The best camping near Banff National Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Banff National Park adventure.

Glaciers, hot springs, and aqua lakes make this Rocky Mountain national park Canada’s most popular.  

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Banff National Park

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Top-rated campgrounds near Banff National Park

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Fir & Feather Mountain Treehouse

2 sites · Lodging125 acres · Golden, BC
We left the city to be closer to nature and like minded folks who help us be our best every day! We found it in Golden, BC. This unforgettable nest high above the forest floor is your opportunity to take flight. Endless trails and spectacular views give you access to nature in a whole new way. Explore on foot, bike or snowshoes(provided), then spend your evening up on the deck around the tree-top propane fire pit. Cook your meals in the outdoor kitchen or on the wood burning stove in the Trapper's Tent. Eat inside or out under the sky, then curl up in the luxurious queen bed to rest up and do it again tomorrow! After two years of building, this is the first year of sharing our labour of love! Be part of our journey by sharing your thoughts with us. Give us listing suggestions and any ideas to improve the Fir and Feather experience. Help us provide some magic. *Check out our first year's reviews on 'that other site', including winter stays. Our 120 acres include trails on the Moonraker Mountain trail system which connect to well over 100 km of biking, hiking, snowshoeing, and ski trails. Canyon Creek and the Columbia River provide views and activities for everyone. The only problem is it can be difficult to pull yourself away from the simple stillness and connection you feel while just sitting at the treehouse or off grid cabin. Isn't life wonderful?
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CA$90
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74%
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Golden Riverfront Campground

83 sites · Lodging400 acres · Golden, BC
Golden Riverfront Campground, also known as Golden Riverside Campground or The Ranch RV Park & Campground, is a 400-acre property located in Golden, BC, offering easy access to six nearby national parks. The campground provides a variety of sites, including 56 RV sites with electrical service, water, back-in, and pull-through options, along with 38 tent sites and a few yurts. The convenience store on-site offers groceries, firewood, and camping supplies. Each site is spacious, well-maintained, and features picnic tables and fire pits. The campground’s communal areas include a playground, sports field, and unique pond fed by the Columbia River, allowing guests to appreciate the natural environment. Direct access to the Columbia River provides opportunities for swimming, fishing, and canoeing. The campground’s two-story event pavilion with a commercial kitchen is ideal for weddings, anniversaries, or parties with up to 200 guests. Group camping options are also available for families or friends. Golden Riverfront Campground offers exceptional amenities and services, making it the perfect destination for a memorable camping experience. Experience the natural beauty of British Columbia and book your stay at Golden Riverfront Campground today!
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CA$120
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83%
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Sauna Under the Stars Camping

5 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents200 acres · BC
Welcome to Goonieland. We are an off-grid Permaculture farm perched on the edge of the Rocky Mountains. We are conveniently located between Yoho and Glacier National Parks, 20 minutes from Golden BC. The sauna campground is in a meadow above our farm with mountain views and creeks nearby. The purpose of Goonieland is to learn, practice and teach permaculture, regenerative agriculture, and natural law, while moving towards sovereignty, intentional community, and ecosystem restoration. We open our land to our fellow freedom fighters and folks walking the road toward a regenerative future and self-responsibility. We have two tenting sites, a glampervan, a glamping bell tents (on Airbnb), with a shared wood-fired sauna! Sauna Under the Stars Campground: Old Man Site Sauna Under the Stars Campground: The Chicken Coop (Sites are named after our favourite back-country skiing zones) *Room for one tent and small caravans/campers with mountain views and a shared wood-fired sauna. The Glamper-Van: Our cozy glamper van has a cush mattress, laminate flooring, a full kitchen set-up, shade tent and a cubic mini wood stove! A fire pit, and shared wood-fired sauna await you.
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CA$29.99
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98%
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Secluded River Front Property

6 sites · RVs, Tents100 acres · East Kootenay G, BC
Learn more about this land:Our campsite is located along the beautiful Spillimacheen River which originates just east of Glacier National Park.This property is secluded and surrounded by crown land. It’s the perfect property to disconnect and reconnect, with limited cell service this allows you to turn off and just enjoy being outside in nature.Campers can choose where to park along a large cleared area. There are designated campfire locations and an outhouse. From the property, you can Kayak down the river, please Google and research before launching as there are a lot of writes ups and kayaking websites that feature the Spillimacheen River.Nature trails for hiking and walking right off the property. There is a well renowned natural rock wall for climbers 3km down the road, there are also a lot of websites that feature these rock walls.Within a half an hour drive you have two easy hikes in waterfalls (the Lower Bugaboo Falls and the Brisco Falls).Spillimacheen has a cafe and also a local market store that is full of delicious treats, beer and wine. The wetlands offer endless bird watching and beautiful mountain views.
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CA$10.50
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The best camping near Banff National Park guide

Overview

About

Try to picture an iconic Canadian national park and you’ll likely imagine Banff. In Alberta’s Canadian Rockies, Banff has 13 campgrounds and more than 1,600 kilometres (1,000 miles) of hiking paths that wind around glacier-topped peaks, rocky canyons, and turquoise lakes, including the unmistakable Lake Louise. This is Canada’s busiest national park, meaning that the town of Banff, within the park, often heaves with people. Campers can beat the crowds with dispersed backcountry camping or stays at some of Banff’s more than four dozen designated backcountry sites in all different sections of the park. Don’t miss the glacier-lined Icefields Parkway, the scenic drive that connects Banff with Jasper National Park.

Notable campgrounds

  • Best for lake views: Two Jack Lakeside Campground features dozens of lakeside tent camping sites and RV spots.
  • Best for having fun in town: Tunnel Mountain Village Campground is just eight kilometers (five miles) from downtown Banff and offers well-equipped campsites with flush toilets and RV hookups.
  • Best for canyon exploring: Johnston Canyon campground offers prime access to the Johnston Canyon Trailhead, the gateway to one of Banff’s most popular and easily accessible day hikes.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. Make your plans early to reserve a campsite in Banff National Park. Set a calendar reminder for the day and time reservations open on Parks Canada’s online booking system—normally in early January—since many of the park’s reservable campgrounds fill immediately. These campgrounds are in the Tunnel Mountain, Two Jack Main, Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, and Rampart Creek areas.
  2. If you do arrive without a reservation, claim your campsite first thing in the morning at one of the first-come, first-served campgrounds: Castle Mountain, Protection Mountain, Mosquito Creek, Silverhorn Creek, or Waterfowl Lakes.
  3. Be sure to check seasonal opening and closing dates, which vary by camping area.

When to go

Banff is busiest in July and August, the mild summer months. Consider visiting on weekdays in September or October, when crowds begin to thin and the larch trees turn gold, or in the less packed (but sometimes rainier) spring, when wildflowers peek through the lingering snow. Most campgrounds are open from late June to early October, but Tunnel Mountain Village II and the Lake Louise campground for trailers stay open year-round for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice climbing, and other cold-weather adventures.

Know before you go

  • Banff National Park is set 90 minutes west of Calgary by road and roughly 10 hours’ drive east of Vancouver. You can buy most supplies in the resort town of Banff, but you’ll find lower prices in Canmore (20 minutes drive from the park’s south gate) or Calgary.
  • Parks Canada limits private vehicles at popular spots, including Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, so it may be worth exploring the park without a car on Banff’s ROAM transit buses or the Parks Canada shuttles.
  • Banff’s campgrounds don’t have wifi, but you can get online in the park visitor centers. Cell phone service can be spotty, and there’s no service along the Icefields Parkway.
  • Some campsites have fire pits, but fire permits must be purchased at the campground per night.

Nearby attractions

  • Experience the magic of camping at Abraham Lake, where pristine waters meet majestic mountains. Visit in winter to see the incredible ice bubbles created by wild winds.
  • Immerse yourself in the landscapes of the Canadian Rockies when camping near the Columbia Icefield, where glacial vistas and icy wonderlands create an otherworldly setting.
  • Offering a blend of history, wildlife, and scenery, camping near Lake Minnewanka is a true Canadian wilderness adventure. Explore its trails by day and indulge in stargazing by night.
  • Unwind to the sound of cascading waters while camping near Bow Falls, where you'll find the rush of the falls and serene woodland trails.
  • Find your perfect getaway  at Crescent Falls Provincial Recreation Area. The thunderous falls and lush forest trails will fill your camping trip with tranquility.
  • Ascend to new heights while camping near Tunnel Mountain, home to panoramic views, scenic hiking trails, and star-studded nights.
  • Camping near Moraine Lake is all about turquoise glacial waters and towering mountains.
  • Surrounded by mountains, a Two Jack Lake camping experience is perfect for a reset.

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