Camping, Cabins & RV Parks
Get Away into Real Nature
Take Your Pick in the Thick of Nature
Stay in One of Five Provincial Parks
Here, it’s easy to find a great place to bask in natural surroundings. The Campbell River area has many options for campers, including BC Parks campgrounds, RV parks, private campgrounds and glamping opportunities.
If going off the grid is more your style, the region is also home to more than 100 recreation sites.
Make s’more memories and tag us on your adventures with #TheRealCampbellRiver.
*During the summer months, camping is a popular activity. If you are travelling during peak season, we recommend making reservations where applicable.*
Private Camping Accommodations
Campbell River is home to several comfortable and convenient private campgrounds that offer full-service RV pads, cozy cabins and glamping experiences. If you want to stay close to town, Thunderbird RV Park and Driftwood by the Sea are both great options featuring all the amenities for RVs, as well as cabins. Or if you’re looking to get out of the city, Brown’s Bay Resort is located about 19 km north of town. This scenic campground is located at the entrance to the Seymour Narrows. You can choose to stay in cabins, glamping tents, RV pads or tent sites.
Regional Listings
Recreation Sites
Looking for Somewhere Different?
Recreation sites (rec sites) are un-maintained and un-serviced campsites that are typically free. However, if there is a site host, a small fee may be charged. Rec sites take a little bit of extra work to find, as they are dispersed along logging roads (these roads are gravel and can be very rough).
However, they are a really great and economical way to explore the region. These sites do not allow reservations, so if you are travelling during peak times, be prepared to do a bit of driving to look for an available site.
If you are planning on rec site camping, it is advised to buy a BackRoads Map Book, which is available at the Campbell River Visitor Centre. You can also consult Recreation Sites and Trails BC to find out what is available in the region and what amenities the different sites have to offer (i.e. boat launches, pit toilets, etc.). It is especially important when using rec sites to follow Leave No Trace Practices and to leave them as pristine as you found them so that these rustic campsites can be enjoyed for years to come and remain accessible to the public. Click here for more rec site info.
Backcountry Camping
Get Out There, Stay Out There
Strathcona Provincial Park is home to many backcountry campgrounds equipped with bear caches and outhouses. In the Forbidden Plateau area of the park, Lake Helen Mackenzie, Kwai Lake, Circlet Lake, and Croteau Lake (group campground) all have backcountry campsites.
Camping is only allowed in the designated sites in this core area of Strathcona. There are backcountry sites at Baby Bedwell Lake, Bedwell Lake, Arnica Lake (Phillips Ridge Trail), two spots along the Elk River Trail and on the Della Falls Trail. Pay your backcountry camping fees at the trailhead dropbox using cash or on the BC Parks Discover Camping website.
Campfires in the Strathcona Park backcountry are strictly prohibited. Strathcona Park also hosts 4 marine access campgrounds: Rainbow Island (4 sites), Titus (5 sites), Wolf River (4 sites) and Phillips Creek (4 sites).
