1 campground with availability next weekend
In the Green Mountains surrounding Bolton, Vermont, tent campers find options ranging from remote backcountry sites to established campgrounds with basic amenities. Underhill State Park Campground offers walk-in tent sites with drinking water and toilets available, while Camel's Hump State Park provides more primitive tent camping experiences accessed via hiking trails. Several dispersed camping areas exist in the nearby Green Mountain National Forest, including sites along Forest Road 25 that provide a more secluded tent camping experience.
Campers should anticipate varying surface conditions at tent sites, from compacted dirt pads at state parks to uneven forest terrain at backcountry locations. Most established tent campgrounds provide fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities differ significantly between locations. Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites require boat access and feature minimal facilities with composting toilets shared between sites. The dispersed camping areas along Route 100 offer free primitive tent camping with some picnic tables, but no drinking water or restroom facilities. During peak summer weekends, tent sites at popular areas like Mount Philo State Park fill quickly, with reservations required months in advance.
Tent-only areas around Bolton provide access to extensive trail networks, with many campsites positioned near water features. The remote tent sites at Waterbury Reservoir offer exceptional privacy and peaceful surroundings, though accessing them requires additional planning and equipment. Sites at Indian Brook Reservoir can be reached either by foot or boat, with several tent platforms nestled in the woods. The area's backcountry tent camping opportunities often require more self-sufficiency but reward campers with greater solitude. A camper noted that at Patterson Brookside camp, "There are a handful of sites to camp at along the river here, each offering a slightly different experience. The dirt road along the river is an easy drive, though it is single lane in a few locations."
"Camp spots were far enough away from one another, trees helped with privacy, and the tent site had a great area to setup the tent.
Facilities were accessible and clean.""Very primitive and quiet campground. Great staff and campsites. No shower but one of the best weeks I had camping in a while. Will definitely go back this year."
"The bathroom is a composting toilet that you’ll share with fishing spiders the size of your hand, slam the lid before use!"
"Little river st park wide flat camp sites no hookups limited gen. Use hours 8am/10am and 4pm/6pm. Rough road coming5th to campground. Very quite. cell phone t mobile works fine."
"This is a short and sweet hike to one of the higher points in Vermont. It is a beautiful scenic (somewhat strenuous) hike to the summit. The views are pretty epic though."
"Great tent site, site 1 can have 3 platform and fire pit"
from $10 / night
"apparently this is the first state park in Vermont. Only 8 campsites so try to book early. Nice trails that lead to scenic views of Lake Champlain. Bathrooms and showers were clean."
"There are less than 20 sites total, and all sites are near walk-in paths to excellent views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks or the Green Mountains. The facility is small, but adequate."
from $23 / night
"There is an extensive trail system that is easy to navigate. Nestled in the woods are several tent platforms that you can access by foot or by boat. They are spacious but not too private."
"I mistakenly assumed they had drive up campsites. They do not. It was a 15 minute hike to the site, so pack light. If you have a kayak, you can transport your stuff over."
from $21 - $36 / night
"Includes picnic tables and a fire ring. It is located in the mountains of Vermont and right next to a beautiful river. The only con was the highway noise since it's pretty close to the road."
"Right off the road, a small handful of camp sites, some picnic tables, presumably some fire rings although with snow coverage I didn’t see any."
"All the sites were full when I visited (6 to 8 sites, approximately, but i didn't go down a couple little gravel paths to check each spot as you couldn't turn around easily) , so I didn't get to camp there"
"Beautiful sites on the River but with the wet summer, we just couldn’t dry out. Make sure to lock you valuables. Our Jackery, Solar panels & toilet were stolen."
"Weather was not cooperative and my fiancé and I were able to rent one of the cabins for our second night. We will definitely recommend it to others and we will be back again."
"The small amount of camping space made the experience quite unique and private. The host, Dianne, was really friendly. Many amenities such as wood, water and outhouse nearby. Very nice experience."
from $35 - $45 / night
"It’s a primitive park, perfect for paddling, wild camping, swimming, and watching wildlife. The reservoir is 653 acres with 19 miles of shoreline. There are 27 campsites and two group camspites."
"I love this location because you have to paddle out to a site for camping. It‘s private, quiet, and really gives you that “forest bathing” escape."
from $20 - $50 / night
"Spacious sites with fire rings. Shade is limited at certain times of the day. Nice hiking trails nearbye."
"When we booked our Labor Day weekend tent site back in March, there were only 2 leantos (out of 26) left and a handful of tent sites (out of 14)."
ScoutFirst trip with our new RV and we were a little nervous about getting everything set up. Having full hookups made it way less complicated than we expected. Once we were settled, we just enjoyed the area and took a few day trips. Would definatly come back for another Adirondack trip.
ScoutWe came up for a quick Adirondack getaway and ended up spending most of our time outside. A little disc golf, some time by the pool, dinner at the site and plenty of walks with the dog. Pretty much everything we wanted out of the trip.
ScoutOne of the best parts for us was not having to pack up the RV every time we wanted to go somewhere. We stayed put and explored the Adirondacks from here. Lake Champlain, Ausable Chasm and a bunch of other spots were all easy to get to.
ScoutHaving the river and Adirondacks nearby made for a really nice change of scenery. We spent our days exploring and came back to the campground for dinner and a fire.
GuideThere was a few sites 5-6 we didn’t get to the eastern loop. But the sites we saw were very secluded. All had fire pits ours had a picnic table. And was right next to the creek. Would highly recommend if you want to get away from city lights. All sites are not maintained. We had a small off road camper it was easy In and out some sites could be hard with larger pull behinds. Some sites might need 4wd to get in and out we had lots of mud after a lot of rain.
GuideMost sites are secluded. There is a creepy old cemetery in walking distance. Nice showers on site !!
GuideWe had the upper sites all drive in or small camper. And or Tent. Amazing rolling brook beautiful sites we had site 32. The lower ones are rv. The owner gave us free wood as it was end of season. We were there Oct 10 I’m not sure but think they close the 13
ScoutWe were looking for somewhere to stay while checking out Ausable Chasm and this worked out really well. Easy drive over, then back to the camper in the afternoon. Made the whole trip alot easier.
ScoutWe only planned on staying a few nights but ended up adding another week. Once we got settled in, it was hard to leave.
Primitive camping options abound in the forests and mountains surrounding Bolton, Vermont, with elevations ranging from 500 to over 4,000 feet across nearby wilderness areas. Sites vary significantly based on elevation, with higher-altitude locations experiencing temperatures 10-15 degrees cooler than valley locations. Most dispersed camping areas don't require reservations but operate on a first-come, first-served basis during the May to October camping season.
Hiking Mansfield trails: From Underhill State Park Campground, campers access the mountain with minimal travel. "The campground is in a perfect spot. About a .3 mile hike to the main trail to climb the mountain. The camp sites are nice but a little close together," reports Sam T. Trails range from moderate to challenging, with some requiring scrambling over rocks.
Water activities: Reservoir access for paddling and fishing requires additional planning. "We were here on a Friday & Saturday nights. Friday night had the whole place to ourselves. Saturday night all spots filled. We had quiet and respectful neighbors... Gorgeous stream/river…love the river sounds," notes Sigrid O. about the dispersed camping areas along Forest Road 25.
Dark sky viewing: Many remote camping areas provide excellent stargazing opportunities with minimal light pollution. A reviewer at Underhill State Park mentioned "a night sky to die for!" Many remote sites lack ambient light, making them ideal for astronomy enthusiasts during clear nights.
Natural features: Camel's Hump State Park offers higher elevation camping with distinctive environmental zones. "This is a short and sweet hike to one of the higher points in Vermont. It is a beautiful scenic (somewhat strenuous) hike to the summit. The views are pretty epic though. The designated primitive camping area is about 1.5 miles into the hike," says Kate K.
Site separation: Many campers value privacy between sites. "Sites 1, 6 and 8 and the best if you're only camping with those at your site as they're the most secluded and private. Sites 2 and 3 are more open, to both each other, and to those en route to the bathrooms," explains Drew Q. about Mount Philo State Park.
Wildlife observation: The quieter, more remote sites provide opportunities to view native wildlife. At Green River Reservoir State Park, "Be sure to paddle out to the Beaver Meadow - we have seen moose there several times," shares Tara S. The reservoir offers 19 miles of undeveloped shoreline for wildlife watching.
Reservation requirements: While dispersed camping areas typically don't require reservations, established campgrounds book quickly. At Mount Philo State Park Campground, "Only 8 campsites, dispersed in the trees. $23/night. Picnic table and fire pit. Moderate cell service. Nice hikes and cool views of the area!" notes Kaelin P.
Access limitations: Some of the best tent camping near Bolton, Vermont requires special transportation. "These remote sites are so peaceful. Be sure to launch from cotton brook road if your site r11-27. We made the mistake of parking at little River rd the first time and the paddle to r14 from there was way too long," advises Julia S. about Waterbury Reservoir.
Weather variability: Mountain weather can change rapidly, especially at higher elevations. "Beautiful sites on the River but with the wet summer, we just couldn't dry out," reports Melissa M. about camping along FR25. Sites closer to water features tend to have higher humidity levels throughout the camping season.
Beginner-friendly options: For families with young children, consider sites with easier access. "This is the best of car camping - you get the feel of really being out in the woods, with your car a short distance away. They provide wheelbarrows for easy moving of your stuff, and the campsites are super clean and well organized," shares Ali T. about Underhill State Park.
Water safety considerations: Sites near water require additional supervision. "The Resevoir lends itself to peaceful boating, nature watching and great fishing," explains reviewer M.A.D. P. about Indian Brook Reservoir. Families should note that most water access points lack lifeguards.
Bathroom facilities: Toilet facilities vary dramatically between sites. "Bathrooms were very clean. Coin-op shower with hot water is 50 cents for 5 minutes, 75 cents for 7:30, etc. The toilets are composing toilets, but from the user experience, it's very close to a regular toilet," reports Drew Q. about Mount Philo.
Size restrictions: Most dispersed camping areas near Bolton have limited space for larger vehicles. "Small number of sites and a bit hard to find," notes Gerald P. about the Forest Road 25 dispersed camping area. Sites typically accommodate vehicles under 25 feet in length.
Road conditions: Accessing Black Creek Maple's Nature Escape requires navigating narrow forest roads. "We spent the night at this beautiful campsite with a magnificent view of Mount Mansfield. The small amount of camping space made the experience quite unique and private," reports Émylie B. Most Forest Service roads leading to campsites are unpaved and may become difficult to navigate during wet conditions.
Limited hookups: Most camping areas near Bolton provide no utilities. Even established campgrounds offer minimal services, prioritizing tent campers over RVs. RVers should prepare to be self-contained with water and power needs for the duration of their stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Bolton, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Bolton, VT is Underhill State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Bolton, VT?
TheDyrt.com has all 39 tent camping locations near Bolton, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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