Canada is top of the list of campervan and motorhome friendly countries to visit and Calgary is within driving distance of spectacular mountains - the Canadian rockies, lakes - Lake Louise and the Praries.
If it's a two week adventure or a 4 week explore, then an RV rental is a perfect road trip holiday. Calgary is home to the Calgary Stampede, with ten days of rodeo and festival. Many campsites run a shuttle service to the Stampede. Book your place when you book your motorhome.
Calgary is also not far from Banff national park and Jasper National Park and Alberta also has Waterton, Wood Buffalo, and Elk Island National Parks. Look out for grizzly bears, elks, moose, lynx, wolves, eagles and bison. Don't miss the Badlands.
Here are the other cities you can travel to in your campervan or motorhome in Canada.
Calgary is very busy all year round. We advise early booking for all travel but particularly during peak season during the summer months - early June to mid September. Also book well ahead if you want to attend the Calgary Stampede.
Book early as you are more likely to book the camper van of your choice. Our service means that if you book a vehicle and it is not available we contact all the other suppliers to find out all the alternatives and send you an email with that choice.
If you are booking last minute then book your first choice and leave it to us to find you something. It may not be your first choice but at least you will rent an RV.
Many Canadians and Americans book RVs to rent during the long school holidays.
You can still travel during the winter months as the campers are only winterised when freezing temperatures are expected or if you plan to go north. September to November is a good time to travel through the forests to see spectacular colour changes in the trees. The snow does start to fall during this time.
Campsites are large and very well equipped. Roads are wide and easy to drive on and are a high standard. Top visitor sites are accessible even to the largest RV.
Calgary, Alberta is a must to explore in a campervan so that you have the freedom to travel at your own pace and change your mind on where you go and what to see.
Here is a link to 12 campsites close to Calgary, Travel Alberta also lists four more.
Calgary West Campground is within the city boundary and offers shuttle services to the trains and buses. This is a great service for the Calgary Stampede - see more below.
Walmart Canada also allows overnight parking at many of their stores in Calgary. Please request permission from the manager of the store before using this service.
Calgary has exciting events all year round for everyone from couples wanting a romantic escape, adrenalin seekers and families who want to enjoy spectacular scenery.
Canada is also home to some of the top rental companies in the world. You won't be disappointed with our choice of companies. They are all long established and trustworthy and work to the same high standards that we do. Calgary has always been on our list of top destinations for motorhome rentals.
We are able to offer a full range of campervans from small campers to large Winnebagos. You will find automatic transmission campers, those that sleep up to 6 people and also those that have added facilities in these modern contemporary vehicles.
Budgetcampervans.com offer campervan rental from companies that have been long established and have consistently offered top RVs and Campers along with good customer service and back up.
Save time and order online and have a delivery to the depot. Some rental companies are happy to accommodate this. Contact Walmart, Superstore, Save on Foods or if you are a member - Costco.
One-way rentals to and from Calgary. One of the most popular routes is to rent from Calgary and return to Vancouver. All of the companies we have listed here offer this service. Maximise your time with a one-way rental.
There is no extra fees for visiting the USA from Canada. If you collect your camper from Canada, it must be returned to a depot in Canada even if you are renting with a company that has locations in both the USA and Canada.
The best time to visit Calgary is in the summer. Travelling in both Spring and Autumn (the Fall) is often less busy and the weather is perfect for a road trip.
Renting during the winter months is possible and Calgary doesn't experience the extreme low temperatures that other parts of Canada have so the vehicles are not always winterised. When they are, there is no running water in the motorhome to prevent the pipes from freezing. There are on-board heaters to keep you warm but you would have to use campsite facilities for showers etc.
It is also trying out different dates using our booking engine and also, if you are considering a one-way rental, reversing your route to see if you can get a better price. We are here to help you.All of the current special offers and discounts are already loaded into our booking engine and highlighted to make it easier.
You have to be 21 years old to rent a camper van from Calgary.
Yes, this is usually possible. If you are unsure, we will check for you.
Standard insurance is always included in the daily rental rate. This is the Collision Damage Waiver. This covers damage to the rental vehicle. There will be an insurance excess which varies in amount but is usually around $1500.00.
You will be offered insurance to cover for damage to third parties. SLI insurance will cover damage to third parties. You may be offered an option to pay more to reduce the excess. Cruise Canada doesn't offer this option. There are variations between each company. All the insurance options are clearly explained during the booking process. Ask us if you have any questions.
One-way fee or relocation fees are applied when you collect your campervan in one location and return it to another
Extra driver fee applied when more than two people are registered to drive the vehicle. Bedding, linen, Kitchen Kit, vehicle kit - applies when you don't bring your own.
We suggest that you spend the first night in your campervan close to the depot. This will give you time to find out how things work and familiarise yourself with the RV.
Take casual clothes and don't overpack. Each campsite has laundry facilities. Take the essentials for hiking, swimming and other pastimes that you take part in. There is plenty of time to plan your route and relax on the way.
Check out Calgary’s Central Library (named in the New York Times “52 Places to Go in 2019” list):
Head to WinSport’s Canada Olympic Parkfor adrenaline-packed adventure such as North America’s fastest zipline, downhill karting, mini golf, and more.
Visit Studio Bell, home of Canada's National Music Centre, to see Canada's Music Hall of Fame, try making music of your own, view stage outfits and costumes from famous musicians, and much more:
Go up the
Take a stroll along the Bow River for stunning views of the city skyline and the river, St. Patrick's Island, the Simmons Building (home to a cafe, bakery, and restaurant with a rooftop patio), Chinatown, Eau Claire Plaza, Prince's Island Park, and the Peace Bridge.
Calaway Park Campground (June to September) East of city limits:
Bow Rivers Edge Campground (Cochrane regular season April 1 - October 31, with long-term winter camping also available)
SpringHill RV Park (just past Cochrane on Highway 567; open year-round)
Riverbend Campground (Okotoks; open year-round)
For further information about campgrounds around Calgary, you are welcome to check out the following link:
Where to park an RV: One of the easiest and best options is to park at one of 33 Calgary Transit Park and Ride lots and take the CTrain LRT into the downtown core.
A daily individual pass, which is valid on all City of Calgary Transit options, costs $11.25. Another excellent option is to park at Southcentre Mall, which allows RV parking when registered with the mall's Guest Services (including overnight).
Southcentre is across the street from the Anderson LRT Station, allowing you to easily explore the city.
Many attractions outside of the downtown core have parking lots that will accommodate an RV as needed while visiting, including Calaway Park, Heritage Park, WinSport, the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, and TELUS Spark Science Centre, but not overnight (with the exception being Calaway Park, who have a campground on-site).
Most inner-city parking lots and parkades are meant for regular cars and trucks and will not accommodate an RV or motorhome. Street parking with an RV is an option, but it can be challenging to find a space during the work week as you are competing with daily commuters, and you will likely need to pay. The weekends will be more open to street parking, and it is free in many areas on Sundays.
Learn more about things to see and do in Calgary
After 20 years arranging campervan hire and motorhome rental for our clients, we are very good.
You can grab our contact details from our handy contact page or visit our FAQ page if you have any questions.
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