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Home to Canada’s capital of Ottawa and the nation’s largest city of Toronto, Ontario draws visitors looking for an urban escape, with landmarks like the CN Tower and Parliament Hill at the top of their Ontario bucket list. Meanwhile, Southern Ontario plays setting to the established wine region of Niagara, where 120-plus wineries draw crowds who come searching for tastes of riesling and ice wine.
But Ontario also boasts a diverse natural landscape. Comprised of over 250,000 lakes containing one-fifth of the world's freshwater supply, plus a patchwork of vast forests and sandy beaches, Ontario is a destination for outdoor adventurers. Aside from lounging on the shores of Wasaga Beach, boating through Georgian Bay Islands National Park, or climbing to the highest point of Ishpatina Ridge in Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park, visitors can also experience four of the five Great Lakes. The province’s extensive repertoire of natural attractions also includes Algonquin Provincial Park, a favorite destination for its striking fall foliage, and the internationally recognized Niagara Falls.
Whether you’re visiting Ontario for a low-key weekend, or for an active week-long getaway, these 17 Ontario cottage rentals will make the perfect base for your Canadian vacation.
The 18 Best Cabin Rentals in Ontario
Black River Haus — Washago, ON
Vibe: Boater's Paradise
Located close to Lake Simcoe and on the banks of Black River, this vacation home is the perfect cottage for a water-loving crew. A 1970s cabin renovated in a Scandinavian image, the interior is rustic and calm, with a fully-stocked kitchen and cozy living room. Outside, there's a porch and an outdoor fire pit, and steps away, river access.
Rate: $288/night
Nortehaus — Kawartha Lakes, ON
Vibe: Elevated Minimalism
Just two hours north of Toronto, Nortehaus is a serene and stylish retreat situated among nature, drawing inspiration from Nordic and Japanese aesthetics. With its minimalist design and emphasis on natural textures, the space integrates seamlessly with the surrounding environment and offers stunning views through generous windows. Indulge in the various lounge areas, soak in the spacious tub, or go take a swim in the nearby riverfront.
Rate: $325/night
Demilune Lodge — Milford, ON
Vibe: #Lakelife
Set among the abundant wildlife of South Bay, Prince Edward County, this lakehouse cottage features a colorful and eclectic mix of mid-century and modern decor. Located on the banks of Lake Ontario and surrounded by nature on all sides, you'd be hard-pressed not to find a good view and you can enjoy it all from the cedar hot-tub, the porch, or a spacious outdoor seating area.
Rate: $393/night
Aux Box Cabin — Huntsville, ON
Vibe: Fancy Cube
Treat you and a loved one to this Aux Box retreat in central Ontario's cottage country, an area that includes the Parry Sound, Muskoka, Haliburton Highlands, and Kawartha Lakes—so in short, the land of year-round outdoorsy opportunity. The Aux Box itself is a destination too, with a unique, prefab design and an outdoor hot tub for relaxing and some major star gazing.
Rate: $277/night
Muskoka A-Frame Treehouse — Huntsville, ON
Vibe: A-Frame in the Sky
There's all sorts of cozy nooks and crannies inside and outside this A-Frame treehouse located in the beautiful Hidden Valley of Muskoka, Canada. It offers a cozy and comfortable living space with floor-to-ceiling windows, a fully stocked kitchen, outdoor hot tub, and a gas fireplace. Just big enough to host 2 people, it's perfect for couples looking for a relaxing getaway or a solo work-from-cabin weekend.
Rate: $318/night
Anupaya Cabin Co. — Deep River, ON
Vibe: Contemporary Beachfront Escape
Nestled between the Upper Ottawa River and Algonquin Provincial Park, the Anupaya Cabin Company has access to over six million acres of pristine forest and seemingly endless waterways. The pet-friendly vacation rental property consists of six polished cabins that each have enough space for six guests and sit within a stone's throw of the water's edge (each one comes with a canoe for morning paddling). Or, take to the hiking trails, lounge on the 1,200-foot white sand beach, or cook a meal using the brand-new grill and lounge by the beachside fire pit. Wifi is available.
Rate: Starting at $221/night
Arcana — Location Revealed After Booking
Vibe: Gone with the Wild
You won't find cabins like these on Airbnb—designed to bring guests back to the wild, these reflective, stainless steel dwellings two hours north of Toronto blend seamlessly into their forested surroundings. With 275 square feet of space in each unit, these sleek mirror-like cabins are meant to be experienced alone. Embrace your wild surroundings by hiking the 10 miles of marked trails, participating in guided forest bathing, and immersing yourself in a custom meditative sound journey. These cabins are all about disconnecting, but Wifi is available (cell service is spotty), and there's a semi-flexible cancellation policy if you chicken out.
Rate: Starting at $299/night
Cabin in the City — Toronto, ON
Vibe: The Best of Both Worlds
If you want to explore the city but live close to outdoor activities, this cabin provides guests with a tranquil glamping experience just 30 minutes from downtown Toronto. The property features a foot pump sink, composting toilet and large circular window to gaze out into the forest. Elsewhere on the property, take advantage of the outdoor fire pit, cook dinners using the grill, and cozy up in front of the wood stove. Off property, you can walk the well-maintained boardwalk and trails at Rouge National Urban Park that give views of grassy meadows, swampy wetlands and the Little Rouge River.
Rate: $166/night
Westcliff — Muskoka Lakes, ON
Vibe: Simple Livin’
Its location in the woodlands of Skeleton Lake makes this cabin the ideal place for anyone with a penchant for water activities like fishing, boating, and paddling. The tiny house itself isn't lakefront, but the nearby beaches of Port Sydney, Windermere, and Rosseau are less than a 15-minute drive away. Or, hike to Hatchery Falls at Fish Hatchery Park, a five-minute drive away.
At the property, enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding forest and marshland through the expansive windows, cool off in the outdoor shower, and sit by the fire pit at night and watch the stars. Take note that Westcliff is off-grid, so you'll want to bring your own drinking water and bedding. No, Wifi is not available.
Rate: $130/night
The Eco-Cabin Muskoka — Bracebridge, ON
Vibe: A Sustainable Retreat
With a heavy focus on environmental stewardship, the hosts, who live in the main home on the same property, built this tasteful chalet by hand using materials sourced from their own land. Equipped with battery-solar operated lights, pumped running water, an outdoor camp shower and a composting toilet, guests at the off-grid Eco-Cabin are encouraged to immerse themselves in nature (read: Wifi unavailable).
The home’s large windows feature views of the towering pines and large granite boulders that surround the property. Use the cabin’s snowshoes to explore the surrounding trails in the winter, or admire the fall foliage at Algonquin Park 45 minutes away in the fall.
Rate: $197/night
Modern Tobermory Cottage — Tobermory, ON
Vibe: Lakeside Leave
The small harbor town of Tobermory sits at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, minutes away from Bruce Peninsula National Park. You'll want to take at least one day to explore the Bruce Trail footpath but don't discount the ferry ride to South Baymouth. This waterfront cottage makes a nice base for anything you'll do in the area and has enough space for eight with a large central open-format space that includes a full kitchen, living room, and dining room. With the water steps away, you won't need to worry about the lack of air conditioning (there's a ceiling fan to keep things breezy).
Rate: $270/night
Artsy "Glamping" Experience — Castleton, ON
Vibe: Tiny Home With Big Personality
To make your next vacation unique, this well-thought-out and functional vertical space gives visitors a taste of what it’s like to live in a tiny home. Nestled on 30 acres in rural Ontario, this 10 by 10-foot hillside property consists of a sleeping loft with a double bed, a seasonal fire pit, a small pool for cooling off in, and a large deck to stargaze from. Explore the network of forested trails from your doorstep, or head to nearby Presqu'ile Provincial Park, home to some 338 species of birds, a sandy beach, and woodlands and grassy meadows.
Rate: $132/night
The Frontenac — Godfrey, ON
Vibe: Elevated Cabin Experience
With a private location of 2.5 acres on Thirty Island Lake, your only neighbors at this cabin will be deer, mink and beavers. Its south-facing orientation means you can bask in the sunlight all day long, or delight in the lake views from a hammock on the wrap-around deck. Its private dock provides 700 feet of private waterfront access, and you can spend your afternoons in a canoe or kayak or on a stand-up paddle board, all of which are complimentary at this waterfront cabin. After a day on the lake, the best way to warm up is in the barrel sauna, which has views of the trees and lake through its giant window.
Rate: $453/night
Mossy Rock Cabins — Windermere, ON
Vibe: For Nature Lovers
Comprised of two cozy bunkies, the Mossy Rock Cabins are connected by an atrium and each contains a welcoming sleeping chamber. Surrounded by the wooded forest and plenty of privacy, visitors will be sharing the 14 acres with deer and flocks of wild turkeys. Furnishings are simple and understated—there's a dining room, a living room, and bedrooms with a queen bed and two twins—but it all lends to the camp vibes at this unique cottage rental. Once there, visit the farmers market in Rosseau, lounge on the sandy shores of Windermere Beach, or shop and dine in nearby Port Carling.
Rate: $147/night
Woodstone Cabin — Harcourt, ON
Vibe: Classic Cozy Cabin
This log cabin is situated on 38 acres of land between Apsley and Coe Hill and enjoys convenient access to Chandos Beach and a smattering of lakes, including Chandos and Tallan Lakes. Furnished in classic log cabin style with hardwood flooring, cozy area rugs, and antler chandeliers, this cabin brims with rustic charm, and also features a wood-burning fireplace, outdoor fire pit, and a hot tub to elevate your stay. Spend your days on nature walks throughout the trails that criss-cross the property or visit Silent Lake Provincial Park for more strenuous hikes and to explore the idyllic woods by bike.
Rate: $222/night
Muskoka Cabin Getaway — Huntsville, ON
Vibe: Made for Two
Surrounded by a network of hiking, biking, skiing and snowshoeing trails, the Muskoka Cabin is the ideal escape for those who want to spend their days outside no matter the season. Tan, play volleyball, and splash in the waters at the private community beach on Pen Lake in the summer or plan on racing down runs at Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Hill across the street in the winter. To complete the experience, this cabin comes outfitted with an outdoor cedar barrel hot tub, a fire pit, and a screened-in gazebo.
Rate: $117/night
Back to the Cabin — Southgate, ON
Vibe: Total Serenity
The Scandinavian-inspired interiors of this A-frame in Varney feature a minimalistic style, clean lines and bright and airy spaces for an ultra-sleek getaway. Between mid-October and mid-May the cabin becomes a partially off-grid experience when running water and indoor plumbing are temporarily unavailable. But guests are able to use the outhouse and stay toasty with the property’s wood stove (and there is Wifi).
Start your mornings with some meditative yoga on the expansive deck, hike the nearby trails to waterfalls and treat yourself to a soak in the wood-fired hot tub, where you can relax to the soothing trickling of the nearby creek and the stars above.
Rate: $371/night
Rhya Cabin — Perth, ON
Vibe: Off-Grid Bliss
Occupying an inlet of its own in Eastern Ontario’s Tay Valley, the Rhya Cabin is sought after for its seclusion. Because of its off-grid location on Rideau Valley Conservation land, this lakefront cottage is only reachable by 4WD in the summer and fall months and requires a hike close to 0.6 miles in the winter months when the driveway is covered in a thick blanket of snow. Once there, soak in the peacefulness of the backcountry, head to Mills Lake to indulge in bird watching, or set off for an afternoon of paddling.
Rate: $154/night
Published 07-28-2022
Updated 06-23-2023
