So you’ve booked your campervan and are now looking to book your campsites in the Canadian National Parks. If you’re planning to go to places Banff and Jasper with the thought to visit some of the more famous spots like Lake Louise, Moraine and Peyto Lake, Athabasca Falls, and Maligne and Johnson Canyon – you’ve likely already heard and/or seen that the reservable sites book up fast. Here are a few of our suggestions to make the reservation process as straightforward as possible – along with some plan B and C options.
- Set a reminder for the launch date if it hasn’t already occurred. Banff’s is set for February 12 @ 8am MST this year.
- Create an account on Parks Canada website (please note a new account is required in 2026 even if you’ve had one in previous years)
- Get a clear understanding of what you require for a campsite for your rental.
- If you have a rooftop tent camper of any sort – your unit is considered soft-sided.
- Our units are self contained requiring no amenities however the units with a kitchen setup including a portable battery – if you’re using it – it’ll need to be plugged into a regular power socket for an hour every 3 days or so.
- You can find specific dimensions on your camper by visiting our FAQs on the website.
- If you have multiple campsite/campground options available to you – it could be worthwhile considering what you’re wanting to do while you’re visiting the area. Ie. If you’re looking to visit Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Johnson Canyon in particular, we have had customers find it convenient to book in at campgrounds that are connected to the bus system (Tunnel Mountain and Two Jack Lake). You could also opt for Lake Louise campground and walk, bike etc.
- If you are struggling to find available reservable campsites – looking to Yoho and Kootenay National Parks can help. I personally love the Kicking Horse Campground – especially the campsites along the river.
- If you want to have more flexibility or have been unable to book a site:
Plan B: Go with first come first serve campsites
Plan C: Stopping in at reservable sites on the day of can sometimes let you get in on a sweet spot due to last minute cancellations/no show
Plan C: Have some public land, rec sites and provincial park spots in mind that you can have as alternatives should Plan B and C not work for you (they can also be your Plan A if you’re wanting to get off the beaten path 🙂. A few of these options are:
Please note that our vehicle insurance doesn’t cover overlanding use.
As always, if you have questions you’re also always welcome to reach out via email or call! Happy trip planning!