Glamping sites near Belvidere Center, Vermont range in elevation from 600 to 2,700 feet, offering varied experiences from lakeside to mountain settings. The area gets 43 inches of annual precipitation with summer temperatures averaging 75-80°F during peak season. Winter camping options exist at select locations with lean-tos available for snow enthusiasts.
What to do
Hiking access points: Little River State Park Campground features excellent trails directly from campsites with historical elements. "The hiking trails are really good—they're actually pretty steep. There are lots of old foundations hidden on the trails that are fun to discover," shares Rita M.
Off-season adventures: At Smugglers Notch State Park Campground, winter access provides uncrowded experiences. "Free of charge during off season, you just have to call a couple weeks ahead to reserve and make sure you park in the allotted area. Hike/snowshoe in to your site as the gate is closed and the area is not plowed... Right in the middle of great nordic and alpine backcountry skiing and snowshoeing," explains Ed M.
Water activities: Lake Carmi State Park Campground offers multiple water access points for various crafts. "There are two boat launch areas, one in each loop. Great for kayaks, and canoes, and we saw what looked like a fishing boat," notes Lee D., though adding caution about water conditions: "Although swimming is allowed, the 'beaches' are very small and there was a bacteria warning in place when we were there."
Mountain biking: Trails near glamping sites in Belvidere Center allow for various skill levels, with several campgrounds providing direct trail access. At Singing Wood Farm, "you can gravel bike right from the field. We built a number of rides with Ride with GPS, leaving from their site," according to Heather C.
What campers like
Site privacy: Smugglers Notch State Park Campground earns praise for spacious, secluded sites. "Pristine facilities, private camp sites and a beautiful area. Smuggler's Notch is close enough to Stowe to not be a hassle to drive to, but far enough away that it's quiet and remote," explains Ben C. Another camper notes, "Campsites are well spaced. Some of the campsites on the outside ring you need to walk into (a very short distance), but it makes it feel very secluded and less like car camping."
Waterfront locations: Lake Carmi State Park Campground offers different water-view options. "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," reports Lee D. "Most sites don't have clearly defined camper pads, and the surface is grass/dirt (or mud if it has rained recently). Lakefront sites have a filtered view of the lake through the trees."
Urban accessibility: North Beach Campground provides both natural settings and city convenience. "Burlington is my favorite city by far, and this campground is right on the beach! Biking into Burlington takes 5-10 minutes and you're also right on the beach of Lake Champlain," shares Brittany R. Another camper adds, "We stay every year for the Vermont City Marathon. It is a convenient bike ride down the bike path to the waterside park. Easy access to all of Burlington by bike."
Car-free experience: For those seeking glamping in Belvidere Center and surrounding areas, certain sites offer unique transportation approaches. Singing Wood Farm provides "a private landowners land, and she has up to 5-6 campers at any point in time. Sites are set up with picnic or other small tables, and randomly spread out across the field."
What you should know
Lean-to availability: Several parks offer lean-to structures as alternatives to traditional tent sites. At Little River State Park Campground, "true to northeast tradition many of the camp sites are lean-to style," notes Harry H., while Burton Island's primitive areas feature "four very nice remote campsites on the S.E. side of the island. Wake up to stunning sunrises and spectacular views of the Green Mountains."
Seasonal limitations: Water quality concerns arise at certain times. Lake Carmi campers report: "The lake had green algae and we spotted several dead fish floating. It made me nervous about the water." Weather conditions also impact the experience as "sites are grass/dirt (or mud if it has rained recently)."
Reservation timing: Popular glamping locations require advance planning. "Reserve early, as this place doesn't have a ton of sites and it fills up quickly!" warns Ben C. about Smugglers Notch. For Burton Island, waterfront sites "book very quickly (like 11 months in advance)."
Shower situations: Bathroom and shower facilities vary widely. "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), it was quite possibly the wimpiest shower I've experienced in quite some time," shares one Lake Carmi visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Water activity options: Little River State Park Campground offers multiple water experiences. "The reservoir is a fun place to explore via kayak and canoe as well as by motorboat! We tend to hang at the site more than the beaches as the beaches are very small and full of children," notes Hannah H.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated kids' areas. Lake Carmi State Park includes "a small, dated playground, fire pit, horseshoe pit, and volleyball net," though families should note "there is a short nature trail and one other small walking trail."
Child-oriented programming: At Prouty Beach Campground, families can find organized activities. "During our stay, there was an ongoing summer camp for kids... While the kids were not in the campground, we constantly heard them and they used all parts of the park," shares Nancy W., noting both the benefits and challenges.
Educational opportunities: Historical features engage curious kids. Little River State Park Campground offers exploration of abandoned settlements: "There are lots of old foundations hidden on the trails that are fun to discover."
Tips from RVers
Electrical considerations: When glamping with RVs near Belvidere Center, power quality varies by location. At Prouty Beach, one camper noted: "Our electric was problematic. Granted it was hot while we were there (in the high 80's and low 90's) our electric pedestal showed readings between 110 and 115 volts which was constantly cutting off our air conditioners."
Site leveling challenges: Singing Wood Farm requires extra effort for larger rigs. "The sites in the field are generally un-level, and we had to really work to level our trailer. While we were there, there were car campers, tent campers, and a class C rv, in addition to us in our travel trailer," reports Heather C.
Hookup availability: Many glamping sites near Belvidere Center lack full hookups. At Lake Carmi State Park, a camper notes: "The only major drawback is lack of cell service & power... you can fill up the camper with water on the way in but no sites have any hookups. And there are few that are big enough for large RVs."
Connectivity concerns: Cell service and internet access vary widely. "Strangely Verizon has strong signal but bandwidth issues/very slow to stopped at times... AT&T works better and u can do WebEx's. WiFi does not reach entire campground but it's decent when you get it," shares Ted D. about Prouty Beach Campground.
