Sandbanks Provincial Park is located on Lake Ontario in Prince Edward County near the town of Picton in Ontario.
Sandbanks Provincial Park is noted for its picturesque sand dunes and beaches. It is a major tourist destination in Eastern Ontario with approximately 750,000 visitors a year. Sandbanks is home to one of Canada’s best beaches. Outlet Beach is a Blue Flag beach which means that it is recognized internationally for its high standards in water, quality, safety, education and service.
Campground Options:
Sandbanks Provincial Park has over 500 sites in 5 campground areas:
West Lake Campground:
- 75 sites
- sites are set in an open field
- some pull-thru sites
- electricity
- walking distance to Dunes Beach
- has its own park entrance
- near the Woodland Trail
- has a dump station
- NO PETS ALLOWED
Richardson’s Campground:
- has approximately 50 sites
- 19 sites have electrical hook-up
- Close to Lakeshore Beach (also referred to as Sandbanks beach)
- pretty isolated and not close to other campground amenities
Cedars Campground:
- centrally located near Outlet Beach, the park store, trails, and the visitor centre
- no electricity
- private sites
- uneven pad slope
- not really suitable for RVs more designed for tents
- has a dump station
- sites are almost all in a forested area
Woodlands Campground:
- 139 sites
- site quality varies- some are in an open field, some in a forested area
- located basically in the centre of the park. It’s not really located near anything but at the same time, it’s not that far from anything either.
- has a dump station
- Close to the Woodland trail which connects the east and west areas of the park.
- all sites are electric
Outlet campgrounds A&B:
- combined 270 sites
- close to Outlet River
- near the equipment rental area
- close to the amphitheatre
- some sites have direct access to Outlet Beach
- Sites are mostly non-electric (sites 112, 155-173, 175-177, 179-189 are electric but do not have beach access)
- close to the boat launch
- close to the park store
- VERY busy area. Lots of traffic and people especially during “beach-use” times
I have read some reviews that advocate ONLY camping at the Outlet campgrounds when camping at Sandbanks. The rationale being that if you are going to a campground to enjoy the beach, then you are going to want to camp on the beach.
Ummmm… well that certainly might be some peoples’ opinion, but I would seriously consider the time you are visiting. If it’s a summer weekend and you don’t mind the crowds, the noise, the fact that some people will not respect your site boundaries and that you will probably not be able to leave your belongings unsupervised for fear of them being taken, borrowed or used- then for sure try and get a beach site. Fortunately, there are a variety of camping options at Sandbanks for you to choose from.
Site Review:
We had site #700 in the Woodlands Campground.
- Sandbanks Provincial Park has numerous comfort stations with showers and flush toilets
- There are 3 sanitation dump stations (at Woodlands, Cedars and West Lake campground areas)
- Laundry facilities are located in Woodlands, Cedars and Outlet River campgrounds
- There is a visitor centre
- A park store is located near Outlet Beach
- There are 2 snack bar options (at Outlet Beach and at Dunes Beach)
- Various equipment rentals available
Sandbanks Provincial Park is a very popular camping destination. While there are a variety of site options it should be noted that if you are trying to reserve (and you really must reserve here) for a peak time it will likely be a case of “you get what you get, and you don’t pitch a fit”. This place fills up quickly and often it is very difficult to get any site, let alone a specific site.
Why is Sandbanks Provincial Park so busy?
The top 5 busiest Ontario Provincial Parks are:
My guess as to Sandbanks’ popularity is that it’s all about location!
- situated on the protected shores of Lake Ontario
- world-class beach
- clean
- in the middle of tourist-friendly Prince Edward County
- proximity to Toronto
In the summer this place gets packed. Packed to the point of the park reaching capacity and turning people away. You could be waiting in a car line for a couple of hours trying to get in at peak times.
If you find yourself in a slow-moving line you might want to consider using the self-serve kiosk.
You (or one of your passengers) can walk up to it and put your information and payment into the machine to receive a permit. You can then access the bypass lane and enter the park with the rest of the permit holders. I don’t know how much faster this is but it is an option to consider.
For further information, consult the Ontario Parks blog for tips on how best to beat the crowds at Sandbanks.
Other Options besides Sandbanks
There are other campgrounds in the area such as Sandbanks River Country Campground.
This is a private campground that does accept short-term stay reservations and is located quite literally a 5-minute walk to Outlet beach via 2 access trails.
Other Provincial parks you might consider visiting if Sandbanks is full would be Darlington Provincial Park, Presquile Provincial Park, or Ferris Provincial Park.
Activities:
Swimming/Beach
Sandbanks Provincial Park is famous for its beaches and swimming. It has 3 natural sand beaches:
Outlet Beach: which is located in the East Lake sector of the park.
Lakeshore/Sandbanks Beach: is located in the Lakeshore Day Use area.
Dunes Beach: is located in the Dunes Day Use area off West Lake.
Outlet and Lakeshore beaches have a gradual slope/dropoff, but Dunes beach is much steeper.
There are no lifeguards posted at the beaches and pets are not permitted except at designated pet areas.
Hiking:
There are several interconnected trails throughout the park suitable for hiking and provide a safe environmentally friendly way to explore Sandbanks.
Biking:
The trails are multi-use and suitable for biking as well as hiking. They are flat, well maintained and lined with crushed gravel. 
The most popular trail is the Woodland Trail that connects the east and west ends of the park.
You can also bike on the campground roads and the areas outside of the park as well. Prince Edward County is a favourite destination for bicycle touring. Click here for more information about cycling in Prince Edward County.
Canoe/Kayak:
You can rent canoes, kayaks, and SUP boards at the Woodyard located on the Outlet River (before the bridge across from the parking lot for the amphitheatre). 
There are no routes for canoeing accessible from Sandbanks but the Outlet river is picturesque and nice for a paddle.
You can not reserve canoes and kayaks, they are rented out on a first come first serve basis.
Personally, I wouldn’t canoe (maybe kayak) on Lake Ontario just because big open water can be unpredictable and changeable but it is an option if you decide to do so. Lake Ontario can be accessed from the put-in spot at the Woodyard.
Boating:
Motorboats are allowed on Lake Ontario as well as East and West Lake but not near the swimming areas or the beaches. There is a boat launch near the Outlet River campgrounds in the designated Watercraft Area. 
The ramp is suitable for boats less than 18ft. Other boat launch facilities are available outside of the park.
Fishing:
Fishing is permitted. An Ontario fishing licence is required. Ontario Provincial Parks do not issue fishing licences and they need to be obtained prior to your arrival.
The park is part of the “Tackle Share” program giving beginners an opportunity to borrow a rod and tackle. Equipment is loaned at no charge. You can purchase worms from the Woodyard as well as at the park store.
Things to Know:
- I can’t stress enough how busy a summer weekend is at Sandbanks and how popular it is as a Day Use destination. If you are a camper, even with a reservation, you will have to wait in the entrance lines along with everyone else to check-in. I would avoid arriving on a summer Saturday/Sunday between 10 am and 3 pm.
- A permit is required for your vehicle to access some areas of the park i.e the beaches and Day Use areas. You will be issued one at check-in. Make sure you display it in your vehicle. Staff routinely check vehicles and issue fines for non-compliance.
- The trails interconnect providing walking/biking access to all areas of the park. I did find however that some of the connecting points were not well marked. I could not locate a detailed trail map.
- Dangerous undertow conditions can occur at the beaches particularly during periods of high waves in Lake Ontario.
- There is a park store for basic items.
The village of West Lake is close by for other forgotten items and Picton is about 20km away. - There is a lot to do in Prince Edward County, everything from wineries to museums. Check out www.PEC.ca for ideas and info regarding activities outside of Sandbanks.
- Wood can be purchased from the woodyard.
Poison Ivy
Poison Ivy is found throughout the park. An effort is made to control poison ivy at campsites and on designated park trails.
However, it is still prevalent, especially on the dunes between the parking lots and the beach. Poison Ivy is an important dune stabilizer, as well as a food source for wildlife so Ontario Parks do not remove it. Your best defence is to be able to identify it and exercise caution around it. Remember LEAVES OF THREE LET IT BE!
You can develop a painful blistery rash anywhere from 6 hours to 12 days(!) after exposure.
If you should have contact it is advisable to wash with soap and water as soon as possible (dish soap is best).
IMO:
Sandbanks Provincial Park is definitely a gem in the Ontario Parks system. Outlet Beach is world-class. The overall atmosphere is relaxed. It is a tourist destination without all the gaudy commercial trappings usually associated with beach places.
Sandbanks is a busy place, and with a lot of people come people problems like noise and litter. I found though, that during our stay, the park staff were a presence to keep things under control and the park was surprisingly tidy.
There are a variety of camping options that allow you to have a camping experience as well as a beach experience if you desire.
I liked that there was more to do than just a beach.
We didn’t allow enough time in a weekend to fully appreciate the area. We will be back. I definitely recommend Sandbanks Provincial Park as an RV Place to Go.
