Discover Vancouver Island

Want to have your cake and eat it too? Off-grid RV camping, or dry camping, is perfect for adventurers who love getting away from it all and exploring the pristine beauty of nature - without wrecking your back sleeping on the ground!

In this article, we list some helpful tips and must-brings for your off-grid adventure, followed by a list of five of Vancouver Island’s best rustic camping experiences. All campgrounds on this list are accessible by paved roads, so they will be safe for your vehicle. We have tried to highlight camping locations in diverse parts of the Island.

One of the best things about travelling is the opportunity to try new restaurants and cuisines. We Vancouver Islanders love our food fresh and local, and we know a good dish when we taste it! So even though Nanaimo may be a smaller-sized city, it has no shortage of fantastic places to eat. We hope you’re hungry… because here is a list of six of our very favourite Harbour City dining establishments.

Welcome to Part 2 of our list of locals' favourite Tofino and Ucluelet attractions! When travelling to a new destination, it’s always helpful to have a local perspective on the best things to see, do and eat. Since we happen to know some Tofino residents, we thought we’d poll them for their favourite local places to go in their downtime. Part One was a list of 5 special places to visit in Tofino, while Part Two covers their 5 favourite things about Ucluelet. We hope you find this list handy!

When travelling to a new destination, it’s always helpful to have a local perspective on the best things to see, do and eat. Since we happen to know some Tofino residents, we thought we’d poll them for their favourite local places to go in their downtime. Part One will be a list of 5 special places to visit in Tofino, while Part Two will cover their 5 favourite things about Ucluelet. We hope you find this list handy!

Located in the small community of Coombs, Vancouver Island, just 10km from the famous beachside community of Parksville, Old Country Market is a must-see for lovers of the eclectic and unusual. Even their logo is firmly tongue-in-cheek. Over one million people visit the market every year to shop the dizzying variety of international merchandise (and possibly glimpse a rare goat “projectile” falling from the roof).

The charming seaside town of Parksville, located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, is known for its wide, sandy beaches; idyllic campgrounds; and beautiful parks and forests. If your upcoming RV adventure includes this lovely area, make sure you check out some of the natural wonders it’s most famous for! We’ve compiled a list of some of our favourites below, all within a 20-minute drive of downtown Parksville.

Welcome to Part Two of our BIG list! Planning an RV trip on Vancouver Island and trying to figure out where to stay? To help you make your decision, we’ve put together a list of all the full-hookup RV sites we could find, with contact info and links to their websites, if they have one. All sites listed have at least some full-service RV sites (best to reserve ahead to make sure you get one.)

Because Vancouver Island has such a wealth of camping locations, this is a BIG list, and we have broken it into two parts. Part One is a list of campsites in the South and Mid-Island, while Part Two will highlight campsites on the West Coast of the Island, as well as the Comox Valley and North Island.