Ontario Parks summer campsite reservations soar by 100% this year

Thinking of visiting a provincial park this year? Maybe even spending a few nights gazing at the summer night stars?

Well, you might want to book soon, because Ontario Parks has seen a drastic increase in campsite reservations this year.

According to Ontario Parks, they have seen a 100% increase in reservations from January 1 to February 5, compared to the same time last year.

Just in the first few weeks of 2021, campers have made 58,475 reservations, up from 29,504 in the same period during 2020.

“With double the number of customers attempting to make reservations during the months of July and August compared to last year, it is more competitive when trying to obtain a site. In many instances there can be hundreds of customers vying for the same site for the same arrival date,” Ontario Parks said in a post.

They noted that “competition can be fierce” for favourite campsites at busy parks. Over 50% of the reservations made between January 1 and March 31 are for Ontario’s five busiest provincial parks which are: Algonquin Provincial Park, Killbear Provincial Park, Pinery Provincial Park, Sandbanks Provincial Park, and Bon Echo Provincial Park.

They’re recommending people book early and to choose a different park from the most popular ones. Booking weekdays for the peak season of July and August can better your chances of finding a campsite.

Also, be patient. If a spot becomes available and you’re on the waitlist, it could be yours.

The online reservation system opens at 7 am, five months in advance of the first date of your trip.