Best Campgrounds near Forest Dale, VT

The Green Mountain National Forest surrounds Forest Dale, Vermont with diverse camping options, from established campgrounds to dispersed backcountry sites. Moosalamoo Campground and Silver Lake Campground provide tent and RV accommodation within the national forest, while Branbury State Park offers cabin camping along Lake Dunmore. Most camping areas operate seasonally from Memorial Day through Columbus Day weekend, with Silver Lake Campground particularly noted for its clean swimming areas and family-friendly environment.

Road conditions vary throughout the region, especially during Vermont's mud season in early spring when access to more remote sites becomes challenging. Most established campgrounds require reservations during peak summer months, while dispersed camping in areas like Green Mountain National Forest FR207 operates on a first-come basis. "This is one of our favorite places to camp in Vermont. The sites are fairly private without being built too close together," notes one visitor about Silver Lake Campground. Cell service can be inconsistent in mountainous areas, with better connectivity near larger towns like Rochester and Salisbury. Winter camping opportunities are limited as most facilities close after the fall foliage season.

Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors, with Lake Dunmore and Silver Lake offering popular swimming areas. Campers particularly value the concrete dock at Silver Lake, which reviews indicate is "clean and has a great concrete dock that the kids love to jump off." Chittenden Brook Campground and Moosalamoo Recreation Area provide more secluded forest settings with access to hiking trails and mountain biking routes. Sites with fire rings and picnic tables are standard at most established campgrounds, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Many campers use these sites as base camps for exploring nearby attractions, including waterfalls, swimming holes, and scenic trails throughout the Green Mountains. Tent camping areas typically offer more privacy than RV sections, which tend to have closer spacing between sites.

Best Camping Sites Near Forest Dale, Vermont (197)

    1. Moosalamoo Campground

    16 Reviews
    Salisbury, VT
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 767-4261

    $15 / night

    "there are no amenities other than cascading waterfalls, mountain views, incredible swimming hole, a nearby lake, a picnic table and a fire ring. the easiest access to sites one and two is the Silver Lake"

    "Access to campground is on a gravel road but my van did okay. It is small and primitive and there is a camp host who is very nice."

    2. Branbury State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Salisbury, VT
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 247-5925

    "The site was so scenic with a little waterfall and stream nearby. The camp staff was so nice. They kept the the bathrooms and areas so clean."

    "Love to lake access, secluded camping, the hiking and remote area. Planning on revisiting next summer, even in august the nights get to a good sleeping temperature a vast majority of the time."

    3. Silver Lake Campground

    6 Reviews
    Salisbury, VT
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 767-4261

    $10 / night

    "This 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."

    "Lovely place, free camping, fire pits at the campsite, and access to the water. We camped in the off season, but in the on season there are pit toilets and campground stewards."

    4. Gifford Woods State Park Campground

    16 Reviews
    Killington, VT
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 775-5354

    "Decent bathroom situation--I've seen better and I've seen worse in Vermont."

    "The park is amazingly clean, well run, located just of RT 4 and very near to Killington, Vermont. It has multiple lean-to sites which are in wooded areas."

    5. Rogers Rock Campground

    31 Reviews
    Hague, NY
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 585-6746

    $22 - $172 / night

    "For the last three years, we have traveled with dozens of friends and families to Rogers Rock Campground, which is tucked into the north end of the gorgeous 32 mile-long oasis that is Lake George."

    "Ive been coming to this spot nearly every year since I was a little girl."

    6. Chittenden Brook Campground

    5 Reviews
    Goshen, VT
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 767-4261

    $15 / night

    "Nice hiking trails close to long trail, really tucked away a few miles off 73. Great if you’re looking for some solitude."

    "Well maintained, and nice access to trails right from the campground."

    7. Lake Bomoseen KOA

    10 Reviews
    Bomoseen, VT
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 273-2061

    "No ATM on site to get cash… The sites are spacious enough, but are very close to each other. Zero buffer between neighboring sites means encroaching slide outs."

    "family camping Kabins, rv, and tent sites, arcade, store, ice cream, and Lake Bomoseen. Easy to get to, close to Castleton, Rutland, and Hubbarton Battlefield. Great spot for a family get-a-way."

    8. Half Moon Pond State Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    Bomoseen, VT
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 273-2848

    "Bomoseen State Park is right down the road, but I recommend staying at Half Moon and taking advantage of the large swimming area at Bomoseen, as well as all the cool ponds, lakes, and hiking trails nearby"

    "The pond is clean and swim-able and great for kayaks/canoes (near Glen Lake and Lake Bomoseen for boating and more kayaking/canoeing)."

    9. Michigan Brook Road Camping - Green Mtn Ntnl Forest

    4 Reviews
    Pittsfield, VT
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 747-6700

    "I stayed at this campsite located at the end of upper Michigan road. It is winter and there is a lot of snow. The main road to the parking lot is plowed and sanded."

    "Few nice ones near the creek. I stayed at one on top of a lots of space at mine."

    10. Country Village Campgrounds

    3 Reviews
    Forest Dale, VT
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 247-3333

    "The one thing we loved the most was that the kids could ride their bikes around safely."

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Recent Reviews near Forest Dale, VT

790 Reviews of 197 Forest Dale Campgrounds


  • S.D.G The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 17, 2025

    Quechee State Park Campground

    Great stop on any trip

    Clean, good facilities. Price has gone up to $38 a night. Got there close to the time the rangers left for the night, Nick was really kind to make sure I got situated before he left. Walking distance from the antique mall which is a stop everyone should make as well as good food and pizza right nearby. Great spot to stop at on any trip

  • Stuart M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Moscow Recreation Park

    Quiet & Safe in Stowe

    Quiet spot out of the way. Large sporting field car park suitable for big dogs. No 'no camping' signs. There was a portaloo on site.

  • Marc D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Shelburne Camping Area

    Nice Campground

    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. Sides are somewhat small close together. Bathrooms spotlessly clean. Older couple is the staff, very friendly and unhelpful.

  • Jenna L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Crown Point Campground

    Nice with a view

    Pretty nice campground all things considered, bathrooms are definitely rustic but kept clean. Some of the campsites are very close together, and others have a decent amount of space between them, not necessarily a lot of trees in between campsites for privacy. Beautiful views of the water, and surrounding mountains. Staff was extremely friendly!

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 8, 2025

    Austin Brook

    Site is mislabeled as FR 25

    There are a handful of sites down Austin Brook road, I had trouble finding a level spot. Minimal ATT reception but overall pretty area

  • B The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Quechee State Park Campground

    Beautiful, road noise, not a lot there

    Big, flat, beautiful sites. Road noise isn't super loud, but it's constant. Might be the nicest bathrooms I've seen in decades of camping.

    The weird thing is that there just isn't much here. The Quechee Gorge, best accessed from the back of the lawn behind the bathhouse, is the deepest in Vermont.. which is kind of like saying the best bagel or most populous city in Vermont. Prepared to be whelmed.

    It's a ~30 minute hike, you can access some slow semi-rapids at the bottom.

    Camping at the SP does give access to another trail that's moderately challenging and has both some level spots and a nice overlook.

    Don't regret the trip at all but it seems more like an awesome stopover than a worthwhile destination. Some decent restaurants in the area and even more in nearby Lebanon/White River Junction.

  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Frontier Town Campground

    So clean!

    We stayed in site 33 which is in the equestrian camping area. It’s really open with little tree cover which is perfect for those who work remote using Starlink. We had fantastic connection. The sites in the equestrian camping area are huge and so clean. The bathrooms are the cleanest I’ve seen so far and we do this full time. The only disappointment was that the hot water doesn’t get very hot in the shower so you better do some jumping jacks to get pumped before showering during colder temps! The trails are well marked and well maintained. Overall, this is a fantastic campsite. There’s even a brewery a ten minute walk down the road. We didn’t go but looks nice. Get your supplies before you arrive! Not many places around to quickly grab charcoal if you need it.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Kampersville

    Nice

    The campsites are all in the trees with some sites not clearly defined. The sites seem good sized with new bathroom and showers, with individual showers with a toilet. There are a lot of monthly staying here. Overall a nice park


Guide to Forest Dale

Camping opportunities near Forest Dale, Vermont extend throughout the Green Mountains, with elevations ranging from 800 to 3,500 feet creating distinct microclimates at various campsites. Summer temperatures typically range from 50-80°F, with mountain nights cooling significantly even during July and August. The region receives approximately 43 inches of precipitation annually, creating lush forests but also challenging ground conditions during wet periods.

What to do

Hike to mountaintop views: Moosalamoo Campground offers direct access to numerous trails. "Moosalamoo campground has awesome bike trails with smooth trail beds and nice rolling bumps. The kind campground hosts can tell you all about the hiking and biking trails within Mossalamoo National Forest," reports one visitor. The Moosalamoo trailhead connects to a network of paths throughout the recreation area.

Kayak on secluded ponds: Half Moon Pond State Park provides calm waters perfect for beginners. "We were easily able to go straight from the tent to our kayak, which was so awesome," notes a camper. The park rents kayaks, canoes and paddle boats for those without their own equipment.

Fish in mountain streams: Multiple camping areas provide access to stocked waterways. At Half Moon Pond, one visitor reports: "We fished and kayaked right from our site. Oddly, our fire pit faced the neighboring site rather than the pond." Brook trout fishing remains particularly productive in early summer before water temperatures rise.

What campers like

Private, spacious campsites: Chittenden Brook Campground receives praise for site layout. "There's quite a bit of space between each site so you can't really see your neighbors which is excellent," notes one camper. Another adds, "Great tent camping area with good privacy at sites. Would be tough for any but the tiniest RV."

Clean facilities even in remote locations: Gifford Woods State Park maintains high standards. "Bathrooms are super clean. Staff is friendly. Seasoned firewood available for purchase ($6 a stack)," mentions a visitor. Even vault toilets at more primitive sites receive attention: "The vault toilets were surprisingly clean besides the expected smell/flies."

Stargazing opportunities: The remote location creates exceptional night skies. "At night, you can go out to the bicycle pump track and lay a blanket on the grassy hill against the track and look at stars in COMPLETE darkness," reports a Moosalamoo Campground visitor. Another camper at a dispersed site noted: "Beautiful sunsets, night skies and scenery. Extremely calm and peaceful."

What you should know

Access road conditions vary significantly: Many campgrounds require traveling unpaved roads. At Chittenden Brook, "There's a 2.5 mile dirt road with a steady incline into the camp, which my subie had no issue with, but not sure how well an RV would fair." For dispersed camping at Green Mountain National Forest FR207, "This is not a place to go without at least 9" of ground clearance. Views are spectacular."

Cell service limitations: Coverage varies dramatically by location and carrier. At Lake Bomoseen KOA, "Cell service is very limited. Very remote... the WIFI didn't even work at the office." However, at Green Mountain sites, some report "2 bars USCellular LTE" at higher elevations.

Reservations essential for peak periods: Most established campgrounds fill quickly between late June and early October. "We arrived on a Tuesday with no reservations. We had our pick of sites and no issues staying for 2 days. There were several sites reserved starting Thursday and Friday so the weekend looked to be busier."

Tips for camping with families

Swimming areas with safety features: Branbury State Park offers supervised water access. "Spacious sites, hiking trails, biking trails, nice beach and grounds. Fishing, kayak, canoe, paddle boat and paddle board rentals. There's a nature center with all kinds of information and activities. A large playground," reports one family. The beach area includes lifeguards during summer months.

Educational opportunities: Several campgrounds offer nature programs. "There's a nature center with all kinds of information and activities," notes a Branbury visitor. At Silver Lake, campers mention "nature tours on the lake led by the state park faculty."

Protected play areas: Campgrounds with central common spaces allow supervised recreation. "There is a grassy area in the center of the campground—great for kids, gatherings, etc.," mentions a Moosalamoo visitor. At Rogers Rock Campground, "The day use area has shady spots and grills, nice for the kids."

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup availability: Most Forest Dale area campgrounds have minimal RV amenities. "No hookups but the bathrooms are clean and the showers ($) are hot," reports a visitor at Half Moon Pond State Park. For those needing full services, Rogers Rock Campground offers "electric-hookups, fifty-amp-hookups, thirty-amp-hookups, sanitary-dump, sewer-hookups, water-hookups."

Tight turning radius at some campgrounds: Site access can be challenging for larger rigs. "It was a little tight for our 36ft 5th wheel but managable. The sites are a good size and relatively level," notes a camper at Lake Bomoseen KOA. At Chittenden Brook, sites are described as suitable for tents but "would be tough for any but the tiniest RV."

Seasonal access considerations: Many forest roads become impassable for larger vehicles during spring thaw. "Make sure to have a backup plan during the mud season," advises a visitor to Green Mountain National Forest dispersed sites. Most established campgrounds with RV sites close by mid-October.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Forest Dale, VT?

According to TheDyrt.com, Forest Dale, VT offers a wide range of camping options, with 197 campgrounds and RV parks near Forest Dale, VT and 22 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Forest Dale, VT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Forest Dale, VT is Moosalamoo Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 16 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Forest Dale, VT?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 22 free dispersed camping spots near Forest Dale, VT.

What parks are near Forest Dale, VT?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near Forest Dale, VT that allow camping, notably Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests and Green Mountain National Forest.