It’s never too soon to start thinking about your next camping adventure. Central Alberta offers incredible outdoor experiences throughout the year, and planning ahead ensures you’ll secure the best spots for your getaway. Here are some fantastic camping destinations in and around Red Deer to inspire your next outdoor adventure.
Lions Campground
Open May – September
Located right in the heart of Red Deer next to the Red Deer River, Lions Campground offers the perfect balance between urban convenience and natural beauty. This campground allows you to keep one foot in the city and one foot in nature, with full hook-up sites, sani dumping, and water fill stations providing all the amenities you need for a comfortable stay.
What makes Lions Campground special is its prime location offering direct access to Red Deer’s expansive trail system, including a private entrance to the Trans-Canada Trail and river system, plus on-site playgrounds for families. With laundry facilities available and just minutes from Red Deer’s shopping, cultural attractions, and golf courses, you’ll have the best of both worlds – peaceful riverside camping with easy access to all the urban opportunities the city has to offer.
DNA Gardens
Experience a truly unique camping adventure at DNA Gardens, where you can camp among 25 acres of working fruit orchards southeast of Red Deer. This agritourism destination combines camping with wine country charm, offering an authentic farm-to-table experience.
This is no-amenity camping at its finest – no power outlets, just the peaceful sounds of nature and the orchard around you. Bring your own water and embrace the simple life while enjoying incredible perks like wine tastings, u-pick fruit experiences, fresh farm store shopping, and meals at their on-site Bootlegger cafe. Don’t miss their signature events: Friday night dinners, Saturday pizza nights with campfires, and Sunday’s Ultimate Pancake Breakfast.
Trenville Park Campground
Trenville Park Campground is located on the east on the banks of the beautiful Red Deer River, about an hour outside of the city. They offer a family-oriented, pet-friendly experience with 3 playgrounds, a disc golf course and over 70 different campsites to choose from, including group and tenting options. The campground is mature and spacious, with plenty of space to wander amongst the lush parkland trees or meander the riverbanks and skip a few rocks. It is not fully serviced but does offer coin-operated showers and potable water. You can begin making reservations on May 1 at 8:00 am by calling 403-773-2273.
Wolf Creek Golf Resort
For those seeking the ultimate combination of golf and camping, Wolf Creek Golf Resort in Ponoka offers an exceptional experience just 45 minutes from Red Deer. Nestled among the trees between stunning fairways on the Links Course is the Wolf Creek Golf Resort Campground, here you can bring your own RV, rent one of their fully loaded RVs, or the beautiful country cabin. The resort accommodates daily, weekly, and seasonal stays with Golf & RV Membership options available. Full loaded RVs include bedding, utensils, coffee maker and all essentials, while their country cabin experience offers 2 bedrooms with queen beds, full bathrooms, and a spacious living room overlooking the golf course with campfire patio evenings.
Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site Campground
Open May 16 – September 30, 2025.
Step back in time at Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site, where camping meets Canadian history just west of Rocky Mountain House. Explore the remains of historic fur trading posts while learning about Indigenous culture and early Rocky Mountain exploration, then return to your campsite surrounded by this rich heritage.
The campground caters to every camping style, from traditional trailer sites and walk-in tenting to fully equipped camping kits for those without gear. For a truly immersive experience, try their heritage camping options including authentic tipis, Métis trapper tents with wood floors and furnishings, or trapline cabins complete with modern amenities. Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site combines outdoor recreation with an unforgettable journey into Canada’s past.
Westerner Park RV Resort
Open year-round.
Westerner Park RV Resort offers year-round RV camping in the heart of Red Deer’s south end, providing the perfect base for exploring the city. This RV-only campground features 98 sites with electrical services and seasonal water/sewer hookups, including 38 fully winterized sites. On-site amenities include restrooms with coin-operated showers and laundromat facilities.
What sets this location apart is its prime positioning next to Westerner Park, offering direct access to Red Deer’s extensive bike and walking trail system, plus close proximity to shopping, golf courses, and restaurants. You’ll have front-row access to Westerner Park’s exciting year-round events including agricultural shows, live entertainment, festivals, and community gatherings – making this more than just a place to park your RV, but a gateway to Red Deer’s vibrant community life.
Mukwah Rafting Tours
Open May Long Weekend – September Long Weekend
Escape to the Alberta foothills with Mukwah Rafting Tours, nestled on the banks of the Panther River with stunning views of the Rocky Mountains. This unique wilderness retreat combines camping accommodations with thrilling whitewater rafting adventures, offering both traditional camping and newly built camping-cabins.
Beyond excellent camping facilities including a sauna, hot showers, and campfire pits, Mukwah offers guided rafting tours for all ages and experience levels on the Panther and Upper Red Deer Rivers. Choose from a scenic Sunset Float for beginners, the Panther Sampler for an introduction to class II+ whitewater, or dive into class III+ rapids on their Full Jaunty Tour – all led by fully certified guides. With stay & play packages available, you can combine your camping adventure with whitewater thrills, plus enjoy hiking, biking, horseback riding, and fishing right at your doorstep.
Penhold RV Park
Open May 3 – October 13, 2025.
The Penhold RV Park is perfectly situated to be your home away from home while you explore the Red Deer area. Located on the east edge of Penhold, adjacent to the Penhold Regional Multiplex, the Penhold RV Park has 67 fully serviced sites. Each site has 30-50 amp power, a picnic table, and 20 of the sites have fire pits. There is lots of room for tenting and group camping and the wash house offers washroom, shower, and laundry facilities. Nearby recreation facilities include Penhold Regional Multiplex, splash park, ball diamond, walking trails, and the Multi-Use All Wheel Park (Pump Track /Skate Park).
Looking for MORE to do while in Central Alberta? Check out out 100 Things to Do blog post!
