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RVing in Ontario for Seniors

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RVing in Ontario for Seniors

Enjoying the good life in Northern Ontario

There’s no denying the best years are the retirement years. Here’s how to make the most of them with your RV in Ontario.

Safely discover Ontario when the time is right. For the most up-to-date information on where and when it is safe to travel please visit: covid-19.ontario.ca.

Do your part by following public health advice. It is important to wear a face mask or covering, practice physical distancing, and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

While it's not safe to travel right now, it's still ok to dream. And there's no better time to plan out your next northern adventure than right now!

When you turn 65 something magical happens—the cares of the world truly start to lose their grasp on you, and your attention turns to the things that really matter in life. Travel, family, time together, great conversations, time in nature—all of the things RVing offers you. It’s no wonder that hundreds of thousands of seniors are hitting the road to enjoy the freedom of the RV lifestyle.

Where to Rent and RV in Ontario

It's never been easier to take a road trip. Here are some of the best places to rent and RV in Ontario:

A visit to Pukaskwa National Park is a must for any cross-country travellers. Photo: Wobblycat

Ontario is an incredible destination for RVers, especially for seniors. It’s one of the safest places in the world, with incredible infrastructure that means that roads are in good shape and take you almost anywhere you want to go, and that accessibility won’t be an issue. If you’re looking to commune with nature in a secluded and remote spot, we've got something for you. Or if you’re bringing the grandkids, we’ve got some great family resorts on some beautiful touring routes as well.

What To Do

Routes, Events, and Attractions for Senior RVers

The first thing most of us think of when planning an RV trip is where to go. Ontario spans ¼ of the width of Canada, so there’s never any shortage of events, attractions and bona fide routes to consider. Our top choices are as follows:

The International Plowing Match has been on our radar for a few years now. We attended one with a rented RV from CanaDream in 2014 and were amazed by how well-organized the event was, and how much there was to see and do.

Every night there were concerts in a big tent with plenty of seating and easy access in and out, so even if it rained, everyone was comfortable. The International Plowing Match RV sites were well decorated and had a great sense of community—when an event goes on for a week, it’s easy to get to know people and make new friends. The community is respectful and relatively quiet, so there aren’t too many late-night hijinks going on.

Lake Superior is the world’s largest freshwater lake, and the route around Lake Superior is Ontario’s bucket list ride. What we love about this route is the variety of scenery and the home-ey-ness of the communities. You’ll get to visit the friendly towns on the Canadian side, like Sault Ste. Marie, Rossport and Thunder Bay, and the Americans bring it home with the beautiful towns and cities of Duluth, Minnesota and Marquette, Michigan—and we highly recommend a trip up the Keweenaw Peninsula to Copper Harbor. The craggy rocks of the North Shore stand in stark contrast to the sandy beaches and dunes of the south.

Arial view of Copper Harbor, Michigan

For attractions, we love Science North in Sudbury, especially when you’re travelling with grandkids. The rotation of amazing exhibits and IMAX theatre makes it a must-stop for little ones. And their sister location of Dynamic Earth is great for older kids, where they’ll get to descend into an actual mine, led by some of the best tour guides we know. For the adults, we like the Agawa Canyon Tour Train in Sault Ste. Marie—during fall the colours are truly awe-inspiring, but the views of the canyon, especially when the train passes two feet from the rock walls, can be enjoyed at any time of year.

Where To Go

Great Senior-Friendly RV Parks

Throughout the North, there are plenty of senior-friendly RV parks. Ontario’s Provincial Park system has dozens of incredible properties, with a very comprehensive system of listing spots, to ensure that you find one that meets all of your needs. They are quite affordable, and often located in prime wilderness, so they are often in high demand.

The incredible Ouimet Canyon has to be seen in real life.

The incredible Ouimet Canyon is just outside the Thunder Bay area campgrounds. Photo: Wobblycat

We love the turnkey, consistent experience of the K.O.A. parks throughout Ontario, but there are literally thousands of campgrounds with all the amenities throughout the province. A complete list of the parks are available at GoRVing Canada: https://gorving.ca/campgrounds/campgrounds-ontario/

Things to Know

Stuff to Consider Before Hitting the Road in Ontario

Ontario is a big province, and many of the best spots are quite remote. It’s worth noting that if you are planning a big trip, having all of your fuel, propane and dump stops mapped out is a good idea. It can help ensure that you don’t get stuck somewhere. If your RV has onboard propane, there are few spots that offer this service outside of the big cities. Gas can be easily found anywhere along the Trans-Canada Highways, but off them, it’s worth making sure you have a full tank before going into the wilderness.

Highway cutting through remote wilderness near Lake Nipigon, Ontario

Speaking of highways, it’s worth noting that the 400 series highways (400, 401, 410, 407, etc) all have a maximum speed limit of 100 km/h (about 60 mph) and a minimum speed limit of 80km/h. If you’re not passing, its best to stay in the right-hand lane.

You will need a valid passport to cross the border from the US to Canada, and US citizens may be denied entry if they have a DUI conviction.

Emergencies should be reported to the universal emergency number in Canada at 911. They can direct you to hospitals or police stations. If it’s not an emergency, call the local police.

If you’d like us to add something to this article, or have a question about RVing in Ontario, don’t hesitate to contact us through our Facebook page! Have fun on the open road!

Discover Your Own Ontario by RV
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Mike Jacobs Mike is an avid Northern traveller, having spent years traversing its backroads, and visiting its remote lodges and fun cities by car, RV, motorcycle, and boat. There's always something new to discover in the North and Mike never shies away from the next great adventure.

RVing in Ontario for Seniors