.png)
Camping in Banff Without a Tent: Two Jack Equipped Camping Review
If you've ever wanted to try camping in Banff National Park without owning (or packing) a tent, Two Jack equipped camping might be exactly what you're looking for.
We spent a night in one of the six-person canvas tents at Two Jack Main Campground with friends visiting from the UK, and it turned out to be great fun.
Going equipped made sense because our friends (visiting from the UK) didn't have any camping gear. Rather than half the group tenting while the other half found somewhere else to sleep, it meant everyone could camp together.
Continue reading for what you get with an equipped site, what a night in the tent was really like, everything you need to know before you book your own, and some of the best things to do around Two Jack Lake and Banff.
Don't Forget Your Canada Park Pass
Find out which Parks Canada pass you need, how much they cost, where to buy one and where they are required in our complete guide to Parks Canada passes.
You'll need a valid pass for every day of your stay. Daily admission is $12.25 per adult or $24.50 for a family or group in one vehicle, and youth 17 and under are free.
How to Book Two Jack Equipped Camping
Two Jack Main and Two Jack Lakeside reservations are seriously competitive, and this trip was no exception. With enough people in our group to need three separate campsites, securing reservations was always going to be a challenge.
We talk about the best booking strategy for campsites in more detail in our guide to making Parks Canada Camping Reservations, but our approach was simple.
Everyone was logged in and ready the moment bookings opened, hoping at least one of us would get near the front of the queue. When reservations for Banff campgrounds go live, sites can disappear within minutes. It's also best to create your Parks Canada reservation account before release day, so you're not entering details while the sites disappear.
In 2026, equipped campsite reservations opened on 12 February at 8 a.m. MT. Release dates change from year to year, so check Parks Canada for the current launch date.
Two Jack Main's equipped campsites are open from June 18 to September 7 in 2026. The dates shift slightly from year to year, so check Parks Canada before you plan your trip.
Want to camp in Banff? You're going to need to book early or get lucky with a cancellation!
Reservations are made through the Parks Canada Reservation Service, where you'll find availability for all campgrounds in Banff National Park. You can also reserve by phone at 1-877-737-3783.
How Much Does it Cost?
An equipped campsite at Two Jack Main costs $86.50 per night. For a full tent of six, that works out to roughly $14 per person.
On top of the site fee, there's an $11.50 online reservation fee, which is charged once per booking rather than per night. Sites come with a firepit, and a fire permit is an extra $12 per night if you plan to have a campfire (we didn't pay it because a fire ban was in place during our stay). These are Parks Canada's 2026 rates, so check the current fees before you book
To put that in perspective, a standard unserviced site at Two Jack Main is $26.75 per night, and a site at Two Jack Lakeside, which has showers, is $34. Parks Canada's other ready-made option, the oTENTik at Two Jack Lakeside, costs $147.50 per night.
That makes the equipped site roughly $60 more per night than a regular one. For us, that premium made sense because the tent and bunk beds were already set up, and we didn't have to buy or borrow gear for our friends from the UK.
If you already own a tent and sleeping gear, a standard site will save you a lot of money. If you don't, or you're camping with people who don't, the equipped site is often cheaper than buying or renting everything.
Getting to Two Jack Lake Campground
Two Jack Lake is located just outside Banff, about 10 to 15 minutes from town along the scenic Lake Minnewanka Drive. It's close enough that you're not giving up any real convenience, but once you arrive, it feels a world away from the busy townsite.
One thing to know before you head out: there are actually two Two Jack campgrounds.
Make a note of which one you're staying at before setting off. Two Jack Lakeside is the first campground you'll come to on the right, while Two Jack Main is about a minute farther down the road on the left.
Whichever one you are staying at, you'll pass through a small campground kiosk where a Parks Canada staff member will confirm your reservation, direct you to your campsite, and let you know about any important safety information.
Depending on conditions, this may include fire restrictions, wildlife activity in the area, or other campground advisories.
One message you'll hear repeatedly is the importance of keeping a clean campsite. In bear country, properly storing food, cooking equipment, and scented items is essential for protecting both campers and wildlife.
What to Expect Inside the Tent
As soon as we arrived, the kids ran straight into the tent and jumped onto the bunk beds which was a good sign, given that they didn't collapse!
Parks Canada's equipped tents have a definite novelty factor, and arriving to find ready-made bunk beds waiting for you is pretty exciting. As someone who has pitched plenty of tents in the rain over the years, being able to skip the setup and head straight into holiday mode was a welcome change.
The tent sleeps six people across three sets of bunk beds arranged roughly in a C-shape, with two sets along the sides and one across the back, leaving some open floor space in the middle.
There were four of us in ours, which left plenty of room. You could fit a blow-up mattress on the floor for a little one who'd rather sleep low, but the tent is designed for six people, so stick to that number. Otherwise, the open floor is handy for bags.
What’s Actually Inside the Tent (And What Isn’t)
It's worth setting expectations before you arrive, because the term "equipped campsite" can sound like it includes more than it actually does.
In reality, the tent provides the sleeping setup and little else.
There's no kitchen, cooking equipment, chairs, heating, or air conditioning inside the tent. Outside, the site has a picnic table and a fire pit, so the picnic table is your kitchen and dining room for the trip.
You'll still need to bring everything to cook and eat with, along with camp chairs if you want somewhere comfortable to sit.
Parks Canada is also clear that food preparation, eating, and cooking aren't permitted inside the tent, so all of that takes place outdoors.
What Parks Canada provides:
Six-person canvas tent on a raised wooden platform
Sleeping cots
Bear-proof food locker (outside the tent)
Firepit
Picnic Table
Broom and dustpan
What you need to bring:
Sleeping bags, blankets and pillows
Food
Cooking equipment, dishes, and utensils
A stove and propane
Headlamps or flashlights
A cooler
Camp Chairs
Bear Spray
Any other camping essentials
What Are the Bunk Beds Like?
The bunk beds are quite low, with the bottom bunk sitting only about a foot off the ground and the top bunk not much higher. There’s also no ladder for accessing the upper bunk.
While the beds felt solid and sturdy once you were settled in, they could be a little wobbly and noisy when climbing in or out, which is worth keeping in mind if anyone needs a bathroom trip in the middle of the night.
There’s also no traditional mattress. Instead, Parks Canada provides what it calls a "sleeping cot" – a stretched canvas sleeping surface that dips slightly and moulds to your body. On paper, it doesn't sound like it would be particularly comfortable, but we were pleasantly surprised.
That said, we added thin camping pads on top for a bit of extra cushioning and we would recommend doing the same if you have them.
Parks Canada asks you to bring your own sleeping bags and pillows, but with those in place the setup was far more comfortable than we expected.
How Warm are the Equipped Tents?
There’s no heating or cooling inside the tent, just ventilation openings and a fly screen on the door rather than proper windows you can open and close (similar to a regular tent).
Even in August, it got noticeably cold overnight. If you’re camping early or late in the season, expect a cold night and pack a warmer sleeping bag and more layers than you think you'll need. In hindsight, we’d have packed an extra blanket each.
Cooking and Campground Facilities
Cooking happens outside the tent, at a fire pit with a cooking grate when fires are permitted. We visited during a fire ban, so we cooked on a camp stove instead, which we usually do anyway. Propane and gas stoves are always allowed even when open fires aren’t.
It's worth checking the current Banff National Park fire restrictions before you go, since bans can come into effect quickly during dry stretches.
Beyond your own site, the campground has cooking shelters, drinking water, flush toilets, fire pits, and food-storage lockers. There are no showers at Two Jack Main. Two Jack Lakeside has them.
Firewood is provided at the campground, and you may only burn wood from the campground's woodlot. Bring an axe to split it into kindling. Wash dishes at the outdoor sinks or in your own basin, not in the washroom sinks.
Campground Rules and Things to Know
Quiet hours run from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. During that time music, campfires, alcohol and cannabis are all prohibited, and only the people registered to a site are allowed on it after 11 p.m.
Alcohol and cannabis are also banned outright in campgrounds on summer long weekends. In 2026, that covered the Victoria Day, Heritage Day (the August long weekend) and Labour Day weekends, with steep fines for violations.
Pets must be on a leash at all times in the park, and they aren't allowed inside the equipped tents. Smoking isn't allowed inside the tents either.
Cell service is limited at the campground and Parks Canada doesn't provide Wi-Fi, so download any maps or confirmations before you arrive.
Be Bear Aware
This is always important when camping in the Canadian Rockies, but nearly every time we've stayed at the Two Jack campgrounds, there's been a bear sighting within the previous day. It's a good reminder of just how important it is to understand what you can and cannot do in bear country.
When we checked in around 4 p.m., the staff at the gate told us they had seen a black bear and her cubs walking through the campground earlier that day, and made sure we were aware before heading to our site.
As accustomed as some of these bears may be to seeing humans, a mother bear with cubs is no joke, so it's important to take bear safety seriously.
Here are some basic rules to follow whenever camping in bear country:
Never leave food, garbage, coolers, dishes, or anything with a scent unattended.
Store all food and scented items in your vehicle or designated bear-proof storage containers.
Keep all food out of the tent. At an equipped site, it goes in the bear-proof locker or your hard-sided vehicle.
Keep a clean campsite and dispose of garbage immediately.
Cook and eat away from where you sleep whenever possible.
Never feed wildlife, either intentionally or accidentally.
Carry bear spray, know how to use it, and keep it easily accessible.
Stay alert, especially at dawn and dusk when bears are often most active.
If you encounter a bear, give it plenty of space and never approach cubs.
The bears around Banff are wild animals, and respecting them is the best way to keep both campers and wildlife safe.
Things to Do Near Two Jack Campground
Exploring Two Jack Lake
One of the best things about staying at Two Jack is that you don't need to get in the car to enjoy some of Banff's most beautiful scenery. Two Jack Lake is only a short walk from both campgrounds and is the perfect place to spend an afternoon or have a picnic.
The lake is known for its calm water, mountain views, and iconic red Parks Canada chairs overlooking the shoreline. On a still morning, the reflections of Mount Rundle on the water can be spectacular, so it's popular with photographers.
Unlike some of Banff's busier lakes, Two Jack is usually a lot calmer, especially in the early morning and evening.
If you have a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard, Two Jack is also a fantastic spot for getting out on the water. Rentals aren't available at the lake itself, so you'll need to bring your own equipment or rent in Banff before heading out.
Visit Lake Minnewanka
Just a few minutes further along the road is Lake Minnewanka, the largest lake in Banff National Park and one of the area's most popular attractions.
Stretching for more than 20 kilometres through the mountains, it's a dramatically different experience from nearby Two Jack Lake. The scale of the lake is incredible, with steep mountain walls rising directly from the shoreline.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy the area. You can walk sections of the lakeshore trail, rent boats, take a guided cruise (including a popular beer cruise), or simply enjoy the views from the picnic areas near the parking lot.
Unlike nearby Two Jack Lake, paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes are no longer permitted on Lake Minnewanka, although guided cruises and approved motorized boats still operate on the lake.
Lake Minnewanka is also the starting point for some of Banff's most spectacular hikes, including Aylmer Lookout, one of the area's best full-day hikes, and the much shorter Stewart Canyon Trail, which is perfect for families and casual walkers.
Whether you want a short family walk or an epic all-day adventure, Lake Minnewanka is a great option.
We cover more of what to do around Lake Minnewanka in our Canadian Rockies itinerary, if you’re looking to build a fuller day around it.
Explore Banff
The campground feels wonderfully removed from the crowds, but you're only about 15 minutes from the Banff townsite, and that's just a small taste of what the park has to offer.
If it's your first visit, it's worth setting aside time to explore Banff's mix of mountain scenery, restaurants, shops, and attractions. Strolling down Banff Avenue is practically a rite of passage, and it never gets old, no matter how many times we visit.
A few other things we recommend doing in Banff townsite and the surrounding area:
Walk the Bow River pathways and visit Bow Falls
Ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain
Explore the historic Cave and Basin National Historic Site
Soak in the Banff Hot Springs
Take a trip to Lake Louise
Enjoy sunrise or sunset at Vermilion Lakes
Banff is also a great place to stock up on any camping supplies you may have forgotten. There are several grocery stores, outdoor retailers, cafés, and restaurants, making it easy to pick up last-minute essentials before heading back to camp.
For us, that's one of the biggest advantages of camping at Two Jack. You get the feeling of being immersed in nature while still having all the conveniences of Banff. It's a combination that's hard to beat.
Read more: Things to Do in Banff National Park
Final Thoughts: Is an Equipped Campsite Worth It?
An equipped campsite at Two Jack Main isn't the cheapest way to camp in Banff, and it isn't glamping either. That said, with prices for hotels running well into the $500+ range in mid summer, camping is still a economical option.
It sits in between: a proper night in the mountains, with the tent already up and the sleeping setup waiting when you arrive.
For us, it was the easiest way to get our whole group camping together, including friends with no gear of their own, and the bunk beds, the short walk to Two Jack Lake and being 15 minutes from Banff more than made up for the limitations.
It's a great fit if you're travelling without camping gear, camping with kids, introducing visitors to a Canadian camping trip, or simply want to skip the setup.
Whichever you choose, book the moment reservations open, pack warmer layers than you think you'll need, take the bear safety rules seriously, and check for fire bans before you go.
Keep Exploring the Canadian Rockies
Two Jack Lake makes a great base, but it's only the start of what the Canadian Rockies have to offer. If you want to see more, these are the posts to read next.
Our best Canadian Rockies content is our two-part itinerary covering Banff, Yoho, Jasper and more. Start with Canadian Rockies Itinerary Part 1 and continue with Part 2 to plan the full trip.
Just over the border in British Columbia, Yoho National Park is well worth a day. Don't miss Takakkaw Falls and Emerald Lake, two of our favourite stops.
Heading further south? Our guide to the Best Things to Do in Kootenay National Park covers pretty much everything along Highway 93, that's a short drive from Banff.
And if you're starting or ending your trip in Calgary, we have a huge list of over 40 things to do in Calgary to fill a day or two before or after your time in the mountains.
Comments