Group camping

Group camping

Want to spend some time in the great outdoors with an extended group of family and friends? Looking for an adventure to give your school class or youth group a taste of British Columbia’s natural beauty?

While regular campsites accommodate a maximum of eight people, many campgrounds in B.C. offer groupsites for larger camping parties. This page provides information on BC Parks rules for groupsite reservations.

Some policies vary between parks. Check camping.bcparks.ca for details of:

  • Maximum group sizes
  • Camping fees

Look below for information on:

For full details of our reservation policies, download the reservation services policies and terms [PDF].

Types of group camping

There are two types of group camping:

  • Regular group camping
  • Youth group camping

Regular group camping 

There is no minimum party size for regular groupsite bookings. However, you will be charged camping fees for a minimum of 15 adults (16 years of age or older). Group camping is therefore most economical for groups of 15 or more.

Youth group camping

Youth group camping is available for parties of at least 12 people. All youth groups require a minimum of one adult per eight youths or children and no more than one adult per four youths or children. To qualify, your party must be associated with a school, recreation centre, or non-profit youth organization located in B.C.

Maximum group sizes vary by park. To find the maximum for the park you are planning to visit, see camping.bcparks.ca.

Making a reservation

  • Anyone over 16 years of age can make a groupsite reservation via camping.bcparks.ca
  • Reservations can also be made by calling 1-800-689-9025 toll free from Canada and the US or 1-519-858-6161 internationally
  • Groupsite reservations can be made up to 12 months before your scheduled arrival date
  • You must pay all your camping fees and transaction fees in advance to secure your booking (see fees, below, for more information)
  • When booking your reservation, you must specify the ‘named occupant’ who will be your official reservation holder
  • This named occupant can be yourself or another person, but they must be present when your party arrives and throughout your stay

If the named occupant cannot be present throughout your stay, your reservation must be rebooked with an occupant who can be present. The named occupant may be asked to show ID during your stay to keep your reservation valid.

Restricted booking window

If your reservation is made on the first day of the 12-month booking window, you cannot change your dates. For example, if your arrival date is July 1, 2024, and you booked on July 1, 2023, you cannot change the arrival or departure date.

For more details on making a BC Parks camping reservation, see the frontcountry camping page.

Length of stay and arrival times

  • Anyone visiting BC Parks can stay up to 14 nights per park per calendar year (see the sẁiẁs and Porteau Cove pages for exceptions) 
  • Check-in after 1 pm on your scheduled arrival date, and check-out is before 11 am on your scheduled departure date
  • For more details of maximum stays and arrival times at BC Parks campgrounds, see the frontcountry camping page

Fees

Camping fees vary by park. For details, see camping.bcparks.ca or download the camping fees and information supplement [PDF].

  • There are two types of fees that must be paid when booking a groupsite reservation: camping fees and transaction fees
  • Camping fees pay for your site and parking place; transaction fees are processing charges that help maintain the reservation service
  • You can pay all your fees using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Visa Debit, or Mastercard Debit
  • The Seniors Discount and the Social Services Camping Fee Exemption do not apply to group camping
  • For more details about paying for a BC Parks camping reservation, see the camping fees page

Changes and cancellations

  • You can change or cancel your groupsite reservation via camping.bcparks.ca or by phone (1-800-689-9025 or 1-519-858-6161 internationally)
  • You are charged a $6 transaction fee (plus tax) per groupsite for changes and cancellations made through the reservation service
  • You can make changes to your groupsite reservation 28 days or more before your scheduled arrival date
  • For most groupsite bookings, you can cancel your reservation any time before 8 pm on your scheduled arrival date
  • If you cancel your reservation 28 days or more before your arrival, we refund your camping fees (subject to our cancellation policies)
  • If you cancel less than 28 days before your arrival, we cannot refund your camping fees
  • Delaying your arrival or shortening your stay less than 28 days before your scheduled arrival counts as a cancellation
  • All transaction fees, including cancellation fees and phone-booking surcharges, are non-refundable
  • Changes or cancellations must be made by the reservation service account holder who made the original booking
  • You cannot change the date of your reservation if you made it during the restricted booking window
  • To change your reservation to a different campground or park, you must cancel the original booking and re-book
  • Changes or cancellations made after arriving at the groupsite must be arranged directly with the park operator
  • Reservations cannot be transferred or sold to another party, and any attempt to do so leads to cancellation, without refund

For more information on getting a refund, see the cancellations and refunds page. For full details of our cancellation and refund policies, download the reservation services policies and terms [PDF].