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I'm going to Vancouver at the beginning of next month and I'd like to save money, the hostel is $30 a night. Is there anywhere I could camp legally for free in Vancouver, or if not, places on public property I could camp illegally but are remote enough I'd never get apprehended for doing so?
I'm going to Vancouver at the beginning of next month and I'd like to save money, the hostel is $30 a night. Is there anywhere I could camp legally for free in Vancouver, or if not, places on public property I could camp illegally but are remote enough I'd never get apprehended for doing so?
No, there most definitely is not a place to camp legally or a place to squat illegally in Vancouver. It's a really dangerous idea for anyone just visiting. Seriously, you're best bet is to stay at a hostel if you want to go cheap and remain safe. Vancouver is a very busy metropolitan city, there are no campsites or public parks to set up a campsite in the city. There is nothing remote in the city and no parks big enough to try to camp illegally and not get kicked out by park security or else get attacked, robbed of all your belongings and beat up (or much worse) by permanently established homeless squatters whose territory you would be infringing on. The few city parks that are big enough with lots of trees where a person might set up a hidden camp are inhabited by dangerous people who will not take kindly to strangers invading their territory and also there are wild animals in the parks that will raid and destroy your camp at night and may also attack you.
If you want to camp you will have to look up campsites which are outside of Greater Vancouver Regional District - that is to say up in the mountains or out in the Fraser Valley and some of them you're going to be looking at $20 - $30 a night anyway without the amenities of a hostel. Camping | Vancouver, Coast & Mountains, BC | Tourism BC - Official Site
No, there most definitely is not a place to camp legally or a place to squat illegally in Vancouver. It's a really dangerous idea for anyone just visiting. Seriously, you're best bet is to stay at a hostel if you want to go cheap and remain safe. Vancouver is a very busy metropolitan city, there are no campsites or public parks to set up a campsite in the city. There is nothing remote in the city and no parks big enough to try to camp illegally and not get kicked out by park security or else get attacked, robbed of all your belongings and beat up (or much worse) by permanently established homeless squatters whose territory you would be infringing on. The few city parks that are big enough with lots of trees where a person might set up a hidden camp are inhabited by dangerous people who will not take kindly to strangers invading their territory and also there are wild animals in the parks that will raid and destroy your camp at night and may also attack you.
If you want to camp you will have to look up campsites which are outside of Greater Vancouver Regional District - that is to say up in the mountains or out in the Fraser Valley and some of them you're going to be looking at $20 - $30 a night anyway without the amenities of a hostel. Camping | Vancouver, Coast & Mountains, BC | Tourism BC - Official Site
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Wow, that kinda sucks. lol guess i will just be forking out the bucks, then.
If you want to actually Go Camping in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland here is a list of B.C. Provincal Campsites in the area.. Go Camping BC
but I would just stay with the Hostel if you want to stay inside the City Limits and are on a limited budget..Camping in B.c. can be great fun heck i do it every summer but you need to have all the things to go Camping and also pay to go to stay at a Provincal Campsite..Plus in summer they can be fully booked and Rented out..I mean it is how Locals celebrate summer on a budget out here in B.C. is by Going Camping.
lol...you can throw all that advice down the drain...these are obivously people whom do not live in the area. like one poster said...the homeless sleep anywhere. the east side is a great place to pitch a tent, but be prepared to get up with the sun before any city workers find you asleep on public property. best, is to find a spot on the coast of the inlet or english bay as workers dont head that way if you pick the outta the way spots...just interact with the right people and anyone fron the city can tell you the places that draw the least amount of attension...that said $30 a night is cheap in this city....good luck!!
I'm assuming you're not arriving in your own vehicle, right? If not, I wonder if you could rent one of those tiny little Rent-a-Spam-Can Mercedes Smart Cars and recline in it overnight in some crowded parking lot?
Just my imagination working overtime. Don't even know if it's possible roi rent these overnight. But if so, then drive out to Burnaby (max 10 miles away, & my old stomping grounds) and get into a far corner of the Sears parking lot on Kingsway near Boundary?
I know: it's all changed since we left 20 yrs ago, but as I think here, you could also go out ot U.B.C. or up to Simon Fraser University (one of my old alma maters and go into some far-out parking lot where no-one would bother you for the dark hours? Also a great place to visit and take in the campus and the spectacular views, if it's not all clouded up.).
Or just on a quiet residential street in Vancouver near a small local baseball park, where no-one would bother you?
Checking their website out, I do see that it's a lot more expensive than a hostel, but if you also don't have transportation, then by golly you would! Dry, warm, and "cute". Just a thought!
Anyhow, good luck! And do take in the spectacular Asian food (Japanese, Chinese, and so on...)
PS: Where, in general, are you coming from? Just curious.
I'm assuming you're not arriving in your own vehicle, right? If not, I wonder if you could rent one of those tiny little Rent-a-Spam-Can Mercedes Smart Cars and recline in it overnight in some crowded parking lot?
Just my imagination working overtime. Don't even know if it's possible roi rent these overnight. But if so, then drive out to Burnaby (max 10 miles away, & my old stomping grounds) and get into a far corner of the Sears parking lot on Kingsway near Boundary?
I know: it's all changed since we left 20 yrs ago, but as I think here, you could also go out ot U.B.C. or up to Simon Fraser University (one of my old alma maters and go into some far-out parking lot where no-one would bother you for the dark hours? Also a great place to visit and take in the campus and the spectacular views, if it's not all clouded up.).
Or just on a quiet residential street in Vancouver near a small local baseball park, where no-one would bother you?
Checking their website out, I do see that it's a lot more expensive than a hostel, but if you also don't have transportation, then by golly you would! Dry, warm, and "cute". Just a thought!
Anyhow, good luck! And do take in the spectacular Asian food (Japanese, Chinese, and so on...)
PS: Where, in general, are you coming from? Just curious.
Vancouver has changed and grown a lot in 20 years. I'm sure there are quiet streets somewhere that one could sleep in a car, but if it's a choice of $30.00 a night with a shower, or $72.99 plus tax for a day rental of a car2go in a city with good transit, I'd stick with the hostel.
UBC has changed too. They've built condos on different parts of the endowment lands and the whole place seems so much busier. Also it seems the RCMP's presence and patrolling is more intense, especially in summer when they patrol the beach, along with the Park Board agents.
Simon Fraser, I haven't been there in years but have heard of condo's being built there as well. Don't know about patrols etc.
I'm going to Vancouver at the beginning of next month and I'd like to save money, the hostel is $30 a night. Is there anywhere I could camp legally for free in Vancouver, or if not, places on public property I could camp illegally but are remote enough I'd never get apprehended for doing so?
Go to Catholic Charities. Free for 90 days, you get $9 in meal tickets and you can shower for free etc.
Don't camp.
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