Camping in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom offers visitors an outdoor experience at elevations ranging from 700-1,000 feet above sea level. Barton sits on the northern edge of Lake Crystal at 922 feet elevation, with seasonal temperature swings from below freezing to summer highs in the 70s-80s°F. The region features a mix of forest, mountains, and waterways creating varied camping environments throughout the year.
What to Do
Hiking mountain trails: Brighton State Park offers multiple hiking options from easy to challenging. "Near by are all sorts of awesome hiking trails. Boreal forest. THE best. Some of my favorite photos from hiking... The Moose Observation Platform is no lie. We saw one, crossing the road right by it when we were about to give up!" according to Brighton State Park Campground reviewer Tina D.
Kayaking and swimming: Lakeside Camping provides water recreation opportunities on Island Pond. "Kayaking is great," notes reviewer Dena A., while Cathy R. adds, "The beach is the best! Not overcrowded. Great place to go kayaking, jump off the dock, or go search for the log!"
Biking trails: Camp Kiki offers direct trail access for bikers. "This place is amazing! We had two nights here and I wish we could have stayed longer. We could hop on our bikes and hit the trails from our site! Short walk or ride to town for food, music, and supplies," reports Cami B.
What Campers Like
Clean facilities: Kingdom Campground receives high marks for cleanliness. "Clean, quiet, friendly and full-featured campground in northeastern Vermont," writes Rick G., while Nick adds, "Very clean and quiet campground mostly set up for RVs. All RV sites have water, sewer, and electric. Tent sites have water and electric. Toilets and showers were very clean."
Waterfront access: Many pet-friendly camping sites near Barton provide lakefront options. "Many campsites, some close together, some more remote, all very pleasant and well kept. Ice and fire wood for sale on site," notes Julie N. about Brighton State Park.
Wildlife viewing: The Northeast Kingdom's wilderness setting offers opportunities to see local wildlife. "A beautiful cozy little park with allot to do for the whole family, we went late to see or hear allot of loans but we still heard some," reports Kyle B. about Brighton State Park.
What You Should Know
Seasonal timing: The camping season in the Barton area typically runs May through October. "We are here for their last weekend the campground is open. Foliage is just past peak, the staff is friendly, the store is pretty well stocked and everything is clean and tidy," notes Keith L. about Kingdom Campground.
Cost considerations: Most tent sites in the region range from $30-40 per night. "The sites are $30 per night (tents) and $40-$45 I believe for RV/Campers," reports Robin P. about Belview Campground.
Weather preparedness: Vermont's mountain climate requires preparation for changing conditions. "We stayed in the Poplar lean-to, which was very private, with a short trail leading down to the lake. Some of the other sites are right on the water, which would have been nice too! We visited just as the foliage season was getting underway, end of September is peak this year," writes Tara S.
Tips for Camping with Families
Multiple water features: Tree Corners Family Campground provides water activities specifically designed for kids. "Massive campground made mostly for those with kids. They have two separate pools and hot tubs for kids and adults. Tons of other activities for kids- splash pad, water slides, playground, basketball court, etc," shares Mallory P.
Beach access: Several campgrounds offer lakefront beaches ideal for families. "The campsite itself is beautiful. Maintance on campground is very well attended and kept very clean all over. It is on a gorgeous lake to sit by on the beach and watch the stars at night," mentions Justina C. about Brighton State Park.
Nature education: Wildlife viewing opportunities create learning experiences. "We went late to see or hear allot of loans but we still heard some we'll definitely be camping here again!" reports Kyle B., while Heather O. adds, "Love camping in the lean-tos! My boyfriend & I camp here on a yearly basis with his fam. Love listening to the loons in the morning."
Tips from RVers
Hookup details: Most RV-friendly campgrounds near Barton offer various hookup levels. "The sites vary like all RV parks but there were options for seclusion. The employees were kind and helpful and the store wall small but had the necessities. Showers were 50 cents for 5 minutes," notes Natalie N. about Will-O-Wood Campground.
Site spacing: Some campgrounds provide more privacy between RV sites than others. "Our site (#103) was long enough to fit our rig but we had to squeeze the car in front. The site was level and all the hookups were well-placed and worked fine," shares Nancy W. about Mountain View Campground.
Internet connectivity: Cell service varies widely throughout the region. "For fellow work from homers - Strangely Verizon has strong signal but bandwidth issues/very slow to stopped at times - not just me but confirmed by office rep. AT&T works better and u can do WebEx's. WiFi does not reach entire campground but it's decent when you get it," advises Ted D. about Prouty Beach Campground.
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