Go camping and leave the car at home
Photo courtesy of Parkbus staff
Experience the fun of camping and the beauty of Ontario's provincial parks without the hassle of driving. Parkbus is an eco-friendly way to save on gas and reduce your environmental impact.
Go north and leave the driving to Parkbus. It's also a great way for first-time campers to get out of the city and get into nature.
The non-profit bus line began offering Toronto to Algonquin Park service in 2010 with the idea of making outdoor destinations accessible by bus. It expanded to include stops at campgrounds, trail-heads and canoe access points for Killarney, the Bruce Peninsula, the French River and Grundy Lake. There are still a few trips available in October, so be sure to check the fall schedule.
One-way adult tickets are between $35 and $40. You'll need to supply your own camping equipment. You can rent gear from Mountain Equipment Co-op, which offers discounts to Parkbus ticket holders. Once at the park, outfitters can provide you with everything from canoes to equipment and food packs, as well as all-inclusive trips.
A volunteer travels on every outgoing bus trip, providing maps, information and tips for first-timers on how to camp in an eco-friendly way. Parkbus is looking for more volunteers to join their group of enthusiastic Parkbus Ambassadors for next summer's season.
Based on the demand, ParkBus will be offering expanded services in 2013. Parkbus is a project of Transportation Options (T.O.), a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering sustainable tourism and transportation in Ontario.
Photo courtesy of Parkbus staff
