193 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Arlington, Vermont offers campgrounds ranging from developed RV sites with full hookups to primitive dispersed camping, making it a solid base for exploring the Green Mountain National Forest and surrounding areas. Camping on the Battenkill offers 111 developed sites along the Battenkill River with tent and RV accommodations including full hookups. Woodford State Park Campground, located about 15 miles south of Arlington, features cabins, tent sites, and RV camping around Adams Reservoir at one of the highest elevations among Vermont state parks. Several dispersed camping areas can be found in the George D. Aiken Wilderness and along Forest Road 71, offering primitive options without facilities.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from late spring through mid-October, with state parks typically opening Memorial Day weekend and closing after Columbus Day weekend. Camping on the Battenkill extends its season slightly longer, operating from late April through mid-October. Winter access becomes limited as many forest roads close due to snow and ice conditions. Reservations are recommended, particularly for weekend stays during peak summer and fall foliage seasons. According to one visitor, "The sites are in pretty wooded areas and quite big, ground is sandy and all have electric/water, picnic table and fire ring. Near several attractions and there is nearby gift shop with Norman Rockwell exhibit."
Campers frequently mention the natural beauty and recreational opportunities available near Arlington's campgrounds. Emerald Lake State Park, approximately 10 miles northeast of Arlington, receives positive reviews for its swimming areas and kayaking opportunities. The area's abundant waterways, including the Battenkill River, offer fishing and paddling options directly accessible from several campgrounds. The Arlington area campgrounds provide convenient access to hiking trails, fishing spots, and scenic views throughout the Green Mountain region. Woodford State Park features a 2.5-mile trail that loops the reservoir and provides access to mountain biking trails. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, "The sites are nice and private. The views on some of the sites to the lake are beautiful. The grounds and facilities are well kept, and you are close to both Bennington and Wilmington."
"Large campground in Arlington VT. Sites are in pretty wooded area and quite big, ground is sandy and all have E/W, picnic table and fire ring."
"Our first time in Vermont and we picked an awesome campground. This place has a great layout with lots of great sites to choose from. There are several sites right on the river!
Clean bath houses."
from $45 - $57 / night
Check Availability"Woodford State Park is situated between Wilmington and Bennington VT in the southern part of the Green Mountain National Forest."
"The views on some of the sites to the lake are beautiful. the grounds and facilities are well kept. and you are close to both Bennington and Wilmington. a great spot to camp at in Southern Vermont!"
"Beautiful campground in south central Vermont. On a lovely emerald green small lake with nice beach. Good for fishing and kayaking. Well kept."
"The camp sites are quite a bit of a walk up the hill from the lake where there is swimming, kayaking, paddle boating and picnicking."
"My friend and I were desperately looking for a place to spend the weekend, and with Covid making it a little more difficult to rely on walking in and finding a campsite, we made a blind reservation for"
"We were the only campers along the waterfront, but there were a few car campers in the sites near the road."
from $16 / night
Check Availability"This tops our list for camping in Vermont. There is so much to do here, and yet the campground feels very private and quiet. There are 41 tent/RV sites to choose from and 18 lean-tos."
"This was our second stay at this Vermont State Park. It was a great three days. The park rangers were tremendous in ensuring we had a delightful visit. They worked with us to get the right site."
from $20 - $42 / night
Check Availability"We stopped on our way through to Stowe Vermont."
"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."
"Great location near Somerset Reservoir. Weekend was interrupted by a domestic violence situation a few sites downbeat resulted in fights and someone shooting off a handgun."
"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."
"A LOT of bugs due to dense wooded surroundings. The bugs seems to be unbothered by the bug spray as well."
"I got in around the afternoon and there were already a few camp sites taken. Which is to be expected on the fourth."
"We stayed at one near the creek just over a little bridge. Cute little site, nice fire pit, clean, perfect rock to put a big water jug on. The sound of running water was soothing."
"One of many locations along Forest rd 71, this spot was a good place to pitch a tent for the night while exploring the area even in the rain."
"The roads and campsites are gravel and a little tight to get around because of all the trees but we were able to manage in our 45’ motorhome."
"The location was very good in allowing us to visit family in nearby village and go into nearby Manchester Center. Much more of an RV Park (name is on the money) than camping where we had our site."
GuideNice campground near Killington, VT. Water and dump station. Not for big rigs we have a 21 ft TT. Things were tight but doable. One of the few Vermont state campgrounds that is still open. Most close from second Monday in October until Memorial Day.
TravelerLove this place. We were the only ones there during a weekday visit in October. It’s incredibly peaceful with wooded sites and the lake is just gorgeous with the fall foliage. Bonus that they deliver firewood to the campsite. My only wish and I wouldn’t knock a star off because we were literally the only ones there is I wish they didn’t lock the showers. I would have loved to have a shower but the office was closed and I wasn’t able to find anyone to unlock a shower. Just be prepared and bring your dude wipes 🤣 Other than that amazing place.
TravelerLots of beautiful spots to pick from but be careful some are a bit muddy. We brought our school bus down the dirt road just fine and backed right in. They also have fireplaces which was nice!
GuideWonderful owners. A variety of sites to choose from in a relaxing setting. No waste hookups here, but they have a dump station. $51 per night with cash.
TravelerLaundry is clean, bathrooms are clean and showers are hot. Pool, dishwashing station, sometimes quite sometimes very active. Love this place! Wish it was open year round!
TravelerGreat little campground in Berkshire County. Mostly suited for tent camping or small RVs, although there are definitely sites for RVs to use. Call to get an idea of what’s available if you do plan on bringing your RV. The facilities were clean and the trails well marked.
LegendThis is a quiet campground in a quiet part of the state. The terrain is mountainous, and all of the sites are private. There are two loops, one for tents/RVs and one for lean-tos. We stayed in the Willow lean-to, and while our site didn't have a view, it was one of the most private sites we've stayed in and just a short walk to the bathhouse.
The campground was created by the CCC in the 1930s, and from what I've heard, it hasn't changed much since that time. While we were here, we visited the Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site (very cool), Long Trail Brewing, and the town of Woodstock. Great trip!
GuideFree dispersed camping site in the Green Mountain National Forest, off a dirt road. The site curves around past the driveway so you can tuck up into the trees to be more private. The upper part there has a circular open area, surrounded by thin trees. There’s a fire ring set up midway on the site. It felt more isolated than other sites I’ve stayed at and there were quite a few animal sounds in the woods, including large animal bones left past the treeline. They seem to be left behind from people (based off of how the bones were cut). Dispersed camping so don’t expect facilities of any sort. Decent site and pretty large compared to some of the other spots. Heard Barred Owls in the distance which was awesome. Uploaded a video of the site at night and pics of the area on a map that my friend was able to pull up.
GuideWent with a friend on an impromptu last minute camping trip up in the NF and hoped we could find a spot on a Friday night. Quite a few spots were taken but there were still some free ones. We stayed at one near the creek just over a little bridge. Cute little site, nice fire pit, clean, perfect rock to put a big water jug on. The sound of running water was soothing. In the morning, adorable little red squirrels with big personalities made themselves known and there were wildflowers blooming all over with hummingbirds going about their business. This is dispersed camping so there’s no rest rooms, running water, etc. The particular site we stayed at did have another site on the other side of the creek and we could hear the family during the day and see them as they walked past, so it wasn’t as isolated as some of the other sites. It was a cute spot and I’ll def be back.
Dispersed camping spots near Arlington, Vermont include several free options within the Green Mountain National Forest. The Somerset Airfield area provides multiple primitive sites along Forest Road 71, ranging in elevation from 2,100 to 2,400 feet above sea level. Winter temperatures frequently drop below freezing from November through April, while summer evenings remain cool with temperatures often falling into the 50s even during July and August.
Paddle the reservoir: Somerset Reservoir offers excellent paddling opportunities just a short drive from the dispersed camping areas. "The reservoir is beautiful, plenty of space to spread out for paddling and swimming," notes a visitor to Somerset Airfield.
Hike around the lake: At Woodford State Park Campground, visitors enjoy the accessible trail circling the water. "There is a beautiful clean swimmable lake with a walking trail around it," mentions one camper. The reservoir loop is approximately 2.5 miles and suitable for most fitness levels.
Visit waterfalls: Multiple cascades are accessible from camping areas near Arlington. A camper at Jamaica State Park Campground shares, "We hiked the west river trail (which leads right out of the campground) to Hamilton falls which is a gravel closed road that follows the west river upstream 2 miles to Hamilton falls trail."
Private wooded sites: Many campers appreciate the secluded nature of certain campgrounds. "The sites are nice and private. The views on some of the sites to the lake are beautiful," notes a visitor to Woodford State Park Campground.
Well-maintained facilities: Clean bathrooms and sites receive consistent mention. At Emerald Lake State Park Campground, a camper observed, "Restrooms are about average for state parks. They were definitely cleaned daily. Don't forget to bring quarters for the shower."
Waterfront access: Direct water access ranks high among camper preferences. One reviewer at Camping On The Battenkill shared, "I stayed right on the river in site 14 with a small popup. The river is beautiful and the site was huge. We did some fishing and swimming."
Winter road closures: Forest roads leading to dispersed sites close seasonally. A visitor to Grout Pond Campground advises, "I visited Grout Pond Recreation area on 11/6/22 and found that it was closed to campers. The sites around the pond are being enlarged."
Reservation requirements: Many established campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "Book your site early to get a lean-to or a site near the river," recommends a Jamaica State Park visitor.
Muddy conditions: Spring and after heavy rains, access roads can become challenging. A camper at a dispersed site along Forest Road 71 noted, "This particular campsite is very muddy. Well, at least today it is. I have an SUV and I didn't trust it to get through, and I didn't want to get stuck."
Distance from amenities: Most dispersed camping areas lack facilities. A Grout Pond visitor explains, "Although BEAUTIFUL, the first campsites are a bit of a haul. Getting to the campground alone was crazy- dirt roads and very deep potholes that you can just barely avoid."
Choose campgrounds with playgrounds: Some locations offer kid-friendly facilities. "There are tons of different types of campsites with either tent spots, lean tos, and a few (hard to get) cabins. Bathrooms are plentiful and clean, hot showers for a small price," explains a family staying at Woodford State Park.
Look for swim-friendly water bodies: Safe swimming areas matter for families with children. At Emerald Lake State Park, a visitor notes, "There's a small, sandy beach at one end of the lake, with a bath house and changing rooms nearby. Swimmers can swim out the a small island in the middle of the lake."
Consider noise levels: Some campgrounds are naturally louder than others. "If you're looking for a quiet spot maybe don't look here. If you have kids and don't mind them making friends and roaming the campground then this is great!" shares a camper at Woodford State Park.
Site access challenges: Large rigs face limitations at some campgrounds. A visitor to Dorset RV Park cautions, "Larger rigs might want to avoid loop 6-14, especially for sites 8-12. Tree placement and a pretty sharp 110+ degree turn makes it challenging to maneuver."
Hookup placement: At Camping on the Battenkill, RVers note the convenient arrangement of utilities. "The sites are in pretty wooded areas and quite big, ground is sandy and all have electric/water, picnic table and fire ring," explains one RVer.
Weather preparedness: The elevation means temperature swings even in summer. A Somerset Airfield visitor shares, "We endured Snow and mid 20s Friday night with 8" of fresh snow to wake up to Saturday, and our main Roadhouse down from the weight of the snow."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds in Arlington, Vermont?
Camping On The Battenkill is one of the top options in Arlington itself, offering spacious wooded sites with electric and water hookups. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring, with sandy ground that's easy to set up on. For those willing to venture just outside Arlington, Woodford State Park Campground is an excellent choice between Bennington and Wilmington, featuring the highest elevation of all Vermont state campgrounds. The park surrounds Adams Reservoir and offers two beaches. Other notable options within driving distance include Hapgood Pond in the Green Mountain National Forest and Lake Lauderdale Campground just across the New York border, both offering scenic water access.
Are there RV rental options available in Arlington, Vermont?
Arlington itself has limited RV rental options, but nearby alternatives exist. Brattleboro North KOA is about an hour away and may offer rental RVs on-site or have connections with local rental companies. For those bringing their own RV, Dorset RV Park near Arlington is suitable for larger rigs with water hookups and toilets available. Most visitors to Arlington typically arrange RV rentals from larger nearby towns like Bennington or Rutland, or through online RV rental marketplaces that facilitate owner-to-renter connections. Call campgrounds directly to inquire about on-site rental options or recommendations for local RV rental businesses.
What camping is available near Arlington, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, Arlington, VT offers a wide range of camping options, with 193 campgrounds and RV parks near Arlington, VT and 22 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Arlington, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Arlington, VT is Camping On The Battenkill with a 4.5-star rating from 20 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Arlington, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 22 free dispersed camping spots near Arlington, VT.
What parks are near Arlington, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Arlington, VT that allow camping, notably Townshend Lake and Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests.
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