Best Places to Fly a Drone in Toronto (2021)

Toronto is one of the leading tourist destinations in Canada. While this dynamic modern city has many great places to visit, there is no place to fly a drone in its main city area. If you are in Toronto and are okay with (fairly) long travel, please feel free to use this guide as a resource to better understand about where is legal to fly and some recommendation for drone spots in Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

**The places are chosen within the allowed zones on NAV Canada Drone Map. Each region may have specific rules regarding where pilots can fly their drones. Toronto Parks, Scarborough Parks, and Mississauga Parks DO NOT ALLOW model aircraft, including drones, to take off or land on park property. In this case, we recommend you look for a nearby public street or land to launch and fly.**

Where to fly a drone in Toronto

As mentioned, most of the main areas in the Greater Toronto Area(GTA) are prohibited to fly. Although it would be fantastic to fly near many tourist spots like CN Tower and Casa Roma, flying near these populated areas can result in a fine of up to $1000. As a result, you would need to be prepared for a lengthy drive to legally fly your drone. You should always need to check with the local authority about whether you can launch and fly. Here is our list of Top 5 places to fly a drone in Toronto!

Also, find out more about areas you can fly to within Canada here.

1. Near Scarborough Bluffs Park in Scarborough, ON

1 Brimley Rd. S, Bluffers Park, Scarborough, ON

• Airspace Class: Class G — Uncontrolled
• Airspace Map: AirMap

Scarborough Bluffs Park is a popular destination for photography drone pilots and it is about 23 minutes away from Downtown Toronto by car. It features the beautiful scenery of Lake Ontario with some open areas to securely launch and land. When it gets very crowded during the summer season, Scarborough Heights Park (which is about 5 minutes away by car) can be a great alternative.

**UPDATE: The Park and Recreation confirmed that flying drone in the park is not legal. We recommend you search for nearby areas outside of the park.  

2. Near Colonel Samuel Smith Park in Etobicoke, ON

3145 Lake Shore Blvd W, Etobicoke, ON M8V 4B6

• Airspace Class: Class G — Uncontrolled / Controlled Airspace nearby
• Airspace Map: AirMap

Colonel Samuel Smith Park is located in the Etobicoke district of Toronto, Ontario. This is one of the closest drone spots near Downtown Toronto with 19 minutes of driving. It is located by Lake Ontario which makes it a great opportunity to capture the amazing lake scenery! While this park features more than enough open areas to launch your drone, you need to watch out for controlled airspace which is on the South of the park.

3. Near J. C. Saddington Park in Mississauga, ON

53 Lake St, Mississauga, ON L5B 3Y3

• Airspace Class: Class G — Uncontrolled
• Airspace Map: AirMap

J. C. Saddington Park is located by the exit of Credit River flowing into Lake Ontario. It features a wonderful lake view and iconic Ridgetown Ship (abandoned ship) which makes it a great spot for drones. It is about 21 minutes from Downtown Toronto and has an open field to fly but may get crowded during the summer season.

4. North Maple Regional Park in Maple, ON

11085 Keele St, Maple, ON L6A 1S1

• Airspace Class: Class G — Uncontrolled
• Airspace Map: AirMap

The highlight of North Maple Regional Park is an incredibly wide-open field for beginner drone pilots to practice freely without any severe accident. With 200 acres of open space, it is also a perfect spot for FPV enthusiasts. While it takes about 35 minutes to drive from Downtown, it would be one of the closer spots to fly for those living in North York and Richmond Hill.

3. Near Erindale Park Area in Mississauga, ON

1695 Dundas St W, Mississauga, ON L5C 1E3

• Airspace Class: Class G — Uncontrolled
• Airspace Map: AirMap

Erindale Park is especially a great spot to launch your drone during the fall. While it doesn’t have a fancy water view like other spots, the vibrant and beautiful forested area in the fall makes this a great place to fly. With 23 minutes away by car from downtown, it has a one-of-a-kind scenery to capture through your drone.