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How to Reserve a Campsite in Alberta’s Parks

Getting ready for camping season? Here’s what you need to know to give yourself the best chance at securing your preferred campsites.

  • If you plan to make your reservations online, save time and hassle by creating accounts with Parks Canada and Alberta Parks prior to the opening day of bookings.
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  • Have a backup plan in case you can’t book your first choice of campsite and/or dates—especially if you want to reserve several different sites as part of a road trip.
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  • Some campers will book time at a site that opens its full season early on, and then cancel later if they’re able to get a spot at a preferred campground that has a shorter booking window. Checking back at the parks’ reservation websites throughout the season may yield some surprise finds as cancellations occur.
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  • People who want to camp at Lake O’Hara should pay close attention to Parks Canada’s requirements. This is a trip that will need to be well planned. There are four ways to visit this gem in Yoho National Park, and advanced reservations are required for all. Both day and overnight trips begin by bus, which operates from June to October.
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BOOKING DATES: NATIONAL PARKS

Visit reservation.pc.gc.ca or call 1-877-737-3783

*These dates reflect 2022 reservation openings. Please check back for 2023 reservation updates.

January 31, 8 a.m.: Jasper (except backcountry)

January 26, 8 a.m.: Banff (except backcountry)

January 25, 8 a.m.: Elk Island, Kootenay, Rocky Mountain House (National Historic Site), Waterton Lakes, Wood Buffalo, Yoho

February 2, 8 a.m.: Jasper backcountry

January 28, 8 a.m.: Banff, Kootenay & Yoho backcountry

February 3, 8 a.m.: Lake O’Hara overnight camping

March 1-30: Lake O’Hara day-use bus random draw entry

Click here for more information about booking at national parks in Alberta.

 

BOOKING DATES: PROVINCIAL PARKS
Visit reserve.albertaparks.ca, or call 1-877-537-2757

Reservations can be made through reserve.albertaparks.ca year-round. Reservation openings differ based on each campground’s opening date. Check when your favourite parks open for booking!

Reservation for individual and backcountry camping can be made 90 days in advance of your camping date. Group and comfort camping can be made 180 days in advance. Booking times advance by one day each morning at 9:00 am.

For example, if  you’d like to book a campground that opens on May 1 for individual camping, you’ll be able to make a reservation as early as Jan. 31.  

You can book a maximum of 10 consecutive nights per reservation. If you’d like to book more than 10 nights, you’ll need to make two reservations. However, you are only allowed a maximum of 16 nights for individual, backcountry, and comfort campsites. The maximum stay at a group camping area is five consecutive nights.

PARKS PERKS
AMA members save on family annual Parks Canada Discovery passes when purchased at an AMA centre.