About Thomas Raddall Provincial Park

Expansive 650-hectare provincial park on the South Shore near Port Joli offering white sand beaches, coastal hiking and biking trails, 82 campsites, swimming, and easy access to Kejimkujik National Park Seaside adjunct.

Features & Highlights

🥾 Camping
🥾 White Sand Beaches
🥾 Hiking Trails
🥾 Swimming
🥾 Birding
🥾 Biking
🥾 Kayaking
🥾 Group Camping

Detailed Information

Tucked away on a wild peninsula at the western edge of Nova Scotia's South Shore, Thomas Raddall Provincial Park is one of the province's most rewarding coastal parks — and one of its best-kept secrets. With 82 campsites tucked into coastal forest, three white-sand beaches, a network of hiking and biking trails, and direct access to the Kejimkujik National Park Seaside adjunct, this 650-hectare park delivers a wilderness experience that feels far more remote than its convenient location would suggest.

Named for the acclaimed Nova Scotia author Thomas Head Raddall, whose historical novels captured the maritime character of the province, the park protects a landscape of striking diversity: pristine barrier beaches and dune systems, coastal barrens carpeted in lowbush blueberry and lambkill, freshwater fens and bogs, and stands of old-growth eastern hemlock that have never been logged. It is a place where you can swim in the morning, hike through coastal forest in the afternoon, and fall asleep to the sound of waves on Port Joli Harbour at night.

The Practical Details: Location, Hours and Essentials

Address and Location
529 Raddall Park Road, Port Joli, Nova Scotia B0T 1S0
The park is located on the South Shore, approximately 90 minutes from Halifax via Highway 103. Take Exit 23 (Port Joli) and follow the signs for approximately 15 minutes along Raddall Park Road. It is about 20 minutes from the town of Liverpool and 30 minutes from Lunenburg.

2026 Operating Season
May 15 to October 12, 2026

Camping Options

  • 68 Unserviced Campsites: Wooded sites with parking, campfire ring/grill, and picnic table. Accessible sites available (#2 and #4).
  • 13 Walk-In Campsites: Coastal Loop (150m from camper beach) and Woodland sites for a more secluded feel.
  • 1 Group Campsite: Available by reservation through the Milton Natural Resources office.

Facilities

  • Restroom with shower (accessible stall available)
  • Vault toilets throughout the campground
  • Drinking water taps throughout
  • Trailer dump station
  • Park office (firewood/ice available)
  • Day-use parking
  • Change house and beach access
  • Group shelter for rainy-day activities
  • Playground

Activities

  • Swimming (unsupervised, saltwater on Port Joli Harbour)
  • Canoeing and kayaking
  • Hiking (10 trails, 0.5–1.5 km)
  • Biking (multi-use trail)
  • Birding (piping plovers, seabirds, forest birds)
  • Beachcombing and photography

Reservations
Camping reservations are available through the Nova Scotia Camping Portal at novascotia.goingtocamp.com. The park is increasingly popular, so advance reservations are recommended, particularly for July and August weekends and the Coastal Loop walk-in sites.

Phone
(902) 683-2664

Final Verdict: Thomas Raddall Provincial Park is one of the finest camping destinations on Nova Scotia's South Shore. It delivers the kind of camping experience that families return to year after year: beautiful natural setting, genuinely private campsites, excellent beaches, and a peaceful atmosphere that invites slowing down and settling in. For anyone seeking a classic Nova Scotia coastal camping experience, this park should be at the top of the list.