Dog-Friendly Camping near Plainfield, NH

Near the Vermont-New Hampshire border, Plainfield sits along the Connecticut River where elevation varies from 400 to 2,100 feet. Campers often experience temperature swings of 20-30 degrees between day and night, even in summer months. The area features several state parks and private campgrounds where leashed pets can explore woodland trails and cool off in shallow river spots.

What to do

Hiking Mount Ascutney trails: Four distinct summit trails vary in difficulty at Mount Ascutney State Park Campground. "The Weathersfield Trail (2.9 miles from trailhead to summit). It was a challenge, but well worth it. There were several lookout points with spectacular views," writes Emma N. The summit includes a fire tower with panoramic views.

River activities: Canoe or kayak rentals available near Wilgus State Park Campground. "Kayaking on the river is the big draw, which is a great place to be on a hot day," notes Susan E. The Connecticut River flows gently enough for upstream paddling with several entry points for dogs to swim.

Auto road access: Drive most of the way up Mount Ascutney on the paved auto road. "There is a 3.7 mile road that is extremely steep but paved, and goes to the summit of the mountain. Less than 1 mile hike from there to the observation tower," explains Marc D. Note that the road closes before sunset with a barrier.

What campers like

Private, spacious sites: Coolidge State Park Campground offers secluded camping spots. "There is a great secluded site off the road into the park. Site #2 on the left is a nice open space with a private outhouse and great views of Killington," reports Tim K. The tent-only loop (sites 19-24) provides greater distance from road noise.

Clean facilities: Many campers highlight the well-maintained bathrooms. "The bathroom was clean and the shower area was recently tiled with nice tilework. Outside of the bathroom there was a little library book case with books for campers to borrow," writes Rita M. about Mount Ascutney State Park. Showers typically operate with quarters ($1 for 10 minutes at most locations).

Educational opportunities: "The park maintains its own mountain biking trail loop, which is accessible directly from the campground. It is a 3 mile beginner friendly loop, with some nice rollers and moderate terrain," explains Rita M. Several campgrounds feature nature trails with identification signage for learning about local flora.

What you should know

Site selection matters: At Quechee State Park Campground, location affects noise levels. "The sites are large. If you stay in the back it's quieter. The bathroom is very clean. They offer showers that cost you a few quarters," advises Jan B. Road noise from Route 4 and I-91 can be noticeable at certain sites.

Seasonal limitations: Most Vermont campgrounds operate from May through mid-October. "Wilgus State Park is the first Vermont state park to open each spring, well before Memorial Day each year. While it's still pretty cold for camping in Vermont in early May, you can get a jump start on the season by renting one of the four camping cabins," shares Tara S.

Water access varies: Not all campgrounds have swimming areas. "Wished there was better swimming nearby," notes Sarah E. about Gifford Woods. However, local swimming options exist: "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," explains Kaileigh K.

Tips for camping with families

Recreation fields: Tree Farm Campground offers open space for games. "Our site was situated under large pine and hemlock trees, with some small deciduous trees mixed in. As a bonus, it even had direct access down a path to a large recreation field that included a volleyball net. Our children and their friends loved biking around the field," shares Rita M.

Ranger programs: Many parks offer 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)," notes Jen B. Check campground schedules upon arrival for weekend activities.

Swimming options: For families seeking water recreation, look beyond the immediate campground. "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," reports Kaileigh K. about Wilgus State Park.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookups: Quechee-Pine Valley KOA provides full-service sites for larger vehicles. "The park is a large park that is terraced since it is in a pretty hilly area. There is the range of sites from pull-thrus, pull-ins and back-in sites and can accommodate RVs of any size," explains Nancy W. Most state parks offer no electric hookups but do have dump stations.

Terrain considerations: "Despite the hilliness of the park and all the trees, we did not have any trouble navigating our 45' RV to our site," notes Nancy W. about Quechee-Pine Valley KOA. State parks typically have more limited RV accessibility with tighter turning radiuses.

Personal delivery services: Several campgrounds offer on-site services. "Within the hour we were sent a text asking if we needed any supplies such as firewood and ice. Our firewood order arrived within minutes," reports Kevin Ó. about the KOA. This convenience can be especially helpful for larger rigs with limited mobility.