The best luxury RV campgrounds near Port Alberni, British Columbia

Set in a wild landscape of lakes and rivers, the historic lumber-and-sawmill town of Port Alberni has a natural playground spanning towering trees to deep caves. Whether mountain biking and hiking in the rainforest or paddling and swimming on two coasts, there’s a mix of adventure found at the head of the rich salmon fishing grounds of the Alberni inlet. Known as the Salmon Fishing Capital of BC, it’s home to year-round camping possibilities.

95% (480)

Top-rated campgrounds

Set in a wild landscape of lakes and rivers, the historic lumber-and-sawmill town of Port Alberni has a natural playground spanning towering trees to deep caves. Whether mountain biking and hiking in the rainforest or paddling and swimming on two coasts, there’s a mix of adventure found at the head of the rich salmon fishing grounds of the Alberni inlet. Known as the Salmon Fishing Capital of BC, it’s home to year-round camping possibilities.

95% (480)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. theDoighouse Earthship

99%

(267)

22km from Port Alberni · 8 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Qualicum Bay, BC

Welcome to theDoighouse Earthship, an eco-retreat nestled in the forest, 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. An hour north of Nanaimo, our property is an ideal base for day trips to Hornby, Denman, and Lasqueti Islands. Many of our guests stop here for a night or two on their way 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. Spend time discovering forest trails, a children's playground, and a bike park here in our neighbourhood. Lighthouse Country area teems with opportunities for exploration, from pristine beaches, including Sunny Beach and scenic Spider and Horne Lakes. Or if you climb, consider the Horne Lake Caves! If you're into hiking, use your All Trails App to discover the Lighthouse Country Trail (at our doorstep), including the Wilson Woodlot and Lost Runners Trails. Urban legend has it that the running shoes were lost, not the people wearing them! You can pitch your tent in our gardens, park your RV on the forest's edge, or stay in our cozy tiny cabins. Wander our gardens and check out a young permaculture food forest filled with fruit and hazelnut trees, berries, and good stuff! Have you ever imagined a house built from tires, dirt, pop cans and glass bottles? 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. Love for the planet and people and sharing of abundance make this project come alive, and why we don’t increase our rates for holidays and long weekends. Book a private Earthship tour where Tony will spend a couple of hours with you, sharing theDoighouse project and answering any and all questions you may have. On arrival, you will be greeted by Bentley (our standard poodle), Mabel (mouser extraordinaire) Come visit, tour, and stay. Susan and Tony Doig

2. Valinore Glamping

97%

(30)

32km from Port Alberni · 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. Tiny Secrets Farm & Retreat

92%

(299)

74km from Port Alberni · 18 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Halfmoon Bay, BC

Tiny Secrets Farm & Retreat is an Award-winning Glamping Nature Retreat. 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 intriguing tiny homes and glamping tents. We have everything from a converted schoolie with a woodstove and an ocean view, furnished RV's with large decks, to gorgeous, furnished campsites in the woods. Check out our micro cabins, RV's, and assortment of glamping tents. Our property is a nature oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Just 20 minutes north of Sechelt, we're close to beaches and lakes. Enjoy our recreation area with a large pond (much smaller in the summertime), our small playground for young kids, and our small orchard with several small ponds. Explore our walking trails, 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 13 years. If you come during campfire season, please bring your firewood. You're also welcome to scavenge for dead dry wood on the property, but we no longer have firewood for purchase. Typically, gas stations and some grocery stores have some for sale.

4. BLACK POINT ESCAPE

67km from Port Alberni · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Powell River, BC

Camp or stay at our place! Five minute walk to a private beach. Steps away from a local convenience store. On the route to the ferry. Private lot. Hammocks, fire pit, yard games. Hiking trails in the back yard and a beach a short walk away. Close to a number of local farmstands . Flat rv space with electricity hookup. Indoor kitchen and bathroom facility for use. Outdoor camp spots for tents available Fire pit Yard games Open sky view Whale watching

5. Garden Bay Hideaway Glamping & RV

100%

(4)

72km from Port Alberni · 4 sites · RVs, Lodging · Garden Bay, BC

Just a 40-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay, North Vancouver brings you to the Sechelt Peninsula, and just an hour's travel North up the coast is the Pender Harbour district. With beautiful scenery, hiking, kayaking, fishing, lakes and beaches, it's no wonder it's referred to as the Venice of the North. Choose your glamping experience: bunkie cabins, 38' 2 bedroom park model trailer, 14 x 24 offered safari tent, or bring your RV and set up at one of our serviced RV sites.

6. Mountainaire Campground and RV Park

83%

(27)

67km from Port Alberni · 86 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Nanaimo, BC

Nestled on a beautiful 40-acre park, our Campground and RV Park provides a relaxed, natural atmosphere perfect for family fun. Conveniently located in the heart of Vancouver Island, just beside the Nanaimo airport (a 5-minute drive) and approximately 20 minutes by car from both ferry terminals connecting to Vancouver. Featuring 30 and 50 amp fully or partial-serviced sites, ample green spaces, and cozy on-site RV Glamping units and cabins tucked away in the woods, Mountainaire is your ideal starting point or departure spot for a Vancouver Island vacation. Enjoy our newly renovated bathrooms, warm showers, and on-site laundromat, along with the added convenience of an onsite store. Take a short hike through the rainforest to the breathtaking Crystal Bowl for activities like river swimming, cliff diving, kayaking, or even crayfish catching with your little ones. Young campers can bike down ramps, play in the playground, and witness the fascinating transformation of tadpoles into western toads (a species at risk). Don’t miss our renowned special events and unwind with a Friday night movie accompanied by free popcorn. PARK AMENITIES: Lots of mature trees, green space and ramps. Bring your bikes. Outdoor playground with loads of fun Convenience store and Arcade Washroom and showers Laundry room Rainforest trail to the Crystal Bowl of Nanaimo River Pond Horseshoe pits Beach volleyball court Outdoor stage Secure property, gate locked at 10:00pm

7. Tranquility by the Lake

94%

(9)

11km from Port Alberni · 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!

Camper favorites near Port Alberni

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

BLACK POINT ESCAPE

67km from Port Alberni · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Powell River, BC

Camp or stay at our place! Five minute walk to a private beach. Steps away from a local convenience store. On the route to the ferry. Private lot. Hammocks, fire pit, yard games. Hiking trails in the back yard and a beach a short walk away. Close to a number of local farmstands . Flat rv space with electricity hookup. Indoor kitchen and bathroom facility for use. Outdoor camp spots for tents available Fire pit Yard games Open sky view Whale watching

Garden Bay Hideaway Glamping & RV

100%

(4)

72km from Port Alberni · 4 sites · RVs, Lodging · Garden Bay, BC

Just a 40-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay, North Vancouver brings you to the Sechelt Peninsula, and just an hour's travel North up the coast is the Pender Harbour district. With beautiful scenery, hiking, kayaking, fishing, lakes and beaches, it's no wonder it's referred to as the Venice of the North. Choose your glamping experience: bunkie cabins, 38' 2 bedroom park model trailer, 14 x 24 offered safari tent, or bring your RV and set up at one of our serviced RV sites.

Mountainaire Campground and RV Park

83%

(27)

67km from Port Alberni · 86 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Nanaimo, BC

Nestled on a beautiful 40-acre park, our Campground and RV Park provides a relaxed, natural atmosphere perfect for family fun. Conveniently located in the heart of Vancouver Island, just beside the Nanaimo airport (a 5-minute drive) and approximately 20 minutes by car from both ferry terminals connecting to Vancouver. Featuring 30 and 50 amp fully or partial-serviced sites, ample green spaces, and cozy on-site RV Glamping units and cabins tucked away in the woods, Mountainaire is your ideal starting point or departure spot for a Vancouver Island vacation. Enjoy our newly renovated bathrooms, warm showers, and on-site laundromat, along with the added convenience of an onsite store. Take a short hike through the rainforest to the breathtaking Crystal Bowl for activities like river swimming, cliff diving, kayaking, or even crayfish catching with your little ones. Young campers can bike down ramps, play in the playground, and witness the fascinating transformation of tadpoles into western toads (a species at risk). Don’t miss our renowned special events and unwind with a Friday night movie accompanied by free popcorn. PARK AMENITIES: Lots of mature trees, green space and ramps. Bring your bikes. Outdoor playground with loads of fun Convenience store and Arcade Washroom and showers Laundry room Rainforest trail to the Crystal Bowl of Nanaimo River Pond Horseshoe pits Beach volleyball court Outdoor stage Secure property, gate locked at 10:00pm

Tranquility by the Lake

94%

(9)

11km from Port Alberni · 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!

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.

B

Ben

August 2025

38 ft travel trailer

2 nights at Garden Bay Hideaway Glamping & RV

Garden Bay is an absolutely beautiful place. Michelle was an excellent host and the location of the camp is just right.

Gravel driveway with deck suitable for pitching tent. Shown here with a small RV.

C

Charlotte

August 2025

15 ft travel trailer

With pets

3 nights at Tiny Secrets Farm & Retreat

Karen and Kito put a lot of love into their little slice of paradise and you can really feel it. There are so many interesting books and crannies to explore.

J

Jillian

August 2025

18 ft pop-up camper

Weekend Trip to Mountainaire Campground and RV Park

We had a wonderful experience at this campground! The location was easy to find, and check-in was a breeze. Our hosts were warm, welcoming, and went out of their way to make us feel at home. The grounds were peaceful and relaxing, with a family- and pet-friendly atmosphere that made our stay even more enjoyable. The facilities were spotless and well-maintained, and the tent camping areas were spacious and comfortable. We were especially impressed by the full-service sites—they exceeded expectations! The concession was also remarkably well-stocked, making it easy to grab anything we needed without leaving the campground. All in all, this campground struck the perfect balance of comfort, convenience, and tranquility. We’re already looking forward to returning for a longer stay!

K

Kirsten

August 2025

26 ft travel trailer

14 nights at Garden Bay Hideaway Glamping & RV

We absolutely loved the peace and quiet at this place. It's walking distance to Provincial Park which was just lovely being able to take our puppers on evening strolls to watch the sunset on the water. The hosts are lovely people! And have done such an amazing job developing the property. It's a bit steep, we were happy to have 4WD.

J

Jacek

August 2025

21 ft Class B

4 nights at Tiny Secrets Farm & Retreat

We found the RV site as described. It suited us perfectly for the 4 nights we were there. Dan the property care taker was extremely helpful, pleasant and responsive. The owner Kito was also very helpful in helping to solve our power outage issue. The other campers were quiet. The camp toilet and shower were clean and eco friendly. The only observation we have is that some of the site description was overstated and could lead to disappointment. We would happily come back to the site we used with our converted van in future.

K

Kait

August 2025

22 ft campervan

With kids

2 nights at Tiny Secrets Farm & Retreat

What a unique little spot! We stayed in the RV site with a deck and loved our little home tucked away but just as much enjoyed the communal aspect of walking the grounds, meeting the animals, picking blueberries/blackberries and saying hi to fellow campers and the groundskeeper. And such great proximity to secret cove where we took a boat ride to buccaneer bay and Halfmoon bay where we enjoyed ice cream and beer at the general store. Would love to know what the place feels like when the campfires are going at night :) thanks to the owners! Recommend for families (we have a 4 and 2 year old) who love being outdoors with little fairy touches.

R

Rhonda

August 2025

24 ft Class C

2 nights at Mountainaire Campground and RV Park

Good location with easy access to the ferry. Site was very nice and nights were quiet. Nice trail down to the river with a great swimming hole

G

Gordon

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Tiny Secrets Farm & Retreat

This site is rustic but there are hot showers and all kinds of tent and camper options.

K

Kate

August 2025

35 ft travel trailer

4 nights at Mountainaire Campground and RV Park

We camped at the Mountainaire Campground as part of our trip to Nanaimo for the Nanaimo Blues Festival. The 15 minute drive into downtown was easy. The campground had all the hookups and services we needed. Its a big campground with lots of campers on the weekend. What a great place for families to get together as it includes a 15 minute walk to the river and a beautiful calm swimming hole.

S

Stephanie

August 2025

16 ft campervan

With pets

Weekend Trip to theDoighouse Earthship

Great location, friendly and helpful hosts. 10/10 would recommend. We will be back!

M

Maggie

August 2025

17 ft campervan

2 nights at Tiny Secrets Farm & Retreat

Absolutely lovely stay! Such a cute little spot. Loved the site with the deck. Nice little place to walk around, sweet dog, and kind people! Would stay again

Paul

August 2025

24 ft travel trailer

With pets

3 nights at Mountainaire Campground and RV Park

I was surprised to see a full campground on Hipcamp, but glad to discover it. Very friendly staff made it a pleasant experience. Very fresh air, tall trees, and the super clear water of the nearby Nanaimo River were great. From the campsite, it is a 15 minute walk to the river (~ 1.5km). There is a short cut down / up a very steep hill for the adventurous. The campground is older but well maintained. Cell service is limited (Telus) but strong enough for a call; campground wifi was surprisingly good (wouldn’t reply on it for a video call but ok for email and browsing).

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.

C

Conor

August 2025

16 ft car

With pets

1 night at theDoighouse Earthship

Loved the site, very friendly host. Will be back!

J

JENN

July 2025

22 ft travel trailer

With pets

4 nights at Mountainaire Campground and RV Park

We loved staying at Mountainaire! Close to park and washrooms. The gentleman at the front office was exceptionally kind and always friendly.

A

Alana

July 2025

14 ft travel trailer

2 nights at theDoighouse Earthship

Friendly hosts, beautiful & interesting property.

C

Caty

July 2025

17 ft campervan

Weekend Trip to theDoighouse Earthship

We loved our stay at the Doighouse Earthship. The location is great, right by the beach and close by to so many trails. What a beautiful spot! It really felt like something special. We didn’t have time to tour the earthship but would love to next time we are over that way. We didn’t meet Susan but a lovely guy called Jeremy greeted us when we arrived and showed us around. The outhouse was very clean.

G

Gary

July 2025

19 ft campervan

Weekend Trip to Mountainaire Campground and RV Park

We reserved two nights and had to move from the first night to the second. This was not a huge issue. We connected up to electrical power and had water available as well but no sewer at our two sites. They do have a sani dump station but we didn't have time this morning to make use of it because of an early ferry reservation. It is a very pleasant park with tons of children having the time of their lives. It brought back pleasant memories of my childhood camping years. You don't have privacy as the sites are very closely located. But quiet hours were honoured. It has a short path to a great spot on the Nanaimo River (Creek) which seemed great for the children. Washrooms were clean and oudor free. Campers and staff were pleasant. It seems like this is the family campground you keep coming back to. They have a little store on site and are 16 kms to the Duke Point ferry to Tsawwassen. It is about a 45 minute drive to Qualicum Beach and 30ish to Parksville and even closer to Nanaimo. Tons of places for vacation days ice creams. I recommend this campground without reservation. But you need to love children and the sounds of laughter. Gary

J

Joanna

July 2025

21 ft pop-up camper

With pets

3 nights at Tranquility by the Lake

Very nice and cozy place, very close to lake with a private dock. Amazing friendly owners, we had a very good time!

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best luxury RV camping near Port Alberni guide

When to go

Vancouver Island’s mild climate means outdoor adventures like caving can take place year-round, but summer is best (and most crowded) for camping and taking full advantage of the lakes and rivers for water sports. Late summer and early fall is the annual salmon run, during which you can spot the scarlet-hued fish swimming upstream to spawn.

Know before you go

Most provincial parks take site reservations in advance (recommended throughout the high season of summer) and give an early priority booking window to BC residents.
Getting to Vancouver Island by car from the mainland requires ferry travel, which becomes extremely busy on weekends and holidays, so reserve a spot in advance to avoid long wait times.
Central Vancouver Island is rugged, so being mindful and respectful of wildlife is essential, including using bear bags while camping.