned campers know it’s the perfect time to start planning your next camping trip. Ontario Parks are busier than ever, with reservations skyrocketing from 4.3 million in 2014 to over 6.6 million in 2021. In 2024, more than 12.4 million people visited our provincial parks, making it essential to plan ahead—especially for the most popular ones. Some campgrounds fill up as early as March for the summer season, so don’t wait.

New Reservation Rules

To manage growing demand, Ontario Parks introduced a few regulation changes in recent years to make getting reservations fairer and less stressful:

• Maximum stays during peak summer have been reduced to seven or 14 days in some of the most popular parks, such as Algonquin and Pinery.
• The Daily Vehicle Permit service lets you book day-use permits up to five days in advance for 75 parks, including Kakabeka Falls and Chutes Provincial Park.

Tips for Booking Your 2026 Camping Trips

The best and easiest way to secure your Ontario Parks reservation—whether for backcountry or frontcountry camping or day-use permits—is online. Car campgrounds and most popular backcountry parks open their reservation window at 7 a.m. ET., five months in advance of your start date. Reserving your adventure requires some planning and a touch of flexibility, so use these expert tips to make it happen.

1. Make Your Online Profile in Advance

If booking through the online system for the first time, you’ll need to create an account by filling out a registration form with your email and a password. This account can also be used for future reservations. If you already have an account, double-check you know your password. Reservations open at 7 a.m., five months before your desired start date and this is not the time to fumble with passwords or figure out the system. Explore park maps, filters, amenities and know what sites you want (and have backups) in advance so you’re ready.

2. Be Online at 6:55 a.m.

Popular parks fill up fast—sometimes within minutes. Weekends in July and August, especially holiday weekends, are the highest in demand. Set your alarm, log in early, and refresh the page until the system goes live. 

3. Assess Park Popularity

According to Ontario Parks, the top five busiest provincial parks are Algonquin, Bon Echo, Sandbanks, Killbear and Pinery. Book as early as possible for these destinations. And always have a backup option ready—because your first choice might already be gone.

4. Set Reminders and Notifications

Take advantage of Ontario Parks’ Availability Notifications. If your search doesn’t turn up available sites, sign up to be alerted when a campsite matching your criteria becomes available. It’s no surprise that booking months in advance leads to a fair few cancellations due to changing plans, so this tool is very helpful. The notification is sent out to everyone looking for sites with the same criteria as you, so you will have to be quick to nab it.

5. Be Ready for Cancellations

In my experience, camping cancellations are most common two weeks before a trip and 24 to 48 hours before departure—especially if rain is forecasted. If you didn’t snag a reservation five months out, check the reservation portal regularly during these windows, especially in the morning or evening when most people manage their bookings. There are thousands of cancellations each year, leaving sites available for more spontaneous adventures.

6. Head North for Fewer Crowds

With 340 Ontario parks in total, there are incredible experiences outside of Southern Ontario, too. Northern parks, including Sleeping Giant, Lake Superior, Chutes and Pancake Bay, all boast stunning scenery with just a fraction of the visitors of the popular southern parks. Trust me, the extra drive is worth it.

7. Go Guided

If you want a stress-free experience, book with a guide. Guided trips aren’t just for beginners—they’re perfect for seasoned campers too. Guides handle everything from permits to packing gear, so you can relax and enjoy. With a guide, you’ll learn a lot more about the ecology and history of the landscape you visit as well. Here are a few of favourite guided and self-guided experiences:

• Lake Superior: Naturally Superior Adventures and SAND Adventures offer all-inclusive kayak tours in Lake Superior Provincial Park and Pukaskwa National Park.
• Missinaibi River: MHO Adventures guides trips and handles planning for this iconic canoe route to Hudson Bay that travels through Missinaibi Provincial Park.
• Algonquin Park: Call of the Wild, Algonquin Outfitters, Algonquin Bound and more provide guided and self-guided trip options, with canoe rentals, full outfitting and trip planning assistance.
• Killarney Park: Killarney Outfitters can guide you through reserving this popular park’s backcountry sites when you reserve complete canoe or sea kayak trip planning and outfitting packages.

8. Explore Alternative Campgrounds and Less-Travelled Parks

If you are set on camping in a specific area and the local provincial parks are already fully booked, look into private campgrounds nearby. For example, Sandbanks River Country Campground is just a kilometre from the very busy Sandbanks Provincial Park. Camping In Ontario is an association of more than 350 privately owned campgrounds in Ontario. There are also more than a dozen KOAs located across Ontario.

Still want all the amenities of provincial parks? Check out our article about the Least Busy Provincial Parks in Ontario.

9. Plan for Shoulder Seasons and Midweek Trips

Avoid the rush by booking midweek or in shoulder seasons, like May or September. You’ll enjoy fewer crowds and better availability with all the benefits of summer camping. 

Everything Else You Need to Know About Ontario Parks Reservations

1. You can book your stay up to five months before your arrival date. For example, reservations for July 1, 2026, open on February 1, 2026.
2. If you’re using the online system for the first time, you’ll need to create an account by filling out a registration form with your email and password. This account will be used for future reservations.
3. Through the online system or call centre, you can reserve frontcountry campsites, backcountry sites, yurts, cabins and cottages. Group campsite reservations must be made by contacting the park directly.
4. A car camping campsite can accommodate up to six adults unless it’s a single family of parents and their children, in which case the limit is waived.
5. Fees apply to most changes or cancellations, but vary. 

Plan Your Trip Now

Don’t wait to start plan your 2026 adventures. Set reminders, use notifications and mark your calendar for 7 a.m., five months before your trip. With preparation and persistence, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying Ontario’s great outdoors. Good luck, and happy camping.

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