Campgrounds and RV parks near Blood 148, AB

Blood 148 is the reserve of the Kainai (Blood Tribe) in southern Alberta, set between Lethbridge, Fort Macleod, and Cardston, and traversed by Highways 2, 5, and 509. It is the largest First Nations reserve in Canada by area, and the Belly and St. Mary rivers define much of its perimeter. The reserve itself is not a public park, so RV travellers base out of nearby provincial recreation areas and private campgrounds and use Blood 148 as a geographic reference point for routing. The St. Mary Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area borders the reserve to the southeast and contains three campgrounds along the south shore, with both Upper - St Mary Reservoir Provincial Recreational Area and Lower - St Mary Reservoir Provincial Recreational Area sitting directly on the water. To the west, the Waterton Reservoir Recreational Area gives access to paddling and fishing south of Pincher Creek. Great Canadian Barn Dance and Campground at Hill Spring provides full-service private sites with Rocky Mountain views, and the Oldman River Provincial Recreational Area near Fort Macleod is a quieter riverside option to the north.

Provincial campgrounds in the area are managed by Alberta Parks and booked through Shop.AlbertaParks.ca. Individual campsite reservations at Upper - St Mary Reservoir Provincial Recreational Area open ninety days in advance of arrival date, with the booking window advancing one day each morning at 9 a.m. Mountain Time. Lower - St Mary Reservoir Provincial Recreational Area, Waterton Reservoir Recreational Area, and Oldman River Provincial Recreational Area operate primarily on a first-come, first-served basis, so arriving mid-week or earlier in the day improves the odds of getting a site. Walk-up sites are realistic mid-week and during shoulder season, but summer weekends should be locked in as soon as possible. Great Canadian Barn Dance and Campground is a private operation booked directly through the resort. For longer RVs, confirm site length and amp service at booking, since several provincial sites in the area are rustic or have limited power.