Calgary Stampede Advise

[Hobbyhorse1]

We are planning a trip to Calgary Stampede this year. Can anyone offer advise on nice nearby campgrounds/ RV parks (large class A with toad). Any other advise on other attractions not to miss while we are there. We will also be visiting Banff, Lake Louise, and Glacier. So any info for those areas is greatly appreciated also. This will be our first RV trip into Canada.

[Hobbyhorse1]

Thank you everyone for all the suggestions. We are typically not planners, we just go and wing it. But considering this is our first adventure outside the US with the RV, and a big city, and big event, we figured we better have a good plan in place. So much to read up on and plan.

[pianotuna]

The campgrounds in Calgary are not too desirable.

I enjoy Bow Valley, but it is not close to the city.

Boondocking at Mall parking lots is allowed during the event--but banned the rest the year in almost all locations.

[dedmiston]

DownTheAvenue wrote:
I would advise you to seek advice regarding your planned trip.

What does that mean?

[GeoBoy]

Can’t tell you about the campgrounds but the Calgary Stampede is fantastic and shouldn’t be missed. We did a tour with Tauck Tours and this is a great itinerary, www.tauck.com/tours/best-of-canadian-rockies-escorted-tour?tcd=br2020. Have fun.

[DownTheAvenue]

I would advise you to seek advice regarding your planned trip.

[TexasShadow]

we stayed about 50 miles west of Calgary, in the foothills of the Rockies in a provincial park, but we were in a smaller, 30 ft MH at that time.
Hopefully there are more rv parks out that way, these days.

whatever you decide to do, you should do it NOW because Calgary is a very popular rodeo, and make sure to plan on time enough to take in the Fair because that will be going on, too.
Also, if you stay out of town somewhere, check to see where you can drive in to a parking lot (like at the college) and take the train down to the fairgrounds. MUCH easier than looking for a parking spot down there and it was free when we used it 20 years ago.

[Sinterior]

Hi, if you do go up the Icefields parkway to Jasper stop at the Icefields Centre (Huge parking lots for cars and big RV's)and tour the info building, have lunch etc) You can take a ride on a Sno coach and/or a helicopter and go on the Athabasca Glacier and walk on it, or hike, its a ways and steep)

If you have time, once in Jasper you can turn right or left on Hwy 16.
DW and I know the area well, if you would like suggestions on which way to go (depending on time and interests, message me and I'll send you some info.

Enjoy your trip.

Icefields Parkway

Pete.

p.s accsys has great info on their blog! Don't get fuel at Saskatchewan River Crossing, on the Icefields Hwy, very very expensive.

[Lwiddis]

My advice mirrors Veebyes. Calgary is too big, too expensive and too crowded IMO.

[BB_TX]

Veebyes wrote:
................
As far as the Canadian Rockies go, spectacular. The ride from Banff to Jasper puts anything you see in the US to shame.

I think "to shame" is far to extreme. But the mountains between Banff and Jasper are certainly prettier than any I have seen in the US, except maybe Alaska. Don't end your drive at Lake Louise. Continue up the Ice Fields Parkway to Jasper.

[accsys]

You may want to read through our blog entry for when we visited in 2015. Subsequent entries cover Banff and Jasper.

[Veebyes]

We are rodeo fans & never miss a chance to work a rodeo into a trip.

We did the Calgary Stampede some years ago staying at a CG about a half hour north of the city. JMO but as far as rodeos go Calgary is big & it is very expensive. Not very good when you consider bang for the buck. You can go to any number of rodeos in the US with the same cowboys, the same bulls, for far less money giving you seats much closer to the action.

As far as the Canadian Rockies go, spectacular. The ride from Banff to Jasper puts anything you see in the US to shame.