Visiting Niagara Falls, and national parks in Ontario in August

[La Colibri]

Hi

We are planning a trip to Ontario, Canada.  We love nature but I am not very fit at the moment and haven't done much in the past 2 years (or after covid, so 5 years?). 

I have tried to put together the itinerary with help from ChatGPT suggestions.  I am really excited for the trip but felt a bit overwhelmed as there are so many places that are so beautiful in Canada, and I want to visit them all...  So after an afternoon of chatting with ChatGPT, I got an itinerary, but now the itinerary seems a bit too packed with activities.

We are planning to go to Niagara Falls, Algonquin Provincial Park, Bruce Peninsula National Park and Toronto.  I want to visit Lake Erie, but guess it's too tight for our schedule.

In the national parks, we won't be camping but happy to stay in a cottage/cabin with private/shared toilet + kitchen, with canoe rentals, and prefer routes for novice paddlers under 2 hours, with lots of exits/rest stop.

Any recommendations for where to stay and visit in the surrounding areas? 
Here is the detailed itinerary suggested by ChatGPT

Day	Place	Summer Activities	Driving Distance & Time	Where to Stay	Estimated Hotel Price USD (August)
D0	VA	Pack, prep gear	—	—	—
D1	New York City, NY	Times Square: explore lights, shops, street performers. Walk to Bryant Park. Central Park: bike rentals, playgrounds	~3h 20m (206 mi / 332 km)	HI NYC Hostel or The Jane Hotel	$324/night
D2	New York City, NY	Statue of Liberty + Ellis Island, Bike Central Park, picnic, visit American Museum of Natural History	—	Continue at HI NYC Hostel or The Jane Hotel	Continue previous stay
D3	Buffalo, NY	Canalside biking, rent kayaks at Buffalo RiverWorks, swim at Gallagher Beach	~6h (370 mi / 595 km)	Hostel Buffalo Niagara / Budget Inn	$100–$150/night
D4	Buffalo, NY	Visit Niagara Falls, hike or bike the Niagara Gorge Trail, explore Niagara State Park	—	Continue previous stay	Continue previous stay
D5	Algonquin Provincial Park, ON 🇨🇦	Scenic drive, set up camp/cabin, explore nearby Lookout Trail for sunset	~6h (380 mi / 610 km)	Killarney Lodge / Algonquin Outfitters cabins / Lake of Two Rivers Campground	$150–$250/night (Cabin/Lodge)
D6	Algonquin Provincial Park, ON	Bike the Old Railway Trail, picnic by Cache Lake	—	Continue previous stay	Continue previous stay
D7	Algonquin Provincial Park, ON	Introductory canoe trip, family swim at Lake of Two Rivers, marshland wildlife spotting	—	Continue previous stay	Continue previous stay
D8	Algonquin Provincial Park, ON	Hike Booth's Rock Trail (3 hrs, 5.1 km loop), possible beach visit at Tea Lake	—	Continue previous stay	Continue previous stay
D9	Algonquin Provincial Park, ON	Optional guided canoe trip, visit Visitor Centre, logging museum, evening campfire	—	Continue previous stay	Continue previous stay
D10	Owen Sound, ON	Grocery run, Inglis Falls, stop by Kelso Beach Park for lakeside lunch	~4h (200 mi / 320 km)	Best Western Inn on the Bay / Comfort Inn Owen Sound	$120–$180/night
D11	Bruce Peninsula National Park, ON	Hike Halfway Log Dump Trail, explore shoreline, paddle near Cyprus Lake	~2h (90 mi / 145 km)	Cedar Vista Motel / Camping at Cyprus Lake	$130–$200/night
D12	Bruce Peninsula National Park, ON	Visit The Grotto (reserve in advance), swim in crystal-clear water, cliffside picnic	—	Continue previous stay	Continue previous stay
D13	Markham, Toronto, ON	Drive to Markham, (optional) visit Toogood Pond or Rouge Park, bike trail or paddle	~3h (180 mi / 290 km)	Monte Carlo Inn / Airbnb in Markham or Scarborough	$120–$180/night
D14	Markham, Toronto, ON	Morning: Shared Sailing group cruise on Lake Ontario, Afternoon: visit CN Tower, Harbourfront bike (optional) rentals	—	Continue previous stay	Continue previous stay
D15	Midway Motel Stop (TBD)	Casual driving day, stretch stop at a lake or trail in NY (Watertown/Syracuse area)	~3h (200 mi / 320 km)	Midway motel: Comfort Inn in Syracuse or Watertown	$90–$120/night
D16	VA	Unpack, relax, bike ride at Savage Mill Trail or local park	~3h (200 mi / 320 km)	Home	—

Budget provided by ChatGPT

Category	Estimated Cost (USD)	Estimated Cost (CAD)
Car Rental	$960	$1,296
Gas (Fuel)	$280	$378
Tolls	$160	$216
Parking	$310	$419
Accommodation	$2,538	$3,424
Food & Restaurants	$1,600	$2,160
Entry Tickets & Activities	$462	$624
Total Trip Budget	$5,310	$7,173

Breakdown

🚗 Trip Budget Summary:
1. Car Rental

Rental Duration: 16 days
Car Type: Standard SUV or Mid-size Sedan (Family of 4)
Estimated Daily Rate: $50–$75 per day (for a 2-star equivalent car)
Total Car Rental Cost:
$60/day × 16 days = $960
2. Gas (Fuel)

Total Distance (estimated): ~2,000 miles
Average Gas Price: $3.50/gallon
Car Fuel Efficiency: 25 MPG (miles per gallon)
Total Gas Needed: 2,000 miles ÷ 25 MPG = 80 gallons
Total Gas Cost: 80 gallons × $3.50/gallon = $280
3. Tolls

Estimated Tolls on the Route: Various states (NY, NJ, PA, ON)
Average Toll Costs: ~$10/day (including bridges, tunnels, highways)
Total Toll Cost: $10/day × 16 days = $160
4. Parking

Estimated Parking Costs per Day:
New York City: $50/day (due to parking in NYC and hotels)
Other Locations: ~$10–$20/day for suburban areas
Average Parking Costs:
NYC: 2 days × $50 = $100
Other Stops: 14 days × $15 = $210
Total Parking Cost: $310
5. Accommodation

Accommodation Costs Breakdown: Based on 2-star equivalent accommodations for a family of 4.
New York City (2 nights): $324/night × 2 nights = $648
Buffalo (2 nights): $125/night × 2 nights = $250
Algonquin Provincial Park (4 nights): $200/night × 4 nights = $800
Owen Sound (1 night): $140/night × 1 night = $140
Bruce Peninsula National Park (2 nights): $150/night × 2 nights = $300
Markham/Toronto (2 nights): $150/night × 2 nights = $300
Midway Motel (1 night): $100/night × 1 night = $100
Total Accommodation Cost: $2,538
6. Food and Restaurants

Average Cost per Meal (Family of 4):
Breakfast: $20–$30/day
Lunch: $30–$40/day
Dinner: $40–$60/day (family-friendly restaurants)
Total Food Cost (per day): $90–$130/day
Total Food Cost for 16 Days:
$100/day × 16 days = $1,600
7. Entry Tickets and Activities

New York City:
Statue of Liberty Ferry: $24/adult × 2 + $12/child × 2 = $72
Central Park bike rentals: $15/hour × 2 hours = $30
Times Square, free (but includes shopping)
Museum Visits (optional): American Museum of Natural History, ~$20/person = $80
Niagara Falls: Free, but optional activities (boat tour, museum): ~$40/person × 4 = $160
Algonquin Provincial Park:
Canoe Rentals: $40/day × 2 days = $80
Hiking Trails: Free
Bruce Peninsula National Park:
The Grotto Entry Fee: ~$10/person = $40
Total for Entry Tickets and Activities:
NYC: $72 (Statue) + $30 (bikes) + $80 (museum) = $182
Niagara Falls: $160
Algonquin: $80
Bruce Peninsula: $40
Total Entry Tickets and Activities Cost: $462

[aloevera1]

Hope you enjoy Canada! You'll see so me beautiful nature :)

Whatever accomodation you are thinking about booking around Algonquin, you need to book ASAP. You might actually already be late for those accomodations. They are extremely popular and there is not a lot of supply for the amount of demand in the area.

[Freedomin5]

How exciting! You've picked some lovely places to visit. (I'm Canadian, grew up in Toronto, have a cottage near Algonquin Park, and used to own a house in Niagara Falls.)

First, your budget is too low. You're not going to be able to find lodging for $200/night in the Algonquin area. A quick visit to the Killarney Lodge website shows that the cheapest cabin is $319/night for single occupancy (add 30% for double occupancy), and that does not include tax (13% HST). In the Algonquin area during peak season, $500/night might be doable if you're lucky. Same with the Bruce Peninsula (Tobermory) and Niagara Falls. Check the sites to the hotels recommended by ChatGPT and revise your budget according to the actual hotel prices.

If you're willing to live outside of Algonquin Park and drive in with a day pass and to use the trails, it will be a bit cheaper.

If you're driving from Niagara Falls, you may want to stop over in Niagara on the Lake and do a wine tour and walk around the town. It's on the way, and you'll pass by it to get to Algonquin.

Instead of staying in Owen Sound, I would recommend staying at Wasaga Beach, which is kind of near Owen Sound and along the way between Algonquin and the Bruce Peninsula. After four days of hiking in Algonquin, you may want to stay a day in a beach town and spend the day on the beach. Or stay in Collingwood/Blue Mountain area, which is a little ski resort also close to Owen Sound. In the summer, they have hiking trails there.

Re: Algonquin Park. You'll be fine even if you're not too fit. There are lots of trails ranging in difficulty. Stop by the visitor centre at the park entrance as soon as you arrive, to buy a park pass, register your vehicle, and also pick up a map of the trails. Ask for recommendations for the less strenuous ones. You can ask the people working at the visitor centre for recommendations based on your level of fitness or desired level of strenuousness. If you stay at a cottage in the park, you can also ask the lodge/resort for recommendations.

If you need groceries or want to eat at some yummy restaurants, Huntsville is the town near the entrance to Algonquin Park. If you like ice cream, stop by Kawarthas Dairy on Hwy 60 in Huntsville. Huge portions and lots of very yummy flavours. You'll drive past it on the way to Algonquin Park.

In Markham, Toogood Pond is nice, but Unionville is nicer. That's the little town that Toogood Pond is in. Take some time to wander Main Street Unionville. It should be very pretty in the summer. Markham would be nicer to stay in than Scarborough, which is to the east. I don't think there are canoe rentals at Toogood Pond. It's basically a city park with a paved walk around the pond.

Be aware that Markham is north of the north end of the city, and Lake Ontario is in the very south end of the city by downtown. You'll basically be driving through the entire city on Highway 404 and then the Don Valley Parkway to get to Lake Ontario if you stay in Markham. Depending on what day of the week it is, be prepared for massive traffic jams in the morning on the highway, especially if it's a weekday and people are trying to get to work downtown.  And summer is when all the road construction projects are done, so that doesn't help the traffic. Parking is also atrociously expensive in downtown Toronto. You may do better staying in downtown Toronto and skipping Markham altogether, especially since all the places in Toronto you want to visit are downtown.

For lodging, book soon. During peak season, all of the places you mentioned, with the exception of Toronto, get booked up fast.

For Algonquin Park, you can go online and reserve your day visit park pass, I think a week or more in advance. Make sure to do that. During peak season, they only have a limited number of day passes available, and they get booked up fast.

If I think of anything else, I'll post again.

[uniwelder]

You might look more into the Museum of Natural History.  Having gone to both the Smithsonian and the NYC museum, it was a bit underwhelming.  The space is rather cramped and outdated, with tons of kids on field trips running around.  The stairs are maybe 4 feet wide, with traffic going single file both directions, and the men's bathroom (difficult to find them) had two urinals and sink all crammed right next to each.  I had to wait for the guy to finish to avoid jostling elbows next to each other and being wedged against the sink.

Reading online reviews, many people seem to prefer the NYC museum, so I might be in the minority.  However, since you seem to live in Virginia, you might have already been to the Smithsonian.  Going to another won't be be much different and will cost $100 for the family.

[Freedomin5]

Oh, I just realized you're planning to visit the US side of Niagara Falls. The view from the Canadian side is nicer, because of how the falls is angled. Definitely spend time on the US side if you want, but it might be worth it after you cross the border to stop by the Canadian side as well.

[La Colibri]

Thanks @uniwelder and @Freedomin5

This is really helpful

A quick look at killarneylodge for 2 adults+2 tweens
TWO-BEDROOM CABIN
   3 nights   
Aug 10, 2025-Aug 13, 2025
CAD $5763 + tax

So these thoughts came up
A) well, we won't go there again so splash on this and save in other areas (ham and cheese sandwiches, yay, wait or bbq...)

B) if we splash the money, I would prefer to spend on a guided camping tour - I can truly relax and enjoy, and I love guided tour as they talk history, geography etc etc
Any recommendations?

C) find a camping gear rental and a developed campsite inside park - I don't have enough gear and luggage space to fly them over.  My 2 sleeping bags are for 41-50F.(5-10C)  They are big.  Might be I could vaccume bag them in to be smaller to put on plane.  Or I could only bring my camping kitchenware and mugs and plates.

D) Stay in Huntsville (or outside any park entrance)
I was furious as DH for delaying these for too long but now the thoughts of having him drive us in the park 5am to avoid traffic (I guess) and grab the parking lots while we sleep or enjoy the view is making me laugh, KARMA!  No, to be clear, I love him, it's just he did things in the last min, and I am the exact opposite.  This leads to conflicts, lots of conflicts.
Risks - what if I FORGOT to get the day pass?  after all, we are on vacation so internet, payment or what other issues ...  I think I want option B.


Now off to gym to kill some energy and clear my head !

Definitely need to finish the planning and booking this weekend!

I loved Smithsonian museums!  Are they still free?  My kids have never been to there so I will give a list (by ChatGPT hehe) to them for them to pick which one they want to go.

[uniwelder]

I’m confused a little now. OP— you don’t live in Virginia?  I assumed you did because day zero starts there and you’re driving to NYC. Why aren’t you flying directly into NYC instead?  That also means you wouldn’t have to deal with a vehicle in the city.

Yes, Smithsonian museums are free. For the Air and Space Museum, you’ll need to get advanced timed tickets though.  Maybe the Natural History Museum too. The zoo requires one as well, but that’s outside the area.

Edited to add- https://escapecampervans.com/locations/new-york-city-new-york/
I think renting a campervan could make a lot of sense, assuming you make changes to the itinerary. There’s a location outside NYC, so you can pick it up on the way to Canada. Get one with a rooftop tent for the kids. They’re also equipped with a kitchen, utensils, and blankets. We’ve used the company before and it was great. Disclaimer- I haven’t looked into whether you can drive out of the country with their vehicles.

[Freedomin5]

If you stay just outside the park entrance, like in Dwight or by Oxtongue Lake, there are several cottage resorts and it should be a bit cheaper than staying in a lodge inside the park like Killarney or Arrowhon. If you want a fancy resort with lots of amenities, Deerhurst is quite nice; it’s located near Huntsville. Not sure about their prices though.

Don’t need to worry about parking spaces. Basically the park goes along Hwy 60. You reserve/pay for a pass online, and then stop at the visitor center to get a receipt which you display on the dashboard. The trailheads are located along the Hwy 60 corridor, with turn offs to parking lots for each trailhead. Trailheads/parking lots are well-marked with large signs. There is plenty of parking at each trailhead.

Our cottage is located near Bracebridge (30 min south of Huntsville) and we have never had a problem driving to Algonquin and finding parking at the trails. There usually isn’t much traffic - the park’s really big. We typically spend all summer in the area so are pretty familiar with the traffic patterns. Now, if you try to go the first two weeks of October when the leaves are changing color, you might see a lot more traffic.

Re: guided camping tours. I would imagine there are several companies offering this. The well-known one is Algonquin Outfitters.

[FLBiker]

Re: Niagara -- we went last summer.  I agree that the view from the Canadian side is better.  The boat ride is great and definitely worth doing.  In my opinion, the tunnel under the falls is awful.  We basically just stood in a line underground for two hours.  The few minutes where you are able to be outside at the base of the falls are cool, but not worth it in my experience.

[Frugal Lizard]

While not part of the national park system, the Grand River watershed is really beautiful. There are small Ontario towns with local hiking spots. And going up the Bruce via highway 6 will is quite pretty.

I wonder how Niagara Falls, CA to Short Hills Provincial Park, Long Point Provincial Park on Lake Erie, along the Grand with stops in Paris, Elora, the shoreline of Lake Huron, Sauble beach, and Manitoulin would be as chocked full of sites and experience, but with a little less travel distance from your itinerary. Doing the sunken boats and hiking around Flower Pot island out of Tobermory is a whole day. And awesome.

Algonquin is so beautiful and huge. We think of it as one area to travel to. And the Bruce / Niagara Escarpment as a separate and glorious destination. The Rouge is beautiful but really right in the city. If it is glorious nature, any of the sites in the GTA will pale in comparison to the Bruce or Algonquin. The Bruce is a limestone ecology, while Algonquin is granite. Erie is within the northern limits of the Carolinian forest region, which won't be as cool for someone from VA.

https://www.grandriver.ca/outdoor-recreation/conservation-areas/things-to-do-at-grand-river-conservation-areas/
https://explorethebruce.com/10-best-hikes-of-the-bruce-trail/
https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/shorthills
https://www.rbg.ca/gardens-trails/by-attraction/trails/trail-maps/
https://conservationhamilton.ca/brochures/

[Heckler]

Have you actually laid this itinerary out on a map?  NYC is nowhere near Algonquin. I foresee a lot of driving in your holiday. A lot.

[La Colibri]

THank you, aloevera1, freedomin5, uniwelder, FLBiker, Frugal lizard, heckler  all for your lovely ideas

Sorry for late reply.  I typed one the other day, and I guess I forgot to press send when I got lost in the beautiful pictures from your suggestions and links.

Thank you Frugal Lizard for putting together a GTA nature wonder experience.  I envy you have so many natural wonders right at your doorstep (well comparatively). My first thought was to try squeeze more in :) and try extending the trip.  BUT, I guess to avoid trip burnout I should probably try next time (YAY!
 another bucket list).  The geography would be very interesting, I want to learn about them.

Freedomin5, yay, I found the outfitter!

  In my opinion, the tunnel under the falls is awful.  We basically just stood in a line underground for two hours. 

We have queue-phobia, so we will definitely pass anything that in  line more than 15mins, if underground, then make it 5 :).  Good point to note I should check ahead for any 'attractions' in downtown area.   

Heckler, yup, crazy driving.   I don't know, I suddenly have the urge to finish a bucket list and meet family&friends, operating out of the place of fear because so many cancer/critical illness around me, or just realize I am not young anymore and kids are growing up(?!)  A friend just texted me they did 3000km road trip ALONE in 2 weeks.  Birds of a feather flock together. :). Technically speaking we are on 2 drivers and just ~2500km.  But I got your message, will check and see if we can add some rest days.

Somehow I manage to put a plan together with all your advice!

The (almost) final plan is similar but change to Niagara Falls, ON.  Since this is a MMM forum, let me give some number.  For our ~2 weeks stay in Canada for 4, it's around CAD 2600 for accommodation, not too bad in summer peak season I guess.  The most expensive ones are in Toronto downtown, but their car park is free, so the prospect of no/minimum driving, plus options to take a short nap if required, is really attractive. 

[GuitarStv]

Algonquin is so beautiful and huge. We think of it as one area to travel to. And the Bruce / Niagara Escarpment as a separate and glorious destination. The Rouge is beautiful but really right in the city. If it is glorious nature, any of the sites in the GTA will pale in comparison to the Bruce or Algonquin. The Bruce is a limestone ecology, while Algonquin is granite.

This is pretty great advice.  I've been portaging in and camping in Algonquin Park many times . . . it's a beautiful and gigantic chunk of nature.  I think you would want to stay there for a couple weeks to really see it properly.  The Bruce is a similar, different thing.  You could easily spend more than a week there and not see everything.

I live right next to the Rouge in Toronto.  There's some cool stuff to do (for example it's possible to book kayaking trips down the rouge river, through Toronto, and coming out into lake Ontario which is a fun and memorable trip), but in no way compares to Algonquin or the Bruce.

[Freedomin5]

CAD2600 for 2 weeks accommodation is really good, especially the areas you’re visiting. Enjoy your trip!