Best Cabin Camping near Essex Junction, VT

We've been camping at Button Bay for years, and while it can be hot and buggy in the summer months, there is no place we'd rather be in September! There are two campground loops to choose from. The first is where you'll find the lean-tos and the dog trail/beach. This area is super quiet, offers a bit of shade, and plenty of privacy. We almost always get the Catalpa or Willow lean-to because we bring dogs and it's easy for them to run to the lake and cool off.

The second camping loop has a few waterfront camping cabins, which we are dying to check out, but haven't yet. The main camping area is essentially a huge field, so not much shade or privacy. The benefit of this area is that it's closer to everything - the playground, pool, nature center, kayak and canoe rentals, and the trail out to the point. There are also amazing views of the lake and the mountains right from the camping area.

I think this is one of the best state parks in Vermont for families with kids, and for dogs. There isn't a great place to swim in the lake here, although plenty of people swim off the point. There is a nice pool, but it closes after Labor Day weekend. If you want to swim in Lake Champlain, I highly recommend Kingsland Bay State Park, just a few miles north.

Definitely hike the short nature trail out to Button Bay Point. It's especially lovely in the evening as the sun is setting. Enjoy!

Massive campground made mostly for those with kids. They have two separate pools and hot tubs for kids and adults. Tons of other activities for kids- splash pad, water slides, playground, basketball court, etc. Campground has no cell service and you have to pay for WiFi which is less than ideal. They have a store with the necessities along with a ice cream stand that is open not only to the campers but the public as well so it can get pretty crowded. Quiet time is 10pm but for the most part, people were pretty quiet and respectful long before 10pm. Great place to go if you’re looking to go trail riding- trail is right across from the campground alongside the corn field.

When we first pulled into this campground and saw how close our site was to our neighbors, we were a little dismayed. But it turned out we had a really pleasant stay at the campground and came to like all the amenities and people and thought it was a nice campground. The campground is located right on the Lamoille River so you can wade, tube, fish, admire the view, or let your dog cool off.  While the sites are pretty close keep in mind there is a big weekend crowd and we found that a number of people seemed to clear out on Sunday. 

Our site (#103) was long enough to fit our rig but we had to squeeze the car in front. The site was level and all the hookups were well-placed and worked fine. Despite the really hot weather and need to run three air conditioners, we did not have any power issues. We tended not to sit outside because of the heat which was fine because your patio is really close to your neighbors RV. There was no room for our firepit in our patio so it was at the back of our site and was not very appealing to sit around because it looked at tall grass and a rental house on the property. 

Amenities in the campground include a new bathhouse, laundry, playground, two swimming pools, hot tub, outdoor picnic pavilion, horseshoe pits, propane fill, well-stocked camp store with a great selection of local beer/cider, free 9-hole mini golf course, and 2 shuffleboard courts. One of the most popular amenities is the river access. You can rent kayaks and tubes from the store or bring your own and float down the river. There are multiple spots where you can put in and float down a little ways before reaching the other access point. The roads are gravel and despite it being very dry were not very dusty. Our gravel pad had a slight slope to it but we were able to get level. The pad was long enough to fit our RV with just enough room to fit the car in front. The patio was nice thick grass. 

The campground is located near the interstate for easy in and out but there are no pull-thrus so you will have to unhook no matter how long you are staying. You are also close to the popular tourist towns of Stowe, VT and Littleton, NH. The nearby town of Morrisville has three craft breweries, one of which (Lost Nation) is located on the Lamoille River Trail which is a 90-mile rails-to-trails path great for walking/biking.

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!