Columbia Icefield RV Campground

We stayed here 8/19/22.

This is really none other than a parking lot with a fee of $15.75 CD, cash or credit at the iron ranger. Our Friday night stay was busy, but convenient when you travel without reservations. We parked on the upper edge where it was somewhat level. A park ranger does drive through making sure payment was made.

Pit toilets were clean and stocked, trash service, a central picnic area and Visitor Center (with exhibits, restaurant both sit down and cafeteria style, Starbucks, tour center, hotel and lots of tourists during the day, bus loads!). The Visitor Center has a gorgeous front deck looking toward the glacier with seating and fast WIFI.

Expect all sorts of weather. We had sun, clouds, rain and gusty winds. We walked to the icefield, but it is not pedestrian friendly! Amazing to see how much the glacier has retreated.

Easy in/out first come first served no reservations parking lot with no services but a nice view of the Columbia Icefield and surrounding mountains. Located at the icefield visitor center on 93 the route between Jasper and Banff. Even 45 foot rigs can park in the large pull throughs without disconnecting their toad. Walk to the visitor center for bus rides to the icefield and the skywalk. Even with a 22 rig tour here there are still back in spots available, but no reservations so I wouldn’t recommend arriving too late.

We woke up to amazing views of the glaciers and a very quiet road. Things don't open up here until 10 am and close around 5 pm so it was a very quiet spot. Tons of space but only a few level areas.

We stayed here and did the Glacier tour and Skywalk, we booked early morning for a small discount.

Exact change is needed or you can pay for the overnight using a credit card on a slip of paper to put in your envelope. We had to get the credit card slip from the Parks desk inside because the envelope holder was empty.

AT&T roaming on Telus - 190mbps/40mbps
AT&T roaming on Bell - 42mbps/8mpbs
Starlink works great.

We enjoyed our 1 night stay.

I actually suggest staying here for 1 night to break up the drive to Jasper. The map says 1 1/2 hours to Jasper; but our experience is that these roads always have construction and thus lowered speed limits (we have even experienced 40 km/hour (24 miles per hour). Other speeds we have seen are 70 and 90 km/hour. The drives have always taken us more time than when we were driving through other parks without construction and lower speed limits). Just our experience.

Back to the Columbia Icefield camping lot- The rv parking lot is to the left of the vaulted toilets. Paying was by the drop down in the metal container. You will see a sign/board explaining the process just past the vaulted toilets. We filled out our information on the envelope provided and paid via this envelope, put it in the metal box, and then put a paper on our windshield to show we pd. The instructions on the sign and envelopes are way more clear than my memory of it, right now (ha ha). The fee was $15.75 (we actually gave a $20). We are thankful for the opportunity to camp for cheap!

Vaulted toilets-- very adequate (our standards). No hook ups. We did not worry about needing to get wifi. But, we were able to send text messages out. If you have trouble, just go around the parking lot to see what will work. We were parked at the toilets at the time.

The night dark sky and beautiful stars made it feel like we were camping on the moon. I was shocked (and actually gasped) at how much the glacier's snow had receded from my childhood days of driving with my family to Jasper. You can still see the glacier....and the tours still run. We did not avail ourselves of the tours.

We are appreciative of the opportunity to park here and would do so again if we are in the area.

***Please read my review of The Crossing Resort's free boondocking opportunity. You will see my discussion of the importance of driving to this part of the world with a full tank of gas, full supply of supplies, and a well-running vehicle. This part of the world is formidable and isolated. Please start your trip in the most strongly prepared maner. As I said in the other review, this part of the world is not like jolly old Banff.

Happy and safe travels, dear RV friends!!

We are not a big fan of parking lot camping. But this one is the best! Actually $15.70 (what is this with the odd amounts in all your campgrounds, Canada?) self pay for overnight, but administered by the Park. Fabulous views of the Athabasca Glacier and surrounding mountains and fairly quiet considering that is next to the Icefields Parkway. Best spots are down at the bottom, backed in with rear windows holding an unobstructed view of the Glacier. Last two slots in the pull throughs are nice, too! We were able to snag one of these by getting in around 2pm. Still plenty of time to explore the Glacier across the street. Most people came in late in the afternoon or early evening.

There is a restaurant and washrooms in the Icefield Center if you need them. They were pretty crowded with tour bus loads when we explored mid day. And the weather! We experienced hot sunshine and sleet storms with high winds all within the first hour!

No cell service whatsoever, but all in all, a great stop along the beautiful Icefields Parkway!

I have stayed here two different times. Although the price is high for a parking lot, it totally worth it. Since you cant find free camping in the National Parks, you don't have much of a choice anyway. Easy access even during the spring when piles of snow are 10' high. Make sure you have leveling blocks as the parking lot has a slant in order to aid in water run off. The discovery center is very nice. We have never taken one of the glacier tours, but they seem to be popular.

The main benefit to this place is being very close to the icefields, so you can get on the 9am tour. This tour slot means less waiting, less crowds, and less bother, so it's worth it. The other benefit is that it's an amazingly beautiful setting.

The downside is that it is really just a parking lot with a visitor center next door. There really is nothing to do here. Still, it's priced right. I don't think I'd stay anywhere else and then try to get here in time for the early tour.

Tip: The kids can get a junior parks explorer just for the icefields, so that's enough to keep them busy for a few minutes at least.