Day Use at Ontario Parks
FAQs - Advance Daily Vehicle Permits
1. What are advance daily vehicle permits?
At most parks visitors can obtain a daily vehicle permit up to five days in advance of arrival.
Advance daily vehicle permits guarantee access, provide greater certainty when planning a day visit, provides a modern and convenient booking system, and reduces time spent during arrival to a park.
2. Where do you offer advance daily vehicle permits?
Advance daily vehicle permits are available for most operating provincial parks. For a list of participating parks, visit our online reservation service.
3. How do I obtain a daily vehicle permit in advance for the participating provincial parks?
Advance daily vehicle permits can be reserved up to five days in advance using our online reservation service.
Read our blog for tips on how to reserve your advance daily vehicle permit online.
4. How far in advance can I obtain a daily vehicle permit?
Advance daily vehicle permits will become available at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time five days in advance of your arrival date.
5. What’s included when I obtain a daily vehicle permit in advance?
Obtaining a daily vehicle permit in advance guarantees access for one passenger vehicle and all its passengers. This includes passenger vehicles that allow up to a maximum of 14 people.
6. Does my daily vehicle permit allow park access for the full day?
Select parks offer daily vehicle permits for two-hour and four-hour time slots in addition to full day permits.
Full day permits are valid during posted day use operating hours on the day of your visit.
7. Can I still get my permit at the park entrance at parks offering advance daily vehicle permits?
Yes, at parks where we offer in-person service, you can get your permit at the park if there is space available.
However, many parks fill to capacity on busy days, and we only have room for a limited number of visitors each day. The only way to guarantee your day use spot is by purchasing a permit ahead of arrival.
You can check daily vehicle permit availability for specific parks and dates on our reservations website. Many parks will also provide updates on their social media accounts, follow us for the most up-to-date information.
8. How can I see availability for a last-minute day trip?
To check up-to-date availability of parks, please visit our day use availability map on our reservations website. Select the region you would like to visit and check to see if the park you would like to visit has availability. If the park shows it has availability, you can select the park from the map and make a reservation before you go to secure your day trip.
If the park you wish to visit doesn’t have availability, why not try another nearby park? Use the map to explore other parks that have availability.
9. The park I am visiting has automatic gates, how does that work and how do I get in?
When visiting a park where access is controlled by automatic gates you must reserve your daily vehicle permit in advance to gain access.
Your confirmation email will contain a barcode which will open the gate once scanned on arrival to the park.
The gate barcode is located on the first page of the emailed confirmation. You can scan the barcode from your mobile device or from a printed copy if you choose to print from home.
To reserve your permit, visit our reservations website or contact our call centre at 1-888-ONT-PARK (1-888-668-7275) – Open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
If on arrival you have any technical difficulties, there is an intercom button available where park staff can be reached to assist you.
10. I have a seasonal or commercial daily vehicle permit; do I have to obtain a daily vehicle permit in advance to guarantee access?
A seasonal vehicle permit on its own doesn’t guarantee entry. Parks can get busy and we only have room for a limited number of visitors each day. To guarantee your day use spot, booking in advance is required. Reserve your visit up to five days in advance using our reservations website. Please secure your day use spot in advance at no extra charge using your seasonal permit's serial number.
Read 7 things to know about your seasonal daily vehicle permit to learn more.
11. Can I visit multiple parks with my advance daily vehicle permit?
No. Your advance daily vehicle permit only guarantees access to the park, and in some cases, for the specific location within a park for which it was obtained.
For example, at Algonquin there are multiple day use areas and your advance daily vehicle permit only guarantees access to the specific location within the park for which it was obtained.
12. Are there any additional fees to obtain a daily vehicle permit online?
There are no additional fees for using the advance service, you will only be paying for the cost of the daily vehicle permit.
13. Can I cancel or change my advance daily vehicle permit once I obtain it?
All advanced daily vehicle permit sales are final and date/location changes are not permitted. If cancelling within two hours of purchase, full refunds apply. If cancelling after two hours, all fees are forfeited.
14. If I can’t use my permit, can I transfer it to another person?
Advance daily vehicle permits cannot be transferred to another person and permit holder verification or identification may be required when you arrive at the park. If you are driving a different vehicle than the one you originally identified at the time of reservation, the registered permit holder can change the vehicle licence plate information. To do so please log into your Ontario Parks account and click the “Preregister” button on the reservation detail page, or update with park staff upon arrival.
15. I am eligible for a daily vehicle permit discount; will it still be honoured?
Yes. Anyone who qualifies for a discounted fee will be able to obtain their daily vehicle permit in advance at the reduced rate. If you are using a discounted rate, you must have proof to validate the discounted rate on arrival to the park and during your visit.
Please visit our day use page to see if you qualify for a discounted daily vehicle permit fee rate and the identification required as proof for the discount.
16. Why do you collect my licence plate number?
Park wardens will be using vehicle licence plates to confirm that your vehicle is associated with a valid daily vehicle permit. It is important to make sure the licence plate is accurate and up to date. If you are driving a different vehicle than the one you originally identified at the time of reservation, only the registered permit holder can change the vehicle licence plate information. To do so please log into your Ontario Parks account and click the “Preregister” button on the reservation detail page, or update with park staff upon arrival at no additional cost.
17. I have obtained my daily vehicle permit in advance. How do I check in when I arrive at the park?
Check in procedures may vary by park. Your confirmation e-mail will contain information on how to check in when you arrive.
18. What documentation do you need from me when I arrive at the park?
You are responsible for having proof of purchase while in the park either by having a digital or a printed copy of your confirmation letter or reservation number.
After securing your permit, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Details on how to check in at your chosen park will be included in your confirmation email and will also be shared verbally by the call centre agent for those without access to email.
In addition, please be ready to provide proof if you qualify for a daily vehicle fee discount. Discount information can be found on the day use page under the Visiting Parks tab.
19. I have a seasonal or commercial daily vehicle permit and secured access to the park using my permit’s serial number. What do I need to bring with me?
Display your seasonal or commercial daily vehicle permit in your vehicle AND bring digital or printed proof of purchase that indicates you have obtained a daily vehicle permit for the park and/or location on the day of your visit.
Related Links
Advance daily vehicle permits - make a reservation
Advance daily vehicle permits - participating parks
Hold your spot
If you want to visit one of the participating parks that sell advance daily vehicle permits you will need to “reserve” your spot in advance to guarantee entry, even if you have a seasonal permit.
