Top 10 Crown land / public land camping areas near Calgary and in Alberta

Alberta tip: Before every trip, check the official zone page, public land closures and advisories, Alberta Fire Bans and 511 Alberta. Make sure you have a Public Lands Camping Pass where required. Road conditions on gravel and dirt roads can change quickly. We haven't listed coordinates or specific campsites; use the official maps.

New to public land camping? Read the rules for Crown land camping in Alberta first.

How we chose these

• Every area is an official PLUZ listed by the Government of Alberta.
• Each one allows camping in some form (random camping, camping nodes or Provincial Recreation Area campgrounds).
• Each is within about 1 to 4 hours of Calgary, using the approximate drive times alberta.ca publishes.
• We note where rules make roadside RV camping difficult, so you can plan the right kind of stay.

1. Ghost PLUZ

• General area: East of Banff National Park, west of Calgary. Alberta lists it as roughly 1 to 1.5 hours from Calgary.
• Why it's good for RVs: One of the closest public-land camping areas to the city, with several established PRA campgrounds plus random camping and designated camping nodes. Alberta strongly encourages using the established campgrounds to reduce impact.
• Access notes: Access is by rural gravel roads. In some parts of the zone (for example along Stud Creek Road, per alberta.ca), random camping is only allowed in designated nodes. Follow signs. It gets very busy on summer long weekends.
• Official page: Ghost PLUZ (alberta.ca)

2. McLean Creek Off-Highway Vehicle PLUZ

• General area: East of Banff National Park, west of Calgary in Kananaskis Country. Alberta lists it as about 1 hour from Calgary.
• Why it's good for RVs: Very close to the city, with Provincial Recreation Area campgrounds booked through Alberta Parks. It's a hub for off-highway vehicle trails, so it suits RVers who bring OHVs.
• Access notes: Camping is not permitted within 1 km of a road in this PLUZ, so roadside RV random camping isn't an option. Plan to stay in the designated campgrounds. The area is inside the Kananaskis Conservation Pass area, so check which passes apply. Expect OHV traffic and noise.
• Official page: McLean Creek OHV PLUZ (alberta.ca)

3. Livingstone PLUZ

• General area: Eastern Slopes of the Rockies, west of Lethbridge in southwest Alberta. Alberta lists it as about 1.5 to 2.5 hours from Calgary.
• Why it's good for RVs: Wide-open foothills and mountain scenery with random camping permitted (with a Public Lands Camping Pass), and designated camping nodes in some areas.
• Access notes: In the Willow Creek area, camping is only available in designated nodes, and campfires are only permitted in those nodes. Some seasonal trail closures apply. Gravel roads can be rough and dusty, so drive slowly and check tire pressures.
• Official page: Livingstone PLUZ (alberta.ca)

4. Porcupine Hills PLUZ

• General area: Eastern Slopes, west of Lethbridge. Alberta lists it as about 1.5 hours from Calgary.
• Why it's good for RVs: Rolling, forested hills and ranch country that are quieter than the mountain corridors, with random camping permitted with a pass.
• Access notes: Campsites and campfires must be at least 1 km from a Provincial Recreation Area. Much of the surrounding land is ranch country, so respect gates, livestock and agricultural leases. A newer PLUZ, so check the official brochure and quick facts for current rules.
• Official page: Porcupine Hills PLUZ (alberta.ca)

5. Dormer/Sheep PLUZ (Bighorn area)

• General area: East of Banff National Park, southwest of Red Deer. Alberta lists it as about 2.5 hours from Calgary.
• Why it's good for RVs: Part of the larger Bighorn Backcountry area, with random no-service camping permitted and access to OHV and equestrian trails.
• Access notes: Per alberta.ca, campsites must be 100 m from a lakeshore, with no permanent structures, and campsites and fires must be 1 km from a PLRA or PRA. OHVs are only permitted on designated trails and have size and weight limits.
• Official page: Dormer/Sheep PLUZ (alberta.ca)

6. Panther Corners PLUZ (Bighorn area)

• General area: East of Banff National Park, southwest of Red Deer. About 2.5 hours from Calgary, per alberta.ca.
• Why it's good for RVs: Off-highway vehicles and snow vehicles aren't permitted, so it can be a quieter choice for RVers who want hiking, horses and peace rather than engines.
• Access notes: Random no-service camping is permitted, 100 m from lakeshores and 1 km from PLRAs/PRAs. Nearby partly serviced camping is available through Alberta Parks.
• Official page: Panther Corners PLUZ (alberta.ca)

7. Kiska/Willson PLUZ (Bighorn area)

• General area: East of Banff National Park. Alberta lists it as about 2.5 to 3.5 hours from Calgary.
• Why it's good for RVs: Random no-service camping in the Bighorn Backcountry, with designated OHV and snowmobile trails for those who bring them.
• Access notes: Same Bighorn-area camping rules: 100 m from lakeshores, no permanent structures, 1 km from PLRAs and PRAs. OHV size and weight limits apply.
• Official page: Kiska/Willson PLUZ (alberta.ca)

8. Upper Clearwater/Ram PLUZ (Bighorn area)

• General area: East of Banff National Park, west of Red Deer. About 2.5 to 3 hours from Calgary, per alberta.ca.
• Why it's good for RVs: Big, remote foothills and river country with random camping permitted. Nearby partly serviced camping is available through Alberta Parks if you want an outhouse and fire pit.
• Access notes: Campsites 100 m from lakeshores and 1 km from PLRAs and PRAs. Designated OHV trails with size limits, and snow vehicles on designated trails and sledding areas. Remote, so carry spares and fuel.
• Official page: Upper Clearwater/Ram PLUZ (alberta.ca)

9. Job/Cline PLUZ (Bighorn area)

• General area: East of Banff and Jasper National Parks, west of Red Deer. Alberta lists it as about 3 to 3.5 hours from Calgary.
• Why it's good for RVs: A longer trip from Calgary, but a good base for exploring the northern Bighorn area, with random no-service camping.
• Access notes: Campsites 100 m from lakeshores and at least 1 km from PLRAs and PRAs. OHVs on designated trails only, with size limits. Snowmobiles are only allowed on designated trails and sledding areas.
• Official page: Job/Cline PLUZ (alberta.ca)

10. Blackstone/Wapiabi PLUZ (Bighorn area)

• General area: East of Jasper National Park, west of Red Deer. Alberta lists it as about 3.5 to 4.5 hours from Calgary.
• Why it's good for RVs: The farthest on this list, and non-motorized for recreation. Per alberta.ca, OHVs and snowmobiles aren't permitted, which makes it a choice for quiet, self-contained camping.
• Access notes: Random no-service camping, 100 m from lakeshores and 1 km from PLRAs and PRAs. It's remote, so plan fuel, water and spares, and expect no cell service.
• Official page: Blackstone/Wapiabi PLUZ (alberta.ca)

Also worth knowing

• Kananaskis PLUZ: Close to Calgary, but camping isn't permitted within 1 km of a road, so RVers should use the many Alberta Parks campgrounds in Kananaskis instead (Alberta Parks reservations).
• Further north: Alberta also lists PLUZs such as Coal Branch, Brule Lake, Athabasca Ranch, Holmes Crossing and Whitecourt Sandhills, which are better suited to trips from Edmonton. See the full PLUZ list.

Before you go: quick checklist

• Public Lands Camping Pass for every camper 18+ (where required)
• Zone page and map checked for current rules
• Closures and advisories checked
• Fire ban status checked
• Fresh water, full propane, charged batteries, empty holding tanks
• Levelling blocks, chocks, spare tire, compressor
• Offline maps, and someone at home knows your plans
• Bear spray and food storage plan
• Plan for garbage and grey/black water (pack it out, dump at a proper station)