5 Scenic campgrounds near Vancouver, BC

While we sympathize with city-lovers whose idea of camping involves a cabin and a warm bed, it’s hard to ignore the call of the outdoors. With lush forests, crackling campfires, alpine lakes, rushing rivers and roaring waterfalls, camping near Vancouver BC is one of the best ways to experience the region’s natural beauty.

Whether you prefer car camping spots near Vancouver or remote backcountry adventures, you’ll find both within a few hours’ drive. Here are five spectacular provincial park campgrounds near Vancouver BC — each offering a different way to sleep under the stars.

Tip: Many of these sites fill up fast, so book early through BC Parks’ reservation system to secure your spot.

1. Camp at Alice Lake Provincial Park

Best Campground:Alice Lake Campground
Type:Car camping Highlights: Mountains, forest, open clearings and beautiful scenic lakes along the Four Lakes Trail are just a few of the features of this park, just north of Squamish on the way up to Whistler. Popular with families, the Alice Lake campground features a swimming area and a lovely trail around the lake for evening strolls and a lively atmosphere.
Amenities: Playground, fire pits, hot and cold running water, electrical hook-ups, firewood, recycling bins, double sites, sani-station, pit and flush toilets, wheelchair accessible sites, free hot showers.

❐ Directions
❐ More

Golden Ears Provincial Park

Best Campground:Gold Creek Campground
Type:Car camping
Highlights:Gold Creek Campground, north-east of Vancouver, is the Four Seasons of campgrounds, complete with luxurious amenities (for the outdoors, that is) and easily hikeable trails. Take the Gold Creek Falls Trail to glimpse views of the Alouette, Blanchard and Edge mountains, and spend an afternoon lazing about at Gold Creek Falls, a scenic area perfect for picnicking. For the hard-core enthusiast, this campground is also open for winter camping.
Amenities: Fire pits, cold running water, firewood, on-site camping host, recycling bins, double sites, pit and flush toilets, sani-station, boat rentals, wheelchair accessible sites, free hot showers.

❐ Directions
❐ More

Garibaldi Provincial Park

Best Campground:Garibaldi Lake
Type:Backcountry
Highlights:You just can't beat this kind of wilderness—alpine flowers, turquoise waters of a glacial lake, volcanic rock and monumental mountains bursting out of the ground. Plus, it's backcountry all the way, so those who are searching for that corner of peace and quiet, you'll get nearly 200,000 hectares (4,942 acres) of it.
Amenities:Pit toilets and nature (no drinking water, pack your garbage out, Leave No Trace practices)

❐ Directions
❐ More

Say Nuth Khaw Yum Provincial Park [aka Indian Arm Park]

Best Campground: Granite Falls
Type:Backcountry/Float Trip
Highlights: Who said the only way to get to a campsite was on foot? Kayakers have been doing overnight trips along Indian Arm for decades, and few spots are better for camping than Granite Falls (there's no road access to the campground, by the way). The site sits beneath a 50-metre waterfall, a reward for paddling the 18 kilometres (11 miles) up Indian Arm. During spawning season, visitors can see some 60,000 salmon work their way up the inlet for a not-your-everyday experience.
Amenities: Pit toilets, campfires forbidden, backcountry rules apply (Leave No Trace practices)

❐ Directions
❐ More

Juan de Fuca Provincial Park

Best Campground:China Beach
Type:Car Camping
Highlights: Sunset Magazine voted China Beach campground one of the top 19 sites in the Northwest, and who are we to argue? It’s a lot further afield that the other campgrounds on this list, but still accessible for a weekend away. Situated right on the coastline of Vancouver Island, the campground is the gateway to trails that lead to scenic beaches and a wide-open sea. Better yet, camping on the beach is permissible, and there's nothing like sleeping to the smell of saltwater and waking up to hear the lapping of the ocean.
Amenities: Fire pits, cold running water, firewood, recycling bins, double sites, pit toilets, wheelchair- accessible accommodations

❐ Directions
❐ More