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Best Tent Camping near Forest Dale, VT

720 Reviews

Green Mountain National Forest surrounds Forest Dale, Vermont, with tent camping options scattered along forest roads and adjacent to streams. Michigan Brook Road Camping in the national forest offers free primitive tent sites with drive-in and walk-in access. Dispersed camping areas like Last Light on Michigan Brook and Patterson Brookside camp also provide primitive tent camping opportunities for visitors seeking solitude near flowing water. The Appalachian Trail corridor crosses the region, with Stony Brook Backcountry Shelter providing both a wooden shelter and designated tent camping areas for hikers.

Most primitive tent sites have fire rings but minimal amenities, requiring campers to pack in water and pack out all waste. Sites typically feature dirt or forest duff surfaces with variable terrain. Route 100 Dispersed Camping offers picnic tables at some tent sites, while most other areas provide only basic clearings for tents. Several areas, including Michigan Brook Road and Patterson Brookside, allow pets and permit alcohol, though forest regulations still apply. Winter conditions typically make many sites inaccessible due to unplowed roads, particularly at higher elevations. One visitor noted signs of overuse at some locations: "This area is being heavily used and some spots are being shut down from abuse."

The tent camping experience varies by location, with streamside sites offering natural white noise and cooling effects during summer months. Michigan Brook tent sites provide good access to Killington for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Backcountry sites along the Appalachian Trail feature bear boxes for food storage, especially important at Stony Brook Shelter. Sites along Patterson Brook offer varying degrees of privacy among several established camping areas. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "There are a handful of sites to camp at along the river here, each offering a slightly different experience. The dirt road along the river is an easy drive, though it is single lane in a few locations." Tent platforms are notably absent from most sites, so campers should bring appropriate ground tarps or pads.

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Best Tent Sites Near Forest Dale, Vermont (42)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Forest Dale, VT

65 Photos of 42 Forest Dale Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Forest Dale, VT

720 Reviews of 42 Forest Dale Campgrounds

  • Beth R.
    Jun. 27, 2024

    Smugglers Notch State Park Campground

    Newly Developed … Work in Progress

    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

  • Craig F.
    Jul. 23, 2018

    North Beach Campground

    Amazing Location!

    We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at North Beach Campground.

    We spent 4 days in a full hookup site. The site was spacious, tree covered, and hard packed grass/dirt. Overall the site was very level with good water pressure. The water/electric sites in the middle of the campground were a bit snug. The campground is a city operated campground and we were impressed with the upkeep, maintenance and friendly service during our stay. The camp office is small, but has information on area attractions, Ice, and fire wood. The bathhouse/restrooms were well kept during our stay even with the volume of campers at the site.

    Location, Location, Location is the main reason to stay at North Beach. The campground is literally along the Island Line bike/walking trail and had direct access to the beach on Lake Champlain (life guards, snack bar, and patio bar). The city center of Burlington is only 1.5 miles along the bike path from the campground. Most days we either walked or biked into town (which has ample bike racks to park your bike).

    While we stayed in our camper, as a former die-hard tent camper, I was impressed with the number of tent friendly sites, because most campgrounds see tenters as “second class”. The tent sites were spacious, level, and not located in some obscure location.  

    We loved North Beach and plan to camp here in the future!

  • Justin P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2022

    Velvet Rocks Shelter Backcountry Campground on the AT — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    Standard AT back country shelter on the limited site of tent camping

    Note this is a back country shelter along the Appalachian Trail, so it is 100% long hike in with no guaranteed water and a basic privvy.

    I tented along here for a night during a section hike of the AT from Lyme into Vermont.

    The shelter was the basic AT 3-sided wood structure and was generally in good shape.

    The water source here was dry during my trip which was expected during the drought (August 2022).

    The tent camping here was ok, with some slightly slanted spots around the main shelter area.

    There was no real view from the shelter.  There was also a basic privvy available.

    This was a decent shelter to stop at along the AT, but I would not consider it a weekend destination.

    There was no bear box onsite.

  • Justin P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2022

    Stony Brook Backcountry Shelter on the AT in Vermont — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    Basic AT shelter with lots of tent camping and swimming hole nearby

    Note: This is a hike in back country shelter with unreliable water and a pit bathroom.

    I tented here on a section hike of the AT. The shelter was a fairly basic 8ish person shelter, but this stop stood out because of a brand new privvy, large tenting areas, and a swimming hole and consistent water just a bit further down the trail (when heading northbound).

    For camping, there were a few large tent areas where multiple tents could fit and which looked quite level.

    The privvy looked brand new and was more spacious than most on the trail.

    There was no water on the shelter, but there was plenty of water at Stony Brook / Mink Brook a bit further northbound. I only explored a bit offtrail down the brook but found a decent swimming hole (could just barely submerge myself) to clean off a bit.

    There was also a bear box here, which I hadn't seen at other shelters along the AT in Vermont (heading southbound).

    Although the shelter was fairly basic, I would keep this on my list as a go-to place to stop if I was planning to hike in the area.

  • Kate K.
    Aug. 1, 2019

    Camel's Hump State Park — Camels Hump State Park

    Amazing Hike! Great Campground

    This is a short and sweet hike to one of the higher points in Vermont. It is a beautiful scenic (somewhat strenuous) hike to the summit. The views are pretty epic though. The designated primitive camping area is about 1.5 miles into the hike. If I recall it had about 10-12 sites. The area had a host who was there 24/7 and a shared area for eating and food storage (I guess Bear’s are a problem there). We hiked all day, so we didn’t have a fire and to be honest I can’t remember if there was a shared spot for them or not. Either way, this hike was gorgeous and so was the camping. I would love to go back!

  • J
    Sep. 24, 2018

    Lazy Lions Campground

    Adults only, comfortable but lacking excursions

    Lazy Lions is a comfortable campground with an adults-only policy. Having spent time in plenty of campgrounds with screaming or unwinded children, I could see this as a positive draw for the RV'ing crowd. I think we were the only tent campers the night we stayed.

    Our tent site was level and on comfy plush grass, well maintained and either a beautiful addition of two (plastic) adirondack chairs at our fire pit with grill. This was especially welcome because we hadn't really planned on cooking but when we saw the great fire set up not only did we save time and energy by not having to take out (and put away!) our camping chairs, I was able to turn our chips and salsa into nachos using some amazing Vermont cheese we'd picked up earlier. My boyfriend has declared this was his favorite camping meal ever so thanks Lazy Lions for the unexpected awesomeness.

    Our check in was smoothe, there was plenty of room at this campground, perhaps due to the fact that there isn't too much to do other than set up and sleep. It did have a pool.

    On check in we found the front desk (owner?) to be less than warm, and at $7 to firewood a little pricey. We were warned to be careful with our food because of "critters" and when I asked what kind of critters the man responded, "all of them". Less than helpful. In hindsight we believe we found bear scat on our site.

    We slept well, bathroom facilities were clean and well stocked. Showers, which we did not use, we $0.25 for four minutes. There was a microwave and wash sink as well for dishes, we didn't use either.

    We met lovely people and had a fine night, there was just nothing particularly special about the place

  • Justin P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 19, 2022

    Gifford Woods State Park Campground

    Quiet and well maintained campground

    I tent camped here before doing a section hike of the Appalachian Trail and it was one of the best campgrounds I’ve stayed at before.

    The sites have some privacy and woods in between, though the tent sites vs. shelters and cabins were mostly closer to the access road. All sites were super clean and had a picnic table and fire ring. Most sites had a built in cooking fire structure (vs. a fire ring) they looked great for camp cooking, though my site (T01) seemed to be the only without it.

    The facilities were well-maintained, there were water spigots everywhere, and though I didn’t get a chance to enjoy, there were lots of activities right there (volleyball lawn, the AT running right through the campground, mountain bike trails).

    I didn’t stay in them, but the cabins and lean-tos looked great for group or family options.

    Kent Pond was also just across the road for water activities, and I saw at least one fly fisher out.

    Killington was also right nearby for restaurants and other needs.

    I will definitely be coming back to explore more!

  • Lauren S.
    Jul. 27, 2020

    Moosalamoo Campground

    Hidden Gem

    Tucked down a gravel road in the Green Mountain National Forest is this hidden treasure. Large sites, friendly campground host, the moosalamoo trailhead right next to campground. The trail connects to many others. You will pass several trailheads on your way up to the campground. Many of the sites are reservable, others are first come first serve. You will find a pay station as you enter the campsite. The camp host is at site 1. Surprisingly clean vault toilets. No showers. There are dumpsters on the way out for trash and recycling. I saw bear storage lockers but I did not use them as I had my bear keg with me. Behind the parking spur at the site there is gravel with picnic table and fire pit. Beyond that in the trees was a spot for the tent. I didn’t experience many bugs, no mosquitoes, what I saw the most of were caterpillars. But If you needed bug spray or forgot anything back in town a few miles Ripton grocery has you covered.

  • Matthew D.
    Sep. 29, 2018

    Ricker Pond State Park Campground

    Vermont State Park Campground

    We stayed two nights in early September 2018. Easily found with google maps. Was greeted by a friendly staff member and shown how to get to our site. Arrived in the pitch black but was easy to find out site. Tent site #10.

    It was very quiet, everyone seems to be enjoying their own spot. You can see your neighbors but there is some room in between sites. Clean bathrooms and relatively clean showers. Out site hand a picnic table and fire ring with grate.

    We were a very short walk to the beach, where you could swim. Perfect spot to practice some night photography with minimal light pollution.

    Also had a fire going all night by the building attached to the bathrooms. They offered wood, ice and small things to buy if needed.

    Definitely recommend staying here. Pricing would be the only slight negative, it is about average from what we have looked at. Wish we could have stayed longer.

Guide to Forest Dale

Forest Dale, Vermont sits within the Green Mountain National Forest, offering access to dispersed camping at elevations between 900-2,000 feet. Many sites remain accessible from spring through fall, with most dirt roads closed during winter months. Camping options vary from streamside locations to more secluded forest spots with limited or no amenities throughout the area.

What to do

Swimming holes exploration: Multiple streams near Michigan Brook Road Camping provide natural swimming areas during summer months. According to one camper at Michigan Brook Road Camping - Green Mtn Ntnl Forest, "Nice little spots to hangout all day. Lots to see, and explore."

Hiking the Appalachian Trail: The AT passes through the region, offering day hiking opportunities. A visitor to Stony Brook Backcountry Shelter on the AT in Vermont notes, "This stop stood out because of a brand new privvy, large tenting areas, and a swimming hole and consistent water just a bit further down the trail."

Local services access: Most camping areas require self-sufficiency, but limited services exist nearby. One camper shares about Michigan Brook Road: "If you walk to the end of upper Michigan Brook road you will have cell phone service and a gas station along with a United States Post Office as well as a general store which also serves as a restaurant."

What campers like

Riverside camping spots: The natural sounds and cooling effects of nearby water enhance the camping experience. A visitor to Patterson Brookside camp on West Hill Road mentions, "Mountain road lingers along the river. There's quite a few sites along the road. Be sure to camp at spots with established fire rings!"

Proximity to activities: The national forest location provides good access to popular recreation areas. A camper at Michigan Brook states, "I liked this camping area for it's accessibility to Killington, VT and it was of course free! We camped near the beginning of the road but would recommend driving down if you can because you can camp next to the river after you cross the bridge."

Privacy between sites: Many dispersed areas offer good separation between camping areas. At Green Mountain National Forest FR25 - Dispersed Camping, visitors find "small number of sites and a bit hard to find" which contributes to their secluded nature.

What you should know

Vehicle requirements: Access roads to the best tent camping near Forest Dale, Vermont can be challenging. A camper at Michigan Brook Road notes: "Road goes in pretty far. Some parts are muddy and very rough. Higher clearance would be advised!!!"

Site preservation concerns: Land management agencies monitor usage closely. A visitor to Patterson Brookside warns: "This area is being heavily use and some spots are being shut down from abuse, please be aware that you have a lot of impact, and that impact can be positive or negative. Choose Positive!"

Winter accessibility: Snow significantly impacts camping possibilities. A winter visitor to Michigan Brook Road reports: "It is winter and there is a lot of snow. The main road to the parking lot is plowed and sanded. However if you would like to continue down the service road during winter months I would highly recommend snowshoes or a snowmobile."

Site variations: Camping locations differ significantly in setup and accessibility. At Last light on Michigan Brook, a visitor advises: "The very last spot on the right hand side. If you've reached the closed gate you've missed the site!"

Tips for camping with families

Check road conditions: Some access roads become challenging after rain. A visitor to Michigan Brook notes: "Beware that in Spring the road gets muddy and quite rutted, I would not recommend driving down there with a car that is low to the ground."

Locate swimming spots: Natural water features provide recreational opportunities. At Green Mountain National Forest FR25, one camper mentions: "We were here on a Friday & Saturday nights. Friday night had the whole place to ourselves. Saturday night all spots filled. We had quiet and respectful neighbors... Gorgeous stream/river…love the river sounds."

Security awareness: Take precautions with valuables at dispersed sites. A camper at FR25 cautions: "Beautiful sites on the River but with the wet summer, we just couldn't dry out. Make sure to lock you valuables. Our Jackery, Solar panels & toilet were stolen."

Tips from RVers

Size limitations: Most dispersed camping areas near Forest Dale accommodate smaller RVs only. A visitor to Michigan Brook observes: "The area is big enough to bring an RV if you can get it down the dirt road."

Weekend planning: Expect competition for spots during peak times. According to one camper at Green Mountain National Forest FR25: "We were here on a Friday & Saturday nights. Friday night had the whole place to ourselves. Saturday night all spots filled."

Off-grid preparation: No hookups or services exist at these locations. A Michigan Brook Road visitor emphasizes: "PLEASE NOTE: THIS LOCATION DOES NOT PROVIDE CELL PHONE SERVICE OR WIFI CONNECTION."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Forest Dale, VT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Forest Dale, VT is Michigan Brook Road Camping - Green Mtn Ntnl Forest with a 5-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Forest Dale, VT?

TheDyrt.com has all 42 tent camping locations near Forest Dale, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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