At the top of Cape Breton Island

Located at the half way point on the magnificent Cabot Trail, Hideaway Campground and Oyster Market is on the boundary of the Cape Breton Highland National Park in the beautiful coastal community of South Harbour. Our 80 site campground includes 25 electric/water/sewer sites, 11 electric/water sites, 36 unserviced sites, 7 camping cabins (including one Lighthouse Replica Cabin) and 1 Glam Tent and on-site trailer rental. We offer a relaxed friendly atmosphere with magnificent mountain and ocean view.

Hideaway Campground and Oyster Market is proudly owned and operated by Alex & Susan Dunphy.

2024 Season: June 14 – October 15

Stay in our Campground

All of our sites are wooded or open, are private, and have an average of 1000 square feet of space. Each site has it’s own fire pit with grill and a picnic table. The flush toilets and showers are just a quick jaunt away from any site that you choose. The dishwashing station and coin laundromat are available for your convenience. The playground, horseshoe pits, picnic shelter, recreation hall with ping pong table & a hiking trail to the Aspy River are provided for your enjoyment.

Oyster Market Hideaway Campground Office
Lighthouse Replica Cabin

Camping Cabins

We have 7 camping cabins  (including one Lighthouse Replica Cabin) based on an open room concept, 3 of the cabins will sleep 5 people comfortably. The other four will accommodate 2 people. Each are privately located throughout the campground. All cabins come with beds, a dining table and chairs, an outdoor fire pit with grill and a picnic table.   

Stay in our Summer Home

Our Hideaway Summer Home is also available for nightly or weekly rental. It is privately located just 1 km from the Hideaway Campground. It is a fully equipped 4 bedroom waterfront home, please click here for more detailed information.

GlampingSite HideawayCampground

Glam Tent Site

Glamorous camping at Hideaway Campground. Come stay in our glam tent, which offers a queen sized bed with all bedding & towels included, end tables with solar night lights, a deck with two Adirondack chair chairs & propane barbecue. Step off the deck to enjoy your picnic table & fireplace. The glam tent site is privately located with a great view, close to all amenities hot showers, flush toilets & potable water. The Glam Tent sleeps two people.

On-Site Trailer Rental

38′ with 3 slides this luxurious unit offers all the comforts of home. Equipped with master bedroom with king size bed, leather living room furniture with double pull out couch. Satellite TV and electric fireplace in living room. Three piece bath all towels and linens provided. Kitchen with full size fridge, stove, kettle, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, all dishes, pots and cutlery. Outdoors you have deck with BBQ, picnic table and fire pit. Firewood is for sale on site.

Kitchen in the On-site RV Rental
Oyster Market Hideaway Campground Aspy Bay

Oyster Market

Alex, Susan & their four sons’ have been involved in the oyster industry since 1985. Visitors and guests can enjoy our succulent Aspy Bay Oysters in the shell or on the half-shell at the Hideaway Campground and Oyster Market.  We will shuck your oysters and serve them with a variety of condiments at the Oyster Bar located in the Camp office.  Free shucking lessons are available.  When in season cooked Atlantic Snow Crab and Atlantic Lobsters are also available. Eat-in or take them to go!

Gallery

Guest Reviews

Natal Day 2020

Great private campground. Nice sites, Clean bathrooms and showers, great views, super friendly owners, delicious fresh oysters, and a great beach just minutes away. Whole family had a relaxing weekend.

MatthewP

TripAdvisor Review

Perfect Spot

Loved staying at this park. Most lots are worded and spaced far apart. We stayed here for 3 nights and it’s the perfect spot to drop your trailer and go off discovering. Lots to see while staying here. Fantastic owners that treat you like neighbours. They own their own oyster farm so they do sell fresh oysters in their little cafe in the office. During summer season and when the crab and lobster are in season they do host dinners however I would check with them first to see what they’re offering!

MatTheMan

TripAdvisor Review

Very Good Campground and Great Cabin

We spent one night here but it was a special night: The night that Hurricane Dorian hit Nova Scotia, in particular Dingwall that night! Susan put us in the full service cabin because it was better protected. She served up some delicious oysters (pulled right from their oyster beds down the road – fresh!!) even though she was getting everything set up for the storm. The cabin made it through 70-80 mph winds, the winds howled & the rain came down, but no leaks and now damage. The camp grounds are quite extensive, clean bathrooms and lots of wooded areas. It seems like there are 2x as many RV hook ups. It was a lovely part of Cape Breton, on the Cabot Trail, and we highly recommend it.

Stacie

TripAdvisor Review

Best Campground on the Cabot Trail

We found this place in 1995 and have been going back every 2-year ever since. Owners Alex and Susan Dunphy are fantastic! The place has great accommodations and the view is amazing. The Dunphys have something for everyone: tenting, rv, cyclists, bikers, tiny cabins, large cabins for big families but what they have the most is a feeling of becoming a friend . You will fall in love with the place. Must try their oysters!!

Cecil LeBlanc

TripAdvisor Review

Amazing Campground – Friendly Owners

We stayed for 6 days in July 2019. The campground is located half way around the Cabot Trail. The views from the campground are amazing. The showers and bathrooms are well maintained and clean. They serve lobster, crab as well as oysters from their own farm at the front office. The owners Susan and Alex are great and very helpful. Our car broke down and Alex came to pick us up when no one else could. They also allowed us to leave our trailer stored at the camping until the car was fixed.

One of the best campgrounds we have stayed at! Highly recommended.

Marc Andre P

TripAdvisor Review

Very Nice Place to Stay!

Absolutly beautiful place to stay! amazing views and very nice quiet campsides! Owners very hospitalble (show us how to eat oysters and all secrets about choosing a good one!) I will recommended 100%.

Dorota

TripAdvisor Review

A Wonderful Time

I just wanted to say that I had a wonderful time staying at Hideaway Campground. The view was breathtaking and the hospitality was first rate. I really enjoyed my visit, as did my husband and daughter. Thanks so much for everything, and we will be visiting again very soon.

Darlene and Alvin Campbell

South Bar, NS

Come As Strangers; Leave As Friends

Hideaway Campground & Oyster Market must be put on your Top 10 places to visit!!!! We happened upon Hideaway by accident in 1995 and have been returning almost every year since! (The two and one-half day’s drive is well rewarded! ) Each year Alex & Sue have made improvements for their guests.

Whether you enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking/canoeing, or just relaxing on the beach – this place is the best! Located “off the beaten path”, it is truly a hidden gem! Talk about a seafood lovers dream… Oysters from the Harbor; lobster & snow crab (in season) from trap to office – you can’t get any fresher than that!! (A note to the motorcycle enthusiast: the Cabot Trail is an exhilarating experience!)

Hideaway Campground has given our family; vacation memories of a lifetime. No truer words have ever been in print than at the bottom of their webpage: “Come As Strangers; Leave As Friends”

Michael, Sandy (and daughters Rachel & Amy) Fox

Stafford NY, USA

Nicest campground in Eastern Canada

The Taylors

Toronto, ON

The Best of Cape Breton

The most impressive campground on Cape Breton Island for views, beaches, cleaniness, campsite space and hospitality. We will definitely visit every summer.

The Dalys

Nova Scotia

A Welcoming Environment

I rarely ever leave comments but I think something needs to be said about this campground. It’s true what they say about coming as strangers and leaving as friends. Everyone there is really friendly & it’s a nice welcoming environment. We chatted with Alex upon arrival whom gave us great information about our trip to Meat Cove the following day, said he was going there as well. He even remembered us when we passed him on the road in Meat Cove & waved. It’s just something small but really makes you feel welcome.

The Kingmas

Niagra-on-the-Lake, ON

You’ll Want to Come Back

Located at the north tip of Cape Breton Island, the Hideaway Campground is a place you’ll want to come back to again & again. The view of the ocean & mountains is beautiful.

Mark Stullenburger

New Jersey, USA

Campground Map

hideaway camping site map

The Perfect Hideaway on the Cabot Trail

Centrally looked at the half way point of the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island, there is much to explore from Hideaway Campground and Oyster Market. Whether you choose to hike, bike, swim, kayak, whale watch or take a leisurely drive, your chance of sighting a moose or an eagle are one of the splendors you are apt to enjoy. Day trips to other parts of the Cabot trail are easily started from this central location. For instance, the Highland Links golf course in Ingonish is only 1/2 hour to the south, Cheticamp is 50 minutes west, and Meat Cove 40 minutes north. For those wishing to experience our incredible area from sea we are a short walking distance to Eagle North Canoe & Kayak Rentals.

Our area offers an abundance of Celtic music, beautiful views, wildlife and miles of sandy beaches. So come to relax, enjoy the view, taste the oysters & experience the Cape Breton Highlands at it’s finest.