Prince Edward County, known locally as the County, is a peninsula on Lake Ontario in eastern Ontario, about 160 kilometers east of Toronto. It is famous for white sand beaches, limestone cliffs, farms, wineries and small villages.
AT A GLANCE
Best time
June to September suits beaches and festivals, while autumn brings harvest tastings.
How long
Allow a long weekend of two or three days to see the beaches, villages and farms.
Getting there
Drive from Toronto via Highway 401, or take the free Glenora Ferry from the Kingston side.
Why visit Prince Edward County
The County is almost an island, and that gives it a distinct, slow rhythm.
It works for a beach weekend, a cycling trip or a wine-focused escape, and the main attractions are close enough to combine in a few days.
The best places to visit for beaches and shoreline
Sandbanks Provincial Park
Sandbanks is one of the most popular parks in Ontario, with three beaches and the largest bay-mouth barrier dune system in the world.
Outlet Beach and the dunes
Outlet Beach and Dunes Beach are the best-known stretches, with shallow water suited to families. Paddlers can rent canoes or kayaks on the Outlet river and explore East Lake, where swans sometimes gather.
Wellington Rotary Beach
The northernmost beach of the Sandbanks area lies in the village of Wellington and is known locally as Wellington Rotary Beach. A canal cuts through the sand to Wellington Harbour, so it also suits a harbor stroll.
Little Bluff
Past South Bay, a rural road leads to limestone cliffs over Lake Ontario, with a rock beach for swimming, picnic spots and firepits. It is usually quiet and private-feeling.
Villages and heritage
Picton
Picton is the County’s largest community, set at the head of Picton Bay.
Wellington Heritage Museum
Housed in a former Quaker meeting house from 1885, the museum highlights the Quakers who helped develop the area. A key exhibit explains the canning industry, with more than seventy canning factories operating in the County between 1882 and 1996.
Bloomfield
Bloomfield is a small village with a visitor centre in the town hall and a main street of shops, galleries and cafés. It is a handy place to collect maps and to rent bicycles.
Lookouts, farms and vineyards
Lake on the Mountain
This provincial park above the Bay of Quinte offers views of the bay and the ferries.
Glenora Ferry
The free ferry crosses the Bay of Quinte between Glenora and Adolphustown, linking the two parts of Highway 33. Lines can be long in summer, so allow extra time.
Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area
On the edge of Picton, this conservation area has hiking and mountain biking trails and a cluster of birdhouses built to look like century homes. It is a good picnic spot.
Prince Edward County Lavender
A small lavender farm hosts an annual lavender festival and has several fields and a shop. Visit in the warm season, and check its calendar for peak bloom.
Waupoos and the wine region
Waupoos is in the newly fashionable wine country, and the Rose House Museum, a traditional farmhouse, is a stop for history lovers. Wineries are spread across the County, so choose a few and book a driver or tour.
Planning a trip to Prince Edward County?Compare hotels, flights and vacation rentals for Prince Edward County on Expedia.Book nowFood and local flavors
The County is a farm region with a growing food scene. Pinot noir is among the wines for which the County is known, and many wineries welcome visitors for tastings.
In spring, sugar shacks serve maple syrup in meals during the Maple in the County weekend, held in late March. Apple orchards and cideries make apple cider, and farms sell strawberries and apples for picking in season.
Popular dishes to try in Prince Edward County
Where to stay
Picton is the best base for first-time visitors, with the widest choice of shops and restaurants and quick access to the ferry, Lake on the Mountain and Macaulay Mountain.
Wellington is the place for beach-lovers, close to Sandbanks and the harbor. It has a small-town feel and works well for families and cyclists.
Bloomfield offers a quiet village base in the middle of the County, with a visitor centre and a main street to walk.
Where to stay in Prince Edward County
Best time to visit
Summer is the peak season for beaches and festivals, from the lavender bloom to music and arts events. Sandbanks is crowded on warm weekends, so aim for weekdays or early mornings.
Spring brings the Maple in the County weekend and a birding festival in May, as the County is a migration point. Early June has the cheese festival, and the County Fair and Music on the Mountain take place in early September.
Getting there and getting around
Most visitors drive. From Toronto, exit Highway 401 at Wooler Road in Trenton and follow the Loyalist Parkway to Picton, or use the Highway 62 route through Belleville and over the Bay Bridge.
Seasonal FlixBus service runs from Toronto, and County Transit links Belleville with Picton and Bloomfield, with weekend service in season. Rental cars are available in Belleville.
Distances between sights are long, so a car or bicycle is essential.
A suggested itinerary
First day
Arrive in Picton, walk Main Street and visit Macaulay Heritage Park.
Second day
Spend the day at Sandbanks, with a morning paddle on the Outlet and an afternoon on the beach. Finish with a harbor walk in Wellington.
Third day
Visit Little Bluff, then drive through Bloomfield and Waupoos. Stop for a tasting at a winery or farm, and visit the lavender farm if it is in season.
Practical tips
- Arrive at Sandbanks early on summer weekends, and check current reservation rules.
- Book lodging, tastings and tours well ahead for summer and fall weekends.
- Plan a designated driver or tour when visiting wineries.
- Be patient with slow farm vehicles, and give cyclists plenty of space.
- Expect long ferry lines at Glenora in summer.
