bunk beds for the kids, comfort for the parents

We’ve had feedback that families could use a camping experience where you don’t need to bring “everything” and still have a memorable family trip. The Family Dome is built for families who want comfort and convenience. 

What is included at your dome

bunk beds

We know kids love bunk beds and its one of the most raved about parts to our beloved Jacob Boy which is often booked months ahead of time. We built custom bunk beds for the kids and have a sleeping bag and some blankets available. If the kids want their own pillows and linens/sleeping bag please bring them along.

Private Bathroom and Kitchen area

Some families love the privacy of being able to shower and use the washroom at their own campsite. We built an outdoor building that is attached to the deck of the dome. It’s very private, rustic, and clean! 

Covered outdoor seating area

When it’s raining we don’t want our guests of the family dome to be stuck inside. We built a covered area with plenty of seating to play games and have a meal, even if the rain is falling. 

Close to Fundy, Hopewell, and Cape Enrage

For those seeking an immersive and serene getaway with the family, West River Camping proves to be an ideal basecamp. Situated in close proximity to Hopewell Rocks, Cape Enrage, and Fundy National Park, our campground is the most central option if you plan on visiting all 3 locations. 

Kids can try to Zipline at Cape Enrage, play on the massive playground at Fundy Park or the newly created pump track for the bikers in the family. Kayaking around Hopewell Rocks when the tide is in is a truly unique family experience as well.

If you need other ideas for things to do in our area for families, our staff is more than welcome to provide suggestions! 

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Are you looking for the best places to stay in the greater Fundy National Park area? We will cover campgrounds, motels, cottages, and Airbnb’s in and around West River, Alma, and Albert County. This radius is perfect for a visit to Fundy National Park, Hopewell Rocks, or Cape Enrage.

**There are even two local beaches in our area that are perfect for long walks when the tide is out. (Waterside Beach and Dennis Beach).

Here is our list of the top 10 places to stay in and around Fundy National Park.

Glamping campgrounds

1. West River Camping

We are starting right here in West River at our very own Glamping Campground, where we offer a more private and relaxed atmosphere than most campgrounds. Our washrooms are the cleanest you will find in Atlantic Canada (check reviews to confirm this) and we offer a variety of campsites that suit all types of campers.

Our pride and joy is our Jacob Boy boat rental which is an old fishing boat turned into an Airbnb accommodation. It was a lot of work, but it is perfect for families that want an experience they will never forget.

We also offer a Glamping cabin and two domes, all of which have their own private hot tub, Bell Tents, Rustic Cabins, and of course RV and tent sites.

We are the only campground/accommodation on Google in the area with roughly 180 reviews, 4.8/5 ratings, and many discuss what they loved about their stay.

Book Online: West River Camping

Call – 506-887-CAMP(2267)

camping

2. Headquarters (fundy national park)

Most people that live in New Brunswick are used to staying inside Fundy National Park due to the low prices and knowing what to expect. Out of the several options inside Fundy National Park, Headquarters provides one of the most beautiful views of the Village of Alma from a public lookout inside the campground. It is situated very close to the Golf Course, Tennis Courts, Playground and Lawn Bowling, and is our top pick if you’re looking to have a family vacation without spending too much.

A few other notable campgrounds inside Fundy National Park are Point Wolfe, Chignecto, Cannontown, BackCountry, and Lakeview. 

Book Online: Fundy National Park

Call – 1-877-737-3783

3. BroadLeaf Ranch

If you’re into Horseback riding this place is a must-stay. They have a horse ranch on-site where you can go on horseback with a guide for an additional fee.

There are a variety of sites including regular campsites, a Glamping Lighthouse, and Country Cabins.

Book Online: Website

Call – 506-882-2349

4. Ponderosa Pines Campground

Motels, Cottages and Chalets

5. Captains Lookout Cottages

6. Bayview Motel Chalets and RV

7. Captains inn

8. Fundy Highlands

Located inside Fundy National Park, we have the Fundy Highlands Motel and Chalets. These chalets have linens and towels included and high speed internet.

For those looking to not bring camping gear or need a last minute place to stay we recommend checking out the Fundy Highlands!

Book Online: Website

Call – 1-888-883-8639

9. Parkland Village Inn

Parkland Village Inn resides on Main St in Alma, NB. It’s main attraction besides the amazing view of the Bay of Fundy is the Tides Restaurant attached to the building.

If you’re looking for a 3.5 hotel stay with great food within a walk down the stairs, this may be the perfect spot for you!

Book Online: Website

Call – 1-866-668-4337

AirBnb

10. Hopewell Haven

Close to Hopewell Rocks, this Airbnb is truly one-of-a-kind. This is the most expensive option on our list but it does offer 1.5 baths and 3 bedroom and a stunning view over the Bay of Fundy. Our favourite part of this location is the outside seating area to relax.

Book Online: Hopewell Haven

BONUS – Jacob Boy and Glamping Cabin in West River

We have two units inside the West River Campground that are available on Airbnb or by calling us. All other units are available to book on our website or by calling.

Jacob Boy was an old fishing boat that we renovated into a family-based Airbnb. It can sleep up to 6 (2 adults and 4 kids) and has a hot tub, fire pit, and picnic table included. It has its own private 3-piece bath onboard, an original ship steering wheel that the kids love, and lots of room to play outside. You can view more photos inside and out at the Airbnb link below.

Our Glamping Cabin can sleep 4 adults or 2 adults & 4 children comfortably with 1 set of double bunks & 1 set of single bunks. It also has a kitchenette, a private fenced-in hot tub, and a full 3-piece bathroom. 

These are both great options for families visiting Fundy National Park and want their stay to become an experience they will never forget. (We also have SUPERHOST status on Airbnb!).

Book Online: Jacob Boy Boat Rental

Book Online: Glamping Cabin

Call – 1-506-887-CAMP(2267)

RELEASE DATE: Jan 9, 2023

In the video above, owners of West River Camping, Scott & Melissa McMillan, take us on a day adventure along the Fundy coast. Now that the new connector road has been finished many people in and outside the province are wondering what the drive looks like. This video shows just that along with some of the more popular stops along the way.

They begin their day trip journey in their RV starting in West River (open May long weekend to the 1st weekend in October). They continue down through Alma and Fundy National Park until they get to the new connector road (Shepody Rd). They turn left off the new connector road and head into the new Fundy Trail Parkway. The 1st stop is the new observation deck of Walton Glen Gorge. This is breathtaking in person and a short hike (1.2km) or bike ride (3.2km). There is also an option to go down to the falls with steep stairs just over a km long (as mentioned in the video).

They continue into the Fundy Trail and stop at the Seely Beach Lookout. It was a bit foggy the day the video was taken but the views are still amazing. Continuing down the Fundy Trail they visit Melissa’s old camping spot when she was a child. This was before the Fundy Trail was built into what it was today. She shares stories of where she camped and showcases the popular walking bridge that kids and kids at heart enjoy. You will often find families swimming here with wildlife all around. 

Scott and Melissa then venture outside the park to the famous Caves in St Martins, a place where you can enjoy a walk into the caves at low tide, and enjoy an amazing meal at one of the two on-site restaurants. They are known for their world-class seafood but have plenty of options for all diet types.

It is recommended that you pay close attention to tide levels if you plan on going down to the beaches along the Fundy Trail as some of them are more accessible when the tide is out. This goes for the Caves as well.

This day trip can be a light sightseeing version or you can make it strenuous and test your hiking or biking skills down very steep inclines and declines. It’s a good option for all fitness levels.

Lastly, this trip along the Fundy Coast provides some of the most breathtaking views New Brunswick has to offer. Between Fundy National Park, The Fundy Trail, and St Martins you have many great options for an amazing experience.

If you plan on staying at West River Camping both nights doing this day trip, you can loop back around through Sussex (additional 25-minute drive) to do some shopping! Sussex has many great local shops along with your typical larger retailers and grocery stores.

The easiest way to get directions to do this day trip is entering “West River Camping” in Google Maps, then “St Martins Sea Caves” as the destination. There are only a few turns for the entire trip so it’s very easy to navigate.

Happy Camping!

Review of West River Camping

Note to Editor:

West River Camping was formed when Covid hit our area in March of 2020. 

Address: 7359 NB-114 West River, NB, Canada E4H 2L1. (12km from Fundy National Park).

Phone: 506-887-CAMP(2267)

Owners: Scott and Melissa McMillan

Couples come to stay at West River Camping due to it’s superior privacy, tranquility, and the choice to either go on an adventure or stay in and snuggle. 

With a private hot tub included in your dome glamping stay, you can sit back with a glass of wine and truly enjoy some time to yourselves. What better place to do that than surrounded by trees and the sounds of the birds? 

If you’re the adventurous type, Fundy National Park is 12km away, full of trails to explore. Cape Enrage is minutes away. Alma has kayaking and some of the most amazing restaurants you can find. There are two golf courses in opposite sides of West River, many biking trails, and even 2 hidden gem beaches within walking distance. 

Dome Glamping is a truly one of a kind experience in itself, and is a bit on the pampered side of camping, for those who’ve never tried it before. Dome vacations vary from place to place, but the two options we have at West River Camping are designed for couples. There’s 1 Queen size bed, an electric fireplace, a 3-piece bath, hot tub, and a full cooking area. Couples also love the robes and free firewood included in the rental.

Our two domes are named the raised dome (pictured above) where the cooking and seating area has been built below the dome. It’s fenced in and super private. You could enjoy an amazing meal even if the weather does not cooperate. 

The Lower dome has a covered wood-fired hot tub and a seating/cooking area. It also has the benefit of having an extremely large lot, which is the only one on site that can have additional visitors with an RV stay with you for a fee. (Please inquire before planning). 

Dome Glamping has become popular for newlyweds at our campground, as we’ve had 3 engagements here in the past 2 years, all staying in our romantic Domes! Whether you’re newly in love or are looking for new ideas and adventures, this couples vacation idea is one you should try!

Domes have become one of the unique experiences that you can stay at in New Brunswick. We offer a variety of sites, but our domes are one of the most popular, especially for couples looking to get away from it all. 

For those looking for to stay in a dome or unique stay in New Brunswick you can find many options at Tourism New Brunswick’s website. 

To learn more about our dome options, see a variety of photos and even watch a video tour visit Domes at West River Camping.

New to the West River Campground are 3 wood-fired hot tubs! The two we have shown here are uniquely named “The Watering Hole” and “The Wooden Bearrel”. You can rent our hot tubs when making a reservation online or by calling the office. 

This unique experience located on private spaces throughout the campground give our campers a relaxing time away from it all. We have wood supplied inside the enclosure that you simply add to make the hot tub warmer. Each of our hot tub units has a paddle included to mix the water to make it your ideal temperature. Each hot tub fits two adults. It does take roughly an hour for the water to get warm so if you plan on using it right away you can notify our staff that you’re almost there, and we can start up the fire for you! 

For the short time we’ve had the hot tubs available, they’ve been selling out quickly. If you’re interested in booking them for your stay we highly recommend doing it upon booking your site. 

If you feel like this is your kind of vacation we highly recommend you booking one of our domes for couples. Both our domes come with a hot tub included in the rental.

We do have 1 other hot tub available but it’s on a first come first serve basis. They can be hard to come by on weekends so be sure to book ahead. A wise tip for those booking in the short term – check a weekday booking to see if your schedule aligns. This could make one amazing getaway that you and yours need!

Crooked creek falls is a local hotspot and is not well known by many. Tourists bypass this little hidden path often on their way to the Crooked Creek Lookout just a minute up the road. If you’re the adventurous type and don’t mind very steep climbs, then crooked creek falls is for you! If you just want to take in some of New Brunswick’s scenic rolling hills at sunset then the lookout is for you! (Both are shown on the map at the bottom of the page).

When you get to the bottom of the 12-15 minute hike you will meet a scenic area that has small waterfalls and a very deep swimming hole. On weekends you will find a younger crowd here jumping off the falls and having a blast. 

TIP: For those going for an adventure to Crooked Creek Falls, park your car in the area in the photo below, not at the top of the road where the lookout is. There is no sign right now for the Falls trail, but we plan on putting one up ourselves if the locals don’t keep taking it down! 😉