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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."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"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."
"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."
"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."
"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
Check Availability"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"
ScoutThis is one of our favorite places to camp in Vermont. The sites are fairly private without being built too close together. Lake is clean and has a great concrete dock that the kids love to jump off. They have boat rentals and nature tours on the lake led by the state park faculty. When the kids get tired from swimming they're a nice beach area and playground.
GuideI have a 24’ RV towing a 30 foot trailer for perspective. I easily fit in site 107 and lots of other sites would have worked. They have a place to drop trailers if you don’t fit.
Sites 90 to 108 are best. Spaced out under trees.
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. Clean easy to use dump with water.
Tent sites looked nice.
Short walk to nice beach or you can drive a car. Short tunnel so no campers or bikes on the roof.
Right next to rails to trails path that goes onto a causeway over the lake. There is a bike ferry to keep going. Nice ride.
Nice dog park 3/4 miles to the South on the trail.
Far away from noise. Can’t comment on loud campers.
GuideVery nice, clean campsite. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Campsites are spread out, great dog walking areas , and very spacious dog parks, one for big dos and one for little ones.
TravelerWe stayed in a cabin with our pup. This place was very clean and loaded with amenities: pool, dog park, events, open fields, deer, store, etc. This was glamping with a fire pit 😃 There were plenty of sites for all size RV’s with hook-ups. A town with lots to do and see is nearby including hiking trails.
ScoutWe visited this campground twice this summer after the switchover to KOA. They had lots of activities to take back to the campsite for rainy days. They do not have a dog park and this caused our pup to get a bit hyper.
TravelerClean and quiet, good for kids and pets are welcome. There are 2 bathrooms with coin operated showers. There are sites for campers, tents, and a handful of lean tos. It’s a short hike down to Quechee Gorge, where you can cool off in the shallow water.
It’s very close to Quechee village and Woodstock so there are plenty of other activities, shopping, and dining options near by.
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.)
Pets are welcome.
GuideTo start off, we are avid KOA campers. So when we looked at this campground, we expected the typical layout which had a swimming pool and other stuff for the kids, however, this campground lacked all of the above. When we arrived here, check-in was easy we did drive along ways to get to our campsite which was nice to be wooded, but I did miss the typical activities and KOA usually has which when I booked the site, I usually expect them since the prices usually, fairly high compared to state parks. Our main reason for seeing KA versus state parks for these extra activities. With that said the bathrooms were clean, which we barely use since we have a full hook up camper. The dog park was very small and it looked like they did the very minimum to check the block. If you’re looking for a place to run your little guy around, he might be disappointed at this place. However, there are plenty hikes nearby to wear them out if you desire. As far as location, there is a lot of stuff to do in the area as we went and hike, the mountain, which was amazing.
ScoutI've camped on Valcour all my life since I was 7. It was amazing. So beautiful. Now it's covered in cockroaches and the water is murky and everything is covered in Zebra muscles. Other campers are rude and have no respect for your property. Has been all Canadians from my experience. They let their pets on the island to defecate and we've had one let their two large dogs swim ashore from their yacht and urinate on all our tents and destroyed our campsite and stole our food off from the picnic table all while the owners watched and laughed it off from their boat. The dogs then swam back and boarded the boat and they left. It's not like it used to be. We were yelling at them the whole time, trying to get the dogs away from our campsite and the owners didn't even apologize. One of the dogs defecated on my son's clothing that has fallen off the line.
RangerI’d say this was one of Vermont’s best kept secrets, except I don’t think it’s exactly a secret. Even in October, the Park seemed full with visitors and Stowe was hopping! Leaf peepers were in full force and the grounds were absolutely spectacular- I really picked the perfect time of year to go. Nights got pretty brisk, but the foliage was breathtaking.
The Park, located along scenic Rte108, has about 20 tent sites and 14 lean-to’s well dispersed throughout the grounds. A couple spots were drive-in sites, accessible to those with disabilities; most had small pathways and/or stairwells leading to their platforms. There was not a bad site within the entire vicinity. All were fully shaded and extremely private. Although, I’d be curious about checking out Sites 1 or 16 next time around!
Bathrooms were clean and the main office sold firewood at the entrance. Facilities are also pet friendly. Plus, there are so many hiking trails and recreational opportunities in and around the Park-from Stowe Mountain Resort to the quaint shops in town and local craft breweries. And even with the Park seeming “full”, the grounds were perfectly quiet, without the incessant sound of generators you find at larger state parks.
Without a doubt, Smugglers Notch State Park is a favorite of mine!
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 157 dog-friendly camping locations near Bristol, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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