196 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds in the Cavendish, Vermont area range from state parks to private facilities, with several options within a short drive of town. Caton Place Campground, located directly in Cavendish, offers tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations from Memorial Day through November 1. Within 20 miles, campers can access additional options including Coolidge State Park, Wilgus State Park, and Mount Ascutney State Park, all featuring tent and RV sites with varying amenities. Several campgrounds incorporate natural water features, with Wilgus State Park situated along the Connecticut River and others offering swimming areas or pond access.
Road conditions and accessibility vary considerably depending on the campground location and season. Most state park campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, typically from May through mid-October or Columbus Day weekend. "This is a small park, but it's a good spot to stay to explore the area," noted one visitor about Wilgus State Park, highlighting the strategic location for regional adventures. Private campgrounds like Caton Place and Tree Farm Campground often offer more extensive hookups and amenities than state parks, with water, electric, and sewer connections available at select sites. Cell service can be inconsistent throughout the region, particularly in more remote or mountainous campgrounds like Coolidge State Park.
Campers consistently mention the natural beauty and peaceful settings of the area's campgrounds. Reviews indicate Wilgus State Park receives high marks for its river access, with kayaking being a major attraction. One camper described it as "a tad close to Route 5, but it quiets down in the evening. Sites are also a bit small but well spaced from others." Several campgrounds provide recreational amenities beyond camping, with facilities like hiking trails at Mount Ascutney State Park and swimming areas at other locations. Reviews suggest that while some campgrounds like Caton Place have updated facilities, others maintain more rustic amenities typical of Vermont state parks. Most campgrounds in the region are family-friendly, with Crown Point Camping Area specifically noted for its kid-oriented activities including a swimming lagoon and playground.
"Wilgus State Park is the first Vermont state park to open each spring, well before Memorial Day each year."
"Wilgus state park has amazing campsites, very friendly staff, and great access to the Connecticut River. This campground was beautiful and very quiet even though it was full."
from $20 - $30 / night
Check Availability"This place gets my vote for best campground in Vermont. Especially true if you're lucky enough to get one of the few sites on the outside of A loop that has a Lean-to with a view."
"Coolidge is off the beaten path but well worth the wander! There are no water sites, it’s on the side of a heavily wooded mountain with a few sites having amazing views!"
"Easy to drive into the campground and into the site. We had no issues at all. Hosts were very friendly and helpful. Campground was very clean and well manicured."
"The state park had everything we were looking for: close proximity to mountain bike trails, beautiful hiking trails, available leantos, and less than two hours from our home."
"Vermont parks are just some the most lush you’ve ever seen."
"The Quechee Gorge, best accessed from the back of the lawn behind the bathhouse, is the deepest in Vermont.. which is kind of like saying the best bagel or most populous city in Vermont."
"Got there close to the time the rangers left for the night, Nick was really kind to make sure I got situated before he left."
from $38 / night
Check Availability"While searching online we learned that Vermont state parks do not have hook ups. We are a family of five with a pop up pull behind and the Glamping lifestyle is a little bit easier on us these days ."
"There are a few trails around the campground and it is close to Mt Ascutney which if you are feeling a bit lazy there is an auto rd that goes about 3/4 of the way up. 3 mi."
from $26 - $36 / night
Check Availability"This tops our list for camping in Vermont. There is so much to do here, and yet the campground feels very private and quiet. There are 41 tent/RV sites to choose from and 18 lean-tos."
"This was our second stay at this Vermont State Park. It was a great three days. The park rangers were tremendous in ensuring we had a delightful visit. They worked with us to get the right site."
from $20 - $42 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful campground in south central Vermont. On a lovely emerald green small lake with nice beach. Good for fishing and kayaking. Well kept."
"The camp sites are quite a bit of a walk up the hill from the lake where there is swimming, kayaking, paddle boating and picnicking."
"This is a great campground set in a thick pine forest near a large pond. They have a lagoon for swimming and a children's playground. Hiking trails nearby. Canoes for rent."
"They have scheduled events that occur including family and adult only fire truck rides around the campground."
from $50 - $132 / night
Check Availability"Greendale Campground is a small remote campground located along Greendale Brook in Weston, VT. There are 11 campsites available in a wooded setting."
"We picked a nice site next to a babbling brook. While we only tent camped we plan to return with our new to us pop up this year. We only saw two cars during our entire stay."
GuideSimply said, if you like a well maintained place with a swim beach, floating dock, grass galore, space to stretch out, and more, this is the place. It’s beautiful. As a bonus, it’s cost effective over other RV parks. If you want free, nope. If you want wild open spaces, nope. You a great lush big clean park that feels like your Owen estate, then come check this place out. We will be back.
GuideFree dispersed camping site in the Green Mountain National Forest, off a dirt road. The site curves around past the driveway so you can tuck up into the trees to be more private. The upper part there has a circular open area, surrounded by thin trees. There’s a fire ring set up midway on the site. It felt more isolated than other sites I’ve stayed at and there were quite a few animal sounds in the woods, including large animal bones left past the treeline. They seem to be left behind from people (based off of how the bones were cut). Dispersed camping so don’t expect facilities of any sort. Decent site and pretty large compared to some of the other spots. Heard Barred Owls in the distance which was awesome. Uploaded a video of the site at night and pics of the area on a map that my friend was able to pull up.
GuideWent with a friend on an impromptu last minute camping trip up in the NF and hoped we could find a spot on a Friday night. Quite a few spots were taken but there were still some free ones. We stayed at one near the creek just over a little bridge. Cute little site, nice fire pit, clean, perfect rock to put a big water jug on. The sound of running water was soothing. In the morning, adorable little red squirrels with big personalities made themselves known and there were wildflowers blooming all over with hummingbirds going about their business. This is dispersed camping so there’s no rest rooms, running water, etc. The particular site we stayed at did have another site on the other side of the creek and we could hear the family during the day and see them as they walked past, so it wasn’t as isolated as some of the other sites. It was a cute spot and I’ll def be back.
ScoutWe spent several days here during the summer and had a really good experience. Some days we stayed busy swimming and exploring, while other days we barely left our campsite. That was probably what we enjoyed most.
TravelerThis is a good spot if you don’t mind being social. The main camping area is a large grassy opening where multiple people park and camp together, and there is a bathroom, but there isn’t much privacy between sites. If you continue farther down the forest road, there are several smaller pull-offs with much more private dispersed camping spots. I’d recommend checking those out if you’re looking for a quieter experience.
ScoutReally enjoyed the setting at Crow’s Nest. There are lots of trees and having the Sugar River running alongside the campground gives the whole place a nice New Hampshire feel. We were mostly looking for somewhere to disconnect for a couple of days, cook outside, fish a little, and enjoy being away from home. Crow’s Nest was a great fit for that.
ScoutWhat we liked most about Crow’s Nest was being able to choose between doing absolutely nothing or heading out and exploring. One day we stayed around the campground, went swimming and relaxed by the river. The next day we got out and explored more of the Lake Sunapee area. It made a really good home base and it was always nice coming back to our campsite at the end of the day.
TravelerDyrt done messed up! So far, very disappointed in this app. Difficult to use! We reserved this spot through Dyrt. The directions to the campground are way off. The host was not notified that we were coming. Don’t trust Dyrt; contact the campground asap after you reserve through Dyrt to confirm the reservation directly and confirm the address and directions.
ScoutWhere does one even begin to explain how great this campground is?! There’s truly a little bit of something for everyone here!
We absolutely loved our campsite. It had plenty of room, a good amount of privacy, and great tree coverage. Even when it rained, our fire pit somehow stayed pretty dang dry, which was a huge plus!
The rec hall was awesome and had so many cool arcade games to check out. They also offer kayak and canoe rentals for the pond, which has surprisingly clear, beautiful water.
One thing that REALLY stood out to us was how incredibly clean the bathrooms and showers were. They were well maintained and practically bug-free, which is almost unheard of at a campground!
On top of all that, everyone we came across—from the staff to the other campers—was super friendly, welcoming, and down-to-earth. It just had an all-around great atmosphere.
Seriously, don’t skip over this campground. If you’re on the fence, just book it. You won’t regret it! We’ll definitely be back!
Camping options near Cavendish, Vermont range from primitive forest sites to full-service campgrounds with water views. The region sits within the southern Green Mountains at elevations between 700-1,400 feet, creating distinct camping microclimates. Summer nights often drop into the 50s even when daytime temperatures reach the 80s, requiring campers to pack layers regardless of season.
Hike Mount Ascutney: The 3,200+ foot mountain offers multiple trail options of varying difficulties. "There are four different trails up the mountain of varying levels of difficulty. You can also drive right to the top and hike around on the summit trails, which are really pretty and pop out onto ledges with gorgeous vistas," notes a visitor to Mount Ascutney State Park Campground.
Paddle the Connecticut River: The slow-moving river provides excellent kayaking and canoeing opportunities. "Wilgus State Park is the first Vermont state park to open each spring, well before Memorial Day each year... The best part about camping here is getting out on the water. You can rent kayaks and canoes, and the river moves slowly enough to paddle up stream," reports a camper at Wilgus State Park Campground.
Mountain biking: Several areas offer trail networks for various skill levels. "The state park maintains its own mountain biking trail loop, which accessible directly from the campground. It is a 3 mile beginner friendly loop, with some nice rollers and moderate terrain. Down the road about 10 minutes at the Mt. Ascutney Outdoor Center, there is a whole network of mountain biking trails that range from novice to expert."
Secluded lean-to sites: Many campgrounds offer these rustic shelter options. "I loved this campground especially my site! I stayed at the Basswood lean to site. Private and well kept sites, clean bathrooms, friendly service, gorgeous Mountain View, gave me the real feel of camping outdoors," writes a visitor to Coolidge State Park Campground.
Swimming spots: Natural water features provide relief on hot summer days. "We loved walking the trail behind the campsites along the river to the beautiful vista views with a group with young kids, rented kayaks and fished from the boat launch. There is a great local pond for swimming that had dive docks, diving boards and lifeguards on duty that was less than 10 minutes away," notes a camper at Wilgus State Park Campground.
Forest campsites: Wooded settings create privacy between sites. "Nice place to get away from it all. Very wooded and private sites. Many have lean-tos and brick ovens," reports a camper about Coolidge State Park. Another notes, "Tree Farm Campground is my new favorite. The campground is clean and quiet, with sites that are spacious and private."
Weather preparation: Mountain weather changes quickly. "We hit this campground for one over night as we past through. Good spot with easy access to the Gorge. Bathroom were clean and the grounds were quite at night," explains a visitor to Quechee State Park Campground.
Reservation timing: Popular sites book far in advance. "We decided to check out Coolidge State Park after reading the reviews on their website. They have some of the most amazing views right from your campsite. We were not lucky enough to get one because you have to book far in advance to get those campsites."
Road noise: Some campgrounds experience highway sounds. "The road nearby is noisy. Because of its location, you can hear both the local highway and I91. If being in the quiet wilderness is important to you, than this campground might not work out."
Swimming lagoons: Purpose-built swimming areas cater to children. "They have a lagoon for kids, with built in water rafts in the middle for kids to jump in. They have scheduled events that occur including family and adult only fire truck rides around the campground," explains a visitor to Crown Point Camping Area.
Educational programs: Rangers often offer organized activities. "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)," notes a camper at Quechee State Park.
Multi-generation sites: Some campgrounds specifically accommodate family groups. "The park is in a good location; it is right next to the road. We were at sight #3. We were able to walk to the gorge as well as to the Antique mall. The staff was very friendly and accommodating with us. My wife really enjoyed it and had a lot of fun."
Site selection: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger rigs. "The pull through site is not level and is barely long enough to fit my 43' rig (with my motorcycle lift). Driving out of the site was just as bad. You have to go down a small hill and bottom out the front and then drag the backend out of the dirt," warns a camper about Caton Place Campground.
Hookup availability: Electric and water connections vary by campground. "We needed some serious forest bathing and spontaneously decided to head to the green mountains. We were looking for a basic camp ground that would have hook ups. While searching online we learned that Vermont state parks do not have hook ups."
Seasonal considerations: Weather impacts RV access at many sites. "Camped here Labor Day Weekend in our 40 ft 5th wheel. We had a pull thru site. Easy to drive into the campground and into the site. We had no issues at all. Hosts were very friendly and helpful. Campground was very clean and well manicured."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Cavendish, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, Cavendish, VT offers a wide range of camping options, with 196 campgrounds and RV parks near Cavendish, VT and 32 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Cavendish, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Cavendish, VT is Wilgus State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 11 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Cavendish, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 32 free dispersed camping spots near Cavendish, VT.
What parks are near Cavendish, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Cavendish, VT that allow camping, notably North Hartland Lake and Townshend Lake.
Keep Exploring
