Sandbanks Provincial Park
Sandbanks Provincial Park lies tucked away on the southern edge of Prince Edward County, where shifting sand dunes meet the shallow turquoise waters of Lake Ontario. Home to gorgeous beaches, on hot sunny days, Sandbanks feels like a tropical island getaway without the plane ticket. It’s yet another one of the reasons why “the County”—as it is affectionately known—has become one of Ontario’s most popular holiday destinations.
Sandbanks Provincial Park is about 2.5 hours’ drive from Toronto, three hours from Ottawa, four hours from Montreal and 1.5 hours’ drive from Kingston—which is home to the nearest regional airport. You’ll need a car to get to the park, unless you feel like cycling 12-15 kilometres (each way) from Bloomfield or Picton.
A magnet for tourists since the early 19th century, visiting this natural wonder is still one of the most popular things to do in Prince Edward County. In fact, its three beaches—Sandbanks Dune Beach, Lakeshore Beach and Outlet Beach—have long been ranked amongst the best in Canada. Quite the feat for a little island in Lake Ontario!
Managed by Ontario Parks, Sandbanks Provincial Park has over 500 campsites as well as other accommodation options a bit away from the beaches, but it fills up quickly, especially during the peak holiday seasons. There are also day-use areas for visitors, but when the park is full the rangers will close the gates, so make sure you get down early. You can also check online to scope it out before you make the trek down.
It’s easy to spend at least a day exploring Sandbanks Provincial Park, with plenty of activities from walking and cycling to fishing, swimming and camping.
Get your daily vehicle permit in advance for select provincial parks!
NEW! We’re now offering advance sales of daily vehicle permits at 33 provincial parks. For more information, visit our blog.
For up-to-date information and details on Sandbanks Provincial Park, we recommend you visit their website.
Prince Edward County
Referred to as ‘the County’ by those in the know, Prince Edward County is one of Ontario’s most treasured holiday spots. Visitors flock to its sandy shores to soak up the laid back vibes of yesteryear, explore natural wonders, peruse antique stores and art galleries and feast on gourmet delights.
A world away from the big cities, the County is one of those dreamy destinations that conjures up memories of holidays gone by — of driving along country roads, rolling down giant dunes, stopping by quaint villages, diving into icy-cool water on a hot summer’s day, eating ice cream full of the flavours of the land and picking up fresh fruit from local carts.
Of course, there’s plenty for grown-ups in Prince Edward County too, from visiting wineries and doing a beer crawl along the famous Millennium Trail to staying in picture-perfect B&Bs and even scuba diving shipwrecks.
To learn more about all there is to see and do in Prince Edward County, visit the area’s tourism website.
