Glamping At Banff’s Tunnel Mountain Campground Warnings and Rules
This week we travelled to beautiful Banff Alberta to stay at the Tunnel Mountain campsites. This will be the first time our kids will ever do any real camping, and we want to make sure it is an awesome memorable experience for them.
Now I grew up hardcore camping with my dad and uncles, and my wife and I have different perspectives on what real camping is. To me real camping is deep in the bush away from people and civilization. And to her real camping is anything in a tent. I can’t argue with her this time though as she is requesting the glam for a reason. Comfort.
We need to slowly wean our kiddies ages 6 and 3 into the camping lifestyle and the best way for us to do this is to introduce them to camping in comfort.
I have done a tonne of research and have camped at many places throughout Alberta. Most of the research for this trip was in regards to the safest and most comfortable places to introduce your kids to camping. Tunnel mountain campsites always come up on the top of the list.
9 Awesome things You Need to Know About Tunnel Mountain village Campsites
The View at Banff Tunnel Mountain village campsites
The Wood is Free!
Yes the wood is free here and they ask that you not bring your own wood, the reason for this is they do not want wood entering their area that has been infected by the the unpopular pine beatle that kills entire forests.
2. They have an outdoor theatre.
The outdoor theatre plays a video multiple times a day that is educational about the area and the environment. You should watch this as it also gives safety tips.
3. Every Campsite has a great view
You will realize once you are there that you are actually on a mountain and there are mountain and valley views from all sites.
4. It is Very Safe
There are rangers that patrol multiple times a day in all sites. They give you tips on how to pack your site so that animals stay away. There are also bear safe bins that you can dump your trash in every night. There is no alcohol after 11, so the people there are calmer than many other places you could camp.
Bonfires at tunnel mountain village campground
5. There are clean showers with hot water
My wife and kids loved this. There was hot water and clean showers. The bathrooms were very close to the site.
6. The bathrooms are full service (no Outhouses)
No one in the world likes outhouses, at tunnel mountain there are none. You will love the full service flushing toilets and cleanliness of the bathrooms.
7. It is really quiet
No one blasting music or partying was an awesome surprise. They make you put out the fire by 11pm and most people go to sleep early so that they can enjoy their days hiking and doing activities in Banff.
8. There are trails within walking distance
There are multiple trails all within walking distance. Simple all the way to difficult. We did some hiking at the tunnel mountains vein hike. It was awesome and good for all ages. I have a link to the hike details below.
9. There are a lot a families here
This is a family and couple campground, it is not a party spot. This made us feel extra safe as there were no weirdo’s running around. lol
How to Get to Tunnel mountain from Edmonton or Calgary
To get to Tunnel mountain from Edmonton you will drive to Calgary and take stoney trail until you see the signs to Banff. From there you will drive approximately an hour. When you see the first sign to the Banff entrances you will take the exit to the right. Take your first left onto the bridge into Banff town. You will see the tunnel mountain resort on your left. Take a left here and follow the road until you see the sign to the tunnel mountain campground.
Views at Tunnel Mountain Campground
10 Common Questions about tunnel mountain village campground
How much does it cost to stay at the tunnel mountain campground?
It depends on the site and the time of year. We stayed in a regular site with 2 tents and paid around $30 per night
2. What is the best campground in Banff for families?
I my opinion tunnel mountain is the best for families. It is totally open and very safe.
3. Was there a wolf attack at tunnel mountain campground?
No this did not happen at this campsite, although it could happen anywhere. Make sure you follow the rules and you will have a good chance of being safe.
4. Is there Wifi at the tunnel mountain village campground?
Hell no, you are camping. Tell those teenagers to stay off the internet and enjoy the scenery!
Great Pictures From Tunnel Mountain Village, Banff Camping
5. Is there cell phone service at the tunnel mountain village campground?
Yes I had full bars of reception on my cellphone.
6. Is the campsite wheelchair accessible?
Yes the campsites are easily wheelchair accessible and the roads are paved.
7. How long can you stay at tunnel mountain campground?
You can stay up to 14 days max.
8. Do they accept credit card at the tunnel mountain campground?
Yes they accept credit cards but I do recommend booking online in advance.
9. Do I need to book my site in advance?
You should as this campground is a favourite by many and books up pretty fast.
Tenting at tunnel Mountain Campgrounds, Banff
What does camping at tunnel mountain feel like?
Camping at tunnel mountain felt like we were totally secluded. Although there were people all around us it was very quiet. At night it was a little cool because we were at a higher elevation, but it made it cozier in our warm tent! When you wake up in the morning you will hear a lot of birds and chipmunks, reminding you that you are in the wild.
There are beautiful walking trails all over making this a great place to go for a stroll for all age groups.
Because I was travelling with my wife and children, safety was a major concern for me. I liked how it was not treed on all sides as you never know who or what can come through the bushes. We had a few cocktails, but the rangers make sure everything is shut down by 11. A few of the people I went with like having a few drinks but even they appreciated that they make you put the fires out early so that you can have a great day in the morning.
My kids really loved to look at the stars and also enjoyed having fires and roasting marshmallows. My son once roasted 6 of them at the same time and devoured them all. While I was there with the family, I wished that I had done this before we had kids as this is also a very romantic environment for couples. It feels quiet cozy, secluded and romantic! You are going to love it.
Is tunnel mountain village campground good for kids?
This campsite is an awesome environment for kids. As I said before it is super safe and very clean. There are easy trails and walks to do all over the place and it is very close to Banff town and the Hotsprings and Gondola!
You can also check out the travel Alberta website with more cool Banff info.
Here is the actual Tunnel Mountain Website
If you have any more insight or questions about Banff or the Tunnel Mountain village campground, please shoot us an email or comment. We want our Canadian Travel blogs to be the most comprehensive source of information about Banff on the internet.
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