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:
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 1 adult per 8 youths or children and no more than 1 adult per 3 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 one year before your scheduled arrival date
- You must pay all your camping fees and transaction fees in advance to secure your booking (see fees, below)
- 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 four-month or twelve-month booking window, you cannot change your dates.
Example: If your arrival date is July 1 and you booked on March 1, 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 1pm on your scheduled arrival date, and check-out is before 11am 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 policies supplement.
- 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 reservation up to 28 days before your arrival, via camping.bcparks.ca or by phone (1-800-689-9025)
- If you cancel your reservation up to 28 days before your arrival, camping fees are refunded (subject to our cancellation policies)
- If you cancel within 28 days of arrival, no refund is given (delaying arrival or shortening your stay within 28 days of arrival is considered a cancellation)
- Reservation changes or cancellations must be made by the account holder who made the original booking
- Date changes cannot be made on reservations that were booked on 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 will lead to cancellation, without refund
- You will be charged a $6 transaction fee (plus tax) per groupsite for changes and cancellations
For detailed information on our cancellation and refund policies, see the cancellations and refunds page.