Camping in Banff National Park
A trip to the Northern Rockies would not be complete without visiting Banff, Canada’s oldest National Park and home to some of the most spectacular alpine landscapes in the world. Internationally famous for its crystal clear turquoise lakes and dramatic mountain scenery, Banff is a nature-lovers paradise.
Our recommended campsites are below!
Two Jack Campground is a quiet but popular spot just a few miles north of the town of Banff, that offers beautiful rustic (aka unserviced) lakeside camping facilities. Sites can be pre booked at the Parks Canada website, but you will need to plan ahead! If you cant get a spot at Two Jack Lakeside, you may be able to get a spot at Two Jack Main, which is not on the lake, but does have showers! Close to Lake Minnewanka, Two Jack Lake is also a great spot for both swimming and kayaking, making this the ideal campground for a day of lake exploration in Banff National Park.
Lake Louise If you are wanting to free-camp, the Lake Louise Overflow Parking is always a good option, and its location on Lake Louise makes it a prime spot to wake up for a sunrise on the lake, coffee in hand. $10 a vehicle, no booking required. Alternatively, you can stay in the Lake Louise Campground in the town of Lake Louise, around a 10 minute drive from the lake, where your sites can be pre booked. Hot tip: On one of your days at Lake Louise, make sure you get up early and head down to Lake Moraine- it is a short drive from Louise, and the crowds really fill up in the peak season, but it’s definitely a must-see!
Wapiti Campground If you make it up to Jasper National Park, Wapiti Campground is a great place to stay the whole year around. For summer, you can make reservations at Parks Canada, in winter there are no reservations required, you just have to show up! On the banks of the Athabasca River, Wapiti Campground is perfectly located- it feels remote, but is quite close to the town of Jasper, which is convenient for grocery runs on rainy-day movie outings! With hot showers and fire rings, this campground has it all.
