The best private sites RV campgrounds near Nanaimo, British Columbia

On Vancouver Island’s east coast, Nanaimo is a hub for adventures across the island. Based in this waterfront city set 113 kilometres from British Columbia’s capital of Victoria, you can check out wineries, beaches, and old-growth forests. It’s also the most convenient ferry port for continuing west to Tofino and the Pacific Coast. Surrounding Nanaimo are campgrounds by the ocean or along inland lakes, including Living Forest Oceanside Campground & RV Park, Westwood Lake Campgrounds, RV Resort on the Lake, Brannen Lake RV Park & Campsite, and Jinglepot RV Park & Campgrounds. You can camp at several islands or provincial parks nearby, too.

A short 15-minute ferry ride from downtown Nanaimo, this island is the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation and has a small tent camping area with washrooms and showers. You can lounge on one of the pebbly beaches or wander 23 kilometres of walking trails.

A 30- to 40-minute drive north of Nanaimo, the coastal communities of Parksville and Qualicum Beach are popular with campers. A number of RV resorts and private campgrounds welcome families, or you can camp in several provincial parks. A favorite is Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, where the tenting spots and RV sites are near a sandy beach.

South of Nanaimo and between the towns of Duncan and Cobble Hill, Vancouver Island’s wine country offers family-run wineries, cider makers, and distillers. You’ll find several campgrounds in this area, with more camping options to the west along Cowichan Lake.

Most of the campgrounds near British Columbia’s waterfront capital are north or west of the city. The forested Malahat Mountain Meadows RV Park is near the summit of Malahat Drive with views over the Gulf Islands. Hike among massive firs and western red cedars in Goldstream Provincial Park, or camp by the water at Island View Regional Park on the Saanich Peninsula.

99% (57)

Top-rated campgrounds

On Vancouver Island’s east coast, Nanaimo is a hub for adventures across the island. Based in this waterfront city set 113 kilometres from British Columbia’s capital of Victoria, you can check out wineries, beaches, and old-growth forests. It’s also the most convenient ferry port for continuing west to Tofino and the Pacific Coast. Surrounding Nanaimo are campgrounds by the ocean or along inland lakes, including Living Forest Oceanside Campground & RV Park, Westwood Lake Campgrounds, RV Resort on the Lake, Brannen Lake RV Park & Campsite, and Jinglepot RV Park & Campgrounds. You can camp at several islands or provincial parks nearby, too.

A short 15-minute ferry ride from downtown Nanaimo, this island is the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation and has a small tent camping area with washrooms and showers. You can lounge on one of the pebbly beaches or wander 23 kilometres of walking trails.

A 30- to 40-minute drive north of Nanaimo, the coastal communities of Parksville and Qualicum Beach are popular with campers. A number of RV resorts and private campgrounds welcome families, or you can camp in several provincial parks. A favorite is Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, where the tenting spots and RV sites are near a sandy beach.

South of Nanaimo and between the towns of Duncan and Cobble Hill, Vancouver Island’s wine country offers family-run wineries, cider makers, and distillers. You’ll find several campgrounds in this area, with more camping options to the west along Cowichan Lake.

Most of the campgrounds near British Columbia’s waterfront capital are north or west of the city. The forested Malahat Mountain Meadows RV Park is near the summit of Malahat Drive with views over the Gulf Islands. Hike among massive firs and western red cedars in Goldstream Provincial Park, or camp by the water at Island View Regional Park on the Saanich Peninsula.

99% (57)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Rejeanne's Forest on Salt Spring

98%

(114)

46km from Nanaimo · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · BC

Gorgeous forested 5 acre property at the top of Eagle Ridge with a rugged walking trail throughout our land. See ocean glimpses from our trail, walk to Long Harbour in 20 minutes, drive to Ganges in 4 minutes, or cycle to town in 10 minutes. Enjoy all Salt Spring has to offer, by car, by bike or by bus. Come stay with us!

2. Valinore Glamping

97%

(30)

35km from Nanaimo · 6 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Parksville, BC

Valinore is a beautifully forested 4 acre property. Tucked away and private, but close enough to adventure such as beaches, rivers, lakes as well as markets, restaurants and much more. Our yurts are comfortable and cozy. The site is rustic but contains everything you need for a relaxing and refreshing stay. The location is a few kilometres off of Alberni Hwy and a short drive away from beaches, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, Goats on the Roof, and many hiking and biking trails. The site is also within biking distance to some trails. The Errington Farmers market is a walk or bike ride away. And only a short car ride away are several other nearby markets including Goats on the Roof and the Qualicum Beach Farmers Market.

3. Maple Heart Ranch - Homestead

89%

(119)

69km from Nanaimo · 5 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Shawnigan Lake, BC

Are you looking for a secluded camping experience with a lot of privacy? Bring your tent and stay at one of our wilderness campsites. Our basic Campsites have picnic tables, fire pits and an outhouse close by. And if you want, you can explore the farm and all our animals or one of the many hiking trails close by. Firewood is available for a charge.Our property is located in Shawnigan Lake, BC on Vancouver Island. The area is renowned for its rugged beauty and its 7-kilometre long lake that provides the opportunity for fishing, swimming and sunbathing in the summer.Nearby is the recently restored Kinsol Trestle named for the short-lived “King Solomon Mine”. Restored in 2011, it is an engineering feat, even by today’s standards and remains one of the loftiest wooden railway trestles in the world.We look forward to hosting you!

4. Tranquility by the Lake

94%

(9)

75km from Nanaimo · 2 sites · RVs, Lodging · Port Alberni, BC

Surrounded by tall trees on Vancouver Island this property is scenic, quiet and near to endless outdoor adventures. Located on 1 acre, fully fenced. Its a 200 metre walk to a community dock and boat launch (room to park your toys in our driveway). 500 metres from endless forest trails for hiking and biking. 10 minutes to/from the highway to Tofino (1hr30)/Parksville (1hr). A few minutes’ walk to warm and welcoming Sproat Lake. Enjoy your own outdoor space among the trees. Free Blackberries!

5. Camping Historic Kinsol Trestle

99%

(62)

54km from Nanaimo · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · Duncan, BC

Learn more about this land:Enjoy camping on our quiet and peaceful campsite located in Cowichan Valley BC on Vancouver Island! We welcome campers with tents or camper vans (maximum vehicle length= 25ft). Much of the property is treed with second-growth cedar, hemlock and some fir trees. Our property is designed for you to unwind and relax. We have an outhouse available for campers to use as well as a hand pump for water. Nature lovers will find plenty to explore; Kinsol Trestle is close to our property. Hikers will love the proximity to the Mount Tzouhalem Kaspa Trailhead, and mountain bikers will find this a great location for their sport. For those looking for a more relaxing vacation, unwind in the surrounding gardens and take in the beautiful views. We are 15 minutes to the closest town where you can stock up on all essentials! Great for families looking to get outside and enjoy nature at its finest. We look forward to hosting you!

6. Flower Beds Farm

94%

(8)

55km from Nanaimo · 8 sites · Tents, RVs · Qualicum Beach, BC

Come enjoy a stay at our funky little farm near Qualicum Beach, BC. Enjoy full hook-ups and a durable blue chip gravel-capped pad with access to flushing toilets, hot showers, wifi and paid laundry. **NEW FOR 2024** Camping not your style? Stay out of the elements in our beautifully appointed tiny home or our large 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom vacation suite. Immerse yourself in a beautiful natural surrounding on our seasonal flower farm. Our sweet ducks and chickens provide eggs for purchase. Close highway access and minutes from Spider Lake Horne Lakes make day trips a breeze. Book now for a peaceful or adventurous vacation.

Stories from the community

S

Sandeep

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Valinore Glamping

Great location; I loved it. Will go again. The communication from the host was clear and helpful.

S

Sherri

September 2025

17 ft campervan

1 night at Rejeanne's Forest on Salt Spring

Great experience in Salt Spring Island. Perfect spot to park the van for the night. Worked perfect with our early ferry departure from Long Harbour.

An overview of the established site, showing the amount of space.

M

Melissa

September 2025

14 ft campervan

Weekend Trip to Camping Historic Kinsol Trestle

We stayed for the weekend in site 1. It was the furthest from the house , so nice and private and quiet. We did a wine tour on our e bikes and went swimming at the River . It was a lovely stay, and the hosts were great and even left fresh tomatoes . I would definitely recommend !

R

Robyn

September 2025

20 ft campervan

With pets

1 night at Rejeanne's Forest on Salt Spring

Beautiful little clearing in the woods. Beside the road, but very minimal traffic. Outhouse is clean, fresh and well-maintained. I've stayed multiple times this summer and really enjoyed the location.

Kane

September 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Flower Beds Farm

Nice campsite with bathrooms and showers nearby! There's even water/sewage/power hookups if you have an RV.

The main barn, you'd see when you drive in

J

Jan

August 2025

Tent

2 nights at Maple Heart Ranch - Homestead

Exactly communication. A nice beautiful farm in the woods with a private camp site

P

Project

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Maple Heart Ranch - Homestead

It’s a nice peaceful spot with privacy and nature.

M

Marcia

August 2025

25 ft campervan

Weekend Trip to Camping Historic Kinsol Trestle

Very quiet and tranquil setting. Loud of space and privacy.

Ieva

August 2025

16 ft car

Weekend Trip to Camping Historic Kinsol Trestle

Such a serene, beautiful and quite camp spot! The hosts were very welcoming and lovely and I enjoyed my stay. Thank you so much!

S

Serena

August 2025

Tent

2 nights at Maple Heart Ranch - Homestead

Our campsite was private and nestled in nature. We had so much fun interacting with the horses, they were very friendly and sweet. The surrounding property was spacious, beautiful, and beaming with wildlife.

A

Annie

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Camping Historic Kinsol Trestle

The space was lovely and very peaceful! Would definitely return. The hosts were kind (and helped us jumpstart our car when we left!), the garden was beautiful, the turkeys were cute, and all-in-all we had a great weekend.

R

Rhonda

August 2025

25 ft campervan

5 nights at Camping Historic Kinsol Trestle

Beautiful and peaceful. Well water is crystal clear. Would stay again.

Hahn

August 2025

Tent

With kids

1 night at Maple Heart Ranch - Homestead

A very comfortable camping environment, with horses, sheep, and other animals keeping you company — a great choice. The pit toilet was clean and odor-free, definitely worth a thumbs-up. Suggestion: It would be even better if the toilet door could close properly and if there were running water

K

Kelsey

August 2025

24 ft campervan

Weekend Trip to Camping Historic Kinsol Trestle

Had a great time at this spot! The host, Loretta, was friendly and showed us the lay of the land upon arrival. The outhouse was clean and it was a nice perk having access to well water and a sink. The site is close to the Kinsol Trestle (walk or bike) and Cowichan Bay to explore (by vehicle). Nice and quiet at night. Would stay again!

Beautiful view of scenic wetland from left right side of unit (if backed in)

h

hannah

August 2025

19 ft campervan

Weekend Trip to Tranquility by the Lake

Easy, efficient and great communication with Jenn. We loved how welcoming she is with her space and being able to go for a quick walk down to the private dock at the lake. Perfect for a stop-by if you have a self sufficient van or camper.

M

Mostafa

July 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Maple Heart Ranch - Homestead

We were 3 families stayed there. Conny was so friendly. Later, we all moved to Site A. It was so enjoyable 😍😍😍😍

R

Rachel

July 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Maple Heart Ranch - Homestead

Lovely ranch, very secluded. Campsites are very private. Remember to bring your own water, and bring your own sanitizer. A note for bikers: at the time of writing this, the road from the CVT is quite bumpy. 2 in our group got flats. 4km off the trail, Google maps is misleading for the address listed.

Mary

July 2025

Tent

3 nights at Camping Historic Kinsol Trestle

The place is very simple but nice. There’s an outhouse & a water source up by the main house. We slept there but didn’t spend a whole lot of time there. There was a burn ban so we could not make a campfire. The older couple who live on the property were very welcoming & warm. The address needs a sign with the number at the start of the driveway because it was very difficult to find. I was glad that I had asked Giovanni prior for the exact address, so we could figure out which driveway it was by looking at the other house numbers. GPS alone cannot get you there.

J

Jennifer

July 2025

19 ft campervan

2 nights at Rejeanne's Forest on Salt Spring

Sweet little shaded spot in the woods. A few minutes from town.

Joanna

July 2025

15 ft campervan

1 night at Rejeanne's Forest on Salt Spring

Rejeanne's was lovely. Secluded and quiet, which was exactly what we wanted. Rejeanne was welcoming and friendly.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best private sites RV camping near Nanaimo guide

When to go

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.

Know before you go

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.