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jlrmfc21's avatar
jlrmfc21
Explorer
Feb 28, 2018

Campgrounds & Places to see - Niagara to Sault St Marie

We are planning an August 2018 trip to Niagara from Detroit and are planning to make it a 2 week road trip. I know NOTHING about this part of Canada, but have started researching quite a bit. Just to give you an idea of the route we are considering, I am planning on the following:
Detroit to Niagara
Niagara to Manitoulin?????
Manitioulin to Sault St Marie
then a day in the UP, then back to Detroit

Again, we are totally open to suggestions for the middle part of the trip from Niagara all the way to Sault St Marie. We are having a hard time deciding where to stay.
Basically, we will be circling around Georgian Bay and Lake Huron.

I've looked at Manitoulin Island, Algonquin, killarney, bruce peninsula, etc which all look really nice as well. I've had a tough time finding camp grounds once I leave Toronto though and it seems that the only campgrounds are the provincial park campgrounds that don't seem very conducive to a 35 ft TT (White hawk 29BH). Seems that private campgrounds or KOAs are more conducive to full hookups?
What are some your recommendations of places to see along the way?
  • sljohnson1938's avatar
    sljohnson1938
    Explorer
    Feb 28, 2018
    Mackinaw Island is one to visit. Before or after you cross over the bridge.
    There is a nice campground in Mackinaw city. it is on US23 just a mile or so after you start south. I believe it is called 'Tee Pee city'. In Mackinaw city is Fort Michilimackinac, and of course at Sault Ste. Marie you can take tour of the locks.
  • toedtoes's avatar
    toedtoes
    Explorer III
    Feb 28, 2018
    Check out Gordons Park on Manitoulin Island. It's famous (do a search on Mounted Animal Nature Tour). They have camping on site (no hookups as far as I can tell). They have a star gazing field also - no white lights or campfires allowed so you get the best view.
  • hone_eagle's avatar
    hone_eagle
    Explorer
    Feb 28, 2018
    near top of georgean bay

    Serpent river is a nice spot near Chutes provincial park.Also the KOA in the sault is a award winning (ontario campgrounds not a koa award).I fit at 60' so you should be ok.
  • hone_eagle's avatar
    hone_eagle
    Explorer
    Feb 28, 2018
    Wait I forgot ,you like to fish? then you may have heard of Michels Bay- bass heaven-.Other side across from MB is Rondeau PP should be able to get in on short notice, the closer to Toronto you get the tougher (almost impossible)it is to get into the Provincial parks.
    Toronto is Canadas New York city so think about camping near NYC,sound like fun?North of toronto things dont thin out for a 100 miles ,get reservations asap.
    Once you turn the corner at Sudbury the pressure is relived a bit.I recommend from the Sault dont cross back into michigan yet ,continue across lake Superior and cross at Duluth and do the circle tour of the big one.
    Really the only thing to must see in southern ontario is niagara falls .
  • Fizz's avatar
    Fizz
    Explorer
    Feb 28, 2018
    At that time of year you can forget Provincial campgrounds they will be booked solid.
  • hone_eagle's avatar
    hone_eagle
    Explorer
    Mar 01, 2018
    Fizz wrote:
    At that time of year you can forget Provincial campgrounds they will be booked solid.


    True near Toronto ,but down south Wheatly and Rondeau can be enjoyed at a fairly short notice (month or so)and after you get off the 400 -after Sudbury - things open up a bit .
    We booked into chutes pp only 3 weeks in advance .
    West of the Sault is still best bet ,best scenery plenty of camping, in fact one of the provincial parks up there was closed for lack of demand.

    (dont tell toronto)
  • jlrmfc21's avatar
    jlrmfc21
    Explorer
    Mar 01, 2018
    hone eagle wrote:
    Wait I forgot ,you like to fish? then you may have heard of Michels Bay- bass heaven-.Other side across from MB is Rondeau PP should be able to get in on short notice, the closer to Toronto you get the tougher (almost impossible)it is to get into the Provincial parks.
    Toronto is Canadas New York city so think about camping near NYC,sound like fun?North of toronto things dont thin out for a 100 miles ,get reservations asap.
    Once you turn the corner at Sudbury the pressure is relived a bit.I recommend from the Sault dont cross back into michigan yet ,continue across lake Superior and cross at Duluth and do the circle tour of the big one.
    Really the only thing to must see in southern ontario is niagara falls .

    Hi, we maybe will fish but I'm not into fishing. although you really have me thinking now if we should just go to Niagara Falls for a weekend and then come home. Now I am thinking since we live in Detroit that maybe we should just go from Detroit to Siue stMarie and then continue all the way around superior and then come back into Michigan and come through the UP? Would that be a better use of our vacation time. One thing I should note is that I'm active duty army and will be moving from Michigan next spring so essentially this will be our only big trip so I want the most bang for my buck!
  • toedtoes's avatar
    toedtoes
    Explorer III
    Mar 01, 2018
    You definitely want to visit Niagara Falls. Be sure to spend some time just watching the water flow over the edge of the Horseshoe Falls - it mesmorizes you.
  • hone_eagle's avatar
    hone_eagle
    Explorer
    Mar 01, 2018
    jlrmfc21 wrote:
    hone eagle wrote:
    Wait I forgot ,you like to fish? then you may have heard of Michels Bay- bass heaven-.Other side across from MB is Rondeau PP should be able to get in on short notice, the closer to Toronto you get the tougher (almost impossible)it is to get into the Provincial parks.
    Toronto is Canadas New York city so think about camping near NYC,sound like fun?North of toronto things dont thin out for a 100 miles ,get reservations asap.
    Once you turn the corner at Sudbury the pressure is relived a bit.I recommend from the Sault dont cross back into michigan yet ,continue across lake Superior and cross at Duluth and do the circle tour of the big one.
    Really the only thing to must see in southern ontario is niagara falls .

    Hi, we maybe will fish but I'm not into fishing. although you really have me thinking now if we should just go to Niagara Falls for a weekend and then come home. Now I am thinking since we live in Detroit that maybe we should just go from Detroit to Siue stMarie and then continue all the way around superior and then come back into Michigan and come through the UP? Would that be a better use of our vacation time. One thing I should note is that I'm active duty army and will be moving from Michigan next spring so essentially this will be our only big trip so I want the most bang for my buck!


    Took the words out of my mouth, make niagara falls day or overnight and your vacation the circle tour.
    The falls are world class but a couple of hours and you have 'seen it' the rest of the area is kishy
    and low grade (T shirt shops and riply's believe it or not )

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