Hotels in Brighton

Brighton: Gateway to Presqu'ile on Lake Ontario

Brighton, Ontario sits on the north shore of Lake Ontario in Northumberland County, roughly 170 km east of Toronto along Highway 401. The town of approximately 11,000 residents serves as the main access point for Presqu'ile Provincial Park, a 940-hectare peninsula that draws birders, swimmers, and campers from across southern Ontario. The park's sand beach and migratory waterfowl counts — among the highest recorded in the Great Lakes region — give Brighton a distinct identity beyond its role as a highway corridor stop.

Where to Stay

Accommodations in Brighton range from lakeside motels along Harbour Street to small inns near the downtown core on Main Street. Most properties are independently operated and within a 10-minute drive of Presqu'ile's gates. The Proctor House Museum, a restored 1867 Italianate mansion on Young Street, anchors the heritage district and orients visitors to the town's 19th-century agricultural history.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Brighton sits at Highway 401 Exit 509; the GO Train does not serve Brighton — book a rental car from Oshawa or Belleville.
• Best season: May and September for bird migration; July and August for beach and camping.
• Park reservations: Book Presqu'ile campsites through Ontario Parks well in advance for summer weekends.
• Local market: The Brighton Applefest each October draws visitors for local orchard produce along County Road 2.