Camping options around Mendon, Vermont range from developed state parks to dispersed sites in the Green Mountain National Forest. Gifford Woods State Park Campground near Killington offers tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and glamping accommodations with amenities including drinking water, showers, and toilets. Coolidge State Park Campground in Plymouth provides more rustic camping with tent and RV sites but no electric hookups. For those seeking a more primitive experience, Michigan Brook Road in the Green Mountain National Forest offers free dispersed camping with minimal facilities.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from late May through mid-October, with state parks typically opening Memorial Day weekend and closing around Columbus Day. Winter access to dispersed camping areas like Michigan Brook can be limited as dirt roads become impassable due to snow and mud. Reservations are recommended for developed campgrounds, especially during peak foliage season in September and October. The Green Mountain National Forest permits dispersed camping with appropriate setbacks from water sources and trails. Cell service varies throughout the region, with better coverage near towns and limited reception in more remote forest areas. A visitor noted that "Michigan Brook is open for camping year-round but probably only accessible in Spring through early Fall because the dirt road is not plowed. Beware that in Spring the road gets muddy and quite rutted."
Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews, with Half Moon Pond State Park and Lake Bomoseen offering popular lakeside sites. Campers appreciate the natural swimming areas and paddling opportunities available at these locations. Several campgrounds provide access to hiking trails, including connections to the Appalachian Trail at Gifford Woods. The region features a mix of family-friendly developed campgrounds with amenities and more secluded forest sites for those seeking solitude. Reviews frequently mention the area's natural beauty, with one camper describing Moosalamoo Campground as offering "incredible beauty and tranquility" with "no amenities other than cascading waterfalls, mountain views, incredible swimming hole, a nearby lake, a picnic table and a fire ring." Proximity to outdoor recreation opportunities like mountain biking at Mount Ascutney and hiking in the Green Mountains makes the Mendon area a versatile camping destination.
"Decent bathroom situation--I've seen better and I've seen worse in Vermont."
"The park is amazingly clean, well run, located just of RT 4 and very near to Killington, Vermont. It has multiple lean-to sites which are in wooded areas."
"This place gets my vote for best campground in Vermont. Especially true if you're lucky enough to get one of the few sites on the outside of A loop that has a Lean-to with a view."
"Coolidge is off the beaten path but well worth the wander! There are no water sites, it’s on the side of a heavily wooded mountain with a few sites having amazing views!"
"No ATM on site to get cash… The sites are spacious enough, but are very close to each other. Zero buffer between neighboring sites means encroaching slide outs."
"family camping Kabins, rv, and tent sites, arcade, store, ice cream, and Lake Bomoseen. Easy to get to, close to Castleton, Rutland, and Hubbarton Battlefield. Great spot for a family get-a-way."
$15 / night
"there are no amenities other than cascading waterfalls, mountain views, incredible swimming hole, a nearby lake, a picnic table and a fire ring. the easiest access to sites one and two is the Silver Lake"
"Access to campground is on a gravel road but my van did okay. It is small and primitive and there is a camp host who is very nice."
"I stayed at this campsite located at the end of upper Michigan road. It is winter and there is a lot of snow. The main road to the parking lot is plowed and sanded."
"Few nice ones near the creek. I stayed at one on top of a lots of space at mine."
$15 / night
"Nice hiking trails close to long trail, really tucked away a few miles off 73. Great if you’re looking for some solitude."
"Well maintained, and nice access to trails right from the campground."
"Bomoseen State Park is right down the road, but I recommend staying at Half Moon and taking advantage of the large swimming area at Bomoseen, as well as all the cool ponds, lakes, and hiking trails nearby"
"The pond is clean and swim-able and great for kayaks/canoes (near Glen Lake and Lake Bomoseen for boating and more kayaking/canoeing)."
"It was during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are happy to report that everyone wore masks in public spaces (restrooms), and that there was plenty of room for social distancing. "
"We had a nice private site, close to amenities and the lake, the beach area was nice, kind of rocky, but had sand for the beach. The play area has a nice set up, overall a nice camping area."
"The site was so scenic with a little waterfall and stream nearby. The camp staff was so nice. They kept the the bathrooms and areas so clean."
"Love to lake access, secluded camping, the hiking and remote area. Planning on revisiting next summer, even in august the nights get to a good sleeping temperature a vast majority of the time."
"Drive in about a mile after the parking lot!! Can use car to get in! There’s 3 camping spots. 1 before the bridge and 2 after the bridge!"
ScoutPublic Lands with about 8 semi private sites, each with nice views west or easterly. It's a large meadow and with a breeze, it will keep bugs away. Lacking a breeze, it is tough but still beautiful
ScoutPam met us outside as she said ‘dodging rain drops’ to stack wood. She was warm and friendly. You can tell she runs a tight ship immediately telling us when quite hours were, and letting us know the dogs needed to be on leash and under our control. We brought our 2 labs with us. Only 2 vehicles per site is allowed. You do need tokens to use the shower. 2 tokens was more than enough for me to shower and not feel rushed. The bathrooms are AMAZING! I am looking forward to coming back!
ScoutHad a site booked for Memorial Day weekend but had a complication to my 5th shoulder surgery in 2.5 years and had my 6th which was a 3rd attempt at rotator cuff repair in mid-May. Called to see if I could change my reservation since I cannot drive due to Dr.'s orders but no dice. Could care less and told me too late due to policy. Offered to provide doctors documentation but didn't matter. I did not ask for refund just to change the date. Rude, dismissive and unwilling to work with me. Sad that a family-oriented place is run this way. End result I am out over$600 and they are smiling. As a business owner myself I would be out of business if I treated my customers this way.
ScoutDEC has designated and constructed 12 camp sites in areas around Shelving Rock Road and Dacy Clearing Road. Camping will only be allowed at the designated campsites or more than 500 feet from the Shelving Rock and Dacy Clearing Roads.
ScoutAs noted by others, most of the sites have a fire ring and nothing more. A little more than half of the sites can be driven to and others require a very short walk (50 ft?). The toilets mentioned are at Texas falls area and are not a practical walk from most of the campsites.
There are no showers.
Aside from the loop trail at the falls there are also a couple of snowmobile trails that cross the area.
GuideWe emailed twice and traveled five hours to only find out they have a list of dog breeds they don’t accept. The list has no rhyme or reason. Our 7 year old 95lb Great Dane was not allowed. Ridiculous
RangerStayed here for a week. Josh and Dori were super nice and helpful. Level grass field with water and 30amp hookup. Fire pit port o potty, creek across the street. Very pretty setting. Dark sky area. Cell att and Verizon we decent enough to work plus they had WiFi if needed.
RangerOur favorite campground in the area is Winhall Brook, but it has been closed for about 3 years since the flooding in VT. Hapgood Pond is a good alternative. It is a little more primitive with pit toilets in most of the campground except the bath house. We appreciate the pond for swimming and the nice easy pond loop trail for hiking. Hapgood is in close proximity to Manchester and near the Appalachian Trail.
GuideMade the trip on a Friday evening. Set up in freezing drizzle. Not a bad weekend all things considered. Lots of snowmobile traffic, which didn’t bother me. Saturday was the best day by far. Was only one other couple that weekend. Bathrooms were open, but very basic and no water. But grateful nonetheless.
Seasonal access presents the primary challenge for camping near Mendon, Vermont. Campgrounds in this Green Mountain region operate primarily from May through October due to snow and mud conditions. Tent sites and RV accommodations at higher elevations require different preparation than lakeside spots in the valley. The area features a diverse range of established campgrounds at elevations ranging from 600 to 1,800 feet.
Hiking to mountain vistas: Visitors to Branbury State Park Campground can access a range of trails with varying difficulty levels. "Across the street from the campground was access to the lake with plenty of grassy areas to hang out. And beautiful sunsets at night! A five minute hike- though it is quite a rocky, boulder-y hike- from the sites leads to a small river and swimming hole," reports Nicole E.
Mountain biking: The trails around Moosalamoo Campground offer excellent terrain for bikers. "Moosalamoo campground has awesome bike trails with smooth trail beds and nice rolling bumps. The kind campground hosts can tell you all about the hiking and biking trails within Moosalamoo National Forest," writes Jill B.
Historical exploration: Campers staying at Coolidge State Park can visit nearby historical sites. "Take advantage of the historical site nearby (President Calvin Coolidge's homestead) and long trail brewing," suggests Danielle S., highlighting attractions within driving distance of the campground.
Waterfront camping: Half Moon Pond State Park Campground offers direct water access from sites. "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," shares Tara S. about their experience.
Pristine facilities: Bomoseen State Park Campground maintains clean facilities that campers consistently mention. "Bathrooms were the cleanest of any campground we've ever stayed at. Sites are pretty close together but if you can score a lean to your right on the lake with good spacing between each," says Jessica H.
Privacy at dispersed sites: For more seclusion, campers recommend Michigan Brook dispersed camping areas. "Drive in about a mile after the parking lot!! Can use car to get in! There's 3 camping spots. 1 before the bridge and 2 after the bridge! The one before the bridge that's right next to the river is the best one!!" advises a camper known as TRUCKER C.
Road conditions: Access to Michigan Brook dispersed camping requires preparation. "Drive through the residential neighborhood until you hit a dirt road and see National Forest signs. Beware that in Spring the road gets muddy and quite rutted, I would not recommend driving down there with a car that is low to the ground," warns Maggie F.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly throughout the region. At Lake Bomoseen KOA, campers report: "There is NO cell coverage and the Wi-Fi is poor and very slow if you can connect," according to Dave S. Another camper noted: "Cell service is very limited. Very remote... the WIFI didn't even work at the office."
Site reservations: The best campsites at Coolidge State Park require advance planning. "They have some of the most amazing views right from your campsite. We were not lucky enough to get one because you have to book far in advance to get those campsites," shares Michael L.
Beach access options: Gifford Woods State Park Campground offers convenient facilities for families. "It's just a short hike back to the pond, which is very pretty and is along the Appalachian Trail. Very centrally located and takes no time at all to get to Killington and Rutland," explains Alyssa C.
Kid-friendly amenities: Lake Bomoseen KOA provides specific amenities for children. "This campground is located on lake bomoseen. The campground is small which makes it nice. It has three pools. A kiddie pool, a water slide pool and a larger pool that goes from 3 ft to 6 ft," describes Becca D.
Educational opportunities: Branbury State Park incorporates nature education into the camping experience. "Theres a nature center with all kinds of information and activities. A large playground. Volleyball and horseshoe pits," notes a camper identified as J L.
Site accessibility: Chittenden Brook Campground has limitations for larger rigs. "Great tent camping area with good privacy at sites. Would be tough for any but the tiniest RV. No water," explains James K. This campground is better suited to smaller camping vehicles.
Hookup availability: When choosing a campground, check available services. Lake Bomoseen KOA provides more options for RVs than state parks: "The campground is ok. It was a little tight for our 36ft 5th wheel but managable. The sites are a good size and relatively level," reports Dave S.
Parking considerations: At Moosalamoo, site layout works for some smaller RVs. "Then we moved to lean to ELM in the upper campground and it was a nice private site. It was perched on a hill but we were still able to park and sleep in our van next to the lean to," shares Katy Z. about her experience at Gifford Woods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Mendon, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, Mendon, VT offers a wide range of camping options, with 218 campgrounds and RV parks near Mendon, VT and 28 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Mendon, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mendon, VT is Gifford Woods State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 17 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mendon, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 28 free dispersed camping spots near Mendon, VT.
What parks are near Mendon, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Mendon, VT that allow camping, notably Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests and Green Mountain National Forest.
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