• HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • CONTACT
  • COURSE
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • CONTACT
  • COURSE
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

Adventurous Slomad Travel

  • Start Here
  • Destinations
  • Digital Nomad
  • Responsible Travel
  • Slow Travel
  • Van Life

The Complete Guide to Camping in Banff

Last Updated: February 20, 2023 · Alberta, Canada

Camping in Banff is one of the best ways to experience the wilderness and majesty of the national park.

Not only that, but camping in Banff (whether in your tent or RV) is a much more affordable accommodation option than staying in a hotel downtown.

The only downside?

Campsites are hard to come by in Banff in the summer unless you book months in advance.

If you’re a last-minute planner like me, this can make finding an available campsite in Banff a little tricky.

Luckily, Banff has a few options for campers — from oTENTik cabins to first-come, first-serve campgrounds to backcountry sites.

So whether you’re looking to head out where the wifi is weak or are in need of a full-service campground to plug your RV or campervan, this guide tells you everything you need to know about camping in Banff National Park.

Table of Contents show
Camping in Banff National Park
FAQ About Camping in Banff
Best Campgrounds in Banff
Tunnel Mountain Village Campgrounds
Two Jack Lake
Johnston Canyon Campground
Lake Louise Campground
Other Campgrounds in Banff
Backcountry Camping in Banff

Camping in Banff National Park

Camper van at campsite surrounded by forest green trees at campground in Banff and Jasper National Park

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

What to Know About Camping in Banff National Park

🐻 Wildlife roam free in Banff. Bear, cow elk, and other wildlife sightings are possible, even common. Carry bear spray, and don’t approach or feed wildlife.

🗑 Keep your campsite clean! If bears interfere with campsites/get human-food habituated, they become aggressive and will come back. This is why they are tracked and shot down after such encounters.

🚐 No boondocking anywhere in the national park.

🏕 Backcountry campers must obtain a permit for random camping. Reserve here.

A wild cow elk grazes on grass at a campground in Banff National Park
A cow elk grazing near our campsite in Banff (Photo taken from inside our van with 105mm zoom lens)

FAQ About Camping in Banff

What type of camping can you do in Banff? There are several types of camping you can do in Banff National Park:

  1. Frontcountry camping (i.e. accessible campgrounds around Banff)
  2. Equipped campsites (pre-equipped tents — only at Two Jack Lake)
  3. Backcountry camping (aka wild camping, no road access, pack in pack out)
  4. oTENTik cabins (think glamping — these are a cross between A-frames and raised prospector tents)

Can you camp anywhere in Banff National Park? You can only camp in designated campgrounds in a tent, RV, or oTENTik (front country camping), or go backcountry camping.

Can you sleep in your car in Banff? No boondocking allowed! You will get a major fine if caught camping in the Banff or Jasper townsites. Luckily, campgrounds in Banff are pretty affordable. See pricing for featured campgrounds below.

Best Campgrounds in Banff

Rundel Mountain in Banff and vehicles entering Tunnel Mountain campground in Banff
Tunnel Mountain Campground entrance

In total, Parks Canada manages over 14 campgrounds in Banff National Park. The below map made by Parks Canada displays the campgrounds across Banff, categorized by:

  • Reservable (green)
  • First-Come, First-Served (blue)
  • Closed (red)

Below I will give more details about the top campgrounds in Banff!

You’ll need to reserve your campsite(s) in Banff ASAP — these sites tend to fill up months in advance. However, if you’re late to the game, don’t worry! You still have a chance at adding together different campsites to fill up the number of nights you need. This just means you’ll have to move to a different campsite (or several) during your stay. This is what we had to do; out of five nights in Banff, we had to change sites three times. (For example, moving from site #452 to #547 the next day.)

Tunnel Mountain Village Campgrounds

Tunnel Mountain camping fees per night
Unserviced with washrooms (toilets and showers)$29.25
Electric$34.50
Water, Sewer, and Electric$40.75
Tunnel Mtn Village II oTENTik$128.00
Rv campers at Tunnel Mountain Village Campground in Banff
RV campers at Tunnel Mountain Village Campground

The closest and most convenient campgrounds to the town of Banff are Tunnel Mountain Village Campground I & II and the Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court (all three are accessed by the same entrance). Get there in 5-10 minutes by car from downtown Banff (4.5km).

We stayed at the Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court and Village Campground I on separate occasions and can highly recommend it!

Tunnel Mountain has about 1500 campsites combined between the three connected campgrounds, many of which offer full hook-ups and fire rings. While there is a tent camping section, most of the campers you see here are hauling trailers, big rigs, or have RVs or converted vans.

There are clean washroom buildings evenly spaced out between campsites equipped with one shower (free) and several toilets in each of the men’s and women’s rooms.

The Roam Transit shuttle also offers free service to town for campers which is a nice bonus for getting around Banff National Park responsibly.

Roam Transit shuttle bus with Tunnel Mountain in distance (Banff National Park)
The Roam Transit shuttle conveniently stops by Tunnel Mountain Campground

Two Jack Lake

Two jack Lake camping fees per night
Main Campground – Fully Serviced (water, sewer, electric)$74.75
Main Campground – Unserviced with washrooms (toilets only)$23.00
Lakeside Campground – Unserviced with washrooms (toilets and showers)$29.25
Lakeside oTENTik $128.00

The second closest reservable campgrounds to Banff’s townsite are the Two Jack Lake Campgrounds (Main and Lakeside). It is a 15-minute drive (10km) by car to Banff.

Two Jack Lake Campgrounds are perched right on Two Jack Lake and are also close to Lake Minnewanka — Banff’s largest lake.

Unlike Tunnel Mountain, the fees vary depending on which part of the Two Jack Lake Campground you’re staying at (Main vs Lakeside).

The Main campground can accommodate primitive camping as well as full hook-ups while the Lakeside is best for small vans and tents only.

Johnston Canyon Campground

Johnston Canyon camping fees per night
Unserviced with washrooms (toilets and showers)$29.25

The third closest, reservable campground to Banff is 30 minutes away at Johnston Canyon on the Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy 1A). It is on the closer side to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, and the start of the Icefields Parkway.

There are 132 reservable sites, all unserviced, so best for tent campers and travelers with small RVs up to 27 feet.

Lake Louise Campground

Lake Louise camping fees per night
Electric$34.50
Unserviced with washrooms (toilets and showers)$29.25
Overflow$11.50

If you are road tripping from Banff to Jasper, I’d suggest leaving Lake Louise and Moraine Lake out of your Banff itinerary and then staying overnight at the Lake Louise Campground.

The turquoise-blue water of Lake Louise with forest, mountains, and Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in the distance.
View of Lake Louise from above on the Big Beehive Trail

This way, you’ll be right beside the lakes come sunrise or sunset for hikes, so you can easily beat the crowds and skip out on the 1h30m roundtrip drive to get to the lakes from Banff!

As you can see, a campsite in Banff National Park doesn’t cost as much as you would think! The prices/night are very fair, especially considering the popularity of the destination.

Other Campgrounds in Banff

Beyond the campgrounds mentioned above, there are other campgrounds in and around Banff National Park, but most are unserviced or primitive.

Unserviced Campgrounds with toilets only (@ $23.00/night):

  • Protection Mountain Campground
  • Waterfowl Lakes Campground

Primitive Campgrounds:

  • Mosquito Creek – $18.75
  • Rampart Creek – $18.75
  • Silverhorn Creek – $16.75

You can also stay in one of the Wilderness Hostels speckled along the Icefields Parkway for glamp-style adventures. The HI Rampart Creek Hostel, for example, has a wood-burning sauna!

Sunrise over trail at campground in Banff

Backcountry Camping in Banff

If you want to adventure off the beaten path and head into the woods to camp in the wild, you’ll need to reserve and book a backcountry permit.

Reservations online cost $11.50 and $13.50 CAD over the phone (1-877-737-3783), plus the cost of the permit per person per day $10.50.

Backcountry trails and camping requires extra planning and preparation. Remember you are responsible for your own safety! Use this brochure to plan your trip.

Finally, before you go…

Please remember to Leave No Trace and be a responsible explorer when visiting or camping in Banff National Park.

By: Bri · In: Alberta, Canada

you’ll also love

25 Things To Do in St Martins, New Brunswick #Canada #outdoors #adventure #travel // Bucketlist Bri www.bucketlistbri.com25 Things To Do in St. Martins, New Brunswick
Female sitting on rock ledge at Big Beehive trail viewpoint overlooking the turquoise-blue Lake Louise in Banff, Canada.Hiking the Big Beehive in Lake Louise
Banff Downtown with sunflowers in bloom with mountain in backgroundThe Essential Guide to Visiting Banff National Park (Responsibly)

Join the List

Stay up to date with the latest adventures and travel guides.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

10+ Best Stops Along the Icefields Parkway (Itinerary & Map)

Primary Sidebar

hello!

I’m Bri, an adventurous digital nomad living abroad full-time since 2015. It is my hope to inspire you to live a life of adventure, seek out meaningful experiences, and travel slowly and mindfully!

About Me

Connect

join the list

Featured Posts

digital nomad | van life

Buying a Van: Self-Build Conversion or Prebuilt?

Van Life Journal Week 4 // Bucketlist Bri

Van Life Journal Week 4: Brace for Impact

3 Days in Salento, Colombia | Bits of Bri

Exploring Coffee Country: 3 Days in Salento, Colombia

QUICK LINKS

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • CONTACT
  • COURSE
  • DESTINATIONS

Search

Let’s Connect!

@bucketlistbri

When you already feel nostalgic for leaving a plac When you already feel nostalgic for leaving a place you’ve only just arrived in... Do you know the feeling I’m talking about?? 

We are here in Goa, India 🇮🇳 for an amazing digital nomad retreat hosted by @nurall_co and are feeling so pumped and grateful to be here! ✨

We’ve already spent our first few hours diving into butter paneer masala and chai at the lovely @caferasagoa and wandering the historic Latin Quarter in awe of its Portuguese tiles and little hole-in-the-wall tapas bars. And it’s safe to say we’re hooked. 🤩 

Can’t wait to uncover even more treasures that Panjim and Goa hold 🫶

... And so begins Day 1/40 of my trip through India, Taiwan, and Japan! Follow along for the journey 🤗

#goaindia #panjim #portugese #indiatraveldiaries #backpackingasia #panaji
I can’t believe I’m posting this from the othe I can’t believe I’m posting this from the other side of this 3-day journey to get my visa processed and reunite with Paul in India!! 

That first day I wallowed in what Jen Sincero coins as “self-suckery” — I beat myself up, looked at only the negative side, and genuinely felt like I deserved what was “happening to me” because it was my mistake for having uploaded the pdf of my old passport and not my new one (yes, I really did that) — a simple error that resulted in ridiculous e-visa delays for which I could do nothing about, 3 days of transiting between airports, lots of tears, and an out-of-pocket cost of $850 for two flight changes + $$ for airport junk food (which pretty much costs the same as a meal in a Michelin star restaurant) + $150 in Uber rides and hotel fees, and countless hours of lost sleep. My real mistake, in hindsight, was rushing; not going slow, as I always preach. I rushed what I was doing and got caught in the senseless consequences. 

Little did I know then, but Day 1 was just the beginning of this near-72-hour journey to India and back to Paul. What is certain is that I DID NOT expect our big trip back to Asia to start like this. 

But I’m so, so glad it did. 

#indiatravel #airportlife #travelstories #evisa #qatarairways #asiatrip
If you know how this song ends, you know how this If you know how this song ends, you know how this video ends 💀

PS — I still have the scar 😂🥲🪦🍑

📍 El Mogote sand dunes in Baja California Sur w/ @4xfourtours 

#sandboarding #epicfails #rippedpants #spongebob #bajacaliforniasur #lapazbcs
Is Mexico a good digital nomad destination?? Here Is Mexico a good digital nomad destination??

Here’s why Mexico is a GREAT destination for remote workers and travelers:

🌮 Amazingggg food — Literally the best! I just came back from eating Baja fish tacos and they cost just $1.50 each, like whatttt

🇲🇽 Culture / people — I find Mexicans to be some of the kindest and friendliest people on Earth. If there is a reason I keep coming back to Mexico it is because I have felt, and do feel, at home here.

🌿 Outdoors / nature / adventure — Mexico has it ALL and I mean it ALL (islands, beaches, mountains, rainforests, deserts, volcanoes, amazing marine life + wildlife, allll types of activities, etc)

💻 WiFi — Not the best depending on where you go, but way more than enough for what I use it for! Lots of cafes + coworking spaces nowadays too

🥂 Community — There is a growing community of nomads and it’s a pretty diverse mix!

💰 Cost of living — It’s more affordable to live, which is great for beginner nomads who are still building their biz

I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to slow travel/live as a digital nomad in Mexico since 2018 — Baja California Sur marks our 5th state out of the 32 Mexican states (+ Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Chiapas, Oaxaca).

This country gives and gives, so let’s give back as guests! Please visit Mexico as a digital nomad (or tourist in general) responsibly and mindfully. Stay local, eat local, drink local, shop local, + support local. Leave No Trace and be conscious of your choices and impact!

Read my blog 🔗 in bio for my 100+ free guides to Mexico 🫶🏼

#mexicotravel #digitalnomad #visitmexico #livingabroad
If there’s one activity you shouldn’t skip out If there’s one activity you shouldn’t skip out on when in Baja California Sur, it’s off-roading and sandboarding in the Mogote Sand Dunes!

✨ Make sure to save this to your Baja, Mexico bucket list! 

📍 El Mogote (near La Paz)

🏂 w/ @4xfourtours

💻 read all about it + book the experience on my blog! (🔗 in bio)

#lapaz #bajacaliforniasur #sandboarding #elmogote #sanddunes #offroading #adventuretravel #bajamexico #desertadventures
What do you pack first?! 🎒🤔 As a homebase- What do you pack first?! 🎒🤔 

As a homebase-less nomad, I move countries with only these two backpacks, so I’m not worried about fitting all I need for my 40-day trot through Asia! 🌏

But I would LOVE your travel tips and recs, in particular for Taiwan and Japan (I’ll be solo in 🇯🇵)!!! Send me all your fav street foodie suggestions, secret gardens, cute towns, onsens, temples — all of it! 🏯

I’m so excited to feel EXCITED about going somewhere I’ve never been before. I haven’t been to India since 2018 and I’ve never been to Taiwan or Japan! 

Have you been to any of the three? 🇮🇳🇯🇵🇹🇼 

Backpacks (not spons):
🎒 @rei 40L recycled rucksack 
📸 @wandrd PRVKE Lite / 11L to 16L with roll-top 

#solotrip #backpackingasia #femalesolotraveler #asiatrip #indiatravel #taiwantravel #japantravel #digitalnomadgirls #packing #rei #wandrd
Follow My Adventures

Footer

On the Blog

  • Start Here
  • Destinations
  • Digital Nomad
  • Responsible Travel
  • Slow Travel
  • Van Life

Info

  • Work With Me
  • Blog Course
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

adventures await x

Copyright © 2023 · Bucketlist Bri | All Rights Reserved

2 shares