The Ultimate Guide to Camping in Alberta for 2021

Compiled by the Road Trip Alberta team

Last updated on February 26, 2021

Feature photo provided by Travel Alberta credit Roam Creative

Enjoying this province’s great outdoors has always been a cherished pastime, but in the past year, the number of people that have gone camping in Alberta has skyrocketed. That trend is expected to continue.

This means that planning ahead is key, especially if you want to camp in the prime summer months of July and August. Campsites book up hella early, and those areas that offer “free” camping in Alberta (known locally as crown land camping) become crowded and sometimes overrun well before the weekend.

We’ve created this resource so you have a one-stop page in order to plan out your camping adventures. Below you’ll find where and when to go, links to other posts we have on specific topics, along with an extensive list of resources to allow you to make the most of your experience.

Where to go Camping in Alberta

Our Top Picks

We’ve accumulated a lot of road trip miles and have also done our fair share of camping in this gorgeous province. Our list of cool campsites in Alberta will take you from the Rocky Mountains to hoodoos to even a cool inner-city campground with a height-defying playground!

Camping in Alberta National Parks

Alberta is blessed with five national parks that span the province and protect the most pristine (and thus coveted!) land. All of the parks allow camping, with some offering several more options than others.

Front-Country Camping

Usually, the reservation system opens in January, but because of the current fluctuations in COVID-19 restrictions across the country, Parks Canada has decided to not open it until April 12th (for camping from May 2021 through to March 2022).

• Banff National Park: There are 17 different campsites inside the park that allow everything from tents to RVs, and even some “oTENTiks” (semi-permanent wooden structures covered with canvas). Nightly fees for 2021 range from $16 up to $38. On top of that is an $8.80 charge for a fire permit (firewood included) and the standard National Park access fees. oTENTiks are available at Tunnel Mountain and Two Jack Lakeside for $122.64/night. See our top picks for camping in Banff, or also use this link to sort through all of the options and make your reservation.

• Jasper National Park: There are 13 campsites in the park that offer a lot of diversity, including oTENTiks. In addition, backcountry camping permits will allow you to get deep into the beautiful nature of the area. Nightly fees at the campsites range from $16 to $48, and a night in an oTENTik is $120. This is on top of the standard National Park access fees. Camping in Jasper is extremely popular, and there have been summers where access to the park has been stopped entirely because it has simply been full. (Book early so that you don’t get turned away!) Check out our guide to the best Jasper camping spots and book your reservations using the links within.

• Waterton Lakes National Park: There are three campsites, two of which are currently noted to be closed until further notice. That leaves the Townsite Campground, with 135 serviced sites along with a number of unserviced spot for tents. Nightly fees range from $23 to $39, plus the standard Parks Canada fee. Book via the reservation system.

• Elk Island National Park: This park is a popular place for Edmontonians to go for a day trip – it’s only 50kms to the east – but smart people spend the night! There are several camping options for all levels of camper, including oTENTiks and equipped camping sites fitted with a tent, sleeping pad, and more. Nightly fees range from $16 to $71 for an equipped site, and oTENTiks are $122. Fire permits are $8.80, and the standard Parks Canada fee also applies. Click here to reserve your spot.

• Wood Buffalo National Park: This is the largest national park in Canada but with limited road access to it. The only option for regulated camping is the Pine Lake Campground, located 60km south of Fort Smith, NWT, and the group site called Kettle Point Group Camp. Cabin rentals are also available ($102 a night), and primitive sites are $16. Standard Parks Canada entry fees also apply.

Back-Country Camping

The national parks in Alberta encompass a lot of area, and campers aren’t restricted to the drive-in sites noted above. You can literally walk as far as your legs will take you and find some great spots to stay in the vast wilderness. And if you aren’t a fan of sleeping in a tent, there are even some lodges that can be booked.

All of them require the purchase of a backcountry permit which is $10.02 per camper, per night, plus a booking fee.

• Banff National Park: The Parks Canada website has some great trip ideas based on length, and you can buy your permit here starting in April.

• Jasper National Park: There are more than 1,000kms of hiking trails which means there are a lot of options to choose from. Reservations can be made starting in April. Download this backcountry camping guide to familiarize yourself with everything as you plan your trip.

• Waterton Lakes National Park: There are 10 backcountry campgrounds inside the park (a couple are currently closed due to damage sustained by the 2017 Kenow fire). Reservations can be made by calling (403) 859-5133, and can be made up to 90 days in advance. For more info, click here.

• Elk Island National Park: There is only one option for backcountry camping here (at Oster Lake), and only six campsites available. It is only a 6km hike in, so may be a great spot for beginners! Reservations can be made here starting in April.

• Wood Buffalo National Park: The park is your oyster, and you can literally camp anywhere in this massive area. There are, however, two backcountry campsites (at Rainbow Lakes and Sweetgrass Station). Register and purchase your park permit at the Visitor Reception Centre in Fort Smith or Fort Chipewyan before you head out.

Camping in Alberta Provincial Parks

Alberta currently has 91 provincial parks which have campgrounds which provides for a fantastic number of options. This also means that there are too many for us to list here! (But we’re noting some of our favourites below.)

Reservations open earlier than the national parks, starting on March 4, with staggered open dates from there. You can only book up to 90 days in advance, for both individual campsites across the province and backcountry camping in Kananaskis. For those without a lot of gear but who still want a quintessential experience of camping in Alberta, there are “comfort camping” sites available across the province. Reservations for those open on March 5th and can be made up to 180 days in advance of your trip.

Fees vary by campsite, with details on the ranges given here. 

Sites are certainly going to go quickly, and Alberta Parks offers some great tips on how to secure a reservation.

Some of our Fave Provincial Park Campgrounds

All reservations for the below campgrounds can be made here.

• Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park: A popular choice among southern Albertans, this recently recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site is open year-round with 64 campsites ($29/night for unpowered, $37/night for powered). A few of the sites sit right on the beach of the Milk River, and hiking in the area to see Indigenous Rock Art is a truly exceptional experience. Find more information here.
• Spray Valley Provincial Park: This is the ideal place to set up camp to enjoy some gorgeous scenery of the Kananaskis country. Hikes in the area are plenty, plus you can drop your canoe or kayak on the Spray Lakes reservoir. There are 50 unserviced sites at the Spray Lakes West Campground that are first-come-first-serve (at $29/night); our advice is to get there early so that you don’t miss out! More info here.
• Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park: Known for birding and its old-growth forests, this park actually sits on an island in Lac La Biche (northeast of Edmonton), and offers lots of sandy beach space. There are 72 powered campsites available at a rate of $41 per night. More info here.
• Dinosaur Provincial Park: Located in the heart of the Canadian Badlands, waking up among hoodoos in one of the 122 campsites can be a surreal experience. Most are powered (but not all) and just over half of them are open year-round. Comfort camping is also available. And while you’re walking one of the many hiking trails in the area, keep your eyes peeled for dinosaur fossils that you may kick up! Go here for more information on the park.
• Castle Provincial Park: This is Alberta’s newest provincial park, and the Beaver Mines Lake Campground offers tree-lined sites and some with beautiful lake views. The 76 campsites are unserviced and are priced at $26/night. If you’re an avid hiker, don’t miss taking on Table Mountain while you’re there. More info here.

Private Campgrounds in Alberta

Nearly every city or town has at least one private campground on offer, plus more in the surrounding areas, and they can be found as simply as googling camping in the region. These options are usually well-appointed, easy to access, and can be more economical than camping in government-regulated parks. It is our intent to provide more detailed guides by region, but for now, start with this guide to the best Drumheller camping spots, if you’re looking for a great experience in the Canadian Badlands!

We also have some of our favourites highlighted in this coolest campsites in Alberta post.

Crown Land Camping

Beyond the public and private sites across the province that you can camp in for a fee, Alberta residents are also able to peg their tent or drive an RV onto public (aka “crown”) land. It is also commonly known as “backcountry” camping, “random” camping, or “boondocking”.

Roughly 60% of Alberta’s land is not privately owned, which means that crown land can be found all over (although mostly in the northern half of the province). And if you want to take advantage of camping on public land, not only do you benefit by not paying a site fee, but if you’re lucky, you’ll also find a beautiful slice of nature that you can enjoy all to yourself.

Finding that heavenly spot can be a bit of a challenge for beginners, so check our guide to Alberta crown land camping to help you get started.

When to go Camping in Alberta

Deciding on when to go camping is dependent on how adventurous you are!

The busy season is typically during July and August – not only because school is out and that is when families and friends are most likely to go camping in Alberta together, but also because the weather is most optimal. While you still should not be surprised if you find snow on your tent in July in the mountains (it happens!), temperatures across the province usually reach daytime highs of 20-25C, and can even get into the low 30s. Expect cooler days in the shoulder season (May-June, and Sept-Oct) and a greater chance of pesky snow flurries. It is best, no matter when you go camping in Alberta, to be prepared for all weather.

Winter Camping in Alberta

Yes, you can pitch your tent in the winter months too!

If you’re up for a frosty adventure, we have a whole guide dedicated to winter camping that will help you decide where to go and give you lots of tips on how to keep warm and do it safely.

Camping in Alberta: Resources

• Are you an infrequent camper who would rather rent instead of buy? We have an extensive guide to RV rentals in Alberta, and recommend booking an oTENTik (in national parks) or comfort camping (in provincial parks) if you’d rather tent it. Alternatively, check Rent-a-Tent Canada for affordable options in the Banff area, and keep an eye on MEC to see if they start to offer their popular rental services once again (which was shut down last spring for COVID safety concerns).
• Packing is no small task when you’re going camping, and this checklist will certainly come in handy as you prep.
• Taking out what you bring in is very important to keeping our province clean and beautiful, as well as safe for the next campers. Consider also following these tips for sustainable camping.
• It is not uncommon for fire bans to come into effect during the dry summer months. This means no marshmallow roasting, which can be a bummer, but it’s important to save ourselves and our forests. Find out about current fire bans here. 
• Do you want to go backcountry camping in Alberta in order to do some hunting or fishing? Make sure you are very familiar with hunting regulations and all other Alberta regulations.
• Tips on learning basic first aid, what food to bring, and more, can be found in this article with beginner tips to backcountry camping.
• Bring bear spray and keep it handy, especially if you are in the backcountry. Bear encounters are not uncommon. Be mindful of these other tips to ensure your safety around camp regarding bears.

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