Peterborough Vacation Rentals

Peterborough is the city that non-Kawarthas visitors consistently underestimate. They drive through it on the way to a cottage and don’t stop—which is a mistake. The hydraulic lift lock at Lock 21, the highest of its kind in the world, rises 19.8 metres above the city and operates by hydraulic counterbalance with the same engineering logic it used when it opened in 1904. The Canadian Canoe Museum, reopened on the waterfront of Little Lake in 2024 with its permanent collection of more than 650 watercraft, is among the most thoughtful cultural institutions in Ontario. Del Crary Park on Little Lake has hosted the annual MusicFest for decades. Peterborough is genuinely a city worth staying in for itself—and it happens to be the most connected gateway to the entire Kawartha Lakes system.

Little Lake, the Otonabee River, and the Trent-Severn

Peterborough’s water is immediate and central. Little Lake sits at the edge of the downtown, ringed by Del Crary Park and the Canadian Canoe Museum, with Beavermead Park at its northern end offering a launch point for paddling into the Trent-Severn Canal. Liftlock Paddle Co. rents kayaks, canoes, and SUPs from the Beavermead Park boat launch and offers guided paddle trips through the famous lift lock itself—one of the more memorable afternoon activities available anywhere in Ontario. The Otonabee River flows through the city’s west side, connecting to Millennium Park and a riverside trail that links Del Crary Park to the north end by foot and bike. The broader Trent-Severn Waterway connects Peterborough south toward Rice Lake and north toward the Kawartha Lakes system.

Where to stay

Peterborough vacation rentals lean toward urban apartments, renovated century homes, and multi-bedroom houses—the city inventory is diverse in a way that lake villages aren’t. Families benefit from proximity to the Riverview Park and Zoo, the Memorial Centre, and reliable grocery and restaurant options. Couples will find well-located apartments near Little Lake or the downtown core ideal for a city-and-lake hybrid weekend. The Trent-Severn Canal-side neighbourhood around Lock 21 puts guests within walking distance of both the lift lock and the East City restaurant strip. One block from the Peterborough Marina and Little Lake puts you at the centre of summer activity on foot. Look for rentals that include parking, since the MusicFest and Kawartha Craft Beer & Food Festival at Del Crary Park bring significant summer crowds to the waterfront area.

What to do

The Canadian Canoe Museum is a half-day minimum—650 watercraft in a purpose-built waterfront space, with canoe and kayak rentals and guided paddling programs attached. The Peterborough Lift Lock National Historic Site is accessible by guided cruise from Little Lake or on foot; the view from the top of the lock chamber is 19.8 metres over the city. The Kawartha Craft Beer & Food Festival runs at Del Crary Park on Little Lake in early June—the 2026 edition is the 9th annual. Riverview Park and Zoo is a free-admission zoo with native Ontario wildlife that works for families with young children. The Silver Bean Café operates a seasonal location in Millennium Park from late May to early October, making the riverside trail a proper coffee-and-walk itinerary item.

Food and local rhythm

Peterborough has the most complete food and drink scene in the Kawarthas, full stop. The East City neighbourhood near the lift lock has a cluster of independent restaurants, pubs, and cafés. The Kawartha Craft Beer & Food Festival brings regional breweries and food vendors together each June at Del Crary Park. The Silver Bean Café’s Millennium Park location is the morning coffee call for anyone staying near the Otonabee River. The city’s farmers market runs through the warmer months and gives a reliable local-produce option for stocking a vacation rental kitchen. For a proper evening out, the downtown area has enough independent restaurant variety to fill a week without repeating.

Best time to go

June through August is the peak for water activities on Little Lake and the Otonabee River, and the MusicFest and Kawartha Craft Beer & Food Festival both fall within this window. The Canadian Canoe Museum is open year-round, which makes Peterborough a legitimate shoulder and off-season destination in a way that smaller lake villages aren’t. Fall is excellent—the trails through Jackson Park and along the Otonabee are vivid with colour through October, the city’s arts and theatre calendar fills up, and the lake crowds thin to something manageable. Winter brings skating on the Trent-Severn Canal near the lift lock—a genuinely beautiful setting for an afternoon skate.

Practical rental advice

Peterborough vacation rentals are more available on shorter notice than lakefront Kawartha properties; the regional average lead time of 62 days applies broadly, but urban rentals in Peterborough are often bookable two to four weeks out. Summer weekends around MusicFest and the Craft Beer Festival see the most demand—confirm dates before finalizing your trip. Parking is worth confirming in advance for any property near Del Crary Park or the downtown core, where summer event traffic fills street parking. The Kawartha Craft Beer & Food Festival runs at Del Crary Park annually in early June; check lake.com/events/kawartha-craft-beer-food-festival/ for current dates. Properties near Little Lake are the best positioned for the Liftlock Paddle Co. launch and the museum waterfront.

Quick tips before you book

• The Canadian Canoe Museum is walkable from Little Lake waterfront rentals—plan a half-day minimum.
• Confirm parking arrangements for summer event weekends near Del Crary Park.
• MusicFest and the Craft Beer Festival bring crowds; book early if your dates overlap.
• The Liftlock Paddle Co. at Beavermead Park does not require advance booking for equipment rentals.
• Winter canal skating near Lock 21 is one of Ontario’s more under-visited winter activities.

Browse all Peterborough vacation rentals on Lake.com, check upcoming events including the Kawartha Craft Beer & Food Festival, or explore Stoney Lake cottage rentals nearby.