The best glamping pods near Nanaimo

The busiest season in Nanaimo and across Vancouver Island is late May through mid-October, particularly during the sunny summer months of July and August and on Canadian holiday long weekends. With a temperate rainforest climate, this coastal region receives very little snow, but you should prepare for rain and chilly temperatures between November and April. While spring can still be rainy, it’s also relatively quiet with flowers in bloom March through May.

• BC Ferries can take you to Nanaimo from Horseshoe Bay, just outside of Vancouver,. Pedestrians and cyclists can walk onto the ferries, but if you’re taking your car, make a reservation in advance, particularly between late May and mid-October.
• Many of the campgrounds close to Nanaimo are designed for RVs, with full-service sites catering to big rigs. Tent campers may prefer the provincial parks or more secluded Gulf Island camping areas.
• Cafes and pubs cluster along the narrow streets of Nanaimo’s historic downtown. Larger groceries and big-box stores line the highways sprawling out from the center.