Camping in Canada
Banff, Jasper and Pacific Rim sell out on launch day, and popular provincial parks fill months ahead. Here is when each system opens its dates, what a cancellation costs, and every campground Campsite Tonight watches for cancellations.
Automatic add-to-cart works on all five systems below: when a sold-out site is cancelled, Campsite Tonight puts it in your cart.
- Campgrounds
- 261
- Campsites
- 24,143
- Provinces & territories
- 11
Camping by province
- British Columbia126 campgrounds · 118 parks
- Manitoba43 campgrounds · 26 parks
- Alberta16 campgrounds · 6 parks
- Nova Scotia26 campgrounds · 23 parks
- Newfoundland and Labrador20 campgrounds · 15 parks
- Quebec9 campgrounds · 5 parks
- New Brunswick7 campgrounds · 2 parks
- Ontario7 campgrounds · 7 parks
- Saskatchewan4 campgrounds · 2 parks
- Prince Edward Island2 campgrounds · 1 park
- Yukon1 campground · 1 park
When to book a campsite in Canada
Parks Canada and most provinces open the whole season on a launch day; BC Parks opens dates on a rolling three-month window instead.
- 3 or more days before arrival
- Refund minus the $11.50 reservation fee and $11.50 cancellation fee
- Less than 3 days before
- You also lose the first night
No-shows (not checked in by 11 a.m. the day after arrival) can call the park within 30 days for a refund minus the reservation fee and two nights.
- More than 7 days before arrival
- Refund minus the $6 cancellation fee
- Within 7 days
- You lose one night
- On arrival day
- You lose two nights
The reservation fee ($6 a night, up to $18) is never refunded. No-shows by 11 a.m. the next morning lose everything.
- 4 or more days before arrival
- Refund minus the $10 cancellation fee
- 3 days or less
- You lose the first night
- After arrival day
- No refund
The $10 reservation fee is never refunded. Changes cost $4.
- Before 2 p.m. on arrival day
- Full refund minus the reservation and cancellation fees
The price table lists an $8.95 reservation fee and $6.95 cancellation fee; another official page says $9 and $7.
- 1 or more days before arrival
- Full refund minus the $7 reservation fee
- Arrival day, until 2 p.m. the next day
- You lose one night
Stays of 8 nights or more have their own refund tiers. No-shows get no refund.
| Booking system | How far ahead | New dates open | Cancellation policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks Canada | Each park opens its whole season on one launch day, in January or February Most campgrounds take bookings until 2 p.m. on arrival day. | 8:00 a.m. local park time (8:30 a.m. in Newfoundland) |
No-shows (not checked in by 11 a.m. the day after arrival) can call the park within 30 days for a refund minus the reservation fee and two nights. |
| BC Parks | 3 months ahead, rolling Most parks close bookings at 8 p.m. two days before arrival. Booking on the first day of the window locks your dates. | 7:00 a.m. Pacific, daily |
The reservation fee ($6 a night, up to $18) is never refunded. No-shows by 11 a.m. the next morning lose everything. |
| Manitoba Parks | The whole season opens over launch days in April (April 13–17 in 2026) Sites can be booked until 3 p.m. on arrival day. | 7:00 a.m. Central, with a waiting room from 6:30 a.m. |
The $10 reservation fee is never refunded. Changes cost $4. |
| Nova Scotia Parks | The whole season opens in spring (April 8 in 2026) Sites can be booked until 11 p.m. on arrival day. |
The price table lists an $8.95 reservation fee and $6.95 cancellation fee; another official page says $9 and $7. | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador Parks | The whole season opens in late April (April 22 in 2026) Same-day bookings until 8 p.m. Newfoundland time. | 7:00 a.m. on launch day (6:30 a.m. in most of Labrador) |
Stays of 8 nights or more have their own refund tiers. No-shows get no refund. |
Checked against Parks Canada reservation launch dates, Parks Canada reservation policies, BC Parks frontcountry camping, BC Parks cancellation windows, Manitoba Parks Reservation Service, Manitoba park fees, Nova Scotia Parks reservations, Nova Scotia camping fees, ParksNL reservations and ParksNL rules and regulations (2026) on October 20, 2026. Prices are in Canadian dollars. Rules can change, so confirm on the official site before you book.
Parks Canada reservation launch dates
Launch days for the 2026 camping season. Parks Canada hasn't announced 2027 dates yet; they usually fall in January and February.
| Park | Province | 2026 launch |
|---|---|---|
| Banff National Park | Alberta | Thu, Feb 12, 8 a.m. MT |
| Bruce Peninsula National Park | Ontario | Mon, Feb 2, 8 a.m. ET |
| Cape Breton Highlands National Park | Nova Scotia | Mon, Feb 9, 8 a.m. AT |
| Elk Island National Park | Alberta | Tue, Feb 3, 8 a.m. MT |
| Forillon National Park | Quebec | Wed, Feb 4, 8 a.m. ET |
| Fundy National Park | New Brunswick | Fri, Feb 6, 8 a.m. AT |
| Georgian Bay Islands National Park | Ontario | Mon, Feb 2, 8 a.m. ET |
| Glacier National Park | British Columbia | Thu, Jan 29, 8 a.m. PT |
| Grasslands National Park | Saskatchewan | Fri, Jan 30, 8 a.m. CT |
| Gros Morne National Park | Newfoundland and Labrador | Wed, Feb 11, 8:30 a.m. NT |
| Gulf Islands National Park Reserve | British Columbia | Thu, Jan 29, 8 a.m. PT |
| Jasper National Park | Alberta | Tue, Jan 27, 8 a.m. MT |
| Kejimkujik National Park | Nova Scotia | Wed, Feb 11, 8 a.m. AT |
| Kluane National Park and Reserve | Yukon | Tue, Jan 20, 8 a.m. MT |
| Kootenay National Park | British Columbia | Tue, Jan 20, 8 a.m. MT |
| Kouchibouguac National Park | New Brunswick | Fri, Feb 6, 8 a.m. AT |
| La Mauricie National Park | Quebec | Wed, Feb 4, 8 a.m. ET |
| Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve | Quebec | Wed, Feb 4, 8 a.m. ET |
| Mount Revelstoke National Park | British Columbia | Thu, Jan 29, 8 a.m. PT |
| Pacific Rim National Park Reserve | British Columbia | Thu, Jan 29, 8 a.m. PT |
| Point Pelee National Park | Ontario | Mon, Feb 2, 8 a.m. ET |
| Prince Albert National Park | Saskatchewan | Fri, Jan 30, 8 a.m. CT |
| Prince Edward Island National Park | Prince Edward Island | Mon, Feb 9, 8 a.m. AT |
| Pukaskwa National Park | Ontario | Mon, Feb 2, 8 a.m. ET |
| Riding Mountain National Park | Manitoba | Fri, Jan 30, 8 a.m. CT |
| Terra Nova National Park | Newfoundland and Labrador | Wed, Feb 11, 8:30 a.m. NT |
| Thousand Islands National Park | Ontario | Mon, Feb 2, 8 a.m. ET |
| Waterton Lakes National Park | Alberta | Tue, Feb 3, 8 a.m. MT |
| Yoho National Park | British Columbia | Tue, Jan 20, 8 a.m. MT |
National parks and historic sites
- Banff National Park (Alberta, 8 campgrounds)
- Jasper National Park (Alberta, 4 campgrounds)
- Fundy National Park (New Brunswick, 5 campgrounds)
- La Mauricie National Park (Quebec, 3 campgrounds)
- Riding Mountain National Park (Manitoba, 1 campground)
- Prince Edward Island National Park (Prince Edward Island, 2 campgrounds)
- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (Nova Scotia, 4 campgrounds)
- Kootenay National Park (British Columbia, 3 campgrounds)
- Kejimkujik National Park (Nova Scotia, 1 campground)
- Prince Albert National Park (Saskatchewan, 2 campgrounds)
- Forillon National Park (Quebec, 3 campgrounds)
- Kouchibouguac National Park (New Brunswick, 2 campgrounds)
- Terra Nova National Park (Newfoundland and Labrador, 2 campgrounds)
- Waterton Lakes National Park (Alberta, 1 campground)
- Bruce Peninsula National Park (Ontario, 1 campground)
- Gros Morne National Park (Newfoundland and Labrador, 5 campgrounds)
- Yoho National Park (British Columbia, 3 campgrounds)
- Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (British Columbia, 1 campground)
- Gulf Islands National Park Reserve (British Columbia, 3 campgrounds)
- Glacier National Park (British Columbia, 2 campgrounds)
- Pukaskwa National Park (Ontario, 1 campground)
- Elk Island National Park (Alberta, 1 campground)
- Mount Revelstoke National Park (British Columbia, 1 campground)
- Thousand Islands National Park (Ontario, 1 campground)
- Grasslands National Park (Saskatchewan, 2 campgrounds)
- Georgian Bay Islands National Park (Ontario, 1 campground)
- Kluane National Park and Reserve (Yukon, 1 campground)
- Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve (Quebec, 1 campground)
- Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site (Alberta, 1 campground)
- Point Pelee National Park (Ontario, 1 campground)
- Wood Buffalo National Park (Alberta, 1 campground)
- Rideau Canal National Historic Site (Ontario, 1 campground)
- Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site (Ontario, 1 campground)
- Grand-Pré National Historic Site (Nova Scotia, 1 campground)
- Saint-Ours Canal National Historic Site (Quebec, 1 campground)
- Fort Langley National Historic Site (British Columbia, 1 campground)
- Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site (British Columbia, 1 campground)
- Lachine Canal National Historic Site (Quebec, 1 campground)
Canada camping FAQ
Does Campsite Tonight work in Canada?
Yes. Campsite Tonight watches 261 Canadian campgrounds on Parks Canada, BC Parks, Manitoba Parks, Nova Scotia Parks and Newfoundland and Labrador Parks, and adds a cancelled site to your cart automatically. You just check out.
When do Parks Canada campground reservations open?
Each national park opens its whole camping season on one launch day, at 8 a.m. local park time (8:30 a.m. in Newfoundland). For the 2026 season the launches ran from January 20 (Yoho, Kootenay and Kluane) to February 12 (Banff). Dates for 2027 have not been announced yet.
How far ahead can you book BC Parks campsites?
Three months ahead, on a rolling basis: new dates open every day at 7 a.m. Pacific. If you book on the first day of the window, you cannot change the dates later; you have to cancel and rebook.
What happens if I cancel a Parks Canada reservation?
Cancel at least 3 days before arrival and you get your money back minus the $11.50 reservation fee and $11.50 cancellation fee. Cancel later and you also lose the first night.
Can I still get a campsite at Banff or Jasper after launch day sells out?
Often, yes. Campers cancel all season, and on Parks Canada the cancelled site goes straight back on sale. Campsite Tonight checks sold-out campgrounds around the clock and adds the site to your cart the moment it reopens.
Missed launch day? Get the site someone else cancels
Campsite Tonight watches sold-out Canadian campgrounds around the clock and adds the open site to your cart the moment someone cancels. Free on iOS and Android.