How to Go Glamping in Algonquin Provincial Park

Last Updated on July 30, 2023

If you aren’t an experienced camper, don’t have camping equipment, or simply want to enjoy camping in a bit more comfort, Algonquin Park glamping is a wonderful way to stay overnight near this epic Ontario park.

Although I do occasionally camp in the traditional way, I love all the perks of glamping. You don’t need to pack tons of equipment, and you don’t need to do the work of set up and tear down. Especially when you only have a weekend to enjoy the outdoors, glamping can save you precious time.

This guide covers how to go glamping just outside of Algonquin Park, at Four Corners Algonquin, near the town of Whitney.

Glamping at Four Corners Algonquin 

My partner and I are pretty regular campers, but for this trip we decided we would try out something new: “glamping.” Instead of bringing your own camping gear, most of what you need is provided.

Your tent, barbecue, and other amenities. And there’s a reason it’s called glamping … The amenities are luxurious compared to regular camping.

Glamping can range in price and amenities depending on what you’re looking for. In our case, we wanted comfy sleeping accommodations but it didn’t need to be super fancy. After finding Four Corners Algonquin, we decided it was perfect for us and booked 3 nights in one of their large glamping tents.

Where is Four Corners Algonquin?

Four Corners is in south-central Ontario, Canada. This camping and glamping ground is right outside of Whitney, Ontario. It’s just a three minute drive into town.

It’s the perfect location for exploring Algonquin Provincial Park, because the East Gate into the park is just a 10 minute drive up the road (going the opposite direction from the town of Whitney).

How to Get to Four Corners Algonquin

The best way to reach Four Corners Algonquin is by car. Not only do you need a car to get there, but you need a car to get around the town of Whitney as well as around the provincial park.

From Toronto, it took about 3.5 hours to reach Four Corners. We took the highway 400 north towards Barrie, and then the 11 towards Huntsville. At Huntsville, you take the 60 eastward all the way to Whitney.

From Ottawa, the drive would be about 2.5 hours. Take the highway 417 west all the way to Renfrew, and from there switch to the 60 which takes you the rest of the way to Whitney.

What is Glamping at Four Corners Like?

Four Corners glamping is super glamorous compared to the tent camping we’re used to doing! We booked the glamping site called “The Guide.” The site includes your tent, a good barbecue, a fire pit and Muskoka chairs. 

The tent is a safari/prospector style tent, 12 feet by 18 feet – so it’s big! Inside the tent is simple, but we loved the quaint atmosphere. There’s a king size bed (very comfy!) and a small bedside table on each side.

The tent has a solar panel that provides enough daily power to charge phones and turn on the three hanging lamps inside the tent. On either end of the tent there are door flaps that can be opened, and thanks to mosquito netting, they can be left open overnight which makes for good airflow.

About a 2 minute walk from the tent is a fully equipped comfort station. While we were visiting Four Corners, the comfort station was still under construction, but we were still able to use the bathroom and shower.

The bathrooms were impeccably clean and the showers were hot!

A great bonus is the WiFi! WiFi is not advertised as available on all the sites, but our site (The Guide) was located close enough to the comfort station that we could pick up just enough to do basic Googling.

Regardless of if your site has WiFi access, it’s always available within a short walk. That’s a nice perk for camping!

While we stayed at Four Corners there was a full day of rain, but that was no problem at all. The tent is heavy duty and it kept 100% of the rain out. Plus, it was nice and cozy to snuggle up in our blankets while waiting for the good weather to return.

There’s a small wooden deck that is covered, right outside the front flap of the tent, so it was also possible to sit on the deck despite the rain!

An Intro to Camping

Four Corners Algonquin provides the full camping experience. All of their sites come with a barbecue and fuel, Muskoka chairs, and a firepit. Cooking is probably my favourite part of camping. Basically everything tastes a bit better when you barbecue it outdoors. 

Never built a fire before? No problem! You can purchase your firewood on arrival (as well as other essentials you might need, like ice).  Every evening, the owners of Four Corners drop by to see if you need help building your fire.

If you have no clue how, they’ll gladly teach you the basics. For safety, they’ll also provide you a bucket of water so that when it’s time to go to bed you can safely extinguish the fire.

One of the magical parts of experiencing Ontario’s wilderness is the ability to see the stars. At home in Toronto, light pollution makes it so that the stars aren’t super visible.

But once you drive out of the city to regions that have little to no light pollution, you can see the night sky with perfect clarity. Four Corners Algonquin has a stargazing spot that is set up with it’s own Muskoka chairs and fire pit!

Amenities In Whitney, Ontario

Whitney, Ontario is a small village, also known as South Algonquin. The village has a population of around 1000 people, and was settled originally in the 1800s to service a nearby sawmill.

Four Corners glamping is technically outside of Whitney, but it takes less than 2 minutes to drive into the town. 

Whitney might be small, but there’s still plenty to do and see. The village has all of the amenities you might need. There is a liquor store (in Ontario, these are called LCBO – The Liquor Control Board of Ontario) and a post office.

For groceries, drop by Charbonneau’s Freshmart. For gas, there is one gas station in town. 

If you’d like to dine out, there are two options: Mad Mushers and Algonquin Lunch Bar. We dropped by Mad Mushers to pick up takeout, which we enjoyed at a nearby picnic table. We got ourselves classic poutines, and they were delicious! 

My favorite part of Whitney is the town’s public beach. The beach is a 5 minute drive from Four Corners, and provides swimming access to the serene Galeairy Lake.

We visited several times while in Algonquin, and this beach was always quiet. There’s a dock you can swim out to, as well as public washrooms. Every evening, we caught the most gorgeous sunset at this beach! It’s a must-visit while in Algonquin. 

Things To Do Near Four Corners Algonquin

With such close proximity to Algonquin Park, most activities near Four Corners revolve around the park, it’s history, and outdoor adventures. To get you started with ideas for things to do on your glamping trip, I’ve listed some fun activities below.

You can also read my full guide to Algonquin Provincial Park for even more itinerary inspiration!

Spend a Day on a Local Beach

Galeairy Lake is just 5 minutes from Four Corners. It’s the perfect spot for a morning swim to kick off your day, an afternoon of lounging on the beach, or to watch the sunset in the evening. Other great swimming spots are the Lake of Two Rivers and Canisbay Lake, both of which are inside Algonquin Park.

Go Paddling on a Local Lake

You can easily rent a canoe or kayak in Whitney. Right next door to Four Corners you’ll find Opeongo Outfitters. They rent out watercrafts for day use as well as outfitting packages for if you’d like to do some portaging or camping. 

Visit Algonquin Provincial Park

Algonquin Provincial Park is a favorite amongst Canadians and visitors from abroad for enjoying nature. The park is over 7000 kilometers squared of wilderness, and has over 1500 inland lakes. There are two museums, 14 hiking trails, and many lakes to swim in within the park.

Visiting Algonquin requires a daily vehicle permit, which should be displayed in your car whenever you park within the park. Four Corners has Algonquin passes available for guests to borrow, free of charge. Just let them know ahead of time that you’d like to reserve a pass.

What to Pack For Glamping Near Algonquin Park

Many of the essentials are provided when you glamp, but you’ll still need to pack a couple items. Here’s what we found was useful to have for our stay at Four Corners – but this list will work for glamping elsewhere, too. 

Bedding – Some glamping provides bedding, but check ahead of time to make sure. For Four Corners, we brought our own. Ask in advance what size sheets you’ll need for the mattress. 

Water – We always bring our own drinking water when heading into the wilderness. We always bring a reusable container of several litres of water, and we also bring our Grayl water bottles. These bottles allow us to filter water on the spot for drinking. Just find yourself a stream, river, lake, or some rainwater!

Groceries – Most glamping comes with a barbecue, so make sure you plan some meals to cook. If you’re visiting Four Corners, you can also head into Whitney and dine at one of the town’s restaurants. 

Garbage bags – It’s easy to forget these! Garbage bags are important to have on hand so that you don’t leave any litter outside. 

Clothing and Headlamp – Be sure to pack some layers of clothing for when it cools down at night. When it becomes dark outside, a headlamp is a super useful item to have on you. 

Read more from Pina Travels: 

• 8 Must-Do Toronto Boat Tours
• 17 Indigenous Tourism Experiences in Ontario
• Your Essential Guide to Visiting Point Pelee National Park
• Essex Ontario Glamping: Your Guide to Glamping in Wine Country
• 16 Best Alpaca Farms in Ontario