Campgrounds in Alberta, CA near NPs

[JQgolf]

Just starting to plan trip to Yellowstone/GTNP, to Glacier, Waterton Lakes NP, Banff, and Jasper areas of southern Alberta. Driving 36FT class A towing small SUV. Will we be able to get into and find large enough sites in the NP campgrounds, with or without hookups? Are there any RV parks near these major NP.s? Our only previous trip was in SUV and tent camping and we didn't notice if they could handle big rigs.

[4runnerguy]

JQgolf wrote:
Thanks Pipeman,
That's why we don't want to have to make reserve. now for June and July. We are leaving here from Calif and will be stopping in Idaho, then Yellowstone and Tetons for a week or two, as well as Glacier, before even getting to Canada. We don't want to plan out every day and where we will stay each night.

One thing to be aware of. Canada Day is on July 1 and the 4th of July is on, well, the 4th of July. That week could get very busy on either side of the border. We made reservations just to make sure we got something for that week.

[JQgolf]

Thanks Pipeman,
That's why we don't want to have to make reserve. now for June and July. We are leaving here from Calif and will be stopping in Idaho, then Yellowstone and Tetons for a week or two, as well as Glacier, before even getting to Canada. We don't want to plan out every day and where we will stay each night. We are retired now and want to take 5-8 weeks to really see the Northwest and Western Canada. If we have to make reserve. for a month or two out, its going to be a less desirable trip. I know for many parks here in Calif, you must book the day they become open or they are booked. Not fun.

[Pipeman]

I don't believe the park pass gives you a discount on camping fees but I could be wrong. The roads are good to go. I've gone from Waterton up to Pincher Creek(hwy 6) turned west(hwy 3) until The Cowboy Highway(hwy 22) turned north and then up to Hwy 1 where you go west to Banff, etc. I continue on up hwy 22 because I'm meeting my son for a couple of weeks dry camping west of Rocky Mountain House. I pull a 35 ft 5er with the genny on the back end, so I am probably 38 ft or more trailer only. As for gennys, I haven't a clue about using them in park CGs. I have an onan on the rear of the 5er but it gets used when dry camping and we're not in a campground. If you want it you have to bring it because there are no facilities where we go. Good luck and enjoy. OOOps, as for getting into a campground without a book ahead reservation, you might be able to do it. Right now I have reservations booked for 2 campgrounds for end of June, into July and the month of August but when we're traveling we usually get to a campground early in the day ( between 1 PM and 3 PM) and haven't had a problem staying for the night with all the hookups. Last time out, we called ahead the day we were traveling because of flooding etc. We travel across the northern U.S. on Hwy 2 and almost always stay at the same campgrounds. We don't do long days anymore. So it could be beneficial for you, if you know where you want to be on a given day, to call ahead for an overnight stay.

[JQgolf]

Thank you for all the responses. I almost forgot I had already posted this question as I have it on my list to do. I will print out all this info.
For reservations, except for Canadian holidays, will be able to make reservations the day before or the morning of when we need a spot? This worked for us last spring all across US except for Wash DC.

We would like to have a little more freedom to spend as much time as we want seeing whats along our way or nearby w/o having to always rush to get to our next spot. We will use a wheel approach at he major NPs to find a spot for several days and use suv to travel to anything close (50-100 miles) It would be nice to not have to drive back and forth 50 miles or so just to get back into the parks each day.

Does the Ca annual park pass give a discount in camping fees too or just entry?

Can we use our generator in parks w/o hookups during daytime hours and in early evenings? We haven't camped much with the MH w/o hookups. We do have battery powered lanterns, bbq, campstove, etc if we need to go that way, which is fine as tradeoff for better scenery.
We were just worried about getting into park CG's and sites having never seen them, especially when you can't back up!!!

Most of the major roads from Waterton Lakes up to Baniff, and Jasper, the Icefeilds, are all a go for our 38ft plus towed car?

Again I appreciate all help that those who have done this with Class A or who are residents along the way provide.

[profdant139]

canadafan, I can see walking 2.5k to get to a hot springs -- but I doubt I would want to walk 2.5k to get back to my RV after a long hot soak! 😉

[canadafan]

You could try Redstreak in Kootenay NP at Radium. You can walk from the campground to the Radium Hot Springs, about 2.5km.
There are sites with hook-ups and you can make reservations there.

[Tothill]

Keep in mind that a Canadian National Parks Pass is good at all the Parks. You may find it more economical to buy an annual pass.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/ar-sr/lpac-ppri/ced-ndp.aspx#dp03

Yuu do not have to buy the pass ahead of time, you can buy them in or near the parks.

[fanrgs]

We were there last summer and you will have no trouble at the Tunnel Mountain Campground in Banff, the Lake Louise Campground (in Banff NP), and the Whistlers Campground in Jasper. All have electricity, but only some have full hookups. Water is available at the sanidumps at each campground. Tunnel Mountain sites are just asphalt-paved pull-outs along roads. Lake Louise sites are side-by-side pull-throughs with trees between every other site. Whistlers are back-ins on cul-de-sacs that are fairly close together, but have lots of trees.

There are no private campgrounds in Banff, Jasper, or Yoho National Parks--Parks Canada does not allow them. But, as mentioned, there are private parks just outside the NPs at Hinton and Canmore. If you want to be much closer to the east gate at Jasper NP (Hwy. 16) than the Hinton KOA, try the Jasper Gates RV Park. Not in town, but much more scenic than KOA. It had new owners last summer and was very well-maintained. Pull-through sites are not completely level as they are on a hillside above the highway, but they have full hookups, very nice shade trees, tables, fire rings, and restrooms with showers.

[Pipeman]

Waterton NP townsite has big rig sites. Waterton Springs campground a few miles north of the park entrance has big rig sites, but don't drink the water unless you boil it. I think they drilled a well 2 years ago that might be better. There are a few other campgrounds outside the park gates but I'm not familiar with them.Don't forget you will have to buy a NP pass in order to get into the park. It gets real windy there and don't leave your awning down if you leave on a day trip. We don't put ours down while we've stayed there. There are some drives you can take that are very nice and if you drive slowly you will probably see some bears and sheep, etc. Cameron Lake and Red Rock Canyon are a couple. Keep your eyes open. Have fun

[Stefan]

You will have no real issues finding sites to fit rig. Reserve where you can though, to avoid disappointment

[bobcouch]

We stayed in a very nice FHU campsite at Waterton Township in Waterton NP last summer. We had a 50 amp pull through site with plenty of room.
I couldn't find the sewer hookup when we set up, but later saw a small trailer with their sewer hose connected directly behind their rig. When I got back to our campsite, I checked and sure enough our sewer inlet was in the center of the driveway just behind the rear axle.
I've never been anywhere else where the sewer inlets were in the center of the parking area instead of on the side.
Maybe it's a Canadian thing.

[Johnny_G1]

netjam wrote:
Tunnel Mountain right at Banff townsite is plenty big. Hinton KOA (west of Jasper about an hour) is big. Not positive but Waterton (right in town) should be big enough as well as a bunch just a few miles south of Jasper townsite. Only problem might be getting a vacant spot, depending on when you go.

KOA Hinton is East of Jasper 70k

[netjam]

Tunnel Mountain right at Banff townsite is plenty big. Hinton KOA (east of Jasper about an hour) is big. Not positive but Waterton (right in town) should be big enough as well as a bunch just a few miles south of Jasper townsite. Only problem might be getting a vacant spot, depending on when you go.