Camping in and around Toronto

Camping does exist in and around Toronto. June means the official start of camping season (and hopefully, bye bye black flies) and for most people that typically means a classic Canadian road trip to Sandbanks, Algonquin or Tobermory. But time isn't on everybody's side. What many of us don't know is that there's some excellent camping in and around Toronto that doesn't involve a four-hour mecca in another direction.

If you're looking for a quick and dirty camping experience, here's a list of my favourite campgrounds within an hour of the city. Have your own fave? Be sure to add it to the comment thread below.

Albion Hills Campground
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) has three campgrounds to its cred that can easily be booked online. Albion Hills rocks 1,100 acres of space with 234 sites. Fishing, hiking/mountain bike trails, pedal boat/canoe rentals, swimming and horseback riding are an hour away in Caledon.

Glen Rouge Campground
Another campground with the TRCA, Glen Rouge sits on the Rouge Valley at the east end of the city. It's the only campground right in Toronto and for those without a car, it's TTC-friendly. More good news - the federal government is moving forward with making Rouge Valley the first Urban National Park and should be completed within a year.

Indian Line Tourist Campground
The last of the three TRCA campgrounds is a hop and a skip away from the city in Brampton which should make 905ers happy. There are 260 RV and tent sites and a swimming pool onsite. For more water adventures, take a trip to Wild Water Kingdom, which is walking distance from the grounds.

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park & Camp-Resort
Jellystone has over 150 sites, and sits 30-minute from Canada's Wonderland, making it a family favourite. They deliver on a kid-friendly experience including mini-put, wagon rides with Yogi (!!!), beach volleyball, a heated pool and karaoke. If you want camping without a commute with screaming kids in the backseat, this is the place to go.

Milton RV Park (KOA)
Let's face it, tenting isn't for everyone. If glamping is more your thing, the Milton RV Park offers cabin and RV rentals if you don't have an RV parked at home. KOA is a private campground, which comes with perks like WiFi. Stay connected while roasting a hot dog on a stick.

Bronte Creek Provincial Park
There are a few provincial parks in the neighbourhood, starting with Bronte Creek in Oakville, which boasts fishing in the creek as a popular attraction and over 400 sites to choose from.

Darlington Provincial Park
Just east of Oshawa sits Darlington, which borders Lake Ontario and McLaughlin Bay. Torontonians are 30 minutes away from Darlington's sandy beach, bluffs and plenty of birdlife.

Writing by Matt McNama. Photo by Marina Cvet in the blogTO Flickr pool.