Best Camping in Canada – With a Twist

Photo credit: Tourism New Brunswick
 

Quick Summary
 

Canada has long been known as a camper's paradise—only 20% of the country is inhabited, leaving plenty of room to pitch a tent. But what if your idea of camping puts comfort first and effort last? From grain bin cabins in Saskatchewan to geodesic domes in New Brunswick to canoe-camping adventures in Quebec, this guide covers glamping and unique camping options across all 13 provinces and territories.

Quick Facts

• Destinations Covered: 13 provinces/territories across Canada
• Type: Glamping and unique camping experiences
• Accommodation Types: Cabins, yurts, geodesic domes, cabooses, grain bins, teepees, pods, glass chalets
• Paddling Tie-Ins: Quebec canoe/kayak camping, NWT 12-day canoe journey, NB kayaking at Hopewell Rocks
• Special Features: Northern lights viewing, iceberg watching, bison spotting, Arctic hot-air balloons

Glamping & Unique Camping by Province/Territory

British Columbia – Maple Bay Cabins, Cultus Lake

A step up from traditional tent camping, the Maple Bay Cabins in Cultus Lake Provincial Park offer cozy shelter along one of the province's most popular lakes. A 1.5-hour drive east of Vancouver, the 18-square-metre wood units include heating, lights and a power outlet, as well as a covered patio with picnic table. Each of the 25 cabins can sleep up to five people. Don't miss the park's easy Teapot Hill hiking trail, lined with hidden teapots along the way.

Alberta – Aspen Crossing Caboose Cabins

For an experience that's literally off the rails, stay a couple of nights in Alberta's Aspen Crossing Caboose Cabins. Tucked among the trees near Mossleigh (an hour-drive southwest of Calgary), three authentic railcars take guests back in time to rolling stock's heyday. The polished exteriors are true to their original form, while the repurposed interiors resemble sleek hotel rooms with king-size beds, stocked kitchenettes and air conditioning. Amble over to the 1887 Diefenbaker Dining Car Restaurant for Friday Night Prime Rib.

Saskatchewan – Bin There Campground

Opened in 2019 by a welcoming farming couple, the Bin There Campground just northeast of Moose Jaw is home to six steel grain bins converted into comfortable two-storey cabins. You can't get more Saskatchewan than that. Equipped with skylights, two queen beds, air conditioning and heat, each unit puts guests in touch with the province's deep agricultural roots. A 10-minute drive away takes you to Buffalo Pound Provincial Park.

Manitoba – Riding Mountain National Park

Get your outdoor fix without the hassle of hauling around a temporary home in Manitoba's diverse Riding Mountain National Park, just over a three-hour drive northwest of Winnipeg. Choose from the stylish two-person MicrOcube (you'll love this 10-square-metre structure's panoramic window), a wood-frame canvas yurt with solar lighting and heat, or an A-frame oTENTik cabin equipped with a wood stove. Spend the day spotting bison, elk and moose, then fall asleep to howling wolves and laughing loons.

Ontario – Long Point Eco-Adventures

Ontario's Long Point Eco-Adventures on the north shore of Lake Erie (just two hours southwest of Toronto) offers wilderness suites with hardwood floors, sliding glass patio doors, fresh linens and outdoor showers. You can also tuck into an adorable wooden pod with queen bed and mini-fridge. In between sleeps and sips at nearby Burning Kiln Winery, there's ziplining, Zodiac boat touring and axe-throwing.

Quebec – Kayak & Cabana (Canoe-Camping)

There's top Canada camping sites, and then there's top Canada canoe camping sites. Kayak & Cabana offers canoeing, kayaking and standup paddleboarding excursions on Quebec's Red River. After a day of descending the calm waterway, paddlers can retreat to the two-person Shepherd's Hut (a cedar caravan brimming with simple charm) or the minimalist La Cabana with picture windows looking out to a pine forest. A 1.5-hour drive northwest from Montréal, this secluded site is also an ideal base for hiking and mountain biking in the surrounding Laurentian Mountains.

Newfoundland and Labrador – 'Ome Sweet 'Ome

Founded by Canadian actor Shaun Majumder in Burlington, 'Ome Sweet 'Ome has pinned Newfoundland on the global glamping map. Nine luxury tents sport locally handcrafted log frames, hand-stitched canvas and solar lighting. Step it up in the 'Ome Pod, a wood-and-glass dwelling with fire stove, kitchenette and wrap-around deck—perfect for watching massive icebergs floating into Green Bay below.

New Brunswick – Ridgeback Lodge

Named one of the "world's most unusual camping experiences" by CNN Travel, the adult-only Ridgeback Lodge delights glampers with its geodesic domes nestled in an Atlantic Canada forest. Fall asleep counting constellations in a transparent-roofed stargazer dome or enjoy a dream dome with kitchenette and pellet stove. Either way, go for the Japanese wood-fired hot tub add-on. Cap off your visit with kayaking on the Bay of Fundy's world-famous tides at nearby Hopewell Rocks.

Prince Edward Island – Treetop Haven

Spend a few nights in the trees at Treetop Haven in Mount Tryon. Perched nine feet off the ground in a 20-hectare birch forest, five geodesic domes called TreePODs boast picture windows, large decks, hot tubs and BBQs. Ranging from 40 to 65 square metres, each unit houses a fully equipped kitchen, four-piece bathroom, bedroom(s) and living area.

Nova Scotia – Blue Bayou Resort

Near the northern tip of the Cabot Trail in South Harbour, the Blue Bayou Resort beckons with 23 swanky geodesic domes and seven classic teepees. On the doorstep to Cape Breton Highlands National Park, the resort connects guests to some of the province's best hiking—the 7.5-kilometre Skyline Sunset Hike is a must.

Yukon – Northern Lights Resort & Spa

Time your glamping getaway to catch Canada's winter northern lights or summer's midnight sun—best viewed from an aurora glass chalet at the Northern Lights Resort & Spa in southern Yukon. A 20-minute drive from Whitehorse, the forest- and mountain-fringed property offers chef-prepared meals served family style, and spa and sauna services.

Northwest Territories – 12-Day Canoe Journey

Glamp it up in the Northwest Territories by embarking on a guided 12-day canoe journey on one of the world's longest rivers with Canoe North Adventures. Highlights include six relaxing nights camping on the river's shore, two overnight camp visits by Indigenous leaders, and supplied river meals and snacks—learning about the rich Indigenous culture along the way.

Nunavut – 8-Day Baffin Explorer

Sign up for the eight-day Baffin Explorer package to experience glamping in the Canadian Arctic. Starting in the Nunavut capital of Iqaluit on Baffin Island, this guided tour includes a dog-sled ride to base camp, six nights in a heat-equipped yurt, a hot-air balloon ride over the stark Arctic landscape, an Inuit lunch of Arctic char and caribou, and one night in a cozy igloo.

Follow-Up Questions

• What glamping options are available in Riding Mountain National Park?
• Where can I go canoe-camping in Quebec?
• Are there geodesic dome rentals in Atlantic Canada?
• What's the best place to see the northern lights from a glass cabin?
• Are there luxury camping options in the Canadian Arctic?

Associated Entities

Maple Bay Cabins, Cultus Lake Provincial Park, Teapot Hill, Aspen Crossing Caboose Cabins, Mossleigh, Calgary, Bin There Campground, Moose Jaw, Buffalo Pound Provincial Park, Riding Mountain National Park, MicrOcube, oTENTik, Winnipeg, Long Point Eco-Adventures, Lake Erie, Toronto, Burning Kiln Winery, Kayak & Cabana, Red River, Laurentian Mountains, Mont-Tremblant, Scandinave Spa, 'Ome Sweet 'Ome, Burlington, Shaun Majumder, Ridgeback Lodge, Kingston Peninsula, Hopewell Rocks, Treetop Haven, TreePOD, Mount Tryon, Confederation Bridge, Blue Bayou Resort, Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Skyline Trail, Northern Lights Resort & Spa, Whitehorse, Canoe North Adventures, Mackenzie River, Baffin Safari, Baffin Island, Iqaluit, Destination Canada

Sources & Registry

• Destination Canada – Best camping in Canada – with a twist: https://travel.destinationcanada.com/en-us/things-to-do/best-camping-in-canada