Darlington Provincial Park is located near the city of Oshawa on the shore of Lake Ontario in the province of Ontario.
Site Review:
Darlington is less than an hour from Toronto. Its close proximity and easy access make it a busy park. There are over 300 sites varying in size and privacy that can accommodate a wide range of equipment.
Darlington offers camping in 3 different campground areas:
- Lakeside
- Cliffside
- Hilltop
All of the sites in the Lakeside campground have electrical service and are radio-free.
The sites in Cliffside and Hilltop have both electric and non-electric sites.
There are sites to accommodate all types of equipment; from tents:
to large trailers:
Some sites are private:
Some sites are not:
Most sites though are quite large-even by provincial park standards.
There are a few sites in the Cliffside and Lakeside campgrounds that afford a nice view of Lake Ontario, even though there is no direct lake access.
We had site #153 in Cliffside campground.
It was roomy and had good privacy.
There are comfort stations in each of the campground areas with flush toilets and free hot showers.
There is a trailer dump station that is free to use and is easily accessible for all rigs.
Activities:
The Beach:
The beach in the Day Use area is where most campers choose for swimming. The beach itself runs the entire length of the park but is most easily accessed from the Day Use area which is where you will find parking, picnic tables, a playground and washroom facilities.
It is a mix of sand, smooth rocks and stones. The entrance into the water is initially rocky but then sandy with a moderate slope.
Use caution because Lake Ontario can be rough with wave action some days, and an undertow can be present. There are no lifeguards or buoyed-off swim areas.
Canoeing/ Kayaking:
Lake Ontario is not really suitable for recreational kayaking due to its size and the potential for rough water. However, McLaughlin Bay located on the west side of the park is sheltered and ideal for the novice paddler.
Fishing:
There is a Tackleshare program implemented by the park where you can borrow fishing rods and tackle and participate in a free hands-on learn-to-fish demonstration at McLaughlin Bay. Arrangements can be made at the park store. Some fish species in the bay include perch, pumpkin seed, pike, catfish, and bass. For more information visit ontario.ca/learn to fish.
Hiking at Darlington Provincial Park
There are a few named trails within the park suitable for hiking and all are less than 2 km long:
- Burk Trail– 1.25 km moderate degree of difficulty
- McLaughlin Bay Trail– 1.5 km easy
- Robinson Creek Trail- 1 km loop easy
There is also the Camper’s Trail that connects the campgrounds with the Day Use Area.
Biking:
You are permitted to bike on the campground roads and along Camper’s Trail. The biking surface ranges from pavement to crushed gravel.
The Waterfront Trail:
The Waterfront Trail is a 350 km multi-use trail that follows the shore of Lake Ontario from Niagara-On-The-Lake to the town of Trenton.
A portion of the trail passes through Darlington Provincial Park making biking very easy to connect to trails and sites of interest outside of the park. The city of Oshawa is 5 km away and by following the path and the well-signed route you can easily access places like:
Second Marsh
and Lakeview Park
As well as other points of interest.
Day Trips:
Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo is about a 30-minute drive from Darlington Provincial Park and is just one of many different day trips you could make using the park as a base.
Canada’s Wonderland:
You could go to Canada’s Wonderland which is about an hour away.
Toronto:
Or even downtown Toronto which is also about an hour away
Things to Know:
- It is usually possible to get a last-minute site at Darlington but other Ontario Parks nearby that are also on Lake Ontario that you might also consider are Sandbanks and Presqu’ile.
- There is a small park store where you can buy a few souvenirs, wood, ice, and some basic items.
- Leashed pets are permitted-though not on the beach.
- The Day Use area fills up quickly, especially on summer weekends, you would be wise to plan accordingly and reserve if possible.
- Many other reviews reference how traffic noise from Highway 401 can be heard within the park- this is true. You can also hear train whistles routinely both day and night.
IMO:
We stayed at Darlington Provincial Park for 2 nights as part of a road trip. It was a good stop-off spot because of its proximity to Highway 401.
Darlington is located in the midst of a densely populated urban area on the shore of Lake Ontario. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much, however, I was pleasantly surprised. The sites generally are large with reasonable privacy and even during a sunny summer weekend, it is fairly quiet. Yes, you can hear traffic noise- there is no avoiding it. If that is a deterrent for you then consider yourself informed.
Darlington is fine for a weekend, as a stop on a road trip, it is even a good “lodging only” type of spot to explore some Toronto attractions. I would recommend Darlington Provincial Park as an RV Place to Go.