Best Tent Camping near Barre, VT
State parks and national forests surrounding Barre, Vermont offer diverse tent camping options ranging from established campgrounds to remote backcountry sites. Molly's Falls Pond State Park in nearby Marshfield provides walk-in tent sites open from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. Camel's Hump State Park, approximately 30 miles west of Barre, features primitive tent camping with designated sites about 1.5 miles into the hiking trail. For those seeking more seclusion, Green Mountain National Forest offers dispersed tent camping along Forest Road 25, while Patterson Brookside camp on West Hill Road provides riverside primitive tent sites with varying levels of accessibility.
Tent camping surfaces throughout the region range from compacted dirt to forest duff with minimal site preparation. Most walk-in tent sites require carrying gear short distances from parking areas, while backcountry tent camping may involve hikes of several miles. Seasonal access varies significantly, with higher elevation tent sites often inaccessible until late spring due to mud and snow conditions. Fire rings are common at established tent campgrounds, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry periods. Campers should bring water filtration equipment as potable water is limited at most primitive tent camping locations. Vault toilets are available at state park campgrounds but absent at many dispersed camping areas.
In early fall, tent campers often find greater solitude at sites that remain busy during summer months. According to reviews, Underhill State Park offers "very primitive and quiet" tent camping with "private spots" and "pit toilets and a night sky to die for." One visitor to Camel's Hump State Park noted the designated primitive camping area has "about 10-12 sites" with "a host who was there 24/7 and a shared area for eating and food storage." Patterson Brookside camp provides a different experience, with a camper reporting "a handful of sites along the river, each offering a slightly different experience" where "some sites are drive-in, some are walk-in, but all are primitive." Most tent-only areas provide better separation from noise than mixed-use campgrounds.
