If you are wanting a city that has historical interest, has a maritime feel to it, and has everything you need, Halifax is a great place to visit, or move to. Hotels tend to be on the expensive side. So have you thought about camping? Where can you camp near Halifax? There are campgrounds that are within an hours drive of Halifax.
These campgrounds will not be the ultimate wilderness experience, however, instead of paying 150-250$ per night in a hotel during peak season, you can spend more of your budget on the things you like by camping.
#1 Dollar Lake Provincial Campground Open June 5th to October 12th, 2020 5265 Old Guysborough Road, Wyses Corner, NS Park Tail Map link
Dollar Lake provincial campground is located about a 45min drive outside of Halifax. The other advantage of it is only 25min from the international airport. So if you are coming in on a late flight and have the right gear you can easily stay there for the night.
Dollar lake is situated in a quiet woodland setting that offers many outdoor activities such as camping, canoeing, water-skiing, boating, and fishing. There is a sandy beach at one end of the lake where you can swim.
On the campground there are:
- hiking trails
- boat launch
- bathrooms
- sites for large groups
- 117 campsites
What are some things you can visit in the area?
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport
- Enfield Truck Stop Restaurant (popular with locals)
- Murphys Fish and Chips (my favorite fish and chips shop in Nova Scotia)
- Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park, Shubenacadie
#2 Halifax West KOA 370 Hwy 1 Upper Sackville
Halifax KOA is a mere 30min drive from Halifax. While this campsite is not exactly wilderness camping, it gets the job done for those who are wanting to save on accommodations. Amenities include:
- 50 Max Amp
- 120′ Max Length
- Wi-Fi
- Pool (5/18 – 9/5)
- Fishing
- Firewood
- Bike Rentals
What are some things outdoor activities that you can do in Halifax?
- walk on the boardwalk at the Halifax waterfront
- visit Point Pleasant Park
- go for a walk or swim at Long Lake Provincial Park
- visit the website www.halifaxtrails.ca for extensive information on hikes around Halifax.
#4 Shubie Campgound 30 John Brenton Dr. Dartmouth
Shubie Campground for tent campers would serve the sole purpose of being able to stay close to Halifax on a budget. You would not be staying here for the experience. It is cramped and there are very little places for shade. While some people might like being cramped, most tent campers prefer more privacy. However, its location is ideal. A mere 18min drive and you’re in Downtown Halifax. Or an even better option is taking local transit. You can jump on a bus and either take the bus over the bridge to Halifax or even better transfer to the ferry and enjoy the boat ride over to the heart of Halifax. You will get off the ferry and be situated right in the middle of the action on the waterfront boardwalk. Here are the campgrounds amenities as listed on the website:
- 72 Serviced sites, 62 with 2 services (water and electricity) and 5 with 3 services (power, water, and sewer).
- 27 Unserviced tent sites (water taps are available close by)
- 1 Yurt
- Really clean washrooms with coin-operated showers ($1/4 mins)
- Coin-operated Laundry
- Office (8:00 am – 8:00 pm)
- Store and Canteen
- Disposal/Dump station
- 24-hour staffed campground
- On-site manager
- Fire pits on most sites (please let us know if you want a fire pit and we’ll do our best to accommodate you)
- Outdoor picnic shelter
- Beautiful gardens
- Tennis court
- Playground
- Ballfield
- Lake with a supervised beach (July/Aug)
- Hiking Trails
- Close to regional shopping centers (MicMac Mall, Dartmouth Crossing)
- On public transit route (Yes, the city bus stops right outside our door!)
- 7 minutes to downtown Dartmouth and ferry service to Downtown Halifax
- 10 minutes to the Halifax Waterfront
- 15 minutes to downtown Halifax
- Basic Wifi – It’s free! (please note that it is stronger closer to the main office) – if you are looking to be “off the grid” i.e. where the wifi isn’t as strong – our back sites may be best for you! If you are looking to enjoy your Netflix fix – you may want to download your movies in advance!
#5 Graves Island Provincial Park 230 Graves Island Road, Chester NS
Graves Island Campground would be the one we would personally camp in if we were visiting Halifax Ns. Out of all the campgrounds within 1 hour of Halifax, this campground offers the nicest tent camping. The sites are well spaced and some offer decent privacy. The setting is quite nice overlooking St. Margarets Bay. While it is a 50min drive one way to Halifax, the flip side is you are situated on the south shore which offers many sightseeing opportunities. In fact this is the area many of the sightseeing tours based in Halifax drive out to. What is there to see close by?
- The town of Chester
- The Kiwi Cafe
- Bayswater Beach
- Queensland Beach
- Chester Race Week
So there is an overview of some campgrounds that you can stay at during your Halifax NS visit. Camping can be an economical way and by sacrificing a few comforts you may even be able to extend your stay.