Ocean Front Cabot Beach Camping in Prince Edward Island: Review

PEI's Cabot Beach Camping Is A Summer Dream Come True!
​Read our review and see for yourself.

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Not sure you want to try Cabot Beach camping? This might change your mind! 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 enjoy Cabot Beach camping at a spectacular provincial park. Thank goodness we did! It may just be the most spectacular sunset campground PEI has to offer! Read on to see why we loved it so much.

Not sure where to go? Here's why we recommend a Cabot Beach camping experience.

Waking up to a wonderful morning view.

The Cabot Beach campground is one of several provincial parks in Prince Edward Island (you can see the full list and make PEI Provincial Park online reservations here). Having camped at several provincial parks in Ontario, we thought we knew what to expect. But Cabot Beach Provincial Park is set up a bit differently than others 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!

​Happily, our site was one of the few that was next to a tree, giving us some shade and some privacy. Our neighbours appreciated the trees as well - they had brought along their pet cat, whose leash was anchored to the tree! Thankfully our dog Chester never noticed. This was definitely a camping first for me! I guess you can certainly say that this park is pet friendly! But note that if you're staying for a few days and want shade and a bit of privacy, I'd suggest calling the park and speaking to the staff. It's not always to clearly figure out the best spot by looking at things online. (Though, if you're determined, you can find a Cabot Beach Provincial Park site map here).

In addition to our feline friend, the park was equipped with the usual amenities, including a playground for kids and a very clean washroom (all the same, when it comes to camping I strongly recommend flip flops. These jaunty gold ones are some of my favs). A lifeguard staffed beach was just a short walk away from the main camping area, perfect for excursions. What is PEI if not a great beach destination, after all? While we are tent campers, I know a lot of you are keen on experiencing life in PEI rv campgrounds and this looked like a popular one - we saw lots of RVs of all different shapes and sizes. Everyone was very friendly but at night the campground was quiet - just the way we like it.

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

That ocean front location I mentioned - yep, 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. I appreciate that camping isn't necessarily for everyone but the chance to experience PEI ocean front camping in such an unspoiled setting was fantastic. 

(By the way, if you're national park and provincial park crazy, you'll love this post from Bit of Momsense about exploring PEI's Greenwich National Park with kids!)

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. And the highly reviewed Malpeque Oyster Barn is close by as well, though Ryan's allergy kept us away.

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
Your Prince Edward Island Travel Plan
Your Ultimate Maritimes Travel Adventure Guide
5 Things I Loved About Newfoundland - and 3 That I Didn't
Art,Wine, and Memories of a Travel Splurge... Nova Scotia Style! 
And from my friend Becky.... Visiting PEI's Bottle House.