Camping options near Champlain, New York center around Lake Champlain, which creates a 490-square-mile border between New York and Vermont. The camping season typically runs from May through mid-October, with overnight temperatures in peak summer averaging 55-60°F. Winter snow and ice make most campgrounds inaccessible from November through April, though a few remote sites offer winter camping with proper permits.
What to do
Biking opportunities: The Grand Isle area offers excellent cycling routes with lake views. One camper at Grand Isle State Park Campground shared: "We biked to this park from Burlington via the Island Line Trail. It was a super trip. The lakeside lean-to was awesome."
Paddling explorations: Knight Island requires boat access and rewards paddlers with remote camping. A visitor noted: "Every remote campsite is waterside, with fabulous access to amazing swimming, gorgeous sunsets, and fantastic hikes across the island."
Winter camping: Some locations permit off-season camping with proper permits. At Knight Island State Park Campground, "You can obtain a permit from the Vt. State Parks to winter camp. There are some nice leantos on the east side of the island that give you access to the lake and some good fishing."
Wine tasting: Several vineyards operate near campsites. A camper staying at Campbell's Bay Campground reported: "We went to Vesco Ridge Vineyards and had a tasting. They had some cute items for sale there too. We sat outside on a deck looking at the vineyard."
What campers like
Island camping experiences: Burton Island offers a car-free camping environment. A reviewer explained: "It's like going to a tropical island without leaving Vermont. There are no cars on the island. You have to paddle yourself out or take the VT State Park passenger ferry from St. Albans."
Accessible facilities: Many campgrounds provide ADA-compliant sites. At Grand Isle State Park Campground, one visitor appreciated: "We actually stayed in an ADA site (it was the only one left). It was REALLY nice. Gravel drive all the way in to a nicely built 3 walled platform with a roof."
Family-friendly environments: Cumberland Bay State Park has facilities for all ages. As one visitor reported: "This is a great place for the family. The playground is great. New bath house. Some sites with electric. Even with a windy, cold, rainy day it is still beautiful."
Convenient boat access: Many campsites offer docking facilities. A Campbell's Bay Campground visitor noted: "Boat access is very easy, docks can be a bit shakey lol. Just gotta get your sea legs ready. Prices are extremely reasonable."
What you should know
Ferry transportation: Burton Island State Park Campground requires boat access. A visitor advises: "The ferry is $8 per person, with no extra charge for gear. They do charge $2 for bikes. If you want to use the ferry, but still want a kayak or canoe at the island, you have to paddle it across separately."
Reservation timing: Waterfront sites book quickly, especially on islands. One camper warns: "Campsites at Burton Island book far in advance. When we booked our Labor Day weekend tent site back in March, there were only 2 leantos (out of 26) left and a handful of tent sites (out of 14)."
Shower facilities: Coin-operated showers are common. At Grand Isle State Park, "The restrooms/showers are vintage but clean and functional. Showers are coin operated."
Noise considerations: Road noise affects some campgrounds. A visitor to Cumberland Bay State Park observed: "It is a nice campground right on the lake but the road next to it is very busy."
Tips for camping with families
Beach conditions: At Grand Isle State Park Campground, "It was a quiet, family friendly campground with a cute little beach and nature center with youth programs. The only small drawback is that the waterfront sites are overgrown with trees on the other side of a fence."
Youth programs: Some parks offer organized activities for children. A visitor to Burton Island mentioned: "It's super family friendly - maybe it's because there aren't cars all over the place, but the island is full of free range kids, and they're having a blast."
Lean-to benefits: Covered structures provide weather protection. One family at Grand Isle appreciated: "We had a lean-to site that was just far enough from the bathroom that it felt far. I found the site to be well maintained and for the rangers to be kind and helpful."
Swimming considerations: Rocky beaches are common in the region. A camper at Grand Isle noted: "The beach is nice even though rocky, the lean to sites are a great way to help keep things dry, and there were great accessible all-gender bathrooms."
Tips from RVers
Seasonal considerations: Alburg RV Resort accommodates longer stays. A visitor observed: "This is one big RV Resort on Lake Champlain. The sites are tighter than we like. Met some very nice people that rent a Seasonal place there. They come every year for 2 months."
Site proximity: RV sites often have less privacy than tent sites. One camper noted: "We had water and electric and a small dump station. There was a tree in our site which gave us a little shade yet no privacy in-between the sites."
Local supplies: Farm stands supplement campground stores. A review mentioned: "I love the little farm stands outside of peoples homes along the roads with fresh produce, lettuce and eggs."
Golf cart traffic: Some RV parks permit personal vehicles. A Goose Point camper warned: "There are a number of people that look to be living on site in their RVs with deck platforms. Quite a few people speed around on their golf carts and make laps around the one or two nighter camper area."
