
Flights to Europe sound romantic until you are stuck in a middle seat eating stale pretzels, praying your bags make the connection in Frankfurt. Two hours east of Toronto, Prince Edward County gives you the sunny vineyard afternoons, world-class cuisine, and freshwater beaches without the airport headaches. Planning a Prince Edward County RV road trip lets you skip the frantic hotel hop and flight stress. Instead of dropping $600 a night, you can set up once at one of the many campgrounds located in the county. Turn your RV into your private beach house and get ready to explore the county!
How you start your afternoon comes down to where you are starting from and how fast you want your toes in the sand.
If you are driving in anywhere west along Highway 401, historic Port Hope sits right along your route. While it’s not Prince Edward County, we think it’s still a must-see stop for your Prince Edward County RV road trip. Built along the mouth of the Ganaraska River, it has one of the best-preserved 19th-century downtowns in Ontario. If you feel like breaking up the highway drive, pull off into the wide municipal riverfront lot off Elias Street near Town Hall.
You can grab a pour-over coffee, wander the shops on Walton Street, and take a quick walk by the river trail. If you would rather skip the detour and maximize beach time, stay on the 401 and cruise straight into the County.
Coming from Ottawa, Montreal, or Kingston direction? You will roll in from the east, either crossing into Picton or cutting down through Belleville. If you’re up for a little detour, we highly recommend exploring Port Hope! Otherwise, you are already on a direct line to your first County stop.
Furby House Book Store, Port Hope
Before heading to your campground, take the drive up Mowbray Road to Slake Brewing. Set high on a limestone hill just outside Picton, the taproom offers panoramic views across the County farmland.
Take in the view from the outdoor patio with a cold, easy-drinking lager or pale ale. Before you pack back into the rig, grab a cold four-pack from the bottle shop to stash in your RV fridge for the beach.
RVer Tip: Mowbray Road is a quiet country route, and Slake has an open, flat gravel parking area with plenty of space to turn around a mid-sized rig.
Make your way to Sandbanks Provincial Park. We suggest booking an electrical site in Outlet River or Woodlands. Back in, plug in, and let the lake breeze roll through. Around 6:00 PM, the day crowds clear out. Walk five minutes from your site to Outlet Beach with camp chairs and a cold drink from the fridge. Having kilometres of pale sand practically to yourself as the sun drops over Lake Ontario is the real beauty of an RV trip in the county.
RVer Tip: Sandbanks is one of the busiest provincial parks in Ontario, and summer campsites sell out within minutes of being released. The Ontario Parks reservation window opens exactly five months ahead at 7:00 AM. Log on right at seven to secure your spot.
If Sandbanks is booked up, there are plenty of other great campgrounds and private RV resorts in the immediate area. Use the Go RVing Canada Campground Finder to explore all the private campgrounds and RV parks in the area.
Make a quick breakfast then point your rig north toward Bloomfield. Pull in at Oeno Gallery on the grounds of Huff Estates. While the indoor gallery features contemporary Canadian art, the real draw is outside.
Mown paths cut through tall ornamental grasses and wildflower beds, leading you past massive bronze, steel, and stone sculptures standing open to the sky. It is quiet, casual, and an easy place to stretch your legs while taking in some breathtaking Canadian art.
To cap off your weekend, head up into the rolling hills of East Kelowna to tee off at Black Mountain Golf Club. Framed by steep cliffs and expansive valley views, this 18-hole championship course offers a fun, dynamic layout that follows the natural contours of the mountain landscape.
The highlight of the round comes at the signature 17th hole, featuring a dramatic island green surrounded by water. It is a memorable shot whether you hit the green or end up taking a drop.
Head five minutes down the hill into Picton for your dinner reservation at Bocado on Main Street. Bocado serves Spanish tapas built around County farm produce. Order sharing plates of wood-grilled octopus, crispy patatas bravas, and local charcuterie, paired with natural wines or sherry cocktails. The room carries a loud, friendly hum that feels like a neighbourhood wine bar in Barcelona.
After dinner, take a slow stroll down the street and explore Picton. Just a few doors down sits the historic Regent Theatre. First opened in 1918, this restored heritage playhouse still hosts live concerts, theatre, and indie films. Seeing its vintage neon marquee glowing against the dark brick buildings is the classic Picton evening scene.
Pack down your site at Sandbanks, make a quick stop at the park sanitation dump, and steer your rig west through the quiet backroads of Hillier. Look for the iconic bright purple barn rising above the farmland: Closson Chase Vineyards.
This vineyard helped put Prince Edward County on the map decades ago, proving that Ontario’s cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir could hold their own against classic European estates. There is no better place to celebrate the end of your long weekend.
Take a seat on the garden patio under the pergola, order a tasting flight or a pour of their single-vineyard Chardonnay, and raise a glass to three days well spent. It is the perfect, unhurried close to an unforgettable Prince Edward County RV road trip.