Campgrounds and RV parks near Penelakut Island 7, BC

Penelakut Island, formerly known as Kuper Island, sits in the southern Gulf Islands between Vancouver Island and the mainland, reached by BC Ferries from Chemainus. The island itself is a First Nations reserve belonging to the Penelakut Tribe and is generally not open to the public without an invitation from the Band Council, so RV travellers base themselves on Vancouver Island near Chemainus and visit the Gulf Islands region by ferry, kayak, or boat tour. The closest RV-friendly camping is clustered along the Chemainus River and the coast just south, in the Cowichan Valley Regional District. Chemainus Garden RV Resort and Country Maples RV Resort sit inland along the Trans-Canada Highway corridor, while Chemainus River Campground offers a more rustic riverside setting. Osborne Bay Resort, in nearby Crofton, is the closest option to the Crofton ferry to Salt Spring Island, and Cedar Beach Resort &Campground lies further north toward Ladysmith. This stretch of eastern Vancouver Island sits in a rain shadow, giving it a milder, drier climate than much of coastal British Columbia.

Private RV resorts around Chemainus, including Chemainus Garden RV Resort, Country Maples RV Resort, Osborne Bay Resort, and Cedar Beach Resort &Campground, take reservations directly through their own websites or by phone. Country Maples is a large park that fills months out for summer long weekends, so book early. Chemainus River Campground is a smaller riverside operation and also reserves directly. British Columbia provincial parks in the wider region, such as Bamberton and Ruckle on Salt Spring, are booked through the BC Parks Discover Camping reservation system, which opens rolling reservations up to four months before arrival. For BC Ferries sailings out of Chemainus and Crofton, vehicle reservations can be made online through the BC Ferries website.