The peaceful landscape of the South Saskatchewan River Valley, in southeastern Alberta, Canada, with its rolling hills, coulees and prairies, promises an idyllic retreat for campers. Visitors to the mid-sized city of Medicine Hat, three hours southwest of Calgary, can find several nearby options for a camping excursion, whether RV-ing or tenting.
Stay in Town
- Travel no further than Medicine Hat itself to find the Gas City Campground, located on 7th Street Southwest just off the Trans-Canada Highway. The grounds offer 97 gravel campsites for both tent and RV camping for use from late spring until early autumn. Sites range in services, including full service with 30-amp electric hookups, sewer and water; power and water; power only; and non-service sites. Guests can enjoy an assortment of other amenities including horseshoe pits, firewood and fire pits, a playground, convenience store, showers, laundromat and Wi-Fi.
Head to a Park
- Approximately 45 minutes southeast of Medicine Hat is the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, offering tent camping and cabins on its 133 square miles of rolling hills and prairies, along with a vast array of animal and plant species. A total of 13 campgrounds, seven of which lie along the shores of Elkwater Lake, provide more than 400 tenting sites. Camping is open all year, allowing visitors to enjoy lake activities and hiking along the 31 miles of trails in the summer, and skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing during the winter.
Find a River Retreat
- Just 15 minutes northwest of Medicine Hat in Redcliff, Alberta, on the banks of the Saskatchewan River, is the Redcliff Municipal Campground. Open from May until September, the grounds have 14 tent camping sites with electric hookup options; rates are lower for campers who forgo this option. Visitors can stay active in the on-site pool and playground as well as nearby bike trails and baseball diamond. The campground also offers tables and grills at each site, as well as free showers and flush toilets.
RV Options
- The Wild Rose Trailer Park and Campground is right in Medicine Hat, off Highway 1, offering 92 full-service RV sites. Guests can enjoy the comforts of home with on-site laundry, restrooms and showers, a playground, Internet and a pet-friendly environment. The Ross Creek RV Park is on the southern edge of town, nestled among rolling hills. The park has 42 full-service sites, offers Wi-Fi, and is adjacent to a nearby golf course and walking trails. On the western edge of Medicine Hat is the Cottonwood Coulee Golf Course and RV Park, a small 21-site park offering both tent and RV camping with 30-amp hookups, toilets, showers and water.
