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Camping on Vancouver Island

With many diverse options, camping on Vancouver Island can be for everyone! Do you want family-friendly? A rustic cabin on the beach? A full-service provincial park? How about camping in your car - maybe for free? Vancouver Island has it all, and my goal with this section is to help you get the information you need to make your camping on Vancouver Island experience enjoyable and memorable (for all the right reasons!)

Camping at Caycuse, BC

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Camping on Vancouver Island by Region

For the purposes of this guide, each of the campgrounds that are listed will be sorted by geographic region. We follow the same boundaries as the Island Health Authority. Communities in each region are:

North Island

Campbell River
Cape Scott
Comox
Courtenay
Cumberland
Gold River
Mount Waddington
Port Alice
Port Hardy
Port McNeill
Sayward
Telegraph Cove
Zeballos

Central Island

Bowser
Chemainus
Coombs
Cowichan Bay
Deep Bay
Duncan
Errington
Fanny Bay
Ladysmith
Lake Cowichan
Malahat
Mill Bay
Nanaimo
Nanoose Bay
Parksville
Port Alberni
Qualicum Bay
Qualicum Beach
Shawnigan Lake
Tofino
Ucluelet

South Island

Central Saanich
Colwood
Esquimalt
Highlands
Langford
Metchosin
North Saanich

Oak Bay
Port Renfrew
Saanich
Sidney
Sooke
Victoria
View Royal

Backcountry vs Frontcountry Camping

Generally speaking, backcountry camping means that you are not near a road or developed area. Parks BC identifies it as an area that is more than 1 km from any highway or park road, not accessible by vehicle and has limited facilites.

At the provincial park backcountry sites, campers can expect to carry all their equipment (including water) to a remote site.

A perfectly toasted marshmallow!

However, if you choose to go camping on Vancouver Island at one of the many recreation sites (sometimes referred to as forestry sites), these too would be considered backcountry and yet many are accessible by vehicle. Although the access roads are frequently remote and in poor condition!

Frontcountry camping refers to sites that are accessible by vehicle and offer services that may include amenities such as running water, hot showers, playgrounds, boat launches and cut firewood.

Whether frontcountry or backcountry, we recommend a well-equipped first aid kit. Click here for a comprehensive list of items for a camping first aid kit.

RV Parks on the Beach of Vancouver Island

Finding RV parks on the beach is not too difficult when you live on an island. For the purposes of this article, we have listed RV parks that are right on the Pacific Ocean. There are many more RV parks on the beach located on the various rivers and streams throughout Vancouver Island that are not listed here.

View from Jordan River ocean-front camping.

If you want to camp on the beach but don’t yet own an RV, you may want to consider renting one. It is so easy to do with RVezy you’ll wonder why you haven’t done it before. And even if you don’t have the vehicle capacity or skills to tow, many of the owners will deliver. Just sign up right on their website and search for the RV that perfectly suits your needs – including pet friendly options. The site is very intuitive and easy to navigate.

Already own an RV? Instead of it sitting in storage when you’re not using it, you can make money renting it out to other families. RVezy makes it easy and safe to rent out your RV with complete peace of mind. It’s kind of like the AirBNB of recreation vehicles! Learn more.

South Island RV Parks on the Beach

Parks located south of the Malahat from Sidney to Port Renfrew.

China Beach at Juan de Fuca Provincial Park, Port Renfrew
French Beach Provincial Park, Jordan River
Island View Beach Regional Park Campground (seasonal), Victoria
Jordan River Regional Park Campground, Jordan River
Oceanside Resort, Victoria
Port Renfrew Marina & RV Park, Port Renfrew
Salish Seaside RV Haven, Victoria
Weir’s Beach RV Resort, Victoria

Central Island RV Parks on the Beach

From the Malahat to Nanaimo and across the island to Tofino/Ucluelet.

Bamberton Provincial Park, Mill Bay
Bella Pacifica Campground, Tofino
Cape Lazo RV Park, Comox
Crystal Cove Beach Resort - Cabins & RV Camping, Tofino
Green Point Campground (Pacific Rim National Park Reserve), Ucluelet
Living Forest Oceanside Campground & RV Park, Nanaimo
Mackenzie Beach Resort, Tofino
Mussel Beach Private Getaway, Alberni-Clayoquot
Osborne Bay Resort, Crofton
Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, Parksville
Surf Grove Campground, Tofino
Ucluelet Campground, Ucluelet

Mussel Beach Campground

Note: Mussel Beach will no longer be offering daily camping. They will offer seasonal camping or 5 glamping huts. Visit their website for details.

North Island RV Parks on the Beach

North of Nanaimo up to Port Hardy.

Alder Bay RV Park & Marina, Port McNeill
Bates Beach Oceanfront Resort, Courtenay
Bere Point Regional Park, Sointula
Deep Bay RV Park, Bowser
Fair Harbour Marina and Campground, Kyuquot
Pacific Palms RV Resort, Parksville
Pacific Playgrounds Resort & Marina, Black Creek
Park Sands Beach Resort RV Park & Campground, Parksville
Port Alice Oceanfront RV Park, Port Alice
Port Hardy RV Resort & Log Cabins, Port Hardy
Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, Parksville
Telegraph Cove Marina & RV Park, Telegraph Cove
Thunderbird RV Park & Cottage Resort, Campbell River

We hope you enjoy your stay on Vancouver Island at one of these RV parks on the beach. And we highly recommend you check out RVezy for the simplest camping experience.