Sandbanks Provincial Park
The county's signature park, with three sandy beaches, huge dunes and more than 600 campsites. Day use and camping run from late spring to autumn; some roofed stays and winter trails continue year round.
Ontario (Canada)
Prince Edward County
Prince Edward County is a limestone peninsula pushing into Lake Ontario, a few hours east of Toronto, known for dune beaches, a young wine and cider scene and small towns that have turned old main streets into places to eat and browse.
This guide covers Sandbanks and North Beach provincial parks, Lake on the Mountain, the Glenora Ferry, the Millennium Trail rail path, the villages of Picton, Wellington and Bloomfield, Prince Edward Point and six wineries and cideries, Closson Chase, Norman Hardie, Huff Estates, Hinterland, Waupoos Estates and The County Cider Company. It is a summer place, and the guide says so plainly: the beach parks and the lookout at Lake on the Mountain run from late spring to early autumn and many patios close for the winter, while tasting rooms, the trail and the towns carry on through the cold months. Seven hotels, from a lakefront splurge to a simple motel, and six guides explain what to book ahead and where to stay.
Don't miss
Sandbanks Provincial Park
The county's signature park, with three sandy beaches, huge dunes and more than 600 campsites. Day use and camping run from late spring to autumn; some roofed stays and winter trails continue year round.
Picton
The county's largest town, on Picton Bay, with a walkable Main Street, a harbour, galleries and cafes and the Macaulay Heritage Park museum. It is open year round and the best base for a first visit.
Wellington
A compact village on the Lake Ontario shore with a boardwalk, Rotary Beach, a heritage museum in a former Quaker meeting house and a Saturday market. It is open year round.
Norman Hardie Winery and Vineyard
A Greer Road winery near Wellington with a tasting bar, a wood-fired pizza patio and a winter food programme. The pizza oven closes for the cold months and the tasting bar stays open.
Things to do in Prince Edward County
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Lake on the Mountain Provincial Park
A small day-use park with a lookout 60 metres above Lake Ontario and a mysterious spring-fed lake. The season runs from May to mid October, and the park is closed in winter.
Millennium Trail
A former railway line that runs across the county from Carrying Place to Picton, with access points in Wellington, Bloomfield and Consecon. It is free, flat and open for walking and cycling year round.
1 to 3 hoursDetails →
FreePicton
The county's largest town, on Picton Bay, with a walkable Main Street, a harbour, galleries and cafes and the Macaulay Heritage Park museum. It is open year round and the best base for a first visit.
Half a dayDetails →
FreeWellington
A compact village on the Lake Ontario shore with a boardwalk, Rotary Beach, a heritage museum in a former Quaker meeting house and a Saturday market. It is open year round.
2 to 3 hoursDetails →
Closson Chase Vineyards
A Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producer at 629 Closson Road in Hillier, with seated barrel-cellar tastings and a casual garden. Tastings run daily from 11 am to 5 pm.
Norman Hardie Winery and Vineyard
A Greer Road winery near Wellington with a tasting bar, a wood-fired pizza patio and a winter food programme. The pizza oven closes for the cold months and the tasting bar stays open.
Huff Estates Winery
A Bloomfield winery with a tasting room, the Oeno Gallery of Canadian art and an inn on the grounds. The winery is open daily from 11 am to 5 pm; the patio restaurant is closed for the season.
Waupoos Estates Winery
A farm estate on Waupoos Bay with a winery boutique, a restaurant open Thursday to Sunday and tastings and tours by booking. Its Clafeld cider market has been closed, so confirm before you go.
The County Cider Company
A farm cidery at 657 Bongards Crossroad with ciders from more than 16 apple varieties, bookable tastings and a waterfront patio. The patio closes for the cold months, so the bottle shop and tasting room are the winter draw.
North Beach Provincial Park
A day-use provincial park near Consecon with a ribbon of sand more than a kilometre long, a gentle lake shore and a sheltered bay. Day permits are reserved ahead and there is no camping.
Bloomfield
A small, historic village at the heart of the county with galleries, shops, a bike shop, restaurants and an inn, close to the Millennium Trail and several wineries.
2 to 3 hoursDetails →
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Drake Devonshire and Motor Inn
Wellington waterfront
A design-led lakefront hotel at 24 Wharf Street in Wellington, with a terrace and restaurant, lake views and a village within a two-minute walk. It is the splurge pick for a county stay.
Check rates →Huff Estates Inn and Winery
Bloomfield, County Road 1
A vineyard inn at 2274 County Road 1 in Bloomfield with fireplace rooms, free continental breakfast and a winery and art gallery a short walk away. It is the pick for wine lovers.
Check rates →Picton Harbour Inn
Picton harbour, Bridge Street
A mid-range inn at 33 Bridge Street in Picton, a two-minute walk from the harbour and Main Street, with a restaurant, harbour-view rooms and family suites. It is the practical pick for a first visit.
Check rates →Lakeside Motel
Wellington, Main Street at the lake
A lakeside motel at 349 Wellington Main Street with a private beach, cabanas, bungalows and houses for groups. The pool is closed in the cooler months.
Check rates →The June Motel
Loyalist Parkway near Lake on the Mountain
A budget-friendly motel at 12351 Loyalist Parkway with bay-view studios, free bike rentals and free parking, near Lake on the Mountain. It is the simple pick for a short stay.
Check rates →The Waring House
Picton, County Road
A country inn at 395 County Road near Picton with breakfast included, a garden restaurant, a terrace, bike rentals and Sandbanks and Lake on the Mountain a short drive away.
Check rates →The Bloomfield Inn
Bloomfield village
A small village inn at 6 Stanley Street in Bloomfield with seven individually named rooms, free parking and the arts centre, shops and trail a short walk away.
Check rates →Prince Edward County guides
First Time in Prince Edward County: Seasons, What to Book and How to Get Around
A practical primer for a first trip to Prince Edward County, Ontario: the seasons, what to book ahead, how to get around, how many days to allow and where Sandbanks, the wineries, Picton and Wellington fit.
Where to Stay in Prince Edward County: Wellington, Picton, Bloomfield and Beyond
Where to stay in Prince Edward County: how Wellington, Picton and Bloomfield compare, and which of our seven hotels fits a splurge, a vineyard weekend, a first visit or a budget stop.
Three Days in Prince Edward County: A Practical Itinerary for Beaches, Wine and Villages
A three-day Prince Edward County itinerary: beach and Wellington on day one, Picton and the Waupoos cideries on day two, and Bloomfield, the trail and wineries on day three, with tips for each season.
Eating and Drinking in Prince Edward County: Wineries, Cideries and Village Tables
How to eat and drink well in Prince Edward County: which wineries serve food, where to find cider and sparkling wine, village restaurants, how to book and how to taste safely.
Best Time to Visit Prince Edward County: Season by Season
When to visit Prince Edward County: what summer, autumn, winter and spring are like, which attractions are seasonal, and how to plan around beach permits, patios and crowds.
Prince Edward County on a Budget: Free Sights, Cheap Stays and Smart Tastings
How to enjoy Prince Edward County without overspending: free sights like the Millennium Trail and the Glenora Ferry, budget stays, low-cost tastings and the best times to save.
