Here are eleven small beach towns in Ontario to start thinking about visiting this summer.
Sauble Beach
Address: Sauble Beach, ON
Why You Need To Go: This is the second-longest freshwater beach in the world and features sandy shores with blue waters. You can jump through the waves and then grab some ice cream as you walk the strip and browse through the shops. If you're looking to beach hop, this Bruce Peninsula beach is close to some smaller coastal towns like Southampton.
Sauble Beach website
Port Elgin
Address: Port Elgin, ON
Why You Need To Go: If you're wanting a smaller town and a quieter spot, Port Elgin Main Beach on Lake Huron is only 25 minutes away from Sauble Beach. On top of the beach areas, there are some small shops and restaurants you can visit and a provincial park nearby where you can camp.
Port Elgin website
Port Dover
Address: Port Dover, ON
Why You Need To Go: Along the coast of Lake Erie, this Ontario beach has real palm trees that'll have you thinking you've escaped to the tropics. There's also a wine trail, a picturesque lighthouse and when you're done relaxing in the sand, you can try out some watersports. Just a 40-minute drive from Long Point Provincial Park, head to this southern Ontario spot for perfect sunny beach weather.
Port Dover website
Grand Bend
Address: Grand Bend, ON
Why You Need To Go: Get ready to party because the Grand Bend beach strip is bumpin', especially on long weekends. After a day of swimming, sunbathing and eating on beachfront patios, you can get dolled up to hit the main strip to check out Grand Bend's nightlife. If you're interested in a weekend Great Lakes trip, check out Pinery Provincial Park that's just a 10-minute drive away and beyond that, you'll find the long sandy coastline of Ipperwash Beach on Lake Huron.
Grand Bend Beach website
Wasaga Beach
Address: Wasaga Beach, ON
Why You Need To Go: Right on the shores of the crystal blue Georgian Bay, this town boasts the longest freshwater beach in the world at 14 kilometres long. It's also a great place to canoe along the Nottawasaga River.
Wasaga Beach website
Crystal Beach
Address: Crystal Beach, ON
Why You Need To Go: This lakefront community stretches right down to the sandy shores of the beaches. Bay Beach is the main spot to go for a dip, but you can also enjoy a picnic with stunning water views at the Waterfront Park or grab a bite at one of the nearby restaurants. With white sand and clear blue water, you could mistake this spot for a Caribbean island beach.
Crystal Beach website
Picton
Address: Picton, ON
Why You Need To Go: This town is the largest in Prince Edward County and is home to the stunning sandy shores of Outlet Beach in Sandbanks Provincial Park. Located along Lake Ontario, it is a quaint place filled with markets and festivals in the summer that you can explore after checking out the sand dunes at Dunes Beach. If you're hoping to avoid the popular Sandbanks Park beach, North Beach (in North Beach Provincial Park) is just a 25-minute drive west of Picton, also on the cool waters of Lake Ontario.
Picton website
Bayfield
Address: Bayfield, ON
Why You Need To Go: This little Ontario village feels like you're exploring a hidden town in Europe with its historic buildings and cute shops. Pier Beach along Lake Huron is the most popular among beach lovers, but if you walk to the end of Howard Street you can find a wooden staircase leading to what feels like a secret beach.
Bayfield website
Port Stanley
Address: Port Stanley, ON
Why You Need To Go: You can sunbathe in this quaint harbour village with sandy beaches, patios and local shops. As for the Port Stanley beach, if Main Beach is crowded, Little Beach isn't far and you can grab lunch on the way. Just an hour away from Port Stanley is the scenic retreat of Long Point Provincial Park, where you can swim in the warm waters of Lake Erie.
Port Stanley website
Southampton
Address: Southampton, ON
Why You Need To Go: This small town is about ten minutes down the road from Port Elgin, so if one Southampton beach is busy you're close to another cute spot. There are a few beach areas that line the coast of Lake Huron here, including one with grassy sand dunes.
Southampton website
Tobermory
Address: Tobermory, ON
Why You Need To Go: While you won't find white sand around this harbour village, the pebble shores help make the surrounding waters some of the bluest you've ever seen. At the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula, you'd never know you're swimming in Lake Huron with how crystal-clear the water is. If you're looking for a sandy beach though, you could check out Singing Sands Beach which is a short drive away from Tobermory's main drag.
Tobermory website
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.
This article has been updated since it was originally published on May 3, 2022.
