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Cape Breton Highlands/Broad Cove
Overview
Broad Cove Campground serves as the premier camping destination within the world-renowned Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Situated along the iconic Cabot Trail, this park provides a perfect blend of forest tranquility and coastal beauty for RV travelers. As the largest campground in the park, it offers a managed wilderness experience where visitors can enjoy the rugged Atlantic landscape while maintaining access to essential modern comforts. It is a place where the mountain air meets the salt spray, providing a serene environment for your Nova Scotia adventure.
Location & Surroundings
The park is located near the charming community of Ingonish Beach, nestled between the mountains and the sea. The surroundings are defined by dramatic cliffs, lush Acadian forests, and the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean. A short walk from the campsites leads to a stunning sandy beach where the freshwater of Warren Brook meets the saltwater of the ocean. This unique geography allows visitors to explore diverse coastal ecosystems without ever leaving the vicinity of their campsite.
Amenities & Park Features
Broad Cove offers diverse camping options, including over 80 sites with full 3-way hookups designed to accommodate modern RVs. Facilities are well-maintained, featuring clean washrooms, hot showers, and several kitchen shelters for communal use. Families often gather at the onsite playground or the outdoor theater for seasonal evening programs. For those needing to stay connected, the park provides WiFi access near the visitor center, though the primary focus remains on the natural outdoor experience. The sites are spacious, offering a mix of wooded privacy and open fields.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Outdoor enthusiasts will find themselves steps away from world-class adventures. The legendary Highlands Links Golf Course is just minutes away, offering a historic course design with stunning ocean views. Hikers can challenge themselves on the nearby Franey Trail for a panoramic vista of the coast or explore the gentler Middle Head trail located behind the Keltic Lodge. The area is also a prime location for whale watching tours, which depart regularly from the neighboring Ingonish harbor, providing a chance to see pilot whales and humpbacks.
Who This Park Is Best For
This destination is ideal for family vacationers who want a safe, organized environment with plenty of activities for children and direct beach access. It is also a top choice for Cabot Trail explorers looking for a reliable base camp that can accommodate big rigs with ease. If you value a scenic coastal retreat that balances the wild beauty of northern Cape Breton with the convenience of full hookups, Broad Cove is the perfect fit for your travel style.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Michael Buell
Ask campgrounds go we were very disappointed. It's pretty wide open with very few trees. Electric gas and sewer are at each site but you are right next to your neighbor. No separation of campsites. There's a washroom with showers. Two showers on each side but they are very small. Bathroom and showers were clean. Place is neat. It's a long way from the skyline Trail and other things over on the west side of the cape. Best recommendation is to go eat at the chowder House. Just north of the entrance along the coast there are several nice spots for catching the sunrise. Depending on how long you were going to visit Cape Breton Park I would recommend splitting time between this side and the west side evenly.
Bekah Boudreau
Great campground on the Cabot trail. Easy to find and a large campground. It was quite busy when we were there (long weekend) but still wasn’t too loud or felt too crowded. Bathrooms were cleaned daily and amenities were nice for a campground. Not too much privacy in the sites that we were around (no trees) but still large sites
Dave Deslippe
We were planning on staying at Broad Cove and had booked for a week. After hearing from other campers in our travels about the poor road conditions and steep grade. We canceled and took a financial loss. We decided to camp closer to baddeck. I am a cautious person and felt that it wasn't worth risking my truck or camper. While touring the area, the information that I received was confirmed. There is a steep grade and some very poor road conditions 10-20 kms from the campground. I know that I made the right decision. This is not a criticism of the campground but a warning to unsuspected travelers. If you wish to see for yourself, check out the guard rail damage.
Steve Dunfee
This was one of our all-time favorite campgrounds. The location was perfect for all of the touring we did around the Cabot Trail. What we enjoyed most was the friendly hospitality of the seasonal Cape Bretoners who were staying in the campground. We will forever remember the evenings spent with these amazing people around the communal fire ring.
Lydia Mellon
We had a great experience at this campground. Upon arrival, the staff were very friendly and helpful in directing us to our site. They had firewood available for purchase for $8.50 a bag. It looks like the tent loops are much more private than the RV sections of the park. We had a tent site that was very private and big. The sites included a picnic table, room to park one vehicle, and most included a fire pit (not all do, though, so make sure to check before booking your site). The bathrooms were cleaned frequently and had free hot showers. They also have dishwashing stations throughout the campground. There is a small beach a short walk/drive away, depending where you are in the campground. We enjoyed hearing the waves crashing against the shore at night. We loved our stay here and we would definitely return.