Home Day Trip Destinations Camping In and Around Vancouver and the Lower Mainland

Camping In and Around Vancouver and the Lower Mainland

July 12, 2020

Want to vacation close to Vancouver this year? Why not go camping in an RV and explore the region’s best parks while having fun and keeping safe!

Who wants a vacation and to spend the summer making positive memories with friends and family? What better way for Vancouverites to do that than right here in British Columbia! The Lower Mainland has dozens of great places to camp and this article is going to tell you about them!

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Click any of the above to jump to a specific subject, or continue reading to learn all about the Lower Mainland’s top camping destinations and opportunities.

Vancouver Staycation Campgrounds

The Lower Mainland is home to some of the province’s most beautiful parks, and some of the world’s most spectacular scenery. A great way to experience that scenery is at one of the amazing campgrounds in the region. Dozens of world-class destinations are within just a few hours’ drive!

By going camping this summer you can spend your holidays outdoors, in nature, where it’s safe and the air is clean. By staying in an RV, you also have your own space. And by vacationing close to home, you’re supporting local businesses and the local economy.

More than ever, BC’s tourism industry is relying on people staycationing close to home! So do your part to help, and have a world-class holiday in nature while you’re at it!

Camping in the Lower Mainland

Vancouver and its surrounding areas are famous for their parks and nature. With the warm weather finally here, now is a great time to explore some of the Lower Mainland’s best camping venues. Whether folks are tenting or RV’ing, there’s a place for everyone!

Folks wanting to get out and enjoy the great outdoors can choose to camp at either provincial campgrounds or private campgrounds in BC. And while based in one place, you can explore all of what’s close by or the greater surrounding region.

Joffre Lakes Provincial Park — Joffre Lakes near Whistler

Provincial, Private and Backcountry Campsites

In BC there are both provincial campgrounds and private ones, as well as backcountry sites. There are also national parks, although none in the Lower Mainland itself.

Provincial campsites are sites that are owned by the Government of British Columbia. They are usually quite exceptional and can get very busy, especially during the summer months. Provincial park campsites are also usually more expensive. Due to their popularity, it’s recommended to reserve your spot several months in advance.

Most provincial campgrounds close to Vancouver have flush toilets and hot showers. Some, though, are more rustic, as are many in BC’s interior.

Private campgrounds are owned by individuals or companies. They generally have different rules from provincial sites, and rules may vary, so we recommend checking official websites for exact details. Most private campgrounds are great. Some, though, are exceptional and others are just okay.

BC’s wilderness also offers some excellent opportunities for both backcountry and frontcountry camping. For folks wanting a bit more adventure, backcountry camping is a great option. BC Parks requires people to have a backcountry camping permit as well as to practice “leave no trace” camping.

Below is a list of some of our favourite locations for camping in and around the Lower Mainland.

Note: The only two provincial parks in the following list that have electrical hookups, to our knowledge, are Alice Lake and Porteau Cove. BC Parks do not offer water hookups. All the places we list, however, are suitable for both tenting and recreational vehicles (although just smaller RVs at Stawamus Chief). Paradise Valley Campground, the one private campground in our list, has both power and water hookups available.

Alice Lake (in the Sea to Sky Region)

Alice Lake Provincial Park can be found just north of Squamish which is about an hour’s drive north of Vancouver. The place has 96 vehicle-accessible campsites of varying sizes plus 12 walk-in sites that are close to the parking lot. Alice Lake also has RV electrical hookups and the campground is wheelchair-accessible.

Facilities at Alice Lake include day-use picnic areas, showers, pit and flush toilets, a sani-station and a playground. We’ve been here several times and love it! It’s highly recommended!

To learn more, see our article about Alice Lake.

CAMPING & RV TRIVIA

Did you know that you can rent motorhomes, truck campers and van conversions? That’s right, you don’t have to necessarily own one, or know someone you can borrow one from, to enjoy a great vacation. There are a number of places you can rent them from. Fraserway RV, for example, is Canada’s largest sales and rental RV company. We’ve camped in one of its vehicles and loved it!

Fraserway RV has been operating for over 50 years. It’s a family-owned business with locations across Canada. In the Lower Mainland Fraserway RV operates a rental division in Delta and Abbotsford. The company also has a massive dealership in Abbotsford just off Highway #1 at Mt. Lehman. Check out fraserway.com to learn more about the company and its offers.

Chilliwack Lake (in the Fraser Valley)

The campground at Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park features 146 sites plus options for backcountry camping at Lindeman, Greendrop, Flora and Radium Lakes. Facilities at Chilliwack Lake itself include a small boat launch, sandy beach, pit toilets and a sani-station. In the frontcountry, campfires are permitted in designated fire rings.

We haven’t camped here ourselves, but have checked out the area and found it beautiful! The lake is apparently colder than Cultus Lake, which is about 45 minutes away, and its facilities slightly more basic.

The park has pit toilets, including wheelchair-accessible ones, but no flush toilets. There is, however, a sani-station for RVs in the summer. There are also no showers, hot or cold, but there are taps with drinking water.

Chilliwack Lake Park has a nice sandy beach with a boat launch, but no formal picnic area with picnic tables for day use. The park has 146 campsites which, to the best of our knowledge, costs about $30 per night for six or more people. That’s around $5 per person each night.

For more details see our article about Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park.

Cultus Lake (in the Fraser Valley)

Located just a short distance south of Chilliwack, Cultus Lake is one of the most popular provincial parks in the Lower Mainland.

There are four campgrounds in the park for folks to reserve sites at: Clear Creek with about 84 sites, Delta Grove with 58 sites, Entrance Bay with 52 sites, and Maple Bay with 106 sites. There are some other options for group camping too. Maple Bay also has 25 cabins for rent.

All sites in this provincial park are vehicle-accessible, while some (but not all) are also wheelchair-accessible. Campfires are permitted in campground areas only.

Facilities in the park include picnic areas, both pit and flush toilets, hot showers and a sani-station. There are also two boat launches, and plenty of opportunities for water sports. The campgrounds are also close to Cultus Lake Waterslides and the Cultus Lake Adventure Park, which make it a great destination for families.

We’ve camped at this park a number of times and have loved both our campsites and the area. All four of the provincial campgrounds are exceptional. Some are right by the water, and others are on the other side of the main road, but still not far from the lake. A couple of the campgrounds are on a bit of a hill (and so not wheelchair-friendly), and the others are on more level ground.

To learn more, see our article about Cultus Lake.

Tenting at Cultus Lake — Camping at Delta Grove in Cultus Lake

Golden Ears (near Maple Ridge)

Golden Ears is the closest provincial park with camping facilities to Vancouver. Located just north of Maple Ridge, Golden Ears Park has three separate vehicle-accessible campgrounds. Gold Creek has 148 sites, Alouette Lake has 206 sites and the North Beach campground has 55 sites (not including backcountry camping).

Within the park there are opportunities for water sports, with a large paved boat launch located at Alouette Lake. Facilities at the campsites include day-use picnic areas, showers (at Alouette and Gold Creek), pit and flush toilets, and a sani-station. Campfires are permitted in the designated metal rings.

To learn more see our articles about Alouette Lake and Golden Ears Provincial Park.

Kilby Park (in the Fraser Valley)

Kilby Park is a provincial park that’s located about a 20-minute drive from Harrison Hot Springs. The campground there has about 36 campsites and it’s managed by the Kilby Historic Site which is an interesting tourist attraction and former farm just down the road.

The park is small, at only around 7.5 acres in size, but it’s very pretty. Located right on the Harrison River, it has a large sandy beach and a boat launch. The campground has pit toilets and potable water (except in the winter), but no showers. It’s also open year-round.

To learn more see our article about Kilby Provincial Park.

Nairn Falls (Pemberton/Whistler)

Nairn Falls is a small but beautiful campground in Pemberton. The provincial park features 94 vehicle-accessible sites. It is also equipped with a small picnic area and pit toilets. Campfires are allowed in designated fire rings.

We’ve stayed at Nairn Falls twice and thoroughly enjoyed it both times. The campground is excellent and the location makes a great base for exploring the Whistler region as well as nearby attractions like Joffre Lakes (which is a stunning provincial park about 33 kilometres to the east).

To learn more about the campground see our article about Nairn Falls Provincial Park.

RV Camping at Nairn Falls — Nairn Falls Campsite

Paradise Valley (in the Sea to Sky Region)

Paradise Valley is a privately-owned family-friendly campground located just outside Squamish at 3520 Paradise Valley Road. The campground doesn’t allow amplified music so it’s perfect for relaxing and enjoying the great outdoors (unless you happen to be someone who likes playing loud music while camping).

At Paradise Valley there are both RV and tenting sites. The RV sites have hookups for power, drinking water and septic. The place also has bathrooms and coin-operated showers.

See our article about Paradise Valley for more details.

CAMPING, RVs AND VISITING FAMILY

Haven’t seen friends or relatives who live out of town for a while? Why not meet them halfway at a park and spend a few days together in the outdoors?

Or, do the grandparents or other relatives have a big enough driveway or lawn that you can park your RV on? If you want to visit, why not visit loved ones while taking your own accommodations with you?

Porteau Cove (in the Sea to Sky Region)

Porteau Cove is a popular campground about 25 kilometres north of West Vancouver’s Horseshoe Bay and 21 kilometres south of Squamish. It’s about a 10-minute drive south of Britannia Beach (where the Britannia Mine Museum is located). The park is very popular for diving and features two paved boat launches.

The campground at Porteau Cove has cabins/huts for rent as well as places for RV electrical hookup. Facilities here include picnic areas, a sani-station, pit and flush toilets, showers, and bathrooms with electricity. There are 44 vehicle-accessible sites plus 16 walk-in sites.

Porteau Cove is arguably one of the Lower Mainland’s most beautiful campgrounds. It’s beside the ocean and some of its campsites are right on the water. The views of Howe Sound are stunning. The beach, though, is rocky. If it was sandy, the place would be almost perfect!

On the downside, the park is right by the highway and, when we stayed there years ago, a train rolled by in the middle of the night. Except for the trains, the campground isn’t much noisier than most. If you stay in an RV it will at least be quieter than a tent.

For more details about this place see our article about Porteau Cove Provincial Park.

Campsite View at Porteau Cove — Porteau Cove Campsite

Rolley Lake (near Mission)

Rolley Lake is a provincial park with 64 vehicle-accessible campsites located just north of Mission in the Fraser Valley.

Facilities at this campground include pit and flush toilets, a sani-station, showers and picnic areas. Campfires are permitted in designated metal rings. Rolley Lake also features a nice sandy beach. Non-motorized water sports are permitted on the lake.

To learn more about this provincial park see our article about Rolley Lake.

Sasquatch Park (near Harrison Hot Springs)

Sasquatch Provincial Park is located just minutes from Harrison Hot Springs. The park features three campgrounds: Hicks Lake with 72 reservable sites, Lakeside Campground with 42 campsites, and Bench Campground with 64 campsites. There is also one group site at Hicks Lake.

The park features several boat launches, with paved launches at Hicks Lake and Green Point, and a gravel one at Deer Lake. Water sports on Harrison Lake are unrestricted while no motors are permitted on Trout Lake. Small motors up to 10hp are allowed on Hicks Lake and only electric ones are permitted on Deer Lake.

Campfires are permitted in designated fire rings in the campsites. Facilities at the campgrounds include picnic areas, pit and flush toilets, and a sani-station. Only two vehicles are permitted per site.

To learn more see our article about Sasquatch Provincial Park.

Stawamus Chief (in the Sea to Sky Region)

Located in Squamish, about 45 minutes north of West Vancouver, Stawamus Chief is a provincial park that’s famous for its hiking and rock-climbing opportunities. Not so well-known, the park also features 52 vehicle-accessible campsites, plus another 57 walk-in sites.

The campground has pit toilets and a picnic area, so no flush toilets or hot showers. The venue does, though, provide easy access to both the Squamish Chief and Shannon Falls hikes.

Campsites at this park are only available on a first-come, first-served basis. Unlike most other Lower Mainland provincial parks, you can’t reserve sites here in advance. Also, the sites are small and not suitable for large RVs. Regular-sized truck-style campers, though, are generally okay.

Whereas most other provincial parks charge by the site, at Stawamus Chief the charge is per person. As of the summer of 2024, the cost is $10 per person over the age of 6. This means that it is less expensive than most other places if there are only one or two people in your party. If there are four or more, then it is more expensive. Payment is by cash.

For more information see our article about Stawamus Chief Provincial Park.

Pender Island (one of the Southern Gulf Islands)

Pender Island is a popular part of BC’s Southern Gulf Islands. It’s located between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, meaning it’s only accessible by boat or airplane.

The island includes some of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. It has two Parks Canada campgrounds. Prior Centennial Campground is the larger of the two, with 17 campsites plus firepits, drinkable water and pit toilets. There are hiking trails and a nearby disc golf course to enjoy. Meanwhile, the other campground on Pender Island is Shingle Bay. It’s smaller and more remote, with just 10 campsites and some pit toilets. There is no drinkable water available, and you’ll have to climb down a 240-metre slope to get to the campground.

To learn more see our article about Pender Island.

Camping Tips

Below are some tips to help you make the most of your camping experience.

Tips About Reservations

Having a reservation is the only way to know you will get a spot for sure. It’s always recommended to make a reservation in advance so you aren’t disappointed.
Private campgrounds generally don’t book up as fast as provincial campgrounds (unless they are exceptionally good ones). As a result, if you want to stay at a provincial site, book as early as you can. And if you find them all full, consider staying at a private one as they may still have space.
If staying in an RV, especially a really big one, make sure you book a campsite that will be big enough and that you can fit into.

Tips About Campfires

Check the fire restrictions before you leave. Often during the summer months campsites and areas restrict (or even ban) campfires.
If there is a fire ban, consider taking a portable “artificial” propane campfire with you. When real fires aren’t permitted, artificial gas-powered ones are usually still allowed (although not always). If permitted, and it’s a good quality gas fire, having one of these can help make evenings extra special.

What to Look For

Within campgrounds there are good sites and not so good ones. Most are good, but some will be located closer to the road (and so noisier). Others might be closer to the river, lake or ocean (and so prettier). The earlier you book, the better your choice of sites.
Some people like sites that are close to the washrooms and tap water, because of the convenience. Other campers try to be far away to avoid the noise of people and, sometimes with pit toilets, the smell. What’s a perfect site for some people will be different for others.
Some campgrounds, especially privately-owned ones, have strict rules, including ones about when you can make noise, when you can’t, and whether you are allowed to play music. Depending on whether you like to make noise or prefer peace and quiet, rules like these can be either terrible or wonderful. Choose your campground accordingly.

Other Things to Consider

Tarps are an essential piece of camping equipment if you are staying in a tent. The weather can change fast so it’s best to be prepared. Not only can they keep you dry, they help keep dust and other dirt off your gear.
If backcountry camping, or planning to do some serious exploring from wherever you decide to stay, always be prepared! If heading out into the wilderness, even if along marked trails, make sure someone knows where you’re going and take good footwear, some food, water, a first aid kit, extra clothes and bear spray. Be safe!
In addition to dealerships in Abbotsford and Delta, Fraserway RV has locations where you can rent campers in Whitehorse, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Halifax. That means if you don’t want to drive right across the country, you can fly to another destination, pick up your rental RV, and then start exploring a totally different part of Canada. One-way rentals are also available for some destinations.

Other Information

To learn about some of our camping experiences in a recreational vehicle, see the following articles:

To learn about campgrounds near the province’s capital city on Vancouver Island, see the website VictoriasBestPlaces.com. Other articles that may be of interest include the following: