Banff with Kids

[jasonbutcher]

Hello everybody! I am planning a trip this summer from Los Angeles heading north with our main destination being Banff/Lake Louise/Jasper. We are really having difficulty finding RV resorts that are in close proximity to the parks and with availability. Do any of you have any suggestions as to some great RV parks in the area. Also, what are your suggestions as to how many days we will need for each park? Thanks everyone!

[RodK]

My favourites in that area are Whistlers campground in Jasper , and we prefer staying in Canmore over Banff at the Bow Valley campground.

[ramblinboy]

On the outskirts of Banff try Spring Creek RV close to the town of Canmore its a gem. In Banff Park we stay at Tunnel Mountain its a hike down to the town elevated with spectacular views. Across the valley is Two Jack sites main and lakeside. 2 nights in each at least Id say.
Heres a link with greater detail including the road to Jasper.
Best of luck in your search
rB

Parks Canada - Banff National Park - Camping

[jasonbutcher]

Thank you guys so much for the suggestions! It is really difficult to locate any information regarding Canadian RV parks, so I figured I would ask the experts. Canmore seems like a pretty good option that is hopefully available but also located nearby both Lake Louise and Banff. Jasper really has very few options from what I have seen and I have yet to locate any parks outside of Jasper that are in close proximity

[RUFINIT]

Originally Posted by jasonbutcher

Thank you guys so much for the suggestions! It is really difficult to locate any information regarding Canadian RV parks, so I figured I would ask the experts. Canmore seems like a pretty good option that is hopefully available but also located nearby both Lake Louise and Banff. Jasper really has very few options from what I have seen and I have yet to locate any parks outside of Jasper that are in close proximity

Check out campgroundreviews.com Lots of good info on US and Canada parks.

We stayed at Tunnel Mountain in Banff National Park. Great park. Elk saunter through the campground. A few miles from the town of Banff and easy to get to Lake Louise and the Columbia Glacier, both must sees.

Banff area is one of the most beautiful mountain areas you will ever see (IMHO)

[docj]

We've stayed at both Whistler's in Jasper and Tunnel Mountain in Banff. We happen to enjoy Jasper more because there are fewer tourists but both are beautiful.

The Canadian national park system has a great online reservation site which you can access here: https://reservation.pc.gc.ca/ChooseLanguage.aspx

You'll have to register but it's pretty straightforward, just follow the directions. I have to warn you that reservations for this summer became available in January and most of the full hookup sites at both parks were sold out on the first day. I was an hour late and was only able to get a reservation for 6 days at Jasper in July.

There is a KOA in Hinton that is on the east side of Jasper and is close enough to the park to be a useful location. Reservations there should be easier to obtain.

[beaverfever]

spring creek in canmore gets my vote only minutes to banff with full hook ups.
the koa in hinton is the closest full hook ups to jasper and is a nice park. i intend to stay there again this summer

[Superslif]

Both Whispers campground in Jasper and Tunnel Mtn in Banff arriving about June 4-5 do reservations need to be made ahead of time. Or can reservations be made 2 days out when I know more on what date I'll arrive.

We have a 2100 mile drive from Ohio so I'm not sure how long that will take. I'm giving myself 4 / 5 days, but I don't want to rush knowing I have to be at a certain campsite on a set date. The only reservation I have made is inside Denali NP (Tek).

I know Whispers campground is rather large. How many site are reservable electric sites ?

[96 Wideglide]

I would do a short stay at Banff, and a longer stay in Jasper.

Jasper is real 'camping in the forest', which kid's love!

[Bob&AnnaMari]

We only stayed in Banff, but I cannot say enough nice things about Tunnel Mountain Trailer park. Note there are three Tunnel Mountain parks, only Tunnel Mountain Trailer has 30 amp electricity, water and sewer. Others do no have sewer and may not have water. Tunnel Mountain Trailer is only open from May 12 to Oct 2. And they really close on Oct 2.

You can easily visit Lake Louise from Baniff, but Jasper is much better visited by staying in that area. We didn't make it up there so I have nothing to add to the discussion on that point.

There is so much to see you will be very happy with a minimum of a two-week stay (and that does not allow for much downtime). The scenery there is just superb. You will be very glad you made the trip.

Oh. And the only financially shocking feature of Canada to us was the incredible charges for laundromat services. We found the food and fuel to be very competitive with U.S. prices when factoring in the conversion rate.

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by Superslif

Both Whispers campground in Jasper and Tunnel Mtn in Banff arriving about June 4-5 do reservations need to be made ahead of time. Or can reservations be made 2 days out when I know more on what date I'll arrive.

We have a 2100 mile drive from Ohio so I'm not sure how long that will take. I'm giving myself 4 / 5 days, but I don't want to rush knowing I have to be at a certain campsite on a set date. The only reservation I have made is inside Denali NP (Tek).

I know Whispers campground is rather large. How many site are reservable electric sites ?

First, it's Whistlers, not Whispers.... I think....

Click on the reservation link given in a post above. Find 'Whistlers' campground and click on it.

Select 'electric' and all of the electric sites are checked. There seems to be a lot of them. Since you are planning to be there early June I'm sure you can get a site but not sure on electric. It will still be cool up there so more folks might want electric.

Good luck!

[jasonbutcher]

Thank you all for your incredible insight. We have secured RV reservations at Spring Creek and we also secured a spot at Whistler, however, we got the last spot and it has no hookups. Again, thank you all for your assistance with our upcoming trip.

[Superslif]

We have secured RV reservations at Spring Creek and we also secured a spot at Whistler, however, we got the last spot and it has no hookups. Again, thank you all for your assistance with our upcoming trip

Was that Spring Creek or Whistler where you secured the last non-electric site?

[jasonbutcher]

Last spot was secured at Whistlers