Best Glamping near Franklin, VT

Glamping Reviews near Franklin, VT

159 Reviews of 18 Franklin Campgrounds

• J

  Jennifer L.

  Guide

  Aug. 5, 2019

  Prouty Beach Campground

  RV campground w some tent spots

  This is an RV campground w a handful of tent spots. We stayed at T4, a site w electric right on the lake. I was initially very excited to be so close to the lake but my enthusiasm waned a little after a swim- the lake bottom was murky sticky mud which is fine it’s just not my favorite. My fiancé went swimming and got a leech or leech-like thing on his foot so swimming for him was pretty much over. Being at the lake meant a lot of noise from others including the campers that use the facility, I mean like actual camp, like groups of kids and counselors. I don’t mind kids but others might. It was the usual kid squealing and stuff. When we arrived a counselor was using our site and picnic table, spilling cheese-it’s all over the place which made us popular with the many many seagulls. She left when she saw us pulling in but left the mess behind so the birds were an issue. They continued to be an issue the whole 3 days we were there- every day we’d come back to our tent to find our stuff scattered a bit- not a huge problem but a present nuisance nonetheless. We tried to keep our things contained but still they tried to carry some stuff away. On the lake shore was a lot of seagull feathers and goose presence, poop, it’s not my favorite way to swim. The bathrooms were ok, pretty basic, very much reminiscent of when you get sent to camp as a child, bare bones. The stalls in the bathroom are uncomfortably short so when you stand up your head is poking out over the door, you can make eye contact w everyone else in the room which is just weird! We went two days without paper towels being restocked to dry your hands, I finally had to call the office. (Everyone in the office was super awesomely nice, always!) Sunday morning there is a group that makes breakfast in the pavilion I guess for donations which they use to beautify the campground. This is a lovely gesture. However the pavilion is right next to the tent sites and the group started setting up about 6:30 AM, which included honking their car horn, and talking very loudly with complete disregard for quiet hours or the full row of tent sleepers. My fiancé finally approached them and told them they must be unaware of how much their voices are carrying but that everyone was still sleeping. They didn’t apologize or say anything and honestly I don’t think they cared or lowered their voices at all. Our site was comfortable, water and electric worked fine, clean fire ring, we didn’t use it. The group next to us talked late past quiet hours (I didn’t not approach the campground about it we just dealt w it), and used a drone which was extremely uncomfortable, loud, and disruptive. I did call the office about that the next day and asked if there was a drone policy, she said there was not but that she would address it if they used it again, they ended up leaving so it wasn’t a problem but there should definitely be a policy about it. All in all, people were nice but the lake location meant a LOT of additional noise from other users and there did not seem to be any reminders about quiet time. Don’t come here if you’re looking for solitude but do come here if you’re looking for a great location in northern Vermont close to a cute town and amenities. Just set your mindset that it’s not a secluded or quiet spot but a spot w stuff to do and lots of people to interact w. We did not use the boat rentals or tennis courts or other stuff.

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• T

  Tony F.

  Guide

  Sep. 1, 2018

  Little River State Park Campground

  One super state park campground for the entire family

  This is the only campground in the area I will stay at. It has so many benefits, I may not be able to do it justice in this review. The sites are huge. We fit two camper vans, two tents and put up a 20x20 rain tarp on Site 5. The site was freshly raked when we got there, and the leftover wood was stacked next to the fire pit. Picnic table easily seats 8. Lots of bathrooms around the park, each with showers. Firewood and Ice, along with some necessities are available at the office. Cell phone service is touchy depending on where you are in the park. There is fresh water available. Lots of activities to do here, from the Nature Center and hiking trails to seriously wicked mountain biking trails designed by Mr. Knight overlooking the reservoir where boating of all kinds is allowed. And the fishing in the river below is quite stellar. There's even an abandoned town up on top of the mountain for younto check out.

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• 

  Deborah W.

  Traveler

  Oct. 1, 2021

  North Beach Campground

  Nice location

  Excellent location due to proximity to north beach that offers beautiful views of the Adirondacks across Lake Champlain. The campground is adjacent to paved Burlington bike / walking trail with easy access to the trail and beach. The only sites with electric are RV sites that are packed in more than we prefer. Bath rooms are ok, but showers need deep cleaning or replacement. Bath house is vented but not heated so it’s rather cold in October. Hot water is just warm.

• 

  Katy Z.

  Ranger

  Oct. 5, 2022

  Smugglers Notch State Park Campground

  Good place to stay in Stowe

  This campground just outside of Stowe on the way to the drive up and through Smugglers Notch. It’s only a campground with no access to trails unless you hike down a pretty steep road to Glen Falls parking area. They do have nice bathrooms and showers and it’s probably the cheapest place to sleep while visiting Stowe. We stayed at lean to Spruce. The spot was level and fit our van. Not much privacy between the other lean to’s next to us though.

• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  Nov. 10, 2024

  Lake Carmi State Park Campground

  Quiet lakefront camping post Labor Day

  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!

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• 

  Tara S.

  Legend

  Oct. 31, 2017

  Smugglers Notch State Park Campground

  Great Base Camp for Exploring Stowe

  Smuggler's Notch State Park has a small campground with 20 tent sites and 14 lean-tos. We almost always splurge on a lean-to so we can camp comfortably rain or shine. This year we stayed in Hemlock, and it was so secluded and quiet. The whole place has a real wilderness feel, but it is very close to lots of hiking and the attractions in Stowe. You can easily walk to Bingham Falls across the street, which I think is one of the most lovely waterfalls in the whole state. There's also easy access to lots of hiking trails, although I would suggest driving to the trailheads as route 108 is not fun to walk along.

  A favorite Smuggler's Notch weekend in the summer would include a visit to Bingham Falls, hiking to Sterling Pond, and possibly up to the top of Mt. Mansfield. When we don't have time to hike up Mt. Mansfield, we splurge on a drive up the toll road. Then we can hike around on the summit. Lastly, we always stop at the Alchemist for a case or two of Heady Topper to bring home.

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• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  Mar. 23, 2023

  Maple Grove Campground

  Small campground with some nice amenities

  General: 30 RV plus 11 tent sites right on Route 104 in Fairfax. 

  Site Quality: RV sites are arranged around an oval. Pads are gravel. Because the loop is on a hill, some sites are not quite level, but only slightly. The sites on the outside of the loop are more desirable but they were not available when I reserved three months in advance (the campground was full on a weekday at the end of September). There are a lot of trees but limited privacy between sites. 

  Bathhouse/Shower: The bathroom was clean with two stalls. Soap and paper towels. One shower that takes quarters, but I did not use so cannot comment on it.

  Activities/Amenities: The office has a small store. Firewood is available. Horseshoes and a basketball hoop on a grassy area and a play structure for kids but no other activities. We appreciated the on-site laundry (which was stocked with books and brochures as well as a table and chairs) as otherwise we would have had to find a laundromat. 

  This is small but compact campground. It was just an overnight stay for us, so it worked for one night.

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• 

  Tara S.

  Legend

  Oct. 18, 2017

  Burton Island State Park Campground

  10 Reasons to Love Burton Island State Park

  I've been exploring Vermont State Parks since before I could walk, and Burton Island State Park is my all time favorite! There's a million reasons to love camping here, and if you are visiting Vermont in the summer, I think it's one of those must-visit destinations. Here's why it's my favorite place to camp in the whole state.

  1. It's like going to to a tropical island without leaving Vermont.
  2. There are no cars on the island. You have to paddle yourself out or take the VT State Park passenger ferry from St. Albans.
  3. It's super family friendly - maybe it's because there aren't cars all over the place, but the island is full of free range kids, and they're having a blast.
  4. There's a camping bistro where you can buy pancakes, coffee, local beer, and fine wines
  5. Sunsets are magical - if you can, get a lean-to right on the water. If not, hike to the western shore for the main event.
  6. You can bring your dog - there's even an off-leash dog beach!
  7. You can stay in a cabin! If you don't want to rough it, you don't have to.
  8. There are lots of trails to explore, and almost all of them lead to the water where you can cool off in Lake Champlain.
  9. There are kayaks and canoes to rent.
  10. There's a marina (with WiFi), and you can rent slips for the night.

  Waterfront sites book very quickly (like 11 months in advance), but if you don't mind being farther from the main campground and running water, you can almost always rent one of the four primitive sites, which are secluded and waterfront. You can paddle out to Burton Island on your own from Kamp Killcare State Park, where you'll leave your car. It's a very short paddle and shouldn't take more than 10 minutes. The passenger ferry runs throughout the day, if you don't have a boat of your own.

  Once you're on the island, you can borrow a cart to bring your gear to your site, or you can pay one of the park rangers to haul it in one of their golf carts. We have stayed in a few different sites over the years -- we aren't picky, because we usually get one of the last sites available. We've never been disappointed a site. They're all great, and within easy walking distance of the beach.

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• 

  B M.

  Legend

  Sep. 1, 2023

  Campbells Bay Campground

  Nice campground on the water

  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.

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