Looking to go glamping near Barton and enjoy a rustic retreat into nature? Camping has always been a favorite form of travel for many, but Barton, VT glamping is a new and unique way to do it. The Dyrt's camping photos, reviews, and tips are an easy way to find the right Vermont glamping spot for you.
This popular state park, located in Vermont, is a narrow passage that leads through the Green Mountains. In 2003, the park was relocated to allow room for expansions, including an updated campground and sites featuring alternative energy. Despite this, great care was taken to relocate and restore the original structures that were built there by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The site originally housed the many young men looking for work during the Depression era, so it was important for their work to be preserved as much as possible.
Visitors report satisfaction with the new renovations, as the new campground has sites that allow for much more room than before, and ample thought was given to the facilities operating on alternative energy. Campers can now enjoy hot showers, firewood and ice for sale, as well as a new location that provides easy access to Bingham Falls.
Before planning a stay at the park, travelers should be aware that most sites in the park are first come first serve, and not easily accessible by vehicle. Because of the limited space and narrow geography, there are only a small number of sites that can accommodate a trailer or RV. Animal lovers are welcome to bring their furry pals for a visit to the park as well.
Day use of the park consists of a variety of recreation and fun. There's a wetlands boardwalk near what's called the Barnes Camp Visitor Center. Bouldering and cave exploring commonly take place here as well, and when the weather allows it, some try their hand at ice climbing. Day use of the park comes with an entrance fee of $4 for adults, $2 for kids 12 and younger, and children ages 0-3 enter the park free of charge.
$20 / night
Little River State Park, which is part of Mt. Mansfield State Forest, is home to central Vermont's largest and most popular campground. The campground has 81 tent/RV sites, 20 lean-tos, and five cabins. Restrooms have flush toilets and hot and cold running water, and three of the four restrooms have coin-operated hot showers. A sanitary dump station is available, but there are no hookups. Within the campground, there are swimming beaches, play areas, a boat launch, ball fields, and boat rentals for campers (for day use boat rentals and swimming, see Waterbury Center, State Park). Adjacent to the park are miles of hiking trails for campers and day use visitors that take in the rich cultural and natural history of the area.
Remote camping: The remote campsites can be reserved online or through the Reservation Call Center at 1-888-409-7579 starting May 19. Those not reserved are first come/first served. Information about open campsites may be found at each access area. Simply find a vacant designated campsite, pitch in and the park ranger will come by to get you registered. Campsites may be used by any single party for up to 7 days with no fees. Every remote campsite has a maximum occupancy of 6 people, unless otherwise posted. There are privies at these sites, but there is no potable water. View remote camping page here.
Today, Little River State Park is one of the most popular parks in central Vermont. Waterbury Reservoir is particularly favored for boating with a portion of the reservoir devoted to quieter uses. Angling for bass and trout is as popular here as water-skiing.>
Enjoy swimming beaches, play areas, boat rentals and a launch, and miles of hiking and mountain bike trails in the adjacent Mt. Mansfield State Forest. Self-guided history and nature trails are located close to the camping area.
$19 - $28 / night
$33 - $75 / night
$46 / night
$19 - $110 / night
$42 - $100 / night
$55 - $70 / night
$29 / night
Legend
General: Large state park with two loops, both of which are lakefront. A mix of primitive sites (no w/e/s), lean-tos, and two cabins, one in each section. Sites/lean-tos are designated premium (lakefront) or non. There is also an ADA-accessible lean-to. Upon check-in, you are given a gate code to enter.
Site Quality: Our site, like all others, was generous in size and a back-in site. Most sites don’t have clearly defined camper pads, and the surface is grass/dirt (or mud if it has rained recently). A large wooden picnic table and fire ring complete the site. There are plentiful trees, so each site has at least some shade and some are very shaded. Lakefront sites have a filtered view of the lake through the trees.
Bath/Shower House: The one closest to us was very clean. Three stalls and one shower. Cold water only at both the sinks and the shower (at least I didn’t get any hot water). The showers do take quarters and although you get five minutes for each quarter (up to 15 quarters, although I can’t imagine taking that long of a shower), it was quite possibly the wimpiest shower I’ve experienced in quite some time. But, after I finished, I saw my quarter had been returned. The toilet paper was so thin, it was nearly transparent!
Activities: Although swimming is allowed, the “beaches” are very small and there was a bacteria warning in place when we were there advising against swimming. There are two boat launch areas, one in each loop. Great for kayaks, and canoes, and we saw what looked like a fishing boat. There was one very annoying motorboat revving its engine while doing circles in the lake. The day-use area has a small, dated playground, fire pit, horseshoe pit, and volleyball net. There is a short nature trail and one other small walking trail. Nearby is access to the Missisquoi Rail Trail.
A surprise was a family of ducks who visited our site when I was outside reading! Our stay was very quiet during the week after Labor Day, but I imagine the vibe is quite different during summer weekends, especially given the sign in the restroom stating that quiet hours are strictly enforced. We were annoyed by one loud boat so I can’t imagine what it would be like if the lake was filled with boaters. This is why we prefer shoulder-season camping!
Legend
This is a small campground, really it's an extension of Stillwater just up the road. Check-in happens at Stillwater, purchase your firewood and drive the 2 min down to Big Deer.
For Vermont, these sites felt close, but we could still get privacy. We did have to change sites due to our neighbors yelling at their kids and using less-than-appropriate language to do so. We could still hear them on the other side of the campground :(
The site itself was nice, even though it lacked privacy.
Boulder Beach Road is an easy dirt road access to these campgrounds.
We had 1 bar of AT&T service.
The bathrooms were adequate, nothing special
But we made a last-minute decision to camp and this was a decent location for that. I would camp here again, but it wouldn't be my first choice.
ScoutOur first time in Vermont, we were coming from Montreal, Quebec. And while there are many nice campsites to visit in Quebec... we've done them all, within a 2-hour radius. Well, guess what? Lake Carmi in Franklin (Enosburg?) Vermont, is less than 1 1/2 hours from Montreal! I think it must be the closest campsite to Quebec, in Vermont. The drive there was really pleasant too. It wasn't all highway. It took us mostly through very scenic routes in both Quebec, and Vermont.
After booking, I had read some bad reviews about the place - which gave me second thoughts. About the staff being very unpleasant, etc. Well I'm happy to say, that turned out to be absolutely untrue! To say that Kathy, Daniel and really, the entire staff that we met, was very friendly to us, is an understatement. They literally saved our bacon!
It's a long story, but in short... our car broke down at one point, and we had to get it towed. Our phone wouldn't work, and it was by the good graces of the Lake Carmi rangers and staff, and the use of their wireless, that we were eventually able to return back home to Canada. I don't know what we would have done, if they weren't there to help us! So - big thanks to the amazing staffers at Lake Carmi.
We had reserved a site by the lake, and saw that the campground itself was quite nice. Just acres and acres of lush green forestation. Clean grounds and washrooms. A beautiful sunset over the lake. No electrical 'pollution'. No noise pollution - except for crickets, in the field. Other than the car trouble - quite a pleasant stay! We'll be returning next year.
Legend
I come back to this area every year; I missed my spring trip this year though. A friend was camping and invited me to join them. We had a site on the B loop, I have only camped on the A loop...
The site was nice with some great rock features, the sites have enough space between them to give privacy, but you know you're not alone. The facilities on the B loop are vintage 1950s, simple clean but not new or the same caliber as the facilities on A loop. Plenty of water faucets on the B loop.
Both A & B are easy to get around on, all of the roads are dirt but well maintained. Both loops have their own Trash and Recyling. The access road into the park is a well-maintained dirt road and about 5 miles long. Look for the bears, and other cutouts creatures in the clearings on the way in.
This campground is remote and it's about 45 min. to the nearest town. There is no cell service, even with a booster. The lake is wonderful.
Scout
DO NOT GO HERE! The rudest and most unprofessional management we have ever encountered. Anywhere. Hands down. I Would need a book to adequately warn people. 1) We were accidentally overcharged and were met with total annoyance by owner when attempting to rectify. Ultimately we were refunded the wrong amount, to the wrong account, which I let slide because the management does not appear to be cognitively able to understand how to compute charges. 2) My bf and his son collected some old dead wood at site to burn(didn’t know it was against rules- not in written policy- although they said it is)and when they were not so warmly reprimanded by the owner on her golf cart full of wine coolers(no judgement here, but, it IS an alcohol free campground. just saying…..), and then immediately radioed for husband for back up in his golf cart(no wine coolers there…) to reprimand us even further! Completely unnecessary, as they had already stopped collecting wood when first told- but he did let us in on a fun fact- that they(the Campground)“let people have fires here,without training!” Which we thought was odd, and hysterically funny. It’s a campground!! We’re supposed to feel grateful they allowed campfires- without training?😂 3) Lastly& most importantly, my boyfriend poked his head in the bathroom at 7 am while the lady was cleaning- not their regular scheduled cleaning time- and he REALLY needed to go, and politely, from the door, asked how long she might be. He just wanted know if he should wait or to look for someplace else to go, and he was absolutely chastised by the cleaning lady when she came out! She was absolutely nasty and rude to him! When we mentioned this incident we were told by employee(golf cart man) that we had no right to ask her questions! He told us she was going through a rough time in her life(who isn’t?) and that she having personal issues(kind of agreeing that, yes, can be a bitch), and something about somebody’s pregnant and her husband wants to ring her neck? We couldn’t really follow because we were all still trying to process the“you’re lucky we let you have a campfire without training“comment. Obviously, We had already decided we would never be back, and have already made reservations elsewhere for our fall trip- but when I got home today, I opened a scathing email(sent 2 days ago) from the owner ACCUSING my bf of“HARASSMENT” of the the cleaning lady! Who, she claimed, was very fearful because a male popped his head in the door while she was alone, and asked her a simple question! Cleaning lady can rest assured, that if she was the last woman on this planet, my bf wouldn’t touch her with an 10 foot pole. She was most definitely in no danger. The owner then wrote that we are now banned from their campground!!!😂 She also asked us to leave two days early- which I was not aware of until I read the email after I got home! All because my bf asked somebody a question, I asked to be billed to be correctly, and we tried to burn a dead log. That is INSANE! Let’s just say, it would not have been well received and that they are extremely lucky we were blissfully unaware of her email and finished out our stay, because if we had known then that she was falsely accusing my bf of harassment, it would not have gone well for them. Her accusation of harassment is BOLD FACED LIE!!! All of this has been mind blowing, but she really took my anger to a whole new level when she sent me that nasty email- and then she BLOCKED me from responding! She also blocked me from FB- so I couldn’t leave a review there! She took it way too far…. They have had other similar poor reviews in the past, which they respond to by calling the reviewers liars, and then making up ridiculous lies about them- which I fully anticipate they will do here. DO NOT BELIEVE A WORD OF WHAT THEY SAY.We have NEVER had problems like this with any business! Ever. We are LIVID that my bf is being FALSELY accused of harassment, and we do not take it lightly. THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT RIGHT IN THE HEAD.
Scout
Stay in a 45' motorhome for a couple nights. Going up to mt Washington to ride the cog rail
ScoutStayed the last weekend in June and I was able to book the site 3 days prior. I was shocked there was still availability. Self check-in, no alcohol allowed and quiet hours start at 10:00 p.m. and fires out by 11:00 p.m. Who I believe to be the owners working in the store at the entrance were super friendly and helpful. My site wasn't the greatest (#32) as it seemed to be one of the few that was sort of out in the open and within view of numerous other sites. Not much seclusion but almost every other site seem to be more secluded. The riverfront sights looked absolutely beautiful and some had better/ easier access to the water then others. We had our travel trailer and it was easy to get it in and out and the dump station was conveniently located on the way out as well as the dumpster for trash. There are quite a few tent sites and our site was right near the clean bathroom and showers. We didn't eat there but there's also a pizza place at the entrance too. Everything is within walking distance.
Will go back again for sure but would look for a river front site next time!
Guide
The first thing that happened is you go over the train tracks to go to the office to register and you have to turn your rig around to go to Riverside which the sites are extremely small had a 42 foot fifth wheel and took me 15 minutes to get set so I could disconnect. good thing there was no one next to me on both sides so I had room to move around otherwise I would’ve never made it in there. The view is beautiful. The lake is pretty. They have seasonals set up on the lake and when we were there, they were pretty obnoxious and loud cursing every two seconds no one came around to check anything. They have a lot of rules, but they don’t enforce any of them. If you want to go to pull through you go on the other side of the camp where you have to climb a huge hill and then maneuver around to get into a pull through that’s only about 10 foot wide. So my suggestion would be if you have a small camper great if you have anything over 30 feet find somewhere else.
Legend
Pros: Full hookup (sewer, water, 50 AMP) 1.7 mile from #7 Ranked World's Best Disc Golf Course: Fox Run Meadows New fire ring New picnic table Gorgeous Mountain View
Cons: Grass site No amenities No Wi-Fi Soft ground, sinked during setup
Guide
There are a number of nice campsites right on the lake, but even if you don’t have a waterfront site, there is a public boat launch. There is a dishwashing station, laundry facilities, showers, and bathrooms, all very clean. Perfect for fishing, hiking, and kayaking.
ScoutBeen camping here since I was a kid and will forever continue the tradition! So peaceful and beautiful
Traveler
We generally enyojed our stay. Really nice reservoir. However the campground is a bit pricey and doesn’t offer dishwashing sinks. You need to somehow fill water in some kind of bucket and then make a mess on your campsite..
RangerNice, wooded sites. Staff was great and very helpful. I didn't see the restrooms with the showers on the one end of the campground, but the restrooms I did see on the end that I stayed were like outhouses but with flushable toilets--kinda meh.
RangerNice, wooded sites. The restroom is a bit dated and dingy, but clean. The shower is coin-operated and could offer a bit more privacy (the stall wall is quite low and right next to the door entering the restroom.)
Guidewe camped here in early October and it was gorgeous. Well spaced out sites. Friendly staff , flush toilets, showers, Quiet and peaceful. Good spot to summit Mansfield from.
Ranger
Nice access and right by the river. Close to a lot of hiking trails and other areas. One main drawback close to the road so a decent amount of road noise. No Verizon and starlink was spotty.
LegendWe made the mistake of camping here for the 4th of July and should have known better, especially with a dog terrified of fireworks! While they aren't allowed in the State Park, much of the lake is private property...so between the rule breakers and the private land owners this was a cacophony of noise for days. The other bummer about this park in particular is that many of the sites were marked as reserved even though they sat empty for the three nights we were there and many of them were lakeside. Sadly, no shows don't forfeit their sites which was frustrating.
Our site, though not on the water, was nice and had a lean-to. The nice new bathhouse was also very much appreciated. Though it seemed that the drainage system could use some work, as the showers continually backed pretty far up. Thank goodness for shower shoes!
The campground employee was incredibly talkative and a little nosy but we didn't mind it so much sense we are generally well behaved campers.
Our site was spacious and we enjoyed having a lean-to for some shade. It easily accommodated two vehicles, two canoes, three dogs and four humans. Firewood and ice are readily available. Be prepared to drive a fair distance down gravel roads to get there.
There are a few hiking trails available in the park as well as several public access points to the lake. There is also a small swimming area/beach.
Guide
I really liked the campground but I was upset that they didn’t say anything about flood damage to their beach . It’s a beautiful spot and the area is great but the beach and boat dock are gone so you need to rent a boat to go swimming.
Legend
Jake from the Dyrt here! The Brook Run Dog Retreat is new to the Dyrt but offer a great glamping facility and is perfect for dog lovers and owners. Check them out and make sure to leave a review on the Dyrt!
Scout
All about the family, from the owners to the guests family friendly first
Legend
General: 30 RV plus 11 tent sites right on Route 104 in Fairfax.
Site Quality: RV sites are arranged around an oval. Pads are gravel. Because the loop is on a hill, some sites are not quite level, but only slightly. The sites on the outside of the loop are more desirable but they were not available when I reserved three months in advance (the campground was full on a weekday at the end of September). There are a lot of trees but limited privacy between sites.
Bathhouse/Shower: The bathroom was clean with two stalls. Soap and paper towels. One shower that takes quarters, but I did not use so cannot comment on it.
Activities/Amenities: The office has a small store. Firewood is available. Horseshoes and a basketball hoop on a grassy area and a play structure for kids but no other activities. We appreciated the on-site laundry (which was stocked with books and brochures as well as a table and chairs) as otherwise we would have had to find a laundromat.
This is small but compact campground. It was just an overnight stay for us, so it worked for one night.
LegendGeneral: 70 tent/RV sites and 20 lean-to sites plus five cabins divided into two areas on Waterbury Reservoir.
Site Quality: Good separation and decent-sized, wooded sites.
Bathhouse/Shower: Basic but clean
Activities: Boating, swimming, and hiking. Plus a nature center.
We came here to hike the Dalley Loop Trail (which is a great trail full of history), but we wish we had camped here instead of the private campground 45 minutes away where we did stay. The access road is a bit rough but navigable by all vehicles. The park is beautifully maintained and there are many more trails to explore so it is on our list for a return trip to Vermont!
LegendWe brought our friends to this remote park in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. This park offers many outdoor recreational opportunities. We were able rent kayaks and explore the lake. Many looons and other waterfowl were spotted as well. The park also has a nice hiking trail that scales part of the lake. Because it is so remote from civilization we were also able to relax in our spacious and semi secluded sites.
LegendSince this park is close to where we live, it has become our go to for a quick camping fix. Our family has camped here often. Our latest visit to camp was in July of 2021. July is a busy time of the year for them and most of the sites were taken. We managed to get a handicapped accessible site on the water. Our dog Mia loved the handicapped ramp.
The park is large with 2 loops that can accommodate campers and tents. They have many leanto sites and a couple of cabins. Sites are spaced out for privacy and seclusion. The large lake is being revitalized by an aeration system which has brought back the use of the 2 nice beaches. The main beach is more for day use but there is a campers beach in loop B. There are 2 boat launches which makes for convenient access to the lake for varied recreation. Walleye fishing has always been good here. Sunsets aren't too bad either.
Since it is a large and busy park, it has been known to get a little rowdy at times. Law enforcement now patrols the park which has helped considerably.
GuideCame to this campground for a quick night’s stay and I was so bummed out to stay one night! Visited during the peak fall foliage time and the site was so beautiful!
I stayed at the site 11, which was a walk-in site but the walk was only 15 steps from the car so it wasn’t that of a big deal. The site was leveled nicely and had a nice privacy as well. While I could hear them, could not see them very well.
Bathroom was nice and it was close to hiking trails, restaurants and nearby attractions. Would definitely come back and stay for couple nights if I do get a chance next time.
RangerThis is a large campground with many opportunities to hike and/or mountain bike on different trails. Also a large reservoir with boating access and stunning views of the fall foliage along the water. We stayed at site 13 our first night. It’s one of the first campsites when entering and shared driveway/camping area with site 14. It was nice but a lot of better sites in the park. We also stayed at cherry lean to which was on a slight hill (pretty level once you are up the hill driveway) and it was spacious and nice. Once again it was a shared driveway with the lean to next door but still allowed privacy and great views of the water. It’s not level with the water and has a steep hill down and not accessible from the site
RangerThis campground just outside of Stowe on the way to the drive up and through Smugglers Notch. It’s only a campground with no access to trails unless you hike down a pretty steep road to Glen Falls parking area. They do have nice bathrooms and showers and it’s probably the cheapest place to sleep while visiting Stowe. We stayed at lean to Spruce. The spot was level and fit our van. Not much privacy between the other lean to’s next to us though.
Frequently Asked Questions
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