Check Out The Best Free Campsite In Ontario!

Here’s how I found the “best free campsite” in Ontario, by accident!

Since I am traveling long term on my motorcycle, finding free places to camp is crucial. Many times, these free places to camp are actually great. They are less crowded than a regular campground would be!

Best. Campsite. EVER! Right by the lake! This spot was kind of hidden behind some bushes.

I was on my way to Thunder Bay, ON (in mid-July of 2017), when I rode through some clouds! There were white ribbons of it, dancing on the road. I noticed a bunch of riders behind me, so I let them pass me (since I ride like a (cool) granny), and saw that they were the Hell’s Angels! Angels in the clouds! I kept laughing to myself. It’s something I do often.

The warm rocks! My favourite part of this campsite.

Impulsively, I decided to pull over to this rest area along the Trans-Canada Highway. And… SCORE! It was a PERFECT place to camp! The BEST free campsite in Ontario! I stayed for 3 days because, well, I felt like it, and no one told me to leave. It was quite secluded, and the rocks right on lake superior were perfect for chilling out. On those smooth warm rocks, I meditated, painted my nails, brushed my hair, listened to music, and drank chai tea. It was wonderful having so many hours of complete solitude and serenity. I couldn’t believe this blissful place was FREE. No showers of course, but this place is right on the lake, so I just had a (very cold) bath.

There were bathrooms, as well as a perfect hidden spot for me to park my bike and pitch my tent. There were the most perfect smooth rocks right one the water, a mini trail, picnic benches, and barely any mosquitoes. Best of all, this was all free! I woke up the next morning and the first thing I saw was the sunrise, the love of my life (my bike), and the lake. The first thing I heard was the wind in the trees and the gentle waves. I love this place.

I woke up the second morning to find a hitchhiker sleeping on the neighbouring picnic table. We ended up hanging out for hours, and sharing countless stories and travel tips. I think I convinced him to buy a motorcycle! In my opinion, traveling on a motorcycle would come with significantly more freedom than hitchhiking. One thing I notice about traveling, is that when you meet people on the road, conversations can get intense and personal quickly. Perhaps it’s because you both know you will never see each other again.

I ran out of water as usual, so I just kept refilling my bottles straight from Lake Superior! I boiled or filtered the water before consumption, just in case. The only food I had left was peanut butter and some canned herring, so that’s all I was eating, but it was worth it. Running out of food isn’t a big deal, it’s the lack of water that would kill me off quickly!

So, this “best free campsite in Ontario” is the rest/picnic area located in Rossport, ON. I highly recommend it, obviously.

So, what makes this the best free campsite in Ontario?

• It’s FREE
• It has amazing, smooth rocks right on the water
• It’s not busy
• You have access to water for drinking
• You have access to a giant bathtub (Lake Superior)
• There are bathrooms
• There is a hiking trail
• Picnic tables are available
• There is a perfect place to hang a hammock
• There is a hidden area to pitch a tent
• There is a lot of space to camp
• It’s right along the Trans Canada Highway
• There is a park with swings nearby
• There is a gas station and grocery store nearby
• Bugs were ok at this place

Each morning, the highway service guys came to the campsite to change the garbage bags etc, and said nothing to me when they saw me camped there. There were also no signs prohibiting overnight parking. I even asked one of the service guys if I was allowed to be there, and he said it was totally fine!

Best morning ever: waking up to this sight and the sound of a chickadee singing!

I also wrote a post on how I spent $41 in 2 weeks camping across Ontario.

What would you do, if you’re traveling, and you find a place you like so much that you want to stay longer than planned. Would you rather stay, or would you be worried about what you might be missing out on if you don’t get going? Especially if you have a time limit?

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below!

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