I know this is a really broad question...but I'll ask it anyways...How does rv camping in Canada differ from the US? We've camped all over the U.S. and expect most campgrounds in Florida to be pretty full in May and for the most part reservations are needed in the more popular campgrounds. Canada has so much smaller of a population I'm wondering if we can head off and a long trip and not book everything in advance. Or is Canada full of Americans in the summer and are there a lot less campgrounds because the population is so much less....Like I said I know this if a really broad question and like asking someone whats America like...but I really know nothing about Canada other than what I'm starting to read in guidebooks. Dom

You should book. Canada gets a very small window of good weather and most of the population there takes advantage of that. Far more so as a percentage of the population than anywhere in the USA that we've traveled. Every place has a season but Canadians love their summer and get out.

in bc,provincial parks are busy during the summer but you can get sites as not all of them are reservable.no hookups or firewood,but the sites are mostly large,flat, have a table and fire ring and are reasonably secluded and have generator run time limits and most of them have flush toilets but no showers and max stay limits.fees range from 15 to maybe 30 bucks a night.forest service sites have no amenities save for a table and a pit toilet but the're off the beaten path,most are under 10 sites and secluded and almost all are lake or river side sites and are rarely full and are user maintained and beleve it or not are the best places to camp and are quieter than provincial sites by far.most are free,some have a small fee or a donation box.as for small window of weather,it starts in april and lasts till mid to late october.

bcbouy wrote:in bc,provincial parks are busy during the summer but you can get sites as not all of them are reservable.no hookups or firewood,but the sites are mostly large,flat, have a table and fire ring and are reasonably secluded and have generator run time limits and most of them have flush toilets but no showers and max stay limits.fees range from 15 to maybe 30 bucks a night.forest service sites have no amenities save for a table and a pit toilet but the're off the beaten path,most are under 10 sites and secluded and almost all are lake or river side sites and are rarely full and are user maintained and beleve it or not are the best places to camp and are quieter than provincial sites by far.most are free,some have a small fee or a donation box.as for small window of weather,it starts in april and lasts till mid to late october. Thanks, that's good info.

Yes, much different! The Canadian are much more friendly then some here in the states. Government parks seem to be cleaner then US.Actually there is very little difference. Camp grounds are general set up the same way. One item that we have run into is the lact of 30 ampp RV receptacle in some older parks. They were built before Canadaian elctrical code adpoted the NEMA 30TT receptacle. There fore make sure you have adpaters. 50 male to 30 female, and 30 female to 15/20 male. Most parks have upgraded but to be safe.Make sure you have Canadian currency of various denominations.

Any recommended websites or books for finding and researching campgrounds in Canada?

rv camping in Canada, different than camping in the US?

JaxDad
Explorer III
Jan 14, 2017
mileshuff wrote:
First off guns can be brought into Canada if you declare them first, say for hunting etc.

That's not quite true, SOME guns MAY be brought into Canada under strict conditions.

Basically hunting rifles and shotguns, and ONLY for hunting, not self-defence, and only if you're traveling to a hunting area during hunting season.

Pistols and such can only be imported for the purpose of competing in a shooting competition to which you were invited and have pre-registered.
mileshuff
Explorer
Jan 14, 2017
SoundGuy wrote:
Degraded? :h Some Americans visiting Canada who accept "carrying" as a normal fact of life, including while they camp, may be surprised to learn such is not the case here in Canada, even more surprised if they attempt to bring their gun(s) into Canada when they come here to camp.

First off guns can be brought into Canada if you declare them first, say for hunting etc. You make it seem as if its a HUGE major issue as if the majority of Americans gotta have guns while they RV. It's even more restrictive traveling to Mexico where you cannot have even so much as a round let alone a gun. Yet, American RV'ers travel to MX frequently. Beach areas are filled with American RV'ers. There maybe a handful of people as you say but in all mine, friends and family as well as others in the parks RV'ing in CA, USA and MX, it's a non-issue and among the least ever mentioned!
SoundGuy
Explorer
Jan 14, 2017
SoundGuy wrote:
Of course there's a difference ... in the US half your campground neighbours could legally be carrying arms, not so here in Canada.

mileshuff wrote:
Not sure how this discussion degraded to a debate on guns! In any event, its a non-issue for me either way.

Degraded? :h Some Americans visiting Canada who accept "carrying" as a normal fact of life, including while they camp, may be surprised to learn such is not the case here in Canada, even more surprised if they attempt to bring their gun(s) into Canada when they come here to camp. :E The OP asked "rv camping in Canada, different than camping in the US?" ... yep, you bet, on this account we are different, no "debate" needed. ;)
mileshuff
Explorer
Jan 14, 2017
SoundGuy wrote:
Of course there's a difference ... in the US half your campground neighbours could legally be carrying arms, not so here in Canada.

Not sure how this discussion degraded to a debate on guns! In any event, its a non-issue for me either way.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Jan 13, 2017
enblethen wrote:
Yes, much different! The Canadian are much more friendly then some here in the states. Government parks seem to be cleaner then US

mileshuff wrote:
Really depends on where you travel. Good and bad people and places in both. No difference! State park campgrounds here in AZ are some of the nicest I've ever been to for instance. Too popular and difficult to get reservations at most.

Of course there's a difference ... in the US half your campground neighbours could legally be carrying arms, not so here in Canada. If you're visiting from the US don't expect the same right to carry here in Canada - leave your guns at home. As for park cleanliness there are good and not quite as good in both countries ... and good luck trying to get a last minute reservation here in S Ontario from mid June through to Labour Day - Arizona certainly isn't "special" in this regard. :W
mileshuff
Explorer
Jan 13, 2017
enblethen wrote:
Yes, much different! The Canadian are much more friendly then some here in the states. Government parks seem to be cleaner then US

Really depends on where you travel. Good and bad people and places in both. No difference! State park campgrounds here in AZ are some of the nicest I've ever been to for instance. Too popular and difficult to get reservations at most.
joegray
Explorer II
Jan 10, 2017
The biggest difference in B.C. is you pay premium prices for, NO power,No sewer and no water at your site. The sites are big and private but you would struggle to get a 40ft MH or a 34+ 5er into most sites. If there isn't any attractions or beaches around you are hard pressed to find even a goog private campsite. jmho
tenbear
Explorer
Jan 04, 2017
Little Kopit wrote:
You can get to Labrador from Quebec, cross Labrador, then take a ferry from Blanc Sablon, QC to Newfoundland. In my photo collection are pics of me going the opposite way.

You are right.

When we were in Newfie we went past that ferry and decided that on our return trip south we would take the ferry to Labrador. Unfortunately, when we got back we found a tanker had caught fire in the harbor and the ferry dock was closed until further notice. So much for our trip to Labrador.
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Jan 04, 2017
TXcampingfamily wrote:

I don't know if this is the norm, but we found that even some commercial campgrounds will charge for the use of their showers. We were OK, but traveling with 5 people in our RV we liked the option of using campground showers sometimes.

I think in all our Canadian travels, we encountered this once or twice - but one place gave me a case of the giggles: there was a sign that said "Shower only accepts loonies". It was just after we crossed the border and I wasn't quite "versed" in Canadian currency, so I wondered why anyone's mental instability was required for a shower.... then the light bulb went on....LOL!!
SoundGuy
Explorer
Jan 04, 2017
bigred1cav wrote:
Any way to get there other than ferry?

SoundGuy wrote:
To NFLD? Fly, or swim ... but in either case you won't be taking your RV. :W

Little Kopit wrote:
Nonsense, there's a lot you can't do, if you tie yourself down to staying in burgs. You get what you pay for and with an RV you should have a fair idea of how to economize on the road. Cooking at least 1/2 of your meals as you do at home is one.

Your post makes no sense ... bigred1cav asked if there's any alternate way (a bridge for example) to get to The Rock with their RV other than taking an expensive ferry trip and the answer is no. What in the world has this to do with "cooking 1/2 of your meals as you do at home"? Good grief. :S

Forum Discussion

rv camping in Canada, different than camping in the US?

About RV Newbies

Related Content

Different TT construction

Stop Guesswork Different Banks Different Tipos de Cambios

Firearms into Canada

F350, 10k GVWR differences

Handguns into Canada