Discover the best family-friendly beach campgrounds near Parksville, British Columbia

Canada
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British Columbia
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Parksville

98% (196 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Parksville

Dog-friendly getaways

3 top beach campgrounds near Parksville

99%

(52)

Alpaca Haven

3 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Parksville, BC

Recently moved to property to begin our new journey, this property holds an immense sense of peace and wellness, grazed by lamas and alpacas for past 2 decades &10acre farm property completely fenced in and void from predators, general public, and unwanted guests. Pockets of old cedars, ponds, forest trail and privacy. Feel at one with surrounding nature. Gated and fenced in access points for use coordinating with grazing animals. Learn more about this land: Our property is located in between Qualicum Beach and Parksville on Vancouver Island! We have a friendly, small alpaca herd and 6 blissfully friendly goats. You have the option to interact with them if you'd like! We are minutes from beautiful ocean beaches, river access, lush green trails, or the amenities of the Parksville/Qualicum Oceanside region. Parksville is one of Canada's most popular summer destinations for families. Everyone loves Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, with its beaches, tidal flats and pools, and wildlife. Quiet nights with moonlight, stars, crickets singing and owls hooting. Qualicum Airport and restaurants nearby. You'll have access to potable water from the well if needed. Pets are welcome at the discretion of property owners. Campers can expect a peaceful retreat closely located to some of Vancouver Islands' most sought off adventures, experiences, and memories.

theDoighouse Earthship

8 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Qualicum Bay, BC

Have you ever imagined a house built from tires, dirt, pop cans, and concrete? Welcome to theDoighouse Earthship, an eco-retreat nestled in the forest, mere minutes from Qualicum Bay waterfront. Our location is a haven for adventurers and peace-seekers alike, offering easy access to the natural wonders of Vancouver Island. Just an hour north of Nanaimo, our property serves as an ideal base for day trips to Hornby, Denman, or Lasqueti Islands. Or don’t leave the island and spend the afternoon eating delicious fresh-made doughnuts at the famous Coombs Old Country Market, home to the iconic goats on the roof, it’s only a 20-minute drive from our doorstep. Or 10 minutes to the waterfront and delicious ice cream at the Cone Zone. Stay local and discover forest trails, a children's playground, and a bike park right in our neighbourhood. Lighthouse Country area teems with opportunities for exploration, from pristine beaches including Sunny Beach and scenic Spider and Horne Lakes to an array of hiking paths, or if you climb, consider the Horne Lake Caves! Use your All Trails App to discover the Wilson Woodlot and Lost Runners Trails. Urban legend has it that it was the running shoes that were lost, not the people wearing them! Or stop here for a night en route to and from the mainland to Ucluelet or Tofino for world-class surfing, or if skiing is your calling, Mount Washington is just a 45-minute drive away. You can pitch your tent in our gardens, park your RV on the edge of the forest, or stay in our cozy tiny cabin. You can wander in the gardens and check out a young permaculture food forest filled with fruit and hazelnut trees, berries, and all that good stuff! Our Earthship, currently under construction, is all about exploring a low-impact lifestyle, off-grid living in an energy-efficient dwelling built from recycled materials. It is love for the planet, and people and sharing of abundance that makes this project come alive. Attend a group tour, or arrange for your own private tour where Tony will spend a couple of hours with you, sharing theDoighouse project, and answering any and all questions you may have. Join us on Wednesdays in July and August for a drop-in gentle, mindful, and restorative yoga session in our beautiful gardens. Led by a wonderful yogi, a true embodiment of grace. No prior experience, you are perfect just as you are. Come and unwind in nature. We also offer workshops and other onsite activities. For more info check out our website www.thedoighouse.com/events. On arrival, you will be greeted by Bentley (our standard poodle), Mabel (mouser extraordinaire) and the 'hens' who generously gift fresh eggs daily. Come visit, tour, and stay. Susan and Tony Doig

Tiny Secrets Farm & Retreat

13 sites · Lodging10 acres · Halfmoon Bay, BC

We are centrally located on the Sunshine Coast, only a 40-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay, on a spectacular 10-acre ocean-view property. We run a small, organic farm and host guests in a wide assortment of intriguing tiny homes. We have everything from a converted schoolie with a woodstove and an ocean view to gorgeous, furnished campsites in the woods. Check out our micro cabin, glamping tent, and new additions, like our luxury tent trailer, bell tent, and furnished campsites in the forest. Our property is an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Enjoy our recreation area with a large pond, our new small playground for young kids, and our small orchard with several small ponds. Explore our walking trails on our property, visit our chickens, or sit near our seasonal waterfall. There are many spots on the property to sit and chill. We've also been Airbnb hosts for over 10 years.

Family-friendly beach camping near Parksville guide

Overview

For a campers’ getaway to the beach on Vancouver Island’s eastern shore, Parksville, British Columbia, Canada, is popular with families. Broad, sandy Parksville Beach seems to stretch for miles, while Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park has hiking trails along the ocean and through the forest, plus a 275-site campground a short walk from the beach. Other Parksville camping options include riverside, lakeside, and oceanfront campgrounds and RV parks, most with full or partial hook-ups, washrooms, hot showers, and wi-fi. Parksville isn’t the most secluded place for campers, but all the services you need are nearby, and the beaches are undeniably beautiful.

Where to go

Qualicum Beach

Parksville’s “sister town,” this community of about 9,000 has art galleries, cafes, and independent shops. Yes, there’s a beach here, too.

Cathedral Grove

Some of Vancouver Island’s biggest trees grow toward the sky in MacMillan Provincial Park. Highway 4, 30 kilometres west of Parksville, runs directly through the park, and you can follow short hiking trails beneath the giant firs.

Denman Island

For an easy island escape, catch the 10-minute ferry to this expanse of dense forests, rocky beaches, and small local shops. The ferry to Denman Island departs from Buckley Bay, 30 minutes north of Parksville.

Tofino, Ucluelet, and the Pacific Coast

On Vancouver Island’s west coast, the towns of Tofino and Ucluelet feel completely different than Parksville—more secluded, quirkier, yet with top-notch restaurants and striking natural scenery. Take time to explore Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, with its beaches, hiking routes, and oceanside camping spots.

When to go

A short trip from Vancouver or Victoria, Parksville BC is a popular weekend getaway year-round. Both the town and the Parksville campgrounds and RV resorts are busiest during the warm summer months. Campground reservations are required at Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park from late June through early September. Parksville campgrounds are less crowded in spring or fall, with mild if sometimes drizzlier days. Expect rain in winter, but temperatures rarely drop below freezing, so you can hike or explore the beaches all year.

Know before you go

From Vancouver, take BC Ferries’ car ferry from Horseshoe Bay (north of Vancouver) to Nanaimo’s Departure Bay. It’s a 35-minute drive north from Nanaimo to Parksville. Reserve a spot on the ferry for your car or RV in summer, or on holidays or weekends year-round.
No vehicle? You don’t need reservations to walk onto the ferry, and you’ll save on your ferry ticket. Regular buses travel between Vancouver and Horseshoe Bay. While bus service between Nanaimo and Parksville is less convenient, you can manage car-free once you reach your Parksville campground.
You can find most anything that you’d need for a Parksville camping adventure in stores around town.