National park · Canada
Point Pelee National ParkParc national de la Pointe-Pelée
Go for a half day: drive to the gate, ride the free shuttle to the tip, walk the Marsh Boardwalk, and be back in Leamington by lunch. Come in May for birds, not in July for the point.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
15 km²6 sq mi
approximate
Established
1918
Best months
May, Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
- Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
- Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
At a glance
- Country
- Canada
- Area
- 15 km²6 sq mi
- Canada's smallest national park; about 70% is marsh and roughly 21% forest.
- Established
- 1918
- Best months
- May, Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Point Pelee is Canada's smallest national park: a 15 km² sandspit that tapers to the southernmost point of mainland Canada, about 7 km into Lake Erie. Birdwatchers pushed for protection in 1918, and the park now sits at the crossroads of two migration flyways, with 347–360 recorded bird species. About 70% of it is cattail marsh and roughly a fifth is forest, so the visit is short and flat: gate, Visitor Centre, marsh boardwalk, shuttle to the tip. The bird season (April–May, September–October) does not overlap with the summer beach season, which is the single most useful thing to know before booking.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Ramsar wetlandListed as a Wetland of International Significance.
Size and age
15 km²6 sq mi · national park since 1918
Canada's smallest national park; about 70% is marsh and roughly 21% forest.
Why go
- Stand at the southernmost point of mainland Canada, a sandspit that runs about 7 km into Lake Erie.Stand at the southernmost point of mainland Canada, a sandspit that runs about 4.3 mi into Lake Erie.
- The marsh boardwalk is the easy win: cattails, ponds and open water in under an hour.
- Spring migration puts 347–360 recorded bird species through a park the size of a small town.
- Carolinian species rare in Canada — fox snake, five-lined skink, and over 750 native plants — live here.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanCold, few facilities; oTENTiks only
- FebQuiet and icy; check gate hours
- MarThaw; muddy trails, early migrants
- AprShuttle starts; first waves of birds
- MayPeak migration; festival crowds at dawn
- JunWarm; breeding birds, fewer visitors
- JulHottest month (mean 23°C); beach crowdsHottest month (mean 73°F); beach crowds
- AugWarm water; algae and E. coli warnings possible
- SepFall migrants; monarch butterflies
- OctFall migration and hawk flights
- NovQuiet; shuttle season ends
- DecCold; check what is open
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring migration (warblers, thrushes, shorebirds)Apr–May · Peak in the first three weeks of May; dawn is best. | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Fall migration and hawk flightsSep–Oct · Fewer people than spring; monarch butterflies also move through. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Waterfowl and shorebirdsMar–Apr, Oct–Nov | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no |
| Fox snake and five-lined skinkMay–Sep · Carolinian species at the northern edge of their range; watch from the path. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Ticks and poison ivyMay–Sep · Stay on marked trails and check yourself afterwards. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Leamington
Drive Point Pelee Drive south to the gate; the park has no public transit.
15 min
From Windsor
Highway 3 east, then County Rd 33 and County Rd 20 to Point Pelee Drive.
1–1.5 h
From London
Highway 401 to exit 48, then Highway 77 south and County Rd 33 east.
2.5–3 h
From Toronto
Highway 401 west to exit 48, then Highway 77 south; long day trip by car.
3.5–4 h
Open the page →
From Detroit
Cross at the bridge or tunnel, then Highway 3 east to County Rd 33.
1.5–2 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor Centre and gate | Entry gate, information, gift shop, shuttle stop and Camp Henry. | Open with a ticket. |
| Marsh Boardwalk | Floating boardwalk over cattail marsh and ponds, the park's signature short walk. | Open; boardwalk and tower. |
| The tip | The narrowing sandspit at the southernmost point of mainland Canada. | Reached on foot or by free shuttle; no swimming. |
| Woodland trails | Forest loops on the west side where spring migrants concentrate. | Open; stay on marked paths. |
| Middle Island | Forested island south of the peninsula, the southernmost land in Canada. | Closed to visitors. |
Sketch map
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult day entry | CAD 9 | person | 2026 estimate; Parks Canada sets the current rate. |
| Senior day entry | CAD 8 | person | 2026 estimate. |
| Youth (17 and under) | Free | person | Free. |
| Family or group day entry | CAD 18 | group | 2026 estimate; covers up to seven people arriving in one vehicle. |
| Discovery Pass (annual, all Parks Canada sites) | CAD 75 | adult | 2026 estimate; pays off after about nine visits. |
| oTENTik at Camp Henry | CAD 133–160 | night | Sleeps up to six; year-round, heated in winter. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Shuttle to the tip no permit
Middle Island permit or guide
Park rules
- No swimming at the tip
- Currents around the point are dangerous and swimming there is prohibited.
- Stay on marked trails
- Protects rare plants and limits ticks and poison ivy.
- No camping outside Camp Henry
- There are no tent or RV sites in the park; oTENTiks are the only in-park beds.
- No alcohol
- Nothing is sold in the park; Leamington is the nearest town.
- Dogs
- Allowed on leash on some trails and beaches only; check signs at the gate.
Where to stay
In the park
Camp Henry oTENTiks
Raised platform tents with beds, heated in winter; book well ahead.
Near the park
Leamington
Motels, hotels and rentals 15 minutes from the gate; the practical base for a day trip.
Safety
Currents at the tip high
Water quality (E. coli and algae) medium
Heat and exposed sand medium
Ticks low
Accessibility
- The Visitor Centre, Marsh Boardwalk and shuttle are the easiest parts of the park for limited mobility.
- The tip walk is on sand and can be soft; the shuttle shortens it but does not remove it.
Visiting lightly
- Keep to the boardwalk and marked paths; the marsh edge is the most fragile habitat.
- Do not feed or call in birds; spring migrants need to rest and feed undisturbed.
- Take rubbish out; bins are limited inside the park.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Point Pelee National Park?
Day entry is around CAD 9 per adult and free for ages 17 and under, with a group rate for a vehicle; a Discovery Pass at about CAD 75 covers a year at Parks Canada sites. Rates are 2026 estimates — check the Parks Canada page before you go.
What are the best hikes in Point Pelee National Park?
The Marsh Boardwalk is the easy highlight, about an hour over the water. The Woodland Nature Trail and the Tilden Woods and DeLaurier loops are the short forest walks, and the tip walk is the novelty: a shuttle from the Visitor Centre plus sand to the southernmost point of mainland Canada.
When is the best time to visit Point Pelee National Park?
May for spring migration and October for fall migration. July and August are the hottest and busiest months, and the bird season does not overlap with the summer beach season.
Do I need a car to get to Point Pelee?
Yes. There is no public transit to the park; drive to Leamington and then south on Point Pelee Drive to the gate. Once inside, a free shuttle runs to the tip from April to November.
Can I camp in Point Pelee National Park?
Only in the oTENTik platform tents at Camp Henry — there are no tent or RV sites. Book ahead, especially for May weekends and summer.
Can you swim at Point Pelee?
Yes at the west-side beaches when water quality advisories allow, but never at the tip, where currents are dangerous and swimming is prohibited.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go