Describing itself at the Gateway to the Kawartha region, Peterborough has recreational opportunities for all ages and abilities.

With so many places to see and things to do on a motorhome vacation in Ontario, deciding which places to add to your RV itinerary can be difficult. If you rent an RV from our location in Toronto, you may well decide to head north, and Peterborough is the perfect place to plan your first overnight stop.

One of Peterborough's big draws for visitors is the recreational opportunities available along the Trent-Severn Waterway. This 386km long Waterway connects Lake Ontario with Lake Huron, passing through historic lock stations - the highest of them being in Peterborough. Stopping to watch these locks in action makes for a unique experience.

With canoeing being such a popular pastime in the Kawarthas, it makes sense that a museum devoted to all things canoeing has its home in Peterborough. Take time to visit the Canadian Canoe Museum and learn about the history of the canoe in Canada. Kids will enjoy a high level of interactivity and be amazed at the number of different canoes on display.

If you just want to get out and wander, numerous parks line the Otonabee River offering hiking opportunities. Camping is available inside the city limits at Beavermead Park (seasonal) and at many private campgrounds in the area.

Top 5 Things to Do

  • Visit the Canadian Canoe Museum
  • Go boating on the Trent-Severn Waterway
  • Seek out rock carvings in Petroglyphs Provincial Park
  • Step back in time at Lang Pioneer Village
  • Take a boat ride through the Peterborough Lift Locks

The Heart of the Kawarthas

Many of the lakes in the chain known as  the Kawarthas lie in Peterborough County, making the area best known for recreational tourism.
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Burleigh Falls, Peterborough, Ontario
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Canadian Canoe Museum, Peterborough, Ontario. Photo: Image Ontario/Joey Panetta
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Rapids at Burleigh Falls, Peterborough, Ontario

Fall in Love with Peterborough and the Kawarthas

Discover a place where the people are down-to-earth, the beauty is breathtaking, and the activities are endless.

Video courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development

Found the Canadian Canoe Museum pretty cool. Definitely not a type of museum I have seen anywhere else in the world.
Sheree Taylor
Denmark
Some nice old buildings around the town and the area around the locks was interesting.
Sven Larsen
Norway

Itineraries that include Ontario

Start/End Toronto / Toronto
Duration 9 days
Canadian Canoe Route
Combine the adventure and adrenalin of a 5-7 day Canadian Canoe Route tour with a touch of heritage along the Rideau Canal Route and you have the perfect recipe for a fun-filled RV vacation in Southern Ontario.
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Start/End Toronto / Montreal
Duration 7 days
City Hop - Toronto to Montreal
Enjoy three of Canada’s most iconic cities – Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal on this road trip. A truly classic Canadian experience, you’ll have the opportunity to try poutine (a dish originating from Quebec of fries, cheese curds and gravy), experience big city highlights as well quiet rural beauty.
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Start/End Toronto / Toronto
Duration 20 days
Destination Disneyworld
Combining the excitement of an RV road trip down the US East Coast with sun, fun and adventure, this 5000km round trip features nature, history and spectacular scenery. It's a year-round itinerary and especially perfect for families looking for an escape from the northern winter. Travel at your own pace from your pickup location in Toronto or Montreal and follow our suggested itinerary to Orlando and beyond, first stop - Philadelphia. Please note that the US driving fee is applicable to this route.
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Start/End Toronto / Vancouver
Duration 21 days
East meets West
From one major Canadian city to another, this three-week road trip is a Canadian experience you won’t forget. You’ll skirt the great lakes of Ontario, be mezmerized by the rolling prairies of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, gaze up in awe at the spectacular Rocky Mountains and end seaside in the city of Vancouver.
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Start/End Toronto / Halifax
Duration 14 days
Eastern Canada Adventure
This road trip offers you a taste of four provinces, an opportunity to uniquely experience Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and some of their famed cities and places. From the city life of Toronto to the awe-inspiring tidal changes in the Bay of Fundy, this trip through eastern Canada will leave you wanting more.
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Start/End Toronto / Toronto
Duration 14 days
Georgian Bay Coastal Route
Get up close and personal with nature along the Georgian Bay Coastal Route. Follow this 15-day itinerary around the Bay, stopping at the best natural attractions.
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Start/End Toronto / Toronto
Duration 13 days
Lake Erie Circle Route
Our Circle Lake Erie tour will take you through four states and one province, through wind farms and agricultural land, vineyards and beaches. Historic covered bridges and lighthouses will beckon, calling out to the photographer within you. Get back to nature by hiking or biking in the National Park or try canoeing, kayaking or scuba diving. Birdwatching? Lake Erie is the place to be in Spring and Fall as more than 300 migratory species stop en route to their final destinations Then, if you feel like a break from all this tranquility, you can seek out one of the largest amusement parks in America! Please note that this itinerary is subject to the US driving fee.
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Start/End Toronto / Toronto
Duration 12 days
Lake Ontario Circle Tour
Our Circle Lake Ontario tour will take you on a spectacular journey featuring covered bridges, beautiful gardens, fertile wine country, towering waterfalls, narrow shipping canals, weathered lighthouses, stunning coastal scenery and incredible sunsets. From Toronto, take a side trip to St Jacobs Country before travelling down the Niagara River to Niagara Falls. Your journey takes you into New York State, following the Great Lakes Seaway Trail on the south shore of Lake Ontario to Cape Vincent, then on to the fabulous 1000 Islands and back into Canada. Continue your tour down Lake Ontario's north shore along the Ontario Kings Highway, stopping en route to explore the Bay of Quinte and Prince Edward County. End your vacation visiting some of Toronto's top attractions. Please note that travel into the USA on this itinerary is subject to the US driving fee.
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Start/End Toronto / Toronto
Duration 12 days
Ontario Fall Foliage
The sheer brilliance of Ontario’s fall foliage, sunny days, cool evenings and colors that will take your breath away, will have you in awe on this two week roadtrip. Eastern Canada is awash with color from mid September through mid October. When planning your CanaDream vacation for anytime during this period you're sure to find Ontario's fall foliage at its best somewhere on your journey. Take as little or as long as you like on this tour, using our suggestions as a guide.
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Start/End Toronto / Toronto
Duration 14 days
Ports and Forts
Our Ports & Forts tour takes you from our RV rental location in Brampton near Toronto into the far south-west of Ontario province. Discover Mennonite history then chill out on the shores of Lake Huron before kissing the US border at Windsor/Detroit. Your easterly return route along Lake Erie will have you learning about early Canadian rail history and visiting some spectacular provincial and national parks.
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Start/End Toronto / Toronto
Duration 17 days
The Fur Trade Route
The unique character of Northern Ontario is evident in its people, its culture and its diverse scenery. Boom and bust periods of mining and milling have shaped this area which is home to only 6% of the province’s population. The fur trade was an early draw for settlers who used canoe routes to trade with the indigenous people, long before the arrival of the railroad and the highways we travel today. Days 1-10 of this itinerary follow the Fur Trade Route and, with the return journey to Toronto crossing over a Great Lake, there’s something new to see and do each day.
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Start/End Toronto / Toronto
Duration 13 days
The Prospector Route
Discover Ontario’s gold rush on this leisurely circle tour from Toronto. Drive through boreal forest, hike amongst spectacular scenery, gaze over tumbling waterfalls and learn about the valuable minerals which contributed to the development of mines and towns in Northeastern Ontario.
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Start/End Toronto / Toronto
Duration 14 days
Waterway Route
This RV route runs eastward on Hwy #7 from Port Severn on Georgian Bay, through cottage country to Ottawa, down the Ottawa River Valley, back Hwy #2 along the north shore of Lake Ontario to the intersection with Hwy #400 north of Toronto. There are many deviations and side trips to campgrounds and points of interest along the way.
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