Tunnel Mountain Campground: The Top Spot in Banff National Park

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Tunnel Mountain Campground Overview

Tunnel Mountain Campground is encircled by the town of Banff and is located inside the breathtaking National Park bearing the same name. The mountain has, for decades, drawn hundreds if not thousands of families, hikers and adventurers to its rocky slopes in search of exhilaration, fun and relaxation.

Three campsites, respectively known as Tunnel Mountain Campgrounds 1,2 & Trailer Court, were purpose built in order to satisfy the needs to the land’s visitors. All together, the Tunnel Mountain Campgrounds make up the largest campground in Alberta. The campgrounds were named after the nearby Tunnel Mountain, a mountain given its name by railroad workers and surveyors developing the Canadian Pacific Railway. 

Tunnel Mountain’s campgrounds offer visitors the option of short or long stay camping in idyllic surroundings. The campgrounds offer more than 1000 sites for both RV parking and tents to be pitched. An additional campsite which can suit groups of up to 50 is also available. 

Each campground at Tunnel Mountain has different charges per stay. No matter your location however, fire permits per day remain $9.25, and camping permits are $10.50 per person per night.

Tunnel Mountain Campground 1

Tunnel Mountain Campground 1 is a short walk from Bow River and the spectacular Hoodoos Viewpoint. The campground is unserviced, leading to a more authentic camping experience. From Tunnel Mountain Campground 1 there are incredible views across the mountains and easily accessible hiking and cycling routes into the National Park.

When arriving at the campground, campers must register at either the kiosk or using the self-registration system before setting up their camp. Permits must also be prominently displayed.

Whilst staying in Tunnel Mountain Campground 1 a camping permit and park pass is required with both valid for the length of stay. Admission to the National Park is $10.50 per day for adults with children free. Family and group passes are also available at $21. The camp site charges $40.75 for its unserviced package which includes washroom access with both toilets and showers.

Pads at this campsite are gravel, so if staying in a tent mats or additional groundsheets are recommended to increase comfort. The campsite is at an elevation of 4724ft (1436m) offering inspiring views across the National Park. The maximum length of stay at Tunnel Mountain Campground 1 is 14 nights. 

Campground 1 Amenities

Amenities at Tunnel Mountain Campground 1 include fire pits which can be used to cook on, however it should be noted that a fire permit is required each night you decide to have a fire. Services include drinking water, toilets and showers, disability access and Sani Dump for sewage disposal. Interpretive programs are also offered where specialist guides can educate visitors on the natural area and cultural heritage. 

Additional amenities such as food and laundry services can be found close by. The campground is open for reservations between May and October with 618 sites available for booking.

Tunnel Mountain Campground 1 is at Tunnel Mountain Road, Banff, AB T0L 2C0.

Campground 1 Factsheet

Campground Elevation	4724ft (1436m)
Number of Sites	618
Services Available	Fire pits, drinking water, toilets, showers, disability access, Sani Dump, interpretative programs.
Availability	May to October
Maximum number of nights	14
Tents, RV’s or oTENTiks	Sites available for all
Reservations	Yes!

Reviews for Tunnel Mountain Campground 1

Spacious and Convenient

There are many campsites here, but they are spread out and large. We appreciated the shuttle that takes you into to town so we could leave our rooftop tent open and not drive the car. Love how Canadian parks provide firewood! The bathroom facilities were large and clean. Good area for dishwashing too.

jpo wrote this review in June 2022

Clean campground, free showers

The campground was clean, bathrooms well kept and free showers! We had some issues with the number of tents we had, even though it was very specifically prediscussed at the gate before entering. Cell phone service was not good and there were no fire pits in our section but there were in every other letter.

KarleyRidesaBike wrote this review in June 2022

We loved our campsite!

Our campsite was situated close to the washrooms but it didn’t smell bad at all. The employees are very nice and the safety patrollers that come around now and then make us feel safe. The people around us were very respective and not too noisy. The campfire was probably my kids favorite part. The firewood was nearby and not too hard to gather. We went on a little walk (hey I couldn’t carry a two year old all the way through a normal hike) in the nearby nature. Great site seeing from my part of the camp. Water was easy to get and facilities are very clean best outdoor flushable toilets I have ever been to. Overall amazing camp.

Bug S wrote this review in June 2021

Tunnel Mountain Campground 2

Tunnel Mountain Campground 2 is the closest campground from the town of Banff. The campground is ideal for those looking for a larger pitch as some sites here can accommodate RV’s with a length of 35ft (10.67m). Thanks to its close proximity to the town, Tunnel Mountain Campground 2 has excellent access to a range of local attractions due to its year-round bus service. The campground is also close to hiking and biking trails. 

Pads at this campsite are asphalt. The campsite is at an elevation of 4790ft (1459m) offering inspiring views across the National Park and the town of Banff. The maximum length of stay at Tunnel Mountain Campground 2 is 14 nights.

Campground 2 Amenities

Tunnel Mountain Campground 2 has less sites than at Campground 1, at just 209. It does however offer the benefits of power access, drinking water, toilets and showers, disability access, interpretive programs, electricity, cooking and picnic shelters and Sani Dump for sewage disposal. 

The campsite offers 160 sites with electricity of 15, 30 or 50 amps and 21 oTENTik sites which are bookable from May to October. As the campsite is open year round, reservations are not always required. If staying between May and October however it is advisable to pre-book your stay. During the summer months the campsite fills quickly in the early afternoon. It should be noted that Campground 2 is not designed for tent stays during the summer months. 

Tunnel Mountain Campground 2 prices start at $34.50 for electrical hookups, and $40.75 for electricity, water and sewage. National Park camping and day pass permits, as well as daily fire permits, must also be purchased if staying in Campground 2. Campers must register at the kiosk or self-registration prior to setting up camp.

Tunnel Mountain Campground 2 is at Alberta T0L 2C0. 

Campground 2 Factsheet

Campground Elevation	4790ft( 1459m)
Number of Sites	201
Services Available	Power access, drinking water, toilets, showers with hot and cold water, Sani Dump, disability access, interpretive programs, cooking and picnic shelters.
Availability	All year round. Access to oTENTik is available from May to October only. Camping in a tent is not permissible during summer months.
Maximum number of nights	14
Tents, RV’s or oTENTiks	Sites available for all
Reservations	Yes!

Reviews for Tunnel Mountain Campground 2

Tunnel Mountain Village 2 did the trick

I would absolutely come again. The ability to camp on Tunnel Mountain and take a free shuttle into town is priceless.  

It is definitely a glorified parking lot, but there are enough trees between each site that we still had total privacy. You cannot beat those views, so I will take the parking lot feel if I’m looking at a mountain, still surrounded by beautiful trees, and we get a break from the super fun task of backing a trailer into a campsite. In other words, it was easy. Sometimes easy is nice for a 2 night stay.

The campground says no fires after 11pm, and people took that really seriously. We were going to wait and see what people did, but they definitely put them out at 11 on the dot, so we did the same. We didn’t mind that, it was very quiet. Lovely walks around the park and overlooking Mt. Rundle, you can actually see the Banff Springs from the right spot on those walks.  

For reference, we were in Site A35 in Tunnel Mountain Village 2.

So in short, will definitely be back when I need somewhere convenient and clean to stay.

Tara E wrote this review in August 2022

Amazing sight from this campground

It’s a nice campsite. Just drive and park on the tar road for overnight. A picnic table located next to the road.

Our spot was in the last lane with an awesome view across the Valley to the big mountain which reminds me of Bluff Knoll in Western Australia only this one is much bigger.

Beautiful sunsets and sky full of stars.

Shuttle from there downtown and back. We walked downtown and took the bus back. It is possible to catch Roaming buses for instance to Lake Louise which needs booking in advance

Adventurecurls wrote this review in July 2022

Convenient for the Banff attractions

The sites consist of spots on the roadways which are separated by grassed areas. This means that Your RV is on a hard standing but less private than some. While electricity is available at all sites, water and grey and black water dump are at a central point which may involve a queue at busy times.

Fire pits are provided for each RV site. 

A regular bus runs into Banff and connects to other routes. Travelling from the site the bus is free, returning is $2 ($1 for concessions). From Banff you can take the bus to the upper Banff Hot Springs and the Banff Cave and Basin.

Tony D wrote this review in July 2022

Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court

Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court is an exclusive campground for RV’s and trailers. The campground has sites that are capable of accommodating RV’s of 50ft (15.24m) in length. 

Trailer Court has 322 sites all of which has full 3-way hookups and are either shared or single sites. The site has drinking water, access to toilets, indoor cooking areas and Sani Dump sewage disposal. Campfires are not permitted at Trailer Park. 

Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court prices start at $34.50 for electrical hookups, and $40.75 for electricity, water and sewage. National Park camping and day pass permits must also be purchased if staying in Trailer Court. Campers must register at the kiosk or self-registration prior to setting up camp.

Trailer Court Amenities

From Trailer Court the town of Banff is easily accessible either on foot, by bike, or by taking a local bus service. The bus ride from Trailer Court to Banff is only 5 minutes, making the towns amenities and activities easily accessible to all. 

Trailer Court has access to several short hikes including a 3.5 kilometre walk into Banff itself. Walks to Hoodoos along Bow Valley offer spectacular views on an evening over both Mount Rundle and Bow River. During the summer months this trail can however become rather crowded, so heading out early or on an evening is recommended. 

Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court is at Tunnel Mountain Road, Banff, AB T0L 2C0.

Trailer Court Factsheet

Campground Elevation	4724ft (1436m)
Number of Sites	322
Services Available	3-way hookups, drinking water, toilets, indoor cooking areas, Sani Dump.
Availability	All year round. Access to oTENTik is available from May to October only. Camping in a tent is not permissible during summer months.
Maximum number of nights	14
Tents, RV’s or oTENTiks	RVs
Reservations	Yes!

Reviews for Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court

Amazing experience!

This was our first RV experience abroad, it didn’t disappoint. This is a large trailer park, but it doesn’t feel like it. We received a warm welcome from the Parks Canada team with clear instructions. Our pitch had the most stunning view of Mount Rundle right on the front (pitch 134 highly recommended). 

Easy to connect the RV to services. The toilets and showers were spotless. 

But perhaps the best feature is the cheap regular electric public bus service into Banff itself, we didn’t have to move the RV for the whole 8 night stay. Absolutely brilliant, and a huge achievement for Banff to get this right. 

On our first night we had Elk around the RV which was a memorable moment. 

Thank you for a great stay!

Mark H wrote this review in June 2022

Stunning views

The views at this campsite are stunning. Sites are large, well spaced, well treed, and the park is neat and clean. Situated close to the town, and other attractions. Plenty of hiking trails with caribou throughout the area. Staff were very friendly and knowledgeable.

Laura St wrote this review in May 2022

Best RV place in Banff

Very clean, well maintained, full hook-up with easy drive through plots, great location within a nice walking distance to Banff town centre or a 5 minute drive, alternatively use the shuttle bus service. There are amazing views of mountains, grasslands, creeks and forests literally across the road. We couldn’t fault it at all.

Jamie H-D wrote this review in April 2022

Activities at Tunnel Mountain Campground

From all of Tunnel Mountain’s campgrounds a range of easy to challenging hikes are available. 

Lake Minnewanka is a short drive away from all of the campgrounds at Tunnel Mountain. The lake has a pleasant trail looping for 30 kilometres (18.64 miles) around its shores. Shorter hikes of the west side of the lake are also available. 

All of Tunnel Mountain’s campgrounds are a short walk away from Bow River. Sundance Canyon and Banff Gondola can also be reached following a hike. 

The Hoodoos Trail Head is also a must hike trial if staying at Tunnel Mountain. The trail starts from the parking lot opposite to the Tunnel Mountain Campground offices. This trail is pleasant regardless of the time of year, however if you are visiting out of season, deer and caribou can be spotted from the trail. Hoodoo Trail Head offers incredible views of Mount Rundle and the Bow River which runs below the trail. There are regular view points along the trail for spectacular views and photographic opportunities. 

Rundle 1, a trail heading up to Mount Rundle should also be explored if you are a keen hiker. On the trail there is the chance to observe black hears in their natural habitat. From Mount Rundle the views are unlike anything else. Hike on a clear day for your view to stretch for miles beyond the town of Banff and across the neighbouring mountains. This hike is a 15 kilometre round trip hike, and therefore preparation is key. Pack plenty of water and snacks, and a map just incase. 

Stargazing is Absolutely Amazing

The skies across Tunnel Mountain’s campgrounds at night rank at numbers 4-5 on the Bortle Scale, which measures the night sky’s brightness. Whilst totally light-pollution free skies are not feasible, they are dark enough to see some spectacular astronomical sights.  

As with anywhere in Banff National Park, due care should be taken to food and food related items as the area does have bears. Ensure food is properly stored and waste is appropriately disposed of. 

How to Book a Campsite at Tunnel Mountain Campground

All of Tunnel Mountain’s campgrounds can be booked by visiting the Parks Canada website. Passes and permits for National Park access can also be purchased here. Visitors can also reserve a site over the phone by calling 1-877-RESERVE (1-877-737-3783). Whether booking online or over the phone, the booking process is simple. The reservation website has a detailed map of the campsites and their locations. Choose your reservation type, arrival date, number of nights or departure date and the campground you wish to stay at. Next, choose what you will be bringing to stay in and how big your party is. The website also allows you to search by feature preferences. 

The map on the booking website has helpful coloured dots indicating whether there are sites available. 

The Best Time of Year to Visit Tunnel Mountain Campground

Tunnel Mountain’s campgrounds are most popular between May and October. During the summer holidays, expect the campgrounds to be filled with families making the most of some much needed vacation time. 

Not all of Tunnel Mountain’s campgrounds are bookable year round, so check your site information carefully. Only Tunnel Mountain Campground 1 is suitable for tent camping during the summer months, so this too should be factored into your plans. 

For cooler weather making for more pleasant hiking consider an early spring stay at the start of May, or leaving your booking till later in the year as the leaves start to drop in October. 

Whenever you decide to visit Banff National Park and stay at one of Tunnel Mountain’s campgrounds, the scenery will be different every time. As the seasons change, the landscape around the mountain develops. From shady leafy passages on trails in summer to crunchy leaves underfoot in winter, there are beautiful sites to behold whatever the weather. 

During winter, only Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court is bookable. Expect the area to be quieter from October to May, with fewer visitors braving the cooler temperatures. 

How to Get Around from Tunnel Mountain Campground

Bus access is available from all of Tunnel Mountain’s Campgrounds. Full details of fairs around Banff and bus schedules are available through the Roam Transit website roamtransit.com. All buses are equipped with GPS technology to help you track your journey.

Summary

If you are looking for a great place to camp near Banff, look no further than Tunnel Mountain Campground. This campground offers beautiful views of the Canadian Rockies and plenty of activities to keep you busy during your stay. Whether you are looking for a place to relax and take in the natural beauty or want to get out and explore everything that Banff National Park has to offer, Tunnel Mountain Campground is the perfect spot for your next Canadian Rockies vacation.