Sandbanks Provincial Park Camping: The Ultimate Guide To Camping In Sandbanks

Whether you’re looking to explore the amazing Sandbanks beaches or spend some time at Sandbanks Provincial Park camping, here is all you need to know, including the new rules you have to plan around.

It’s tough to think of a place that better captures the heart of an Ontario summer more than Sandbanks Provincial Park. Whether you are looking for amazing camping, gorgeous water, or the picturesque trails along the Sandbanks dunes, Sandbanks Provincial Park is a summer wonderland.

Prince Edward County has been a destination that we love to escape to during the summer. And when we’re exploring “The County,” as locals call it, Sandbanks Provincial Park camping is where my family loves to set up our base camp.

Day trips and camping at Sandbanks Provincial Park are so popular that this Ontario Provincial Park has become one of the most difficult parks in all of Ontario to book a campsite. It’s now so busy that even day visitors need to reserve a permit in advance (more on that below). This guide to the Sandbanks Provincial Park’s beaches and campground will help lay out the best way to experience this Ontario wonder and explain how to make the most of your visit, even if you don’t manage to score one of the coveted Sandbanks camping sites.

This Prince Edward County provincial park is really all about the beach. Sandbanks may have one of the best freshwater beaches in the world. It competes with other Ontario beaches such as Sauble Beach and Wasaga Beach for its huge swaths of sand and sparkling blue water, but it one-ups them with massive dunes. My kids love to chase seagulls in the warm shallow waters and combine that with an afternoon of hiking the famous sand dunes.

Where Is Sandbanks Provincial Park Ontario?

There are actually two Sandbanks Provincial Parks in Canada. One is on the beautiful southern shores of Newfoundland. But the more popular Sandbanks Provincial Park is on the shores of Lake Ontario deep in the southern wings of Prince Edward County. It takes just under three hours to reach Sandbanks from Toronto and slightly more than three hours to go from Ottawa to the Sandbanks campground.

Sandbanks is surrounded by the lush farms, vineyards, and quaint historic towns that have made Prince Edward County such a choice destination for families and couples. It’s honestly hard to tell whether Sandbanks Park has led to the tourism boom in the County, or whether it’s the other way around. Either way, both Sandbanks’ famous dunes beach and Prince Edward County have become some of the most coveted destinations in Ontario.

Sandbanks Rules and Regulations You Need to Know Before You Go

Since 2020, Sandbanks has become one of the busiest provincial parks in the province (it now welcomes more than 700,000 visitors a year). Read this section before you plan your visit because it holds the most important rules and restrictions that everyone needs to know before visiting.

You Need an Advance Daily Vehicle Permit for Day Use

Sandbanks now hits capacity on most summer days, and to guarantee that you’re able to even enter the park, every vehicle visiting for the day needs a daily vehicle permit that must be reserved in advance. You cannot count on just showing up and paying at the gate anymore.

Here’s how it works: daily vehicle permits are released at 7:00 a.m., exactly five days ahead of time, through the Ontario Parks reservation system. On hot summer weekends, they can vanish within minutes, so set an alarm and book the moment they drop. Print your permit at home and set it on your dashboard, and you get to use the bypass lane at the East Gate instead of waiting in the check-in line. If you already hold a seasonal or annual permit, you still need to reserve your day in advance. This applies to nearby North Beach Provincial Park too.

Sandbanks Provincial Park Camping Reservations Open Five Months Ahead Of Time

Campsites at Sandbanks are among the fastest-booking in all of Ontario. The rolling reservation window opens five months ahead on the Ontario Parks site, and prime waterfront sites are often booked up the instant they become available. If you miss out, cancellation-alert services and last-minute openings are your best friends, and I’ve listed backup places to stay further down.

The Other Sandbanks Camping Rules Worth Knowing

• Pets: Most of the park is off-limits to dogs. Leashed pets (max 2 m) are welcome only at the south end of Lakeshore Beach and a portion of Outlet Beach where the river meets the lake, and never in the designated swimming areas.
• Firewood: Buy it locally and burn it locally. Moving firewood spreads invasive species like the Emerald Ash Borer, which has devastated forests across Ontario. We saw the damage firsthand at MacGregor Point.
• Fires and quiet hours: Fires are for the fire pit only, and fire bans do happen in dry spells, so check on arrival. Quiet hours run 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• Alcohol: It’s permitted on your own registered campsite, but Ontario Parks can declare alcohol-free periods. This often happens on busy long weekends like Victoria Day, so confirm before you pack the cooler.
• Swimming: Sandbanks beaches are unsupervised. There are no lifeguards, and the drop-offs (especially at Dunes Beach) can surprise young or inexperienced swimmers, so keep kids close. On my last visit, we witnessed the drowning of an inexperienced swimmer who could not make it back up the dunes; the dangers are real.
• Drones and smoking: Drones aren’t permitted without prior authorization by the park rangers, and smoking or vaping is banned in and near beaches, playgrounds, and sporting areas.

Tips For Visiting Sandbanks Beach And Campground

Before you head out, make sure you check out our tips for Ontario Parks camping so that these parks are here to enjoy for generations to come.

• Book early: Campsites and roofed accommodations at Sandbanks book up extremely fast, up to five months ahead. If you can’t get a spot, check out some of the best Prince Edward County hotels here.
• Book late: Many sites see last-minute cancellations. If you don’t mind spontaneity, keep checking the Ontario Parks site for openings. Sometimes that’s how you land a prime site.
• Plan for the weather: Watch the forecast and prepare for the worst. Pack tarps to cover your gear, bring bug repellent, and don’t forget sunscreen for all that time on the beach.
• Don’t move firewood: Buy it at or near the park. It’s the single easiest thing you can do to protect these forests.

Sandbanks Provincial Park Camping: A Guide To The Sandbanks Campgrounds

Sandbanks Provincial Park camping is some of the best in Ontario. Everyone who visits seems to love this park, and it’s not hard to figure out why. There are now more than 600 Sandbanks campsites spread across six campgrounds: Outlet River A and B, Cedars, Richardson’s, Woodlands, and the newer West Lake campground. The prime spots are close to the beach, and they tend to book up the fastest. (Exact site numbers shift over time, so always confirm on the current reservation map.)

Outlet River A Campground

The Outlet River A campground at Sandbanks is one of the most popular waterfront areas. Its popularity means it can get fairly busy, and the sites sit close together. These sites have excellent waterfront access but not much privacy, and they’re the Sandbanks camping sites that book up the fastest of all.

Outlet River B Campground

The Outlet B campground is further back from the water and follows the Outlet River. The sites here have a bit more privacy. The best spots are the electrical sites along the river. For those with their own canoe or kayak, you can launch right from your site.

Cedars Campground

The Cedars campground is the closest Sandbanks campground to the park office, and it offers the most family-friendly layout. The sites here offer good shelter and a larger, more private camping experience, with less car traffic rolling through. None offer direct beach access, but several sit within an easy walk.

Richardson’s Campground

Richardson’s campground is one of the newer campgrounds in Sandbanks Provincial Park. These are mostly sunny sites with very little privacy, and a good share of them offer electrical service.

Woodlands Campground

Woodlands is a very open campground with little shade, and its sites are electrical. It’s very close to the park entrance, which makes it a great option for those who’ll be making day trips out to the Prince Edward County wineries.

West Lake Campground

The newer West Lake campground rounds out the park’s six camping areas, adding more sites on the West Lake side to a park that badly needed the extra capacity. As with everywhere in Sandbanks, book as early as you can.

Sandbanks Accommodation: Cottages and Roofed Accommodation

If camping at Sandbanks isn’t your style, and you’d prefer something a little cozier, there are a few Sandbanks cottages and roofed accommodations available for rent. Unlike yurts, staying in these houses means your bedding and towels are supplied. Reservations for the Sandbanks cottages are made through the Ontario Parks reservation system or by phone at 1-888-668-7275.

Maplerest Heritage House

Maplerest Heritage House is a Victorian-style home decorated with antique furniture. It offers a taste of luxury among the campgrounds, with laundry, a fireplace, a BBQ, and more. It’s wheelchair accessible and sleeps eight, making it a great option if roughing it isn’t for you, and if you can book it fast enough.

Jacques Cottage

Jacques Cottage sits right on the shores of Lake Ontario near the mouth of the Outlet River. There’s room for six people to sleep, and the property includes a full kitchen, TV, fireplace, and BBQ.

Where To Stay Near Sandbanks Provincial Park

If you don’t snag one of the coveted Sandbanks camping sites or cottages, you’re not out of luck. With the popularity of Sandbanks and Prince Edward County, there are lots of great places to stay near the park.

In nearby Picton, the largest city in Prince Edward County,

Right on West Lake, just minutes from the park gates, Isaiah Tubbs Resort is the closest full-service resort to Sandbanks, with rooms, cabins, a beach, and a restaurant. If proximity is what you’re looking for, this is the place. Picton offers the most variety for places to stay in Prince Edward County. The Stone Carriage House is an historic property with loads of character and comfort. It features family rooms, on-site parking, and a fully equipped kitchen. In Wellington, the Drake Devonshire brings knockout food and a gorgeous waterfront.

If you don’t mind a short drive, Fronterra Farm, near North Beach Provincial Park, is one of our favorite places to stay near Sandbanks. The luxury glamping is quiet, and the sunset views over North Bay are incredible. Our complete guide to the best Prince Edward County hotels and accommodations is here.

And here’s a tip most Sandbanks guides miss: when the County is fully booked (and in July, it will be), look across the bay to the Bay of Quinte. Towns like Belleville and Trenton are a quick drive from Sandbanks, packed with family-friendly hotels, and give you a whole second region of things to do. We base ourselves there often, and it turns a beach day into a proper long weekend.

Sandbanks Beach And Swimming

The beaches at Sandbanks Park are the real draw for visitors. I’ve spent whole days on these beaches while my kids run around and build castles by the calm shores of Lake Ontario. There are three beaches at Sandbanks Provincial Park: Outlet Beach, Lakeshore Beach, and Dunes Beach.

A quick note on Sandbanks beach names: If you’ve visited before, “Sandbanks Beach” is now called Lakeshore Beach. The park renamed it to end the confusion that erupted every time staff posted that “Sandbanks Beach is closed” and visitors assumed the whole park had shut down.

Sandbanks Dunes Beach

Sandbanks Dunes Beach is a stretch of white sand in the northwest section of the park, with warm, tranquil waters that make it popular with families. The floor drops off quickly after a short while, though, so new swimmers should be careful. The prime attraction here is the huge white sand dunes for which the park was named. They’re beautiful, impressive, and a must-visit. Dunes Beach has a comfort station with flush toilets, a seasonal snack concession, picnic tables, and a playground.

Lakeshore Beach (Formerly Sandbanks Beach)

On the Lake Ontario side of the park is Lakeshore Beach, a long ribbon of sand that stretches all the way from West Point up toward the village of Wellington. It’s usually windier here, with rougher, more energetic water, and many visitors love its wild, tropical feel. It’s the place to snap a photo that’ll convince your friends you’ve gone to the Caribbean. Amenities are minimal beyond outhouses, and it’s a touch harder to reach than the other beaches, but if you want a stretch of beautiful sand to yourself, this is your best bet. It’s also a designated radio-free beach, so it stays blissfully peaceful, and the south end is one of the park’s two dog-friendly areas.

Outlet Beach

The most popular beach in Sandbanks Provincial Park is Outlet Beach, at the southern end of the park where the Outlet River meets the lake. This beach has soft, white sand and a gradual drop-off, making it very popular with swimmers, and the water is usually warmer and calmer than Lakeshore. It can get very crowded on hot summer days, but it’s close to the park store, a comfort station with flush toilets and change rooms, and the Outlet River A campground.

Other Things to do in Sandbanks

If you get tired of the beach, don’t worry. There are a number of great things to do in Sandbanks that will keep you occupied. The great thing about the park is that you can pack almost all of these into a single day and still have plenty of time to relax at the beach.

Hiking in Sandbanks

Exploring on foot is one of the best ways to spend time in the park, with great, flat trails that combine boardwalks with natural paths. The Woodlands Trail is a 5 km (3 mile) easy hike that starts at Outlet Beach and passes through to West Lake. Cedar Sands is a 2 km (1.2 mile) interpretive trail that winds along the Outlet River on boardwalks, with lookouts over the marsh and Baymouth dunes and interpretive plaques on the park’s ecology.

The Sandbanks Dunes Trail is one of my favorites, offering just enough challenge while passing through the park’s most amazing sand dune formations, with stairs climbing some of the larger dunes for great views.

Biking In Sandbanks

Cycling is a great way of getting around Sandbanks. You can navigate the trails where cycling is allowed or zip around the campgrounds. The flat landscape makes Prince Edward County a fantastic destination for cycling, and you’ll see plenty of people riding the park and the surrounding region.

Canoeing/Kayaking

Sandbanks is a great place for paddling. The Outlet River carves a beautiful route through the park, and East Lake and West Lake are both calm, gorgeous spots for a canoe or kayak. For something more challenging, Lake Ontario’s blue waters can get rough and wavy, so they’re best left to experienced paddlers who stay close to shore.

Canoes and kayaks are available for rent near the entrance to the park.

Explore The History of Sandbanks Provincial Park

Sandbanks has more than beautiful beaches to explore. The park lies just off the end of the Loyalist Parkway, dating back to the late 1700s, and archaeological sites within the park go back more than 1,000 years. Sandbanks was once covered in green pastures where cows grazed, and those farms actually helped uncover the dunes.

Look for MacDonald Farm, a United Empire Loyalist house dating to 1878 whose main house and outbuildings are still preserved, and the gates and foundation of Lakeshore Lodge, one of Ontario’s most popular resorts in the late 1800s until it closed in 1973.

Things To Do Near Sandbanks Ontario

Sandbanks Provincial Park sits in one of the most beautiful regions of Ontario. Prince Edward County is filled with incredible attractions, restaurants, wineries, beautiful towns, and ice cream shops. There are so many great things to do that I wrote a whole article to help you find the best attractions in the County. A few highlights:

• Picton: The largest town in the County, and well worth the day trip for its restaurants and beautiful downtown.
• North Beach Provincial Park: Home of our most asked-about North Shore Beach photo. This stretch of sand between Lake Ontario and North Bay looks straight out of the Caribbean, and it’s a great beach escape without the Sandbanks crowds.
• Bloomfield: Home to the best ice cream in the County. Head to Slickers for their unique homemade flavors, then browse the antique shops.
• Lake On The Mountain: A unique landscape sitting high above the lake with tremendous views, a great bed and breakfast, and the Lake on the Mountain Brewery, one of the best breweries in the County.
• The Bay of Quinte: Just across the water sits a whole other region worth a trip of its own. On a rainy beach day or a second night, you can tour the National Air Force Museum of Canada and its salvaged Halifax bomber in Trenton, hunt down cinnamon buns the size of your head, hike the conservation-area fire towers, and eat some of the best tacos and ice cream in the region. Our full Bay of Quinte itinerary is here.
• Presqu’ile Provincial Park: On our drives back to Toronto, we inevitably miss the beach within about 30 minutes. Luckily, beautiful Presqu’ile Provincial Park is just an hour down HWY 401, a perfect spot to catch the sunset before the last push home.

Where To Eat Near Sandbanks

Inside the park, keep it simple: there’s a seasonal snack concession at Dunes Beach and a store near Outlet Beach for cold drinks, ice cream, and quick eats. But the real feast is just outside the park gates, because Prince Edward County has quietly become one of Ontario’s best food-and-drink destinations. Locally grown recipes, award-winning breweries, and some of Canada’s best vineyards can all be found on this peninsula.

Picton and Wellington are packed with farm-to-table restaurants, wineries, and cider houses (my full things to do in Prince Edward County guide rounds up the best); Bloomfield has that legendary Slickers ice cream, and Lake on the Mountain pairs a view with a local brewery. And if you cross over to the Bay of Quinte, Belleville and Trenton deliver everything from a Mexican institution built by two immigrants who started in a waterfront tent, to a dairy with castle spires slinging dozens of ice cream flavors, to those head-sized cinnamon buns.

Sandbanks Provincial Park For Families

It almost seems like Sandbanks, Ontario, was designed for families. The flat, colorful landscape, epic beaches, and stunning scenery could have been pulled right out of a postcard from the Caribbean. But you get all of this without booking a flight or worrying about luggage weight.

The wide-open fields of the farms, sand dunes, and hiking and biking trails make for countless hours of family fun. If you are visiting Sandbanks with kids, pack your fishing gear too because fishing is a great way to spend time in the shade during the hot afternoons. Just make sure you pack a waterproof camera. You’ll want to capture all of those amazing Sandbanks moments.

Have you ever visited Sandbanks Beach in Prince Edward County? Drop a comment below to tell us about your experience. Or, head over to our Facebook page and share a photo. We would love to share in your travels.

What To Pack For Your Sandbanks Provincial Park Camping Adventure

You need to pack right, no matter what your plans are for your Sandbanks Provincial Park adventure. Whether you’re going to be enjoying some Sandbanks camping or just lounging on the beach, be prepared! Here are a few things we never leave home without. You can also check out our complete guide to family camping to learn all you need to know about camping with kids.

• Tent – If you’re camping in Sandbanks Provincial Park, make sure you have shelter. For casual family camping, I like to pack something like this.
• Sleeping bags – Make sure you’re comfortable with a sleeping bag meant for the temperatures you’ll be camping in. I keep it simple for warm weather camping and use a lightweight sleeping bag like this.
• Bug spray – (something with DEET), especially during the early and late season to keep black flies and mosquitoes at bay. If you have young children, pack a DEET-free insect repellent like this.
• Cooking supplies – I like to use a nesting cookset so that I can carry all the gear, but pack it easily. Don’t forget your camping stove too.
• Water bottles – It can get HOT on Sandbanks beaches. Make sure you stay hydrated and don’t create waste by bringing your own water bottles. You can refill them throughout the park.
• Swimsuits and towels – Sandbanks has some amazing swimming areas! Don’t leave your swimwear at home.
• Hiking Shoes – The Sandbanks hiking trails are well maintained. But make sure to bring some good hiking shoes with ankle support.
• First Aid Kit – Because stubbed toes can happen.

Sandbanks Provincial Park Frequently Asked Questions

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