Camping in Nova Scotia with campfires

This is where you want to be for salty waves, rambling coasts, and fresh fish.

94% (846 reviews)
94% (846 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Nova Scotia

Dog-friendly getaways

12 top campgrounds in Nova Scotia with campfires

100%
(6)

The Lobster Boat Inn

1 site · Lodging3 acres · Antigonish, NS
The Lobster Boat Inn is located on a hill in the woods in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. It sits high and dry with no water in sight. Thus the serial number: NOMOH2O as it will never float again. Our motto is Off the Grid, Off the Water and Off the Beaten Path! The original boat was built in 1995, and when found was in need of some tender-loving care. It was renovated in 2022/23 to provide visitors with a rustic, unique, "glamping" experience. It is filled with lobster-themed items that will send you on an imaginary lobster pot-pulling adventure. Cook on the back deck as you drink in nature, then eat in an original ship's wheelhouse or outside on the picnic table by the fire pit. Our amenities include: comfy beds, fresh drinking-water, refrigerator, interior and exterior bathroom facilities, with a hot shower gas wall heater and AC. If you like, try the eggs for breakfast provided by my girls. Off the property you will find near by in season: auto race watching, hiking, biking and shopping activities. Downtown Antigonish is but a ten minute drive. The famous Highland Games comes in July along with the Lobster Festival in New Glasgow. The University is now offering day passes for a small $15 fee to their large swimming pool , exercise gym and co-ed sauna so don't forget to bring your swimwear for these or of course, one of the 19 Antigonish-area ocean beaches. Sure, you can sit inside and watch one of the many DVD movies, but why not : explore nature, take a walk through the woods, talk to your wife, friend or child, play with the kids, or throw a ball for your dog? If you want to relax, maybe a visit to the golf course would tickle your fancy. Or just chill on the comfy relaxation deck. Do you want to ride, your bike on mountain trails, fish, visit a lighthouse or a petting farm? We have all that too near by! Take a drive on our new 4-lane Hwy 104 and you'll be blown away at how beautiful asphalt can be. Wide-open highways make for smooth, fast, travel to places like New Glasgow, Pictou, The Cabot Trail or the ferry to PEI. All are within an hour's drive. Stargazing is wondrous through our dark, clear skies. If you're lucky, you might even spot the Space Station passing by, as you sit at the fire-pit roasting marshmallows after a long day of fun.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Showers
Trash
from 
CA$99
 / night
100%
(4)

Luxury Glamping at Nalu Retreat!

2 sites · Lodging25 acres · Porters Lake, NS
Nalu Retreat is a healing retreat and nature sensory experience perched on the edge of a cliff where we invite you to practice mindfulness and enjoy the art of simply being. Our unique, four season geodesic domes offer an extraordinary and unforgettable glamping experience where one can connect to nature, but still have all the luxuries of a boutique hotel. Each dome has 16 ft high ceilings, large panoramic windows that bring mother nature indoors, a well equipped kitchen, spa inspired bathroom, fireplace, queen size bed, private deck with hot tub, bbq and outdoor shower for a cold plunge. Amenities: Hot tub, cold water therapy and propane fireplace for your own nordic spa experience on your private deck All inclusive packages and spa packages offering farm to table meal options and spa treatments Shared fire pit and walking trails (Sauna coming soon) Fully equipped kitchen with coffee, tea, sweeteners and oat milk, toaster, convection oven, fridge / freezer Spa inspired bathroom with rain-head shower, custom Nalu scented soap/lotion, shower cap and hair dryer Robes, slippers, aromatherapy diffuser and custom nalu chocolates to give that spa feel! Wifi, board games, adult colouring books, Yoga mats, meditation rounds, stargazing loft, cards, singing bowls, sound machine and much more!
Potable water
Toilets
Showers
Trash
Cooking equipment
from 
CA$298.35
 / night
98%
(51)

Off the Beaten Trail Eco Lodging

12 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents2 acres · Rose Bay, NS
Welcome to Off the Beaten Trail. Found on the beautiful South Shore of Nova Scotia, near the famous U.N.E.S.C.O Town of Lunenburg, making us a great central location. We offer a glamping experience that will be hard to beat. Offering unique full service units, Tent and RV sites. Recognized Superhost with Airbnb and voted #3 in Nova Scotia for Best Hipcamp in 2022 Open year round, for those who enjoy winter camping. Near by you’ll find Sea Glass beach (aka Spindlers Beach), The Ovens Natural Park, Sand Dollar Beach, Hirtles Beach, Oxners Beach (usually peaceful), Gaff Point Hiking Trail, Indian Path Common Trails, and Kingburg beach to name a few. For shopping locally we have The Rose Bay General Store and Bistro with NSLC Outlet. You’ll find convenience items, seasonal produce, fresh baked goods, take out and dine in eating, a great selection of imported Specialty items, and authentic Nova Scotian products. A great spot to stop on the way back from the beach for a bite to eat and supplies. We also have the Bayport Pub at the beginning of Feltzen South Road. With Great pub classics and fresh hot fish and chips, you’ll want to let them handle the cooking for a night, but make sure to leave room for the best Ice Cream around. Get the Scoop located in Feltzen South, just a short distance from us here at Off the Beaten Trail. Look up these great places and more online for hours and specials.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Showers
Trash
from 
CA$47.50
 / night
100%
(3)

Moo Nay Farms

15 sites · Tents100 acres · Cooks Brook, NS
Moo Nay Farms is a located in Cooks Brook, Nova Scotia, about an hour from Halifax and 20 minutes from our local airport. We are a 100 acre free range beef, pig and rabbit farm, and horse boarding facility on a corner bordering on 2 rivers, a running brook and a sitting on a huge pile of sand. We encourage our campers to also be free range and choose any nice quiet spot they find, a wide open sand lot, along the river, or deep in the woods. Campers are free to set up tents and sites on either side of the pasture, I don't allow trailer campers in the pastures as the cows tend to like to use them as scratching posts and can damage units. You never know when a litter of piglets is going to be born, a new calf arrives, or when the cows will skip the fence and we call on ya for a cattle drive, but always guaranteed something interesting is going to happen on the farm. We welcome campers to bring their pets responsibly, please be aware it is a livestock farm. For people vacationing or travelling with horses, we have stalls and paddocks available and plenty of sand arenas and trails to ride in. Key features of the property are definitely the livestock, horses, a beautiful swimming or fishing hole at the corner of the property tons of walking or biking trails, a beach volleyball court, huge bbq pit, firepit area complete with seating, bbq capable of roasting whole hogs if you're planning a party event or gathering. With 100, very accessible acres, so many things to do, to learn about free range farming, and country life, we're sure you will find a beautiful location to enjoy nature on our farm, and lots of fun for the kids.
Pets
Toilets
Trash
Cooking equipment
from 
CA$30
 / night
96%
(14)

Porters Peak

13 sites · Lodging250 acres · Halifax, NS
Breathe in the fresh air, unwind, reconnect, and recharge as you escape in the great outdoors. Porters Peak is an adventure getaway located in Porters Lake, only 40 minutes from Halifax. We offer over 250 acres of rolling hills, adventure activities and 2 unique types of accommodations; Safari Tents and Cozy Cabins. Built by Canadian adventurers, for adventurers of all types. Enjoy Luxurious Glamping Tents for Your Next Adventure. Relax in style with our luxurious glamping tents featuring plush bedding for a comfortable night's sleep. Enjoy cooking in our fully equipped outdoor kitchen and seating area, surrounded by beautifully landscaped surroundings. As the sun sets, cozy up around your personal fire pit and soak up the ambiance with solar lights illuminating your tent, or grill up some delicious food on your personal BBQ. Our glamping tents offer the perfect blend of comfort and nature for an unforgettable outdoor experience. Experience the magic of the great outdoors!
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Showers
Trash
from 
CA$70
 / night
98%
(31)

Unique Cabot Trail Campground

14 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents100 acres · Baddeck, NS
This was one of the original homesteads in the Margarees. There was an old sawmill on site which was used to build the house and barn. It was sold to a man who started renovations for a summer house but ended up listing it for sale. I purchased it and completely renovated the 100-year-old house. Shortly after, my brother and I started an outfitting company with no plan of building a campground, but in 2017 we saw a great opportunity for building something unique. We wanted to keep a backwoods camping feel, but yet create it around a hostel-inspired environment. We launched June 1, 2018 and are in full swing now. We look forward to meeting you and will help you out in any way to make your trip here something to remember. Adventure awaits at this eco-camping hostel offering a natural setting, overlooking a picturesque valley. This location offers close to off-grid camping with a twist of comfort; furnished Glamping tents, sleeping up to 4 people per tent on a queen bed with twin camping beds for extra guests. Cooking gear, bedding, and towels are provided. Each tent, located at this eco-hostel, has its own campfire pit, with a solar outdoor shower on site and beautiful views of the river valley.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Showers
Trash
from 
CA$35
 / night
Value Prop
Value Prop
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Camping in Nova Scotia with campfires guide

Overview

Almost entirely surrounded by water, Nova Scotia is central to Canada’s maritime region. Ocean inlets sneak tendrils into the province’s forested interior, while seafront restaurants dole out fresh fish, lighthouses beckon ships to shore, and beach bonfires dot the coast. The region shines in summer, when most Nova Scotia campgrounds open and gulf currents warm the Atlantic for swimming and boating. Autumn’s crisp temperatures and colorful foliage are perfect for hikes through the Cape Breton highlands or a drive on the Cabot Trail, and winter snow lays a smooth foundation for cross-country skiing.

Cape Breton Island

Cape Breton Highlands National Park is ideal for camping in summer and hiking year-round, with old-growth boreal forests, river canyons, and plenty of sandy beaches. Campers can also consider taking a road trip along the coast and across the highlands on the scenic Cabot Trail highway. Further south, the saltwater Bras d’Or Lake is a sailing and swimming hotspot.

Bay of Fundy & Annapolis Valley

Here, you can experience the world’s most dramatic ocean tides in Fundy National Park, comb the beaches of Five Islands Provincial Park, or canoe through Kejimkujik National Park. Catch a glimpse of humpback and right whales during their summer migration—then, venture inland for fresh local produce and wine tastings at Annapolis Valley vineyards.

Eastern Shore

Head to Larencetown and Martinque beaches outside Halifax for some of the best cold-water surfing on Canada’s east coast. Visit the region’s authentic fishing communities on the way, then take a boat out to the 100 Wild Islands archipelago, where you can hike and camp in secluded coves and boreal rainforests.

Northumberland Shore

Plenty of warm-water beaches lie along the sheltered Northumberland Strait, as does a thriving local wine scene and Gaelic culture in Pictou, known as “the Birthplace of New Scotland." The region’s fishing industry also brings fresh lobster to area restaurants.

South Shore

The South Shore of Nova Scotia offers opportunities to dive into maritime history at colorful Old Town Lunenburg (home of the Bluenose II schooner), snap a picture of the Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse, or get off the grid for a camping trip in one of the region’s wilderness areas—many of which feature thick canopied forests and white-sand beaches.

Top cities in and near Nova Scotia

Safety at Hipcamp

Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Hipcamp Hand

Safety partners

Recreate Responsibly

About us

Camp Your Way™

Find the perfect site to match your camping style. Explore the largest collection of private campsites, RV parks, cabins, and glamping—including 120,000+ sites you won’t find anywhere else. Explore our maps, filter by your camping style, read real camper reviews, and book directly in our app. Hipcamp is the simplest way to find yourself outside under the stars.

Download the Hipcamp App

© 2024 Hipcamp, Inc. All rights reserved.
Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.