Camping Along the Trans-Canadian Highway

As a sister thread to the two US threads (Interstate Camping Guide and Camping the Great US Highways), this thread will include three parts of the TCH. The Trans-Canadian Highway has a northern section, a southern section, and a section that includes the Atlantic Provinces (New Brunswick, Newfoundland/Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island)

Those who are accustomed to following a US interstate highway across the country find that the highway has one number across the states. For instance, I-80 goes from California to New Jersey, and it is called I-80 in every state.

This is not necessarily the case for Canada. A Trans-Canada Highway may tool along through three of four provinces (which are similar to 'states", just structured differently) being called TCH-# and then quickly change in the next province to another number. In this thread, we'll do our best to let you know the number and/or name of the highway as much as we can. ADDITION: It should also be realized that the TCH is primarily 2-lane, going into 4-lane only in certain areas. There may also be stop signs and stop lights at junctions and towns. The TCH is not a high-speed way of travel.

Something else to think about....climate and weather. Canada is further north. In doing the research for this thread, it came to attention that it is rare for a campground to be open much before May 15th or to be open past October 1st. In some cases, the listing states "Winter Camping" but there are caveats -- no water, no electricity, camping cabins may not be available. Some campgrounds even state "campground closes when the road is impassable due to snow." So if you're camping before or after those dates, be prepared.

For US residents, crossing the border into Canada means you need a passport ... even just going over to see Niagara Falls from the Canadian side requires one! Keep that in mind. Also leave extra time for the border crossing wait. If the lines are long, you will be waiting. Note that not all border crossing points are open 24 hours.

Another reminder for US residents: measurements are in the metric system. You don't drive miles, you drive kilometers. You don't put in gallons of gas/fuel, you put in litres. There are apps for phones that will do the math for you, or you can bring a calculator. Or just do the math yourself, either in your head or on paper!

If you are traveling in an RV, something to note if your rig requires a 50 amp plug: carry a converter! Many will have a few posts with 30 amps, but some will only have 15 or 20 amp service. Recommendation: if it only has 15 or 20 amp service, do not try to run your AC.

TRANS-CANADIAN HIGHWAYS

Atlantic Provinces

Northern Route (BC to ON)

Northern Route (ON to QC)

Southern Route

Anyway, enjoy your camping experience!


Donna

Public campgrounds along the Trans-Canada Highway system, going from Prince Rupert on the Yellowknife Highway (TC-16) all the way to Ontario. The Trans-Canada Highway is actually a series of highways that string themselves across the country. Unless otherwise noted, all campgrounds are within 32 km (20 miles) of the highway. There may be other camping areas available; please inquire locally. PR- is mileage from Prince Rupert, PG- is mileage from Prince George.

BC: British Columbia: TC-16, The Yellowknife Highway

Prudhomme Lake Provincial Park, Prince Rupert, PR-15.2
Nisga'a Provincial Park Campground, PR-90.2
Ferry Island Municipal Campground, City of Terrace, PR-92.5
Furling Bay Campground, Lakelse Lake Provincial Park, Terrace, PR-93
Kleanza Creek Provincial Park, Terrace, PR-102.4
Seeley Lake Provincial Park, Hazelton, PR-171

Twin Falls BC Recreation Area, PR-216
Note: Only 2 campsites, and they can only handle tents. Good thing, because the access road is very poor.
Tyhee Lake Provincial Park, Telkwa/Smithers, PR-227
Red Bluff Provincial Park, Granisle, Babine Lake, PR-276.6
Note: Red Bluff is under a boil-water-before-using decree. Take heed, or BYO!
Burns Lake Spirit Square Municipal Campground, Burns Lake
Beaumont Provincial Park, Fort Fraser, PR-361.8
Riverside Municipal Campground, Smithers
Babine Lake Marine Provincial Park, Pendleton Bay Site

Morice Lake Provincial Park, Houston
Purden Lake Provincial Park, Sinclair Mills

Mileage is now recorded from PG, Prince George

Mount Robson Provincial Park Campgrounds

Robson River CG, PG-180.3
Robson Meadows CG, PG-181.3
Lucerne CG, PG-212.5
Robson River Electrified Sites
Berg Lake Trail CG
link to dispersed backcountry camping



AB: Alberta: TCH-16, Yellowknife Highway

Parks Canada: Jasper National Park Campgrounds
Wapiti (reservable)
Wabasso (reservable)
Pocahontas (reservable)
Snaring
Kerkeslin
Honeymoon Lake
Jonas
Icefield (tents only)
Wilcox
Icefields Center RV
Whistlers (closed for 2019)

Note: Banff, Lake Louise, Yoho, Revelstoke and Canadian Glacier NP's will be included in another post of this thread.

Wildhorse Lake Campground, PG-272
Kinky Lake Campground, PG-272
Obed Lake Provincial Park, between Hinton and Edson
Hornbeck Creek Campground and Recreation Area, PG-326.5
Willmore Park Campground, Edson
Wolf Lake West Provincial Recreation Area, PR-352.7
Sundance Provincial Park, Edson
Pembina River Provincial Park, Entwistle, PG-398.5
Wabamun Lake Provincial Park, Wabamun, PG-422.6
Cold Lake Provincial Park, Edmonton
Miquelon Provincial Park, Edmonton area

Elk Island National Park Campgrounds, Fort Saskatchewan
Astotin Lake
Otter Lake

Innisfree Municipal Recreation Park, Innisfree
Vermilion Provincial Park, Vermilion


SK: Saskatchewan: TCH-16

Weaver Park RV, City of Lloydminster, Lloydminster
The Battlefords Provincial Park, Cochin
Pike Lake Provincial Park, south of Saskatoon
Note: About 32 km/20 miles from Saskatoon.
Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park, Canora
Note: A cautionary boil-water-advisory has existed in this park since 2017. Be careful!

MB: Manitoba: TCH-16 to TCH-1

Asessippi Provincial Park, Dropmore

Riding Mountain National Park Camping, Wasagaming
Lake Audy
Deep Lake
Moon Lake

Whiteshell Provincial Park Camping, Winnipeg
Betula Lake
Big Whiteshell
Brereton
Caddy Lake
Falcon Beach
Falcon Lakeshore
Nutimik Lake
Otter Falls
West Hawk Lake
White Lake


To be continued in the next post....Ontario and Quebec on the northern route...

For shorter breaks along this highway check HERE.

Continuing along the northern stretch of Trans-Canada Highway, through Ontario and a little bit of Quebec.

ON: Ontario, TCH-11 then TCH-17

Rushing River Provincial Park, Kenora
Winnange Lake Provincial Park, between Kenora and Dryden
Blue Lake Provincial Park, Dryden
Sandbar Lake Provincial Park, Ignace
Silver Falls Provincial Park, Kakabeka
Note: BYO Water.
Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park, Kakabeka
City of Thunder Bay Municipal Campgrounds, Thunder Bay (2)
Rainbow Falls Provincial Park, Rossport
Note: This is slightly off the beaten track, on TCH-17. We will continue on with TCH-11.
MacLeod Provincial Park, Geraldton
Fushimi Lake Provincial Park, Hearst
Rene' Brunelle Provincial Park, Moonbeam
Esker Lakes Provincial Park, Esker
Kap-Kig-Iwan Provincial Park, Charlton/Dack
Finlayson Point Provincial Park, Temagami
Marten River Provincial Park, Temagami
Mattawa River Provincial Park, Bonfield
Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park, Mattawa
Kiosk Campground, Algonquin Provincial Park, So. Nipissing
Brent Campground, Algonquin Provincial Park, So. Nipissing
Fitzroy Provincial Park, Ottawa

QC: Quebec:
Note: The official language of Quebec is French, so most websites are in French. Sometimes the Google translator didn't work for me, but here's the information. One thing I learned about Quebec: It doesn't have nearly the numbers of provincial parks of other provinces! Instead, it has a lot of National Parks.

TCH-117

Aiguebelle National Park
Verendrye Wildlife Reserve
Papineau-LaBelle Wildlife Reserve
Mount Tremblant National Park

TCH-15 then TCH-20

Jacques Cartier National Park
Iles de Boucherville National Park

TCH-125

Lake Temiscouata National Park

New Brunswick is included with the Atlantic Provinces post, which will be along shortly.

Next post will start back on the west coast of Canada, but follow along the "south route" of the Trans-Canadian Highway. Once again, it may have to be broken into two posts because of the sheer length of the TCH!


Donna

Public campgrounds along the Trans-Canadian Highway, southern section, going from Vancouver, BC to points east. The Trans-Canadian Highway is actually many highways joined together to create a national highway. Unless otherwise noted, all campgrounds are within 32 km/20 miles of the highway. There may be campgrounds not listed; please inquire locally.

BC: British Columbia: TCH-1

Porpoise Bay Provincial Park, Sechelt
Roberts Creek Provincial Park, Roberts Creek
Tantalus Provincial Park (formerly Lake Lovely Water PP), Squamish
Note: Campsites are walk-in only. They do have camping cabins.
Alice Lake Provincial Park, Squamish
Porteau Cove Provincial Park, Squamish-Lillooet
Note: There are train tracks right next to the campsite and an early morning train that roars through.
Golden Ears Provincial Park, Maple Ridge
Note: Very, very popular park during the summer.
Skihist Provincial Park, Lytton
Goldpan Provincial Park, between Lytton and Spences Bridge
Steelhead Provincial Park, Savoda/Kamloops
Juniper Beach Provincial Park, Walhachin
Paul Lake Provincial Park, Northeast of Kamloops
Shushwap Lake Provincial Park, Scotch Creek
Blanket Creek Provincial Park, Revelstoke

Mount Revelstoke National Park (BC, Canada)
Snowforest Campground, new for 2020

Glacier National Park (BC, Canada) Campgrounds
Illicillewaet
Loop Brook
Mount Sir Donald

Yoho National Park Campgrounds
Kicking Horse
Monarch
Hoodoo Creek
Takkakaw Falls (walk-in only)

Kootenay National Park Campgrounds
Redstreak
McLeod Meadows
Marble Canyon

AB: Alberta: TCH-1

Banff National Park Campgrounds
Tunnel Mountain Village I
Tunnel Mountain Village II
Tunnel Mountain Trailer
Note: Personal experience with this park, good!
Two Jack Main
Two Jack Main Equipped
Two Jack Lakeside
Johnston Canyon
Protection Mountain
Castle Mountain
Note: Closed until further notice.
Lake Louise Trailer
Note: Personal experience with this park. You need to load up on water before going to your site. It is like a gravel parking lot for trailers, with electric hookup. Be advised.
Lake Louise Tent
Mosquito Creek
Silverhorn Creek
Waterfowl Lakes
Rampart Creek

Bow Valley Provincial Park Campgrounds, Canmore/Kananaskis
Bow River
Bow Valley
Lac des Arcs
Three Sisters
Willow Rock

Little Elbow Campground, Kananaskis/Calgary
Gooseberry Campground, Kananaskis/Calgary
Wyndham-Carseland Provincial Park, Carseland
Note: About 24 km/15 miles from the highway.
Dinosaur Provincial Park, Steveville
Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, south of Brooks
Tillebrook Provincial Park, east of Brooks
Firerock Campground, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, south of Medicine Hat
Note: About 20km/12.5 mi from the highway.
Spruce Coulee Campground, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, south of Medicine Hat
Note: About 30km/18.6 mi from the highway.
Reesor Lake Campground, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, south of Medicine Hat

SK: Saskatchewan: TCH-1

Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park, north of Swift Current
Buffalo Pound Provincial Park, northeast of Moose Jaw
Echo Valley Provincial Park, Fort Qu'Appelle
Crooked Lake Provincial Park
Note: About 36km/22 miles from Broadview on the highway.

MB: Manitoba
Note: The north and south routes join for awhile at Winnipeg.

Spruce Woods Provincial Park, Carberry

ON: Ontario: TCH-17/1 then TCH-71 down to TCH-11

Rushing River Provincial Park, Kenora
Caliper Lake Provincial Park
Quetico Provincial Park, Atikokan
Silver Falls Provincial Park, Thunder Bay
Note: BYO Water.
City of Thunder Bay Municipal Campgrounds/RV Parks (2)
Marie Louise Lake Campground, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Thunder Bay area
Rainbow Falls Provincial Park, Rossport
Lake Superior Provincial Park, Wawa (2 campgrounds)
Pancake Bay Provincial Park, Batchawana
Chutes Provincial Park, Massey
Killarney Provincial Park, Killarney
Centennial Park, Greater Sudbury

Now, TCH-69

Grundy Lake Provincial Park, Britt
Sturgeon Bay Provincial Park, Pointe au Baril

Now onto TCH-400

Six Mile Lake Provincial Park, Port Severn

Now onto TCH-12

Mara Provincial Park, Longford Mills
McRae Point Provincial Park, Longford Mills

Now to TCH-7

Sharbot Lake Provincial Park, Frontenac
Silver Lake Provincial Park, Moberly


The next post in this thread will cover the Atlantic Provinces. For the smaller ones, there will be more than just the campgrounds along the TCH. For the larger provinces, we'll stay close to the TCH.


Donna

Public campgrounds along the Trans-Canada Highway in the Atlantic Provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Cape Breton Island, and Prince Edward Island. Unless otherwise noted, all campgrounds are within 32 km/20 miles from the TCH. Other campgrounds may exist; please inquire locally.

NB: New Bruswick: TCH-2

St Croix International Waterway Campsites
Spednick Lake Park
Scott Brook
Gravel Island

Mantaquac Provincial Park, Mantaquac
Parlee Beach Provincial Park, Shediac
Murray Beach Provincial Park, Botsford

Kouchibouguac National Park (2 campgrounds)
South Kouchibouguac Campground
Cote-a-Fabian

Fundy National Park
Headquarters
Cannontown
Chignecto
Point Wolfe

New River Beach Provincial Park, New River Beach



NS: Nova Scotia: TCH-104 to NS-101

Five Islands Provincial Park
Smileys Provincial Park, Brooklyn
Ellenwood Lake Provincial Park, Yarmouth
Thomas Raddell Provincial Park, Port Joli
Rissers Beach Provincial Park, Crescent Beach South Shore
Dollar Lake Provincial Park, Wyses Corner
Boylston Provincial Park, Riverside
Battery Provincial Park, St Peter's
Mira River Provincial Park, Albert Bridge
Caribou-Munroe's Island Provincial Park, Pictou
Amherst Shore Provincial Park, Northumberland
Whycocomagh Provincial Park, Whycocomagh

CBI: Cape Breton Island, part of Nova Scotia

Cape Breton Highlands National Park Campgrounds
Broad Cove
Cheticamp
Ingonish Beach
Corney Brook
MacIntosh Brook
Big Intervale

NF: Newfoundland


JT Cheeseman Provincial Park
Barachois Pond Provincial Park
Blow Me Down Provincial Park
Sir Richard Squires Memorial Provincial Park
Pistolet Bay Provincial Park
Lockston Path Provincial Park
Butter Pot Provincial Park
La Manche Provincial Park

Other Parks in Newfoundland and Labrador


PEI: Prince Edward Island
Note: Access to PEI is from NB's TCH-2 at Autlac, over the bridge.

Northumberland Provincial Park
Panmure Island Provincial Park
Brudenell River Provincial Park
Red Point Provincial Park
Cabot Beach Provincial Park
Jacques Cartier Provincial Park
Cedar Dunes Provincial Park
Linkletter Provincial Park
Note to those who remember Art Linkletter: Some websites said this Prov. Park was named for him. He is Canadian, though he is from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He became a naturalized US Citizen in the 1940's. However, the real reason for the name is for George Linkletter II, who started a potato farm in the area a few centuries ago.