Vermont state parks near Cuttingsville offer pet accommodations in a region situated between the Green Mountains and the Taconic Range. Most campgrounds in this area sit at elevations between 1,000-1,500 feet above sea level, with late summer temperatures averaging 75°F during the day and 50°F at night. The camping season typically runs from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October, with fall camping options more limited after Labor Day.
What to do
Waterfall hiking: 4.0-mile Greendale Loop trail starts directly from Greendale Campground and follows Greendale Brook. "The water is clean, refreshing and soothing. Especially soothing while sitting by the campfire," notes M.A.D. P. The trail includes "approximately 2 miles of walking along town maintained roads open to vehicular traffic."
Kayaking on Echo Lake: Camp Plymouth State Park offers a small boat access point for exploring the crystal-clear waters. "This Park has a huge beach and picnic area with a snack bar and boat rentals. We made a day of it and enjoyed the whole shebang!" writes M.A.D. P.
Appalachian Trail access: Connect directly to this famous long-distance hiking path from Gifford Woods State Park. "Walk about 2.5 miles to the Deer Leap Overlook for some incredible views of the mountain ranges nearby," suggests Kyle R. The park serves as a welcome rest point for through-hikers, who "were very willing to share their adventure stories," according to Thomas M.
What campers like
Secluded, wooded campsites: Coolidge State Park offers peaceful sites with separation from neighbors. "There was plenty of room between sites. The roads going in and leaving were well maintained," writes William P. Michele S. adds that it's a "nice place to get away from it all. Very wooded and private sites. Many have lean-tos and brick ovens."
Riverside camping: At Winhall Brook, campsites are positioned where two rivers meet. "Most sites are on or just off the river. Huge volleyball and sports meadow. Nice pavilion," reports Melissa L. The campground layout provides "a nice sport to put your feet in the water. Kids enjoy tubing the small rapids," making it ideal for water-loving campers.
Clean facilities: The state parks maintain high standards of cleanliness. "The staff were wonderful, the sites are pristine and picturesque, the faculties are decorated with wildflowers," writes Thomas M. about Gifford Woods. At Quechee State Park, one camper called it "Might be the nicest bathrooms I've seen in decades of camping."
What you should know
Bug protection essential: Some campgrounds, particularly Greendale Campground, experience significant insect activity. "Bugs. Mosquitos. Black flies. Deer flies. All of them biting. Cool site, but super buggy," warns Jeff N. Bug spray with DEET is recommended from June through August.
Limited cell service: Many Vermont campgrounds have poor connectivity. At Lake Bomoseen KOA, "Cell services on ATT and TMobile were nonexistent. Campground WiFi is a joke (less than 1mbps)." Jason A. notes, "We noticed lots of campers left do to lack of WIFI."
Reservation requirements: Most state park campgrounds book quickly during peak season. For Coolidge State Park, "You have to book far in advance to get those campsites," advises Michael L. Holiday weekends often fill 6-8 months in advance, with mid-week availability extending closer to arrival dates.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming spots for kids: Quechee State Park offers access to Quechee Gorge. "It's a short hike down to Quechee Gorge, where you can cool off in the shallow water," writes Jen B. There's "a short trail from the visitor center to the bottom of the gorge," allowing families to explore this natural feature.
Educational ranger programs: Many parks 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)," shares Jen B. about Quechee State Park.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas. At Winhall Brook, campers appreciate "a few playgrounds, and nice trails." Jamaica State Park has "a fun playground and nature area for kids. Very family friendly place with beautiful hikes to Hamilton falls," according to Fransheska A.
Tips from RVers
Limited hookups available: Caton Place Campground offers full-service sites for RVs. "We had a pull thru site. Easy to drive into the campground and into the site. We had no issues at all," reports David, who visited with a 40-foot fifth wheel. However, most state parks have few or no hookup sites.
Site selection challenges: Large RVs face limitations at many Vermont campgrounds. William P. notes at Coolidge State Park: "I accidently booked a tent site, and my popup camper and truck almost didn't fit." Jim B. warns about Caton Place: "The roads aren't wide enough to take a motorhome into. The pull through site is not level and is barely long enough to fit my 43' rig."
Pay showers at state parks: Most state campgrounds require quarters for showers. At Emerald Lake, Gary C. advises: "Pay showers so save your quarters." The typical rate is 25 cents for 5 minutes of hot water, so bringing $2-3 in quarters per person for a weekend is recommended.
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