Words by Jan Lee
Picking the right beach destination for this year's summer RV holiday may seem like a daunting endeavour. With the longest shoreline in the world and tens of thousands of lakes within its borders, Canada has most countries beat when it comes to finding that perfect patch of beachfront.
Rest assured, it has its premier, world-famous destinations as well.
Stopovers like Ontario's popular Wasaga Beach, New Brunswick's warm ocean waters at Parlee Provincial Park and British Columbia's famed Skaha Beach have become legendary destinations for summer travel. But they are admittedly only a few of the locations that RV travelers can choose when it comes to visiting Canada's best beaches.
Prince Edward Island's red beaches
Prince Edward Island (PEI) is famous for its stunning ocean vistas and carefully tended beaches. On PEI, most of the sand is red, not beige or brown, and there's plenty of it. The tiny province has at least 23 public beach areas to roam, including Greenwich Beach, which is flanked by a forest ecosystem that helps protect the area's sprawling sand dunes. Boardwalks and trails ramble through the 59 km (37 mi) long Prince Edward Island National Park, which has two campgrounds and a limited number of 15-, 30- and 50-amp hookups. Greenwich Beach has a canteen but is sufficiently remote from city amenities to get lost in its rural beauty.
Travelers who enjoy a good meal after a trip to the beach can head to Brackley Beach, which sits near the town of Brackley and a handful of RV campgrounds. In Green Gables (20 minutes north via Highway 6), the Bay Side RV Park offers both daily and seasonal sites, with 30- and 15- amp service.
Basin Head Provincial Park's Singing Sands beach sits almost diagonally across the island off of Highway 16. It features white sands and is known for its unusually warm waters. Its name comes from the musical sound of the sand as it squishes beneath your bare feet. Singing Sands is by far PEI's most popular beach, with a fisheries museum, boardwalk, and an enchanting driving tour. Head to the town of Souris, just west of Basin Head, for more beaches and a panoramic view of its historic lighthouse and stunning vistas.
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Tourism PEI/Laura Lund
Basin Head Beach PEI
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Tourism PEI/Laura Lund
RV travelers park overlooking Jacques Cartier Beach in PEI.
Quebec's exotic Isles de la Madeleine
While in Souris, be sure to take a ferry to Quebec's picturesque Iles de la Magdeleine, a cluster of small islands with their own unique beauty and remarkable history. Winding hillside paths and forests frame Les Iles coastlines. Beaches aren't hard to find on these protected islands, which features kite sailing, kayaking, snorkeling, interpretive tours by zodiac and a host of other recreational activities. And yes, as tiny as Les Iles are, you can still take your RV. The Parc de Gros-Cap offers sites with water and electricity and a limited number of sites with sewer hookup, all with an ocean view.
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Michel Bonato
Kite surfing is a major attraction on the islands during the summer.
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Michel Bonato
Kayaking is one of the best ways to see the islands birds and wildlife up close
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Michel BONATO
The Magdeleine Islands in Quebec is one of Canada's most picturesque island settings.
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Michel Bonato
Ile de Magdeleine's surf attracts beach goers of all ages.
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Michel Bonato
Ile de le Magdeleine's dramatic red cliffs offer a unique setting for strolling the beach
New Brunswick's warm Parlee Beach
If you haven't noticed yet, there's a debate going on in Canada as to who can actually claim the warmest ocean swimming. But ask someone from Point du Chene, NB, and they'll tell you Parlee Beach Provincial Park has ‘em beat.
The beachfront, whose waves can boast a toasty 21 C/70 F temperature, has a boardwalk and nearby camping. Visitors can plan their stay on Park New Brunswick's online reservation system. Select Parlee Beach Provincial Park to schedule your stay and specify the size and type of your rig.
As is often the case these days in warm coastal areas that are near developed areas, Parlee Beach's waters have been prone to bacterial outbreaks. In this case, the province of New Brunswick has taken strides to address this issue. It regularly tests the water during the summer and posts alerts when swimming isn't advisable. Keep an eye out for the occasionally posted sign.
Ontario's favourite beaches
Crystal blue waters and careful stewardship has helped to draw the summer crowds to Ontario's Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. The park carries the Canadian Government's respected "Blue Flag" designation for the environmental management of its beachfront and parklands. In addition to a comfortable place to lounge and swim, the area is surrounded by natural wildlife habitat, hiking trails, and historic destinations.
Although the provincial park is day-use only, there are RV parks in and around the town of Wasaga Beach. The Gateway Camping Campground in town offers seasonal sites, while Lafontaine RV Resort, a half-hour's drive north, offers both per-night and seasonal sites. Travelers can also find a number of other parks north of Wasaga Beach that offer reservations for limited and seasonal stays.
A couple hour's drive southeast is the town of Cobourg and the locals' "favourite beach." Its small-town atmosphere, scenic boardwalk, and quaint shops are all part of beach experience. Founded by settlers in the 1700s, it's popular with RV travelers, many of whom are drawn by Cobourg's summer-long list of festivals.
In June the town shows off its British Isle heritage with its Scottish Festival and Highland Games. Canada Day long weekend is always an attraction as well, and in August the town's famed sandcastle competition draws in both competitors and crowds from around North America.
Visitors will want to reserve an RV site ahead of arrival, since there are limited sites within Cobourg. The Cobourg East Campground and Victoria Park Campground both offer per-night stays as well as either weekly, monthly or seasonal sites. Several parks outside of town offer amenities as well.
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Destination Ontario
Wasaga Beach offers plenty of coastline to roam.
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Martin Lortz
Wasaga Beach is Ontario's favourite beach.
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Destination Ontario
Super sunsets are part of Ontario's beach experience.
BC's Skaha Beach
For west-bound RV'ers coming from the prairies and the eastern shores, Skaha Beach in Penticton, British Columbia is a favourite for all ages. Surrounded by wineries, restaurants and RV campgrounds, Skaha Lake Park is one of those community gathering places that never seems to lose its appealing vista. Located toward the south end of the arid Okanagan Valley, it has been attracting locals long before the Okanagan was BC's favourite summer playground. As with so many of Canada's remarkable destinations, it's the locals who really know the best summer beaches.
- Parks Canada
For specific parks and camping accommodation:
1-877-RESERVE (1-877-737-3783)
- Tourism Prince Edward Island
General visitor information and provincial beach locations:
1-800-463-4PEI
- Iles de Magdeleine
Ferry, beach and campground information:
1-877-624-4437
www.tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com/en/
- Tourism New Brunswick
RV parks and nearby amenities:
1-800-561-0123
- Parlee Beach Provincial Park general information:
1-506-533-3363
- Ontario Travel
General information:
1-800-ONTARIO (1-800-668-2746)
- Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
Beach and RV park information:
1-705-429-2516
www.ontarioparks.com/park/wasagabeach
- Town of Cobourg
Beach, RV parks and amenities:
1-888-972-4301
- Tourism British Columbia
General information, RV parks and amenities:
- Penticton, BC Visitor Centre
RV parks and other amenities
250-276-2170
- City of Penticton – Skaha Lake Park
1-250-490-2554