Cottage Rentals on Rice Lake, Ontario: What’s Actually Available in 2026

Finding a cottage rental on Rice Lake in 2026 takes more lead time than most people expect. The better properties — direct waterfront, proper equipment included, close enough to Toronto that the drive doesn’t eat half your weekend — fill up months ahead of peak weeks. Here’s what’s actually available, what to look for, and why Mildred’s Lakefront Resort Cottage is the property most people land on once they’ve done the research.

Rice Lake Cottages: What to Know Before You Rent

Rice Lake is in Ontario’s Kawarthas region — 90 minutes east of Toronto on the 115, then south to Keene. It’s one of the larger lakes in the area at 33 kilometres long, with calm water, excellent fishing, and significantly less boat traffic than Muskoka during the same peak weeks.

Most Rice Lake cottage rentals are privately owned and listed through platforms like VRBO, Airbnb, or Ontario cottage rental agencies. Prices range from around $200/night for basic waterfront access to $500+/night for well-appointed properties with amenities included.

What you’re actually paying for when you rent on Rice Lake:

• Direct waterfront access — a dock you can launch from, not just a lake-view window
• Water equipment — most properties charge extra or don’t include canoes, kayaks, or paddleboards
• Proximity — the drive from Toronto matters. Some listings labelled “Rice Lake cottages” are still a 2-hour haul with Friday traffic
• On-site amenities — a pool, a restaurant, a sports court aren’t standard on Rice Lake. Most properties don’t have them

The Best Cottage Rental on Rice Lake, Ontario: Mildred’s Lakefront Resort Cottage

If you want a Rice Lake cottage that comes with resort-level amenities — not just a dock and a fire pit — Mildred’s Lakefront Resort Cottage at Bellmere Winds Golf Resort is the one to know about.

It’s the only Rice Lake rental property with full access to a functioning resort next door:

• 🏊 Heated saltwater pool and splash pad
• 🏸 Sports court
• 🏋️ Fitness centre
• 🍽️ On-site restaurant — steps from the cottage front door, no cooking required if you don’t want to
• ⛳ 18-hole championship golf course at Bellmere Winds, available at resort rates

The cottage itself sleeps 6 across three bedrooms — two queens plus a bunk room with 2 twins and 1 double. Full kitchen, Smart TV, 1 Gigabit Wi-Fi, and a screened sunroom that faces directly out over the lake.

That screened sunroom is the feature guests mention most. It’s a proper enclosed room — not an open porch — so you can sit by the water all evening without the mosquitoes that make Muskoka decks unusable by 7pm in July.

Mildred’s at a Glance

• 📍 Location: Keene, Ontario — Bellmere Winds Golf Resort
• 🛏️ Bedrooms: 3 — sleeps 6
• 🌊 Water access: Direct waterfront on Rice Lake, shared multi-slip dock
• 🛶 Included: Canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards at no extra charge
• 💰 Starting from: $254/night
• 🚗 Drive time: 90 minutes from Toronto, 2 hours from Ottawa

For photos and a full layout walkthrough, visit the property overview page or browse the photo gallery.

What’s Included — and What’s Not

Included with every stay at Mildred’s:

• Canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards
• Multi-slip dock access
• Heated saltwater pool and splash pad (Bellmere Winds)
• Sports court and fitness centre (Bellmere Winds)
• Fully equipped kitchen
• Smart TV and 1 Gigabit Wi-Fi
• Screened lakefront sunroom

Available as paid add-ons:

• Motorized boat rental through Bellmere Winds — ideal for a full day ranging the lake
• Golf on the 18-hole championship course at Bellmere Winds resort rates

Bring your own or pick up locally:

• Groceries — Keene village is 5 minutes away; Peterborough has full grocery stores about 20 minutes out
• Ontario fishing licence — required to fish in Rice Lake. Pick one up in Keene before heading out. Our Rice Lake fishing and boating guide covers species, regulations, and the best spots on the lake

Rice Lake vs. Muskoka: What’s Actually Different?

Muskoka gets the marketing. Rice Lake gets the value.

The drive difference alone is significant. Muskoka on a Friday afternoon means 3–4 hours minimum on the 400. Rice Lake is 90 minutes east on the 115 toward Peterborough, then south to Keene — a completely different highway corridor with a fraction of the weekend traffic volume.

Beyond the drive:

• Less boat traffic — Rice Lake is 33 km long with far fewer rentals per kilometre of shoreline than comparable Muskoka lakes during peak weeks
• Comparable scenery — the Kawarthas don’t need the Muskoka comparison to hold their own
• Lower prices per night for equivalent waterfront access
• Resort amenities — Mildred’s at Bellmere Winds includes a pool, restaurant, and fitness facilities that most Muskoka cottage rentals don’t offer at all

The Kawarthas have been Ontario’s best-kept cottage secret for decades. That’s starting to change — which is part of why 2026 availability at properties like Mildred’s fills faster than most people expect.

What to Do During Your Rice Lake Stay

The lake itself is the main activity — but here’s what a typical week at Mildred’s actually looks like:

• Kayaking and canoeing — included with the stay. Rice Lake is calm enough for beginners and large enough to explore for hours. The early-morning paddle toward the islands before anyone else is awake is one of the most consistently mentioned highlights from guests
• Fishing — Rice Lake holds strong populations of largemouth bass, walleye, pike, and yellow perch. Fish off the multi-slip dock or rent a motorized boat from Bellmere Winds to range further across the lake. Full species and regulation details are in the Rice Lake fishing guide
• Golf — the Bellmere Winds 18-hole championship course is directly adjacent to the cottage
• Pool days — the heated saltwater pool and splash pad are the resort’s answer to cool-water days and young kids who need somewhere to burn energy
• Peterborough day trips — about 20 minutes away. The Peterborough Lift Lock is a National Historic Site, and downtown has good restaurants, local breweries, and full grocery stores

How to Book Cottage Rentals on Rice Lake for 2026

Mildred’s 2026 availability is managed through Great Blue Cottage Rentals (GBCR), an Ontario-based cottage rental agency that handles all bookings for the property.

July and August weekends typically fill 2–3 months in advance. If you’re targeting summer stays, book early — the calendar doesn’t wait.

Fall bookings — September, October, and Thanksgiving weekend — usually have more flexibility. And fall on Rice Lake is genuinely worth considering: the summer crowds are gone, the water stays warm enough to kayak into October, and the Kawarthas shoreline in colour is one of the better reasons to leave the city.

Check Mildred’s 2026 Availability →

Rice Lake Cottages: Common Questions

What makes Rice Lake cottages different from Muskoka?

Rice Lake cottages offer the same direct waterfront access and comparable lake quality at lower prices and with a fraction of the Friday traffic. The drive from Toronto is 90 minutes on the 115 — versus 3–4 hours on the congested 400 corridor to Muskoka on peak weekends. For GTA families, the drive alone changes the math significantly.

Are Rice Lake cottages pet-friendly?

It depends on the individual property. Rice Lake has a mix of privately owned cottages and resort-managed units. Mildred’s Lakefront Resort Cottage is located at Bellmere Winds Golf Resort — for pet policy specifics on this property, contact the booking manager through the GBCR booking page.

What’s the best time of year to rent a Rice Lake cottage?

July and August are peak, but May and September-October are the sleeper picks. Victoria Day weekend in May is particularly good — smaller crowds, same water access, and rates before peak season pricing kicks in. Fall on Rice Lake is worth considering on its own terms: the water stays kayak-warm into October and the Kawarthas shoreline in colour is genuinely striking. For more on May specifically, see our post on the Victoria Day long weekend on Rice Lake.

How do I find Rice Lake cottages for rent?

Most Rice Lake cottage rentals are listed through Ontario-based agencies or platforms like CottagesInCanada.com. Mildred’s Lakefront Resort Cottage — the only resort-access cottage on Rice Lake — books through Great Blue Cottage Rentals (GBCR). Check 2026 availability here.

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Mildred’s Lakefront Resort Cottage is located at Bellmere Winds Golf Resort in Keene, Ontario and is managed by Great Blue Cottage Rentals. For a full property overview and photos, visit the about page or the photo gallery.

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