Campgrounds and RV parks near Alert Bay, BC

Alert Bay sits on Cormorant Island in Johnstone Strait, reached by a BC Ferries crossing from Port McNeill on northern Vancouver Island. Because the island itself is compact and best explored on foot, most RV travellers base themselves on the Vancouver Island side and day-trip across as walk-on passengers. That puts the mainland cluster of parks around Beaver Cove and Telegraph Cove within easy reach of the ferry terminal. The closest RV options to the ferry are Alder Bay RV Park and Marina, reached from Highway 19 via Beaver Cove Road and Alder Bay Drive, along with the co-located Alder Bay Resort. A little further along the North Island, Cedar Park Resort and Golfing offers another base. Down the Telegraph Cove access road, Telegraph Cove Marina and RV Park and Telegraph Cove Resort round out the choices, both sitting beside the historic boardwalk village on Johnstone Strait. Collectively these parks cover full-hookup pads, tent areas, marina moorage, and cabin rentals, giving families several ways to build a trip around whale watching, ferry runs to Alert Bay, and Broughton Archipelago access.

The parks on the Vancouver Island side of the crossing are privately operated and take reservations directly. Alder Bay RV Park and Marina and Alder Bay Resort book through the alderbay.com online booking page. Telegraph Cove Marina and RV Park uses an online booking engine on telegraphcove.ca, and Telegraph Cove Resort accepts stay requests through a form on its campground page. Cedar Park Resort and Golfing books directly with the operator. For summer weekends in July and August, reserve well in advance; waterfront and full-hookup sites at Telegraph Cove and Alder Bay fill earliest. At Alder Bay, reservations require a 50 percent deposit at time of booking, cancellations more than 30 days out are refunded less an administrative fee, and cancellations within 31 days of arrival are not refunded, so lock in dates only after confirming ferry timing to Alert Bay.