Discovering the BEST Lake Louise Campground (or Close by)

Compiled by the Street Journey Alberta workforce

Final up to date on January 25, 2025

Tenting in Lake Louise might be one of many nicest spots on the planet to both arrange the trailer or pitch a tent. Though only a few campgrounds are literally “in” Lake Louise, there are some close by and lots of inside Banff Nationwide Park. Relying on the place you wish to spend your time within the nationwide park might dictate the place you arrange camp. That being stated, if you wish to discover a spot at Lake Louise Campground in the summertime or any close by campground in Banff Nationwide Park, you’ll must guide early. Reservations open up in January and guide up quick. In the event you’re fortunate sufficient to get one, savour tenting in probably the most lovely spots on the planet.

The Greatest Lake Louise Campgrounds

Lake Louise Campground – Arduous-Sided/Trailer

Campground highlights:

• Open year-round – Reservations Required for stays from June to September
• Dimension: 189 websites
• Facilities: Washroom and bathe amenities together with flush bogs, potable water, firepits, electrical energy, cooking shelter, wheelchair accessible, sani-dump

Divided from the Lake Louise tent campground (generally known as the “soft-sided campground) by the Bow River, the Lake Louise Trailer Campground is a unbelievable spot for these trying to discover Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. With entry to quite a few climbing trails and close by sights, the forested campground is just a brief drive from the Icefields Parkway and the Bow Valley Parkway, making it an important base to discover Banff Nationwide Park.

The campsites are shared double-length websites greatest fitted to items as much as 15 metres (50 toes) and are serviced with 15-30-50 amps. For teams that wish to camp collectively, please word that there are hearth and no-fire websites out there.

One other good thing about staying on the Lake Louise Arduous-Sided Campground is that there’s a Parks Canada shuttle cease. You’ll be able to go away your automotive on the campground and use the Park and Journey Connector Service to move into Lake Louise Village (though the village is just a few 15-minute stroll away).

As with each Lake Louise campground, we advocate reserving as far upfront as potential, particularly for the busy summer season months.

Lake Louise Campground – Mushy-Sided/Tent

Campground highlights:

• Open from June to September – Reservations required
• Dimension: 206 websites
• Facilities: Washroom and bathe amenities together with flush bogs, potable water, hearth pits, cooking shelter, wheelchair accessible, sani-dump

One other unbelievable base to discover the Lake Louise space is the Lake Louise Tent Campground. Excellent for these wanting easy accessibility to a few of the greatest hikes in Banff Nationwide Park, the campground additionally gives free entry to the Park and Journey Connector service, linking it with Lake Louise Village to be able to simply go to its sights. This “soft-sided” part is enclosed by an electrical fence and permits tents, soft-sided trailers, and tenting tools with soft-sided pop-outs.

Campsites are unserviced and greatest fitted to tents, tent trailers, or small motorhomes and trailers as much as 7 metres (24 toes). For teams desirous to camp collectively, please word that there are hearth and no-fire loops when choosing a website.

The Lake Louise Campground books up rapidly, so mark your calendar and attempt to guide as far upfront as potential.

Campgrounds Close to Lake Louise

In the event you don’t thoughts a little bit of a drive, listed below are just a few extra campgrounds close to Lake Louise. Make sure that to additionally try our information to tenting in Banff Nationwide Park.

Safety Mountain Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 15 km / quarter-hour

Campground highlights:

• Open June to September 6 – First come, first served foundation
• Dimension: 72 websites
• Facilities: Washroom amenities together with flush bogs, potable water, hearth pits, cooking shelter, wheelchair accessible

Safety Mountain Campground is a few 15-minute drive south of Lake Louise on the Bow Valley Parkway. It gives wonderful views of each the Safety and Citadel Mountains and can also be identified for its unimaginable stargazing within the night. Campsites are unserviced and greatest fitted to tents, motorhomes, or trailers as much as 10 metres (35 toes), and RV campers might use the sani-dump situated on the Lake Louise Campground. Word that cell service is restricted right here, and, because it’s a reasonably new campground, there aren’t as many timber round as a few of the different Lake Louise campgrounds.

One other bonus to staying at Safety Mountain Campground is that there’s a Roam Transit Cease, which helps you get round Banff Nationwide Park with the benefit of public transportation.

Mosquito Creek Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 27 km / 22 minutes

Open June to October – First come, first served foundation

Campground highlights:

• Dimension: 32 websites
• Facilities: Outhouse amenities, potable water, hearth pits, cooking shelter

Solely twenty minutes from Lake Louise, Mosquito Creek Campground gives lovely views and a way more secluded tenting expertise than when you had been to remain in one of many essential Lake Louise campgrounds. Campsites are unserviced and greatest fitted to tents, motorhomes, or trailers as much as 10 metres (35 toes). RV campers might use the sani-dump situated on the Lake Louise campground.

With beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains and lots of climbing trails close by, Mosquito Creek Campground is nice for these searching for extra genuine and rustic tenting (there isn’t any cellphone service, for instance). And don’t fear… mosquitos aren’t any worse right here than in every other spot in Banff Nationwide Park!

Johnston Canyon Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 33 km / 24 minutes

Campground highlights:

• Open July – September – Reservations required
• Dimension: 132 websites
• Facilities: Washroom and bathe amenities together with flush bogs, potable water, hearth pits, cooking shelter, wheelchair accessible, sani-dump, interpretive packages

Johnston Canyon Campground is roughly a thirty-minute drive south of Lake Louise and is an efficient choice for individuals who want a extra rustic tenting expertise. It’s about equidistant from each Banff and Lake Louise, making it a unbelievable base to discover each areas (particularly if you wish to spend a while on the Johnston Canyon Path, among the best hikes in Banff). Websites can be found for tents and small RVs as much as 8.2 metres (27 toes), and there’s a public transit cease that may take you to Banff Townsite in summer season.

Silverhorn Creek Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 54 km / 43 minutes

Campground highlights:

• Open from June to September – First come, first served foundation
• Dimension: 45 websites
• Facilities: Outhouse amenities, firepits, picnic shelter, meals storage locker

Discovered alongside the Icefields Parkway roughly 40 minutes north of Lake Louise, Silverhorn Creek Campground is greatest fitted to tents, motorhomes, or trailers as much as 20 metres (70 toes). This RV-friendly campground is unserviced and doesn’t have any cellphone service, but it surely’s simply minutes from Waterfowl Lakes, Bow Lake, and the Peyto Lake viewpoint. RV campers can fill with potable water and use the sani-dump station situated on the Waterfowl Lakes campground.

Waterfowl Lakes Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 60 km / 46 minutes

Campground highlights:

• Open from June to September – First come, first served foundation
• Dimension: 110 websites
• Facilities: Washroom amenities with flush bogs, potable water, hearth pits, cooking shelter, wheelchair accessible, interpretive packages

Positioned roughly 45 minutes north of Lake Louise, the Waterfowl Lakes Campground sits between Higher and Decrease Waterfowl Lakes on the Mistaya River, placing you within the excellent place to spend a while on the water. Spend your days paddling, canoeing, or kayaking on the glacier-fed lakes, or take the quick drive to Saskatchewan Crossing, Bow Lake, and the Peyto Lake viewpoint. There isn’t a cellphone service right here, making it a super spot to completely unwind and join with nature.

The campsites are unserviced and greatest fitted to tents, motorhomes, and trailers as much as 9 metres (31 toes) in size. Make sure that to ask concerning the free Saturday night interpretive packages hosted by Parks Canada on the campground theatre.

Tunnel Mountain Village 1 Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 63 km / 41 minutes

Campground highlights:

• Open from Could to October – Reservations required
• Dimension: 618 websites
• Facilities: Washroom and bathe amenities together with flush bogs, potable water, hearth pits, wheelchair accessible, sani-dump, interpretive packages

Discovered just a few kilometres from the Banff townsite, this is among the largest campgrounds within the nationwide park. A forty five-minute drive from Lake Louise, Tunnel Mountain Village 1 Campground gives a extra conventional tenting expertise with firepits for cooking; a most of two automobiles, two tents and 6 persons are permitted on every website. Fortunately, there are lovely mountain views in addition to unimaginable entry to close by climbing trails.

Tunnel Mountain Village 2 Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 65 km / 43 minutes

Campground highlights:

• Open year-round (oTENTik Tenting – Could to October) – Reservations Required
• Dimension: 209 websites
• Facilities: Washroom and bathe amenities together with flush bogs, potable water, hearth pits, wheelchair accessible, electrical energy, cooking shelter, sani-dump

One of many closest campgrounds to Banff Townsite (solely 2.5 kilometres), Tunnel Mountain Village 2 Campground is nice for individuals wanting energy with out full hook-ups or those that want area for bigger items, as there are just a few websites that accommodate RVs which might be 12+ metres (40+ toes). One of many few spots that provides tenting year-round close to Lake Louise, Tunnel Mountain Village 2 Campground has three-season tenting in 21 oTENTiks and year-round tenting for tents and RVs.

Tunnel Mountain Trailer Courtroom

Distance to Lake Louise: 65 km / 45 minutes

Campground highlights:

• Open Could to October – Reservations required
• Dimension: 321 websites
• Facilities: Washroom and bathe amenities together with flush bogs, potable water, wheelchair accessible, full RV hookups, sani-dump

For trailers and bigger items, the Tunnel Mountain Trailer Courtroom has some websites that may accommodate RVs which might be 15+ metres (50+ toes) in size. Solely 2.5 kilometres from Banff Townsite, the campground gives unbelievable entry to close by sights in addition to climbing and biking trails.

Two Jack Fundamental Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 65 km / 44 minutes

Campground highlights:

• Open June to September – Reservations Required
• Dimension: 313 websites + 30 geared up websites
• Facilities: Washroom amenities with flush bogs, potable water, hearth pits, cooking shelter, sani-dump

Positioned simply minutes from Lake Minnewanka and close by sights, Two Jack Fundamental Campground is roughly 45 minutes from Lake Louise. This rustic, no-service campground has websites out there for tents or RVs as much as 7.3 metres (24 toes), in addition to just a few geared up campsites. These geared up campsites are excellent for these travelling with none tenting gear, as they supply tents, sleeping pads, stoves with propane, and some different facilities. The campground itself can also be gorgeous, with loads of timber and mountain views.

Two Jack Lakeside Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 65 km / 44 minutes

Campground highlights:

• Open Could to October – Reservations required
• Dimension: 64 websites + 10 oTENTiks
• Facilities: Washroom and bathe amenities with flush bogs, potable water, hearth pits, cooking shelter

Maybe the closest factor you’ll discover to backcountry tenting in Banff Nationwide Park with out really backcountry tenting, the Two Jack Lakeside Campground is among the park’s hottest campgrounds attributable to its goergous setting on the lake. Accommodating tents or small RVs as much as 8.2 metres (27 toes), it has wonderful entry for non-motorized recreation on the lake in addition to close by climbing and biking trails.

Rampart Creek Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 92 km / 1 hr 10 min

Campground highlights:

• Open June to September – Reservations required
• Dimension: 50 websites
• Facilities: Outhouse amenities, potable water, hearth pits, cooking shelter, picnic shelter, and meals storage lockers

One of many extra rustic campgrounds close to Lake Louise, the Rampart Creek Campground is discovered alongside the Icefields Parkway, simply over an hour’s drive from Lake Louise Village. With gorgeous views of the North Saskatchewan River and surrounding mountains, campsites are unserviced and greatest fitted to tents, motorhomes, and trailers as much as 10 metres (35 toes). Word that some loops are unsuitable for motorhomes or trailers over 8 metres (25 toes). RV campers can fill potable water and use the sani-dump station situated at Waterfowl Lakes Campground, which is about 30 kilometres (18 miles) away.

Sadly, not like each Lake Louise Campgrounds, Rampart Creek Campground doesn’t have a Parks Canada shuttle cease, nor does it have any cellphone protection. That being stated, this campground is good for individuals who wish to get away from all of it.

Citadel Mountain Campground – CURRENTLY CLOSED

Distance to Lake Louise: 27 km / 19 minutes

Campground highlights:

• On a primary come, first serve foundation when open
• Dimension: 43 websites
• Facilities: Washroom amenities, potable water, hearth pits, cooking shelter

Excellent for individuals who love a extra rustic and intimate campground, Citadel Mountain Campground is roughly 20 minutes from Lake Louise. Appropriate for tents or small RVs as much as 7.3 metres (24 toes), this no-service campground is in a ravishing wooded space off the Bow Valley Parkway. Head right here for nice climbing and huge starry skies at evening.

Backcountry Tenting in Banff Nationwide Park

For many who love an actual journey, there’s loads of backcountry to discover in Banff Nationwide Park. With a lot pure magnificence to find – assume snowcapped mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and fields of wildflowers – backcountry tenting is nice for individuals who aren’t afraid to sort out the weather. Fortunately, there are just a few alpine huts or different shelters across the park to go to, too. Journey concepts for various lengths of time might be discovered right here.

A backcountry allow is obligatory for anybody planning an in a single day journey into the backcountry of Banff Nationwide Park and should be bought upfront. Campers should carry a replica of their allow when within the park (paper copy or a screenshot) and current it to Parks Canada workers if and when requested.

The backcountry permits should be bought upfront. Nightly charges are $13.50 per individual, plus an extra reserving price relying on the way you do it ($11.50 per reserving on-line, $13.50 per reserving by telephone – name 1-877-RESERVE).

Winter Tenting in Lake Louise

For many who aren’t afraid of a bit snow, there are a few winter tenting websites out there in Banff Nationwide Park – one close to Banff Townsite and the opposite close to the village of Lake Louise. Each Lake Louise Trailer and Tunnel Mountain Village II are each open for the winter months.

For extra info, see our information to winter tenting in Alberta.

Pete is a co-founder of Street Journey Alberta. Rising up in Edmonton he has an in depth information of Alberta and every part the province has to supply. He likes to eat good meals, hike (particularly within the winter), play tennis and curl. Aside from operating Street Journey Alberta, he’s a director with HMI, a digital media company, half of the Hecktic Travels duo, and a co-creator of the favored card sport Journey Chaser.