Ocean Front Camping in Prince Edward Island

PEI's Cabot Beach Provincial Park Is A Summer Dream Come True!

Not a bad way to end the evening!

There aren't many places in the world where you can drift off to sleep next to an ocean front, sunset view for under $30 but Prince Edward Island is one of them - IF you're willing to go camping! And we certainly were! Heading to the Canadian Maritimes with a bare-bones budget, we were determined to still enjoy the very best the area had to offer and make some amazing vacation memories. And with this in mind, we were off to the Cabot Beach Provincial Park.

Waking up to a wonderful morning view.

Happily, our site was one of the few that was next to a tree, giving us some shade. Our neighbours appreciated the trees as well - they had brought along their pet cat, whose leash was anchored to the tree! This was definitely a camping first for me! In addition to our feline friend, the park was equipped with the usual amenities, including a very clean washroom and a playground for the kids. A lifeguard staffed beach was just a short walk away from the main camping area.

Cabot Beach is set up a bit differently than many other provincial parks across Canada. The campground is little more than an open field, with nothing but a few trees and the occasional numerical marker to help guide us to our site. This was a far cry from the private woodland plots we were used to!

YES! That is a cat you are looking at - attached to a tree via a leash. Not our cat!

The view was absolutely everything we could have dreamed of. Not only did we have spectacular sunsets each night, we also woke up to clear skies and dark blue waters. I was so glad we had brought along our extra large tent with the screen walls so we could just read and relax - mosquito free! - and still see and hear the water.

Our basic trip included an anything-but-basic tent!

Lobster traps at the nearby harbour.

Just outside the campground there are a few corner stores that sell a good stock of ice cream and a basic stock of groceries and supplies. For more significant purchases, a trip to nearby Kensington would be in order. In case you change your mind about roughing it (not that an ocean front view feels particularly rough!) there are a few bed and breakfasts and cottage rentals in the area, as well as fishing and boat excursions from the nearby harbour.

Look how clear the water is!

Cabot Beach was the perfect base for an inexpensive island getaway and was the ideal destination for reading, relaxing, enjoying campfires, and spending times outdoors, walking the trails and heading to the beach. I think even the camping-adverse would be willing to give this gorgeous park a try as part of a memorable PEI adventure. 

What about you? How do you feel about camping?

If you enjoyed this article, you'll also like:
Flavors of PEI for the Fickle Foodie
5 Things I Loved About Newfoundland - and 3 That I Didn't
Art,Wine, and Memories of a Travel Splurge... Nova Scotia Style!