Campervan Rentals in Victoria, BC
Discover Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island
Victoria sits at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, and if you are picking up RV rentals in Victoria, you are starting in a good spot. The island stretches hundreds of kilometres to the north, with rugged coastline, old-growth forest, and surf beaches waiting the further you go. For first-timers, Victoria works well as a base because the shorter trips close by are genuinely great, and the longer ones are there when you are ready for them.
“My favourite weekend getaway is driving from Victoria to Port Renfrew. Stop in Jordan River for a surf, Bear Beach for a classic BC experience, and end in Botanical Beach for some tide pooling. There are lots of affordable campsites in Port Renfrew for the night.”
— Elise in Victoria, BC
Read more about Victoria, BC
The west coast run along Sooke Road is one of the best short trips for RV travel near Victoria and comes up regularly in recommendations from local owners. Head out past Sooke toward Jordan River and keep going to Port Renfrew. The scenery along that stretch is dramatic without requiring a long drive: ocean views, forest roads, and beach access most people do not know about. Botanical Beach near Port Renfrew has tide pools that are worth the trip on their own. Campgrounds in the area are affordable and easy to book, making this a strong 2-3 night option for anyone getting comfortable in an RV for the first time.
If you have more time on your rental, the drive north through Cathedral Grove to Tofino is the route most local owners recommend at least once. Cathedral Grove is a short pull-off where you walk among massive old-growth Douglas firs on the way through. From there, the highway opens up to Long Beach and the wild Pacific coast. Surf Grove and Bella Pacifica campgrounds near Tofino are mentioned consistently as reliable spots with good amenities and direct beach access. Book those sites early in summer because they go fast.
For something more off the radar, a few local owners mention semi-official campgrounds tucked along the Malahat and around Horne Lake Caves that most first-timers never hear about. These aren’t listed on the main booking sites, so they take a bit more planning, but owners who camp there regularly say the trade-off is quiet, uncrowded spots even during peak summer weekends. Worth asking your host about if you want something beyond the usual stops.
The Gulf Islands are another option worth considering. Saltspring Island is the most accessible from Victoria and the Saturday market in Ganges is worth timing your trip around. Ruckle Park on Saltspring is one of the better campgrounds in the islands, and the pace out there is slower in a way that works well for a few nights. If you are heading to the islands with a trailer, plan your holding tank situation before you go.
For longer RV road trips from Victoria, heading north through Nanaimo and up toward Campbell River opens up a wilder, less crowded side of the island. Most campgrounds on Vancouver Island run May through October only, so plan your dates accordingly.
