Camping in Canada is not unlike camping in Washington, Oregon or the Pacific Northwest. Most people that rent our RVs with plans of heading into Canada only make it to Victoria, Vancouver Island and up around Whistler. Not that this is less of an adventure by any means; on the contrary, Canada campgrounds and exploring the Pacific Northwest up in Canada is one of the most amazing adventures you can take. There’s beautiful scenery, gorgeous landscaping, tall trees and nature at its finest. But if you’re planning on heading up north for a camping trip either this fall or planning for next year, there are a few things you should know about Canadian campgrounds and simply getting in and out of the country.
The Canadian national parks are some of the most beautiful in the world and there are several different types of campgrounds that offer various levels of amenities and services. If you’re looking to dry camp, meaning that there are no hookups, our RVs are perfectly set up for this. You can fill the water tank, prepare the propane, and have everything ready to go even if you plan on trekking into the backcountry and setting up camp all by yourself.
There’s a term that they call ‘front country camping’. This is also known as car camping and is one of the more popular types of camping. You can simply drive right into the camping spot and set up camp. There are different kinds of serviced campsites available throughout Canada including those that allow for electrical, sewer and water hookups. There’s a combination of the services at different prices throughout the campgrounds, not unlike those in Washington state. There are also un-serviced campsites that are perfect for tent camping or dry camping.
The other type of campgrounds include pull-through campsites and walk-in campsites, which really only work for tent camping and group campsites. These are ideal for larger sized groups, families or organized teams.
Chances are, if you’re renting one of our RVs, you’re likely to go for front country camping. Back country camping is located away from facilities and amenities and you usually have to hike to the campground and hike out.
A great tip is to talk to the Canadian Park staff. There’s usually visitor centers at every single national Park campground and they can let you know what activities you can take part in during your stay. They may have unique exhibits to help you find out more about the area, nature and wildlife.
Before you go, you’ll want to make sure that everyone in your party or family has either an enhanced driver’s license or a passport. An enhanced driver’s license is something that can be obtained in about 2 to 3 weeks but a passport may take up to 8 weeks. If nobody in your party has a passport yet, this might be a great time to gather the family, get the information, and order your passports. Depending on the age of the applicant, passports can last anywhere from 7 years to 10 years. Remember, if you already have your passport, make sure that it isn’t set to expire while you’re on vacation.
When camping in Canada, it’s best to use your debit or credit card whenever possible. Most banks will be able to offer you the best rate of exchange and you’ll have a good record of everything that you spend money on when you return from your bank statement. It’s also a good idea to have a little bit of cash on hand because some campgrounds may not even accept credit cards or debit cards (but most do).
When you’re planning your trip, there are dozens of amazing places in Canada to take advantage of, so get out there, explore and make sure you have everything needed to get in and out of the country, including one of our luxury Seattle RVs to take you there and back in!
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