The best RV rentals in Calgary, AB

Like most major metropolitan areas, Calgary has narrow streets and laws prohibiting long-term parking of oversized vehicles. Although some attractions have larger parking lots, when visiting the city, your best bet is to leave your RV at the campground and make use of the light rail or bus system.

Calgary is a fun place to visit, no matter the time of year. Since the summer months have the most opportunities for outdoor activities, it's the perfect time to rent an RV. When you visit Calgary during July, you won't want to miss the Calgary Stampede and music festival. The event is the biggest draw of the season and fun for the entire family. The rodeo isn't the only family-friendly place in the city. The Calgary Zoo is a top-rated attraction, and it's located near bike trails, footpaths, and the light rail. Do you like to visit notable venues while you are in a new place? Calgary hosted the 1988 Olympic Winter Games, and today the Winsport Canada Olympic Park now serves as a facility for summer and winter sports activities like ziplining, skating, and mountain biking.

The Calgary Farmers' Market is a large family-friendly indoor market that is open on most weekends. The market has local produce, meat, organic goods, arts and crafts, and food vendors, and it's a local's favorite place to visit. Another area favorite, Heritage Park Historical Village, is a must-see while you are in the city. The living history museum helps connect visitors to the colonization of Canada's western interior. Depending on what you hope to see, you can visit free areas of the village or opt to purchase tickets for a ride on a steam train or a walk through Gasoline Alley Museum.

Calgary is an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts to rent an RV and explore some of Canada's most beautiful natural spaces. Fish Creek Provincial Park is an urban park with birding, educational programs, hiking trails, and swimming. It's a perfect place to escape the city for a few hours. Banff National Park is approximately an hour's drive from Calgary, and Lake Louise, inside the park, is one of Alberta's most photographed places. RVers won't want to miss the opportunity to visit Jasper National Park, either. The stargazing, kayaking, and alpine sports are second to none.

Are you in town during the Calgary Stampede? The Calgary West Campground is the closest RV campground, and it's located within the city limits. During the Stampede, you can park your rig in the campground and take the express bus to Stampede Park. When the Stampede isn't in town, the campground offers free transportation to the bus stop. The Calgary West Campground is a seasonally-operating facility with full hookup sites with both back-in or pull-through driveways. The tent and dry hookup spaces have covered picnic tables, and all registered campers have access to the on-site showers, restrooms, and a dump station. This campground has a grocery store and a propane filling station available, so you can get some of your essential supplies without even leaving the premises.

One of the best RV campgrounds on the outskirts of Calgary is the scenic Bow Valley Provincial Park. This park operates year-round, giving campers a choice between peak season camping and winter camping. The campgrounds at Bow Valley Provincial Park have both unserviced sites and sites with water and electricity. During the operational season, campers may use the on-site sanitary dump station and token showers. Bow Valley Provincial Park sits near the Bow and Kananaskis Rivers and is the ideal place to stay if you prefer a mountainous backdrop with plenty of paddling, hiking, climbing, and wildlife viewing.

For a smaller campground closer to the city, check out McLean Creek Campground located in the McLean Creek Provincial Recreation Area. This RV campground operates year-round and has both dry campsites and partial-hookup sites. During the winter months, the park winterizes the water faucets and showers, but vault toilets remain open. This recreation area is a popular destination for hiking, fishing, geocaching, and snowmobiling.