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.
What to do
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.
What campers like
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.
What you should know
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.
Tips for camping with families
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.
Tips from RVers
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.
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