My friend Anna says getting a campsite near Calgary is “like The Hunger Games” but with some planning and flexibility, you can score good campsites this summer. Here are our top tips on getting a campsite in Alberta, and camping reservation system launch dates for 2023.
Partnership Disclosure: As a volunteer Alberta Parks Ambassador, I receive free camping in Alberta Parks, but all words and opinions are my own.
Table of Contents
1. Check Camping Reservation launch dates and reserve campsites as soon as possible
There’s peace of mind in knowing you have a campsite waiting at the end of the drive. Did you know Alberta Parks has 9,000 reservable campsites? To get a site in Alberta Parks or Parks Canada campgrounds, book your campsites as soon as possible. You can always change/cancel your reservation later, but note that there are change fees and if you cancel, you will forfeit the booking fee (and camping fees if you cancel less than 72 hours before your trip). Alberta Parks lets you book individual campsites up to 90 days in advance, while Parks Canada bookings can be made on the national park’s launch day for the whole season. Note that opening days vary by park; see details below.
a) Alberta Parks Camping Reservation Launch Dates
Alberta Parks’ campsites may be booked at Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca or by phone: 1-877-537-2757 at 9 am, up to 90 days in advance (individual and backcountry sites) or up to 180 days in advance (comfort camping and group camping areas). Opening dates for 2023 camping reservations follow:
- January 11, 2023: Book Alberta Parks campsites (individual sites and backcountry) up to 90 days in advance.
- NOTE: On February 18, 2023 you can book up to May 19, 2023 (Friday of the May long weekend)
- Most campgrounds don’t open until May long weekend, but these campgrounds are open longer or year round.
- Year round: Book Comfort Camping up to 180 days in advance.
- Year round: Reserve Alberta Parks Group Camping Areas up to 180 days in advance. You can book up to 5 consecutive nights per group camping area. If the camping area is “phone in only”, call to Alberta Parks Contact Centre at 1-877-537-2757 to reserve it.
Alberta Parks Reservation Rules:
- You can book up to 10 consecutive nights per regular/backcountry/comfort camping reservation. FYI: Check in time is 4 pm, check out is 2 pm (12 pm for Comfort Camping). You are permitted to stay in one site for up to 16 days, but will need to make 2 reservations.
- You can make 4 camping reservations per transaction.
- You can have one sleeping unit per campsite. Space permitting, some campgrounds may allow a 2nd sleeping unit (e.g. one trailer + 1 tent). Call the campground directly to confirm if the 2nd unit will be permitted upon check-in. An additional full camping fee may be charged for a second unit.
- The maximum capacity of each individual campsite is 6 UNLESS all are members of the same family unit.
- For change fees and cancellation policy, visit Alberta Parks | Regulations.
b) Parks Canada Camping Reservation Launch Dates
Parks Canada Reservations have moved to an updated platform this year, so all users will be required to create new accounts. We recommend creating your account and getting acquainted with the new system the day before, so you aren’t stressed the first time you use it (the backcountry reservation system is weird and annoying – details below).
Parks Canada Campsites, O’tentiks, tipis, and cabins may be booked through the Parks Canada Reservation Service on the following dates at 8 am for the entire season:
- March 16, 2023 – Jasper National Park camping: Whistlers, Whistlers oTENTiks, Wapiti, Wabasso, Pocahontas, Whirlpool Group Camping, Palisades Centre (cabins and rustic accomodations)
- March 20, 2023 – Jasper National Park backcountry camping
- March 22, 2023 – Banff, Kootenay, and Yoho Backcountry*
- March 23, 2023 – Banff National Park frontcountry, equipped camping, & oTENTiks: Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court, Tunnel Mountain Village 1, Tunnel Mountain Village 2, Lake Louise Hard-sided Equipment Only, Lake Louise Soft-Sided Tents/Trailers, Johnston Canyon, Two Jack Lakeside, Two Jack Main, Rampart Creek, Silverhorn Creek
- March 30, 2023 – Elk Island: Astotin Lake & Oster Lake Backcountry
- March 30, 2023: Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site: campground and heritage camping (cabin, tipi, prospector tent)
- March 30, 2023: Waterton Lakes Townsite campground
- March 30, 2023: Wood Buffalo National Park: Pine Lake Cabin
*How to Book Parks Canada Backcountry Camping
- Log in to Parks Canada the night before so you know what to expect on launch day.
- Select Backcountry Zone if you’re booking an undesignated campsite (a campsite will be reserved for you, but you will not be assigned a site number) in a backcountry campground in: Banff/Kootenay/Yoho, Forillon, Glacier, Grasslands, Jasper, Mount Revelstoke, Pacific Rim, or Yoho.
- For all other national parks including Elk Island, select Backcountry Campsite to reserve a specific campsite.
- Note that the West Coast Trail has its own special button.
- Select the park you’d like to stay in, enter your arrival date, party size, number of tent pads required, and desired Access Point (trailhead), then click Search. Tip: Know all trailheads before launch day in case you need to do the trail from a different direction and have a couple backup plans in case the campgrounds you’re after fill up before you can make a reservation.
Example: If you want to book an undesignated campsite in a Backcountry Zone on the Sykline Trail in Jasper, you will need to know your Access Point (trailhead). The Skyline Trail has 3 trailheads: Signal, Wabasso, and Maligne Lake. Choose your Access Point and click Search.
Scroll down and you will have the option to Build Your Stay and see a map of the area (below the Build Your Stay section). A green circle beside the campground’s name, means campsites are available.
If the Zone (campground) you want to reserve at is available, select it from the dropdown menu and click save. You can continue to add bookings for the rest of your trip. Click save after each entry!! You can have up to 5 camping reservations in your cart at one time.
In this instance, all campgrounds are sold out, so no Available Zones are available from the dropdown menu (unless the system glitches like it did for me and every campground in Jasper National Park appeared in the dropdown).
When it’s time to reserve/pay, you will be required provide the names of all permit holders and their emergency contacts (who will not be camping with you). Good luck!
Booking Campsites in National Parks: Tips & Tricks
Log in on a laptop! Parks Canada does not recommend logging in on a phone or tablet (the system will glitch).
On launch day, log in between 7:30 am and 7:59 am to be placed in the queue. At 8 am, you will be assigned a random spot in the queue. If you log in after 8 am, you will be placed at the end of the line.
You can make up to FIVE reservations on Parks Canada but you must reserve all campsites first, then pay for them within 20 minutes of reserving your sites! After you pay for your last campsite, you will be placed back in the queue. So reserve all campsites first, then pay! You can save time by logging in the night before and scouting out potential campsites. I like to have my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices handy for reservation day.
Exceptions:
- Overlapping dates: You can’t be the permit holder for more than one reservation on a given date. So if you are booking multiple campsites for the same weekend, they must be under different names.
- Lake O’Hara Bus Reservations: Maximum one Lake O’Hara Bus Reservation in your cart at a time.
- Bruce Peninsula Grotto Parking: Maximum 3 bookings per transaction for the same date and time.
For more information see the Parks Canada Reservations FAQs.
c) Private Campgrounds
Private campgrounds often take reservations up to a year in advance. Contact your favorite campground directly.
2. Have a backup plan
Have an alternate campground in mind in case your first choice is full.
Make your own long weekend: If your favorite campground always books up for the long weekend, go the week before or after and take a day off work. We like going Thursday to Sunday so we don’t have to deal with traffic on the drive out; plus, the campground is a lot quieter on Thursday nights!
Go a bit further… Campgrounds close to big cities are always busy. If you don’t mind driving a bit further, there are several amazing – and peaceful – campgrounds to enjoy. We’ve found campsites at shorter notice in Castle Provincial Park, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, and David Thompson Country.
Other reservable options include: walk-in tent sites (requires more preparation, but you get a secluded site with no RVs in sight), comfort camping, or RV rentals. Parks Canada and Alberta Parks have many options for comfort camping! See more info below.
3. What if you can’t/don’t want to reserve a site?
Check for cancellations: Check on Monday or Tuesday before the weekend for cancellations. Parks Canada and Alberta Parks require 72 hours notice for a full refund. We’ve gotten great campsites by doing this!
Try for a FCFS site: Take Friday off and get a First come first serve campsite (you’ll have better luck if you head out Thursday night). Did you know Alberta Parks has 5,000 FCFS campsites?
Reserve a walk-in tent site: Walk-in sites are often the most scenic and secluded! You need to be prepared to put all food, dishes, and items with a scent (lip gloss, bug spray, etc.) in the bear locker though. It’s good preparation for backpacking!
Go after the weekend or midweek: Arrive Sunday at checkout to get a FCFS site or cancellation. Check out for Alberta Parks is 2 pm. Check out for Parks Canada is 11 am.
Try glamping! Splurge on unique accommodations – O’TENTik, yurt, cabin, hut, geodomes – through provincial or national parks, Airbnb or HipCamp. We’ve even seen treehouses and cabooses for rent!
Rent an RV: Outdoorsy RV Rentals and RVezy are two popular RV rental sites. For $110-$150/night, you can rent an RV that sleeps 8 people!
For tips, including campground recommendations, see our story Finding a Last-Minute Campsite in Alberta.
4. Backcountry and Random Camping
Reservations are required for backcountry camping at designated backcountry campgrounds. Visit Alberta Parks | Backcountry Campgrounds or Parks Canada (search by park) for more information. Book Alberta Parks backcountry camping up to 90 days in advance; book Parks Canada backcountry camping on the national park’s launch day.
Random camping / wilderness camping is permitted in permitted in wildland provincial parks and public land use zones provided you are at least one kilometre from the road, trail, or park boundary. Campers must be self-sufficient, keep fires in fire rings (where fires are permitted), and pack out all trash.
NEW: A Public Lands Camping Pass is required to random camp on public land along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. This includes the areas around Abraham Lake and Castle.
5. Boondocking
There are certain areas outside the provincial and national parks, where you can camp for free. Do some research before you go to make sure you aren’t on private property, and pack out all trash/waste so others can enjoy the area after you leave. This is a good option if you are self sufficient and want to save some money and enjoy some solitude. I grew up camping on forestry roads in BC and will never forget how quiet it was and how bright the stars were. For trip inspiration, Google “Free Camping in Alberta.”
In closing, there are several options for camping in Alberta, no matter how spontaneous you are (or not). This year, we’re planning on staying at a few of our favorite campgrounds, as well as some that are new-to-us. Have fun exploring our beautiful province and let me know if these tips helped you get a campsite!
Know Before You Go
- A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park/camp in Kananaskis. Purchase your pass online at https://www.alberta.ca/kananaskis-conservation-pass.aspx.
- A Parks Canada Discovery Pass / daily admission fee is required to camp/stop in all National Parks.
- “A fed bear is a dead bear.” Review our Bear Safety Tips, keep a bare site (put ALL food and items with a scent in your vehicle at night), and keep bear spray accessible.
- Dogs must be kept on a leash in provincial and national parks.
Where to Go
- Alberta Parks’ Best Lakeside Campgrounds
- Camping in Castle Provincial Park
- Comfort Camping at Cypress Hills Provincial Park
- Hiking and Camping in David Thompson Country
- Dinosaur Provincial Park
- Writing on Stone Provincial Park
- Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Hiking and Camping Guide
What to Bring
Our Camping Pack List has everything you need for a fun trip, product recommendations, and even includes a printable PDF so you won’t forget anything. Have fun!
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- Camping Pack List
- How to choose camping bedding (includes baby bedding)
- Tips for First Time Winter Camping
- New and Improved Camping Essentials
- 3 Kid-Approved Pie Iron Recipes
- How to stay warm and dry camping in the rain
