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Burton Island State Park Campground offers a distinctive pet-friendly island camping experience accessible only by boat or passenger ferry in Lake Champlain. Dogs are welcome at all campsites, cabins, and lean-tos with proper vaccination records and leash control. The park features a designated off-leash dog beach where pets can swim and play freely. Cumberland Bay State Park Campground and Grand Isle State Park also accommodate pets at their tent and RV sites with electric hookups. Dogs are rarely bothered by seasonal campers speeding around on golf carts at some of the campgrounds near the lake. Most campgrounds in the area maintain clean facilities and provide waste disposal stations for pet owners.
Knight Island State Park's remote waterfront sites allow pets with advance reservations, offering a more secluded option for campers with dogs looking to avoid crowds. The island setting provides excellent swimming access for dogs and hiking trails around the perimeter that are more comfortable for pets than the mosquito-prone interior paths. Winter camping permits are available for the adventurous, with pets allowed year-round. Nearby Someday Happens River Retreat accepts pets at its primitive tent sites, though campers must pack in their own supplies. Most campgrounds enforce standard leash requirements except in designated areas. Veterinary services can be found in nearby Plattsburgh and St. Albans, with the latter about 20 minutes from several of the island parks.
"Right on Lake Champlain. The only downside is the beach is rocky, so bring water shoes! Dog friendly, and you have the choice between wooded areas and grassy. Close to great road biking and hiking."
"Beautifully set on Lake Champlain in Vermont! This is a relatively large campground but is well laid out and doesn't feel small even when it's packed to the gills."
from $6 - $28 / night
Check Availability"The Park: So pretty, right across from the lake, this road leading up to it is amazing as well, it is right on the lake side and goes down Lake Champlain."
"The Camp store is expensive (like your normal camp stores) but it is also very close to Plattsburgh which has the mall and anything you might need."
"I'm from this part of Upstate New York State, and we came up for a weekend to go to a baby shower and decided to camp out at Cumberland Head!"
"The Cumberland Bay State Park in New York is a great place to go and relax. If you like the beach scene, swimming, or having a picnic, then you will enjoy this park."
from $17 - $24 / night
Check Availability"Wonderful lean-tos and campsites on an island in Lake Champlain. Great Experience!"
"Nice hiking trails nearbye. These sites are separate from the State Park, even though reservations can only made by calling Burton Island."
"I couldn’t find a specific option for this campground, so I used a nearby one. This is Lake Willoughby near Lakewood. There are tons of primitive camping spots here."
"I rented a stand up paddle board at a place nearby for the day and had fun playing in the water. The weather was perfect in the summer. Definitely bring bug spray would be my only complaint!"
"It had a view of the water yet it's a distance away. 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."
"It’s always a great time, cabins are clean, neat & very close to the water. Everything is clean, no litter on grounds or in water. Boat access is very easy, docks can be a bit shakey lol."
"There are some nice leantos on the east side of the island that give you access to the lake and some good fishing. Deer, .turkey, fox and smaller animals can be seen throughout the island"
"It doesn't host a ton of amenities other than outdoor toilets, but it doesn't need to because every remote campsite is waterside, with fabulous access to amazing swimming, gorgeous sunsets, and fantastic"
"Great location right near lake Champlain, and only about a 20 minute drive from Canada. The ferry to Burlington VT is also a very short distance away!"
"Very close to Burlington VT and Canada there are many different hiking and adventuring options. It did seem that many of the sites were seasonal. Clean, and well kept."
from $30 - $56 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $65 - $99 / night
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TravelerI'm from this part of Upstate New York State, and we came up for a weekend to go to a baby shower and decided to camp out at Cumberland Head! Lots of shadey spots, very nice camping spots on Lake Champlain and the morning sunrise is beautiful!! Do yourself a favor, and visit Cumberland Head State Park!!!
GuideI have a 24’ RV towing a 30 foot trailer for perspective. I easily fit in site 107 and lots of other sites would have worked. They have a place to drop trailers if you don’t fit.
Sites 90 to 108 are best. Spaced out under trees.
Sites 1 to 16 are close to each other.
Sites 113 to 119 are bad. Very close to each other. No redeeming qualities.
Sites have 30 amp electric and water but might need a longish cord or hose. Clean easy to use dump with water.
Tent sites looked nice.
Short walk to nice beach or you can drive a car. Short tunnel so no campers or bikes on the roof.
Right next to rails to trails path that goes onto a causeway over the lake. There is a bike ferry to keep going. Nice ride.
Nice dog park 3/4 miles to the South on the trail.
Far away from noise. Can’t comment on loud campers.
ScoutWe visited this campground twice this summer after the switchover to KOA. They had lots of activities to take back to the campsite for rainy days. They do not have a dog park and this caused our pup to get a bit hyper.
GuideThe Cumberland Bay State Park in New York is a great place to go and relax. If you like the beach scene, swimming, or having a picnic, then you will enjoy this park. I come here quite often to kayak, and my friends and I also like to get a game of volleyball going on the court they have within the park. During the summer months (and especially on hot days), you will find that this park is pretty busy. You can always find a little spot to put your stuff, though. Kayaking is probably one of my favorite things to do, and the lake is perfect for this. The park itself is located on Lake Champlain. You also have the option to camp overnight if you wish...I have only done this once because I wanted to get up and kayak for the sunrise! The park does provide picnic tables, restrooms and showers. I find that the restrooms and showers and pretty clean....there have been a few times that the stall I am using doesn't have toilet paper. So I would suggest checking your stall first before you sit down on the toilet :). One of my favorite parts about this park, is in the distance you can see the beautiful mountains, Adirondacks and other gorgeous views. There are also some good hiking trails nearby that you can get to by car. I would say there are trails within 5-10 miles away. All in all, a great place to come and relax!
TravelerExcellent location due to proximity to north beach that offers beautiful views of the Adirondacks across Lake Champlain. The campground is adjacent to paved Burlington bike / walking trail with easy access to the trail and beach. The only sites with electric are RV sites that are packed in more than we prefer. Bath rooms are ok, but showers need deep cleaning or replacement. Bath house is vented but not heated so it’s rather cold in October. Hot water is just warm.
ScoutThis campground has the best staff you can find in northern New York. The whole time they are open they have activities planned for the kids all summer long. The staff is always smiling and welcoming you into the campground. Quiet and comfortable place to stay. If your kids like to read. There is place they can find a book and read a book.
ScoutI've camped on Valcour all my life since I was 7. It was amazing. So beautiful. Now it's covered in cockroaches and the water is murky and everything is covered in Zebra muscles. Other campers are rude and have no respect for your property. Has been all Canadians from my experience. They let their pets on the island to defecate and we've had one let their two large dogs swim ashore from their yacht and urinate on all our tents and destroyed our campsite and stole our food off from the picnic table all while the owners watched and laughed it off from their boat. The dogs then swam back and boarded the boat and they left. It's not like it used to be. We were yelling at them the whole time, trying to get the dogs away from our campsite and the owners didn't even apologize. One of the dogs defecated on my son's clothing that has fallen off the line.
GuideTo start off, we are avid KOA campers. So when we looked at this campground, we expected the typical layout which had a swimming pool and other stuff for the kids, however, this campground lacked all of the above. When we arrived here, check-in was easy we did drive along ways to get to our campsite which was nice to be wooded, but I did miss the typical activities and KOA usually has which when I booked the site, I usually expect them since the prices usually, fairly high compared to state parks. Our main reason for seeing KA versus state parks for these extra activities. With that said the bathrooms were clean, which we barely use since we have a full hook up camper. The dog park was very small and it looked like they did the very minimum to check the block. If you’re looking for a place to run your little guy around, he might be disappointed at this place. However, there are plenty hikes nearby to wear them out if you desire. As far as location, there is a lot of stuff to do in the area as we went and hike, the mountain, which was amazing.
RangerMostly Seasonal area with some overnight spots. No tents allowed. But pet friendly. Small but clean areas with electric at each site. Has some benches outside, a small pool, playground, and community of seasonal campers. I think there was only a few overnighters.
Lake Champlain camping offers unique waterfront experiences with distinct seasonal considerations. Summer water temperatures average 70°F by August, while spring and fall can dip below 50°F. Campgrounds near Champlain provide direct lake access with varying terrain from rocky shorelines to small sandy beaches, most requiring water shoes due to slippery surfaces.
Biking adventures: The Island Line Trail connects to Grand Isle State Park Campground, providing an excellent route for cyclists. "We biked to this park from Burlington via the Island Line Trail. It was a super trip. The lakeside lean-to was awesome," notes John L. The trail network extends through multiple islands with minimal elevation changes, making it suitable for families.
Paddling opportunities: Knight Island's remote location demands boating skills but rewards paddlers with secluded waterfront sites. "Not for the faint of heart, Knight Island is only accessible by private boat, though there are a few unregulated boat taxis that will agree to take the boat-less out there," explains Ruby L. The calm morning waters provide ideal paddling conditions before afternoon winds pick up.
Swimming spots: Cumberland Bay has a designated swimming area with bathroom facilities nearby. "The bathrooms by the beach were clean (you don't see that everywhere, especially at a place with high usage). Beautiful bbq area by the beach and the view from the beach is amazing," shares Meag F. The rocky shorelines can be slippery, so water shoes are recommended for swimming at most locations.
Lakeside lean-tos: Burton Island State Park Campground offers waterfront structures that provide comfort during unpredictable weather. "We were lucky enough to get a waterfront lean-to and the view was spectacular! The campground is very clean and the staff are friendly and helpful," writes Michael L. Lean-tos must be reserved months in advance, especially for summer weekends.
Car-free island experience: Burton Island creates a unique atmosphere without vehicle traffic. "There are no cars on the island. You have to paddle yourself out or take the VT State Park passenger ferry from St. Albans," explains Tara S. The ferry costs $8 per person with gear included, operating multiple times daily during summer months.
Local food options: Some campgrounds feature on-site dining options. "The island convenience store has awesome breakfast!" shares Heather B. about Burton Island. Small farm stands dot the roads around the lake selling fresh produce, eggs, and seasonal items within short driving distance of most campgrounds.
Reservation timing: Waterfront sites at popular areas book quickly. "Waterfront sites book very quickly (like 11 months in advance), but if you don't mind being farther from the main campground and running water, you can almost always rent one of the four primitive sites," advises Tara S. about Burton Island.
Shower facilities: Cumberland Bay State Park Campground provides shower facilities but brings its own quirks. "The one downfall is the shower. The water pressure is barely enough to rinse the soap off," notes Michael L. about Burton Island. At other campgrounds, showers typically require quarters ($0.50 for 5 minutes at Grand Isle).
Weather considerations: Wind conditions affect both camping comfort and water activities. "Depending on the weather, the 3/4 mile crossing from Kamp KilKare State Park can be rough and windy," warns Rita M. when discussing paddling to Burton Island. The islands experience stronger winds than mainland sites, particularly on western and southern shores.
Nature programs: Grand Isle State Park Campground offers educational opportunities for younger campers. "It was a quiet, family friendly campground with a cute little beach and nature center with youth programs," Jessica G. notes. Programs typically run daily during July and August, with weekend-only schedules in shoulder seasons.
Site selection: Families should consider proximity to facilities when choosing sites. "We had a huge campsite that was comfortable for 3 tents and 6 adults. The restrooms/showers are vintage but clean and functional," explains Jessica G. at Grand Isle. Sites closer to bathroom facilities make nighttime trips easier for children.
Swimming considerations: Beach areas vary significantly between campgrounds. "Very rocky beach with little to no sand to play in," Melissa L. mentions about Grand Isle. Families with young children might prefer locations with gentler entry points and smaller beach areas for play.
Site accessibility: Monty's Bay Campsites offers seasonal sites with varying levels of privacy. "There is a large pavilion and lots of RVs, it looked like there were many seasonal (which it seems like most of the campgrounds near this area are)," observes Meag F. RVs should call ahead to confirm site length, as many campgrounds have limited spaces for larger rigs.
Hookup availability: Most campgrounds offer electric service, but amenities vary. "About half the campers were seasons but their sites were very tidy and not cluttered up like many they are at other places we've stayed," notes Nancy W. about Champlain Resort Adult Campground. Water and electric hookups are common, while full sewer connections are limited at most locations.
Pet-friendly camping near Champlain, New York: For RVers with dogs seeking pet friendly camping near Champlain, options exist but come with restrictions. "Dogs are allowed at Burton Island, but there are areas at the State Park that they are not allowed, such as the beach area," explains Nancy W. Most campgrounds allow pets in RV sites with proper vaccination records and leash control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Champlain, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Champlain, NY is Grand Isle State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Champlain, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 58 dog-friendly camping locations near Champlain, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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