Port Renfrew Marina and RV Park (portrenfrewmarina.com) is the only place in town to camp in your RV. Fishermen flock here, particularly in the summer, and stay for months, many towing their own boats. The park offers special moorage and camping packages for RV boat owners. Camping is bare-bones, with only electricity available at some sites -- and even that is sporadic. There is no hot water, showers or flush toilets. Forget the credit and the Interac cards; cash is the method of payment. An ATM machine is on site. The Port Renfrew Hotel and Pub is the go-to place for an evening natter. The Marina has its own sundry store, but the Renfrew General Store has a larger selection of items. A good idea is to stock up on supplies and fill up the tank in Sooke before you head west.
Juan de Fuca Provincial Park (gov.bc.ca) and its China Beach Campground is roughly 22 miles east of Port Renfrew. The campground has 78 sites, some suitable for RVs up to 32 feet. Only two spots hold larger trailers or motor homes. Parking pads are graveled, and most campsites are shaded. Each site offers a picnic table and a fire ring. No hookups, showers or flush toilets are available, but water taps are found throughout the park. The closest dump station is across from French Beach Provincial Park, about 10 miles toward Sooke. Pets are welcome -- but this is a wilderness area and they must be leashed and kept with you at all times. Keep them inside your RV at night; this is when most of the wild things do their investigating. Reservations are available online at the BC Parks Discover Camping Reservation Service (camis.com). China Beach camping is available from May 15 through September 15. It’s about a half-mile hike to the beach from most campsites.
Roughly 25 miles east of Port Renfrew is Jordan River Regional Park (crd.bc.ca). Twenty-two campsites are available, 14 of those suitable for self-contained RVs. The turns are tight and the spaces not all that large, so anything more than 32 feet just won’t fit. Drinking water is available, as are toilets. Camping is available between April and the end of October, with a host on site June through September. No reservations are taken; it’s first-come, first-serve. A trail leading through cedar and hemlock trees takes you to Sandcut Beach. There are no facilities, and the beach has more cobblestones than sand, but the views make perfect photo ops.
RV camping is available year-round at French Beach Provincial Park (gov.bc.ca), located 32 miles from Port Renfrew. Campsites literally are tucked between the trees; sometimes in cover so thick, you can hardly see your neighbor. The park offers 69 sites, some of which are large enough for even the bus-size Class As. Online reservations are available through the BC Discover Camping Reservations Service. If you use this service, choose your site carefully and read the warnings. These are all back-in spaces, and some are really tight. During the slower season, it’s easy to just cruise the park looking for an open space that fits. No hookups are available, but water taps are throughout the park. In winter, these taps, as well as the dump station across the street, may be shut down because of freezing temperatures. Trails lead down to the beach and along the shoreline. Bears love this undeveloped part of Vancouver Island, so keep pets leashed at all times and in the RV at night.
