Best Campgrounds near Goshen, VT
The Green Mountain National Forest surrounds Goshen, Vermont, providing a mix of established campgrounds and dispersed camping options within a 30-minute drive. Moosalamoo Campground, located in the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area just north of Goshen, offers tent and RV sites with basic amenities like drinking water and toilets but no hookups or showers. Silver Lake Campground provides waterfront camping with boat rentals and swimming areas, while Branbury State Park on nearby Lake Dunmore features more developed facilities including electric hookups and a sanitary dump station. For those seeking a more rustic experience, free dispersed camping can be found along Forest Road 207 in the national forest, though these sites lack facilities beyond fire rings.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from Memorial Day through mid-October, with limited options available in spring and late fall. Vermont state parks typically close between mid-April and Memorial Day for maintenance. As one camper noted about Michigan Brook Road camping, "This area is open for camping year-round but probably only accessible in Spring through early Fall because the dirt road is not plowed." Spring conditions on forest roads can be challenging, with mud and ruts making access difficult for low-clearance vehicles. Cell service varies throughout the area, with better coverage near larger towns. Reservations are recommended for summer weekends and during fall foliage season when campgrounds fill quickly.
Waterfront camping locations receive consistently high ratings from visitors. According to one Silver Lake Campground reviewer, "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." Many campgrounds in the region feature lean-tos, which provide additional shelter during Vermont's unpredictable weather. Gifford Woods State Park, about 25 minutes south of Goshen, stands out for its proximity to the Appalachian Trail and Killington. Campers frequently mention the privacy of sites, clean facilities, and access to swimming holes as highlights. The area's combination of forest, mountain, and lake settings creates diverse camping experiences within a relatively compact region.
