No matter where your interest in nature lies – in the waves, the mountains, or along the winding trails – Tofino is a truly spectacular wild destination. Located on the tip of a peninsula on the west coast of Vancouver Island, you will be surrounded on all sides by wild mountains and the stunning Pacific Ocean.

As well as this, it hosts what is said to be one of the most inclusive surfing cultures at Surf Grove Campground, which welcomes all adventurers – whether they come with or without surfboards! Whether you want to flex your already developed surfing muscles, learn to ride that first wave, or just want to get up close and personal with surfer culture, Surf Grove Campground has you covered.

Welcome to Surf Grove Campground: One of the Best Tofino Camping Spots

Why Choose Cox Bay as Your Beach Location?

With so many beaches and bays scattered across Vancouver Island, it’s hard to choose where to stay. That’s why Steve and I put our boots on the ground, so you can get a deeper look to decide where you want to land for your Tofino Camping vacation.

Cox Bay is the #1 Surfing Beach in Canada according to Pacific Sands Beach Resort. Its unique location and west-facing orientation make it the most consistent beach for catching breaks on the Pacific Rim.

They had the Rip Curl Pro Nationals on this beach while we were there, SO COOL.

As well as surfing, other popular water sports here include bodyboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing. And if you aren’t here to catch a wave, the glorious one-and-a-half-kilometers of rolling sands will provide you with the perfect beach paradise from which to soak up the rays or soak in the sea. The windswept treeline even provides merciful shade in the height of summer.

One of the best things to do in Tofino is taking a hike up to the Cox Bay Lookout to see these amazing views!

Keep your eyes on the ocean too, as this part of Canada is an excellent place to spot majestic humpbacks, grey whales, and orcas. You can also find plenty of whale watching expeditions, fishing charters, and even water taxis here to get you in amongst the action.

Surf Grove Campground at Cox Bay

Tofino’s only campground with access to Cox Bay just so happens to be the fabulous Surf Grove Campground, who pride themselves on creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere that stretches across 135 full-service RV spaces, 64 semi-serviced spaces, plentiful amenities, and even rentable RVs.

The full-service RV sites allow you to simply pull up your vehicle and get hooked up to electricity, water, Wi-Fi, and sewage facilities – so basically everything you need. On top of that, you will find a nearby fire ring, picnic tables, and full bathroom and shower facilities. All of this is a mere 200 meters from the beach, so you can ride the waves whenever you like.

If you require a few fewer resources for your visit, the semi-service campsite at the tidal loops caters to everyone from traditional tent campers to 24-foot trailers and class C motorhomes. Here, you will still find electricity, Wi-Fi, washroom facilities, and a sani-station. The camping is sheltered amongst the rejuvenating thickets of a rich forest, aka the perfect place to cleanse your mind and de-stress.

The Amenities at Surf Grove Campground

Perhaps the most important amenity at Surf Grove is the gorgeous 800 feet of access that they have to Cox Bay, which means that all the essential parts of your camping experience are only a stone’s throw away from the soft sands and the swelling waves.

From the moment you register in their funky space, you know you are in for a luxurious camping experience. Within this space, there is a little store for all those little bits you may have forgotten to pack or need to restock. Whether you are being bugged by mosquitos or have a hankering for s’mores, they have what you need.

If you are worried about emergency calls, last-minute work commitments, or just want to regularly update those back home about your holiday, don’t worry – the Wi-Fi here stretches throughout the site.

We also just have to rave about the bathroom facilities, which excellently demonstrate Surf Grove’s commitment to what they call ‘elevated’ camping. They have spared no expensive installing brand-new and state-of-the-art washroom facilities that they keep sparkling clean day in, day out. I would pick this campground just for these fancy-schmancy facilities alone. 

In this main facility, you will find lovely indoor showers like this:

These indoor spaces have plenty of room for you to get yourself ready for an amazing day.

 

But what really wow’d us is their smaller washroom facilities throughout the Surf Grove Campground. You will find indoor toilets with outdoor showers and a dishwashing station. These are incredible!

Indoor Toilet:

And this outdoor shower is the best shower we have ever come across in a campground. I mean, I might not ever leave that shower.

They even have outdoor showers for surfers just off the beach!

Surf Grove Campground is a family campground, and this extends to your furry family members – so feel free to bring both your children and your animals. They have even catered for both by providing board games, scavenger hunts, and a beachside wash-off station!

New for 2022 at the Surf Grove Campground – Surf Grove Saunas!

Surf Grove upping their already elevated camping experience with these new soothing saunas!

Locally made in Qualicum Beach, these cedar saunas are sure to soothe your body, mind, and soul.

For a more invigorating approach, you can enjoy the physical and psychological benefits of the 2000-year-old Nordic tradition called thermotherapy – “hot, cold, rest, repeat”. Use the cold rain shower right outside the sauna door, or go a bit further down the path to the Pacific Ocean.

Finally, since Surf Grove is run by surfers, they have you covered with all the surf resources you could possibly need. Coming soon, their surf shack will be fully stocked with rentals, as well as with teachers to help you catch that first-ever wave if you are new to the sport. 

We think Surf Grove Campground is hands down one of the best Tofino camping spots. You can learn more about them or book your spot here: https://surfgrove.com/

Things to do in Tofino or Ucluelet

• Surf (or watch the surfers) at Long Beach, Chesterman Beach
• Hike to the magnificent views at Cox Bay Lookout
• Explore the Rainforest Trail in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
• Wander along the rugged coastline on the Wild Pacific Trail
• Read the full guide: Things to Do in Tofino