Best Dispersed Camping near Chesterfield, MA

Multiple dispersed camping areas exist in the Green Mountain National Forest within driving distance of Chesterfield, Massachusetts. The majority of free camping options are located north of Chesterfield in southern Vermont, where the national forest permits primitive camping with minimal facilities. Key dispersed areas include George D Aiken Wilderness, Forest Road 71, Somerset Airfield, and NFR 273, all situated on public land managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Access to most sites requires travel on unpaved forest roads with varying conditions. Many locations need vehicles with adequate ground clearance, particularly the NF 83 riverside area where at least 8 inches of clearance is recommended. Most dispersed sites feature only basic fire rings with no other amenities. A camper noted that NFR 273 has "a lot of pull offs but a lot were too wet for my van and I was afraid of getting stuck. The road itself was in great condition though." Forest Road 71 contains multiple primitive sites along its length, while some areas like Jug End in Massachusetts may prohibit camping despite being listed in directories.

These primitive camping areas typically attract visitors seeking seclusion and natural settings, though popularity varies seasonally. The Somerset Airfield area provides more developed dispersed camping with pit toilets and access to Somerset Reservoir for fishing and paddling. A reviewer described it as having "several campsites and fire pits. It has pit toilets. These sites are close together with little to no shade." For more privacy, the George D Aiken Wilderness dispersed sites offer greater separation, with one camper reporting that "camp spots were all pretty spread out from each other and the road was easy to drive on." Cell service is limited or nonexistent in most areas, with a reviewer mentioning "spotty service" at Green Mountain National Forest sites. Campers should practice Leave No Trace principles, as several reviews mention finding trash and human waste at some locations.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Chesterfield, Massachusetts (17)

    2. George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed

    8 Reviews
    Wilmington, VT
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 747-6700

    "The camp spots were all pretty spread out from each other and the road was easy to drive on. There were only about 10 spots along the access road."

    "Some sites were really wet but we found a nice dry place."

    3. NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot

    6 Reviews
    Bennington, VT
    35 miles

    "A LOT of bugs due to dense wooded surroundings. The bugs seems to be unbothered by the bug spray as well."

    "Went on a Wednesday night late October and had to drive about 4 miles down the dirt road to find a suitable spot. After what was very quiet and a peaceful place to be."

    4. Somerset Airfield

    6 Reviews
    West Dover, VT
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 388-4362

    "It has pit toilets. These sites are close together with little to no shade. Some sites have access to a stream that flows behind the park."

    "I arrived after the 4th of July and a neighbor said it was rowdy during the holiday with illegal fireworks set off every night over the dry forest. These pics are from a weekday morning."

    5. Jug End Dispersed — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    2 Reviews
    South Egremont, MA
    35 miles
    Website

    "Trash cans, but carry out is preferable."

    7. NF 83 - riverside

    3 Reviews
    West Dover, VT
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 362-2307

    "This is a nice clearing near the river where the road used to cross."

    "The left side of the drive in is swampy so be sure to not drift to that side."

    8. Green Mountain National Forest FR71

    1 Review
    West Dover, VT
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 747-6700

    "Free camping"

    9. Sage's Revine

    1 Review
    Taconic, CT
    40 miles
    Website

    "Near non-potable stream, no fires allowed, bathroom is fine, bear boxes available. 50 feet between platforms. Right over the border of CT into MA on the Appalachian Trail."

    10. Statton Pond Camp on Forest Road 71

    3 Reviews
    Sunderland, VT
    47 miles

    "Easy access to an open circle, capable of handling multiple rigs for a large gathering. Stone fire ring in the center. We had this all to ourselves in our Bean teardrop. "

    "The site was very flat and could accommodate several small campers.  It was quiet during our overnight stay other than a car or two on Stratton-Arlington Rd.  There weren't many mosquitoes either. "

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Chesterfield, MA

33 Reviews of 17 Chesterfield Campgrounds


  • M.A.D. P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 1, 2023

    Somerset Airfield

    Small open park

    The Airfield Campground is a strip of land with several campsites and fire pits. It has pit toilets. These sites are close together with little to no shade. Some sites have access to a stream that flows behind the park. The real attraction is the huge Somerset Resevoir which is up the road. Plenty of fishing, paddling, hiking and picnicking opportunities. There are other dispersed sites down the road that are free

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2024

    Somerset Airfield

    Good stopover location

    Only the first section of the campground was open due to flooding. As a result, there were puddles everywhere.

    Campsites are listed as disbursed but there are only 7 trees to separate 9 camp sites. The campsites are all next to the road and have fire circles.

    There is a single pit toilet at the end of the camping area. No garbage service, no water, no cell service. Basically a camp site where you can share a fire with the neighbors.

  • Natasha T.
    Jun. 6, 2022

    NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot

    Nice wooded little campsite

    A LOT of bugs due to dense wooded surroundings. The bugs seems to be unbothered by the bug spray as well. A few miles down the road there is another campsite that is more open and also has a fire pit with a lot less bugs flying around and more open space.

  • c H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 13, 2023

    George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed

    Cool Spot!

    The camp spots were all pretty spread out from each other and the road was easy to drive on. There were only about 10 spots along the access road. Brewery, distillery, beautiful lakes and scenic towns all within 15 minutes of the sites.

  • SJ W.
    Nov. 1, 2024

    NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot

    Beautiful but surprisingly crowded

    Went on a Wednesday night late October and had to drive about 4 miles down the dirt road to find a suitable spot. After what was very quiet and a peaceful place to be. Many pull offs but a lot were too wet for my van and I was afraid of getting stuck. The road itself was in great condition though.

  • licia S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Somerset Airfield

    No Wifi, Resevoir Beautiful

    Enjoyed the stunning babbling brook and resevoir- saw happy people swimming, kayaking, and camping. It's been quiet and peaceful and sometimes generators running all night. I arrived after the 4th of July and a neighbor said it was rowdy during the holiday with illegal fireworks set off every night over the dry forest. These pics are from a weekday morning. It's great to see families camping. There are pit toilets. AT.T service at bridge prior to camp- short walk. SOS only in camp. Another camper told me Starlink works here.

  • Miccal  M.
    Jan. 18, 2024

    NF 83 - riverside

    Quiet spot on the river

    I've looked at this spot a few times and it is normally way to wet to camp at, but this time it was frozen.  This is a nice clearing near the river where the road used to cross.

    The access into this location is a little rough but most cars should make it, I would prefer having a little more clearance though just to be sure.  

    Being a primitive site there is only a fire ring here.

  • Ricky H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2025

    George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed

    Not terrible

    Site was littered with places previous campers had left human excrement. While not in the site directly, it was all around it. Also had someone who decided to use the area to sight in his rifle. Which was very unexpected as it was incredibly loud with no warning at all. Was not aware this was a gun range. Tried to flag down a park ranger, but he just drove on by.


Guide to Chesterfield

Primitive camping near Chesterfield, Massachusetts largely centers on the Green Mountain National Forest in southern Vermont, approximately 30-45 minutes north via Route 8 and Route 9. The region sits at elevations between 1,500-2,500 feet with seasonal access affected by snowfall from November through April. Most sites require navigating unpaved forest roads with varying conditions depending on recent precipitation.

What to do

Fishing at Somerset Reservoir: Drive 5 miles past the Somerset Airfield campground to reach Somerset Reservoir for excellent fishing opportunities. At Somerset Airfield, one camper notes that "the real attraction is the huge Somerset Resevoir which is up the road. Plenty of fishing, paddling, hiking and picnicking opportunities."

Winter camping: Forest Road 71 offers year-round primitive camping with varying seasonal challenges. A winter camper at Green Mountain National Forest FR71 experienced "mid 20s Friday night with 8 inches of fresh snow to wake up to Saturday, and our main Roadhouse down from the weight of the snow. The stakes didn't hold in the frozen ground. So, we tied them to the trees and our cars."

Hiking options: Several trails connect to dispersed camping areas, providing day hiking opportunities. The Appalachian Trail runs through portions of the region near Jug End, where one visitor points out it's "a hiking trail only- no camping per website."

What campers like

River access: Many primitive sites provide proximity to water features. At NF 83 - riverside, a camper describes it as "peacefully placed along the bends of the river is a large open grassy area with a sizable fire pit! The left side of the drive in is swampy so be sure to not drift to that side."

Site privacy: Some dispersed areas offer better separation between campsites than others. In the George D Aiken Wilderness area, a camper appreciated that "large, well organized camping spots along the road. The spot I chose had a beautifully built fire pit. It was a little muddy from rain."

Convenience for section hikers: Sites along the Appalachian Trail provide strategic stopping points. At Sage's Revine, one hiker found "12 platforms available. Near non-potable stream, no fires allowed, bathroom is fine, bear boxes available. 50 feet between platforms."

What you should know

Seasonal conditions: Wet conditions can limit site accessibility, particularly in spring and after heavy rainfall. A visitor to NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot noted: "Many pull offs but a lot were too wet for my van and I was afraid of getting stuck. The road itself was in great condition though."

Vehicle requirements: Some sites demand higher clearance vehicles. For the NF 83 riverside area, a reviewer warns "the beginning of the little driveway is quite rough with some bigger rocks we have substantial ground clearance so no issues there but smaller ground clearances may feel a bump or two!"

Site maintenance concerns: Camper behavior impacts site conditions. At one Forest Road 71 site, a regular visitor shared: "I would have given 5 stars except for the unfortunate fact that 2 years in a row my husband and I had to spend over an hour cleaning the site from the people before us."

Tips for camping with families

Location selection: Choose sites with adequate space for children to explore safely. The Somerset Airfield area offers "a strip of land with several campsites and fire pits. It has pit toilets. These sites are close together with little to no shade. Some sites have access to a stream that flows behind the park."

Weather preparation: Mountain weather changes rapidly, requiring flexible planning. At George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed, a family noted: "It had rained a lot prior to our arrival, and several sites were damp. We found a perfect site off the road on the right side. It was large and flat."

Arrival timing: Plan to arrive with daylight for site selection. One camper at George D Aiken shared: "It was getting dark when we arrived and it had been raining all day. We just needed a night and it was great. Some sites were really wet but we found a nice dry place."

Tips from RVers

Site selection: For larger vehicles, Somerset Airfield provides more open sites than forest road pullouts. A reviewer suggests it "is probably good for people who camp with RVs or Trailor's that can't get into smaller sites."

Overnight parking options: When traveling between destinations, Hogback Mtn Trailhead offers a convenient overnight stop with a "large open lot at top of paved highway pass. Great place to stop for the night. Not a lot of ambiance, but plenty of room for any number of rigs."

Communication limitations: Prepare for limited connectivity throughout the region. At the dispersed sites on Forest Road 71, campers report only "spotty service" in most areas with reliable connections requiring travel to larger towns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Chesterfield, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Chesterfield, MA is Connecticut River Farm Site with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Chesterfield, MA?

TheDyrt.com has all 17 dispersed camping locations near Chesterfield, MA, with real photos and reviews from campers.