Camping options near Derby Line, Vermont include both established campgrounds and luxury outdoor stays. Located in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom at elevations between 960-1,200 feet, this region features dense forests and pristine lakes with seasonal weather ranging from warm summer days to cool fall nights. Winter camping isn't common due to temperatures often dropping below freezing from November through March.
What to do
Biking along lakeshores: At Prouty Beach Campground, a biking/walking path runs through the grounds. "You can ride your bike to Canada or into town and see the small town community. Wonderful place to ride bikes and watch the sunset," shares a camper.
Kayaking in remote ponds: Northern Vermont's waterways provide excellent paddling opportunities. A visitor to Lakeside Camping mentions, "Kayaking is great" while another notes it's a "Great place to go kayaking, jump off the dock, or go search for the log!"
Wildlife watching: The quiet waterways attract diverse wildlife. At Coleman State Park, campers can enjoy "falling asleep to the sound of loons and owls chatting back and forth" and keep "eyes out for loons and bald eagles" on Little Diamond Pond.
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Many campgrounds offer generous spacing between campsites. At Kingdom Campground, "the newest sites are super spacious!!!!" according to a visitor with a 34-foot fifth wheel who appreciated the "beautiful views right from campsites."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained amenities. At Lake Francis State Park Campground, reviewers note "very clean facilities" with "dishwashing station, laundry facilities, showers, and bathrooms, all very clean" and staff who "rake beach grass and debris along the beach so it was very clean for swimmers."
Digital disconnection: Limited connectivity creates a true escape. A visitor to Tree Corners Family Campground mentions "campground has no cell service and you have to pay for WiFi," while another at Maidstone State Park appreciated that "there is no cell service, even with a booster."
What you should know
Variable amenities: Facilities range from basic to comprehensive. At Maidstone State Park, "the facilities on the B loop are vintage 1950s, simple clean but not new or the same caliber as the facilities on A loop."
Water conditions: Lake quality varies seasonally. At Lake Carmi State Park, one camper noted "the lake had green algae and we spotted several dead fish floating" while at Prouty Beach Campground, a visitor mentioned "flood damage to their beach" and "the beach and boat dock are gone."
Remote locations: Many campgrounds are far from supplies. Coleman State Park is described as "not close to shopping" while Maidstone State Park is "very remote" with the "nearest town about 45 minutes away."
Tips for camping with families
Water recreation options: Tree Corners Family Campground offers "two separate pools and hot tubs for kids and adults. Tons of other activities for kids- splash pad, water slides, playground, basketball court, etc."
Educational opportunities: Some parks provide learning activities. Lake Francis State Park has "daily trivia question" opportunities where kids can earn treats, as one parent shared: "My daughter had gotten more candy out of them than she knew what to do with answering the daily trivia question right."
Quiet time enforcement: Noise policies vary between campgrounds. At Lake Carmi State Park, a visitor noted "there did not seem to be any reminders about quiet time," while Tree Corners enforces that "lights have to be off by 10 at the latest."
Tips from RVers
Site selection challenges: Some campgrounds have limited large RV options. At Ladd Pond Cabins and Campground, an RVer noted "if you have a small camper great; if you have anything over 30 feet find somewhere else."
Electrical considerations: Power supply varies between campgrounds. At Prouty Beach, one RVer experienced difficulties: "our electric pedestal showed readings between 110 and 115 volts which was constantly cutting off our air conditioners."
Hookup availability: Not all parks offer full RV services. Maidstone State Park has electric hookups but limited water and sewer options, while Lake Francis has "sites with hookups which are great but they do not have the privacy" of non-hookup sites.
