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Silver Lake State Park Campground in Barnard permits pets throughout the property with clean, accessible facilities. Other pet-friendly options in the area include Gifford Woods State Park, Quechee State Park, and Coolidge State Park Campground, all maintaining well-maintained sites with picnic tables and fire rings. These Vermont state parks feature wooded camping areas that provide natural shade and privacy for campers with dogs. Facilities are regularly cleaned and include hot showers and accessible bathrooms. Most campgrounds require pets to remain leashed at all times, and owners must clean up after their animals. The sites are generally spacious enough to accommodate tents, RVs, and some offer pet-friendly cabins.
Hiking opportunities abound with the Appalachian Trail running directly through Gifford Woods State Park, offering excellent dog-friendly trail access. Michigan Brook Road in Green Mountain National Forest provides free dispersed camping with pets allowed and toilet facilities. The campgrounds near Barnard are typically open from Memorial Day through mid-October, with Silver Lake State Park operating until Labor Day weekend. Kent Pond near Gifford Woods offers water activities where dogs can cool off during summer months. Campers report that sites are generally well-spaced with enough room for dogs to move around comfortably without disturbing neighbors. Winter camping options are limited as most facilities close seasonally, though some dispersed areas remain accessible depending on snow conditions.
"Clean and quiet, good for kids and pets are welcome. There are 2 bathrooms with coin operated showers. There are sites for campers, tents, and a handful of lean tos."
"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."
from $38 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
"My wife and I along with our dog Wyatt make an annual trip to CC. There is a great secluded site off the road into the park."
"This place was very clean and loaded with amenities: pool, dog park, events, open fields, deer, store, etc."
"Our site, was located in the back of the park in a quieter section because it was away from most of the activities and park entrance."
"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."
from $64 / night
"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."
"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."
"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."
from $15 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $59 - $99 / night
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ScoutThis is one of our favorite places to camp in Vermont. 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. They have boat rentals and nature tours on the lake led by the state park faculty. When the kids get tired from swimming they're a nice beach area and playground.
GuideVery nice, clean campsite. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Campsites are spread out, great dog walking areas , and very spacious dog parks, one for big dos and one for little ones.
LegendThis 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. Some of the lean-tos are situated right on the West River, but they are well-loved and coveted so we've never actually stayed in one.
For our July trip, we stayed in the Juniper lean-to, which is incredibly quiet and near the overlook hiking trail. The park is small enough to walk to the swimming area from your campsite, as well as into town. Note that you will not get cell service here, but if you walk into the village of Jamaica, you will find Wi-Fi hotspots at the library or the grocery store.
Here are all the awesome things to do in Jamaica State Park:
Learn about the first peoples who lived here: The area along the West River was an important trade route for the Abenaki tribe. Throughout the park, there are interpretive signs with lots of information about the Abenaki, as well as the archaeological dig that was conducted here in 2010.
2. Cool off in the West River: The main swimming area is at Salmon Hole, right in the campground, but you can swim anywhere in the West River. It's awesome!
Ride your bike to the Ball Mountain Dam: There's a bike trail that leads from the campground all the way to the federally-owned Ball Mountain Dam, which provides great views of Ball Mountain Lake and the surrounding mountains. It's a 5-mile ride from the campground, round-trip.
Learn about Jamaica's railroad history: It's crazy that the rail trail was really a railroad at the turn of the century. It's a narrow, mountainous route. As you ride along the trail, stop and read the signs. No wonder it was called 36 miles of trouble!
5. Hike the Overlook Trail: It's a 2.5-mile loop that brings you up on a ridge with great views.
Hike to Hamilton Falls: It's actually easier to bike part of the way on the rail trail and then hike the 1.1 miles to the falls. Otherwise, it's a 6-mile hike round-trip. Hamilton falls is 125 feet tall, and one of the loveliest waterfalls in Vermont.
Walk into the village of Jamaica for donuts: Seriously! Head to D&K Grocery for the best donuts ever, or stock up on camping provisions.
LegendWilgus 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. I'll admit that I haven't stayed in one of the Wilgus cabins, but they are pretty much the same all over Vermont - nothing fancy - just four solid walls, bunk beds, and a small table.
Usually when we stay at Wilgus State Park, we rent a lean-to or stay in site #16, which is the very last tent site, and the most private. All sites have a great view of the river, but I won't go so far as to call them waterfront as there is a bank covered with lush foliage between the sites and the water. There is also a short trail that runs between the campsites and the water - a great place to watch the sunrise!
The best part about camping here is getting out on the water. You can rent kayaks and canoes, and the river moves slowly enough to paddle up stream. There is also a shuttle service run by Great River Outfitters upstream in Windsor. If you make reservations, the come to the park (I think on Wednesdays and Fridays), and they will pick you up in the morning, drive you up river to Windsor, outfit you with a canoe or kayak, and let you paddle back to the park. Later in the evening they will come back and pick up the boats. If you choose this option, be sure to stop at Artisan Park, right on the river and have lunch at Harpoon Brewery.
The campground is really small (under 25 sites) and super quiet. Restrooms are clean. There is a short hiking trail, which is just okay - no views or anything. The ranger has been there for years and is an expert fisherman. He's got lots of tips if you ask. For good hiking, be sure to check out Mt. Ascutney, which is just a few miles away.
TravelerWe stayed in a cabin with our pup. This place was very clean and loaded with amenities: pool, dog park, events, open fields, deer, store, etc. This was glamping with a fire pit 😃 There were plenty of sites for all size RV’s with hook-ups. A town with lots to do and see is nearby including hiking trails.
ScoutWe are pleasantly surprised! The adage "you get what you pay for" just isn't true here. This campground is my new favorite. The owners, Liz and Ben, are super friendly, easy-going, and welcoming. The campground is clean and quiet, with sites that are spacious and private. The wifi is pretty darn good. There's a cozy lounge room to hang out in with games, books, crayons, and puzzles; a dog park with toys included; and fabulous hiking trails with lots to see, including a pond, waterfalls, and streams.
We'll definitely be returning!
TravelerClean and quiet, good for kids and pets are welcome. There are 2 bathrooms with coin operated showers. There are sites for campers, tents, and a handful of lean tos. It’s a short hike down to Quechee Gorge, where you can cool off in the shallow water.
It’s very close to Quechee village and Woodstock so there are plenty of other activities, shopping, and dining options near by.
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.)
Pets are welcome.
ScoutWe travelled as a group with family (4 sites). When we booked all our sites were right next to each other. When we arrived not a single one of us were even on the same road. The biggest issue with this, is that there were plenty of sites available next to each other. My parents paid for 50 amp electric and the site next to them was using it instead of the 30amp they were meant to have. Also, while the campground is pet friendly, a warning about free roaming chickens would have been nice. I would not have brought my (prey driven) dogs if I had known there were free roaming chickens.
LegendThis KOA is what you expect from a KOA– lots of amenities, sites of all sizes and levels of cost, tons of activities, and in a vacation destination area. We spent five nights at the campground and found lots to do in the area and that we had an enjoyable and pleasant stay.
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. Some sites are full hookup while others are not and that is reflected in the cost. We paid $57/nigh for our full hookup site which is pretty costly especially since we did not use any of the amenities. Most sites are gravel with gravel patios but there are deluxe sites with paved patios, patio furniture, umbrella, and gas bbq grill. There are also camping cabins, some of which have kitchenettes and bathrooms that sleep six people.
Our site, was located in the back of the park in a quieter section because it was away from most of the activities and park entrance. The site was a pull-in which was kind of nice because the view out of our front windshield was of a wooded area. Our fire pit was in the front of our site so there was a nice amount of privacy when we sat outside by a campfire and didn’t feel like we were on the side of the road. Despite the hilliness of the park and all the trees, we did not have any trouble navigating our 45’ RV to our site. The trees at our site would prevent satellite television reception but our site had cable and we got about 20 or so channels. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Like many KOAs there are tons of amenities and things for kids to do – swimming pool, fishing ponds, bike rental, scheduled activities, propane sales, camp store, fire wood delivery, and more. There is a fenced dog park which was a fairly good size and our lab was happy to chase a ball.
As a whole, the park was very clean and manicured. No trash laying around and the gravel roads were free of potholes. The campground is located near the Queechee Gorge, covered bridges, hiking trails (including sections of the Appalachian Trail), good dining, maple syrup/cheese farm, the Marsh Billings- Rockefeller National Historic Park.
Vermont's Green Mountains surround Barnard with elevations ranging from 900 to over 4,000 feet, creating diverse camping environments with temperature variations of 10-15 degrees between valley and ridge sites. Campgrounds near Barnard typically open from late May through mid-October with most facilities closing after Indigenous Peoples' Day weekend. Many dog friendly campgrounds near Barnard implement quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Fishing opportunities: Chittenden Brook offers access to stream fishing within walking distance of campsites. "The constant sound of running water from the brook was truly relaxing," notes Jessica C. in a review of Chittenden Brook Campground.
Hiking at Coolidge State Park: Trails provide ridge views without requiring long drives. "Trail around Slack Hill has view of Ascutney. Pavilion and some shelters look over to Killington. CCC trail cuts through," writes Bob W. about the hiking opportunities at Coolidge State Park Campground.
Swimming at park beaches: Silver Lake provides a swimming beach with designated shallow areas. "There is 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," explains Hannah H. about the water activities available at Silver Lake State Park.
Privacy between sites: Campgrounds in this region typically feature wooded sites that create natural separation. "The sites are large. If you stay in the back it's quieter. The bathroom is very clean," writes Jan B. about Quechee State Park Campground.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds maintain well-kept bathroom facilities throughout the season. "Might be the nicest bathrooms I've seen in decades of camping," reports a camper identified as B in their review of Quechee State Park.
Organized activities: Some campgrounds offer planned recreational programs. "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)," shares Jen B. about her family's experience at Quechee State Park.
Free dispersed camping options: For campers seeking alternatives to established campgrounds, Michigan Brook Road offers no-fee camping. "Road goes in pretty far. Some parts are muddy and very rough. Higher clearance would be advised," warns Thomas and James S. about the road conditions at Michigan Brook Road Camping.
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds in the region have limited or no connectivity. "Verizon cell service was minimal," reports Corby M. about Abel Mountain Campground. "No cell service a few miles leading up the site, so download your maps in advance," advises Jessica C. about Chittenden Brook Campground.
Weather preparation: Vermont camping requires preparation for significant temperature changes. Sites at higher elevations like Coolidge State Park can experience nighttime temperatures 15-20 degrees lower than daytime highs, even in summer months.
Playgrounds and recreation: Several pet-friendly campgrounds near Barnard offer family-focused amenities. "Located at the beach area is also lawn space for games, a volleyball court, a fantastic playground," describes Hannah H. about Silver Lake State Park Campground.
Educational programs: Check with rangers about scheduled activities for children. "Rangers also run fun programs for children... for no fee," notes Jen B. about the family programming at Quechee State Park.
Water activities: Lakes provide safer swimming options for families with small children. "The beach is great with a fun dock to jump off of. It is a great lake for kayaking and paddleboarding," explains Lynn D. about Silver Lake State Park.
Site selection considerations: Some campgrounds have limited accommodation for larger vehicles. "Great tent camping area with good privacy at sites. Would be tough for any but the tiniest RV," cautions James K. about Gifford Woods State Park Campground.
Hookup availability: Most state park campgrounds lack hookups. "They do have a dump station if you are in a RV," notes Jan B. about Quechee State Park. At Quechee-Pine Valley KOA, "There is the range of sites from pull-thrus, pull-ins and back-in sites and can accommodate RVs of any size," according to Nancy W.
Road access challenges: Several campgrounds involve narrow access roads. "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," warns Jessica C. about the approach to Chittenden Brook Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Barnard, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Barnard, VT is Quechee State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 24 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Barnard, VT?
TheDyrt.com has all 156 dog-friendly camping locations near Barnard, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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