Vermont's Green Mountains and New Hampshire's foothills create a diverse camping landscape near Meriden, with elevations ranging from 400 to 2,100 feet. Campgrounds in this region typically operate from mid-May through mid-October, with nighttime temperatures dropping into the 40s even during summer months. Sites near bodies of water tend to book 3-4 months in advance during peak season.
What to do
Hiking trails beyond Quechee Gorge: Mount Ascutney State Park Campground offers multiple summit routes. "There are four different trails up the mountain of varying levels of difficulty. You can also drive right to the top and hike around on the summit trails, which are really pretty and pop out onto ledges with gorgeous vistas," notes Tara S.
River recreation: Wilgus State Park Campground visitors have direct water access. "Wilgus state park has amazing campsites, very friendly staff, and great access to the Connecticut River. We loved walking the trail behind the campsites along the river to the beautiful vista views with a group with young kids, rented kayaks and fished from the boat launch," explains Kaileigh K.
Mountain biking: Mount Ascutney maintains dedicated cycling terrain. "The state park maintains its own mountain biking trail loop, which accessible directly from the campground. It is a 3 mile beginner friendly loop, with some nice rollers and moderate terrain," reports Rita M.
What campers like
Private, wooded sites: Quechee State Park Campground provides well-spaced camping areas. "Just finishing up a week in Quechee State Park campground and have to say the place is really really nice. The sites are nicely spaced and seem to accommodate big rigs rather well," writes Chris A.
Cabin options for dog owners: Quechee-Pine Valley KOA offers enclosed accommodations. "We stayed in a cabin with our pup. This place was very clean and loaded with amenities: pool, dog park, events, open fields, deer, store, etc. This was glamping with a fire pit," shares Dawn S.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds maintain high standards. "We have been to Wilgus twice in the last month. Just a few miles from Brattleboro this campsite is perfect for those who love to fish, kayak or canoe. Bathrooms and showers were clean which is a theme in VT, they take great care of their parks," reports Tim K.
What you should know
Wildlife encounters: Mount Ascutney State Park Campground features diverse habitats. "Q!uechee State Park is in a beautiful part of the state. The main attraction in the park is the lovely Quechee Gorge, which is super beautiful, but also a bit of a tourist trap. Hundreds of visitors park their car at the Quechee Gorge visitor center to photograph the gorge from the bridge high above," explains Tara S.
Road noise considerations: Some campsites are affected by highways. "Like many of the other reviews, I cannot give this a 5 star rating solely for the fact of road noise. We were in site 27 and it was a beautiful site but the road noise from interstate 91 was extremely loud," notes Dana M.
Water safety precautions: Not all water bodies are suitable for swimming. "Pit toilets, sites are spacious, cell reception for Verizon isn't great. There's boat rentals, fishing, remote sites. Swimming in the stream is safe but the lake is loaded with leeches!" warns J L. at Pillsbury State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Ranger-led programs: Coolidge State Park Campground offers educational activities. "Rangers also run fun programs for children- my children churned butter and made popcorn over the campfire one night, and made tie dyed T-shirts the next (for no fee)," shares Jen B.
Pet-friendly campgrounds with amenities: Pet owners find convenience at multiple locations. "Quechee/Pine Valley KOA campground offers so much, even for people who don't like to camp. There are campgrounds for all types of camping and they have Cabins for people who act like they enjoy camping but would rather be in a cabin then on the ground," explains Donna C.
Swimming alternatives: Nearby options exist for water recreation. "We loved walking the trail behind the campsites along the river to the beautiful vista views with a group with young kids, rented kayaks and fished from the boat launch. There is a great local pond for swimming that had dive docks, diving boards and lifeguards on duty that was less than 10 minutes away," reports Kaileigh K.
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup availability: Pillsbury State Park Campground has primitive amenities. "Pillsbury is called a 'primitive' campground which means no showers or electric hookups. Most of the campsites are accessable by car with space to park a car or two at the campsite. Many campsites are on the lake," notes Dog S.
Site selection for rig size: Choose carefully based on vehicle dimensions. "They have no electricity so you have to be willing to rough it. It is a great campground to get away from the city. Be prepared to not have much cell phone service either if you need thing while you're camping," advises Lisa P.
Setup orientation challenges: Some sites have awkward layouts. "I had site 1 which is near office but away from all other sites so it was very quiet. It's a large site with a nearby brook on 2 sides. Only complaint is the site is set up 'backwards' - the electric hookups are on door side of rv and the picnic table/main area of site is on non door side," reports Amy G. at Storrs Pond Recreation Area.
Traveler
