14 Best Tofino Camping Spots (2024)

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Are you trying to find the best places to go camping in Tofino?

Tofino is a beautiful, remote region on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, and it’s one of the best places to go camping in British Columbia.

There are so many campsites in the Tofino region, from well-established campgrounds in the forest to beach campgrounds, cabins in the woods, and even primitive free camping spots.

I recently moved to Victoria, and I love going camping in Tofino, even if it’s right in my backyard!

It’s a great way for Theo (my golden retriever) and me to get out into nature and appreciate the natural wonders around Vancouver Island!

Whether you’re a novice camper or someone who’s been backpacking for years, there’s definitely a campsite in Tofino that will suit your needs.

Here’s a list of the top campgrounds in Tofino to check out this summer!

Best Beach Campgrounds in Tofino

1. Bella Pacifica Campground

Bella Pacifica Campground is one of the best places to go camping in Tofino. It’s an excellent place to camp because it’s right on Mackenzie Beach, with a great mix of oceanfront sites and wilderness settings.

The campground has clean facilities, and there are laundry facilities on site.

They also have free internet access throughout the campground. Pets are also welcome, which is a non-negotiable for Theo and me!

But more than anything, guests rave about the amazing location of the Bella Pacifica Campground. Within 10km (6.2 mi) of the campground, There are many beautiful hikes nearby, including the Rainforest Trail. The campground is also very close to Cox Bay Beach, which is known for having all kinds of watersports!

Camping season at Bella Pacifica Campground is from March to November.

There are 190 campsites, but only a select few are on the beach, so you should make reservations early if you want to be on the water!

2. Wya Point Campground

The Wya Point Campground Resort has various accommodation options, from oceanfront yurts to luxury lodges. But there is also a beachfront camping site where you can bring your RV or go tent camping.

The campground is near the Ucluelet area of Tofino and offers a private escape near the Pacific

Rim National Park. Guests have access to a private beach from their campsite/lodge and will be surrounded by 600 acres of protected forest.

So it’s safe to say you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities!

Despite its remote location, each Wya Point Tofino campsite has access to free WIFI and shared bathrooms with flushing toilets.

Additionally, Wya Point Resort is always well-maintained and completely pet friendly!

Golden retriever running on Long Beach with a stick at midday in summer. The beach is sand with soft blue waves.

3. Long Beach Campground

The Long Beach Campground is a cheaper camping option in Tofino, but the low prices don’t mean there is anything less to love about the campground!

Although the prices are lower, there is plenty to do, and you will have great amenities throughout the campground.

Perfectly located between Tofino and Ucluelet, Long Beach Campground is just minutes away from Long Beach and close to the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

There are also tons of amenities around Long Beach. There’s even a 9-hole golf course on site, a mini putt, a driving range, and a restaurant. There is also WIFI available throughout the campground.

It is pet friendly, but you must pay a fee of $5/day.

In total, this campground has 88 campsites, and a select few are fully-serviced RV hook-up sites, so it works great for RVers/Vanlifers, too!

Sunseeker RV at a campground from my road trip across Canada.

Best Tofino RVs and Campervans Campgrounds

4. Crystal Cove Beach Resort

The Crystal Cove Beach Resort has a lot to offer people traveling through Tofino.

They have a fantastic location, just steps from Crystal Cove and Mackenzie Beach, and there are a variety of camping options.

There is no tent camping at Crystal Cove Beach Resort, but they offer 34 modern log cabins, 60 fully serviced RV sites, and 10 glamping trailers.

Some are right in the rainforest, while others are right on the beach, but they are all impeccably clean and offer a shower, heating, and a fire pit. Most of the cabins even have a private hot tub!

In addition to the cabins and RV sites, Crystal Cove Beach Resort offers yoga classes, free high-speed internet, a coffee shop, bicycle rentals, an adventure playground, and a dog wash station.

Surf Grove Beach in Tofino at sunset with the wave lapping at the sandy shore.

5. Surf Grove Campground

As you can gather from the name, Surf Grove Campground is the best Tofino campground for surfers. The campground is right on Cox Bay Beach, which is one of the most popular places to surf in Canada.

There are 135 fully-serviced RV sites and 64 semi-serviced tent sites, and most of the RV sites come with an RV rental, which is very convenient for those who don’t have access to one!

The campsite is open year-round, and guests can enjoy free high-speed internet, an onsite convenience store, beachside surf showers, and dedicated camping saunas!

If you’ve never surfed but want to try it, head to the Surf Shack to book a professional lesson. The Surf Shack is also where you rent surfboards and other equipment.

Surf Grove Campground offers excellent value for your money, and you won’t have to compromise on luxury amenities or a prime location!

Image: https://unsplash.com/photos/uNF8TmelbH4

Cabin in Tofino at Long Beach Resort. Pathway throug hthe rainforest to the front door of the blue cabin.

Best Cabin Camping in Tofino

6. Mackenzie Beach Resort

⭐8/10 (422 Reviews)

The Mackenzie Beach Resort is right on the ocean, just a short drive from Pacific Rim National Park, and has some of the best campsites in Tofino.

The resort has a large selection of cozy cottages, airstream mobile homes, and beachfront tent campsites. They also have full hook-up sites for RVs.

The tent sites are all walk-in only, meaning there is no car access. But the most popular accommodation options at Mackenzie Beach Resort are its Cabin Suites and the Airstream Mobile Homes.

All of the cabins and mobile homes have private bathrooms with hot water for showers, and most of them are right on the coast with an ocean view!

There is a small convenience center on-site, BBQ facilities, and a laundry room. There’s also free Wi-Fi, a private sauna, a cocktail bar, a coffee shop, and a rental shop for surfboards and paddleboards.

Mackenzie Beach is the closest thing to a lifestyle resort in Tofino, and it’s guaranteed to be a comfortable, aesthetic, and memorable place to stay for a few nights!

Best Camping Spots Beyond Tofino

7. Green Point Campground

Greenpoint Campground is known for its prime location along Long Beach & Combers Beach.

Here, you’ll find 94 vehicle drive-in campsites, 20 walk-in campsites, and one large group campsite if you travel with family or friends!

The campground facilities are newly renovated, including the bathrooms, and everything feels very clean!

Visitors can choose between an oceanfront campsite or one nestled in the forest. Either way, these camping spots in Tofino are highly sought after and can sell out before summer. So, make sure to make your reservations early.

However, since Green Point Campground is inside Pacific Rim National Park, you must pay an additional park access fee to camp here.

8. Surf Junction Campground

The Surf Junction Campground has a lot to offer. The campsite has a fantastic location right at the entrance of the Pacific Rim National Park, a beautiful, diverse UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

On-site, they have hot tubs, saunas, and a covered BBQ area near the water, so you can still cook out on a rainy day!

People camping at Surf Junction can borrow surfboards and other water sports equipment, too.

Then, If you’re looking for an adventure but want something more organized, you can book select tours and excursions with the campground staff. These include surf lessons, whale-watching tours, bear-watching excursions, and fishing trips.

9. West Coast Campground

The West Coast Campground is a small plot of campsites on the outskirts of Ucluelet, British Columbia.

This is the perfect campground if you want to enjoy the outdoors but still have easy access to town. Just a few miles away, in Ucleulet, you can find restaurants, breweries, historic sites, and even an aquarium!

Even at the campground, there are decent facilities and amenities for campers, including free WIFI, bike rentals, a general store, ice cream, and a restaurant.

The campsite can accommodate tents, small car campers, and van lifers, but it’s not the best for people with a large RV or a truck with a large trailer.

10. Ucluelet Campground

The Ucluelet Campground is a huge campground in Tofino with 125 sites and a variety of spaces for both tent camping and RVs (up to 42 feet long) that need a fully serviced campsite.

The campground is open year-round. However, you must be fully self-contained if you wish to stay from October through April.

When you reserve a campsite online, you can also select your location. I love the view of Ucluelet Harbor, but there are also campsites with a mountain view or a semi-private forest site.

The campsite does offer WIFI, and there is also a boat launch right next to the campground, so if you bring your boat, it’s easy to get out onto the water!

Like other campsites in Ucluelet, you’ll also be close to plenty of outdoor activities. But it’s also within walking distance from family-friendly restaurants, cafes, and local shops in downtown Tofino.

Free Camping in Tofino

If you’re a bit more adventurous, you can try wild camping (a.k.a. Free Camping) in Tofino.

Wild Camping is when you go camping in the backcountry, but there are no facilities or a designated campsite. You’ll also need to pack in and out everything you need for the trip, including food, water, cooking supplies, and all your camping gear!

If you go wild camping or free camping in Tofino, be sure to leave no trace at the campsites and be mindful of the wilderness and animals around you!

11. Meares Island

Meares Island is part of the ancient Forest Alliance and is a very popular place for free camping in Tofino, but you need a kayak or a canoe to get there. You can camp for free on the North Side of Meares Island at Ritchie Bay. It’s a medium-sized camping area surrounded by giant cedar trees.

12. Kennedy Lake

Kennedy Lake is another great place for wild camping in Tofino. It’s completely free to use, and you can access the lake with a vehicle via Kennedy Lake Road. This freshwater lake is popular for its beach and water activities. You can kayak, paddleboard, swim, fish, and windsurf.

Glamping in Tofino

13. WILDPOD

Wildpod is Tofino’s only luxury glamping site, which means that you can experience sleeping outdoors but with all the amenities of a hotel room or cabin in the woods!

These spacious domes are very close to downtown Tofino, but they still have stunning views of the ocean, mountains, and nearby islands.

These cozy and comfortable domes are reserved for adult-only property, with a fireplace, kitchenette, sun terrace, outdoor furniture, and WIFI throughout the campground.

While pampering yourself in this luxurious property, you’ll be near every outdoor activity, so you won’t miss out on anything. However, there are only six geo-domes, so you do need to book ahead of time if you want to secure one in the summer.

If you are not a camper or don’t have the proper equipment to camp, these luxury domes in downtown Tofino are an excellent alternative for you.

Note: WILDPOD is closed for December and January each year.

14. Mussel Beach Private Gateway

If you’re looking for a great glamping experience, Mussel Beach Private Getaway is a great option about one hour south of Tofino, in Ucluelet.

This off-grid, private glamping experience offers seven unique glamping tents facing the Pacific Ocean. These groups of tents are named the “So Damn Lucky Glamping.”

The luxury tent has a queen bed with end tables, a small coffee table, a kitchenette, a BBQ, and a private balcony with a picnic table.

Each evening, you’ll enjoy the stunning sunset on the ocean from your private balcony, and during the day, you can walk down to the beach to enjoy the sun or water sports.

Wildlife spotting is super common, too. There are many deer, squirrels, birds, and occasionally black bears!

Tofino Camping: FAQs

Can you Camp Anywhere in Tofino?

No, you can’t camp anywhere in Tofino. You must stay in an authorized campground, and the area’s officials have zero tolerance for unauthorized camping.

Where Can I Camp for Free in Tofino?

There are a couple of areas where you can camp for free in Tofino, including Meares Island and Kennedy Lake. However, all of the authorized campgrounds in Tofino require paid reservations.

Can You Tent in Tofino?

Yes, you can camp in a tent in Tofino. Many campsites have designated tent campsites, including:

Surf Grove Campground
Mackenzie Beach Resort
Ucluelet Campground
Bella Pacifica Campground.

Is Tofino First Come, First Served Camping?

No, most campgrounds in Tofino take reservations, and it’s common for the sites to reach full capacity months ahead of time, so I strongly suggest booking in advance.

Wrap-Up: Best Tofino Camping Sites

Whether you are looking for tent camping, a fully-serviced RV site, or a luxurious glamping spot, I hope this helps you narrow your search for the perfect place to camp in Tofino!

Tofino is a beautiful area of Vancouver Island. No matter where you stay, you’ll be close to lush rainforest hikes, beautiful beaches, and offshore islands.

If you can get a reservation, the best overall Tofino camping site is Bella Pacifica Campground.

But if you’re coming to Tofino to surf, then you should absolutely stay at Surf Grove Campground.

No matter the season, Tofino is one of my favorite places to visit on Vancouver Island, and I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful experience camping here!

Once you secure a campsite, nail down the rest of your itinerary by checking out the best things to do in Tofino and all my favorite places to visit in Ucluelet!

More About British Columbia:

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