Campers seeking horse facilities near Essex Junction will find limited dedicated equestrian options within the immediate area. Located in Vermont's northwestern region at an elevation around 330 feet, Essex Junction sits near the shores of Lake Champlain and serves as a gateway to both the Green Mountains and Adirondack region. The camping season typically runs from late May through mid-October, with summer temperatures averaging 70-80°F during peak camping months.
What to do
Hiking on nearby trails: New Discovery State Park Campground offers direct trail access from the camping areas. As one camper notes, "There are hiking trails right from the campground, which we always appreciate. You can also go down to the water and rent a kayak or canoe from the rangers." This state park maintains several interconnected trails within the Groton State Forest system.
Water activities: Branbury State Park Campground provides excellent lake access with multiple water recreation options. A visitor explains, "The day use section has a wonderful beach with a swimming area and boat launch. Large trees provide shade on a grassy lawn, and grills are available." The park offers fishing opportunities and equipment rentals for those without their own gear.
Mountain biking: AuSable Chasm Campground maintains an extensive trail system popular with cyclists. One reviewer wished they "had my bike!!! I didn't know that this was a biking campground and there were SO MANY trails. Made the most of them with running, but overall, a fantastic campground."
Visiting historic attractions: Frontier Town Campground offers convenient access to regional landmarks. Located near the Lake George region, it serves as "a great home base to explore from the Lake George region to Ticonderoga to day hikes or cycling," according to a recent visitor.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Groton Forest Road Campground receives praise for its spacious layout. A camper mentioned, "The spots were spacious with enough privacy between sites. The lake was gorgeous to swim in and had different rafts and stuff in the water for public use."
Clean facilities: Frontier Town Campground maintains exceptionally clean amenities. One reviewer stated, "The bathrooms are the cleanest I've seen so far and we do this full time." The campground's relatively new facilities are consistently well-maintained.
Natural surroundings: New Discovery State Park offers a mix of wooded and field sites. A visitor who drove through noted, "This easy-to-access campground has made it on my list of places to stay. There are two loops of sites, some deep in the woods with great-looking trees, others in a field, and some in between."
Lakefront options: Branbury State Park provides waterfront camping with panoramic views. One camper described, "The camp sites near the beach are in a large grassy field, and across the road, the campsites are wooded, and some have lean tos."
What you should know
Limited equestrian facilities: Despite "Equestrian" in its name, Frontier Town doesn't have dedicated horse corrals based on available data. A visitor noted, "I drove through the equestrian loop and found it very confusing. Lots of fences and shared pedestals." For horseback riders seeking accommodations near Essex Junction, always call ahead to verify current equine facilities.
Water hookup challenges: At New Discovery State Park, RVers should note: "The spigots for the water are not threaded. We tried our water bandit, with messy wet results. Luckily, we found we could unscrew the head of the hose at the dump station and had no problem filling our tank with potable water."
Bears in the area: Multiple campgrounds report bear activity. At Branbury State Park, a camper advised: "There are bears in the area, so be aware and store all food properly. My family loves camping here." Follow posted guidelines for food storage at all area campgrounds.
Seasonal limitations: Most Vermont state parks only operate from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend. Private campgrounds may have extended seasons, but amenities might be limited during shoulder seasons.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Branbury State Park offers excellent facilities for children. A visitor reported, "Spacious sites, hiking trails, biking trails, nice beach and grounds. Fishing, kayak, canoe, paddle boat and paddle board rentals. Theres a nature center with all kinds of information and activities. A large playground."
Educational opportunities: AuSable Chasm provides learning experiences about local geology and ecosystems. The campground is "across the road from the Chasm to hike, Tube down the river, raft, rock climb, adventure course. They have a small store and rec room for kids."
Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds offer wildlife spotting opportunities. At New Discovery, a camper noted: "We saw fresh moose poop on a hike but sadly no moose or other wildlife." Many sites maintain nature centers with information about local species.
Consider lean-to sites: For families wanting a blend of tent camping with some structure, lean-to sites are available at several state parks. As one camper observed at New Discovery: "The lean-to sites are really cool, and if I was tent camping I think they'd be so fun to sleep in."
Tips from RVers
Site selection is crucial: At Frontier Town, RVers report challenges with site layout. One camper noted, "Sites are built wrong so it is hard to get you camper into your site correct." Research specific sites before booking.
Site dimensions vary widely: AuSable Chasm Campground offers sites of varying sizes. A visitor in a camper van reported: "Upon arrival at Ausable Chasm, we were told we had to take a site with water and electric since we had a camper van. These sites were $13 more per night... We were finally able to convince the staff that we could take a standard tent site, which was more than big enough."
Hookup availability: When comparing equestrian camping options near Essex Junction, verify utility access. Most state parks provide limited or no hookups, while private campgrounds typically offer water and electric. Frontier Town has full hookup sites but reportedly confusing layouts in the equestrian section.
Road conditions: Access roads can be challenging at some campgrounds. At AuSable Chasm, "The road through the campground is dirt and rutted but the speed limit is 5 mph, so it wasn't that bad, but it would be a mess if it was raining."
