The Ultimate Overview of Campgrounds in Banff National Park


Tent on a Campground in the Rockies

If you arrive in Banff National Park by RV or with a tent, you can find a safe place to spend the night at a campground. In this overview, you will find all campgrounds in Banff, information about the local facilities, and much more.

You can stay comfortably in a hotel in Banff or Lake Louise during your visit to the Rockies. Still, if you want to experience the nature of Banff National Park more intensely, spending the night at a campground will do. There are campgrounds near Banff and Lake Louise and also in several other places in the park. Let’s have a look at the possibilities at the Banff campgrounds and the things you have to deal with.

How many Campgrounds Are there in Banff National Park?

Banff has 13 campgrounds scattered throughout the park that are easily accessible by car or RV. There are also numerous so-called backcountry campgrounds, but they are not included in this overview.

Below you don’t find thirteen but twelve campgrounds. That is because I have put two of the three campgrounds of Tunnel Mountain Village under one heading. All campgrounds in the park combined (excluding backcountry campgrounds) offer a total of 2489 overnight site.

The Campgrounds of Banff National Park

All the major(ish) Banff National Park campgrounds are excellent for car and RV access. Without exception, they are located on a good (asphalt) road. In most cases, they are on or close to the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) and the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North).

Note: A campfire permit is required on all Banff campgrounds for those who want to build a campfire. You can get one on the spot for CAD 8.80.

1. Castle Mountain Campground

This campground is located at the foot of – what else – Castle Mountain. The campground is easily accessible via the Bowvalley Parkway (Highway 1A). The Trans-Canada Highway to Banff and Lake Louise is nearby.

Moreover, Castle Junction, the exit to the Banff-Windermere Highway (Highway 93 South), is around the corner. Through that highway you can reach Kootenay National Park and Radium Hot Springs, among other places. Because the campground is close to these roads, you can hear the roar of traffic.

Castle Mountain is a small campground where you can relax, despite the noise coming from the roads. Because there are no light sources nearby, it’s pitch dark at night.

Castle Mountain Campground, Overview

Address: Bow Valley Parkway, Improvement District No. 9
Phone: +1 877 – 737 3783
Overnight stay: upon availability
Number of sites: 43
Facilities: drinking water, men’s and women’s washrooms with hot and cold running water, but no showers, cooking quarters, fire pits, picnic tables
Kind of accommodations: RVs and tents
Price: from CAD 21.97 (subject to change)
Period: closed until further notice

2. Johnston Canyon Campground

Located on the Bow Valley Parkway, the Johnston Canyon campground has excellent accessibility. It’s a perfect base for exploring Johnston Canyon, and the Bow River is also within walking distance.

As the campground is more or less halfway between Lake Louise and Banff, it is a great base to explore both parts of the park. One disadvantage is that the railroad through the Park is adjacent to the campground. This causes quite some noise from a passing (freight) train quite regularly.

Johnston Canyon Campground, Overview

Address: Bow Valley Parkway, Improvement District No. 9
Phone: +1 877 – 737 3783
Overnight stay: based on availability, reservations possible
Number of sites 132
Facilities: water, showers, flush toilets, handicapped accessible, camp kitchen, fire pits, picnic tables, trash cans, and sani dump
Kind of accommodations: RVs and tents
Price: from CAD 28.00 (subject to change)
Period: 15 July – 26 September

3. Lake Louise Campground

This large campground is the second largest in Banff National Park after the contiguous campgrounds on Tunnel Mountain in Banff. The campground is split into a section for tents and one for RVs.

This campground is also just off the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1), making it easily accessible. Samson Mall in Lake Louise Village, which includes a small supermarket, is within walking distance (600 m or 0.37 mi). The campground is right on the Bow River. You’ll find a nice hiking trail that runs along the river. Numerous other hikes can be found within walking distance. Highly recommended.

Lake Louise Tent Campground, Overview

Address: 131 Fairview Drive, Lake Louise
Phone: +1 877 – 737 3783
Overnight stay: upon availability, reservations are possible
Number of sites: 206
Facilities: picnic tables, fire pits, cooking area, showers, flush toilets, handicapped accessible and sani dump
Kind of accommodation: tents
Price: from CAD 28.00 (subject to change)
Period: 2 June – 27 September

Lake Louise Trailer Campground, Overview

Address: 131 Fairview Drive, Lake Louise
Phone: +1 877 – 737 3783
Overnight stay: upon availability, reservations are possible
Number of sites: 189
Facilities: picnic tables, fire pits, cooking area, showers, flush toilets, handicapped accessible, electricity, and sani dump
Kind of accommodation: RVs
Price: from CAD 33.01 (subject to change)
Period: all year

4. Mosquito Creek Campground

This campground is more remote, but its proximity to the Icefields Parkway makes it easily accessible. In addition, Lake Louise Village at 28 km (17.28 mi) is not too far away if you need to run an errand.

Mosquito Creek Campground, while the smallest ‘frontcountry campground’ in Banff National Park, is ideal if you want to camp in peace. The vast crowds of Lake Louise feel very far away here. The views of snow-capped peaks and the gentle roar of the nearby Bow River make this campground ideal for anyone who wants to enjoy nature without the hordes of tourists for which Banff National Park is known.

Mosquito Creek Campground, Overview

Address: Icefields Parkway (Highway 93), Improvement District No. 9
Phone: +1 403 – 522 3833
Overnight stay: upon availability
Number of sites: 32
Facilities: drinking water, picnic tables, dry toilets (no flushing facilities), communal kitchen, fire pits
Kind of accommodations: RVs and tents
Price: from CAD 17.99 (subject to change)
Period: 3 June – 11 October

5. Protection Mountain Campground

This campground is 16 km (9.87 mi) from Lake Louise Village. Like the Johnston Canyon and Castle Mountain campgrounds, it is located on the Bow Valley Parkway. On this campground, you’ll find the Bow River within walking distance as well. Situated in the valley of the river, you are also assured of fantastic views here.

With 72 places, it is a somewhat smaller campground, but the nature and location between Banff and Lake Louise Village make it a good option. A disadvantage is that it is also very close to the railroad. Be prepared for the nuisance of rushing (freight) trains.

Protection Mountain Campground, Overview

Address: Bow Valley Parkway, Eldon
Phone: +1 403 – 522 3833
Overnight stay: upon availability
Number of sites: 72
Facilities: flush toilets, cold tap water, fire pits, cooking area
Kind of accommodations: RVs and tents
Price: from CAD 21.97 (subject to change)
Period: 18 June – 6 September 

6. Rampart Creek Campground

This campground provides a fantastic view of the Rockies all around you as well. With the Bow River in the ‘backyard’ of the campground, the idyll is assured.

This campground on the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 N) is the most remote of the easily accessible Banff campgrounds. To give you an idea: the nearest settlement is Lake Louise at 91 km (56.17 mi) to the south. Jasper is 141 km (87 mi) to the north.

Bears are seen in the vicinity of this campground with some regularity.

Rampart Creek Campground, Overview

Address: Icefields Parkway (Highway 93), T1L 1K2
Phone: +1 403 – 762 1550
Overnight stay: based on availability, reservations possible
Number of sites: 51
Facilities: drinking water, dry toilets (no flushing), picnic tables, fire pits, and garbage cans
Kind of accommodations: RVs and tents
Price: from CAD 17.99 (subject to change)
Period: 10 June – 30 September

7. Silverhorn Creek Campground

Also located on the Icefields Parkway is Silverhorn Creek Campground. With only 45 spaces, it is one of the smallest frontcountry campgrounds in Banff National Park, but one where you would like to camp for a night (or two) because of the view.

The campground is located about 400 meters (437 yards) from Mistaya Lake, and from here, you can do several nice hikes. The campground has room for campers of up to twenty meters (70 feet) long. Unfortunately, there is no room for tents.

Good to know: the famous and improbably beautiful Peyto Lake is only ten kilometers (6.17 mi) to the south.

Silverhorn Creek Campground, Overview

Address: Icefields Parkway (Highway 93), Improvement District No. 9
Phone: +1 780 – 932 6868
Overnight stay: based on availability
Number of sites: 45
Facilities: picnic tables, hand water pump, dry toilets (no flushing), and trash cans
Kind of accommodations: RVs, not for tents
Price: from CAD 16.05 (subject to change)
Period: 3 June – 12 September

8. Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court

The Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court campground is ideal for RV owners who like to spend the night in the wilderness of the Rockies but want restaurants and other conveniences of civilization just around the corner.

In fact, downtown Banff is only 3 km (1.85 mi) away. By car, it’s a mere five minutes away. You can also take the bus. Roam Public Transit often stops at the campground. This will avoid the hassle of finding a parking space in downtown Banff.

Also good to know: you can do many beautiful hikes from the campground. You can go to Tunnel Mountain Village I and II (see below) if you want to stay overnight in Banff with a tent.

TIP: book in time. Despite its size, this campground is usually booked up well in advance due to its proximity to Banff.

Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court, Overview

Address: Tunnel Mountain Road, Banff
Phone: +1 877 – 737 3783
Overnight stay: subject to availability, reservations possible
Number of sites: 322
Facilities: camp kitchens, picnic tables, fire pits, firewood, showers, flush toilets, handicapped accessible, sani dump
Kind of accommodation: RVs
Price: from CAD 39.04 (subject to change)
Period: 13 May – 4 October
Bus stop: Roam Transit

9. Tunnel Mountain Village I & II

Directly adjacent to the Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court, you will find Tunnel Mountain Village I and II. Together they offer no less than 827 places. These campgrounds are (indeed) a village in themselves. 

The downside of these huge campsites is that sometimes there are so many people camping that a line can appear to use facilities such as showers and sinks. Also, minor traffic jams of campers who want to enter the campground in high season form regularly. Furthermore, it can be so busy that you can easily hear your neighbors and vice versa. 

Although the massiveness has its disadvantages, these campgrounds also have advantages, like the number of facilities (e.g., electricity, hot showers, and flush toilets). Besides, the campground is well maintained and cleaned.

Excellent: the bus stop of Roam Public Transit. You’re in downtown Banff in just a few minutes.
Also nice to know: although the campgrounds on Tunnel Mountain are close to Banff, wildlife is regularly spotted here, such as elk.

TIP: book in time. This campground is usually booked up well in advance due to its proximity to Banff.

Tunnel Mountain Village I, Overview

Address: Tunnel Mountain Road, Banff
Phone: +1 877 – 737 3783
Overnight stay: subject to availability, reservations possible
Number of sites: 618
Facilities: camp kitchens, picnic tables, fire pits, firewood, showers, flush toilets, handicapped accessible, sani dump
Kind of accommodations: RVs and tents
Price: from CAD 28.00 (subject to change)
Period: 13 May – 4 October
Bus stop: Roam Transit

Tunnel Mountain Village II, Overview

Address: Tunnel Mountain Road, Banff
Phone: +1 877 – 737 3783
Overnight stay: based on availability, reservations possible
Number of sites: 209
Facilities: camp kitchens, picnic tables, fire pits, firewood, showers, flush toilets, handicapped accessible, sani dump
Kind of accommodations: RVs and tents
Price: from CAD 33.01 (subject to change)
Period: all year
Bus stop: Roam Transit

10. Two Jack Lake Main Campground

Located close to Two Jack Lake and around the corner from the great Lake Minnewanka. Two Jack Lake Main Campground is a good option for experiencing the wilderness of Banff National Park without straying too far from civilization. Banff is only 11 km (6.8 mi) away. 

With 380 spaces, it is a large campground, but it’s nowhere near the sheer size of Tunnel Mountain Village. This campground also has its own bus stop. Ideal for visiting Banff.

Two Jack Lake Main Campground, Overview

Address: Lake Minnewanka Scenic Dr, Alberta T0L 2C0
Phone: +1 877 – 737 3783
Overnight stay: based on availability, reservations possible
Number of sites: 380
Facilities: drinking water, flush toilets, cooking area, picnic tables, fire pits, and sanitary dump
Kind of accommodations: RVs and tents
Price: from CAD 21.97 (subject to change)
Period: 24 June – 7 September
Bus stop: Roam Transit

11. Two Jack Lakeside Campground

If you think Two Jack Lake Main Campground is too big and the idyll of a lakeside campground sounds appealing to you, this campground is the place to be. The views across the water are magnificent. The location is also a perfect starting point for hiking the Lakeside Trail.

Good thing: this campground also has its own bus stop.

Two Jack Lakeside Campground, Overview

Address: Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive, Improvement District No. 9, AB
Phone: +1 877 – 737 3783
Overnight stay: upon availability, reservations are possible
Number of sites: 74
Facilities: camp kitchens, picnic tables, fire pits, flush toilets, showers, handicapped accessible
Kind of accommodations: RVs and tents
Price: from CAD 28.00 (subject to change)
Period: 21 May – 4 October
Bus stop: Roam Transit

12. Waterfowl Lakes Campground

Sandwiched between the two Waterfowl Lakes, this is the northernmost campground in Banff National Park that you can easily reach by car or RV. This campground is located on the Icefields Parkway as well, 20 km (12.35 mi) from the border with Jasper National Park.

At this campground, you quickly feel that you’re in the middle of the wilderness. The views are nothing short of breathtaking. The campgrounds are close to the two lakes and the river that connects both lakes. There are many possibilities for hiking, so you won’t get bored here.

Waterfowl Lakes Campground, Overview

Address: Icefields Parkway, Improvement District No. 9, AB, Canada
Phone: +1 403 – 522 3833
Overnight stay: upon availability, reservations are possible
Number of sites: 116
Facilities: water taps, flush toilets, cooking quarters, food storage lockers, waste bins, and sani dump
Kind of accommodations: RVs and tents
Price: from CAD 21.97 (subject to change)
Period: 24 June – 12 September

Backcountry Campgrounds

Although Banff National Park can be tremendously crowded, there is still more than enough opportunity to escape the crowds. Even when it comes to spending the night. You can do this at a backcountry campground.

Camping in Banff

The park has more than fifty, and they are – as the name suggests – remote. However, they are therefore a lot harder to reach. Often you can only get there by hiking. Some campgrounds are also accessible by bicycle or canoe, and sometimes even by helicopter.

The backcountry campgrounds are scattered throughout the park. So you can camp in many places without encountering too many people if any at all.

Interested in camping in the park in Winter? Then I recommend reading The Complete Guide to Winter Camping in Banff.

Can You Pitch a Tent at an RV park and Vice Versa?

In most cases, the answer is yes, but Tunnel Mountain Village in Banff has a separate campground for RVs. The same goes for the campground in Lake Louise. Rest assured if you want to camp there with a tent: you’ll find campgrounds exclusively for tents adjacent to it.

How Do I Book a Site on a Campground?

If you want to be sure of your spot, you can make a reservation. To do so, call +1 877 – 737 3783 (1-877-RESERVE). This is a toll-free number, available daily from 7 am to 7 pm local time.

If you want to reserve a spot through the Parks Canada site mentioned above, you’ll find that not all Banff campgrounds are listed. This is because not all campgrounds have a reservation option.

Also, a particular campground may be temporarily closed, even during the season. There can be several reasons for this. So check in advance if the campground is actually open.

Before you go out and camp in the park, it’s probably a good idea to also read the post How to Make Sure Mosquites Don’t Ruin Your Stay in Banff.

Can I Stay Overnight for Free in Banff National Park?

Camping in the wild is tolerated in some cases.

A difficult question and its answer is a futile ‘yes and no’. According to Parks Canada, RVs, tents, and the like may only be set up in designated campgrounds and camping areas.

Nevertheless, there are places in the park outside of Parks Canada campgrounds where you can stay overnight with an RV. In this case, you will have to deal with restrictions that do not apply to Parks Canada campgrounds. Moreover, you will not find any facilities, such as water and electricity.

You may not make a fire and set up camp (long-term stay) in such a place. And even if you comply with the restrictions, you may still be asked to leave or even receive a fine. Although that chance is minimal. In short, you could say that free lodging in the park (not on an official campground) is tolerated in some cases.

But basically, you need a permit. You can only get one if you come and pick it up in person. For this, you can go to the Parks Canada visitor centers in Banff and Lake Louise. For more information call 403 – 762 1556 (Banff Visitor Centre) or 403 – 522 1264 (Lake Louise Visitor Centre).

So which Places Can You Go to?

  • Some parking lots
  • Roadside rest areas; many truckers spend the night there
  • A remote place

The bottom line is that you need to find a place where you won’t be disturbed. That’s not easy in a park with over 4 million visitors a year.

TIP: Read the post Everything You Need to Know about Camping in the Rockies if you want to know more about camping in the Rockies in general.

Are Campgrounds Seasonal in Banff National Park?

Most campgrounds in Banff National Park are seasonal. In fact, there are only two that are open year-round. Those are Tunnel Mountain Village II and Lake Louise Trailer Campground. Check the overview above to find out when the campgrounds are available.

Is Alcohol Allowed at a Campground in Banff National Park?

The answer to that question is usually no. All campgrounds in Banff National Park have a ban on alcohol during long weekends and from May to September.

Are Campgrounds in Banff Dog Friendly?

Dogs are allowed at the (larger) campgrounds I listed above. Dogs are not permitted at the backcountry campgrounds due to wildlife’s more prominent presence.

Bringing your dog to a campground means quite a bit of responsibility. It’s good to know that it must be on a leash at all times. As in almost the entire park, by the way. The only place you don’t have to leave your dog on a leash is in the Banff townsite. Furthermore, taking your dog to a cooking area, washrooms, or cabins on campgrounds is not allowed.

Tying up a dog is then the obvious choice. Unfortunately, it’s unsafe as bears and cougars can wander into a campground. Furthermore, it is known that the mere presence of dogs can provoke a bear attack.

What Is an oTENTik Campground?

An oTENTik campground is a campground equipped with so-called oTENTik tents. For those who want just a bit more comfort but still want the feeling of camping, an oTENTik tent in Banff is ideal. The tents are pretty large so you can easily camp there with your family.

oTENTiks combine a tent and a cabin with a raised floor, front door, and windows. Furthermore, they include beds and furniture, are equipped with heating and electricity and have a maximum capacity of six people. However, you need to bring your own bedding, blankets/blankets, and pillows.

Where Can I Find oTENTik Campgrounds in Banff National Park?

In Banff National Park, you can stay overnight in an oTENTik tent at two campgrounds. Those are the Tunnel Mountain Village II (21 sites) and the Two Jack Lakeside campgrounds (10 sites).

How Much Does an oTENTik Overnight Stay Cost?

An overnight stay in an oTENTik tent costs CAD 122.64 per night. That includes a campfire permit and firewood. By comparison, a hotel in Banff or Lake Louise will easily cost you more than CAD 200 per night.

Want to know more about an oTENTik stay in Banff National Park? Click the link to read everything you need to know about this unique way of camping.

Dan

As a former Banffite, I love writing about my favorite part of the world. I keep coming back to enjoy the park's mesmerising beauty. It never fails to impress me. With my extensive knowledge of the area, I aim to provide you with the best information on Banff that you can find on the internet.

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