Manitoba Provincial Parks: Permits, Camping and Fishing Licences

We live in Manitoba and regularly travel to its lakes and provincial parks. The main source of confusion on a first trip is that the vehicle permit, campsite reservation and fishing licence are three separate things.

This is the order we use to check everything before leaving.

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What you actually need

• Driving into a provincial park? You need a park vehicle permit unless your visit falls within an official free-entry period.
• Camping overnight? You need both a camping reservation and a separate vehicle permit.
• Staying at a private resort outside a park? You do not need a park permit unless you drive into a provincial park.
• Fishing in Manitoba? You will generally need a Manitoba angling licence whether or not you are inside a provincial park.
• Going to Riding Mountain? It is a Parks Canada national park with a separate system.

Step 1. Buy the park vehicle permit

The permit is tied to the vehicle. Its licence plate must match the car, and the printed permit must be clearly visible in the windshield.

2026 prices

Prices include GST.

How to buy it

1. Open Manitoba eLicensing.
2. Create an account or sign in.
3. Select Park Vehicle Permit.
4. Choose Annual, Casual or Daily.
5. Enter the licence plate carefully.
6. Pay, download the permit and print it before travelling.
7. Display it in the windshield where it can be read from outside.

The permit applies to a motor vehicle. When entering without a vehicle, you do not normally need a vehicle permit, although separate camping, facility or activity fees may still apply.

Free park entry in 2026–2027

Vehicle permits are not required during:

• June 12–14, 2026: Family Fishing Weekend;
• July 13–19, 2026: Canada’s Parks Day Week;
• September 4–7, 2026: Labour Day Weekend;
• February 1–28, 2027: Free Park Entry Month.

Camping, fishing licences and other services are not automatically free unless the province announces that separately.

Step 2. Reserve the campsite

The Manitoba Parks Reservation Service books campsites, cabins, yurts and group-use areas at 46 locations.

How to reserve

1. Open the Manitoba Parks Reservation Service.
2. Create or check your account before launch day.
3. Select the park, dates and accommodation type.
4. Review the campground map, site services and rules for pets, firewood and generators.
5. Pay the full amount.
6. Save the confirmation email and reservation number offline.

Reservation phone numbers:

• 1-888-482-2267 within North America;
• 1-204-948-3333 from outside North America.

2026 reservation opening

The 2026 launch was staggered beginning April 13. The official reservation page lists the current groups of parks and accommodation types.

The service remains open throughout the camping season, so launch day is not your only chance. Cancelled sites return to availability.

Reservation fee

A $10 reservation fee is charged for each separate reservation in addition to the nightly fee.

Do not forget the vehicle permit

A camping reservation does not replace the park vehicle permit. Unless the visit falls within an official free-entry period, the vehicle still needs the permit from Step 1.

Step 3. Buy the fishing licence

A Manitoba angling licence covers the province, but seasons, limits and gear rules can vary by zone and waterbody.

Fees effective April 1, 2026

How to buy it

1. Open Manitoba eLicensing.
2. Select Angling Licence.
3. Choose the correct residency class and term.
4. Check your personal information before paying.
5. Save an electronic copy or print it.
6. Before fishing, open the 2026 Manitoba Anglers’ Guide.

Manitoba generally requires barbless hooks, subject to the current Anglers’ Guide. We check both the regional rules and any special rules for the specific waterbody.

Youth anglers

The exemption depends on residency:

• Manitoba residents under 16 can generally fish without a licence and have their own limit.
• Canadian and non-resident youth under 16 may fish without their own licence only under the conditions in the current Anglers’ Guide; their catch may count toward the supervising licence holder’s limit.
• Families should read the Youth Angling section rather than relying on a blanket “under 16 means no licence” rule.

Riding Mountain National Park uses a different system

Riding Mountain is a national park. A Manitoba vehicle permit and Manitoba fishing licence do not replace Parks Canada requirements.

• Admission: from June 19 through September 7, 2026, inclusive, admission is free under the Canada Strong Pass 2026. No separate physical pass is required.
• Camping: reserve through Parks Canada Reservations. Eligible overnight fees receive a 25% discount during the Canada Strong Pass 2026 period.
• Fishing: you need a separate national park fishing permit. Check Fishing in Riding Mountain National Park.
• Watercraft and equipment: 2026 rules allow motorized watercraft back on Clear Lake only under specific Parks Canada requirements. AIS inspections, permits, tagging, lake-specific restrictions and time restrictions may apply.

Before bringing a boat, kayak, paddleboard, inflatable or fishing equipment, read Managing watercraft and protecting park waters. Clear Lake and the outlying lakes have different requirements, and moving equipment between waterbodies may be restricted.

Common mistakes

1. Reserving a campsite but forgetting the vehicle permit.
2. Entering the wrong licence plate.
3. Buying the wrong fishing residency class.
4. Checking the general zone but missing waterbody-specific rules.
5. Bringing a Manitoba fishing licence to Riding Mountain instead of a national park permit.
6. Transporting watercraft without checking the current AIS requirements.

Quick reference

Read next: provincial parks across Canada, Ontario Parks permits, camping and fishing and Canada Strong Pass 2026.