Best Glamping near Calais, VT

My family loves this camp ground right on the CT River. It has RV sights and cabins they keep the campers busy with fun activities for kids and grown ups. This is what I would call a Glamping campground then a roughing it campground but it’s still amazing.

It's exactly what you look for in a vacation, peace and tranquility, breath taking views of Vermont with a perfect lake at your feet! We will definitely stay here again our family loved it!

We just spent 5 days at this wonderful campground. They have paid attention to all of the finer details. Beautiful landscaping, well leveled sites, very clean and neat. The staff is wonderful. My only disappointment with the camp is that there are only a few sites with sewer hookup. However, the dumping station is conveniently located, so if you have a small tank, daily trips are not a problem. There is plenty to do in the area - Littleton is a beautiful little town. The old houses in are incredible. New Hampshire is not a dog friendly state, but a short Drive into Vermont gets you access to many fine restaurants where you can bring your dog. Be sure to visit Dog Mountain in Vermont- a truly touching memorial to departed pets.

Our first time in Vermont, we were coming from Montreal, Quebec. And while there are many nice campsites to visit in Quebec... we've done them all, within a 2-hour radius. Well, guess what? Lake Carmi in Franklin (Enosburg?) Vermont, is less than 1 1/2 hours from Montreal! I think it must be the closest campsite to Quebec, in Vermont. The drive there was really pleasant too. It wasn't all highway. It took us mostly through very scenic routes in both Quebec, and Vermont.

After booking, I had read some bad reviews about the place - which gave me second thoughts. About the staff being very unpleasant, etc. Well I'm happy to say, that turned out to be absolutely untrue! To say that Kathy, Daniel and really, the entire staff that we met, was very friendly to us, is an understatement. They literally saved our bacon!

It's a long story, but in short... our car broke down at one point, and we had to get it towed. Our phone wouldn't work, and it was by the good graces of the Lake Carmi rangers and staff, and the use of their wireless, that we were eventually able to return back home to Canada.  I don't know what we would have done, if they weren't there to help us! So - big thanks to the amazing staffers at Lake Carmi.

We had reserved a site by the lake, and saw that the campground itself was quite nice. Just acres and acres of lush green forestation. Clean grounds and washrooms. A beautiful sunset over the lake. No electrical 'pollution'. No noise pollution - except for crickets, in the field. Other than the car trouble - quite a pleasant stay! We'll be returning next year.

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. Staff are friendly and respectful of privacy. Great deal on wood.

This is a pretty small State Park, so it fills up quickly. The sites on the pond are beautiful if you can get one! The campground has a small beach, boat launch and it's right on the Cross Vermont Trail. I stayed in October and it was really quiet and relaxing. There is absolutely no cell service for miles, so plan accordingly.

Little River State Park is located just outside of Waterbury Vermont so it’s an ideal location for jumping off on other adventures! There are so many great stores and restaurants nearby if you want something else do to! The park is on the shoreline of Waterbury reservoir so there is boating (rentals available) and plenty of fishing. There is also ALOT OF HIKING!

The Green Mountains of Vermont are amazing all year. Check with the local ski resorts for summer activities like gondola rides. The ranger programming was exceptional, as are the views and the nearby areas for hiking and backpacking. Relatively modern campsite but still a simple state park setup with one exception: true to northeast tradition many of the camp sites are lean-to style.

It's hard sometime to get away from all the people in Vermont but this park is far enough out of the way where you can avoid a majority of the summer tourist. I was able to take advantage of this and go on a relaxing hike my girlfriend and our dog.

What a great little park! apparently this is the first state park in Vermont. Only 8 campsites so try to book early. Nice trails that lead to scenic views of Lake Champlain. Bathrooms and showers were clean. Showers were quarter operated, 50 cents for 5 minutes. Firewood sold on site. Sites are well groomed and have a fire pit and picnic table.

I've found my place of peace and tranquility and it's where I'd like to reside eventually, our stay here was to short for the beauty we found at the park. The lake had to be the most pure and pristine lake in Vermont, the park, trails, lake and community all make this and rememberable trip that'll always have you wanting to come back for more!

We brought our friends to this remote park in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. This park offers many outdoor recreational opportunities. We were able rent kayaks and explore the lake. Many looons and other waterfowl were spotted as well. The park also has a nice hiking trail that scales part of the lake. Because it is so remote from civilization we were also able to relax in our spacious and semi secluded sites.

I only got to stay two nights here but it was veey nice. only seven tent sites and three Leanto so pretty secluded. 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, its quite an amazing site. very highly recommended if y oi u want piece and quiet and that mountain feel with a stunning view.

We stayed in Lot 1 of Smugglers Notch ski resort. It's a big gravel parking lot used during the ski season and left virtually abandoned during the summer. Not sure it's technically a campground, but Vermont has liberal dispersed camping rules. No facilities or anything, but we just slept in our car, cooked on our stove, and drove somewhere else in the morning for bathrooms. Met a local who told us about a lake at the top of the slopes. Other than that, never saw anyone else. Apparently bears are nearby but we saw no signs. Second picture is looking up a ski slope a few paces from the lot

This campground is easy to access, though owing to that one can hear traffic on the nearby road. The lake is beautiful, clear and clean, and there is a beach with sand for swimming. We had our trail bikes so took advantage of the Montpelier-Wells Rail Trail (Cross Vermont Trail), accessible directly from the campground. The site was directly on the lake and clean. The folks working check-in were friendly and helpful. The lake is really nice for kayaking or swimming, and has some loons, but when we were there it carried lots of noise from other sites. The place is gorgeous, but a few knocks because of the noise level. I would go back again though!

When we first heard of the North East Kingdom of Vermont, we had no idea where people were talking about, but something idyllic and natural came to mind. Ricker Pond State Park fits beautifully into this landscape. Getting here isn’t direct or easy, but the reward is worth it. Leave your mobile devices off, because cell towers haven’t quite made it to this quiet corner of the woods. 

The pace here is slow, even by campground standards, but this adds to the charm. A wide array of rustic cabins, lean-to shelters, and traditional tent campsites scattered throughout the park along the shores of Ricker Pond.  No electrical hookups to be found, so bring your solar panels if you want power.  There is a ton of space between sites -- we could barely see our neighbors or hear them.

The staff have gone the extra mile and planted flowers along many of the choicest camping areas. Campsite amenities include a toilet block with pay showers and flush toilets, but no electrical or water hook ups. The water is delicious by the way, so don’t bother with any bottled variety– this is the good stuff. 

Paddling out on the lake has to be the best way to enjoy this wonderful area. With boats available for rent, you don’t even need to bring your own. Check out this quiet corner of Vermont and simply forget about it all. The nearby town of Groton, has a gas station with a small grocery store for all the most important staples (marshmallows, chocolate, bread, beer) at least one small restaurant, and the library offers free wifi 24/7 if you really must connect for a few minutes.

General: 70 tent/RV sites and 20 lean-to sites plus five cabins divided into two areas on Waterbury Reservoir. 

Site Quality: Good separation and decent-sized, wooded sites. 

Bathhouse/Shower: Basic but clean 

Activities: Boating, swimming, and hiking. Plus a nature center.

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. The access road is a bit rough but navigable by all vehicles. The park is beautifully maintained and there are many more trails to explore so it is on our list for a return trip to Vermont!

I’ve been visiting Ricker Pond for nearly 20 years (except for the years that I don’t book enough in advance and aren’t able to secure a spot for my desired length of stay). My favorite lean to site is directly on the water, private, and fills up fast. My favorite cabin site, is set back from the water, is private, and also fills fast for the season. I LOVE venturing to Vermont every summer & staying at Ricker. There is an electrical outlet in the basic cabins, quarter-run showers, and an excellent country store/restaurant a few miles away that has anything you may need and might have forgotten. Tents/RV sites are also available. Book in advance for the best availability!

I've been exploring Vermont State Parks since before I could walk, and Burton Island State Park is my all time favorite! There's a million reasons to love camping here, and if you are visiting Vermont in the summer, I think it's one of those must-visit destinations. Here's why it's my favorite place to camp in the whole state.

1. It's like going to to a tropical island without leaving Vermont.
2. There are no cars on the island. You have to paddle yourself out or take the VT State Park passenger ferry from St. Albans.
3. It's super family friendly - maybe it's because there aren't cars all over the place, but the island is full of free range kids, and they're having a blast.
4. There's a camping bistro where you can buy pancakes, coffee, local beer, and fine wines
5. Sunsets are magical - if you can, get a lean-to right on the water. If not, hike to the western shore for the main event.
6. You can bring your dog - there's even an off-leash dog beach!
7. You can stay in a cabin! If you don't want to rough it, you don't have to.
8. There are lots of trails to explore, and almost all of them lead to the water where you can cool off in Lake Champlain.
9. There are kayaks and canoes to rent.
10. There's a marina (with WiFi), and you can rent slips for the night.

Waterfront sites book very quickly (like 11 months in advance), but if you don't mind being farther from the main campground and running water, you can almost always rent one of the four primitive sites, which are secluded and waterfront. You can paddle out to Burton Island on your own from Kamp Killcare State Park, where you'll leave your car. It's a very short paddle and shouldn't take more than 10 minutes. The passenger ferry runs throughout the day, if you don't have a boat of your own.

Once you're on the island, you can borrow a cart to bring your gear to your site, or you can pay one of the park rangers to haul it in one of their golf carts. We have stayed in a few different sites over the years -- we aren't picky, because we usually get one of the last sites available. We've never been disappointed a site. They're all great, and within easy walking distance of the beach.

Vermont’s oldest state park has just 10 campsites (7 tent sites and 3 lean-tos). We’ve stayed there a few times, and even during high summer the campsites aren’t usually full. The park itself is busy during the day, in part because the views from the top of Mt. Philo are incredible, and you can drive your car right to the top for an impromptu picnic.

My favorite part about camping here is getting up early and hiking the short trail to the top for a spectacular sunrise. The sites are very private and shaded, and it’s close proximity to Burlington make it a good choice for travelers, but because the road is steep and winding, it’s not suitable for RVs. Bathrooms are small and clean with hot showers. If you want to cool off in the summer, head to Kingsland Bay State Park on Lake Champlain, which is just a few miles away.