Greater Victoria is home to a number of fantastic spots to camp. For those who love the outdoors it’s one of the best places around!
Camping Opportunities in Greater Victoria
This article shares some of the best public campgrounds in Greater Victoria. Some of them are only active in the summer while some are open year-round.
Victoria residents and visitors to the area who love camping are spoiled with options! There is quite a lot of nature to enjoy in the region. The province is known as Beautiful British Columbia for a reason!
SMONEĆTEN Campground
SMONEĆTEN Campground is just a five-minute drive from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. It’s part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. It’s a drive-in campground open to those with tents and RVs alike.
There are about 50 campsites available for around $20 per night as of the summer of 2024. The campground has drinking water, pit toilets and fire pits.
SMONEĆTEN is open from May 15th to September 30th each year. During the summer there are often special activities run by Parks Canada at the campground. In 2024 there is the Coast Salish Campfire Program on Saturdays in July and August. Each week at 7:00 pm a Coast Salish storyteller shares stories and language from the region at the communal campfire.
For more information, visit the Parks Canada website or see our article about the SMONEĆTEN Campground.
Sidney Island
Similar to SMONEĆTEN, the campground on Sidney Island is run by Parks Canada and it too is part of the Gulf Island National Park reserve. The campground is on Sidney Spit which is one of the best sandy beaches in the region.
The Sidney Spit Campground is also open from May 15th to September 30th although it’s not as simple to get to compared to SMONEĆTEN. Aside from private boat or plane, the only way to access the island is by a public ferry from the marina in Sidney. The ferry only runs from mid-May until early September.
Because of its location, the campground on Sidney Spit is in a quiet spot. There is boat traffic in the area during the day, but no car traffic. It’s important to note that there’s no public drinking water anywhere on the island. Those who visit must bring their own supply.
The campground has about 30 sites and wheelbarrows are provided at the island’s ferry dock to help carry gear around. As of the summer of 2024, it costs $20 per group to camp on the island. It’s a beautiful spot!
To learn more, check out the Parks Canada website.
Goldstream Park
Goldstream Provincial Park is located a little under 20 km northwest of downtown Victoria. The park is home to old-growth Douglas fir and cedar trees, a popular salmon spawning run and plenty of hiking opportunities.
The Goldstream Park campground has over 170 sites. There are about 20 walk-in sites which don’t cost money to use during the summer. The rest of the campsites are vehicle-accessible and cost about $35 per night to use as of 2024. The park is open year-round and there is a $13 nightly fee for winter camping.
The campground has drinking water, flush toilets and hot showers during the summer. Not all of the amenities at the park are open during the winter.
For more details visit the BC Park‘s website or see our article about Goldstream Provincial Park.
Island View Beach
Island View Beach Regional Park is on the Saanich Peninsula which is north of Victoria. The park’s campground contains 18 RV sites and 29 tent sites. All of them must be reserved in advance.
Island View Beach is a great place for birdwatching as well as for seeing some unique plant species. The beach itself is long and sandy. The north end of the beach is part of a Tsawout First Nation reservation.
The campground is typically open from the Victoria Day Long Weekend in May until the Labour Day Long Weekend in September. There is no camping in the park the rest of the year. Each site costs $25 per night as of 2024.
For more information visit the Island View Beach webpage.
Sooke Potholes Park
Spring Salmon Place Campground is located in Sooke Potholes Regional Park, about a 45-minute drive from Victoria. The park gets its name from its so-called “potholes” which are naturally-formed freshwater swimming holes along the Sooke River. They’re a unique and fun place to take a dip!
The campground, like many others in the region, is open from mid-May until early September each year. There are 67 sites and the campground is right next to the Galloping Goose Regional Trail which is great for cycling. Camping here costs $25 per night as of 2024. The place includes running water, toilets and all three of garbage, recycling and composting bins.
Click Sooke Potholes Park for more details.
Sooke River Campground
Sooke River Campground is located about 11 km south of Spring Salmon Place, just outside of Sooke. There are close to 100 camp sites spread across the park with a variety of different options.
The campground here is designed with RVs in mind, and the cost to reserve each site depends on how much electricity the site has. As of 2024 the prices range from $35 a night for ones without any service to $50 a night for the highest quality sites. There are also three cabins available to rent. They cost between $55 and $75 per night (with a two-night minimum stay). The cabins include bed frames, a kettle, toaster, fridge and other amenities.
This campground is also the site of the district of Sooke’s Canada Day celebrations on July 1st.
To learn more, check out the Sooke River Campground website.
French Beach Park
French Beach Park is west of Sooke, about an hour from downtown Victoria. The park is right on the Strait of Juan de Fuca and offers some great hiking trails.
The park is a popular spot to whale watch in the spring, with year-round camping available as well. Like Goldstream Park, it’s cheaper to camp at French Beach Park in the winter at just $13 per night compared to $26 in the summer as of 2024.
There are around 70 camp sites at the park. If French Beach is full, there’s also nearby Juan de Fuca Park which has around 80 camp sites.
Click French Beach Park for more details.
Other Information
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
Articles that might be of interest on the website VancouversBestPlaces.com include the following:
- BC’s Southern Gulf Island
- Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
- Pender Island
- Camping in the Lower Mainland
- Vancouver Parks & Nature
