Sandbanks Provincial Park

It can be about three hours of driving to Sandbanks Provincial Park from Toronto, especially if you're off the 401 (which I prefer for a more relaxing and interesting drive). But I like to visit at least once a year because the sand dunes on the aptly named Dunes beach make this different from any other beach within day trip distance. Dunes beach is a dramatic setting and it's fun to hike up and down its sand slopes. However, the Outlet beach is much better for hanging out with its roomy sand shore and for swimming with its long gradual drop off into the water. My favourite amongst the three is Lakeshore beach. It's amazingly long although there's not much space between the back sand mounds and the water, but the drop off in the water is long and gradual. It feels like I'm on a real vacation with the expansive view of the lake. I didn't go on a weekend and it wasn't too crowded, but access can be slow at busy times. Keep in mind that there are NO lifeguards and exercise appropriate care. The snack bars are decent if you're hungry, also sell fun beach items and the washrooms are clean. Share a car to get the best entrance value. Enjoy!

Beautiful beach! Nice place in Ontario for a vacation. The sand is soft, it has little white shells and stones, and it feels like you're down south. The water has waves. Bathrooms are nearby, with showers available, and they are well kept. The camp grounds vary, but we enjoyed our site.

Fantastic beach. Absolutely gorgeous. Can be hectic between 11am to 4pm especially on weekends. But sometimes you go on weekdays and its like a private beach. The water is gradually sloped at outlet beach. So you can go pretty far in and still be shin or waste deep. This makes it nice so everyone has space when its super crowded. You have to go fas out before neck deep. The sunsets here are spectacular. Today was nice orange/red sunset, on cloudy days you get an amazing violet colour.

We visited at the beginning of Sep'24 and had a great family time. It wasn't too crowded, so parking was not hard. Liked Dunes Beach a bit more compared to Outlet Beach.

Sandbanks provincial Park was absolutely beautiful! I went during the peak of the summer, when it was one of the hottest days of the month, so the beaches were incredibly busy! If you want to get a good spot, I do recommend to go early! I didn’t end up spending that much time at the beach, I decided to take the trails, and I’m so glad I did! The sandbanks dune Trail was mostly sand, so make sure you have decent footwear! It was quite the challenge on such a day, but made the dip in the water that much better at the end of the day! The beach was fairly shallow, so great for kids!

Wonderful trails for 3-wheel cycling, with a diversity of landscapes and ecological zones!! We ride recumbent tricycles, and with the exception of a few very sandy spots on the road-side multi-use path between Outlet and Woodland / Dunes, the trails were firm and sufficiently wide for our trikes. The only place where surprisingly there is *not* a proper and safe bike/trike/walking trail, was the 200+ metre distance across the front of the main Park Office, information building (closed), and the staff parking area. Caution along that portion is recommended, as one is forced to ride on the pavement and there is a blind corner on the vehicle road before regaining the designated trail through the woods. All trails away from the main connector roads, however, were excellent, although a little centre-overgrown (for 40”-wide trikes) across some of the former agricultural areas. Our visit was quite early in the Park’s season (May 30, June 01), and hopefully some trail grooming is still to be undertaken. Overall, a great Park, with lots to see, do, and enjoy!!

It was a very beautiful place to visit with friends and family for a picnic or just to see the lake and have a good evening. Getting the tickets were confusing because we couldn't find the site to book online and the ticket office was about 4 kms away from the main park. But overall a must visit!

The scenic beauty comprising of clear water, sand and greens is a treat to eyes. I spent around 2 hours in the beach which was not enough for me. I would rather prefer being here for whole day and still would not be over it's view.

Love this place. Nice to walk around, close to nature. We visited in late September with my daughter, mom and step dad. We discovered an artwork setup by the park team right by the water and we all enjoyed making paintings. Can get super busy in the summer time, I believe the park will close once it reaches a certain capacity. See you soon, Sandbanks!

My family and others stayed at the Richardson campground at Sandbanks. OMG, the comfort station is 3 km away from the location. The comfort station is in the middle of an RV area that does not require any facilities. The outpost facilities were super smelly and unusable. Because of ticks, we could not let the kids use the bushes. So much of our time was spent driving back and forth to the washrooms. It was such a terrible experience for basic needs. The sites are super small, and there was no clear demarcation, so it felt like people were trespassing. I have been camping every summer for the last 15 years at various provincial parks, and this one takes crown for being the worst one ever. Will never ever return to Sandbanks ever again. I had heard good things about beaches. But, alas, that was a disappointment as well. There was too much algae on the shoreline and hence entering the water was slightly slippery. It did not matter how far in the lake I was, I saw algae on the lake bottom and floating around. Bad Swimming experience.

Nice park, well laid out. Could use a few more vault toilets to take the use from the comfort stations. Beach is good. Dog beach is very popular but a ways out. Wardens are a little too reactive for people on vacation, maybe a bit more proactive as we are paying to stay here. People come to relax and enjoy the place and sometimes forget about all the rules, that seem to be more about what you can't do rather than what you can do!

This is a really nice provincial park. The beach is very long and the sand is really good quality: really fine. There're also sand dunes you can climb up - it's not all forest and beach.

You'll need to pay entry per car, but I think that helps with the crowd control. The beach is stretched pretty far and there are three main spots. We stopped at the closest one and the sand is unbelievably soft. We were able to go pretty far out and the water wasn't too cold by September. We had a bit of a windy day but nothing that would ruin our short visit to the beach. We stuck around for a bit and just enjoyed the view, sand and water. We did get rained out haha. I could definitely see us coming up here for a day trip in the summer months when we want to enjoy a whole day at the beach. There's enough room for everyone to spread out!

Can't believe that it still feels like summer! It was a perfect day last Saturday for a road trip to Picton! Our first time here at this park with my family. We had intended to only stay at the Sandbanks beach for about a hour and then check out some other Picton attractions like the Lavender farm but we were so relaxed here, we decided to just stay here for a few hours instead. As other Yelp reviewers had mentioned, this beach is massive. There's plenty of space making it easy for social distancing. Despite the long drive to get here, it was totally worth it!

Empty White Sandy Beach! I am glad I finally get to visit Sandbank Provincial Park especially during off season! $11.25 for a day pass which is pretty good price since it gives you a full day either stay in the beach area listening to the waves or go hiking for hours. Water is clean and clear but beware of all the broken shells. Water shoes and flip flops highly recommended instead of bare feet. Worth visiting as a pit stop when visiting PEC.

Yeah, I'll go ahead and give them 5 stars. We went camping here earlier this week, and really, I can't think of anything lacking. The camp sites are fairly typical but well maintained and there are few 'bad' sites. Most seem to be given fairly good space from neighbouring sites. It's really well run here, as they have a store in case you forgot some essentials and even a restaurant. You have to buy your firewood and kindling here as a safeguard against the spread of infestation, but the price is okay and the wood burns nice and easy. Tip: you might need more firewood than you think as it burns fairly fast since it burns so easy. Pretty nice wash houses and bathrooms which are cleaned regularly. But what's most important is the location, and Sandbanks is very unique as it's along a narrow peninsula with a sandy beach that runs almost continuously for about 5km. In spite of the relatively large amount of visitors, you can find your own spot on the beach fairly comfortably. When I went (2nd week of August), the water was quite comfortable too. Clearly it stands out as judging from a rough estimate from license plates, about a 1/3 of the guests when I was there were from Quebec. I'm sure it's the beach that makes the 4+ hour drive worth it and bypassing other potentially closer campsites. They also have several hiking and biking trails which are clearly mapped. I did a 3km loop which was a great connection with nature early in the morning. I think there were at least 3-4 other trails and during the day I saw a guide posted at one entrance. Loved our stay, and bonus for being able to stop at wineries on the way home which you also can't say about many other sites either.

After 100+ days of quarantine, my chaotic crew decided it was time to move the homestead out of Toronto to Cobourg, ON. We're incredibly hashtagblessed that my mom has a house with room to spare. Here we're still social distancing and following all of the important rules, but now with 100% more nature and childcare. Hooray. Enough about me, let's talk about these bangin' 'banks! This past weekend we popped into Prince Edward County to check out the Sandbanks. I was anxious it would be incredibly crowded, as it's one of Ontario's most popular beaches. Plus it's pretty accessible from Toronto. We decided if it looked too full, we were just going to tell our four year old we drove an hour for ice cream and pull the plug on the whole thing. Boy were we pleasantly surprised! Yes, there were lots of people, but this beach is **massive** and everyone was able to stay 40+ feet away from everyone at all times! This is aside from parking, but everyone was respectful and careful and no one came within our space. It was so lovely to swim with my kids, sun in the sand and have a normal summer day! We only came for a few hours, but I look forward to coming and exploring this Provincial Park more soon.

Absolutely beautiful park! A little far from where I live but well worth the trek! Clean sand, clean water, and just an overall amazing place! Although it may seem crowded when trying to find parking, the beach is huge and it really doesn't feel too busy. We got there around 1:30 PM and were still able to easily find a parking spot and a clear space on the beach! Definitely going back soon! Highly recommend!

Love the park and staff, need speed bumps installed because users seem in a hurry to arrive and leave.

This place is amazing. We went in the morning and it wasn't yet that busy. We spent around 2 hours walking the trails and enjoying the quiet. It started to get busy as we were leaving and we were grateful we had gotten there early to enjoy the peace. I would come back and definitely recommend. It was beautiful. Staff were also very friendly. All the interactions we had were great!

Spent they day out at the beach. There are a few beaches within sandbanks provincial park. When I visited Dunes beach which is apparently one of the better beaches was closed. Lakeshore looked like it experienced flooding recently and was not that appealing. Outlet beach was nice and clean with ample parking spot and lots of space to set up for a larger group events.

AMAZING WATERS, SUN & COMPANY :) A++++ Pros: - what a beautiful & breath-taking beach (sand & water) - unlike Toronto beaches, Sandbanks isn't cluttered with as much pollution - canoeing/kayaking is cheap :) --for my group of 4, it was $25 for 2 hours (canoeing) - be sure to check the sand dunes for the sunset: it is very serene and quite the sight to see. Cons: - two hour drive from Toronto/GTA - $15 charge for all day parking (which is understandable- to maintain the grounds) I loved my time at the beach. I rented a nearby AirBnB for 2 nights and thoroughly enjoyed my weekend getaway in Belleville.

The best beaches in all of Ontario. I'm serious. Fine white sands, wind swept trees and natural dunes. You wouldn't believe you're in Ontario. Park admission is $16 per car. Pretty large area to explore, camp, BBQ, or just to chill out. Many bed and breakfasts nearby.

Sandbanks is amazing. Thanks to the 'banks, you can keep swimming out further and further and still touch the ground. The beach itself is lovely - perfect for hanging out, building sand castles, having a picnic, whatever you want to do. There are a few food spots around the park, mostly selling hockey arena-quality food, but not a horrible place to grab a bite if you don't feel like packing a picnic. The admission is cheap too, at $16/car (just don't ride solo). I keep meaning to bring my daughter here, as I'm sure she would have a blast. Next summer, it will happen.

A great beach so close to the city. Only 2.5 hours away and much nicer than Wasaga Beach. $17.50 for a day pass. Line ups to get in are long but moves along to those that are patient. Lots of parking and great people from everywhere. Terrific to see how friendly all the visitors are to each other and how well people get along. Just good ole fun times.

I went camping here for 1 night. We stayed at the Outlet River Campground B. The campground is a great place to take your kids. There are a lot of toilets and then a shower with 5 stalls and running toilets. The beaches are amazing, the sand is so white and warm. The water is shallow so your kids can play. Water temperature was quite comfortable too (I went when it was 30 degrees in the end of July). In the day, go to the Dunes Beach and walk on the dunes. Or go to the Outlet Beach which is really flat and you can see a huge stretch of the entire beach.

Listen, If you can't be on the ocean, this really is the next best thing. When I moved from NS many years ago, I lamented the lack of sea coast, but what Ontario lacks in seaside, it more than makes up for it with the Sandbanks! The shore is gorgeous, well-maintained, and there is lots of room to spread out and soak up some sun. One way it does have one up on the ocean: the temperature of the water is often warmer faster than the Atlantic warms up!

That Place Will Never Get Old The Campground Is Nice, Outlet Beach Was So Wave-Filled! So Peaceful When We Went, Except The Last Day We Went, The Wind Was Crazy Mad And I Nearly Drowned Really Far From Sand. Though It Was Neat.

This is a terrific beach. I have only been here to swim and not camping. Plan ahead because it is popular and parking can be at a premium. When it is peak season, the cars are lined up to get in and then they search for parking. We came early to avoid this. The sand is smooth and terrific. The dunes are amazing but they are difficult to climb if you have mobility issues. There are access points that do not require climbing over the dunes. Depending on where you are at the beach, you will find either public bathrooms or outhouse bathrooms. If you are visiting the area, plan well in advance because it is popular!

Like the other reviews stated, amazing sand dunes and sandy clean beaches. There are 3 separate beach areas * Outlet Beach - busy, lots of families/kids * Sandbanks Day Use area on West Lake - busy, more sand dines, lots of families /kids * Sandbanks Beach - less busy, a few miles long, same great sandy beaches, far west section of the beach has fewer people, no kids : great for skinny dipping and few tan lines!

5 Star Beach in Ontario! Kids love that the lake floor goes up and down for a really long walk out... But be careful that the little ones don't get to brave the floor can drop quite dramatically. Definitely worth a trip to the beach.

Sand dunes in Ontario? Yes, at Sandbanks, you can have a great beach experience and it only takes about 2.5 hours to get here from Toronto. The park is quite big, with a separate campground area, and a day beach area which costs $16/car. It was quite busy, but not overly crowded. It is quite the exercise getting through those dunes with all your equipment on a hot sunny day with the sand scorching at your feet, but once you jump into the water, that struggle is all forgotten. I couldn't believe how warm Lake Ontario was!!!! The day beach area is open until 10pm, and I would highly suggest staying until after 7 to capture some great shots.

Based on the number of reviews online and MY OWN experience. Sandbanks parking officer gives you parking tickets regardless whether you bought the $16 parking permit or not! I got a ticket, my friends got a ticket and a bunch of people online got the tickets. It is crazy they haven't been sued yet. I would urge people to stay away until they sort this out and fire the officer(s) who do this. It is very sad this sort of things happens in Canada. When I called them. The lady I spoke to was VERY rude and told me I did not show the parking ticket and it's my fault and I should just pay the fine or attempt to dispute it. Most people don't live close and they know disputing is not possible so the only option is to pay the fine. They know it and they use this. Please, take a picture of the ticket on the dashboard. This way when the officer will give you tickets you will have proof, if you will decide to fight it. Otherwise it wouldn't make a difference since you have to be in court in person anyways! AVOID!!

I have been living in the area for over 30 yrs and I have spend countless memories with family and friends there. I am writing this review and sadly it is in a negative way. It is not regarding the park itself (just amazing) but rather the price paid to enter the park at certain time. My story started at about 1830 hrs on the 22 Aug 2019. I drove to the park entrance booth and stated that I was going to visit my cousin for a few hours who was camping overnight at the park. The attendant proceeded to tell me that it would cost me $21 to visit my cousin for a few hrs as they don't have a special price for visitor or price for 1/2 day and to top it off I was informed that where my cousin was camping visitor vehicle were not allowed and that I would have to park at the entrance and walk over. My beef is if all the privately own campsite in the county can have a visitor pass system implemented why couldn't the park do the same. Still my taxes dollar at work...thanks for listening.

We have two boys under twelve and my hubby and I took them there yesterday for a day at the beach. You can read all about the beauty of the park (which is amazing!) elsewhere, I'm here to tell you the details. Outlet Beach: Sand dunes are fairly high along Outlet Beach (the shallow entry beach), you will need to climb to get over them to get to the water (read: deep, slippy sand to get through) Directly across from the Currah's Park Store and Grill there is a wide entryway on which the park staff has placed 'flooring' that is ideal for strollers, wheelchairs etc. A great way to carry your stuff is to pile everything on a large air mattress/dingy or even a sled would work! and drag it to your preferred spot on the beach. This beach is populated with campers and day visitors, and does not allow alcohol or pets. We didn't see any pets, but (not so) clandestine drinking was definitely happening. There are no lifeguards, but with the shallow water going out 500m, it is ok. BBQs are allowed so save your money and bring your own food. On that note, don't bother ordering from the restaurant. Our food was soggy, cold and overpriced (IMHO). I could understand if there was a lineup and they were super busy, but there wasn't and they weren't. Picnic tables, flush toilets and change rooms are also available. Dunes Beach: The dunes here (much bigger than at outlet beach) that you can climb - again, deep slippy sand. But so fun! It's a really great workout :) Our boys rolled, hopped, slid, somersaulted down the dunes over and over again. The favourite, though, was to run down the steep dune into the lake - which drops off *much* more quickly than at Outlet Beach. Great way to wash all the sand from nooks and crannies ;) There are picnic tables, a playground, flush toilets and a little cantina at Dunes Beach, but we did not visit it after our poor experience at the other restaurant. If you are not into climbing the dunes, sit at the main beach area, or walk along the shore of the lake over to the foot of the dunes. It is quieter over there as well. Sandbanks Beach: We did not visit Sandbanks Beach... Overall: Arrive earlier than 11am, park entry lineups are shorter. We sat in a lineup which started at the junction of County road 12 and 18, for 30 minutes at 12pm :( For first time visitors: If the traffic is backed up, be aware that the road that leads to the admission huts (there are three huts) is a *two* lane road. Don't get stuck following the pack and staying in one lane thinking you'd be cutting in line. Shoop on over to the other (empty) lane and drive past the lineup to where it opens up into three lanes! This of course assumes that they have 2-3 huts staffed. Have your exact change ready to pay at the hut :) Hope you found this helpful!

This is a good beach and unless you taste the water, it may not even be possible for someone to tell that it is not the ocean but a lake! They have change rooms and bathrooms which are so so, pretty standard for any public beach. Parking is limited but I hear they're expanding it. Entry to the park is $17 for the day. If your frequent flyer, would recommend a season pass. Would recommend getting here early as it gets crowded, especially the parking lots.

My kids and I LOVE Sandbanks. We have camped there for 3 years in a row. sometimes multiple visits in a summer. I was always very worried before the first trip, worried about bears coming to munch on slumbering mom with 2 little ones (3 and 4 yr old sons) and there is NO PROBLEM. You are in nature but you aren't out in the wilderness with bears or tons of wildlife. The huge beach- the largest freshwater beach in the world- is amazing and the water is so shallow that it stays warm most of the summer, from mid July on. We would stand for hours with water up to our knees - you could walk about a mile out and still be only in very shallow water- and play frisbee or waterfall or whatever, it was heaven. Noisy neighbours partying till the wee mornings are usually a problem so keep the 1800 number handy and call the park rangers - they will disperse the crowds :) Ill post great photos in a minute- thank you sandbanks

Lovely beach just like if we were down south. To avoid long waiting line to get in, get early in the morning and even better if you have a season pass cause you get to pass all those waiting to pay per day. Has few beach volley court. Never been to the camping but heard it was great but book early, right at the beginning of the season.Dunes are also great to see but not much spaces to just lie down. Bring your food