Towns around the park offer a variety of accommodations. Cape Breton Highlands National Park has six drive-in campgrounds with discounts after three days. Most sites are first-come, first-served, but wheelchair-accessible sites, group campsites and backcountry sites can be reserved for $9.80. In the smaller campgrounds further from the park entrances, just pick a site and self-register. To camp at any of the three larger ones near the park entrances, register at the closest information center.
The 162-site Chéticamp Campground is behind the information center. There are no 'radio free' areas, so peace and quiet is not guaranteed.
Corney Brook (20 sites), 10km further north, is a particularly stunning campground high over the ocean. There's a small playground here, but it would be a nerve-racking place to camp with small kids. MacIntosh Brook (10 sites) is an open field 3km east of Pleasant Bay. It has wheelchair-accessible sites. Big Intervale (10 sites) is near a river 11km west of Cape North.
Near the eastern park entrance, you have a choice of the 256-site Broad Cove Campground at Ingonish and the 90-site Ingonish Campground, near Keltic Lodge at Ingonish Beach. Both have wheelchair-accessible sites. These large campgrounds near the beach are popular with local families in midsummer.
From late October to early May, you can camp at the Chéticamp and Ingonish Campgrounds for $22, including firewood. In truly inclement weather, tenters can take refuge in cooking shelters with woodstoves.
Pleasant Bay (about 2km)
Ingonish (about 4km)