Glamping options near Brandon, Vermont offer outdoor experiences across a variety of terrain spanning the Green Mountains to Lake Champlain. The region sits at elevations ranging from 400 to 2,500 feet with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak season. Most glamping sites operate from Memorial Day through mid-October, with some locations closing earlier due to colder nights in higher elevations.
What to do
Hiking at Deer Leap Trail: Access this moderate 4-mile round trip trail directly from Gifford Woods State Park Campground, providing hikers with mountain views without excessive difficulty. "We stayed in the Elm lean-to, which sits up on a wooded hill... You can hike up to Deer Leep, around Kent Pond, or to Thundering Falls right from the campground," notes reviewer Tara S.
Kayaking on Half Moon Pond: Paddle the calm waters at Half Moon Pond State Park Campground where waterfront sites allow direct boat launch access. A visitor shared, "We stayed in site T06, which is right on the water. We were easily able to go straight from the tent to our kayak, which was so awesome."
Swimming in Emerald Lake: The turquoise waters at Emerald Lake State Park Campground provide refreshing swimming options during summer months. "Swimmers can swim out the a small island in the middle of the lake and check out the rope swing," reports one camper who visited the park multiple times.
What campers like
Private, spacious sites: Moose Hillock Camping Resorts earns high marks for site layout and privacy. "The sites at this park are huge. You could have parked three RVs in our site. Added bonus is that there is nice separation between sites with trees and shrubs that block out your neighbors and provide lots of privacy," explains Nancy W.
Clean bathroom facilities: Quechee State Park Campground consistently receives praise for its well-maintained facilities. One camper noted it "Might be the nicest bathrooms I've seen in decades of camping," while another added, "The bathrooms are immaculate with coin (quarters) operated showers."
Waterfront access: Several campgrounds offer direct water access, with Lake Bomoseen KOA providing multiple water recreation options. "This campground is located on lake bomoseen...It has three pools. A kiddie pool, a water slide pool and a larger pool that goes from 3 ft to 6 ft. There is a boat launch and docks to keep your boat," explains Becca D.
What you should know
Limited connectivity: Many glamping sites have minimal or no cell service. At Lake Bomoseen KOA, "There is NO cell coverage and the Wi-Fi is poor and very slow if you can connect," cautions Dave S., while another reviewer mentioned, "Cell services on ATT and TMobile were nonexistent. Campground WiFi is a joke (less than 1mbps)."
Weather preparation: The region experiences significant temperature drops at night, even in summer. Pack additional layers as temperatures can fall 20-30°F after sunset, especially at higher elevation sites.
Quarter requirements: Most shower facilities require quarters. "Don't forget to bring quarters for the shower," advises one Emerald Lake visitor, while others mention costs ranging from 25¢ to $1 per shower at various parks.
Tips for camping with families
Best swimming options: Button Bay State Park Campground offers both pool and lake swimming opportunities. "There is a pool for swimming, paved roads are good for bikes & scooters, pavilion for activities, lake for swimming & fishing and hiking trails," notes a reviewer who found it particularly suitable for families.
Kid-friendly activities: Look for parks with organized programs. "Rangers also run fun programs for children- my children churned butter and made popcorn over the campfire one night, and made tie dyed T-shirts the next (for no fee)" shares a parent who visited Quechee State Park.
Site selection strategy: For families with young children, avoid steeply situated sites. At Emerald Lake, one camper advises, "If you have little ones, check out the map before you reserve a site and find one on the opposite side of the ledge."
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup availability: Full hookups are scarce in Vermont state parks, with most offering primitive camping only. "No hookups but the bathrooms are clean and the showers ($) are hot," explains a Susan E. about Rogers Rock Campground.
Dump station access: Most campgrounds with RV access provide dump stations even when they don't offer sewer hookups. "No hookups but have a dump station," confirms one Button Bay visitor, while others note most state parks offer similar arrangements.
Site leveling challenges: Many campsites require additional work for RV leveling. "Site 16 is one of the smaller sites and is not super level, but we were able to get the Subaru backed in and relatively level for camping," reports Emil from Gifford Woods, reflecting a common situation at state park campgrounds.
