Photo: Alberta Parks Mesa Butte Provincial Recreation Area
Alberta Parks Open Fri + Sat fire pitfirewoodequestrianhorseshoes
Photo: Alberta Parks This weekend · September 4
camp this weekend near Calgary
Checked this morning against the official booking calendars: which parks within 150 km still have sites for Friday and Saturday night, which never take reservations at all, and where camping is free.
sites open friday + saturday night
17 parks showed open sites for BOTH nights on this morning's booking-calendar check. The booking page has the final word.
Photo: Alberta Parks 
Photo: Wyndham-Carseland Provincial Park Wyndham-Carseland Provincial Park
Alberta Parks Open Fri + Sat fire pitfirewoodrestroomplayground
Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics Sheep River Provincial Park
Alberta Parks Open Fri + Sat group campingfcfs unservicedhas electric 30a
Typically sold out about 4 days ahead this season.
Photo: Little Elbow Provincial Recreation Area Little Elbow Provincial Recreation Area
Alberta Parks Open Fri + Sat fire pitrestroomequestrianpit toilets
Typically filled by the day before this season — book right away.
Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
Alberta Parks Open Fri + Sat fire pitplaygroundpit toiletsbear storage
Typically sold out about 2 days ahead this season.
Photo: Alberta Parks Cataract Creek Provincial Recreation Area
Alberta Parks Open Fri + Sat fire pitrestroompit toiletspets allowed
Typically sold out about 2 days ahead this season.
Photo: Alberta Parks Indian Graves Provincial Recreation Area
Alberta Parks Open Fri + Sat has icefire pitrestroomplayground
Photo: Alberta Parks Red Lodge Provincial Park
Alberta Parks Open Fri + Sat fire pitfirewoodcamp storehorseshoes
Typically sold out about 2 days ahead this season.
Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics Banff - Two Jack Main
Parks Canada Open Fri + Sat restroomhas bikinghas showerspets allowed
Fire restrictions — check the bulletin Typically sold out about 2 days ahead this season.
Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics Banff - Tunnel Mountain Village 1
Parks Canada Open Fri + Sat has bikinghas showershas tent sitesdump station on site
Fire restrictions — check the bulletin Typically sold out about 2 days ahead this season.
Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics Banff - Johnston Canyon
Parks Canada Open Fri + Sat has bikinghas showersdump station on site
Fire restrictions — check the bulletin Typically sold out about 3 days ahead this season.
Photo: Alberta Parks Little Bow Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area
Alberta Parks Open Fri + Sat fire pitboat launchpit toiletsgroup camping
Typically filled by the day before this season — book right away.
Photo: BC Parks Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park
BC Parks Open Fri + Sat has fishinghas swimmingpicnic tablesdrinking water
Fire restrictions — check the bulletin Typically sold out about 3 days ahead this season.
Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics Kootenay - Marble Canyon
Parks Canada Open Fri + Sat picnic tablesdrinking waterhas tent sites
Fire restrictions — check the bulletin Typically sold out about 3 days ahead this season.
Photo: Alberta Parks Jarvis Bay Provincial Park
Alberta Parks Open Fri + Sat fire pitfirewoodrec hallrestroom
Typically sold out about 3 days ahead this season.
Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics Kootenay - Redstreak
Parks Canada Open Fri + Sat
Fire restrictions — check the bulletin Typically sold out about 3 days ahead this season.
Photo: BC Parks Dry Gulch Provincial Park
BC Parks Open Fri + Sat drinking water
Fire restrictions — check the bulletin Typically sold out about 6 days ahead this season.
no reservations — first come, first served
These campgrounds never take bookings: show up, pick a vacant site, self-register at the kiosk. Arrive Friday morning on summer weekends — earlier on long weekends.
Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics Fisher Creek Provincial Recreation Area
Alberta Parks First come, first served fire pitrestroompit toiletspets allowed
Photo: Alberta Parks North Fork Provincial Recreation Area
Alberta Parks First come, first served fire pitrestroompit toiletspets allowed
Photo: Alberta Parks Ghost Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area
Alberta Parks First come, first served fire pitfirewoodpit toiletsdrinking water
Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics First come, first served restroompets allowed
Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics First come, first served fire pitrestroomboat launchhas showers
Photo: Alberta Parks Dawson Provincial Recreation Area
Alberta Parks First come, first served fire pitboat launchpit toiletsdrinking water
Photo: Alberta Parks Bluerock Wildland Provincial Park
Alberta Parks First come, first served
Photo: Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park
Alberta Parks First come, first served fire pitfirewoodpit toiletsbear storage
Photo: Bluerock Equestrian Campground, Sheep River Provincial Park First come, first served fire pitrestroomboat launchpit toilets
Photo: Alberta Parks Greenford Provincial Recreation Area
Alberta Parks First come, first served fire pitrestroompit toiletspets allowed
Photo: Alberta Parks Ghost Airstrip Provincial Recreation Area
Alberta Parks First come, first served fire pitfirewoodrestroomplayground
Photo: Fallen Timber Provincial Recreation Area Fallen Timber Provincial Recreation Area
Alberta Parks First come, first served fire pitfirewoodrestroomhas showers
or camp free
Crown land and dispersed sites near Calgary don't take reservations and don't cost anything — different rules, different comforts.