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Old 04-26-2015, 11:34 PM   #1
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Jasper Banff August

We have booked some days in August at Banff and Jasper, mostly weekend days. Are we going to be able to find some sites at those parks during the week or do we need all of our days booked? Were expecting to be able to just extend or find something while there for the other days, figuring we have to book our weekends.
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Old 04-26-2015, 11:38 PM   #2
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Find a spot earlier in the day, best by 1 PM, or you may be out of luck. Some of the campgrounds have "overflow" areas, which is a glorified way to say "gravel parking lot". Do your traveling first, set up camp, then go explore the area. That way you know you have a site AND the opportunity to check things out.
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Old 04-27-2015, 12:38 AM   #3
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You should be able to book ahead on line through the National Parks reservation system. The first weekend in August is a long weekend and will be very, very busy. Week days generally are less busy.
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Old 04-27-2015, 12:58 AM   #4
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Thank you, Peter and Buddy. We will be missing the first weekend there. We have the next weekends booked and also Labor Day which is apparently the same here and there.
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Old 04-27-2015, 08:20 AM   #5
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We have booked some days in August at Banff and Jasper, mostly weekend days. Are we going to be able to find some sites at those parks during the week or do we need all of our days booked? Were expecting to be able to just extend or find something while there for the other days, figuring we have to book our weekends.
Book now, or risk not getting a site. This area is a high volume destination area.
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Old 04-27-2015, 08:24 AM   #6
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Book now, or risk not getting a site. This area is a high volume destination area.
ken
July and august r very buisy months in banff and jasper. Make sure u drive the icefiels parkway between banff and jasper, and keep ur camera at the ready.
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Old 04-27-2015, 09:58 AM   #7
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Parks Canada - Parks Canada - List of Fees

Be prepared to pay, on top of camping fees. Depending on how long you are planning on staying in the National Parks, you may want to look into a seasons pass.
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Old 04-27-2015, 11:08 AM   #8
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It is frustrating that even if on the same reservation you want to move to another site or campground they add the reservation fee to each booked site but these areas will be busy and even if you get a site it may not be a great one, we try to reserve during the peek months, at least they let you pick the site you want if available and there ushually are pictures to get a look @ what you are booking.
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Old 04-27-2015, 11:37 AM   #9
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This is a bit discouraging. We'd planned on making the same trip during the first week in August. If we wanted to make reservations and be locked into an itinerary, we'd stay in a hotel, rather than go camping.

It's been a couple of decades since we visited Banff & Jasper. Are there out of the way, primitive campsites or are we just out of luck if suburban camping is unappealing to us?
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Old 04-27-2015, 12:40 PM   #10
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This is a bit discouraging. We'd planned on making the same trip during the first week in August. If we wanted to make reservations and be locked into an itinerary, we'd stay in a hotel, rather than go camping.
Get used to it sturski because that/this seems to be the way it is. With the ever increasing popularity of camping this method, although frustrating and stressful, seems to be the only fair way to ration out camp sites in the prime season. You can always take a chance, like we did a couple years ago, and get a nice site. Mid week and before 1:00pm seems to be the best bet for a 'first come' camp site in Alberta's National Park but you'll still have to pay the parking rate if you stop.
By the way....It's worth the frustration!!!
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Old 04-27-2015, 04:50 PM   #11
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Get used to it sturski
It's more a matter of put up with it or go elsewhere.

I'm aware that Yellowstone, Glacier, and Yosemite had gone this way. I wasn't aware that it had crossed the border.

The good news is that it is very easy to change our plans, I'll just have to see how my wife feels about it.
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Old 04-27-2015, 10:05 PM   #12
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You can look at the Parks Canada Reservation Service to see what is available in campgrounds. An annual pass would not likely be worth it for you. Because that first weekend in August is a Canadian holiday, you may find a lot of Washington campground spots booked for then in not too long also, as Canadians go south.



Quote:
Originally Posted by sturski View Post
It's more a matter of put up with it or go elsewhere.

I'm aware that Yellowstone, Glacier, and Yosemite had gone this way. I wasn't aware that it had crossed the border.

The good news is that it is very easy to change our plans, I'll just have to see how my wife feels about it.
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Old 04-28-2015, 12:43 AM   #13
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Get the facts here:
Jasper NP camping
Banff NP camping

General rule-of-thumb is that the larger, serviced campgrounds have reservations and during the summer reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends (note that July 1st and first Monday in August are holidays here in Alberta and most other provinces). Midweek, I've had luck getting a campsite without a reservation.

The smaller, unserviced campgrounds don't have reservations and usually work on a first come, first served, self-registration method. Another advantage (for Escape owners) is they tend to limit RV length to 27' or less (see webpage for details). I tend to prefer these campsites and roll in on Thursday evening and manage to grab a campsite, (not on a long weekend though) and there are usually few campsites left. I wouldn't count on grabbing one of these on a weekend. Rather I'd grab a campsite Thursday evening, stay for the weekend, then relocate if desired midweek. Also, as they're unserviced, make sure your batteries and water supplies are topped up.

Best bet if you really want to be sure of getting a campsite though is still to reserve online. Do try to make it, it's a wonderful place!
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Old 04-28-2015, 04:47 AM   #14
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Beautiful pictures of a beautiful place...
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