ENG
Very good customer experience with Cooldrive. I highly recommend it! Thanks to the team who were attentive and available for organizing my trip to Canada.
Over 50 000
rentals since 2011 !
rentals since 2011 !
Geopolitical situation in the Middle East : your travels with CoolDrive are protected.
Find out more ›
Find out more ›
Calgary, a vibrant city in Canada, is the ideal starting point to explore the breathtaking landscapes of the Rockies. Whether you want to visit Banff National Park or discover the charm of the Stampede, renting a campervan in Calgary offers you unparalleled freedom. With its vast natural spaces and cultural attractions, Calgary is perfect for an unforgettable adventure in the great outdoors. Enjoy the flexibility of a campervan to immerse yourself in the Canadian wonders while traveling at your own pace.
Itineraries and road trips from Calgary
Discover three campervan itineraries starting from Calgary, the Canadian capital of cowboys. From the short circuit exploring iconic parks to the grand three-week tour across the Canadian West, each route offers a unique immersion in the Rockies, with turquoise lakes, majestic waterfalls, and unforgettable wildlife encounters.
Rocky Escape: 7 to 10 days
Start from Calgary for a first adventure focused on the gems of the Canadian Rockies. After exploring the vibrant downtown of Calgary and its key attractions, head to Banff National Park, where you can enjoy hot springs, the Sulphur Mountain gondola, and hikes around Minnewanka and Johnston Canyon lakes. Continue to Jasper, the largest park in the Rockies, before returning to Calgary. This compact itinerary allows you to maximize spectacular landscapes without sacrificing relaxation time in the campervan.
Lakes and Parks Loop: 14 days
From Calgary, explore the hidden treasures of the Canadian West in two weeks. After the must-sees of Banff and Jasper, push on to Wells Gray Park, renowned for its exceptional waterfalls and black bears. Also discover Waterton Lakes National Park, less frequented but rich in wild panoramas. This loop from Calgary allows you to combine hiking, lake cruises, and wildlife watching, while benefiting from a more relaxed pace in the campervan to appreciate each stop.
Grand Tour of the West: 21 days
Embark on the ultimate campervan adventure: a three-week journey from Calgary to Vancouver and back. This ambitious trip encompasses Banff, the Icefields Parkway, Jasper, Wells Gray, Whistler, Tofino, and Victoria. You will traverse diverse landscapes, from mountains to ocean coasts, passing through ancient forests. Although geographically extending beyond Calgary, this experience is a must for travelers seeking a complete immersion in the Canadian West, with a return to Calgary for your departure.
All the towns where you can rent a motorhome in Canada
Discover on this map all the cities in Canada where you can rent your motorhome or campervan.
Use the search engine to find out exactly which departure and return towns you can use to organise your road trip.
To do this, enter the first letters of the country in the corresponding field and discover all the cities in Canada or elsewhere.
Loading the interactive map...
When to rent a campervan from Calgary
In the heart of Alberta, Calgary is an ideal base for exploring the Canadian Rockies by campervan or van, benefiting from a marked continental climate that strongly influences travel seasons. From downtown Calgary to the Kensington neighborhood, the question of the right time to leave affects both weather comfort and the road trip budget.
When to travel by campervan or van from Calgary
Between downtown Calgary and Calgary International Airport, the most pleasant period for traveling by campervan generally extends from mid-May to mid-October, when the roads to Banff and Canmore are clear and the days are long enough to cover multiple stops. Rental companies located near Deerfoot Trail mainly open their contracts between May and October, as most campgrounds around Calgary and Banff National Park close in the fall.
In winter, from November to March, temperatures drop sharply in the plains around Calgary and the Bow River, with averages well below zero, complicating the use of a standard campervan towards Lake Louise or Kananaskis. Some companies based in Calgary offer "4-season" vehicles, but most travelers prefer to wait for spring to hit the Trans-Canada Highway from downtown Calgary.
Weather in Calgary and travel comfort
The climate in Calgary is humid continental, with an average annual temperature of around 4 to 5 °C, which is felt quickly as one leaves Stephen Avenue Walk to join the main roads towards the Rockies. In spring, between March and May, temperatures around Calgary generally fluctuate between negative values at night and around fifteen degrees during the day, allowing for van travel to Cochrane or Canmore, provided that nighttime heating is well managed.
In summer, temperatures easily rise to 23–25 °C in the streets of downtown Calgary and on the road to Banff, especially in July, which is the hottest month. However, June remains the wettest month in Calgary, with more frequent rainfall in the Fish Creek Provincial Park area and along the Bow River, necessitating good equipment for camping nights. In autumn, between September and October, temperatures quickly drop around Calgary, but the days often remain sunny for a bright road trip to Canmore and Banff National Park.
Seasonality of rates from Calgary
From Calgary, campervan rental rates around the international airport and in the Barlow Trail area follow the seasonality of the climate: they are highest in July and August when Calgary hosts the Calgary Stampede and demand skyrockets for routes to Banff, Jasper, and the Icefields Parkway. During this peak season, campgrounds near Calgary, such as those located near Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, often show full occupancy, which affects site prices.
In spring, in May and early June, rental rates start to rise but remain milder around Calgary, while snow is still melting on the Kananaskis Country road and some campgrounds in the Rockies gradually open. In September and early October, prices begin to drop in Calgary, especially after the school year starts, making it an interesting time for a van trip to Banff or Canmore while enjoying autumn colors. In mid-winter, many agencies in Calgary reduce or suspend their campervan offerings, limiting options but sometimes revealing promotions on vehicles still available.
Types of vehicles to rent in Canada
This list gives you a good overview of the offer of motorhomes, campervans, and other vehicles in Canada. Please note that not all of these vehicles are necessarily available at all rental agencies of our partners. To find out about the available vehicle options for your road trip, please use the search form at the top of this page. You can then filter the results by rental company, price, type of motorhomes, compare rental offers and their options, check availability, save your offers, and of course book online when your choice is made!
Practical guide for campervan travel from Calgary
From Calgary, the main gateway of Alberta to the Canadian Rockies, a road trip in a campervan allows for easy connections between downtown Calgary and the parks of Banff and Kananaskis while respecting local regulations on driving and parking.
Driving and regulations around Calgary
Before leaving Calgary International Airport to join the Trans-Canada Highway towards Canmore and Banff National Park, it is important to know the speed limits in Alberta, generally 50 km/h in residential streets of Calgary and higher on Deerfoot Trail or Stoney Trail that encircle the city.
In downtown Calgary around Stephen Avenue and the Calgary Tower, driving a large campervan can become difficult, prompting many travelers to park near the C-Train Bridgeland station or the Inglewood neighborhood before continuing on foot or by public transport.
Sleeping in a campervan between Calgary and the Rockies
For the night, many travelers leaving Calgary head towards the Calgary West Campground on Highway 1, then continue to the Tunnel Mountain campgrounds near Banff after passing through Canmore.
Within Banff National Park accessible from Calgary via the Trans-Canada, wild camping is prohibited, and it is necessary to reserve an official site like those near the village of Lake Louise, which requires careful planning of departure from Calgary, especially in high summer season.
Connecting and managing electricity from Calgary
Campgrounds with electrical hookups around Calgary, such as those located near Fish Creek Provincial Park south of the city, offer 110 V outlets suitable for campervans rented near Calgary Airport.
Before heading to the equipped campgrounds in Banff or Kananaskis Country, many travelers take advantage of the shops in Crowfoot or Chinook Centre in Calgary to buy extension cords, adapters, and propane tanks suitable for the sometimes chilly conditions of the Rockies.
Local tips for preparing your departure from Calgary
Campervan rental agencies near Calgary International Airport, not far from the Sunridge neighborhood, often remind that it is preferable to fill up with fuel and water at gas stations in Calgary before heading towards Canmore and Banff where prices are higher.
In the Kensington neighborhood of Calgary, cafes and shops frequented by locals are good places to ask for recommendations on camping areas towards Cochrane, Canmore, or Peter Lougheed Provincial Park before hitting the road.
Safety and weather conditions around Calgary
On the road between Calgary and Banff via the Trans-Canada, one must remain attentive to the rapid weather changes typical of Alberta, especially near the pass close to Canmore, even if the sky seems clear when leaving Calgary.
In winter or early spring, Calgary residents recommend checking road conditions with the City of Calgary and Alberta 511 before leaving neighborhoods like Beltline or Eau Claire, as snow and ice can make driving a campervan more challenging in the heights of Kananaskis.
Respect for nature and communities near Calgary
When leaving Calgary for the wilder areas towards Bragg Creek and Elbow River Provincial Park, it is essential to respect local rules on campfires and waste management to preserve the cherished landscapes that Calgary residents enjoy for their weekend outings.
Calgarians who regularly frequent the trails of Nose Hill Park and Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park remind that a campervan parked outside designated spots can disturb wildlife and local residents, hence the importance of only sleeping in authorized campgrounds along the Calgary–Canmore–Banff route.
