Complete Guide to Point Pelee National Park Camping 2024
If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind camping experience in Ontario, then look no further! Point Pelee National Park camping blends unique accommodations with incredible natural surroundings and fantastic amenities.
Nestled in the southernmost tip of Ontario, Point Pelee is a true gem of Canada’s national park system. From sandy beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see to lush forests and incredible marshes, it is a nature-lovers paradise.
And with a variety of family-friendly activities, there is plenty of fun to be had for kids of all ages. And while we packed in a whole lot of adventure into our weekend in the park, there was so much more we wanted to see.
In this blog post, we will go over everything you need to know about camping in Point Pelee National Park. From how to make your camping reservations, to what amenities are available, and what gear you need to bring with you, we have got it covered.
And don’t worry if you are just a beginner at camping. We guarantee that this guide will help to make your experience less stressful.
Camping at Point Pelee National Park
Camping at Point Pelee National Park, with its exclusive oTENTik accommodations, is an awesome experience that is perfect for both beginners and experienced campers.
Parks Canada has pretty much thought of everything, so all you need to do is pack some minimal gear and bring along your sense of adventure.
A Little Bit About Point Pelee National Park
Nestled at the southernmost tip of Canada, Point Pelee National Park is truly a nature lover’s paradise. The park’s breathtaking marshes, lush forests, sandy beaches, and abundant wildlife create a picturesque landscape that feels like stepping into a postcard.
At only 15 square kilometres, Point Pelee is actually Canada’s second smallest national park. But despite its relatively small size, the park is actually Canada’s most ecologically diverse.
Another fascinating tidbit to note is that Point Pelee sits just below the 42nd parallel. This means the park shares the same latitude as Rome and Barcelona!
But beyond its natural beauty, Point Pelee boasts a fascinating history.
The area was once inhabited by indigenous peoples for thousands of years before it was colonized by Europeans.
Over time, the marshlands were reclaimed. As a result, Point Pelee was transformed into one of the finest agricultural regions in the 19th century.
In 1918, the National Park was established to protect the area’s unique ecosystems and provide a sanctuary for migrating birds.
Today, Point Pelee is not only a haven for birdwatchers but also a playground for nature enthusiasts, hikers, bikers, and for families seeking adventure.
🌊 Fun Fact: While Point Pelee National Park is the southernmost tip of mainland Canada, Pelee Island is actually the southernmost point in Canada.
How to Book a Campsite at Point Pelee National Park
For me, this was probably the most stressful part about Point Pelee National Park camping – getting a reservation! If you think that you can head to the park for a weekend of camping on a whim, think again!
This is one place that needs some advanced planning. And when I say advanced, I mean ADVANCED! Like February or March!
🚩 Keep in mind, there are only 24 oTENTik accommodations in the whole park, and Point Pelee is VERY popular!
February is usually when Parks Canada opens their reservation system for summer camping.
If you head to the website a few weeks before, they will usually post the exact date and time that the portal opens. Keep in mind, each province will have a different launch date.
Things were a little different in 2023 with bookings starting in March, as Parks Canada overhauled their booking system and website. But I assume that moving forward, it will be the same as in past years.
Anyway… the first thing that you will need to do is to open a Parks Canada Reservation Service Account. This should be done in advance, and NOT during your reservation booking window.
Once you create your account, log in and familiarize yourself with the booking system. It’s not hard. But it’s better to do it in advance so that on launch day, you are not wasting time searching for how to book your site.
Next, pick out your site! I usually make a list of about 5 sites that I would like and write them down. There will be pictures of your site as well as a map online.
⛺ Hint: Make sure that on the Parks Canada Reservations page, you have selected “Parks Canada Accommodations” or Point Pelee won’t come up.
On launch day, you can log into the portal a few minutes before it opens. You will then be placed in a random virtual queue. When the portal opens, it will tell you your exact place in line, and the approximate waiting time.
Don’t freak out if you are the 4000th person in line! That has happened to me and I was still able to get my sites!
When it’s your turn, the portal will open to the reservations page. You can then book your site. If you are planning to camp anywhere else in Ontario (there are 5 National Parks), then you can make all your reservations at once.
🐶 Insider Tip: There are only two oTENTiks at Camp Henry that are pet-friendly. So if you plan to bring a furry friend, you will need to book either site #8 or #9 only.
Easy enough, right?
Where Is Point Pelee National Park?
As we mentioned, Point Pelee National Park is located at the southernmost tip of mainland Canada, in Essex County near the town of Leamington, Ontario.
Point Pelee is located about 53 minutes Southeast of Windsor, and about 3.5 hours Southwest of Toronto.
Point Pelee is actually a peninsula. It juts out to form a tip that is surrounded by Lake Erie on both sides.
🍅 Fun Fact: The town of Leamington is known as the “Tomato Capital of Canada.”
How to Get to Point Pelee National Park
If you are coming from Toronto, Point Pelee is approximately a 355-kilometre drive.
The drive itself is pretty easy, as you will take the ON-403 West to the ON-401 West. You then need to take exit 63 from the ON-401 onto Chatham-Kent Country Road 1.
When you reach Wheatley, take County Rd 34 West and Mersea Road 12 to Point Pelee Drive in Leamington. Follow the signs directly into the park.
Do You Need to Pay to Enter Point Pelee National Park?
Yes. As a National Park, you will need to pay an entrance fee. This applies even if you have a camping reservation for the park.
If you are there for several days, you will need a pass for every day that you are staying in the park.
The park offers a range of pass options to suit your needs. If you’re just planning a day trip, there’s a daily entrance fee per vehicle, which allows you to explore the park for the day.
For frequent visitors or those looking for more flexibility, an annual Discovery Pass is available, granting access to all of Canada’s national parks for a full year.
The fees help support the conservation efforts and maintenance of Canada’s National Parks, ensuring that generations to come can also experience their splendour.
Checking in at Point Pelee National Park
Once you reach the front gate of Point Pelee National Park, you will pay your park admission (as noted above), and you will be given directions and a map to get to the campground.
If you arrive before the 3 pm check-in time, don’t worry, there are plenty of things to do in the meantime.
The entrance to Camp Henry is about a 10-minute drive from the Main Gate along Point Pelee Drive.
There is plenty of parking at the Camp Henry office. There, you will check in and be given a Camp parking pass and your keys.
Keep in mind, you will be required to pay a $100 damage deposit on a credit card, which will be refunded once you leave the oTENTik in good shape.
The camp office is also where you can purchase ice, firewood, some small trinkets and souvenirs, and even some small snacks and drinks.
Where to Park at Camp Henry
One of the quirks about camping at Point Pelee, is the sites are not drive-up. Unfortunately, this means that you will need to park your car in the main campsite lot and walk to your site.
There are plenty of parking spots right outside of the camp office, however.
And if you are worried about lugging all of your gear to your site, Parks Canada has it all taken care of. Right next to the camp office, you will find several wagons that guests can use to cart their belongings to their site.
And if you are like us and don’t travel light, then these wagons are really handy! Just be sure to bring them back for others to use, when you are done!
As for the rest of the park, you will find plenty of places to park at the beach entrances, the Visitors Centre, the Marsh Boardwalk, Delaurier Homestead, as well as some smaller lots by many of the Trailheads.
🔌 Pro Tip: You can find charging stations for electric cars in the Marsh Boardwalk parking lot.
What is an oTENTik?
So by now, I’m sure that you are wondering, “What the heck is an oTENTik anyway?” This Parks Canada accommodation is really cool combination of an A-frame cabin and a tent.
During our first-ever stay in an oTENTik in Saskatchewan, we looked at it as a form of poor man’s glamping! While better than a tent, it doesn’t have all the glamorous features of a true glamping experience.
The oTENTiks are actually pretty awesome, all the same. The structures are built on a wooden platform, are weatherproof, and even have electricity.
The oTENTiks will comfortably sleep up to 6 adults. They come with wooden bunks with mattresses. The upper bunk sleeps two, so my kids don’t have to fight over who gets it!
You will also find a table and chairs, a space heater, and a stand-up floor fan, which came in really handy during our stay.
Unfortunately, oTENTiks do not have running water or washrooms.
Point Pelee oTENTiks also come fully stocked with cookware. We found place settings, cutlery, pots, pans, and everything else that you would need to make a decent camp meal.
This was welcome, but definitely not typical. None of the other National Parks that we have stayed in have provided dishes.
Outside, you will find a couple of Muskoka chairs, a gas BBQ, a picnic table and a fire pit. Just be aware, that there is no cooking allowed INSIDE the oTENTik.
What Do You Need to Bring for Camping at Point Pelee?
While Parks Canada has provided a ton of stuff, there are some basics that you do need to bring along:
Of course, you will also need to pack your own clothing and whatever gear you will need for hiking or going to the beach.
Amenities at Camp Henry
One of the nice things about Camp Henry is that it is a small campground. This means that everything is just a quick walk from your site.
We also loved the fact that the oTENTik sites are quite private, with tons of trees and shrubs separating the sites. Just stay on the footpaths, as there is Poison Ivy everywhere in the park!
As far as amenities are concerned, you will have everything you need for a comfortable stay.
There are two comfort stations located at either end of the campground. They house men’s and women’s washrooms and showers, as well as a couple of dishwashing stations.
We found the facilities to be pretty clean and well looked after. And better still, we never had to wait for a shower.
There are also garbage and recycling stations at either end of the campground.
Camp Henry also has a pretty big play area for the kids. While there wasn’t any playground equipment, there was a basketball net, a sandy volleyball court, pickleball, and some picnic tables set up near the camp office.
Camp Henry also runs a YMCA program. The building used for the program is attached to one of the comfort stations.
So just a heads up, you will not be able to use those washrooms while the kids are present for the program. It’s a bit inconvenient during the day, especially if your site (like ours) is right by that building.
As for the beach, access is literally across the street from Camp Henry. We left our beach gear in the car and just grabbed it as we headed over. Super convenient!
And of course, if you have any questions or need anything, the camp office is usually staffed until the evening. We dashed in there for an ice cream emergency, as well as to grab a trail map one evening, which was perfect.
And just a heads up, you will have little to no phone reception while in the campground. There is a phone that campers can use located just outside the camp office. The phone can also be used in an emergency.
If you are looking for Wi-Fi, head over to the Visitors Centre where you can get your internet fix.
Things to Do in Point Pelee National Park
If you have visited any other National Parks in Canada, you will already know that they are jam-packed with awesome things to do. From outdoor activities to programs geared specifically for younger children, you can find it all.
And Point Pelee is no exception. Even though it rained for one of the days we were staying in the park, we still found ways to keep busy, which did not include sitting inside our oTENTik.
Some of the best things to do in Point Pelee National Park include:
If you head to the Visitor Centre, the awesome staff will let you know all about what is currently going on in the park, and will even help you to plan your adventures.
Point Pelee National Park Camping – Our Experience
We absolutely had a fabulous time! We had absolutely no complaints and would totally recommend staying here to anyone interested in camping at Point Pelee.
Our oTENTik was perfect for the 4 of us to hang out in. Although the kids were not happy with the lack of Wi-Fi.
We were able to find parking everywhere in the park, including when arriving back at the campground late. And the fact that we did not have to drive to the beach, or even to several of the hiking trails, was an absolute bonus.
And while you do have to check out by 11 am, you are able to stay in the park for the entire day. So we definitely took advantage of this, and hung out at the beach for the afternoon.
But just so that you are aware, you are expected to clean up your oTENTik before you leave. You need to wash any dishes that you have used (and if any are missing, you will be charged for them), sweep the floor (broom and dustpan are provided), and take out any garbage.
Camping Point Pelee National Park – FAQs
Yes. Point Pelee is definitely worth a visit. With incredible camping opportunities, gorgeous scenery and a ton of activities to keep you busy, this park should be on your bucket list!
Unlike a provincial park, you can’t tent camp, car camp, or RV camp at Point Pelee National Park. Instead, the park offers oTENTiks, which are a lot of fun. Somewhere between camping and glamping, these Parks Canada accommodations are perfect for beginners, families, and even long-time campers.
Unfortunately no. There is no overnight parking in any of the lots without a camping permit. Parks Canada will allow campers and RVs to park in the lots for day use only but will ask you to leave once the park is closing.
No. There are no bears in Point Pelee National Park. In fact, there are no large predators. You will find raccoons, squirrels, rodents, birds and a number of other small creatures, however.
Yes. Unfortunately, Point Pelee is home to a well-established black-legged tick population. These ticks have been known to carry Lyme disease, so you do need to be careful. Stay on the paths, wear repellent containing DEET, dress in light-coloured clothing, and check yourself after any hike.
No. However, in 1918, Point Pelee was the first national park in Canada to be established for conservation. And on May 27, 1987, it was designated as a Ramsar site.
Yes. However, only in sites that are designated as pet-friendly. Pets are not allowed in the other oTENTiks and must be leashed at all times in the park.
Camping at Point Pelee National Park – Final Thoughts
And there you have it, the incredible experience of Point Pelee National Park camping! From the scenic shores of Lake Erie to the lush forests and incredible marsh, this park has it all.
And it doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned camper or a first-timer, Point Pelee offers a perfect balance of comfort and adventure. In fact, it is the ideal destination for families, couples, and solo travellers alike.
So, whether you’re birdwatching, hiking, biking, or simply lounging by the campfire under the starry skies, Point Pelee National Park promises an escape like no other.
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