If you want to explore the beauty of Essex Junction, glamping is an excellent option. Glamping near Essex Junction, VT is a great way to go camping with the tastes of home. Search nearby glamping or find top-rated spots from other campers.
$37 - $100 / night
This popular state park, located in Vermont, is a narrow passage that leads through the Green Mountains. In 2003, the park was relocated to allow room for expansions, including an updated campground and sites featuring alternative energy. Despite this, great care was taken to relocate and restore the original structures that were built there by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The site originally housed the many young men looking for work during the Depression era, so it was important for their work to be preserved as much as possible.
Visitors report satisfaction with the new renovations, as the new campground has sites that allow for much more room than before, and ample thought was given to the facilities operating on alternative energy. Campers can now enjoy hot showers, firewood and ice for sale, as well as a new location that provides easy access to Bingham Falls.
Before planning a stay at the park, travelers should be aware that most sites in the park are first come first serve, and not easily accessible by vehicle. Because of the limited space and narrow geography, there are only a small number of sites that can accommodate a trailer or RV. Animal lovers are welcome to bring their furry pals for a visit to the park as well.
Day use of the park consists of a variety of recreation and fun. There's a wetlands boardwalk near what's called the Barnes Camp Visitor Center. Bouldering and cave exploring commonly take place here as well, and when the weather allows it, some try their hand at ice climbing. Day use of the park comes with an entrance fee of $4 for adults, $2 for kids 12 and younger, and children ages 0-3 enter the park free of charge.
$20 / night
Little River State Park, which is part of Mt. Mansfield State Forest, is home to central Vermont's largest and most popular campground. The campground has 81 tent/RV sites, 20 lean-tos, and five cabins. Restrooms have flush toilets and hot and cold running water, and three of the four restrooms have coin-operated hot showers. A sanitary dump station is available, but there are no hookups. Within the campground, there are swimming beaches, play areas, a boat launch, ball fields, and boat rentals for campers (for day use boat rentals and swimming, see Waterbury Center, State Park). Adjacent to the park are miles of hiking trails for campers and day use visitors that take in the rich cultural and natural history of the area.
Remote camping: The remote campsites can be reserved online or through the Reservation Call Center at 1-888-409-7579 starting May 19. Those not reserved are first come/first served. Information about open campsites may be found at each access area. Simply find a vacant designated campsite, pitch in and the park ranger will come by to get you registered. Campsites may be used by any single party for up to 7 days with no fees. Every remote campsite has a maximum occupancy of 6 people, unless otherwise posted. There are privies at these sites, but there is no potable water. View remote camping page here.
Today, Little River State Park is one of the most popular parks in central Vermont. Waterbury Reservoir is particularly favored for boating with a portion of the reservoir devoted to quieter uses. Angling for bass and trout is as popular here as water-skiing.>
Enjoy swimming beaches, play areas, boat rentals and a launch, and miles of hiking and mountain bike trails in the adjacent Mt. Mansfield State Forest. Self-guided history and nature trails are located close to the camping area.
$19 - $28 / night
Camping is one of the most economical ways for a family to spend vacation time together. With money for leisure travel at a premium this year, you may decide that the best way to spend your vacation is to visit the Shelburne Camping Area. We feature spacious campsites with full electrical, sewer, cable, and water hook-ups for RVs and Travel Trailers as well as wooded sites for Tent Campers. A camp store, restrooms, showers and modem hook-up are also available as well as the Dutch Mill Family Restaurant for those of you who don't wish to "rough it" too much, but still would like to be in the beautiful surroundings.
Enjoy the Adirondack Mountain countryside's pristine mountains, lakes and streams when you escape the city to say at Lake Placid/ Whiteface Mountain KOA. The Lake Placid and Whiteface region of the Adirondacks is one of the oldest vacation destinations in the country, and camping gives you plenty of opportunities to take in the big views, big scenery and big history this area is known for.
Located in Wilmington, NY near Lake Placid and Whiteface Mountain, our campground is your gateway to all the world-class recreation you will find in this region. That means fly-fishermen and hikers alike will feel right at home when choosing one of our tent camping or other sites as your home base. We are also an ideal destination for a romantic getaway or a family adventure in the great outdoors.
$23 / night
Legend
General: Large state park with two loops, both of which are lakefront. A mix of primitive sites (no w/e/s), lean-tos, and two cabins, one in each section. Sites/lean-tos are designated premium (lakefront) or non. There is also an ADA-accessible lean-to. Upon check-in, you are given a gate code to enter.
Site Quality: Our site, like all others, was generous in size and a back-in site. Most sites don’t have clearly defined camper pads, and the surface is grass/dirt (or mud if it has rained recently). A large wooden picnic table and fire ring complete the site. There are plentiful trees, so each site has at least some shade and some are very shaded. Lakefront sites have a filtered view of the lake through the trees.
Bath/Shower House: The one closest to us was very clean. Three stalls and one shower. Cold water only at both the sinks and the shower (at least I didn’t get any hot water). The showers do take quarters and although you get five minutes for each quarter (up to 15 quarters, although I can’t imagine taking that long of a shower), it was quite possibly the wimpiest shower I’ve experienced in quite some time. But, after I finished, I saw my quarter had been returned. The toilet paper was so thin, it was nearly transparent!
Activities: Although swimming is allowed, the “beaches” are very small and there was a bacteria warning in place when we were there advising against swimming. There are two boat launch areas, one in each loop. Great for kayaks, and canoes, and we saw what looked like a fishing boat. There was one very annoying motorboat revving its engine while doing circles in the lake. The day-use area has a small, dated playground, fire pit, horseshoe pit, and volleyball net. There is a short nature trail and one other small walking trail. Nearby is access to the Missisquoi Rail Trail.
A surprise was a family of ducks who visited our site when I was outside reading! Our stay was very quiet during the week after Labor Day, but I imagine the vibe is quite different during summer weekends, especially given the sign in the restroom stating that quiet hours are strictly enforced. We were annoyed by one loud boat so I can’t imagine what it would be like if the lake was filled with boaters. This is why we prefer shoulder-season camping!
Ranger
My husband and I really enjoyed our stay here 5 years ago due to the hiking along the river that was available. Sometime between then and now, the KOA moved down the road a couple miles, so when we arrived, we were really disappointed--now we just paid for overpriced "camping". Despite that, the staff was very friendly and the showers were warm.
Scout
Nothing fancy but great location. The campground is right on the bike path and very close to Burlington.
Legend
This is a small campground, really it's an extension of Stillwater just up the road. Check-in happens at Stillwater, purchase your firewood and drive the 2 min down to Big Deer.
For Vermont, these sites felt close, but we could still get privacy. We did have to change sites due to our neighbors yelling at their kids and using less-than-appropriate language to do so. We could still hear them on the other side of the campground :(
The site itself was nice, even though it lacked privacy.
Boulder Beach Road is an easy dirt road access to these campgrounds.
We had 1 bar of AT&T service.
The bathrooms were adequate, nothing special
But we made a last-minute decision to camp and this was a decent location for that. I would camp here again, but it wouldn't be my first choice.
ScoutOur first time in Vermont, we were coming from Montreal, Quebec. And while there are many nice campsites to visit in Quebec... we've done them all, within a 2-hour radius. Well, guess what? Lake Carmi in Franklin (Enosburg?) Vermont, is less than 1 1/2 hours from Montreal! I think it must be the closest campsite to Quebec, in Vermont. The drive there was really pleasant too. It wasn't all highway. It took us mostly through very scenic routes in both Quebec, and Vermont.
After booking, I had read some bad reviews about the place - which gave me second thoughts. About the staff being very unpleasant, etc. Well I'm happy to say, that turned out to be absolutely untrue! To say that Kathy, Daniel and really, the entire staff that we met, was very friendly to us, is an understatement. They literally saved our bacon!
It's a long story, but in short... our car broke down at one point, and we had to get it towed. Our phone wouldn't work, and it was by the good graces of the Lake Carmi rangers and staff, and the use of their wireless, that we were eventually able to return back home to Canada. I don't know what we would have done, if they weren't there to help us! So - big thanks to the amazing staffers at Lake Carmi.
We had reserved a site by the lake, and saw that the campground itself was quite nice. Just acres and acres of lush green forestation. Clean grounds and washrooms. A beautiful sunset over the lake. No electrical 'pollution'. No noise pollution - except for crickets, in the field. Other than the car trouble - quite a pleasant stay! We'll be returning next year.
Scout
We stayed in the Venus yurt from Saturday August 3rd thru Thursday August 8th 2024. We were going to stay until the 10th, but we had an incoming hurricane and decided to leave before the exit flooded.
Overall, their website pictures are NOT current and I believe the reviews on their website to either be inaccurate or very old.
Day 1: the yurt smelled heavily of febreeze and was smaller than the pictures showed. The mattress, which had no cover on it, had been turned over(the bottom had nubs on it so it wouldn’t slide- this was face up). When we flipped it over, there were obvious fresh red fluid stains and other stains on the top of the mattress. For the price we paid, we would have expected either a waterproof cover enclosing the mattress or that the owners would have swapped out this mattress. The fact that the cleaning staff felt it was ok to turn it over expecting nobody to check was a bit revolting. We went to the office to get it removed, but the best they could do was provide 2 comforters to place between the mattress and our sheets.
When we left to meet up with friends, we found the door lock was broken. We could only lock it from the inside. Our friends were in RVs and apparently the site was digging for new sewer lines, so when the wind shifted, we got a fresh scent of raw sewage.
When we went to take showers at the facility nearest the yurts, we found there was no hot water, the showers had to be pumped to run(no continuous water flow in either the showers or the sinks), and only 1 of the 4 stalls had lockable doors. Both of these were reported to the office the following morning.
Day 2: found that by the store were 6 showers with hot, continuously running water. 3 were out of service and only 1 locked. This was reported to the store/office multiple times.
The lifeguard on duty at the smaller pool across from the store was sitting down in a regular chair with a table with an umbrella between her and the pool, face down in her phone with one hand, holding her sunglasses up with her other hand, while 3 small children(~8 years old) were sliding and playing unsupervised. As a former life guard/ wave pool certified lifeguard, I would have fired her on the spot. That is an unacceptably dangerous situation.
The mini golf course was in disrepair, the arcade was empty of machines, and the activities touted on their website were nonexistent.
The charcoal grill, which we would have used, had a large rusted hole in the bottom right side taking out~25% of the usable bottom, making it basically useless. Thank goodness for butane camp stoves.
Day 3: shower lock situation had not improved(did not improve during our stay despite the office being made aware) Our neighbors left the yurt to our left and the person cleaning the yurt did a cursory cleaning at best. No sign of COVID cleaning discipline whatsoever. We spent the majority of the day offsite
Day 4: lawn mowing started at 8:15 am. The grass absolutely did not need to be mowed. Very loud stand behind rider mower that kicked up dust more than anything as it had been very dry. Took them~3 hours. As a person on vacation, this clearly woke me up early. Very disappointing.
Day 5: got a bit cold in the early morning, so we turned on the heat. It blew dust, filled the entire yurt with a burning smell and caused my partner to use her rescue inhaler. We turned it off quickly, opened the door and 2 windows to clear the air, and found the heater had not been cleaned.
Day 6: decided to leave due to the pending hurricane. As I was checking out, a gentleman checking in was told he had been moved further into the campsite in case the river flooded and was told that, if the river did flood, they had a plan and to not be surprised to see RVs in the road. That was their plan?!?!?
Overall, we will not be returning and will not be recommending this to anyone. If anything, we will encourage anyone looking to camp in the Adirondacks to avoid this campground.
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.
ScoutGreat spot near the lake to put up a tent for the night. Very safe and super close to town. Seemed really popular and a little loud until around 11. If you’re a light sleeper then consider bringing some ear plugs.
Legend
Pros: Full hookup (sewer, water, 50 AMP) 1.7 mile from #7 Ranked World's Best Disc Golf Course: Fox Run Meadows New fire ring New picnic table Gorgeous Mountain View
Cons: Grass site No amenities No Wi-Fi Soft ground, sinked during setup
Scout
I absolutely love this place every time the leaves turn yellow. It is really beautiful like paradise. The right place to rest and relax with poppy playtime chapter 3.
Legend
I haven't camped here, I stopped in a spoke to the host. Drove through and was impressed with the campground, it's well maintained and very nice. The problem for me is it's really two or three connected fields, with hookups in places and lean-tos and fire pits. There was no privacy. But if you're looking for a tent location or a spot to park your camper while you fish on the lake this is the spot.
Traveler
We generally enyojed our stay. Really nice reservoir. However the campground is a bit pricey and doesn’t offer dishwashing sinks. You need to somehow fill water in some kind of bucket and then make a mess on your campsite..
RangerNice, wooded sites. Staff was great and very helpful. I didn't see the restrooms with the showers on the one end of the campground, but the restrooms I did see on the end that I stayed were like outhouses but with flushable toilets--kinda meh.
RangerNice, wooded sites. The restroom is a bit dated and dingy, but clean. The shower is coin-operated and could offer a bit more privacy (the stall wall is quite low and right next to the door entering the restroom.)
Scout
The"road" into the campground is more like a goat trail, with numerous washoutsand uneven rocks and dirt. RV site 8 is so out of level that we couldn't get our Airstream level unless we put 10" of blocking under both axles. And the whole idea of paying a"lock fee" is total BS, especially when we paid for our site, in full, 2 months in advance. The ladies at the front desk and the maintenance guy went out of their way to try and make things right, but the manager, his boss and Campspot are completely incompetent and only care about making money.
Guidewe camped here in early October and it was gorgeous. Well spaced out sites. Friendly staff , flush toilets, showers, Quiet and peaceful. Good spot to summit Mansfield from.
Traveler
Stayed in a campground for one night just so I could hike Mount Marcy in the morning! It was 40 dollars a night and it has a great hot shower and flush toilet. The area was perfect!
ScoutFirst time camping solo- great place! Felt safe and campground was quiet and clean. Will definitely be back!
GuideCould be nice, but my bike was stolen at 3 am (it was locked) and two others the previous night. Needless to say, I have a low opinion of this campground
ScoutHusband and I took a trip with all 3 pups and I couldn't even tell you who had more fun!! The doggos and husband absolutely loved being able to walk the beautiful trail in the cooler weather, especially the husky. And being a fan of gems, I definitely bought an embarrassing amount of dirt for the gem mining(Got some good finds, so worth it!) Views were amazing and so was the staff, we will absolutely be back!!
ScoutSpacious sites close to great amenities! Super staff! Clean and updated facilities. Close to beautiful hiking, lake activities and rail bikes. We can’t wait to come back!
ScoutThis is such a nice campground and a great experience! The kids loved the gem mining and train rides!! We enjoyed the water view and the staff was so nice to us! On our favorites list for sure!
LegendThis is one big Rv Resort on Lake Champlain. The sites are tighter than we like. This resort has a lot to offer. The pool was packed yet felt good. The place is maintained well and very clean. There is a big playground which keeps the kids busy. Met some very nice people that rent a Seasonal place there. They come every year for 2 months.
There is a small store onsite and they sell some groceries, wood & ice there too. Devyn's Creemee Stand is close we got ice cream, farm fresh eggs and Maple syrup from there. There was a farm stand on the main road we got the best lettuce, strawberries and cilantro from the stand.
There is a boat ramp and docks onsite yet the docks aren't part of the resort. They do have an area you can store your boat and trailer. The restrooms were clean, showers and a laundry room which was needed by us. There is a big long sandy beach, a rec hall, and lots of games to play. The campground was pretty full it is well liked by all.
They have an area for tents too. Your close to NY, facing the Adirondack Mountains. We aren't into the big RV resort places we like more privacy and larger sites.
Legend
We stayed in Site # 3 A. It had a view of the water yet it's a distance away. We had water and electric and a small dump station. There was a tree in our site which gave us a little shade yet no privacy in-between the sites. There is a boat launch, gas for boats and docks to keep a boat. They rent boats there too. You can sit along the water in front of the office.store and chill. It's a nice view and peaceful.
Kiley and Ian the owners are really nice and helpful. They have a small store onsite. They sell beer and wine too. There is a game room and a playground and horseshoe pits and a laundry room. There are a lot of full timers living there.
I love the little farm stands outside of peoples homes along the roads with fresh produce, lettuce and eggs.
We drove out to the point and sat and enjoyed the water view with a margarita. You can fish off the point some people were swimming there too.
The campground is close to the upper NY border on lake champlain.
We went to Cody's cafe for breakfast one day it was good. We needed a real grocery store so ventured to find one. Hanafords isn't that far from there. There is a bakery the other direction yet wasn't fond of the sandwiches. They did see pies there at the bakery.
We went to Vesco Ridge Vineyards and had a tasting. They had some cute items for sale there too. We sat outside on a deck looking at the vineyard. They had some events coming up that weekend I would have liked to have made it back for the massage and wine event. They are also a Harvest Host location.
We drove to Grand Isles and stopped at a Snow Farm Winery. We did a tasting and enjoyed a nice view. There are lots of bicyclist that venture this route and they stop to enjoy a cold beer or wine.
TravelerTerrific location to hike the different trails of ausable chasm. Good sized site with electric and water. Shady but also had sun to dry our shoes from the raft tour. Bathrooms and showers weren’t too bad, the doors are always kept open which means bugs but not too buggy as they are cleaned daily. Did wish more than once that they had those “occupied/vacant” airplane locks.
Legend
Jake from the Dyrt here! The Brook Run Dog Retreat is new to the Dyrt but offer a great glamping facility and is perfect for dog lovers and owners. Check them out and make sure to leave a review on the Dyrt!
TravelerThis is also listed as the North Pole Wilmington KOA. Medium size KOA, quiet, sires were a little bigger than most KOAs. Close to hiking trails, Whiteface Mt Parkway & Lake Placid. Nice, helpful staff. It is NOT wheelchair accessible. There are steep steps to the office, no grab bars in the bathrooms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Essex Junction, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Essex Junction, VT is North Beach Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 27 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 30 glamping camping locations near Essex Junction, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
