Port Burwell Provincial Park, on the northern shore of Lake Erie, has a 2.5 km sandy beach and three campgrounds.[1] This guide uses what Ontario Parks publishes on the park’s own pages.
Facts box
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Park address | 9 Wilson Lane, Port Burwell. Phone 519-874-4691.[2] |
| Size | 239 hectares, established 1971, a Recreational park.[3] |
| 2026 season | May 1 to October 25, 2026, day use and camping.[4] |
| Drive to Port Burwell | Toronto: about 206 km, 2 h 42 min; Ottawa: about 639 km, 7 h 37 min; London: about 68 km, 1 h 11 min; Kitchener: about 120 km, 1 h 45 min. OSRM estimates; allow for traffic and stops[5] |
Quick answer
The park has a 2.5 km sandy beach on the northern shore of Lake Erie, 235 campsites and a dog beach. Book day use online before you go.[6]
Beach and dogs
Ontario Parks describes a 2.5 km sandy beach on the northern shore of Lake Erie and lists one dog beach and one pet exercise area.[7] The dog beach is reached from the most easterly access of day-use parking lot P1. Dogs stay on a leash at all times except in the designated off-leash area east of the dog beach.[17] The park’s rules page sets a leash of no more than 2 m and bars pets from the swimming area and the beach outside designated areas; the set fine is $95.[8]
Camping
There are 235 campsites in total, including 233 car-camping sites and 123 electrical sites. The page lists no group, walk-in or backcountry sites.[9] The three campgrounds sit a short distance from the lake in a mature forest, around a recreation area with an amphitheatre, playground, volleyball and badminton courts, horseshoe pits and a ball diamond.[18] The rules page limits a campsite to six people and a stay to 23 consecutive nights, with check-out by 2 pm.[8]
Day use and programs
The park sells daily vehicle permits up to five days in advance. Ontario Parks releases advance permits at 7 am Eastern, and one permit covers one passenger vehicle with up to 14 people.[10] The park lists Discovery drop-in programs from July 1 to Labour Day.[11] The day-use area has picnic grounds with a reservable picnic shelter, washrooms and shade near the beach.[17]
Facilities
The park lists 5 comfort stations, 6 vault privies, showers, 3 laundromats, 2 park stores, 2 trailer dump stations, a playground, a picnic shelter, an amphitheatre and all-terrain wheelchairs. There is no visitor centre, boat launch, docks or food concession, and no boat, canoe, kayak or bike rentals.[12] Park stores at the day-use and campground entrances sell basic camping supplies, ice cream and souvenirs. A properly fitted personal flotation device can be borrowed at the day-use gate for a $25 refundable deposit, and an all-terrain beach wheelchair is available for loan.[17]
Things to do
The park lists biking, boating, canoeing, disc golf, discovery programs, fishing, hiking, kite boarding, swimming and car camping.[13] The activities page lists two easy trails:[14]
- Ravine Creek Trail: 1 km, 45 minutes, a self-guided interpretive trail with eleven stops on geology, plants and animals.
- Beach Trail: 2 km return, 1 hour, from the campground to the beach, with a lookout over a 20 m bluff.
Boat launching and docking are near the park, with Lake Erie reached through Big Otter Creek. The creek opens straight into an unprotected part of the lake. Ontario Parks names perch, pickerel (walleye), trout and salmon among the sport fish and recommends a boat for fishing. In fall, the park is a migration-watching spot for hawks, vultures and eagles, and its bird checklist has 232 species.[19]
Waves and currents
The Lifesaving Society notes that wind-generated waves on the Great Lakes can create dangerous currents. If caught in a rip current, flip onto your back, float, then follow a clear path to rescue, such as swimming sideways across the current.[15] Central Elgin, the neighbouring municipality, adds that large waves can trigger rip currents and that you should never swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs.[16] The activities page says there are no lifeguards at the beach.[19]
Nearby
For another Lake Erie beach town, see Port Stanley beaches and the Port Stanley village guide.
FAQ
How long is the beach at Port Burwell Provincial Park?
Ontario Parks describes a 2.5 km sandy beach on the northern shore of Lake Erie. Checked November 3 2026.
Is there a dog beach?
Yes. The park lists one dog beach and one pet exercise area. Checked November 3 2026.
When is Port Burwell Provincial Park open?
Ontario Parks lists May 1 to October 25, 2026 for day use and camping. Checked November 3 2026.
Can I launch a boat at the park?
The park lists no boat launch or docks. Checked November 3 2026.
Cottages in this area
Browse cottages near Port Stanley and Port Burwell or the whole Lake Erie Shores region.
Township Rules Check
Thinking of renting out a cottage here? Run the Township Rules Check. Rules for the municipality that includes Port Burwell 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 | Port Burwell Provincial Park, on the northern shore of Lake Erie, has a 2.5 km sandy beach and a campground. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/portburwell | 2026-11-03 |
| 2 | Park address : 9 Wilson Lane, Port Burwell. Phone 519-874-4691. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/portburwell | 2026-11-03 |
| 3 | Size : 239 hectares, established 1971, a Recreational park. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/portburwell | 2026-11-03 |
| 4 | 2026 season : May 1 to October 25, 2026, day use and camping. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/portburwell | 2026-11-03 |
| 5 | Drive to Port Burwell : Toronto: about 206 km, 2 h 42 min; Ottawa: about 639 km, 7 h 37 min; London: about 68 km, 1 h 11 min; Kitchener: about 120 km, 1 h 45 min. OSRM estimates; allow for traffic and stops | https://router.project-osrm.org | 2026-11-03 |
| 6 | The park has a 2.5 km sandy beach on the northern shore of Lake Erie, 235 campsites and a dog beach. Book day use online before you go. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/portburwell | 2026-11-03 |
| 7 | Ontario Parks describes a 2.5 km sandy beach on the northern shore of Lake Erie and lists one dog beach and one pet exercise area. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/portburwell | 2026-11-03 |
| 8 | Corrected: rules page states 2 m leash, no pets on beach or swimming area outside designated areas ($95), 6 persons per site, 23 nights, 2 pm. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/portburwell/rules | 2026-11-03 |
| 9 | There are 235 campsites in total, including 233 car-camping sites and 123 electrical sites. The page lists no group, walk-in or backcountry sites. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/portburwell | 2026-11-03 |
| 10 | (Re-cited: five-day advance sales at this park are on the facilities page.) Day use is available through Ontario Parks. Advance permits open at 7 am Eastern, five days before arrival, and one permit covers one passenger vehicle with up to 14 people. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/dayuse/faq | 2026-11-03 |
| 11 | The park lists Discovery drop-in programs from July 1 to Labour Day. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/portburwell | 2026-11-03 |
| 12 | Corrected (rentals: PFD loan, wheelchair loan, extension cords and trailer storage exist; no boat, canoe, kayak or bike rentals). The park lists 5 comfort stations, 6 vault privies, showers, 3 laundromats, 2 park stores, 2 trailer dump stations, a playground, a picnic shelter, an amphitheatre and all-terrain wheelchairs. There is no visitor centre, boat launch, docks, food concession or rental service. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/portburwell | 2026-11-03 |
| 13 | The park lists biking, boating, canoeing, disc golf, discovery programs, fishing, hiking, kite boarding, swimming and car camping. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/portburwell | 2026-11-03 |
| 14 | Corrected: activities page lists Ravine Creek Trail 1 km and Beach Trail 2 km return. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/portburwell/activities | 2026-11-03 |
| 15 | The Lifesaving Society notes that wind-generated waves on the Great Lakes can create dangerous currents. If caught in a rip current, 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 |
| 16 | Central Elgin, the neighbouring municipality, adds that large waves can trigger rip currents and that you should never swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs. | https://www.centralelgin.org/parks-recreation/beaches/beach-water-safety/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 17 | Dog beach access P1, off-leash area; picnic shelter; park stores; PFD loan $25 deposit; beach wheelchair. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/portburwell/facilities | 2026-11-03 |
| 18 | Three campgrounds in mature forest; recreation area. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/portburwell/camping | 2026-11-03 |
| 19 | Boating via Big Otter Creek; fish species; fall raptor migration; 232-species checklist; no lifeguards. | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/portburwell/activities | 2026-11-03 |
Fact-check 2026-11-03 (independent): 10 rows confirmed; rows 8, 12, 14 and the lifeguard sentence corrected from the park’s own subpages; row 10 re-cited; rows 17 to 19 added; empty village section removed.