Long Point is a 40 km sand spit reaching into Lake Erie, recognized by the UN as a biosphere reserve.[1] Long Point Provincial Park holds a sandy beach, a campground and a boat launch on the spit, and it sits in a major bird migration corridor. This guide covers the park and the County beach access nearby.
Facts box
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Mailing address | PO Box 99, 250 Erie Boulevard, Port Rowan. Phone 519-586-2133.[2] |
| Size | 150 hectares, established 1921, a Recreational park.[3] |
| 2026 season | Day use April 3, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Camping May 8 to November 15, 2026.[4] |
| Census, Norfolk County (2021) | Norfolk County: 67,490 people (2021 Census), up 5.4% from 64,044 in 2016; 30,085 private dwellings, 27,594 occupied by usual residents[5] |
| Drive to the park | Toronto: about 180 km, 2 h 52 min; Ottawa: about 628 km, 7 h 58 min; London: about 111 km, 1 h 55 min; Kitchener: about 128 km, 2 h 09 min. OSRM estimates; allow for traffic and stops[6] |
Quick answer
Long Point suits beach days, paddling and bird watching. Ontario Parks describes "over 1.5 km sandy beach on the warm waters of Lake Erie" and calls the park one of the largest bird and waterfowl migration and staging areas in North America, inside a designated World Biosphere Reserve.[7]
Day use and camping
- Day use: the page lists day use with no fee amounts. The day-use area in the New Park is open daily until 10 pm and has parking for over 650 vehicles, picnic tables, 12 upright barbecues and two comfort stations.[20] The park sells daily vehicle permits up to five days in advance; advance permits open at 7 am Eastern, five days before arrival, and one permit covers one passenger vehicle with up to 14 people. Sales are final.[8]
- Camping: 250 car-camping sites, including 135 electrical sites, 79 radio-free sites and 50 RV pull-through sites. No walk-in, group, dog-free or backcountry sites.[9]
- Facilities: 5 comfort stations, 22 vault privies, showers, 3 playgrounds, a park store and a laundromat. There is no visitor centre or food concession.[10]
- Activities listed: boating, canoeing, fishing, swimming, kite boarding, biking, car camping and discovery programs.[11]
The beach and dogs
The park lists 2 dog beaches and 2 pet exercise areas.[12] The off-leash dog exercise and beach area is at the west end of the day-use beach in the New Park. Everywhere else in the park, dogs stay on a leash of no more than 2 m, and pets are not allowed in the swimming area or on the other beaches.[13]
On the water
The park has 1 boat launch, 7 docks and a fish-cleaning building.[14] The launch is in the New Park on Long Point Bay, takes most pleasure boats and is included with a campsite or day-use permit. Personal flotation devices are lent for a refundable deposit, and fishing rods through the OFAH TackleShare program. Canoe rentals are outside the park.[20] Ontario Parks calls the bay one of the finest bass fisheries in Ontario and says fishing licences are sold in the village of Long Point. Canoeists use the sheltered marsh of Long Point Bay.[21]
Beach access outside the park
Norfolk County’s beach page says Long Point has eight beach access points, from Pike Lane to Sandy Lane, with a PDF map. High water levels can significantly reduce the beach. The County points visitors to the provincial park for the beach itself, and asks visitors who park elsewhere to follow parking signs and respect private property.[15]
The County’s most recent paid-parking notice we found (June 12 2024, marked archived) listed paid parking on Erie Boulevard and at the Abigail Becker lot at Long Point, at $4 per hour from 10 am to 6 pm, paid by HotSpot app or QR code. Confirm current details with the County.[16]
Waves and currents
The Lifesaving Society notes that wind-generated waves on the Great Lakes can create dangerous currents, including rip currents around sandbars and structures. If caught, flip onto your back, float, then follow a clear path to rescue, such as swimming sideways across the current.[17] The park’s pages say the swimming areas have no lifeguards and that Lake Erie has an undertow here.[21]
Birds and nature
Ontario Parks says more than 300 species of songbirds and waterfowl migrate through Long Point each spring and autumn, and more than 80 species nest on the point. The Long Point Bird Observatory is just outside the park, and Bird Studies Canada is in Port Rowan.[18] Ontario Parks also calls the park the fourth-oldest provincial park in Ontario.[3]
Where to eat and shop
The park store, at the Registration Office inside the New Park entrance, sells camping supplies, snacks, firewood and ice. Ontario Parks says the village of Long Point and Port Rowan offer groceries, hardware and other services.[19]
FAQ
Is Long Point Provincial Park open in winter?
Ontario Parks lists day use from April 3, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Camping runs May 8 to November 15, 2026. Checked November 3 2026.
Does Long Point have a dog beach?
Yes. The park lists 2 dog beaches and 2 pet exercise areas. Checked November 3 2026.
How long is the beach?
Ontario Parks describes over 1.5 km of sandy beach in the park. Checked November 3 2026.
Can I launch a boat?
The park lists 1 boat launch and 7 docks. Checked November 3 2026.
Cottages in this area
Browse cottages near Long Point and Turkey Point or the whole Lake Erie Shores region. Related: Turkey Point.
Township Rules Check
Thinking of renting out a cottage here? Run the Township Rules Check. Rules for Norfolk County are being confirmed, so we state none here.
Claims table
Checked 2026-11-03 by the SEO & Content Writer agent. Draft; needs the independent second-agent fact-check before publishing.
| # | claim | source URL | checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long Point is a 40 km sand spit reaching into Lake Erie, recognized by the UN as a biosphere reserve. | https://www.norfolkcounty.ca/visiting/beaches/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 2 | Mailing address : PO Box 99, 250 Erie Boulevard, Port Rowan. Phone 519-586-2133. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/longpoint | 2026-11-03 |
| 3 | Size : 150 hectares, established 1921, a Recreational park. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/longpoint | 2026-11-03 |
| 4 | 2026 season : Day use April 3, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Camping May 8 to November 15, 2026. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/longpoint | 2026-11-03 |
| 5 | Census, Norfolk County (2021) : Norfolk County: 67,490 people (2021 Census), up 5.4% from 64,044 in 2016; 30,085 private dwellings, 27,594 occupied by usual residents | https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000201 | 2026-11-03 |
| 6 | Drive to the park : Toronto: about 180 km, 2 h 52 min; Ottawa: about 628 km, 7 h 58 min; London: about 111 km, 1 h 55 min; Kitchener: about 128 km, 2 h 09 min. OSRM estimates; allow for traffic and stops | https://router.project-osrm.org | 2026-11-03 |
| 7 | Long Point suits beach days, paddling and bird watching. Ontario Parks describes "over 1.5 km sandy beach on the warm waters of Lake Erie" and calls the park one of the largest bird and waterfowl migration and staging areas in North America, inside a designated World Biosphere Reserve. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/longpoint | 2026-11-03 |
| 8 | Day use: the page lists day use with no fee amounts. Advance permits open at 7 am Eastern, five days before arrival, and one permit covers one passenger vehicle with up to 14 people. Sales are final. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/dayuse/faq | 2026-11-03 |
| 9 | Camping: 250 car-camping sites, including 135 electrical sites, 79 radio-free sites and 50 RV pull-through sites. No walk-in, group, dog-free or backcountry sites. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/longpoint | 2026-11-03 |
| 10 | Facilities: 5 comfort stations, 22 vault privies, showers, 3 playgrounds, a park store and a laundromat. There is no visitor centre or food concession. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/longpoint | 2026-11-03 |
| 11 | Activities listed: boating, canoeing, fishing, swimming, kite boarding, biking, car camping and discovery programs. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/longpoint | 2026-11-03 |
| 12 | The park lists 2 dog beaches and 2 pet exercise areas. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/longpoint | 2026-11-03 |
| 13 | Corrected: off-leash area at west end of day-use beach; 2 m leash elsewhere; pets barred from swimming area and beaches. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/longpoint/facilities ; https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/longpoint/activities | 2026-11-03 |
| 14 | The park has 1 boat launch, 7 docks and a fish-cleaning building. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/longpoint | 2026-11-03 |
| 15 | Norfolk County’s beach page says Long Point has eight beach access points, from Pike Lane to Sandy Lane, with a PDF map. High water levels can significantly reduce the beach. The County points visitors to the provincial park for the beach itself, and asks visitors who park elsewhere to follow parking signs and respect private property. | https://www.norfolkcounty.ca/visiting/beaches/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 16 | The County’s most recent paid-parking notice we found (June 12 2024, marked archived) listed paid parking on Erie Boulevard and at the Abigail Becker lot at Long Point, at $4 per hour from 10 am to 6 pm, paid by HotSpot app or QR code. Confirm current details with the County. | https://www.norfolkcounty.ca/news-and-notices/posts/paid-parking-starts-in-norfolk-lakeside-communities-on-june-15/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 17 | The Lifesaving Society notes that wind-generated waves on the Great Lakes can create dangerous currents, including rip currents around sandbars and structures. If caught, flip onto your back, float, then follow a clear path to rescue, such as swimming sideways across the current. | https://www.lifesavingsociety.com/media/290564/lifeliner_june2018.pdf | 2026-11-03 |
| 18 | Corrected: 300+ migrating species, 80+ nesting; observatory outside park; Bird Studies Canada in Port Rowan. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/longpoint/activities | 2026-11-03 |
| 19 | Park store contents; nearby services. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/longpoint/facilities | 2026-11-03 |
| 20 | Day-use area hours and parking; boat launch details; PFD loan; TackleShare; canoe rentals outside park; five-day advance permits at this park. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/longpoint/facilities | 2026-11-03 |
| 21 | Bass fishery; licences in Long Point village; marsh canoeing; no lifeguards; undertow. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/longpoint/activities | 2026-11-03 |
Fact-check 2026-11-03 (independent): 15 rows confirmed (the Norfolk parking notice is dated June 12 2024 and marked archived; the copy says so); rows 13, 18, 19 and the lifeguard sentence corrected from the park’s own subpages; rows 20 and 21 added.