Words by Jan Lee
Canada's wide-open prairie provinces are a magnet for RV'ers these days. Moderate temperatures, inviting sunshine, lots of level camping areas and a seemingly endless number of RV parks to pick from have helped to cultivate their reputation for great summer getaways.
The notoriety is in part because Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba lay claim to some of the most diverse and interesting terrain the country has to offer. Most of us think of the prairie provinces as the place of flat fields and long, unbroken highway vistas. But the provinces that form Canada's agricultural breadbasket are also home to the Canadian Shield and vast mountain ranges that help to sustain the provinces' lakes and rivers.
For RV travelers, that means thousands of kilometers to explore both by road and backcountry recreation. River rafting, backcountry hiking, and hunting are all major attractions in Canada's three central provinces.
Neil Zeller
RV Oldman Dam
Alberta: Diverse Choices for RV Vacations
In Western Alberta, like many other areas of the country that serve as great summer getaways, many private parks cater exclusively to seasonal travelers. Their guests are generally RV'ers who enjoy that "vacation home" atmosphere of a stable summer address.
Other parks offer both seasonal, daily, weekly and monthly stays for the on-the-go vacationers. Calling ahead to check out their sites and amenities is a good step if you aren't familiar with the park's services.
It's also wise to reserve your RV site(s), particularly if you plan to visit western Alberta during its busy summer season. Calgary and Edmonton, which are a 3 hour's drive apart via Highway 2, are well known for their summer attractions.
But that isn't to say you can't find your quiet Alberta getaway if you decide to wing it and throw caution to the wind. Our return Edmonton one hot June weekend led us to the banks of the Red Deer River, an out-of-the-way campground hosted by Red Deer's Lion's Club. The park sits roughly halfway between Calgary and Edmonton on Highway 2 and is an inexpensive gem that caters to just about every size of rig, with three-way service. It's also a reasonable jaunt to either city – or to Western Alberta fishing and hiking country.
RV'ers come to west-central Alberta as much for the wide-open spaces as for the big-city life. An hour's drive east of Red Deer, sits a small cluster of RV parks. Outwest Camping & RV Park, one of the oldest, is sandwiched between two popular rivers, offering easy access to a variety of fishing areas. Its location and dedicated RV amenities have won it both awards and loyal guests.
The city of Edmonton, roughly two and a half hours north, has acquired many nicknames over the centuries, but these days it's best known as Alberta's Festival City. If Alberta's capital is on your bucket list for this summer, be sure to check out its list of festivals. Its list covers just about every interest, from beer tasting and food to art, theatre, and music. You might want to stick around for its Canada Day celebrations on Monday, July 1.
Most RV parks are scattered on the outskirts of Edmonton and within an hour's drive. The St. Albert Kinsmen RV Park, about 20 minutes northwest in St. Albert, operates a full-service park with 93 50-amp sites. Paved roadways and barrier-free amenities for wheelchairs have been built into the park, which also features bird and nature-viewing areas. Sites can be rented on a nightly or seasonally basis, allowing for easy access to city attractions.
Saskatoon's UNESCO Heritage Site
Some 6 hours southeast of Edmonton via Highway 16 brings you to another cultural and historical landmark: Saskatchewan's largest city and the location of Canada's newest UNESCO World Heritage designation.
From Edmonton, Saskatoon is a relatively straight-forward drive, although campgrounds are scattered. The drive runs through iconic prairie landscape and the remains of mining towns. But a short detour off of Highway 16 affords an out-of-the-way rest at Silver Lake Regional Park. Located in the town of Maidstone, it has full hookups, laundry facilities, and a nominal overnight charge. At Maidstone take SK-21 north for 12 km, then 2 km east and 1 km north. Follow the signs to the regional park.
A limited number of RV parks can be found in and around the outskirts of Saskatoon as well. The Saskatoon 16 West RV Park, as its name implies, is located just off the highway as you come through the northwest end of town. You have your pick of 15-, 30- and 50-amp services amid treed sites. Saskatoon may be Saskatchewan's largest city, but according to the park's owner, Kathy Cho, it's still possible to see wildlife around the park.
Saskatchewan has a proud and vibrant indigenous history, and the Wanuskewin Heritage Park, a 240-hectare/600-acre park, (located northeast of the city just off of SK-11) has played an important role in educating visitors of that legacy. Last year the United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized the park's significance by adding it to UNESCO's tentative list of world heritage sites. The park features exhibitions and educational events about the North Prairie indigenous peoples. It also hosts a restaurant and shop on the premises.
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Tourism Saskatoon
Wanuskewin Heritage Park
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Tourism Saskatoon
Aerial view of Saskatoon
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Manitoba: Tailored for RV Getaways
Heading east to Winnipeg it's not hard to see why Central Canada is RV touring territory. The route passes numerous provincial and private parks as well as Riding Mountain National Park's two popular campgrounds. Depending upon your time, there's plenty of lakes to investigate as well.
Some 10 minutes directly south of Winnipeg in the small town of Ile des Chenes, is one of Winnipeg's more established campgrounds. The Arrowhead RV Park offers 30- and 50-amp sites, with a nominal charge for WIFI.
Arrowhead's owner Lise Bale points out that there's a wealth of reasons why travelers come to Winnipeg, including VIA Rail's train to Churchill, Manitoba's northern hub for wildlife viewing. Travelers who arrive between June and August can whale-watch, while arriving between July and November may win you an opportunity to see polar bears from the window of a motorized coach.
Winnipeg's museums and cultural events are worth experiencing as well. The city is home to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, which serves as an educational centre for diversity and culture in Canada. Other attractions include the Children's Museum and the Living Prairie Museum, a 12-hectare/30-acre spot of heaven designed to teach visitors about the beauty, importance, and resilience of Canada's remarkable prairie provinces.
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Arrowhead RV Park
Arrowhead RV Park
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Arrowhead RV Park
Arrowhead RV Park
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CMHR-MCDP
Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Prairie Info
Travel Alberta
https://www.travelalberta.com/ca/
Tourism Saskatchewan
https://www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/
Travel Manitoba
https://www.travelmanitoba.com
Featured RV Parks:
Alberta
Lion's Campground
4723 Riverside Drive 4723 Riverside Drive
Red Deer, AB
Outwest Camping & RV Park Ltd.
Rocky Mountain House, AB
Call or email for directions to the campground
information@outwestcamping.com
St. Albert Kinsmen RV Park
30 – 47 Riel Dr, St Albert, AB
Saskatchewan
Silver Lake Regional Park
Call or email for additional directions:
Saskatoon 16 West RV Park
Highway 16 W. and 71st Street W.
Manitoba
Arrowhead RV Park
1375a Major Trail (Old Highway 59)
Ile des Chenes