Alberta Parks Camping Reservations are moving to a new platform in February 2024. Here’s everything you need to know about booking Alberta Parks camping this year (spoiler alert: you’re going to need a new log-in!).
Alberta Parks camping reservations are moving to shop.albertaparks.ca! What does this mean for you? For starters, you will need to create a new log-in (if you haven’t used the shop.albertaparks.ca site before); but the good news is that several new features will make planning and booking trips easier.
Check out the Important Dates, What’s New?, and FAQs below for more info.
Important Dates
With a new look and new features, we recommend checking out shop.albertaparks.ca before camping reservations open, so you can navigate the system quickly. Here are the key dates for the launch of the new camping reservations system:
February 6, 2024: Create Your Account at shop.albertaparks.ca
From February 6th onwards, you can create an account at shop.albertaparks.ca if you don’t already have one.
Note that personal information and past camping bookings will NOT migrate over from the old reservations site, so you should take note of favorite campgrounds and campsites. Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca account data will only be accessible until February 18th.
February 12, 2024: Browse Camping Inventory & Save Favorites
Starting February 12th, you can browse and plan your summer adventures as camping inventory goes live at shop.albertaparks.ca. Don’t forget to heart your favorite campsites or parks!
February 20-28, 2024: Book May long weekend camping
Alberta Parks Camping Reservations typically open 90 days in advance at 9 am MST, but with the launch of the new booking system, reservation dates for May long weekend will be a bit later than usual:
- Backcountry Reservations kick off on Tuesday, February 20 at 9 am MST.
- Comfort Camping Reservations launch on Thursday, February 22 at 9 am MST.
- Individual Campsite Reservations start on Monday, February 26 at 9 am MST.
- Group Camping Reservations open up on Wednesday, February 28 at 9 am MST.
Reserve camping at shop.albertaparks.ca.
Alberta Parks Summer 2024 Camping Reservations
Once the system has launched (see February 20-28th launch dates above), the usual 90 and 180-day booking windows will apply:
- Individual Campsite & Backcountry Reservations may be made up to 90 days in advance at 9 am MST.
- Comfort Camping and Group Reservations may be made up to 180 days in advance at 9 am MST.
Book camping at shop.albertaparks.ca.
What’s New?
Some cool new features on shop.albertaparks.ca include the following:
- Check for last minute camping: Click Camping this Weekend to see what’s available for the upcoming weekend.
- Book additional accommodation units online: You can check if a campsite can accommodate an additional sleeping unit (e.g. tent/camper van) and pay for it when you book your site. You will need to “Add Other Equipment”.
- Book additional Group Camping accommodation units online: If you book a group campsite with the minimum number of units (e.g. 5) but have 7 confirmed units, you can pay for the additional 2 units online.
- Reserve a tour or interpretive program: Book a tour or program when you book camping and paying for everything in one transaction.
- Visa Debit and Mastercard Debit now accepted: It is now easier to pay for camping without a credit card! Shop.AlbertaParks.ca accepts Visa Debit and MasterCard Debit (as well as Visa, MasterCard and Amex).
- Save Favorites: Save your favorite campgrounds or campsites and make trip planning lists!
- Flexible date searches, advanced filtering: If you are flexible on dates, click Next Available Date to find a campsite. You can also filter by campsite type / campground amenities.
- Backcountry camping itineraries: Kananaskis campgrounds have been grouped into permit areas to make trip planning easier.
- Deterrents to overbooking and sliding: In order to provide fair and equitable access, and prevent overbooking, the system will not allow campers reserving 90 days (frontcountry & backcountry)/180 days (comfort and group) in advance to change the arrival or departure date of their camping reservation for 31 days. To prevent “sliding”, campers will not be able to change camping dates until ALL camping dates (from arrival until departure) are within the 90 day (frontcountry & backcountry) or 180 day (comfort and group) booking window.
The Call Centre has longer hours now too! Open 7 days a week, 363 days a year (closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day).
FAQs
- Are camping fees going up in 2024? No, camping / change / cancellation fees will remain the same.
- Will there be a virtual queue/waiting room? The Queue-it system used in past years will be used during peak usage to ensure system stability. You can join the queue before 9 am and then at 9 am, you will be given a random spot in the queue. After 9 am, you will be put at the end of the line.
- Do I have to get a shop.albertaparks.ca account? No, it is possible to reserve by phone at 1-877-537-2757, but you will not be able to save favorites, view past purchases, and make changes/cancellations online.
For More Information
To learn more about booking Alberta Parks camping, visit Alberta Parks | 2024 Camping Reservations.
Where to Camp
- Alberta Parks’ Best Lakeside Campgrounds
- 12 Alberta Parks to Put on Your Bucket List
- Camping in Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park
- Camping in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
- Camping in David Thompson Country
- Exploring Dinosaur Provincial Park
