The Complete Guide to Camping in Banff
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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.
Camping in Banff National Park
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.
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:
- Frontcountry camping (i.e. accessible campgrounds around Banff)
- Equipped campsites (pre-equipped tents — only at Two Jack Lake)
- Backcountry camping (aka wild camping, no road access, pack in pack out)
- 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
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 |
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.
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.
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!
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.