In a Pickle in Canada

Oh, boy! Good luck. I feel for ya, but nothing I can do to actually help you.

Go into Calgary or Red Deer for the weekend? Often, the cities head west to the mountains leaving a ghost town behind.

Try the Hinton KOA just east of Jasper? Stay in the Columbia Icefields parking lot? Last time we were there one could park overnite. Try the first come first served campgrounds along the Icefields parkway? Wilcox near the ice fields (tight for big rigs I think)? There used to be (still?) gravel overflow parking areas where campers could overnite near Banff. Check with national park staff.

I feel for you. I will be entering the US around the 2nd or 3rd next week and no reservations anywhere. This will probably be a boondocking 4th of july.

burnmark wrote:
Go into Calgary or Red Deer for the weekend? Often, the cities head west to the mountains leaving a ghost town behind.

Not Red Deer. There are only 2 camp grounds and they will be fully reserved.

Go to Travel Alberta and have a look. There is a camp ground listing there by region that may get you off the hook. Note, these are provincial campgrounds only and finding 5 spots is going to be very difficult.

Moved from RV Parks to RVing in Canada for additional input.

When you get to Saskatchewan River Crossing (between Banff and Jasper) head east. There's lots of random camping in the Nordegg area and campsites are usually not full either. I'd be surprised if you couldn't find somewhere to stay at the Bighorn dam, it's open for quadding and biking though so it can be noisy and busy. Not much for serviced sites though. It's a beautiful area, may favourite actually.

I believe whistlers in Jasper also has a few sites available on a FCFS basis. Good luck

Yes, I can remember being in California a few years ago and having to spend time in a truck stop as we had no idea that the Fourth of July was some kind of special day down there!

The Big Horn dam area is all dry camping. If you want it you have to bring it. It's a beautiful place but if you're not ready to dry camp then it's not for you. We'll be there after JULY 12TH but don't tell anybody!!!!!!The holiday weekend there will more than likely be very full and busy. Lots of noise and dust. Good luck.