Waterside camping near Moncton
Small but mighty Moncton offers proximity to unique natural phenomena and epic camping.
- Moncton
Popular camping styles for Moncton
Waterside camping near Moncton guide
Overview
With a population of just under 160,000, Moncton is New Brunswick’s biggest city. Visitors flock to Magnetic Hill in northern Moncton to experience its famous optical illusion where your car seems to move by magic, but also because the area has a waterpark, winery, and plenty of outdoor access. In the historic downtown, you'll find a historic theatre, a farmers market, a mural-filled art walk, and a French cultural centre. Meanwhile, camping near Moncton puts you close to long beaches, provincial parks, other-worldly geographical features, and even the World's Biggest Lobster.
Where to go
Shediac
The self-proclaimed lobster capital of the world, Shediac is a fun little town that’s close to the white sands of Parlee Beach Provincial Park and famous for its 90-ton lobster sculpture. Parlee Beach attracts a younger crowd and often has a party vibe as a place where you can chow down on great seafood, swim in some of the warmest ocean water in Canada, or take a tour on a lobster boat. A number of camping sites sit in and around Shediac, including within Parlee Beach Provincial Park.
Fundy Shore
Bestowed with the world’s highest tides, the entire Fundy Shore is an adventurer’s dream. At Hopewell Rocks, you can walk the ocean floor among towering red flowerpot rocks, or kayak around them at high tide. Hike the rugged coastlines that rise into the highlands at Fundy National Park, then set up camp at one of many private campgrounds in the area, or at one of the park's tent sites, RV spaces, yurts, or oTENTiks.
Miramichi
Fly-fishing mecca Miramichi is a quaint town offering a range of Acadian and Indigenous cultural experiences, tubing on the Miramichi River, learn-to-fish programs for adults and kids in nearby Doaktown, and some neat camping opportunities that include treehouse camping.
When to go
New Brunswick is best visited in summer and fall, as the weather can be unpredictable outside of those times and you’ll find it difficult to find operational camping spots. Even still, Moncton is a fully functional city year-round, and visitors can experience much of what it has to offer even in the dead of winter should you want to check it out in the cold and snow.
Know before you go
- Moncton and the surrounding area host many fun festivals, including Shediac's lobster fest in July and Moncton's arts week and live dance music festival in July. Check dates in advance of your trip planning to either check out the events or avoid the crowds they bring.
- Once you get outside the city, cell service can be patchy. Get a good sense of where you are going before setting out.
- French is commonly spoken in and around Moncton, and as New Brunswick is a bilingual province, you’ll see signage in both English and French.
