What campsite should you book when camping with a Rooftop Tent?

With so many campsite categories, tent, van, campervan, RV, walk-in, or backcountry, it can be confusing to know what to book when travelling with a vehicle-based camping setup, especially a SUV or pickup with a rooftop tent.

Here’s a clear guide for booking campsites in BC Parks, National Parks, and private campgrounds

Outland 4x4 Camper at a regular tent site in a BC Park

How Rooftop Tents Are Classified

Vehicles with rooftop tents, whether they are a pickup truck, SUV with rooftop tent, or a regular car, are not considered RVs or campervans unless they are fully built-in motorhomes.

Outland campers:

• Do not tow trailers

• Park like a regular car, SUV, or van

• Are much smaller than a campervan or RV

  
  

General rule: If you can park a car or SUV and pitch a tent there, you can sleep in a rooftop tent.

Private Campgrounds

• Book a Tent Site

• The site must allow vehicle access

• ⚠️ Avoid RV parks that do not offer tenting areas

Most private campgrounds treat SUVs and vans with rooftop tents the same as standard tent camping.

BC Parks

When booking on the BC Parks website:

• Select “1 car / van”

⚠️ Do not book walk-in only tent sites

BC Parks considers rooftop tents to be tent camping, not RV camping, as long as the vehicle is parked within a designated campsite.

Outland 4x4 Camper on a campsite at Cultus Lake Provincial Park

National Parks (Parks Canada)

For Parks Canada campgrounds:

• Select “1 car or van/pickup”

• Book front-country campgrounds only

• ⚠️ Hike-in and backcountry sites are not accessible by vehicle

  
  

Whether you’re in a SUV with rooftop tent, van, or pickup, the rules are the same.

Outland 4x4 Camper at Wapiti Campground in Jasper National Park

What Is NOT Allowed

Regardless of whether you’re in a van, campervan, RV, or SUV with rooftop tent, sleeping is not allowed in:

• Parking lots

• Day-use areas

• Trailheads

• Highway pull-outs

• Outside a designated campsite when in a National or Provincial Park

  
  

One Sentence to Remember

"If the campsite allows a car and a tent, your Outland 4x4 camper is allowed."

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What do I put for the licence plate when booking my campsite?

Because you may be booking campsites long before pickup day, you won’t yet know which licence plate will be on your Outland Ford Maverick camper.

The easiest solution is to simply enter: "RENTAL"

BC Parks and others accept this as a placeholder, allowing you to secure high-demand campgrounds like Garibaldi Provincial Park, Alice Lake Provincial Park, or Golden Ears Provincial Park without delay.

The most important thing is to book as soon as the reservation window opens, especially for summer weekends and long weekends.

Check availability & book your Outland camper