For a recreational pursuit, camping is a lot of work. You have to pack up gear, plan meals, and — most importantly — choose and book a campground. But all that effort melts away as soon as you’re gathered around the campfire away from dinging phones and honking horns.
While we can’t help you with your leaky tent or meal prep, we can offer some suggestions of campgrounds that are worth a weekend drive from Edmonton.
Where: Lac La Biche, 220 km from Edmonton
Amenities: Day-use area, campground store, paddle rentals, 15 km of trails, three beaches, summer programs, playground, 72 campsites, five cabins, two teepees, potable water and a dump station
Reserve a site at Sir Winston Churchill Park through Alberta Parks
While “unique landmass” might not top your list of camping site must-haves, the isthmus that makes up Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park is pretty cool. Essentially an island connected by a narrow strip of land, this park also boasts old-growth forest, (according to Alberta Parks, it hasn’t had a forest fire in 300 years) as well as top-notch birding.
If you’re looking for the kind of campground that has everything you need for comfort — a store, rentals for paddling and a playground — this just might be your pick.
Where: Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park, 270 km from Edmonton
Amenities: Beach, playground, firewood, camp store, showers, water, flush toilets
Reserve a site at Marten River Campground through Alberta Parks
Alberta Parks deems Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park — which houses Marten River Campground — one of its “signature parks.” That could be because of its origin: the province established it in 1966 in an effort to protect Marten Mountain, Alberta’s eastern most foothill. This spot also offers features like the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory and sprawling sand beaches.
If you’re in the market for private treed campsites with beach access, check out this spot.
Where: Buffalo Lake, 180 km from Edmonton
Amenities: Beach, playgrounds, train ride, minigolf, ongoing events, September music festival, firewood, bathrooms, showers, laundry
Reserve a site for Ol’ MacDonald’s Resort by calling 403-742-6603.
If you’re looking for an experience that expands beyond the traditional parameters of camping, Ol’ MacDonald’s is appealing. Roasting marshmallows around a campfire isn’t the biggest draw at the Buffalo Lake resort. In addition to well-maintained, treed camping spots, the resort hosts Wednesday and Saturday markets through the summer, as well as Halloween- and Christmas-in-summer events.
Steam train rides and a merry-go-round? Those are available every day throughout the season.
Where: Whitecourt, 200 km from Edmonton
Amenities: Firewood, store, playground, water, sewage disposal, flush toilets
Reserve a site at Carsten-Pegasus Provincial Park through Alberta Parks
Carsten-Pegasus has a lakeside feature you didn’t know you need: a seawall to allow you to fish without a boat. Alberta Parks recently upgraded not only the seawall (the only one of its kind in the province), but also the dock, trail and staircase at this rugged lake — just in time for summer.
With two playgrounds, trails for hiking and biking, and a lake full of trout, this scenic spot is one for your list.
Where: Cold Lake, 290 km from Edmonton
Amenities: Showers, flush toilets, boat launch, beaches, playgrounds, sewage disposal
Reserve a site at Cold Lake Provincial Park through Alberta Parks
Cold Lake is far enough from Edmonton that it might be best earmarked for a long weekend, but if you’re after a campground that helps you unplug from it all, including the option for walk-in tent sites, this might be the one for you.
The lake is one of the largest in Alberta and while the town is a short drive away, you can truly get lost in the wooded trails.
And when you’re tired of the fishing, picturesque beaches and endless places to explore by boat, you can head into town for ice cream at Clark’s General Store and Eatery or even check out the zipline that takes you from the town’s sandy Kinosoo Beach into the water.
