Alberta, Canada, is the ultimate destination for anyone in search of budget travel opportunities. Plenty of national and provincial parks offer cost-effective accommodations with perks you’ll love.
But you’ll want to know what to expect before you hit the road.
Today, we’re discussing the best places to RV in Alberta to help you start planning your trip.
Let’s hit it!
Why RV in Alberta, Canada?
Nestled between the provinces of British Columbia and Saskatchewan, Alberta offers countless outdoor adventures and stunning scenery. You can explore the Canadian Rockies, the otherworldly Badlands, and everything in between.
While winters here can be brutal, the other seasons bring exciting opportunities to spot wildlife and wildflowers, paddle turquoise waters, and hike through striking landscapes.
Of course, major cities like Edmonton and Calgary have excellent cultural resources, including museums, galleries, and high-end culinary experiences. You can often catch a festival or celebration of some sort no matter when you visit. But once you leave the metropolitan areas, the wilderness awaits.
Alberta is home to nearly 50 First Nations and eight Métis settlements. In fact, Indigenous tourism is a significant economic boon for locals. You can find hand-crafted jewelry, artwork, and clothing at outposts throughout the province. Some places even offer guided tours where you can learn more about their cultures in hands-on foraging walks and other activities.
Best Places to RV Camp in Alberta
Before you load up the RV for a tour through Alberta, take some time to plan your itinerary. Here are five incredible places you’ll want to explore.
#1 Bow Valley Provincial Park
Bow Valley Provincial Park is sandwiched between the big city of Calgary and Banff National Park. This destination is smaller and quieter than its popular, well-known cousin to the west. However, its many exciting opportunities rival those of Banff.
Hiking, trail running, rock climbing, mountain biking, and paddling are all on the menu in temperate months. You can snowshoe and cross-country ski across the landscape when the weather turns cold. Some campgrounds are even open year-round.
Willow Rock Campground is seasonal, but this Alberta spot offers tons of amenities for RV campers. In addition to 90 unserviced sites, 34 spots offer 20-Amp electrical hookups. Water taps are throughout the grounds, and the dump station is open from May to September. You’ll have access to vault toilets, as well as restrooms with flush toilets and showers.
These sites include a picnic table and a fire ring. There’s also a playground and picnic area, plus access to several nearby trailheads. Spots can accommodate rigs up to 35’.
Interested in Canada’s public lands? Learn all about Camping in Provincial Parks!
#2 Banff National Park
Of course, an RV trip to Alberta would be incomplete without a stay at Banff National Park. This four-season destination draws visitors from around the world for good reason. Towering mountains, gorgeous valleys, and pristine turquoise lakes mark the landscape.
There’s always something fun to do here. In summer, you might hike or cycle through the hills, enjoy massive swaths of wildflowers, and paddle along the calming waters. In winter, you can ski the slopes, snowshoe, and soak in the nearby hot springs.
Lake Louise Hard-Side Campground is the ultimate place to post up during your stay. Nearly 200 sites offer 20-, 30-, and 50-Amp electrical service. You’ll find water taps throughout the property and a dump station on site. You’ll also have access to restrooms with flush toilets and showers. Plus, there’s trash service at each site.
Site lengths vary, but some of the bigger spots can accommodate 50’ setups.
#3 Dinosaur Provincial Park
Dinosaur Provincial Park is another world-famous destination. Located in the heart of the Badlands, the unusual landscape here preserves one of the largest collections of dinosaur fossils in the world.
Outdoor displays include in-situ remains as well as dig-site recreations. You can take a guided fossil-finder hike, let the kids hunt for specimens with a trained ranger, or even take a photography tour during the golden hour to hone your skills behind the lens.
However you choose to spend your time here, you’re bound to enjoy the landscape and the vast history encapsulated in one location.
The campground at Dinosaur Provincial Park includes dry campsites, plus some with water and electrical hookups. You’ll have access to fire pits, flush toilets, showers, and laundry facilities. Plus, it’s close to the general store, where you can grab essentials like firewood and snacks.
Electricity is available year-round, but they shut off the water from October to May, give or take.
Check Out the Best Overnight Trips Around Vancouver, Canada!
#4 Elk Island National Park
You’ll find Elk Island National Park less than an hour from Edmonton. This Alberta gem is a must for RV campers in search of a true wilderness experience.
This wildlife refuge is a hot spot for hundreds of bird species, bison, and, of course, elk. It’s also part of the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve, so you can enjoy dazzling night skies and views of the aurora borealis at the right time of year.
The Astotin Lake Campground features 75 dry campsites with picnic tables and fire rings. ADA-accessible restrooms offer flush toilets and showers, plus there’s trash service and a dump station on site. Each spot includes a picnic table and fire pit, and water taps are throughout the grounds.
While site lengths vary, many can accommodate units up to 35’.
#5 Waterton Lakes National Park
Our final Alberta budget travel destination is Waterton Lakes National Park. This premier location is just across the US border from Glacier National Park in Montana. Here, the staggering Rocky Mountains plunge into the clear lakes below. Unrivaled scenic vistas are the norm here, so bring your camera!
There’s tons of wildlife here, including moose, black bears, deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and much more. Hiking, mountain biking, and even scuba diving are all popular activities in the warmer months. In winter, you can sled, ski, and snowshoe across the land.
The Townsite Campground offers dry camping and sites with water and 20- and 30-Amp electrical service. Water taps are located throughout the property, and there’s a dump station on site. You’ll have access to restrooms with flush toilets and showers, as well as recycling and trash service.
Grab your copy of Fodor’s Guide to the Canadian Rockies!
Is An RV Trip Through Alberta Worth It?
The next time you load up the RV and head to the Great White North, make time to explore Alberta. This province has it all, from big-city amenities to spectacular wild scenery.
Alberta’s abundance of national and provincial parks makes it ideal for anyone interested in budget travel. We think you’ll be glad you put these destinations on your bucket list!
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