Where can you park your campervan overnight in Banff National Park?

Karma Campers are outdoorsy, adventurous people. You want to camp like Banff locals, wake up to beautiful views, and explore off the beaten path. That’s why you always ask us: “Can you stay anywhere overnight in Banff?”

Is it illegal to park overnight in Banff National Park?

Yes. We wrote an entire blog post about the rules of boondocking, free camping, and dry camping in the Canadian Rockies.

The short answer is: Parks Canada only allows RVs and tents in designated campgrounds. However, we have heard from Guests that there are places where you can disappear for the evening without anyone noticing.

In this post, we’ll break down the best official places to park your campervan for the night. The hidden gems are worth the trek, but the following spots are safe bets!

Rest stops and overflow parking lots

If you haven’t booked a campsite and you’re feeling tired and unsafe to drive anymore, parking lots and rest stops along the highway in Banff National Park are great options to catch a couple of hours of shut-eye. Lake Louise has lots of overnight parking in their overflow lot located just a few kilometres east of the townsite. This is also where you can catch public transit to both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.

Check out the Banff RV Guide for a map and parking tips if you’re in town for the day.

Choose a Parks Canada campground

Parks Canada offers plenty of great, affordable campsites in Banff National Park. Many of the campgrounds below have space for campervans with a range of amenities and service hookups.

• Two Jack Lake
• Tunnel Mountain
• Johnston Canyon (coming soon!)
• Castle Mountain
• Protection Mountain
• Lake Louise
• Mosquito Creek
• Silverhorn Creek
• Waterfowl Lakes
• Rampart Creek

Check the Parks Canada website for current availability and booking. Some campsites have a no reservation policy, so you don’t need to worry if you’re winging it on your road trip. Just show up early to claim a first-come, first-served spot. We suggest arriving right at 3pm, which is when you can check in. All Parks Canada campgrounds take payment via VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Debit and Cash. Self-check in requires exact change or credit card.

Camping alternatives near Banff

If Banff’s available campsites don’t appeal to you and you aren’t ready to try your hand at boondocking in the wild, check out the area surrounding the park. The small town of Canmore, for example is nestled along the Trans Canada Highway just a few minutes from Banff. It’s so close that visitors often bike between the two towns!

Another option: Kananaskis Country. This Provincial Park is a fan favourite where the foothills meet the rocky peaks.

Alternatively, choose a turnoff or rest area along the Trans Canada or Icefields Parkway to park your van for a bit of rest.  Lots of campers break up their trip between Lake Louise and Jasper in one of these parking lots. Just don’t overstay your welcome here as they aren’t technically meant to serve as campgrounds and it’s illegal to set up camp. A bit further off the Icefields is Abraham Lake which offers free overnight camping.

Above all, respect the locals of the Rockies: don’t park a Karma Campervan in residential areas or where signs forbid overnight stays.

Enjoy Banff’s beautiful views

Everyone needs to explore Banff National Park with a campervan at least once in their life. There’s so much to do and see in this beautiful destination, especially in the summer months!

The views alone should be enough of a reason to add Banff to your bucket list. Then there’s camping, of course. Hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, stand up paddleboarding, whitewater rafting, kayaking, fishing, or just driving through the winding mountain roads. When visiting anywhere in Alberta, Travel Alberta is a good resource for activity suggestions and camping information.

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