Sandbanks Campgrounds Compared: Outlet, Cedars, Woodlands or West Lake?

Short version: if the whole point of the trip is the beach, book Outlet River A or B and accept that you'll be camping close to your neighbours with not much shade. If you want trees, space and a quieter night and don't mind a drive or bike ride to the water, book Woodlands. Cedars is the in-between pick near the dunes, and West Lake is the calm-water choice with electrical sites. Richardson's is the one to try when everything else is gone.

Sandbanks, on Lake Ontario in Prince Edward County, is one of the busiest parks in the province, and it's worth knowing which campground you're clicking on when the reservation window opens. They are genuinely different places to camp.

The lay of the land

Sandbanks is built around the dunes and three swimming beaches. Outlet Beach is the big, shallow, family beach. Sandbanks Beach (people also call it Dunes Beach) sits under the tall dunes, and Lakeshore is the smaller one. Some campgrounds are steps from sand; others are a few minutes away by car.

Site counts and exactly which sites have electrical hookups change over time, so check the Sandbanks page on Ontario Parks for the current numbers before you commit.

Outlet River A and B: the beach campgrounds

These two sit right at Outlet Beach and they are why Sandbanks sells out. You can walk from your tent to the water with a cooler. That convenience is the whole appeal, and it comes with the obvious trade-offs: many sites are sandy and open, shade is scarce on a lot of them, and in July you will hear your neighbours. If you have small kids and the plan is beach all day, this is still the right call. Bring a shade shelter and don't expect a private wilderness feel.

The two loops camp fairly similarly. A is the classic beach pick; B is a little less crowded on average, but the difference is smaller than the difference between Outlet and any other campground.

Cedars: near the dunes

Cedars is the campground people choose when they want to be near Sandbanks Beach and the dunes rather than Outlet Beach. Many sites have cedar cover, which is where the name comes from, so shade is better than at Outlet without being deep forest. It's a good compromise for couples or groups who want beach access but also want a place to sit in the afternoon that isn't full sun.

West Lake: calm water and hookups

West Lake is on the sheltered West Lake side of the park, not the open Lake Ontario shore. That matters if you have a canoe, a paddleboard or a nervous swimmer. This campground has electrical sites, so it's a natural pick for trailers. The beaches are still a short drive or bike away.

Woodlands: shade and room to breathe

Woodlands is the campground that feels most like camping. Sites are more spread out and better treed than anywhere near the beach, and it's noticeably quieter at night. The cost is location: you're driving or biking to the water. If you've been burned by a sunny, packed Outlet site before, this is where you go next time. It's also a much better bet for a group that wants to hang out around the fire without a neighbour three metres away.

Richardson's: the backup that isn't bad

Richardson's is inland and treed like Woodlands, and it tends to be the last campground with availability once the beach loops sell out. If you're booking late for a summer weekend, look here before giving up on Sandbanks altogether. You will drive to the beach, but you'll still be inside the park.

How to actually get a site

Reservations for Ontario Parks open five months ahead of your arrival date, at 7 a.m. Eastern, on the official system at reservations.ontarioparks.ca. Sandbanks summer weekends go in minutes. Decide your campground and two or three backup site numbers before that morning; the dates and a playbook are in our guide to 2027 Ontario Parks reservation dates.

Browse the campgrounds and sites on the Sandbanks park page while you plan.

Which one, in one sentence each

• Outlet A or B if the beach is the trip.
• Cedars if you want dunes-side beach access with some shade.
• West Lake if you're towing or paddling.
• Woodlands if you want trees, quiet and space.
• Richardson's if everything else is booked.

PitchPeek lets you save the sites you're eyeing, plan the trip with your friends (who brings what, meals by day), and rate the site when you get home so the next camper knows.

Free · plan the trip with your crew · rate the site when you get home

Questions

Which Sandbanks campground is closest to the beach?

Outlet River A and B sit right beside Outlet Beach, and Cedars is a short walk from Sandbanks (Dunes) Beach. Woodlands and Richardson's are inland, so you drive or bike to the water.

Which Sandbanks campground is the quietest?

Woodlands is the usual pick for shade and quiet. Its sites are more spread out and treed than the Outlet campgrounds, at the cost of not being walking distance to the beach.

How far ahead do I need to book Sandbanks?

Ontario Parks opens reservations five months before your arrival date at 7 a.m. Eastern. For summer weekends at Sandbanks, plan to book the morning the window opens.