Best Campgrounds near Burlington, VT

Camping near Burlington, Vermont centers around Lake Champlain, with a mix of urban-adjacent and island campgrounds 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.

The camping experience varies 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.

Best Camping Sites Near Burlington, Vermont (180)

    1. North Beach Campground

    27 Reviews
    Burlington, VT
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 862-0942

    $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."

    2. Grand Isle State Park Campground

    28 Reviews
    Grand Isle, VT
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 372-4300

    $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."

    3. Shelburne Camping Area

    16 Reviews
    Shelburne, VT
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 985-2540

    "Lastly, the location was perfect, just outside of Burlington made access to the area ideal."

    "This site has great facilities and is close to Burlington which is really convenient. In October, you get a second night free!"

    4. Apple Island Resort

    12 Reviews
    Grand Isle, VT
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 372-3800

    $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."

    5. Lone Pine Campsites

    9 Reviews
    Winooski, VT
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 878-5447

    $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."

    6. Ausable Point Campground

    11 Reviews
    Keeseville, NY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 561-7080

    $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."

    7. AuSable Chasm Campground

    11 Reviews
    Keeseville, NY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 834-9990

    "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."

    8. Mount Philo State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Charlotte, VT
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 425-2390

    $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"

    9. Mallets Bay Campground

    4 Reviews
    Burlington, VT
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 863-6980

    "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!"

    10. Smugglers Notch State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Stowe, VT
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 253-4014

    $20 / night

    "I’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!"

    "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"

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Recent Reviews near Burlington, VT

668 Reviews of 180 Burlington Campgrounds


  • Robert K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Jones Pond NYSDEC Primitive Campsites

    awesome place

    I came from the Albany area. It took me about two hours 45 minutes and well worth the drive, I first stopped at site four and fully set up my Truck tent and the rest of camp, awesome location. You can walk down to the water, which is only a small ledge and enough space to put a chair, me and my German Shepherd were walking around the trails and we found site five which was absolutely beautiful and right on the water, I mean right on the water. I went back to site for packed up a bunch of stuff into the truck and left the truck tent in there since it takes about 30 minutes to take up and down, I had walked the road a couple of times to see if I could get my truck down there, definitely need four-wheel-drive, but it is possible to get your truck down there and I did, set up camp there spent the rest of the day the night and all of the next day. Absolutely beautiful the dog loved the water being right there, I definitely love this place. This is my first campsite that I found using the app highly recommend.

  • Greg D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2025

    Lazy Lions Campground

    Nice quiet place

    Nice campground with plenty of shade, well maintained and decent restrooms. The showers are ok and cost a quarter for 4 minutes. Our site was level and along with a picnic table, they also provide two Adirondack chairs (plastic) and a fire ring.

  • K
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Mount Philo State Park Campground

    Hidden gem!

    Great little campground at a beautiful state park. The campground had widely spaced wooded sites and was exceptionally quiet. Very well-maintained! Recommend nearby Charlotte town beach for swimming ($10 for non-residents).

  • Jessica C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Chittenden Brook Campground

    Great site

    This was a great site that feels secluded but isn’t. There’s quite a bit of space between each site so you can’t really see your neighbors which is excellent. The vault toilets were surprisingly clean besides the expected smell/flies. No running water or electricity. No cell service a few miles leading up the site, so download your maps in advance. There’s a 2.5 mile dirt road with a steady incline into the camp, which my subie had no issue with, but not sure how well an RV would fair.

    Didn’t see any bear, but take bear food precautions regardless. Each site has a fire pit, tent platform, and picnic table. The sites were well cared for. There were two dumpsters, one for recycling and one for trash, at the end of the loop. They are bear proof and almost me proof! The constant sound of running water from the brook was truly relaxing. I didn’t have issues with bugs (beginning of August) but I also didn’t stay in the camp during the majority of the day.

    All in all, a great campsite and I’ll definitely be back.

  • M
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Brookwood RV Resort

    Nice Campground

    Well maintained campground. Shop onsite with all you can possibly need. Beautiful pool. And easy access to Fort Ticonderoga, restaurants in town and Lake George area.

  • E
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Indian Brook Reservoir

    Family of 4 tent camping

    I mistakenly assumed they had drive up campsites. They do not. It was a 15 minute hike to the site, so pack light. If you have a kayak, you can transport your stuff over. Site was gorgeous and private, right on the reservoir. Really lovely setting!

  • Snooz H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 5, 2025

    Shelburne Camping Area

    Oh My God. NO!

    Electricity would not work. We got an error on our control panel that said stop! Power source is not correct! Dan, one of the owners, said that somebody must have tried to hook a 50 amp into the 30 amp. box. He went about a half block to check breaker said that it was not flipped but it was wobbling pretty loose in there.

    My husband is a licensed electrician and of course had his own testing equipment. It showed 25 amp coming out of it. So he said move to spot 50. Well before we moved our vehicle, we went down there and checked it. He took off before we could. And guess what the exact same problem. We did not even hook into the second one. (#50)
    So he proceeded to tell us that it was our equipment that had gone bad. Even though we never plugged into spot 50!

    I had planned on one night thank God! He did refund our $52. we had to drive down the road and try to find someplace else at 7:00 in the evening. Another thank God, the Walmart about 10 or 15 miles down the road would allow overnight.

    So we are now on our way to our next location which is about a 7 hour drive. We are just hoping that they did not damage our equipment. It has been extremely stressful if you go there you better watch out!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 4, 2025

    Meadowcrest Campground

    Meadowcrest

    Very nice place . Quiet the staff are very kind people . It was hard to book over phone but messages worked well . I was tent camping on the river . Very private

  • C
    Jul. 27, 2025

    Camp Whiteface Mountain

    Awesome Adirondack Campground

    If you want a nice camping spot for exploring the Adirondacks this is it. Nestled in the trees by the Ausable River its a convenient place to explore the area.  20 minutes from downtown Lake Placid at the base of Whiteface mountain. 2 hours away is Montreal or Burlington VT.


Guide to Burlington

Camping near Burlington, Vermont, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the nearby trails, like those around Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday. One reviewer mentioned, "There are plenty of hikes nearby to wear them out if you desire."
  • Water Activities: Enjoy kayaking or fishing at Fish Creek Pond Campground. A visitor shared, "This is a gorgeous campground on the banks of Fish Creek Pond... perfect for dogs, kids, and hanging out in the water."
  • Disc Golf: If you're into disc golf, check out the course near Smugglers Notch State Park Campground. One camper noted, "1.7 miles from #7 Ranked World's Best Disc Golf Course: Fox Run Meadows."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained bathrooms and showers. A review for Grand Isle State Park Campground stated, "The cleanliness of the facilities was excellent."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. A visitor at Gifford Woods State Park Campground mentioned, "Plenty of space between sites."
  • Scenic Views: Campers love the beautiful surroundings. One reviewer at Rogers Rock Campground said, "The views out the camper were just amazing."

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Saranac Lake Islands, are more primitive. A camper noted, "Primitive camping with water access only."
  • Noise Levels: Be prepared for noise at certain campgrounds. A visitor at North Beach Campground mentioned, "Seemed really popular and a little loud until around 11."
  • Wildlife: Keep an eye out for wildlife, especially at Moosalamoo Campground. One camper shared, "There has been an increase in Black Bear activity."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with activities for kids. A review for Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday mentioned, "They had lots of activities to take back to the campsite for rainy days."
  • Pet-Friendly Options: Many campgrounds allow pets, like Fish Creek Pond Campground. One reviewer said, "It's perfect for dogs, kids, and hanging out in the water."
  • Safety Precautions: Always supervise kids near water. A camper at Grand Isle State Park Campground noted, "Kayaking is wonderful and there was a boat launch right near our site."

Tips from RVers:

  • Big Rig Friendly: Many campgrounds, such as Rogers Rock Campground, are big rig friendly. A visitor mentioned, "Clean, shaded, water access."
  • Electric Hookups: Check for electric hookups if needed. One camper at Little River State Park Campground noted, "The restroom is a bit dated and dingy, but clean."
  • Reservations Recommended: Popular spots fill up fast. A camper at Saranac Lake Islands advised, "Super popular, so plan ahead and reserve early."

Camping around Burlington, Vermont, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RV enthusiast seeking adventure.

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.