Province Building and Upgrading More Than 1,000 Ontario Parks Campsites
Largest expansion of Ontario Parks in 50 years will protect and expand province’s tourism sector
The Ontario government is investing nearly $60 million to create more camping opportunities for families and outdoor enthusiasts at some of the province’s most popular provincial parks, adding up to 300 new campsites and upgrading 800 campsites with electrical service. As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario, this historic investment will make it easier for more people to camp at world-class Ontario Parks destinations while boosting domestic and international tourism that supports local businesses and jobs.
“This upgrade marks a major milestone for Ontario Parks — the most significant expansion of camping opportunities in 50 years,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “More people than ever before are looking to vacation in Ontario and across Canada to support their local communities. With hundreds of new and upgraded campsites, we’re giving more people the opportunity to support local businesses and jobs while camping at Ontario Parks and making memories to last a lifetime.”
Through this investment, Ontario Parks will create 300 new campsites and upgrade approximately 800 existing sites with electrical service over the next three years. The addition of new campsites will help meet rising demand for high-quality outdoor experiences in some of Ontario’s most scenic and sought-after destinations. As part of this expansion, new campsites will be added at Driftwood, MacGregor Point, Bon Echo and Killarney provincial parks, with more parks to follow.
At the same time, existing campsites at Sandbanks, Arrowhead and Bon Echo provincial parks will be upgraded with electrical service, with additional parks receiving electrified campsites in the future. Sandbanks — one of Ontario’s most popular parks with approximately 750,000 visitors each year — will see up to 73 campsites electrified by summer 2026, enhancing comfort and improving accessibility for a wider range of visitors.
Ontario Parks’ phased expansion is prioritizing parks based on project readiness, cost-effectiveness and the ability to deliver high value to park users. A full list of additional parks receiving new or upgraded campsites will be released at a later date. Additional projects will be considered as part of the ministry’s long-term strategy to expand access to Ontario Parks.
