Best Campgrounds near Barnard, VT

Camping near Barnard, Vermont encompasses a mix of state parks, backcountry sites, and private campgrounds nestled in the rolling Green Mountains of central Vermont. Silver Lake State Park Campground, located directly in Barnard, serves as the centerpiece of local camping options with its pristine lakefront setting. Within a 30-minute drive, campers can access additional established campgrounds including Gifford Woods State Park near Killington and Coolidge State Park in Plymouth. The Appalachian Trail also passes through the region, offering backcountry shelter options like Winturri and Stony Brook for hikers seeking more primitive camping experiences. The area's combination of accessible developed campgrounds and remote hiking destinations makes it suitable for various camping styles.

Most campgrounds in the Barnard area operate seasonally from late May through mid-October, with Silver Lake State Park specifically open from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend. Winter camping is extremely limited as most facilities close and many access roads become impassable due to snow. Cell service throughout the region is spotty, with reviewers noting variable coverage depending on carrier. Fire regulations follow Vermont state guidelines, with established fire rings at developed sites and seasonal restrictions possible during dry periods. Reservations are strongly recommended for summer weekends and fall foliage season when campgrounds frequently reach capacity.

The camping options around Barnard cater to different preferences and needs. Silver Lake State Park provides tent and RV sites with amenities like showers and a beach area. According to one camper, "The sites are fairly private without being built too close together. Lake is clean and has a great concrete dock that the kids love to jump off." For those seeking backcountry experiences, the AT shelters offer more rustic accommodations with pit toilets and sometimes unreliable water sources. Gifford Woods State Park, about 15 miles west of Barnard, features wooded lean-to sites and provides direct access to the Appalachian Trail, making it popular with both section hikers and families seeking more developed facilities with shower access.

Best Camping Sites Near Barnard, Vermont (190)

    1. Quechee State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Quechee, VT
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 295-2990

    $20 / night

    "The Quechee Gorge, best accessed from the back of the lawn behind the bathhouse, is the deepest in Vermont.. which is kind of like saying the best bagel or most populous city in Vermont."

    "This is a nice state park located near the Quechee Gorge, a lovely place to explore and play. Vermont State parks often offer lean-to options and Quechee is no exception."

    2. Gifford Woods State Park Campground

    16 Reviews
    Killington, VT
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 775-5354

    "Decent bathroom situation--I've seen better and I've seen worse in Vermont."

    "The park is amazingly clean, well run, located just of RT 4 and very near to Killington, Vermont. It has multiple lean-to sites which are in wooded areas."

    3. Coolidge State Park Campground

    13 Reviews
    Plymouth, VT
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 672-3612

    "This place gets my vote for best campground in Vermont. Especially true if you're lucky enough to get one of the few sites on the outside of A loop that has a Lean-to with a view."

    "Coolidge is off the beaten path but well worth the wander! There are no water sites, it’s on the side of a heavily wooded mountain with a few sites having amazing views!"

    4. Quechee-Pine Valley KOA

    11 Reviews
    Quechee, VT
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 296-6711

    "Nice rustic ,small all amenities park.Great place to explore Vermont ,hundreds of things to do and see in the area. Really like this park."

    "While staying here I could enjoy some fishing, taking the dog for a nice walk, enjoy the evening with a nice fire, camp side, and go swimming on those hot summer days."

    5. Silver Lake State Park Campground

    4 Reviews
    Barnard, VT
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 234-9451

    "Surrounded by breathtaking mountain-scapes. Facilities are nice and the lake is lovely with some great fishing. You can swim, walk around it or rent a vessel to cruise around in."

    "Enjoy the serenity of the forest surrounding you, while you glimpse stars, and warm your innards beside a fire."

    6. Winturri Backcountry Shelter on the AT in Vermont — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    3 Reviews
    West Hartford, VT
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 244-7037

    "Note: This is a back country shelter on the Appalachian trail that doesn't have consistent water. I stopped here on a section hike of the Appalachian trail."

    7. Lake Champagne Resort Vermont, Inc.

    6 Reviews
    Randolph, VT
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 728-5293

    "Campsites are spread out, great dog walking areas , and very spacious dog parks, one for big dos and one for little ones."

    "I chose to stay here while I was finishing up the VT 4000-footers because it was midway between the trails for Mt Ellen/Abram and Killington."

    8. Michigan Brook Road Camping - Green Mtn Ntnl Forest

    4 Reviews
    Pittsfield, VT
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 747-6700

    "I stayed at this campsite located at the end of upper Michigan road. It is winter and there is a lot of snow. The main road to the parking lot is plowed and sanded."

    "Few nice ones near the creek. I stayed at one on top of a lots of space at mine."

    9. Stony Brook Backcountry Shelter on the AT in Vermont — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    1 Review
    Killington, VT
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 281-5894

    "The shelter was a fairly basic 8ish person shelter, but this stop stood out because of a brand new privvy, large tenting areas, and a swimming hole and consistent water just a bit further down the trail"

    10. Chittenden Brook Campground

    5 Reviews
    Goshen, VT
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 767-4261

    $15 / night

    "Nice hiking trails close to long trail, really tucked away a few miles off 73. Great if you’re looking for some solitude."

    "Well maintained, and nice access to trails right from the campground."

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Recent Reviews near Barnard, VT

712 Reviews of 190 Barnard Campgrounds


  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Woodbury Meadows Campground

    Family-Owned Campground Near Stowe

    With 6 sites, this family-owned campground was the perfect pit stop on our road trip to Stowe. Dig and kid friendly. Has showers, water, and electrical hookup.

  • Jenna L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Crown Point Campground

    Nice with a view

    Pretty nice campground all things considered, bathrooms are definitely rustic but kept clean. Some of the campsites are very close together, and others have a decent amount of space between them, not necessarily a lot of trees in between campsites for privacy. Beautiful views of the water, and surrounding mountains. Staff was extremely friendly!

  • Keith L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 9, 2025

    Jamaica State Park Campground

    Great Camping Experience at Jamaica State Park

    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 great visit. They worked with us to get the right site. The bathroom facilities, while rustic, were clean. There is a plethora of things to do in the park itself and in the local community. Nonetheless, it starts and ends with the management of the campground. Lauren, the campground manager, and her team of professionals, do a great job. We will definitely return.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 8, 2025

    Austin Brook

    Site is mislabeled as FR 25

    There are a handful of sites down Austin Brook road, I had trouble finding a level spot. Minimal ATT reception but overall pretty area

  • B The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Quechee State Park Campground

    Beautiful, road noise, not a lot there

    Big, flat, beautiful sites. Road noise isn't super loud, but it's constant. Might be the nicest bathrooms I've seen in decades of camping.

    The weird thing is that there just isn't much here. The Quechee Gorge, best accessed from the back of the lawn behind the bathhouse, is the deepest in Vermont.. which is kind of like saying the best bagel or most populous city in Vermont. Prepared to be whelmed.

    It's a ~30 minute hike, you can access some slow semi-rapids at the bottom.

    Camping at the SP does give access to another trail that's moderately challenging and has both some level spots and a nice overlook.

    Don't regret the trip at all but it seems more like an awesome stopover than a worthwhile destination. Some decent restaurants in the area and even more in nearby Lebanon/White River Junction.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Kampersville

    Nice

    The campsites are all in the trees with some sites not clearly defined. The sites seem good sized with new bathroom and showers, with individual showers with a toilet. There are a lot of monthly staying here. Overall a nice park

  • nThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites — Waterbury Center State Park

    State park

    Little river st park wide flat camp sites no hookups limited gen. Use hours 8am/10am and 4pm/6pm. Rough road coming5th to campground. Very quite. cell phone t mobile works fine. Site could hold big rig we have a 28ft 5th wheel plenty of room for 35/40

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Branch Pond on National Forest Hwy

    Amazing camping spots with fire pits!

    Tons of different styles of camping spots (if you get there while its still sunlight you can pick a spot by a flowing stream/river). No public bathrooms, no hookups, I personally didn’t have service.


Guide to Barnard

Camping sites near Barnard, Vermont range from established state parks to remote backcountry shelters situated within the Green Mountain National Forest at elevations between 800-2000 feet. The camping season typically runs from late May through mid-October, with most facilities closing for winter when temperatures regularly drop below freezing and snow accumulation makes access difficult. The region receives approximately 40 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush forests and reliable water sources during summer months.

What to do

Hiking to swimming holes: Stony Brook Shelter on the Appalachian Trail features a swimming area where hikers can cool off. As one camper notes, "There was plenty of water at Stony Brook / Mink Brook a bit further northbound...I found a decent swimming hole (could just barely submerge myself) to clean off a bit."

Trail access from camps: Chittenden Brook Campground connects directly to hiking paths. One visitor mentions, "Nice access to trails right from the campground" and another adds it's "really tucked away a few miles off 73. Great if you're looking for some solitude."

Nearby attractions: Several historic sites are accessible within short driving distance. A visitor to Quechee State Park Campground writes, "It's a ~30 minute hike, you can access some slow semi-rapids at the bottom...Camping at the SP does give access to another trail that's moderately challenging and has both some level spots and a nice overlook."

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Campers frequently mention the spacing between campsites as a positive feature. A visitor to Gifford Woods State Park Campground notes, "Upper Loop sites are spaced further apart. Wooded. AT goes right through the campground. Lovely late summer camping experience."

Clean facilities: Despite their rustic nature, many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathrooms and showers. One camper at Quechee State Park observed, "Might be the nicest bathrooms I've seen in decades of camping," while another added, "Bathrooms were clean and the grounds were quite at night."

Access to Long Trail: The Vermont Long Trail system connects with several camping areas. At Coolidge State Park Campground, a visitor mentioned "CCC trail cuts through. Ash and maple woods. Clean, well kept."

What you should know

Water sources vary: Some campgrounds lack reliable water access. A hiker at Winturri Backcountry Shelter cautions, "This is a back country shelter on the Appalachian trail that doesn't have consistent water...Water was running when I was there in mid-August from a spring close to the shelter."

Limited connectivity: Cell service is inconsistent throughout the region. A camper at Michigan Brook Road noted, "PLEASE NOTE: THIS LOCATION DOES NOT PROVIDE CELL PHONE SERVICE OR WIFI CONNECTION. However, if you walk to the end of upper Michigan Brook road you will have cell phone service."

Road conditions: Access to some camping areas requires driving on unpaved roads. A visitor to Chittenden Brook Campground reported, "There's a 2.5 mile dirt road with a steady incline into the camp, which my subie had no issue with, but not sure how well an RV would fair."

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer organized activities for children. At Quechee-Pine Valley KOA, a camper shared that "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.)"

Swimming options: For families with children, some sites provide easy water access. Silver Lake State Park features "a beach with wading depth, sand for playing, buoys to mark the shallow area, a large dock to jump from with a ladder for climbing out."

Playgrounds and games: Recreation facilities enhance family camping experiences. One visitor noted Silver Lake has "lawn space for games, a volleyball court, a fantastic playground. There is a bathroom and changing room, ice for sale and a great snackbar."

Tips from RVers

Dump station availability: Waste disposal facilities are limited but available at select locations. An RVer at Gifford Woods mentioned, "They do have a dump station if you are in a RV."

Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven sites. A camper at Coolidge State Park noted, "The issue I had was the camp next to ours had the generator on all night long and I had a hard time getting back to sleep."

Size restrictions: Many of the woodland campgrounds cannot accommodate larger rigs. A camper observed about Chittenden Brook, "Great tent camping area with good privacy at sites. Would be tough for any but the tiniest RV."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Barnard, VT?

According to TheDyrt.com, Barnard, VT offers a wide range of camping options, with 190 campgrounds and RV parks near Barnard, VT and 20 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Barnard, VT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Barnard, VT is Quechee State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 23 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Barnard, VT?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 free dispersed camping spots near Barnard, VT.

What parks are near Barnard, VT?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Barnard, VT that allow camping, notably North Hartland Lake and Green Mountain National Forest.