Lake Superior camping: A road trip to the great outdoors

Taking a Lake Superior camping road trip is the best way to immerse yourself in this region’s rich and rugged nature. The entire stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway from Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay is dotted with national and provincial parks, each as unique as the last. As you camp your way around Lake Superior, you’ll find a wide variety of vistas to explore!

This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to rough it entirely. You can if you enjoy it, of course, but tent camping is not for everyone. If having a roof over your head is more your speed, most of the parks surrounding Lake Superior offer permanent camping structures for rent.

At Pukaskwa National Park, you can stay in an oTENTik, a half-tent, half-cabin accommodation with ready-made beds and a barbecue. Some Ontario Parks offer roofed accommodations such as yurts and cabins. The catch is these require multi-night stays and are in high demand. You’ll likely need to book early to secure your preferred itinerary.

If you don’t mind the idea of camping but aren’t into constantly setting up and breaking down a tent, check out our guide to comfortably camping in an SUV (yes, really!).

You’ll cover a 700-kilometre distance when you follow the Lake Superior coast from Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay. This itinerary is very flexible and is best suited to travelers with a deep appreciation of nature and outdoor activities. We’ve offered some suggested timelines, but you can easily spend less time at some parks and more at others depending on your interests.

Our stays at Pukaskwa National Park and the region’s Ontario Parks were complimentary for our evaluation. This content was not subject to approval before publication.

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Stop 1: Pancake Bay Provincial Park

Pancake Bay Provincial Park is the gateway to Lake Superior when approaching from the south on the Trans-Canada Highway. It offers a three-kilometre beach that looks dropped here straight from the Caribbean. It’s also home to the Edmund Fitzgerald Lookout Trail, an intermediate hike with spectacular views over a rich history.

This park has hundreds of traditional and RV campsites as well as yurt and cabin options. Plan to spend at least one night here to visit the beach and experience the Lookout Trail.

Stop 2: Lake Superior Provincial Park

The Agawa Bay Pictographs are a perennial draw to the rugged shores of Lake Superior Provincial Park. This park also offers extensive hiking and paddling opportunities. However, it does not offer roofed accommodations and there are no private businesses in the area.

If you don’t mind the idea of tent or trailer camping, stay at one of the park’s two campgrounds and spend a weekend exploring its trails and waterways. If you’d prefer not to camp, spend a full day at the park and stay overnight at a hotel in Wawa. Don’t forget to say hello to Little Wawa the Canada goose on the way into town!

Stop 3: Pukaskwa National Park

On the way to Pukaskwa National Park, stop in White River to visit the Winnie the Pooh memorial. Optionally, White Lake Provincial Park is just off Highway 17 and is situated on one of the largest lakes off Superior along the Lake Superior Circle Route. The campground has nearly 200 traditional campsites, roughly a third of which have electrical service.

Pukaskwa National Park is accessed via Ontario Highway 627, which turns south from Highway 17 just east of Marathon. It’s a 16-kilometre drive from the Trans-Canada Highway to the park’s main gate. This park offers extensive hiking opportunities appropriate for all skill levels as well as swimming and paddling during the summer months.

The park’s oTENTiks can be reserved, but the traditional campsites at Hattie Cove Campground are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Plan to spend at least two days exploring the park.

Stop 4: Neys Provincial Park

Although it’s not far from Pukaskwa, Neys Provincial Park deserves an extended visit on its own. The beach is covered in sand and smooth rock and is one of the most beautiful on Lake Superior. Paddling and fishing are possible on the lake and the Little Pic River.

There’s one roofed accommodation at this park, the Trapp Cabin, and roughly 150 campsites with half having electrical hook-ups. Plan to spend at least one night exploring the remains of the POW camp and the beach on Ashburton Bay. If the cabin is unavailable and you prefer not to rough it, visit for the day and stay the night by either doubling back to Marathon or continuing on to Terrace Bay or Schreiber.

While you’re in Terrace Bay, check out this Parks Canada Lake Superior kayaking tour >

Stop 5: Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

It’s a 300-kilometre, three-hour drive from Neys Provincial Park to Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. In between, you’ll likely want to make the most of the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area by doing some sea kayaking or hiking.

If you’re using a tent or trailer, you can shorten this portion of the drive somewhat by staying a night at Rainbow Falls Provincial Park. (We haven’t stayed at this park ourselves, but we’ve heard good things.) At the Rossport Campground, some of the park’s campsites are located directly on the shores of Superior. If you’re seeking roofed accommodation, you’ll find options in Terrace Bay (we recommend the Drifters Motel for a clean and rustic stay), Rossport, and Nipigon.

Upon reaching the Sibley Peninsula, you’ll drive from the Trans-Canada Highway for approximately a half hour on Highway 587 to reach the Marie Louise Lake Campground in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. Five deluxe cabins and 200 campsites are available here. Swimming in Marie Louise Lake is accessible via a short walk through the campground. We find mobile phone service is much more reliable near waterfront areas.

Hikers will want to dedicate at least two full days to exploring the park’s extensive trail system. Read more about taking on the Top of the Giant Trail and other outdoor things to do in Thunder Bay >

Stop 6: Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park

While it’s technically not on Lake Superior, those continuing into Thunder Bay and points west should set aside time to visit Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park. This park is home to a 40-metre high waterfall nicknamed the Niagara of the North. Traditional campsites are available, or a day visit can be followed up with an overnight stay in nearby Thunder Bay.

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