Camping near Burlington, Vermont centers around Lake Champlain, with campgrounds ranging from urban beach sites to island campsites offering views of both the Adirondack and Green Mountains. North Beach Campground sits within city limits, providing direct beach access and connection to Burlington's extensive bike path network. Grand Isle State Park Campground, located on an island in Lake Champlain about 25 miles north of Burlington, offers a more secluded experience with waterfront sites and lean-tos. Mount Philo State Park, Vermont's oldest state park, provides a small but scenic camping area with panoramic lake views from its summit.
Most campgrounds in the Burlington area operate seasonally from May through mid-October, closing during Vermont's cold winter months. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for summer weekends when sites fill quickly. North Beach Campground typically opens May 1 and closes October 15, while Grand Isle remains open slightly longer until October 16. Shelburne Camping Area is one of the few year-round options in the region. Weather is generally mild in summer with occasional thunderstorms, while spring and fall camping may require preparation for cooler nights with temperatures sometimes dropping into the 40s.
Site conditions vary significantly between locations. Urban campgrounds like North Beach offer convenience but less privacy, with sites often close together. As one camper noted, "It's in a great location near the beach with a 30-minute walk into downtown Burlington, but sites are close together with little tree coverage." Island campgrounds provide more seclusion and natural settings. Many campgrounds feature bike-friendly amenities, with one visitor sharing, "You can bike directly from Grand Isle all the way to Burlington without ever getting back in your car! Take the bike ferry across a small section of Lake Champlain and keep on riding." Family-friendly options include Lone Pine Campsites in Colchester, which offers a pool, game room, and playground about ten minutes from Burlington.
Compare 2 top campgrounds at a time to find your favorite!
Round 1 of 5
$37 - $100 / night
"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."
"Nothing fancy but great location. The campground is right on the bike path and very close to Burlington."
$6 - $28 / night
"We biked to this park from Burlington via the Island Line Trail. It was a super trip. The lakeside lean-to was awesome."
"Beautifully set on Lake Champlain in Vermont! This is a relatively large campground but is well laid out and doesn't feel small even when it's packed to the gills."
"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."
$55 - $105 / night
"The campground is located a short trip away from Burlington and about an hour away from Stowe. The store on the property was very cute! I suggest visiting Arbor Farm Market down the road!!"
"This campground is located in a central area between Burlington and north hero. The views of lake Champlain are amazing. Ex check in and plenty of amenities."
$8 - $12 / night
"Cool little campground right in Mallets Bay on Lake Champlain. Campsites are kind of close together. Nice pool, game room, and little store. Its a fun place for families!"
"We had one right next to the playground so our daughter could walk straight to it without having to cross a road. And speaking of playground, it was large and very nice."
"This camp ground is a short drive to Lake Placid, Plattsburgh, Vermont State and so much more. The Chasm has their own store and cafe"
"Sites were a medium distance apart but still spacious enough to not be close to neighbors."
$22 - $40 / night
"Take a walk up the path next to the chasm. So relaxing listening to the water falls. Great place to watch the sunset! "
"They have some beach and river sites if you like to be close to the water. Showers and bathrooms were spacious."
$23 / 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"
"This is a smaller campground tucked away in the bayside of Colchester."
"Right on the water, a nice breeze coming off of the lake, close to everything downtown, but still felt like we weren’t on top of our neighbors. Run by some great people! Highly recommend!"
$24 - $35 / night
"My family of 4 tent camped at Camp Skyland in June ‘24 on a waterfront spot showcasing gorgeous Lake Champlain with a mountain backdrop - chef’s kiss!"
"Great tent / RV / cabin site on an island in Lake Champlain. Tent area is a large field with cabins on the rock bluffs and RV row along the road. Staff was very friendly and accommodating."
GuideRight along the road (so if anything happens you can get help) also has wifi signal. It’s right along a creek that’s clean and beautiful. Crisp air and calming flowing river noises all night made it so I slept like a baby!
GuideDrove all the way here just to pull in and see signs that say “no overnight camping”
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
TravelerMy favorite campsite we stayed at on my 2 week trip (despite the bugs lol). Great swimming hole and very well kept. Very beautiful and loved my stay.
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!
ScoutWe camped on overflow 28 and riverside 32 from July 2025 to June 2026.Tim Mitchell is the best host and grounds keeper. We visited several camps in area before we decided to stay at Blue Heaven. Very family friendly park.
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.
ScoutSame name and google search, but new owner since 2024. We just wrapped up a stay at this campground and I can honestly say… we’ll be back.🙌 From the moment we arrived, you could feel the pride the owner has poured into this place. The new power and water hookups are a huge upgrade, and it’s exciting to see the vision for future expansion already coming to life. Everything about our stay felt easy, welcoming, and most importantly—safe. It’s the kind of spot where you can truly relax, enjoy your time, and feel right at home. Clean, well cared for, and clearly built with heart. Can’t wait to come back and see how it continues to grow.🌲✨
RangerWe loved camping at Crane Pond. It was a little over 3 miles to hike into the waterfront sites. There is an outhouse nearby, several campsites, fire pits, and we went for a swim in the pond. Overall great experience!
Burlington-area camping options range from sandy Lake Champlain beaches to mountain settings with panoramic views. Most campgrounds operate from early May through mid-October, with notable exceptions like Shelburne Camping Area which remains open year-round. Weather patterns include summer highs in the 70s-80s°F, with fall temperatures dropping into the 40s°F at night, requiring appropriate clothing and gear for any season.
Kayak and paddle the lake: At Apple Island Resort, visitors can launch directly from the marina across from the campground. "We launched our paddleboard and kayak there but it was pretty mucky getting in and out of our boats. We were allowed to leave our kayak locked on a rack at the marina so we didn't have to take it back to our campsite every day," explains Nancy W.
Golf on-site: Apple Island Resort offers a 9-hole par-3 golf course with putting green for campers. "There is a par 3 golf course and boat docks on site," notes Jason E., making it convenient to enjoy multiple outdoor activities without leaving the campground.
Hiking from your site: Smugglers Notch State Park Campground provides direct trail access to Vermont's highest peak. "They don't have all the usual amenities its more of a primitive set up. has great clean sites with multiple ways to access mount mansfields trail system which is the highest mountain in the state of Vermont," writes Michael V.
Bike the Lake Champlain region: Cycling infrastructure connects many campgrounds to Burlington and surrounding attractions. "We biked to this park from Burlington via the Island Line Trail. It was a super trip. The lakeside lean-to was awesome," shares John L. about his experience at Grand Isle State Park.
Beach access: North Beach Campground offers direct lake access from your campsite. "This has been one of our favorite campsites so far. We loved being able to walk down to the beach, as well as having full hookups. We also met the nicest people here," shares Laura L.
Quiet wooded sites: Mount Philo State Park offers secluded camping with minimal sites. "Sites 1, 6 and 8 are 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," advises Drew Q.
Clean facilities: Ausable Chasm Campground maintains clean bathrooms and showers. "The campground staff was friendly, and worked hard to keep the bathrooms and showers clean," notes Heather M., who stayed for three nights in a tent site with water and electric.
Evening views: Some campgrounds offer spectacular sunset watching. Visitors to Mount Philo note the value of hiking to the summit for sunset views. "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," describes Thomas B.
Cost variations for sites: Prices range widely based on location, amenities, and view quality. "The sites with the best views are the Platinum Plus which are also the most expensive. Some Platinum Plus sites are in the first row with unobstructed views; whereas, our site was three rows back. Not sure why they charge the same when our site was overlooking two rows of RVs," notes Nancy W. about Apple Island Resort.
Shower operations: Many state parks have coin-operated showers. "Showers are coin operated, 50 cents for 5 minutes," reports Beau B. about Mount Philo State Park.
Site privacy differences: Campgrounds vary greatly in how close sites are to each other. "While this campground is within Burlington city limits it is a bit cramped and can get crowded. However its location makes it convenient too," explains John L. about North Beach Campground.
Reservations essential: Due to limited sites at some campgrounds, booking ahead is crucial. "Reserve early, as this place doesn't have a ton of sites and it folds up quickly!" advises Ben C. about Smugglers Notch State Park.
Playgrounds and pools: Lone Pine Campsites offers family-friendly amenities. "We had one right next to the playground so our daughter could walk straight to it without having to cross a road. And speaking of playground, it was large and very nice. The campground is close to the highway but we never noticed the road noise. Besides the playground and the pool, the campground also had a basic mini golf course, a game room, and rental go-carts," shares Erin S.
Beach day activities: Beach campgrounds provide built-in entertainment for children. "The beach is nice even though rocky, the lean to sites are a great way to help keep things dry, and there were great accessible all-gender bathrooms," notes Season D. about Grand Isle State Park.
Nature programs: Several parks offer educational activities for children. "It was a quiet, family friendly campground with a cute little beach and nature center with youth programs," explains Jessica G. about her stay at Grand Isle.
Space for play: Some campgrounds provide open areas for active kids. "The kids have a soccer field out in front of us to play in. This is the kind of campground I'd want to come and spend weeks at on vacation," notes Jennifer H. about Lone Pine Campsites.
Hookup configurations: Ausable Point Campground offers both electric and water access. "Site was spacious and level with trees between other sites," reports kimberly R., who stayed on site 98 along the river. "No hookups on our site, water was available throughout the campground for filling tank."
Sewer connections: Campers note that some hookup configurations can be challenging. "The hook-ups at our site (11AD) were well-placed but the sewer pipe was high off the ground which did not let it drain even with a 'slinky,'" reports Nancy W. about Apple Island Resort.
Garbage disposal: Waste management practices vary by campground. "They have garbage pickup at your site which is not our preference. We prefer to take it out after dinner because we don't like smelly garbage in our coach all night but they said we could not access the dumpsters," explains a reviewer at Apple Island Resort.
Site arrangement: RV site layouts differ across campgrounds. "Apple Island is a huge campground with great sites and wonderful views of Lake Champlain. The front sections of the campground are where most of the transient RVs parked (and have the views of the lake) whereas the back section of the campground has a mix of transient RV sites and seasonal park models but no views," notes Nancy W.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds near Burlington, VT for tent camping?
North Beach Campground offers tent camping with direct access to Burlington's beautiful beach and scenic views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks. Its location provides easy biking access to downtown Burlington via the adjacent paved bike path. Grand Isle State Park Campground is another excellent option, featuring lakeside lean-tos and well-laid-out sites that maintain privacy even when busy. The park's waterfront setting on Lake Champlain makes it popular with tent campers, and it connects to Burlington via the Island Line Trail, perfect for cyclists. For a quieter experience, Silver Lake Campground offers private sites without being too close together, plus a clean lake with a concrete dock for swimming.
Are there any RV parks or campgrounds with full hookups in Burlington, VT?
Barber Homestead Park is a well-maintained RV park with easy maneuverability for larger rigs, clean restrooms, laundry facilities, and direct access to Lake Champlain. Though technically across the lake, it's a short drive to Burlington. Mountain View Campground offers updated facilities including hookups, two pools (including an adults-only option), and a hot tub, making it an excellent choice for RVers. While it's primarily a base for visiting Stowe, it's only about an hour from Burlington. North Beach Campground also provides RV sites with electric hookups, though these spaces are described as being packed closer together than tent sites. Many campers appreciate the convenience of these hookups combined with North Beach's proximity to Burlington's attractions.
What glamping options are available near Burlington, Vermont?
Apple Island Resort offers upscale accommodations with beautiful waterfront views and is located just a short drive from Burlington. The resort features premium amenities and is positioned perfectly for exploring both Burlington and Stowe areas. The property includes a cute store and provides a more luxurious camping experience. For a unique glamping option, Mount Philo State Park Campground provides an elevated camping experience with spectacular views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks. Several campgrounds in the region also offer cabin rentals as a comfortable alternative to traditional tent camping, providing amenities like beds, electricity, and sometimes private bathrooms for those seeking the camping experience without roughing it.
How much do campgrounds in Burlington, Vermont typically cost?
Campground prices around Burlington vary based on amenities and location. Lone Pine Campsites in Mallets Bay offers family-friendly camping with rates that reflect its amenities like pool, game room, and store. Being just ten minutes from Burlington makes it a conveniently located mid-range option. For more budget-friendly camping, Shelburne Camping Area provides economical sites while still maintaining proximity to Burlington attractions. Generally, public campgrounds like North Beach and Grand Isle State Park tend to have more reasonable rates, with standard tent sites typically ranging from $25-35 per night, while private campgrounds and RV parks with full hookups can range from $35-75+ depending on the season and amenities provided.
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