North Beach Campground permits pets with spacious sites for tent camping, RVs, and cabins alongside Lake Champlain. Lone Pine Campsites in Colchester offers pet-friendly accommodations with full hookups, including electric, sewer, and water connections for RVs. Most campgrounds require pets to be leashed at all times, and owners must clean up after their animals. Grand Isle State Park Campground, Shelburne Camping Area, and Smugglers Notch State Park all welcome pets with designated pet-friendly tent sites, RV spots, and some cabins. Many campgrounds provide trash receptacles specifically for pet waste disposal. Some campers report their pets being stolen at North Beach Campground, suggesting extra security precautions are necessary.
The Burlington bike path connects North Beach Campground to downtown Burlington, providing excellent walking opportunities for campers with dogs. Most campgrounds in the region maintain a two-pet maximum policy per site, though specific rules vary by location. Seasonal considerations include tick prevention in summer months and appropriate pet warmth during spring and fall camping when temperatures can drop significantly at night. Many campsites feature short trails suitable for dog walks within campground boundaries. Several reviewers note that while sites at Lone Pine Campsites offer little privacy between neighbors, the campground provides ample space for dogs to exercise. Local veterinary services are available in Essex Junction, Burlington, and Colchester for emergency pet care during camping trips.
$37 - $100 / night
"Sites 1 to 16 are close to each other. Sites 113 to 119 are bad. Very close to each other. No redeeming qualities.
Sites have 30 amp electric and water but might need a longish cord or hose."
"We stay every year for the Vermont City Marathon. It is a convenient bike ride down the bike path to the waterside park. Easy access to all of Burlington by bike."
"This is a nice little private campground in Shelburne, just outside of Burlington. Close to Lake Champlain. Good place to spend the night and good access to activities."
"Lastly, the location was perfect, just outside of Burlington made access to the area ideal."
$6 - $28 / night
"Beautifully set on Lake Champlain in Vermont! This is a relatively large campground but is well laid out and doesn't feel small even when it's packed to the gills."
"Since the park is on a island in Lake Champlain in Vermont there is water all around. Good places to walk and ride."
$20 / night
"I’d say this was one of Vermont’s best kept secrets, except I don’t think it’s exactly a secret. Even in October, the Park seemed full with visitors and Stowe was hopping!"
"Close to tons of beautiful hikes. As for the campground. It was quiet, comfortable, and kid, as well as pet friendly. Would definitely camp here again."
$8 - $12 / night
"We had one right next to the playground so our daughter could walk straight to it without having to cross a road. And speaking of playground, it was large and very nice."
"Cool little campground right in Mallets Bay on Lake Champlain. Campsites are kind of close together. Nice pool, game room, and little store. Its a fun place for families!"
$19 - $28 / night
"Little River State Park is located just outside of Waterbury Vermont so it’s an ideal location for jumping off on other adventures!"
"We came here to hike the Dalley Loop Trail (which is a great trail full of history), but we wish we had camped here instead of the private campground 45 minutes away where we did stay."
$55 - $105 / night
"Visit this campground in the fall and experience quintessential Vermont in all its glory. The campground is nice. The people are friendly."
"Lots of things to do around here with dogs and kids. Breweries near by for the so inclined. Should have brought my roadbike, this is a bicyclers heaven."
$23 / night
"The toilets are composing toilets, but from the user experience, it's very close to a regular toilet in that it's in a stall in a nice, well maintained proper bathroom (unlike some composting toilets in"
"the best part is every night its only a ten minute hike to the summit from where the sites are and you get to watch the sunset over Vermont and lake champlain as the sun falls behind the adirondack mountains"
"This is a smaller campground tucked away in the bayside of Colchester."
"Right on the water, a nice breeze coming off of the lake, close to everything downtown, but still felt like we weren’t on top of our neighbors. Run by some great people! Highly recommend!"
$22 - $40 / night
"Take a walk up the path next to the chasm. So relaxing listening to the water falls. Great place to watch the sunset! "
"They have some beach and river sites if you like to be close to the water. Showers and bathrooms were spacious."
ScoutThis is one of our favorite places to camp in Vermont. The sites are fairly private without being built too close together. Lake is clean and has a great concrete dock that the kids love to jump off. They have boat rentals and nature tours on the lake led by the state park faculty. When the kids get tired from swimming they're a nice beach area and playground.
GuideI have a 24’ RV towing a 30 foot trailer for perspective. I easily fit in site 107 and lots of other sites would have worked. They have a place to drop trailers if you don’t fit.
Sites 90 to 108 are best. Spaced out under trees.
Sites 1 to 16 are close to each other.
Sites 113 to 119 are bad. Very close to each other. No redeeming qualities.
Sites have 30 amp electric and water but might need a longish cord or hose. Clean easy to use dump with water.
Tent sites looked nice.
Short walk to nice beach or you can drive a car. Short tunnel so no campers or bikes on the roof.
Right next to rails to trails path that goes onto a causeway over the lake. There is a bike ferry to keep going. Nice ride.
Nice dog park 3/4 miles to the South on the trail.
Far away from noise. Can’t comment on loud campers.
GuideVery nice, clean campsite. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Campsites are spread out, great dog walking areas , and very spacious dog parks, one for big dos and one for little ones.
ScoutWe visited this campground twice this summer after the switchover to KOA. They had lots of activities to take back to the campsite for rainy days. They do not have a dog park and this caused our pup to get a bit hyper.
GuideTo start off, we are avid KOA campers. So when we looked at this campground, we expected the typical layout which had a swimming pool and other stuff for the kids, however, this campground lacked all of the above. When we arrived here, check-in was easy we did drive along ways to get to our campsite which was nice to be wooded, but I did miss the typical activities and KOA usually has which when I booked the site, I usually expect them since the prices usually, fairly high compared to state parks. Our main reason for seeing KA versus state parks for these extra activities. With that said the bathrooms were clean, which we barely use since we have a full hook up camper. The dog park was very small and it looked like they did the very minimum to check the block. If you’re looking for a place to run your little guy around, he might be disappointed at this place. However, there are plenty hikes nearby to wear them out if you desire. As far as location, there is a lot of stuff to do in the area as we went and hike, the mountain, which was amazing.
ScoutI've camped on Valcour all my life since I was 7. It was amazing. So beautiful. Now it's covered in cockroaches and the water is murky and everything is covered in Zebra muscles. Other campers are rude and have no respect for your property. Has been all Canadians from my experience. They let their pets on the island to defecate and we've had one let their two large dogs swim ashore from their yacht and urinate on all our tents and destroyed our campsite and stole our food off from the picnic table all while the owners watched and laughed it off from their boat. The dogs then swam back and boarded the boat and they left. It's not like it used to be. We were yelling at them the whole time, trying to get the dogs away from our campsite and the owners didn't even apologize. One of the dogs defecated on my son's clothing that has fallen off the line.
RangerI’d say this was one of Vermont’s best kept secrets, except I don’t think it’s exactly a secret. Even in October, the Park seemed full with visitors and Stowe was hopping! Leaf peepers were in full force and the grounds were absolutely spectacular- I really picked the perfect time of year to go. Nights got pretty brisk, but the foliage was breathtaking.
The Park, located along scenic Rte108, has about 20 tent sites and 14 lean-to’s well dispersed throughout the grounds. A couple spots were drive-in sites, accessible to those with disabilities; most had small pathways and/or stairwells leading to their platforms. There was not a bad site within the entire vicinity. All were fully shaded and extremely private. Although, I’d be curious about checking out Sites 1 or 16 next time around!
Bathrooms were clean and the main office sold firewood at the entrance. Facilities are also pet friendly. Plus, there are so many hiking trails and recreational opportunities in and around the Park-from Stowe Mountain Resort to the quaint shops in town and local craft breweries. And even with the Park seeming “full”, the grounds were perfectly quiet, without the incessant sound of generators you find at larger state parks.
Without a doubt, Smugglers Notch State Park is a favorite of mine!
RangerMostly Seasonal area with some overnight spots. No tents allowed. But pet friendly. Small but clean areas with electric at each site. Has some benches outside, a small pool, playground, and community of seasonal campers. I think there was only a few overnighters.
RangerWe stayed last year during the fall and the views were breathtaking. Close to tons of beautiful hikes. As for the campground. It was quiet, comfortable, and kid, as well as pet friendly. Would definitely camp here again. The staff was friendly and the bathroom facilities were kept nice and clean.
Pet-friendly campgrounds near Essex Junction allow dogs throughout forested sites and along Lake Champlain's shoreline. Temperatures range from 60-80°F in summer, dropping to 40-50°F at night during spring and fall camping seasons. Most campgrounds implement a leash requirement when pets aren't contained within your campsite.
Hiking with dogs: North Beach Campground offers access to the Lake Champlain shoreline with pet-friendly walking areas. "The Burlington bike path connects to the waterfront park. Easy access to all of Burlington by bike," notes Jess O., making it convenient for dog owners to explore without driving.
Kayaking and swimming: Grand Isle State Park Campground provides lake access for dogs that enjoy water. "There is lake access for kayaking, sailing, swimming and fishing," according to Patricia E. Bring water shoes to protect against rocky terrain at the shoreline.
Mountain exploration: Dogs with hiking experience can join you at Smugglers Notch State Park Campground, where "you are minutes from some amazing hiking, which is great when you don't feel like driving long distances after a day hike," says Ben C. Trail difficulty varies, so research routes suitable for your dog's abilities.
Convenient dog exercise areas: Little River State Park Campground offers space for dogs to stretch their legs. "We spent a long weekend here to enjoy some mid-summer bike riding along the many bike-paths Vermont has to offer," reports Sarah C. Many sites include walking access to the reservoir for water-loving dogs.
Privacy between sites: Most tent campers appreciate the layout at Mount Philo State Park Campground where "sites are very private and shaded," according to Tara S. This small campground maintains only 10 total sites (7 tent sites and 3 lean-tos), creating a quieter environment for nervous dogs.
Clean facilities: Dog owners appreciate well-maintained bathroom buildings. "The bathrooms in 'B' were just redone," notes Megan O. about Little River State Park Campground. Mount Philo's "bathrooms are small and clean with hot showers," allowing campers with pets to refresh after outdoor activities.
Leash requirements: All dog-friendly campgrounds near Essex Junction enforce leash rules. Most require 6-foot maximum leash length when outside your immediate campsite.
Site limitations: Some campgrounds restrict specific sites from pet use. Call ahead to confirm your reserved site allows dogs.
Waste disposal: "Many campgrounds provide trash receptacles specifically for pet waste disposal," but pack waste bags for hiking trails where receptacles aren't available.
Wildlife concerns: Dogs must be controlled to prevent wildlife encounters. "The small playground was great, and the small boat launch and beach kept us in the water," notes Rita M. about Little River State Park, where wildlife frequently appears near water features.
Beach access options: Shelburne Camping Area positions families near "museums, the town, and farm areas," states Mackenzie B. Sites accommodate family tents with dogs, though "it is well kept, but we prefer staying in and north of Burlington when we come back to the area."
Playground considerations: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children traveling with family dogs. "The park has great facilities with volleyball nets and a skate park and it is a great area for biking," reports Michelle D. about Mallets Bay Campground.
Separation planning: Arrange schedules so someone always stays with dogs during family swimming or activities where pets aren't permitted.
Weather preparations: Pack dog sweaters for unexpected temperature drops. "Seasonal considerations include appropriate pet warmth during spring and fall camping when temperatures can drop significantly at night," especially at higher elevation campgrounds.
Hookup availability: RVers with dogs appreciate convenient facilities at dog-friendly campgrounds. "We were able to use the generator for a few hours as needed (during specified times)," notes Sheri S. about Ausable Point Campground.
Site size considerations: Some RV sites accommodate pet enclosures better than others. "The sites were long and spacious. We had one right next to the playground so our daughter could walk straight to it without having to cross a road," explains Erin S. about Lone Pine Campsites.
Water access: RV campsites vary in proximity to water sources needed for pet care. "Water was available throughout the campground for filling tank," reports Kimberly R. when describing Ausable Point's facilities.
Noise concerns: Highway proximity affects dogs sensitive to sounds. "It's close to the highway which is convenient but it also means you hear the traffic all night," warns Eli C. about certain campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Essex Junction, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Essex Junction, VT is North Beach Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 28 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 134 dog-friendly camping locations near Essex Junction, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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