Pippy Park Campground Review St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador
- Kim Martinez
- Jul 22
- 4 min read
About Pippy Park
Pippy Park is one of Canada's largest urban parks, spanning over 3,400 acres of protected natural landscapes. Often called a "green oasis" at the edge of St. John's, it offers stunning views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean, along with peaceful surroundings. The park features a golf course, a spacious campground for tents and RVs, over 120 km of hiking trails, and a botanical garden—all just 3.6 km from downtown St. John's.
Campground Details
Location: Pippy Park Campground & RV Park
Address: 34 Nagles Place, St. John's, NL, Canada A1B 3T2
Distance to Downtown: Approximately 2 miles to downtown St. John's
Pricing & Sites
Cost: $30-$50 CAD per night (depending on services)
Site Types: 217 sites total:
-Full, semi, and unserviced sites on private treed lots
- Additional full-service pull-through sites in open meadow setting
- Electric, sewer, and water available on select sites
Season & Access
- Open: Mid-May to October (weather permitting)
Location Access: Take Trans-Canada Highway Exit 46, follow signs to Nagles Place
Vehicle Access: Very easy access for any size vehicle to campground entrance
Internal Access: Some loops more challenging than others; Class A RVs over 40' may struggle in certain areas but manageable
Contact Information
Phone: (709) 737-3669 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-3655
Email: campground@pippypark.com
Reservations
Method: Online form via website with email confirmation within 24 hours
Note: Recommendation: Reservations strongly recommended
Email system more reliable than phone contact
Our Experience (July 2025 - 4 Nights)
Check-In Process
Excellent and personable service. Staff recognized potential backing challenges for our RV and offered multiple site options to view before selecting. This was invaluable as several sites would have been impossible for our setup to access.
Site Selection & Setup
We chose a back-in site for more privacy and tree coverage. Pull-through sites offer easier access but less privacy in the open meadow setting.
Access Challenges:
Initial turn into our loop required two attempts
Backing into site was challenging due to:
Slight downward slope
Berms and trees limiting maneuvering space
Narrow access angle
- Note: We Always unhook truck before attempting campground access
The "Uh Oh" Incident
Our first major RV incident in years occurred during departure. Due to size constraints, we couldn't simply pull out forward. While backing up (team effort with spotter), focused on overhead clearance but missed ground-level obstacles. Front fender contacted berm, resulting in minor cosmetic damage requiring future repair. After thousands of miles over three years, we're taking it in stride. (Temporary duct tape repair applied!)
Pet Setup
The front corner took a Beating - But Nothing a little Duct Tape can't fix
Cat's Corner:
Cats were very content with the setup. Able to create extensive tunnel runs incorporating trees and wooded areas. Abundant bird activity kept them engaged, and tree privacy on three sides provided buffer from foot traffic and noise. Bandit missed the chatty red squirrels from Terra Nova but enjoyed watching the local robins.
Why We Loved Pippy Park Campground
Campground Atmosphere
Surprisingly felt like a traditional campground despite urban location. Good balance of treed sites and open areas created authentic camping experience within city limits.
Strategic Location Benefits
Golf Access:
Played Pippy Golf Club on arrival day. Short drive from campsite, enjoyed twilight rates and sunset views over the golf course hills.
Downtown Convenience to St. Johns:
Simple, fast access to St. John's downtown. Spent full days exploring from breakfast to dinner with only minutes drive back to campsite. This proximity significantly enhanced our comfort level for extended city exploration.
Provisioning Opportunities:
Access to well-stocked grocery stores allowed us to stock up for the next 10-14 days. Found excellent sourdough bread (froze for later), fresh organic salad ingredients, and specialty items like vegetarian chili and specific salad dressings that are harder to find in remote areas.
Regional Exploration Base:
Perfect launching point for upper Avalon Peninsula, Signal Hill, and Cape Spear. Could have easily done the Irish Loop including Ferryland from this location.
Signal Hill Cape Spear Irish Loop
What We'd Return For
St. John's City Exploration
- More time to wander and discover additional restaurants
- Extended visits to The Rooms for feature films and Archives floor exploration
- General city immersion and discovery
Bell Island Adventure
Take the ferry (with truck) for full day of island exploration and hiking
Dedicate proper time this destination deserves
Extended Hiking
Complete the Ladies Lookout Trail from Signal Hill to Quidi Vidi
Strategy: Park truck in Quidi Vidi, Uber to Signal Hill, hike back
Cape Spear Sunrise
Return to experience sunrise at the easternmost point in North America
Special significance of witnessing first light at this geographic milestone
Final Assessment
Pippy Park Campground proved an excellent choice for location, ambiance, and value. For large Class A RVs, it's essentially the only viable option near St. John's. The combination of urban convenience with natural campground feel, plus strategic location for regional exploration, makes this a highly recommended destination.
We would happily return!
Comments