It’s summertime and you know what that means – there’s no better time to leave the city for a weekend and head in search of some camping adventures. East of Edmonton is home to some great retreats, provincial parks, parkland spaces and RV campgrounds. Here’s a few camping locations to check out East of Edmonton. Rest assured, you will find loads of space to park your RV and plenty of great outdoors to take in. Dig in and enjoy!
East Central Alberta DMF – A group of campgrounds along Highways 12 through 14, banded together for the common good of helping people have the best possible camping experiences. You can’t go wrong with any of these campgrounds; each one provides you with the relaxing camping trip you’re planning. One that we’ll highlight is the Edgerton Sand Castle Campground, which is a stone’s throw away from Ribstone Creek Brewery meaning you can go check out the brewery and pick up a couple of beverages to enjoy by the campfire later. Sounds like a plan to us!
Strathcona County – Elk Island National Park is a fantastic place to start if you’re new to the whole camping idea. It’s a great way to enjoy peace and serenity in the majesty of our prairies. This year, you can check the oTENTik tents in the Astotin Lake Campground. Brief explanation on an oTENTik: it blends the experience of camping with the hard-earned comforts of home. Each oTENTik can hold up to 6 people and offers beds, a table and chairs, a picnic area, front porch, USB charging port, and more. Try it out and let us know how they are! Another unique feature is tipi camping at Elk Island Retreat nearby. It’s great for those looking for an intimate camping experience out in the woods like no other. You’ve got the option of camping in tipis, trapper cabins, RV sites or traditional tent sites. Reservations are required, so make sure to book in advance and you’ll be rewarded with something special!
Thorhild County – Thorhild is home to two awesome camping spots: Half Moon Lake and Long Lake Provincial Park (pictured below). Half Moon is a picturesque resort that with a cozy setting for a weekend camping expedition. There are plenty of water activities like kayaking and paddle boating to undertake on the lake, beaches to visit and a mini golf course and tennis area to try out a few rounds in. It’s newly renovated and you can check out available dates on their website now. Long Lake is an excellent park sporting a beach and plenty of trails to try out – provided you’re game for the challenge, of course! Whether it’s summer or winter, re-experience some of your favourite family activities like wind surfing, mountain biking and golfing the Long Lake way!
Municipal District of Bonnyville – Calling all beach fans! You can find a whopping 10 municipal campgrounds in the Bonnyville and Cold Lake area, mostly facing the lake. All of these campgrounds offer powered sites, day use picnic areas, outhouses, boat launches, playgrounds, and beach areas for the kids to dig their feet into. To enjoy lakeshore camping at its best, check out the Cold Lake M.D Park (pictured at top) where the beach is only a few steps from your campsite. Reserve some spots and get your feet wet ASAP. Enjoy the mini golf, paintball, cafe and treed campsites at Rocky Meadows Country Getaway north of Bonnyville.
Lamont County – In Lamont County, your choices for campground are diverse. Besides the full-service Lamont Campground, located within walking distance of the town, there’s also the Andrew R.V. Park, a popular spot near the World’s Largest Mallard Duck and close to other fun activities like mini-golf. Mundare is home to Ukraina Park, newly renovated and open until the September long weekend. Nearby Bruderheim also has a campground, offering serviced and non-serviced sites for your camping pleasure.
Elks/Kinsmen Park, Vegreville – Besides being home to the world’s largest Pysanka Easter Egg, Vegreville hosts a large campground at the east end of Elks/Kinsmen Park. It’s big enough that people from all over the province drive down for it. Given it is home to a fishing pond full of trout, a fountain and nearly 100 camping sites, could you blame them? Every Thursday, the park plays host to a Farmers’ Market where you can stock up on some of the best in local produce and meats – did someone say camping picnic? Also, did we mention there’s food trucks at the park every day? Trust us when we say you won’t regret adding Elks/Kinsmen to your summer camping bucket list.
Redwater Campground – Next up: time to camp in Redwater! You’ll be able to find the Redwater campground by the golf course and it’s open all summer long. In fact, it closes down at the end of October. It’s right on Highway 38 which runs through the town, meaning you won’t have to go too far to track it down. If you’re looking to find a family-friendly way to explore the welcoming community that is Redwater, camping here is the way to do it.
Smoky Lake County – Here, you’ll find some fantastic lakeside campgrounds dotted around Smoky Lake County for your summer pleasure. For starters, there’s Hanmore Lake, a popular retreat with two campgrounds giving you access to all the water activities you could dream of. Between May and October, get up to berry picking, off-site ATV exploring, fishing, golfing with your friends, and plenty of swimming! Bellis Beach offers quaintness on an unprecedented level and you can head to the Garner Lake Provincial Park if you’re looking for wide spaces, expansive trails, and some boating fun to get up to. Motorcycle fans will love Howlin Coyote Campground, a camping experience for those who can bring everything they need on their bike! Along the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, Metis Crossing RV Park is over 500 acres of tradition and customs found in one place. For anyone looking to gain an understanding of Metis culture and heritage, we’d recommend this.
Viking – If you’re looking for a quiet stay in Viking, head to Eastview Campground. Situated in a residential area along a treelined street, it’s the perfect spot for a peaceful weekend getaway. This site has 18 fully-serviced sites for all of your needs, and is adjacent to the Eastview Playground so you can bring along the whole family! Just a short drive away from Viking is Camp Lake Park (pictured below) where you can enjoy boating, water skiing, canoeing, and kayaking. Don’t forget to take advantage of the two beaches by going for a dip in the lake! For the kids and the young at heart, there is also a playground, basketball hoop, volleyball net, tetherball, and horseshoe pits. If you’re hoping to stay the night, both powered and non-powered camping sites are available.
Lac La Biche Region – These are some of the best stops for a unique outdoor and camping experience. First, head to Alberta’s only island provincial park, Sir Winston Churchill Park, where you can find walking trails, sandy beaches, camping areas, and full-service lakeview cabins. For extra comfort, book one of their new tipis with raised beds, kitchens, and bathrooms. If you’re looking for even more space to explore, head to Lakeland Provincial Recreation area that covers 11 major lakes and has 45km worth of trails. This is a great spot for taking your boat out for an afternoon of fishing! For even more fishing opportunities, you can also check out Beaver Lake Provincial Recreation Area – camping is also available! And for those who love to canoe, the Lakeland Canoe Circuit offers an exciting 3-day, 40km journey paddling through Lakeland Provincial Park. There are plenty of other campgrounds in the Lac La Biche area just waiting to be your road trip destination!
Glamping – For anyone who wants to enjoy the beauty of nature as well as the comfort of a room that feels just like home, many campsites now offer options for ‘glamping’. If you’re interested in what it’s like to spend a night in dome-like structures or yurts, there are many to choose from! These shelters are fully insulated and sturdy structures that often resemble tents while taking your bed off of the ground and giving you more space to walk around. Many also offer tables, couches, and mini fridges, all for your comfort. Try out this unique experience for yourself by booking your spot at Canadian Bighorn Resort north of Bonnyville, Morning Star Retreat in Cold Lake, Elk Island Retreat in Fort Saskatchewan (pictured below), or Miquelon Lake Provincial Park. Can’t decide which one to choose? Why not make it a road trip and try them all? You’ll never feel too far from home when you’re glamping!
Wow! There are so many camping adventures just waiting for you past the city limits. We can only hope this inspires you to plan some fantastic camping experiences East of Edmonton!
For a complete list of over 100 campgrounds CLICK HERE.