Rock Lake Campground is located along the main Highway 60 corridor. There’s an 8 kilometre gravel road that leads from the highway (km 40.3) into the campground. The road is in good condition, but it can be bumpy and it has many twists and turns, so caution is needed while driving. The latitude and longitude coordinates of Rock Lake Campground are 45.526473°, -78.409902°.

Rock Lake Campground is a medium-sized campground in Algonquin Park. It comes with a wide range of services and amenities, including a campground office, electrical sites, flush toilets, showers, laundry services, a good beach, and motor boat access. Rock Lake Campground is split into Campground A and Campground B. The former is where all of the electrical sites are located, along with the large beach. It is also closer to the main comfort station and campground office, which are located at the entry of the campground. Campground B is located a short way down the road. There are no electrical campsites in Campground B, and while it does have its own beach, the beach is notably smaller than the one at Campground A. There are vault toilets at Campground B, but if you’re looking for flush toilets, you’ll need to go to the main comfort station which is a very short drive, or an approximate 5 minute walk.

Rock Lake Campground is a great choice if you’re looking for beautiful views out onto the water. The views are especially pretty during the fall season with the colourful foliage on the maple shorelines. Rock Lake Campground also appeals to groups that are looking to ‘disconnect’ with their car-camping experience. Since the campground is 8 kilometres south of Highway 60, cell service is very limited (often with no service at all) and you will not hear any noise pollution from the highway. 

Rock Lake Campground operates from mid-May until mid-October. 

Before looking for the best campsite at Rock Lake Campground, you first need to decide whether you want to camp at Campground A or Campground B. If you have a large trailer and/or require an electrical site, you’ll want to camp at Campground A. If you prefer something a little more cozy and quiet (relatively speaking), you might prefer Campground B.

At Campground A, the campsites are aligned in a grid layout, and many campsites are very similar to one another. The best campsites to some people may be Site #60 or Site #61 since they are right beside the large beach, and slightly tucked away in the corner. If you prefer not to be beside the busy beach, the best campsite for you might be Site #4 or Site #5, since they back onto some bushes and the river, making them as private as Campground A gets.

In Campground B, there is a lot more variety among the campsites. Two of my personal favourites are Site #73 and Site #104. They are at opposite ends of the campground and provide the most isolation from the surrounding sites. Site #73 also comes equipped with its own beach and is able to accommodate a large group, while Site #104 is much smaller and is better suited for a solo traveller or a group of two. I also enjoy Site #109, Site #110, and Site #112 because they have access to their own secluded beach. Site #120, Site #121, and Site #122 are great sites as well; they are directly at the waterfront and offer stunning views, though with no tree coverage or shelter from the elements.

Rock Lake Campground has a combination of electrical and non-electrical campsites, so the fee will vary depending on the campsite you require. The per-night fee for a campsite at Rock Lake Campground ranges between $47.46 to $59.33, depending on the campsite. This fee is inclusive of tax. One vehicle permit is included in the price of the campsite fee. For additional vehicles, the price is $14.13, per vehicle, per night.

In addition, there is a non-refundable reservation fee when making your booking. If you book over the phone, the fee is $13.00, and if you book online, the fee is $11.00. If you need to modify or cancel your booking, there is a minimum fee of $10.50 when modifying/cancelling over the phone, or $8.50 when modifying/cancelling online. The above prices are inclusive of tax.

^{More Info:
Developed Campground Fees
Ontario Parks Reservation Fees
Ontario Parks Change/Cancellation Penalties}

To book a campsite at Rock Lake Campground, you’ll need to visit the Ontario Parks website. Making a reservation is very straightforward. First, start by visiting reservations.ontarioparks.com. You should automatically be on the “Campsite” tab. In the “Park” dropdown, select “Algonquin – Rock Lake & Raccoon Lake”. Follow the steps from there, and in just a few minutes you can make your reservation for Rock Lake Campground.

Rock Lake Campground and Raccoon Lake Campground are two separate campgrounds, but since they are very close to each other, Ontario Parks groups them together for booking purposes.

You can also book a campsite at Rock Lake Campground over the phone by calling Ontario Parks directly at 1-888-ONT-PARK (1-888-668-7275).

Remember, reservations can be made starting at 7:00 AM from up to five months in advance of your arrival date! For example, if you’d like to book a campsite at Rock Lake Campground for an arrival date of September 1st, you can make your reservation as of 7:00 AM on April 1st.

Please note that Algonquin & Beyond (this website) is a personal blog and is not affiliated with Algonquin Park or Ontario Parks. Reservations cannot be made on this website.

One of the best things to do near Rock Lake Campground is hike Booth’s Rock Trail. It’s one of the most popular hiking trails in Algonquin Park and provides stunning views from its various lookout points. Booth’s Rock Trail requires its own Daily Vehicle Permit during certain times of the year (which can be difficult to obtain!), so if you camp at Rock Lake Campground, you can walk right over to the trailhead without needing to worry about purchasing a Daily Vehicle Permit or finding somewhere to park. It’s one of the best perks about camping at Rock Lake Campground!

If you don’t feel like hitting the trails, renting a canoe is another great option. Rock Lake is a gorgeous lake to paddle through and offers stunning views of the vast landscapes and commanding rocky shorelines. Some people may even complement their car-camping experience by reserving a backcountry permit for one or two nights to stay at one of Rock Lake’s interior campsites. There aren’t any rental services directly at Rock Lake Campground, but there are a handful of outfitting rental services nearby that will deliver directly to the campground for you. You can check out this article “A Complete Guide to Renting Canoes in Algonquin Park” to learn more.

Directly beside Rock Lake Campground is Raccoon Lake Campground. With only 48 campsites, Raccoon Lake Campground is much smaller, but it can still be a nice way to spend an afternoon walking around the area. The real treat of visiting Raccoon Lake Campground is that you can access the Centennial Ridges hiking trail. Centennial Ridges is one of the most popular, yet challenging hikes within Algonquin Park. If you decide to do the hike, make sure you bring enough food, water, proper clothing and footwear, and make sure you give yourself enough time to finish the loop! Getting to Raccoon Lake Campground, and the Centennial Ridges trailhead, requires travelling approximately 2km north from Rock Lake Campground; it would take about 20 minutes to walk from one campground to the other, or you can drive between the two campgrounds in just a few minutes.