Crown land (public land) camping in Alberta: the rules for RVers

Alberta tip: Rules, fees, closures and fire bans change, sometimes daily in summer. This page reflects official information as of October 2026. Before every trip, check Camping on public land (alberta.ca), public land closures and advisories and Alberta Fire Bans.

What is Crown land / public land camping?

In Alberta, "Crown land" and "public land" mostly mean the same thing for campers: land owned by the province that isn't a park, private land or a First Nations reserve. Alberta's government describes random camping as no-service or limited-service camping outside established campgrounds, in the frontcountry or backcountry. Other names for it include dispersed, rustic or "boondocking".

According to alberta.ca, public land offers three kinds of camping:

1. Serviced campgrounds in Provincial Recreation Areas (PRAs) inside some Public Land Use Zones. You pay a nightly fee and don't need a Public Lands Camping Pass for those nights.
2. Camping nodes and Public Land Recreation Areas: first-come, first-served sites that may have outhouses, fire rings or garbage bins. No campground fee, but you do need a Public Lands Camping Pass. Alberta lists camping nodes in the Ghost and Livingstone PLUZs.
3. Random camping on vacant public land and in PLUZs. No services, first-come, first-served, and a Public Lands Camping Pass is required inside the pass area.

The Public Lands Camping Pass

From the official Public Lands Camping Pass page:

• Who needs it: Anyone 18 and older who random camps on public land along the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, within the pass area that runs from Grande Prairie to Waterton Lakes National Park. It's required year-round.
• Also required to random camp in the Porcupine Hills PLUZ, in Willmore Wilderness Park, and on agricultural Crown land in the pass area (with the leaseholder's permission).
• Per person, not per vehicle. Passes are non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Types: a 3-day pass and an annual pass. Check the official page for current prices and fees.
• Where to buy: online at AlbertaRELM, through the AlbertaRELM app, or where fishing and hunting licences are sold. Carry proof (printed or in the app), since enforcement officers can ask for it.

Where the pass does not apply (per alberta.ca): private, municipal or federal land; designated campgrounds on public land that charge a camping fee; the Kananaskis Conservation Pass area; and lands under the Provincial Parks Act (provincial parks, wildland provincial parks, provincial recreation areas) and protected areas legislation. Exemptions also exist for some groups, and the official page lists them.

The 14-day rule

Alberta allows a maximum stay of 14 days in the same spot when random camping on public land. After 14 days, you must move your camping unit at least 1 km for at least 72 hours. (In Public Land Recreation Areas, the government's Crown land camping fact sheet describes a different rule: vacate for at least 24 hours after 14 days.) The aim is to let vegetation recover and give others a turn.

Public Land Use Zones (PLUZs)

A Public Land Use Zone is an area of public land with its own recreation rules. PLUZs aren't parks or protected areas. Alberta currently lists 18 PLUZs, including Ghost, Kananaskis, McLean Creek Off-Highway Vehicle, Livingstone, Porcupine Hills and the Bighorn-area zones. Each has a map and specific rules on the government's site.

Key rules from Alberta's PLUZ regulations page and camping page:

• Random camping is generally permitted in a PLUZ unless signs, notices or department publications say otherwise.
• No random camping within 1 km of a Public Land Recreation Area, Provincial Park or Provincial Recreation Area.
• Camping is not permitted within 1 km of a road in the Kananaskis PLUZ, McLean Creek OHV PLUZ, Sibbald Snow Vehicle PLUZ and Cataract Creek Snow Vehicle PLUZ. That effectively rules out roadside RV random camping in those zones. RVers should use the designated campgrounds there.
• Camping equipment must be portable and temporary.
• Highway vehicles may not leave the road except on trails designated for them. Don't drive your RV across meadows to reach a spot.
• Pack out everything, including garbage and waste. Never dump grey water or sewage onto the ground or into water.

Fires

• Check Alberta Fire Bans before you light anything. Bans and restrictions can apply to campfires, fireworks and sometimes off-highway vehicles.
• When fires are allowed, use existing fire pits or portable fire receptacles, never leave a fire unattended, and put it out completely: soak it, stir it and soak it again until the ashes are cool to the touch.
• Some PLUZs allow fires only in designated nodes (for example, parts of Livingstone).

Responsible camping and Leave No Trace

From Alberta's camping guidance and Leave No Trace Canada:

• Camp at least 30 m from lakes and streams and at least 100 m from oil and gas facilities. (Some PLUZs set larger distances. For example, the Bighorn-area zones specify 100 m from lakeshores.)
• Camp on durable surfaces and existing sites rather than creating new ones.
• Store all food, pet food and garbage in your vehicle or a bear-resistant container. See Alberta BearSmart.
• If there are no toilets: dig a hole at least 15 cm deep, at least 70 m from water and trails, and pack out toilet paper. For an RV, use your own holding tanks and dump them at a proper dump station.
• Bring your own drinking water. Never drink untreated water from streams.
• Respect other users, livestock, gates and fences. Leave them as you found them.
• Report illegal activity or safety concerns to 310-LAND (5263), per alberta.ca.

Agricultural leases

Some public land is leased for grazing. You must contact the leaseholder for permission before accessing these lands, and they can refuse access for camping in some circumstances.

RV-specific tips for Crown land camping

• Scout first. Gravel roads can be rough, narrow and steep, and turnarounds can be tight. If possible, drive in with the tow vehicle alone first, or pick a spot you can see from the road.
• Weather and mud: Rain can make clay roads impassable for heavy rigs. Watch the forecast and leave before a big storm if you're on dirt roads.
• Levelling: Expect uneven ground. Bring levelling blocks, jack pads and wheel chocks.
• Power and water: You're self-contained. Know your battery and tank capacities. See RV battery not charging: how to troubleshoot the converter and 12V system and RV solar not charging: how to troubleshoot panels, controller and wiring.
• No cell service is normal. Download maps and tell someone where you're going and when you'll return, as alberta.ca recommends. A satellite communicator is worth considering.
• Busy long weekends: Popular areas near Calgary can be very busy on long weekends, and enforcement patrols increase. Arrive early, follow the rules, or pick a quieter weekend.
• Wildfire season: Have an exit plan. Keep the RV ready to move and watch Alberta Wildfire updates.

Where to go

See our top 10 public land camping areas near Calgary and in Alberta, with notes on each zone and links to its official page. You can also explore PLUZ boundaries on Alberta's interactive recreation map, which is linked from the PLUZ page.