Best Campgrounds near Dorset, VT

Dorset is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. Dorset is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near Dorset, VT. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.

Best Camping Sites Near Dorset, Vermont (212)

    1. Emerald Lake State Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    Danby, VT
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 362-1655

    "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."

    2. Camping On The Battenkill

    20 Reviews
    Arlington, VT
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 375-6663

    $45 - $57 / night

    "Our first time in Vermont and we picked an awesome campground. This place has a great layout with lots of great sites to choose from.

    There are several sites right on the river!

    Clean bath houses."

    "Site 16 had a path to the river and was slightly tucked away. Sites 13 and 14 were cool spots too, I’d imagine in the summer you may have less privacy because it’s near the swimming area."

    3. Dorset RV Park

    7 Reviews
    Dorset, VT
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 867-5754

    ".– nothing special but nothing bad but we really wanted to see the area since we were told the town of Dorset was so pretty."

    "The location was very good in allowing us to visit family in nearby village and go into nearby Manchester Center. Much more of an RV Park (name is on the money) than camping where we had our site."

    4. Jamaica State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Jamaica, VT
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 874-4600

    $20 - $42 / night

    "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."

    "Great spot near the river with a flat trail and a waterfall near by."

    5. Winhall Brook Camping Area - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    10 Reviews
    South Londonderry, VT
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 824-4570

    $20 - $26 / night

    "The campground is located where Winhall River meets the West River."

    "There is a small group of camp sides with electricity and water but most sites have none. The bathrooms are clean. Where the two rivers intersect is a nice sport to put your feet in the water."

    6. Grout Pond Campground — Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests

    8 Reviews
    Sunderland, VT
    16 miles
    +1 (802) 362-2307

    $16 / night

    "My friend and I were desperately looking for a place to spend the weekend, and with Covid making it a little more difficult to rely on walking in and finding a campsite, we made a blind reservation for"

    "We were the only campers along the waterfront, but there were a few car campers in the sites near the road."

    7. Hapgood Pond

    3 Reviews
    Peru, VT
    11 miles
    Website

    $20 - $50 / night

    "Vermont to begin with is beautiful.

    Getting into a national park to begin with is usually a fee, and then camping is a separate fee."

    "All of the campsites are just a minute walk to the water. There is also a nice trail the leads all the way around the water."

    8. Hapgood Pond NF Campground

    3 Reviews
    Peru, VT
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 362-2307

    "The surrounding grounds are mostly manicured fields."

    "The pond has a nice easy 1 mile trail that loops around the pond. A little bit of cell service (2 bars) with Verizon"

    9. Downed Bridge Camp

    2 Reviews
    Danby, VT
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 747-6700

    "Great location for a small group to camp at.  Can't wait to go back.  The main area is a walk in and is worth it.  The road into here was easy to drive. "

    10. Woodford State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Bennington, VT
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 447-7169

    "Woodford State Park is situated between Wilmington and Bennington VT in the southern part of the Green Mountain National Forest."

    "The views on some of the sites to the lake are beautiful. the grounds and facilities are well kept. and you are close to both Bennington and Wilmington. a great spot to camp at in Southern Vermont!"

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Recent Reviews near Dorset, VT

859 Reviews of 212 Dorset Campgrounds


  • alicianlv The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Grout Pond Campground — Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests

    Grout Pond Loop

    Camping Grout Pond Loop is truly nice after Labor Day (Sept 5-7). Campsites 15 & 16 offer pull-out space to turn around truck campers --we lucked out w/ 4 wheel camper pop-up). Over hanging trees would make it difficult for larger equipment, plus saw posting that excludes trailers from certain roads. We reserved well in advance; however many fellow campers were trying to find first come sites and ended up hiking in to camp around pond sites. Sites are in eye-site of each other but you don't feel crowded. Temps during day around 65-70 F. Nights dipped to 45-55F.
    We saw deer & turkeys driving the surrounding woods after short hikes.
    We love chatting w locals and learned of a special shrine that was faithfully built from stone to resemble original in modern day Turkey. What a special & serene place.

  • Lorraine H.
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Aqua Vista Valley Campgrounds

    2 month stay started July

    It's ok great water views stuff for kids to do every weekend it's the seasonal campers that make it not fun at times u have some very friendly then others that are noisy judging ,parting witch parting really ain't problem until ur not watching ur kids or being loud at times I give it a 7 out of 10

  • Andy M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Statton Pond Camp on Forest Road 71

    Large Area with Fire Pit in the middle

    This was a great site.  I couldn't believe that the site was not being used at all, especially the just a couple of days before Fourth of July weekend.  Many other sites further south on 71 were filled and some were just TTs holding the space for the upcoming weekend.

    The site was very flat and could accommodate several small campers.  It was quiet during our overnight stay other than a car or two on Stratton-Arlington Rd.  There weren't many mosquitoes either.  Hiking trail to Stratton Pond close by.

  • Kenneth P.
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Fort Dummer State Park Campground

    Not So Bad

    We spent one night at site #20 and enjoyed our stay.  It was rather peaceful other than the hum of I-91. The staff was friendly and helpful. The sites were generally wooded, pretty level, and fairly spread apart from one another.  I saw no signs of the problems identified in the June 2025 review.  Yes, I must agree that the restrooms are old, but they were clean.  The other problems might happen anywhere and were obviously brought under control.  Clearly, the writer of the June 2025 post knew way more than any weekend camper would be aware of and this shows that is more to their story that should have been revealed in their post.

  • M
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Aqua Vista Valley Campgrounds

    kids always have a blast!

    We went for the Halloween event, and the kids had a great day and evening! They really enjoyed trick or treating!!!

  • Laura W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Rogers Rock Campground

    Roger's Rock

    It was a pretty good park. Wooded nicely. Big lots where we were. Down near the water the sites were pretty crammed together Not parked in a row like an RV park.

  • W
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Quechee State Park Campground

    Good location

    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. The ice cream was really close and really good. 

    The issue I had was the camp next to ours had the generator on all night long and I had a hard time getting back to sleep after going to the bathroom. Next time I will get a volunteer or park ranger to get it turned off.

  • licia S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Somerset Airfield

    No Wifi, Resevoir Beautiful

    Enjoyed the stunning babbling brook and resevoir- saw happy people swimming, kayaking, and camping. It's been quiet and peaceful and sometimes generators running all night. I arrived after the 4th of July and a neighbor said it was rowdy during the holiday with illegal fireworks set off every night over the dry forest. These pics are from a weekday morning. It's great to see families camping. There are pit toilets. AT.T service at bridge prior to camp- short walk. SOS only in camp. Another camper told me Starlink works here.


Guide to Dorset

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

What to do

  • Hiking and biking: Explore the scenic trails around the area. One camper mentioned, "The park is small, clean and friendly. The sites are semi-secluded and through hikers on the AT/LT can find rest and shelter at this park," referring to the trails available at Gifford Woods State Park Campground.
  • Fishing: Enjoy some quiet time by the water. A visitor at Emerald Lake State Park Campground said, "Great hikes and fishing! And close to the adorable town of Manchester!"
  • Swimming: Take a dip in the lake. One review highlighted, "The lake and beach is lovely, clean, and the water is warm and clear," about Emerald Lake State Park Campground.

What campers like

  • Spacious sites: Campers appreciate the roomy spots. A review noted, "The sites are spacious, shady, and had good separation between the neighboring sites," at Woodford State Park Campground.
  • Clean facilities: Many visitors mention the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. One camper said, "The bathrooms are BEAUTIFUL! The nicest I've seen yet," at Woodford State Park Campground.
  • Friendly staff: Campers often rave about the helpfulness of the staff. A visitor shared, "The staff treated us so nicely and the array of resort-level amenities are beautifully maintained," at Lake George RV Park.

What you should know

  • Limited amenities: Some campgrounds may not have all the amenities you expect. A camper at Moose Hillock Camping Resorts mentioned, "Showers cost money at $0.25 per 4 minutes, no wifi at all and poor cell reception."
  • Road noise: If you're sensitive to noise, be aware that some campgrounds are near busy roads. One camper noted, "Friday and Saturday night there was a ton of street noise from Rt9," at Hearthstone Point Campground.
  • Seasonal crowds: Expect busier times during peak season. A visitor at Moreau Lake State Park Campground said, "The park was not very crowded when we were there, but we can imagine it could get very busy and noisy in the busy summer season."

Tips for camping with families

  • Kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with activities for children. One review mentioned, "There is a FULL schedule of themed activities for the kiddos, weekly," at Lake George Escape Campground.
  • Safety: Ensure the campground has safe areas for kids to play. A camper noted, "The kids were able to safely ride bikes on the camp roads," at Jamaica State Park Campground.
  • Plan for meals: Some campgrounds may not have stores nearby. A visitor advised, "Make sure you stock up before you get there, stuff is expensive at the corner stores," about Jamaica State Park Campground.

Tips from RVers

  • Check site sizes: Make sure the campground can accommodate your RV. A review mentioned, "Some campsites were pretty small and would not fit large RVs," at Moose Hillock Camping Resorts.
  • Be mindful of road access: Some campgrounds have tricky roads for larger rigs. A camper noted, "The road to our campsite was paved and in good shape but there were a few tight spots because of the trees," at Moreau Lake State Park Campground.
  • Amenities for RVs: Look for campgrounds with full hookups. A visitor shared, "We stayed on a premium site which is larger than their standard," at Moose Hillock Camping Resorts.

Camping near Dorset, Vermont, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is camping from Dorset town center?

Dorset RV Park is the closest camping option to Dorset's town center, located within minutes of the village. For those seeking a different experience, Silver Lake Campground is approximately 25 miles from Dorset and offers sites with good privacy, a clean lake with a concrete dock, boat rentals, and ranger-led nature tours. Most state park campgrounds in the region are within a 30-45 minute drive from Dorset. If you're willing to travel a bit further (about 40-50 minutes), you'll find additional camping options in the Green Mountain National Forest with varying levels of amenities and accessibility.

Where are the best campgrounds in Dorset, Vermont?

The Dorset area offers several excellent camping options. Dorset RV Park provides convenient accommodations with responsive staff and is particularly popular for those wanting to explore the picturesque town of Dorset. For those willing to venture a bit further, Hapgood Pond near Manchester offers an affordable camping experience at just $10 per night within the beautiful Green Mountain National Forest. The area never feels overcrowded and features the natural beauty Vermont is known for. Camping On The Battenkill is another nearby option offering drive-in sites with water and toilet facilities. The southern Vermont region provides numerous state parks and forest service campgrounds within reasonable driving distance of Dorset.

What camping is available near Dorset, VT?

According to TheDyrt.com, Dorset, VT offers a wide range of camping options, with 212 campgrounds and RV parks near Dorset, VT and 26 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Dorset, VT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Dorset, VT is Emerald Lake State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 18 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Dorset, VT?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 26 free dispersed camping spots near Dorset, VT.

What parks are near Dorset, VT?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Dorset, VT that allow camping, notably Townshend Lake and Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests.