Alberta is truly one of the most beautiful and incredibly unique provinces in Canada. Offering a diverse range of territory to explore, your next road trip can take you anywhere from towering mountain ranges and serene lakeshore views to strange, awe-inspiring hoodoos.
Whether you call Edmonton home or are travelling from surrounding areas like Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Leduc, or Spruce Grove, one of the absolute best things you can do with your new Ford vehicle is to spend some time exploring all that your backyard has to offer.
Planning a weekend getaway with the family or a solo backcountry haul? Whether you’re towing a heavy-duty camper trailer with a rugged Ford Super Duty (F-250, F-350, F-450) or the iconic Ford F-150, or you're packing up a capable SUV like the Ford Bronco, Bronco Sport, Explorer, or Expedition for some wilderness camping, Alberta's diverse parks offer the perfect backdrop.
Here are five of the best places to camp in and around Alberta, easily accessible from the Greater Edmonton Area.
1. Two Jack Lakeside Campground (Banff National Park)
- Location: Google Maps Link
- Drive Time from Edmonton: Approximately 4 hours via AB-2 S and the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1) W.
This scenic and highly sought-after waterfront campground is situated right on the shores of Two Jack Lake in Banff National Park. Its location and close proximity to nearby amenities make it an ideal mountain escape for those looking to get a little closer to nature.
- Stunning Mountain Scenery: It’s never a bad day when you get to wake up to panoramic views of Mount Rundle reflecting off the calm, glassy waters of the lake.
- Water Recreation: The lake is an ideal location for stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, or kayaking—all available right off the edge of your campsite.
- Proximity to Banff: The Banff townsite is located just a short drive from the campsite, making it easy to hop into your Ford Explorer or Ford Expedition for a convenient trip to grab supplies or spend a day exploring one of Alberta's most iconic mountain towns.
- Back to Nature: This campground doesn’t offer any form of hookup (power, water, or sewer) on-site, providing a true off-grid experience. Smaller RVs and camper vans are allowed up to a maximum of 27 feet (8.5 metres), but your rig must be entirely self-sufficient (“boondocking”). It's the perfect spot to test out the terrain management capabilities of your Ford Bronco or Bronco Sport.
2. Writing-on-Stone Campground (Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai'pi Provincial Park)
- Location: Google Maps Link
- Drive Time from Edmonton: Approximately 6.5 hours via AB-2 S.
Located within a Southern Albertan UNESCO World Heritage Site, this campground offers a starkly unique desert landscape defined by its signature hoodoos and deep cultural roots. It’s a wonderful visit to see a side of Alberta that most people only dream of.
- Hiking and Landscape: Miles of sandstone hoodoos pepper the valley, creating an incredible giant natural playground for both kids and adults to explore.
- The Milk River: The river winds directly past the campground, providing a beautiful sandy beach and shallow, cool water ideal for tubing, playing, or just winding down after a long drive.
- Indigenous History: Visitors to the campground can join guided tours led by First Nations hosts, where they will learn more about the ancient rock art and petroglyphs carved into the surrounding cliffs.
- Power for Your Trip: Individual power hookups are available (mostly 30/15 Amp) to provide juice for an enhanced camping experience. There are no dedicated water or sewer hookups at the individual sites, so the campground’s central dump station must be used. It's a fantastic destination to haul your trailer down south using the exceptional towing capacity of a Ford F-150 or Ford F-350.
3. Dinosaur Park Campground (Dinosaur Provincial Park)
- Location: Google Maps Link
- Drive Time from Edmonton: Approximately 4.5 hours via AB-14 E and AB-36 S.
This otherworldly campground is nestled right in the heart of the Canadian Badlands. It is a perfect destination for Alberta families, hikers, and history enthusiasts alike.
- Fossil Trails: Camp alongside stunning badlands formations and take long hikes along public trails where dinosaur fossils are still regularly discovered, offering a truly prehistoric experience.
- Riverside Tenting: Campsites are offered right along the Red Deer River, providing a shady, private, and relaxing trip underneath a canopy of mature cottonwood trees.
- Interpretive Programs: There is an outstanding visitor centre on-site that offers interpretive programs which truly bring the prehistoric past to life for the whole family.
- Power for Those Who Need It: There is a mix of unserviced and powered sites available depending on the exact experience you’re looking for, including spacious pull-through sites for larger rigs. While there are no individual water or sewer hookups available, it's an incredibly accommodating site for parking a large trailer towed by a Ford Super Duty.
4. Crimson Lake Campground (Crimson Lake Provincial Park)
- Location: Google Maps Link
- Drive Time from Edmonton: Approximately 2.5 hours via AB-2 S and AB-12.
This hidden gem is tucked away in Central Alberta near Rocky Mountain House. Known for its quiet, peaceful atmosphere, family-friendly activities, and unique lakeside experience, it is an excellent quick escape to add to any Alberta camping bucket list.
- Crystal Clear Waters: Crimson Lake offers weed-free waters and a wide, clean, sandy beach. The waters are ideal for swimming, wading, and playing.
- Excellent Biking Trails: This park is surrounded by smooth, multi-use trails which are incredibly well-maintained. This includes the popular Amerada Trail, which loops around the entire lake. Pack the mountain bikes easily into the bed of your Ford F-150 or onto the roof racks of your Ford Explorer.
- Great Daily Programming: Fantastic guest experiences are offered here, including family activities like scavenger hunts and educational theatre shows at the park’s amphitheater.
- Power for Your Rig: RVs up to 60 feet can be accommodated here, and power hookups (30/15 Amp) are offered at roughly a third of the sites. There are no individual water or sewer hookups available, making it an easy, accessible destination for both trailers and family SUVs.
5. Boulton Creek Campground (Peter Lougheed Provincial Park)
- Location: Google Maps Link
- Drive Time from Edmonton: Approximately 4 hours via AB-2 S through Kananaskis Country.
Located within Kananaskis Country in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, this heavily treed campground is highly sought after as a premiere basecamp for mountain adventurers who enjoy solitude away from the larger national park crowds.
Plan Ahead: Don't forget that a Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required for vehicle parking within this area. Be sure to register your vehicle online before heading out into the park.
- Paved Bike Paths: Enjoy access to a large network of root-free, paved bike paths that connect several different campgrounds, day-use areas, and the camp store, ensuring easy and quick access to amenities.
- Hiking Haven: Serving as a perfect launchpad for several iconic Kananaskis hikes and lakeside trails—such as the Boulton Creek Interpretive Trail, Peter Lougheed Trail, or the High Rockies Trail—you can jump right onto the trail without ever having to move your vehicle.
- Great Amenities: This campground features spacious, private camping sites alongside an incredibly well-stocked camp store that even rents out sports equipment.
- Full RV Hookups: This is the only campground on our list that offers the "full meal deal" for your RV. Power, water, and sewer are all available at select sites, and there is a communal dump station. This makes Boulton Creek a premier option for large trailers and fifth wheels being towed by heavy-duty trucks like the Ford F-350 or Ford F-450.
Gear Up for Adventure at Koch Ford Lincoln
Before you hitch up the trailer or pack the trunk for your next Alberta camping trip, make sure your vehicle is ready for the highway. From routine maintenance to finding the perfect new Ford F-150, Bronco, or Explorer to power your Albertan adventures, visit us at Koch Ford Lincoln in Edmonton. Safe travels on the road!
