Campgrounds and RV parks near Petersville, NB

Water access shapes most trips. Hardings Point Campground Inc overlooks the Saint John River with sandy beaches and steps to the free cable ferry between the Kingston Peninsula and Gondola Point. Oak Point Kiwanis Park has a freshwater fine-sand-and-rocky beach, the tallest lighthouse on the Saint John River system, and a marsh where birdwatchers can spot many species. On the Fundy coast, New River Beach Provincial Park is set up for kayaking the Bay of Fundy, tide-pool exploring for barnacles, sea urchins, and rock crabs, and beach walks between rocky outcrops that disappear at high tide. Hikers can take the Barnaby Head trail through a coastal bog and mossy spruce forest. Inland, Coy Lake Camping RV Park Ltd and Hidden Valley Campground suit families looking for quieter lake swimming, fishing, and short drives to Saint John attractions such as the Reversing Falls.

The New Brunswick camping season is short and clearly defined. New River Beach Provincial Park operates from mid-May to late September, and Oak Point Kiwanis Park is typically open from May 1 to October 31. Private campgrounds around Petersville follow a similar pattern, with most closing in mid-October and reopening in May once frost risk passes. July and August are peak. Sites at coastal parks like New River Beach fill quickly on weekends and long weekends, and booking early is important during peak season, while mid-week stays offer better availability and quieter sites. June and September are shoulder months with cooler nights, fewer bugs, and easier reservations. Winter camping is not a realistic option in this part of the province. From December through February, average daytime highs stay below freezing, snow accumulates, and provincial and most private campgrounds are closed. RV renters planning shoulder-season trips should confirm services, since water systems are shut off before the first hard frost.

Expect a mix of forested private campgrounds and one Fundy-coast provincial park within about an hour of Petersville. Sites range from full-service RV pads with power, water, and sewer to unserviced gravel pads suited to smaller rigs and vans. New River Beach Provincial Park offers 99 campsites and 4 rustic shelters, plus Ch-A-lets, forested campsites, coastal nature trails, a picnic area, and a tidal beach. Cell coverage is generally good along Route 1 and near Saint John, but can be patchy on the Kingston Peninsula and interior back roads. Leashed pets are welcome in the New River Beach campground, though pets are not permitted on the beach. Bring layers: Fundy-coast fog and evening cool-downs are common even in July, and inland nights near Petersville drop noticeably after sunset.