Looking For a Parks Canada Campsite? Here's How to Land the Perfect Spot

Looking For a Parks Canada Campsite? Here’s How to Land the Perfect Spot

April 7, 2021 ctn_admin

The demand from Canadians to go camping this year is extremely high. Parks Canada will begin accepting reservations for the 2021 visitor season in April.

But how do you get that perfect spot? Read on for some great tips from the Parks Canada staff.

The reservation openings for different Parks Canada administered places are spread throughout the month. Visitors are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the reservation launch dates for the locations they are interested in by visiting the Parks Canada website: (https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/voyage-travel/reserve).

In advance of these dates, Parks Canada encourages visitors to do the following:

Mark your calendar. Launch days can be really busy! Make sure to be ready at the exact date and time that the location you seek is launching.

Create an account. You can browse without an account, but you will need to have one to reserve a site. Access your account using GCKey or a third party sign-in option. It is important to note that sing-in verification will not work using Internet Explorer and older versions of Microsoft Edge. A modern browser must be used.

Sign in to your account ahead of time to practice using the system. Using a laptop or desktop computer, you can search for sites on a map, in a list, or on a calendar – try all three to see if there’s one that works best for you. Most camping offers can also be reserved using your phone or tablet. If you get stuck, try this detailed overview.

Have a back-up plan, in case the site you want isn’t available on the dates you want.

Some locations are very popular, and reservations fill up quickly. Due to heightened demand, visitors are encouraged to be flexible, consider visiting during the week rather than weekends or visiting during shoulder seasons, or explore lesser known, but equally spectacular, hidden gems by visiting the Parks Canada website for travel guidance and options.

A list of ten alternatives to Canada’s most popular national parks can be found at the following link: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/voyage-travel/conseils-tips/10-options. A list of hidden gem locations can also be found at: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/voyage-travel/conseils-tips/nuit-overnight.

For further advice, visitors are encouraged to consult our Camping 101: What to know before staying the night article on the Parks Canada website: pc.gc.ca/en/voyage-travel/hebergement-accommodation/camping-101. It provides helpful advice on camping types, amenities, and services to choose from at Parks Canada administered places, as well as essentials for new campers, tips on how to book your campsite, and some rules to keep in mind when you visit.

Furthermore, on launch day, visitors can make reservations starting at 8:00 a.m. local park time (8:30 a.m. for parks in Newfoundland). The entire season will open for reservations at that time. For the best chance of getting your first choice, visitors should be logged in and ready to go just before the reservations launch.

Once on the reservation service, if their first choice isn’t available, visitors should:

Click on the site to open the site description. Click on “Site Calendar” to see a monthly calendar overview of when that particular site is available.

Click on “Availability Calendar” to see a calendar overview of when all sites in that campground are available. If you want to stay multiple nights, and different sites are available for different portions of your stay, consider a night-by-night reservation.

Navigate to other areas of the campground on the map.

Use the breadcrumb links (example: Parks Canada > Central > Riding Mountain National Park > Wasagaming) to go back and choose another campground within that park.

Look at campgrounds in other parks by changing your park selection.

The Parks Canada website is a great resource and provides detailed information on what locations are open, what visitors can expect, how to prepare for a visit and what services may be available. Visitors should plan ahead by checking the website before they travel. Additionally, if visitors have questions they can contact Parks Canada directly at 1-888-773-8888 or [email protected].