Best Campgrounds near Bennington, VT
Camping near Bennington, Vermont encompasses a range of options from established state parks to free dispersed sites within the Green Mountain National Forest. Woodford State Park, situated at the highest elevation of all Vermont state campgrounds, surrounds Adams Reservoir and provides waterfront sites, cabins, and tent camping opportunities. Just north of Bennington, Camping on the Battenkill offers riverside sites with full amenities for RVs and tent campers. For those seeking more primitive experiences, the George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed camping area provides free, basic sites with minimal facilities. Greenwood Lodge & Campsites in Bennington and Pine Hollow Campground in nearby Pownal round out the established options with various hookups and amenities.
Most campgrounds in the Bennington area operate seasonally from mid-May through mid-October, with state parks typically opening Memorial Day weekend and closing Columbus Day weekend. Winter camping is extremely limited, with most facilities closed and unplowed. Fire restrictions vary by location and season, with all campfires requiring established fire rings in developed sites. Bear activity is present throughout the region, particularly in the Green Mountain National Forest areas, requiring proper food storage. Weather conditions can change rapidly due to elevation differences, with Woodford State Park notably cooler than valley locations during summer heat waves.
The camping experiences vary significantly by location. State parks like Woodford and nearby Molly Stark offer natural settings with basic amenities including showers, drinking water, and picnic tables, but no electric hookups. According to reviews, "Woodford has two beaches, a larger day-use area with tables and grills and a smaller campers beach in the park's third loop." Private campgrounds provide more amenities including full hookups for RVs, while dispersed sites in the national forest require self-sufficiency with no facilities. Most campgrounds are dog-friendly, though specific rules vary by location. Fall camping is particularly popular for foliage viewing, with one visitor noting that "the fall foliage is unreal" at Woodford State Park.