4 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Green Mountain National Forest's dispersed camping areas near Bristol welcome pets without additional fees, offering primitive sites along Forest Roads 25 and 207. Most established campgrounds in the region maintain pet-friendly policies, including Moosalamoo Campground with its hiking trails and Silver Lake access. Mount Philo State Park Campground provides clean facilities and scenic overlooks while accommodating pets at all sites. Button Bay State Park features designated dog trails and a separate dog beach area, making it particularly suitable for campers traveling with animals. Sites at these parks typically include fire rings, picnic tables, and access to toilets, with varying levels of hookups for RV campers. Campers report the bathrooms at Mount Philo are kept exceptionally clean with hot water available in the coin-operated showers.
The hiking trails connecting to many campgrounds provide excellent exercise opportunities for dogs, with the Silver Lake trail from Moosalamoo offering both mountain views and swimming options. Warren Falls in Green Mountain National Forest features free dispersed camping with fire rings and pet access to cooling streams. Little River State Park Campground maintains pet-friendly policies with access to Waterbury Reservoir for dogs that enjoy swimming. Most campgrounds require pets to remain leashed when outside vehicles or tents, with typical restrictions of 6-foot maximum leash length. Several campers note that while most sites welcome pets, barking policies are enforced during quiet hours, particularly at more populated campgrounds. The dog park at Shelburne Camping Area provides a fenced space where pets can run off-leash, though some reviewers mention it's relatively small compared to other facilities.
"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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $15 / night
"The toilets are composing toilets, but from the user experience, it's very close to a regular toilet in that it's in a stall in a nice, well maintained proper bathroom (unlike some composting toilets in"
"the best part is every night its only a ten minute hike to the summit from where the sites are and you get to watch the sunset over Vermont and lake champlain as the sun falls behind the adirondack mountains"
from $23 / night
"The first is where you'll find the lean-tos and the dog trail/beach. This area is super quiet, offers a bit of shade, and plenty of privacy."
"We selected it because it was nearby for our second outing with our new (used) R-Pod camper. Turns out it's a wonderful park."
"All pretty much have access to the streams. Nice fire rings. Keep it clean!"
"This area is right next to FireRoad 25 rd. We did not camp here we camped on FR25."
"If you're considering a spot in Vermont to camp, come here! Also, make sure your car has a bit of clearance as some sports have dips in the ground."
"Able to see sunrise/sunset/moonrise over the surrounding rolling hills and crests. Upper meadows accessible with 4WD / high clearance vehicles."
"This is a nice little private campground in Shelburne, just outside of Burlington. Close to Lake Champlain. Good place to spend the night and good access to activities."
"Lastly, the location was perfect, just outside of Burlington made access to the area ideal."
"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."
"Entrance and exit are a little steep and tricky in the winter, lot wasn’t plowed so AWD/4x4 and good ground clearance are recommended."
"Little River State Park is located just outside of Waterbury Vermont so it’s an ideal location for jumping off on other adventures!"
"We came here to hike the Dalley Loop Trail (which is a great trail full of history), but we wish we had camped here instead of the private campground 45 minutes away where we did stay."
from $19 - $28 / night
"Sites 1 to 16 are close to each other. Sites 113 to 119 are bad. Very close to each other. No redeeming qualities.
Sites have 30 amp electric and water but might need a longish cord or hose."
"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."
from $37 - $100 / night
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 !!
ScoutCampground was clean and quiet. We arrived late but information was taped to the window at the office. Will was very helpful also and checked to make sure we arrived.
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.
Dispersed camping sites near Bristol in Green Mountain National Forest provide additional options for pet owners seeking budget-friendly outdoor stays. Located along Forest Road 25, these primitive sites offer streamside camping with fire rings where visitors can enjoy the sounds of running water. The area sits at approximately 1,800 feet elevation and experiences cooler temperatures than the surrounding Champlain Valley, with summer highs typically reaching 75-80°F.
Bike trail access: Moosalamoo National Recreation Area features mountain biking trails with smooth trail beds and rolling terrain. As one visitor noted, "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."
Stargazing opportunities: Green Mountain National Forest FR207 offers excellent dark sky viewing from its meadow sites. "At night, you can go out to the bicycle pump track and lay a blanket on the grassy hill against the track and look at stars in COMPLETE darkness," mentions one camper at Moosalamoo.
Swimming options: The area provides multiple natural swimming locations beyond those mentioned in existing listings. One camper described sites near Silver Lake: "The sites are just steps from incredible mountain views, an unbelievable swimming hole, and 3 amazing large waterfalls."
Privacy between sites: Moosalamoo Campground receives praise for its spacious layout. A reviewer explained: "This is an exceptionally well laid out and maintained campground. The camp sites are well spaced and staggered for maximum privacy. Hosts are pleasant and very helpful."
Clean facilities: Campers appreciate the maintenance standards at primitive sites. "Although they had no power, water, dumps or modern bathrooms the campsite had well water pumps and the cleanest most order free toilet vaults we have ever seen," reported one visitor to Moosalamoo.
Wildlife viewing: The natural setting provides opportunities for animal sightings. One winter camper at FR207 reported: "Beautiful sunsets, night skies and scenery. Extremely calm and peaceful. Woke up to two moose nearby the morning I was leaving."
Vehicle clearance requirements: Higher clearance vehicles are recommended for some dispersed sites. A FR207 reviewer cautioned: "This is not a place to go without at least 9" of ground clearance. Views are spectacular, choose either sunrise or sunset and you should be able to get a site to fit your needs."
Site availability timing: Mount Philo State Park Campground has limited capacity. "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!" explains one reviewer.
Seasonal considerations: Wet seasons can create challenges at some pet-friendly sites near Bristol. A camper at FR25 noted: "Beautiful sites on the River but with the wet summer, we just couldn't dry out."
Beach alternatives: Button Bay State Park Campground provides supervised swimming options. "Nice, clean, friendly park. Not a lot of trees for privacy, or for that wilderness feel, but the sites are spacious and the park has swimming pool with life guard."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. "The small playground was great, and the small boat launch and beach kept us in the water. The hiking trails are really good--actually pretty steep," mentioned a visitor to Little River State Park Campground.
Historical exploration: Little River offers educational opportunities beyond standard camping. "The hiking trails are really good--the actually pretty steep. There are lots of old foundations hidden on the trails that are fun to discover," noted one family.
Electrical considerations: Check power sources before settling in at campgrounds. A camper at Shelburne Camping Area recommended: "The grounds were landscaped well, and they were changing flower beds over to mums for fall during our stay."
Limited hook-up options: Most pet-friendly Forest Service sites lack connections. "Just outside of Ripton and East Middlebury this small campground is great, every site has a fire ring and there are outhouses. The surrounding forest is filled with lakes, hiking and mtn biking," a Moosalamoo visitor explained.
Off-season availability: Some campgrounds offer extended seasons. "Love that it's open year round!" noted a camper about Shelburne Camping Area, making it useful for travelers with pets needing accommodations outside peak seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Bristol, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Bristol, VT is Moosalamoo Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Bristol, VT?
TheDyrt.com has all 154 dog-friendly camping locations near Bristol, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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