Finding the BEST Lake Louise Campground or Nearby

Compiled by the Road Trip Alberta team

Last updated on May 3, 2024

Camping in Lake Louise is probably one of the nicest spots in the world to either set up the trailer or pitch a tent. Although very few campgrounds are actually “in” Lake Louise, there are some nearby and many within Banff National Park. Depending on where you want to spend your time in the national park may dictate where you set up camp. That being said, if you want to find a spot at Lake Louise Campground in the summer or any nearby campground in Banff National Park, you’ll have to book early. Reservations open up in January and book up fast. If you’re lucky enough to get one, savour camping in one of the most beautiful spots in the world.

The Best Lake Louise Campgrounds

Lake Louise Campground – Hard-Sided/Trailer

Campground highlights:

• Open year-round – Reservations Required for stays from June to September
• Size: 189 sites
• Amenities: Washroom and shower facilities including flush toilets, potable water, firepits, electricity, cooking shelter, wheelchair accessible, sani-dump

Divided from the Lake Louise tent campground (sometimes referred to as the “soft-sided campground) by the Bow River, the Lake Louise Trailer Campground is a fantastic spot for those looking to explore Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. With access to numerous hiking trails and nearby attractions, the forested campground is only a short drive from the Icefields Parkway and the Bow Valley Parkway, making it a great base to explore Banff National Park.

The campsites are shared double-length sites best suited for units up to 15 metres (50 feet) and are serviced with 15-30-50 amps. For groups that want to camp together, please note that there are fire and no-fire sites available.

Another benefit of staying at the Lake Louise Hard-Sided Campground is that there is a Parks Canada shuttle stop. You can leave your car at the campground and use the Park and Ride Connector Service to head into Lake Louise Village (although the village is only about a 15-minute walk away).

As with every Lake Louise campground, we recommend booking as far in advance as possible, especially for the busy summer months.

Lake Louise Campground – Soft-Sided/Tent

Campground highlights:

• Open from June to September – Reservations required
• Size: 206 sites
• Amenities: Washroom and shower facilities including flush toilets, potable water, fire pits, cooking shelter, wheelchair accessible, sani-dump

Another fantastic base to explore the Lake Louise area is the Lake Louise Tent Campground. Perfect for those wanting easy access to some of the best hikes in Banff National Park, the campground also offers free access to the Park and Ride Connector service, linking it with Lake Louise Village so that you can easily visit its attractions. This “soft-sided” section is enclosed by an electric fence and allows tents, soft-sided trailers, and camping equipment with soft-sided pop-outs.

Campsites are unserviced and best suited for tents, tent trailers, or small motorhomes and trailers up to 7 metres (24 feet). For groups wanting to camp together, please note that there are fire and no-fire loops when selecting a site.

The Lake Louise Campground books up quickly, so mark your calendar and try to book as far in advance as possible.

Campgrounds Near Lake Louise

If you don’t mind a bit of a drive, here are a few more campgrounds near Lake Louise. Make sure to also check out our guide to camping in Banff National Park.

Protection Mountain Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 15 km / 15 minutes

Campground highlights:

• Open June to September 6 – First come, first served basis
• Size: 72 sites
• Amenities: Washroom facilities including flush toilets, potable water, fire pits, cooking shelter, wheelchair accessible

Protection Mountain Campground is about a 15-minute drive south of Lake Louise on the Bow Valley Parkway. It offers amazing views of both the Protection and Castle Mountains and is also known for its incredible stargazing in the evening. Campsites are unserviced and best suited for tents, motorhomes, or trailers up to 10 metres (35 feet), and RV campers may use the sani-dump located at the Lake Louise Campground. Note that cell service is limited here, and, as it’s a fairly new campground, there aren’t as many trees around as some of the other Lake Louise campgrounds.

Another bonus to staying at Protection Mountain Campground is that there is a Roam Transit Stop, which helps you get around Banff National Park with the ease of public transportation.

Mosquito Creek Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 27 km / 22 minutes

Open June to October – First come, first served basis

Campground highlights:

• Size: 32 sites
• Amenities: Outhouse facilities, potable water, fire pits, cooking shelter

Only twenty minutes from Lake Louise, Mosquito Creek Campground offers beautiful views and a much more secluded camping experience than if you were to stay in one of the main Lake Louise campgrounds. Campsites are unserviced and best suited for tents, motorhomes, or trailers up to 10 metres (35 feet). RV campers may use the sani-dump located at the Lake Louise campground.

With gorgeous views of the Rocky Mountains and many hiking trails nearby, Mosquito Creek Campground is great for those looking for more authentic and rustic camping (there is no cell phone service, for example). And don’t worry… mosquitos are no worse here than in any other spot in Banff National Park!

Johnston Canyon Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 33 km / 24 minutes

Campground highlights:

• Open July – September – Reservations required
• Size: 132 sites
• Amenities: Washroom and shower facilities including flush toilets, potable water, fire pits, cooking shelter, wheelchair accessible, sani-dump, interpretive programs

Johnston Canyon Campground is approximately a thirty-minute drive south of Lake Louise and is a good option for those who prefer a more rustic camping experience. It’s about equidistant from both Banff and Lake Louise, making it a fantastic base to explore both areas (especially if you want to spend some time on the Johnston Canyon Trail, one of the best hikes in Banff). Sites are available for tents and small RVs up to 8.2 metres (27 feet), and there’s a public transit stop that will take you to Banff Townsite in summer.

Silverhorn Creek Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 54 km / 43 minutes

Campground highlights:

• Open from June to September – First come, first served basis
• Size: 45 sites
• Amenities: Outhouse facilities, firepits, picnic shelter, food storage locker

Found along the Icefields Parkway approximately 40 minutes north of Lake Louise, Silverhorn Creek Campground is best suited for tents, motorhomes, or trailers up to 20 metres (70 feet). This RV-friendly campground is unserviced and doesn’t have any cell phone service, but it’s just minutes from Waterfowl Lakes, Bow Lake, and the Peyto Lake viewpoint. RV campers can fill with potable water and use the sani-dump station located at 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 basis
• Size: 110 sites
• Amenities: Washroom facilities with flush toilets, potable water, fire pits, cooking shelter, wheelchair accessible, interpretive programs

Located approximately 45 minutes north of Lake Louise, the Waterfowl Lakes Campground sits between Upper and Lower Waterfowl Lakes on the Mistaya River, putting you in the perfect place to spend some time on the water. Spend your days paddling, canoeing, or kayaking on the glacier-fed lakes, or take the short drive to Saskatchewan Crossing, Bow Lake, and the Peyto Lake viewpoint. There is no cell phone service here, making it an ideal spot to fully unwind and connect with nature.

The campsites are unserviced and best suited for tents, motorhomes, and trailers up to 9 metres (31 feet) in length. Make sure to ask about the free Saturday evening interpretive programs hosted by Parks Canada at the campground theatre.

Tunnel Mountain Village 1 Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 63 km / 41 minutes

Campground highlights:

• Open from May to October – Reservations required
• Size: 618 sites
• Amenities: Washroom and shower facilities including flush toilets, potable water, fire pits, wheelchair accessible, sani-dump, interpretive programs

Found only a few kilometres from the Banff townsite, this is one of the largest campgrounds in the national park. A 45-minute drive from Lake Louise, Tunnel Mountain Village 1 Campground offers a more traditional camping experience with firepits for cooking; a maximum of two vehicles, two tents and six people are permitted on each site. Thankfully, there are beautiful mountain views as well as incredible access to nearby hiking trails.

Tunnel Mountain Village 2 Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 65 km / 43 minutes

Campground highlights:

• Open year-round (oTENTik Camping – May to October) – Reservations Required
• Size: 209 sites
• Amenities: Washroom and shower facilities including flush toilets, potable water, fire pits, wheelchair accessible, electricity, cooking shelter, sani-dump

One of the closest campgrounds to Banff Townsite (only 2.5 kilometres), Tunnel Mountain Village 2 Campground is great for people wanting power without full hook-ups or those who need space for larger units, as there are a few sites that accommodate RVs that are 12+ metres (40+ feet). One of the few spots that offers camping year-round near Lake Louise, Tunnel Mountain Village 2 Campground has three-season camping in 21 oTENTiks and year-round camping for tents and RVs.

Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court

Distance to Lake Louise: 65 km / 45 minutes

Campground highlights:

• Open May to October – Reservations required
• Size: 321 sites
• Amenities: Washroom and shower facilities including flush toilets, potable water, wheelchair accessible, full RV hookups, sani-dump

For trailers and larger units, the Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court has some sites that can accommodate RVs that are 15+ metres (50+ feet) in length. Only 2.5 kilometres from Banff Townsite, the campground offers fantastic access to nearby attractions as well as hiking and biking trails.

Two Jack Main Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 65 km / 44 minutes

Campground highlights:

• Open June to September – Reservations Required
• Size: 313 sites + 30 equipped sites
• Amenities: Washroom facilities with flush toilets, potable water, fire pits, cooking shelter, sani-dump

Located just minutes from Lake Minnewanka and nearby attractions, Two Jack Main Campground is approximately 45 minutes from Lake Louise. This rustic, no-service campground has sites available for tents or RVs up to 7.3 metres (24 feet), as well as a few equipped campsites. These equipped campsites are perfect for those travelling without any camping gear, as they provide tents, sleeping pads, stoves with propane, and a few other amenities. The campground itself is also stunning, with plenty of trees and mountain views.

Two Jack Lakeside Campground

Distance to Lake Louise: 65 km / 44 minutes

Campground highlights:

• Open May to October – Reservations required
• Size: 64 sites + 10 oTENTiks
• Amenities: Washroom and shower facilities with flush toilets, potable water, fire pits, cooking shelter

Perhaps the closest thing you’ll find to backcountry camping in Banff National Park without actually backcountry camping, the Two Jack Lakeside Campground is one of the park’s most popular campgrounds due to its goergous setting on the lake. Accommodating tents or small RVs up to 8.2 metres (27 feet), it has amazing access for non-motorized recreation on the lake as well as nearby hiking and biking trails.

Rampart Creek Campground

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

Campground highlights:

• Open June to September – Reservations required
• Size: 50 sites
• Amenities: Outhouse facilities, potable water, fire pits, cooking shelter, picnic shelter, and food storage lockers

One of the more rustic campgrounds near Lake Louise, the Rampart Creek Campground is found along the Icefields Parkway, just over an hour’s drive from Lake Louise Village. With stunning views of the North Saskatchewan River and surrounding mountains, campsites are unserviced and best suited for tents, motorhomes, and trailers up to 10 metres (35 feet). Note that some loops are unsuitable for motorhomes or trailers over 8 metres (25 feet). RV campers can fill potable water and use the sani-dump station located at Waterfowl Lakes Campground, which is about 30 kilometres (18 miles) away.

Unfortunately, unlike both Lake Louise Campgrounds, Rampart Creek Campground does not have a Parks Canada shuttle stop, nor does it have any cell phone coverage. That being said, this campground is ideal for those who want to get away from it all.

Castle Mountain Campground – CURRENTLY CLOSED

Distance to Lake Louise: 27 km / 19 minutes

Campground highlights:

• On a first come, first serve basis when open
• Size: 43 sites
• Amenities: Washroom facilities, potable water, fire pits, cooking shelter

Perfect for those who love a more rustic and intimate campground, Castle Mountain Campground is approximately 20 minutes from Lake Louise. Suitable for tents or small RVs up to 7.3 metres (24 feet), this no-service campground is in a beautiful wooded area off the Bow Valley Parkway. Head here for great hiking and vast starry skies at night.

Backcountry Camping in Banff National Park

For those who love a real adventure, there’s a lot of backcountry to explore in Banff National Park. With so much natural beauty to discover – think snowcapped mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and fields of wildflowers – backcountry camping is great for those who aren’t afraid to tackle the elements. Thankfully, there are a few alpine huts or other shelters around the park to visit, too. Trip ideas for varying lengths of time can be found here.

A backcountry permit is mandatory for anyone planning an overnight trip into the backcountry of Banff National Park and must be purchased in advance. Campers must carry a copy of their permit when in the park (paper copy or a screenshot) and present it to Parks Canada staff if and when requested.

The backcountry permits must be purchased in advance. Nightly rates are $13.50 per person, plus an additional booking fee depending on how you do it ($11.50 per booking online, $13.50 per booking by phone – call 1-877-RESERVE).

Winter Camping in Lake Louise

For those who aren’t afraid of a little snow, there are a couple of winter camping sites available in Banff National Park – one near Banff Townsite and the other near the village of Lake Louise. Both Lake Louise Trailer and Tunnel Mountain Village II are both open for the winter months.

For more information, see our guide to winter camping in Alberta.

Pete is a co-founder of Road Trip Alberta. Growing up in Edmonton he has an extensive knowledge of Alberta and everything the province has to offer. He loves to eat good food, hike (especially in the winter), play tennis and curl. Apart from running Road Trip Alberta, he is a director with HMI, a digital media agency, half of the Hecktic Travels duo, and a co-creator of the popular card game Trip Chaser.