Grand Isle, located in northern Vermont on Lake Champlain, sits at an elevation of about 121 feet above sea level. The island experiences warm summers with average highs of 79°F in July and cold winters dropping to 7°F in January. Fall camping season brings vibrant foliage displays throughout the island's maple and oak forests, with lake water temperatures remaining comfortable for swimming through mid-September.
What to do
Hiking trails and nature paths: Burton Island State Park Campground features several hiking trails that circle the 253-acre island. "There are lots of trails to explore, and almost all of them lead to the water where you can cool off in Lake Champlain," notes one visitor at Burton Island State Park Campground.
Swimming beaches: The rocky shorelines at many campgrounds provide access to Lake Champlain. "The south tip of the island gets more wind, and therefore waves, which my children greatly enjoyed for swimming. The northern part has shale beaches, and a few areas of mucky/pebbly beaches," explains a camper at Burton Island.
Biking adventures: The Island Line Trail connects to Burlington and provides scenic riding routes. "Bring your bikes! you're tucked away in the woods on gorgeous lake Champlain and can bike into Burlington for meals and city street strolls," recommends a visitor at North Beach Campground.
Kayaking and paddleboarding: Water access points throughout the area make paddling easy. "We rented kayaks and a canoe from down the road Adirondack River rentals and they delivered and picked up from our site," shares a camper from Ausable Point Campground.
Local food exploration: The island's farmers markets and local food producers are worth visiting. "Across the street is a marina with rental boats/kayaks and a boat launch... Close to the campground are a winery, brewery, plenty of restaurants (we loved Wally's for bagel sandwiches), and a small grocery that has everything (including liquor) you might need (Keeler's Mkt.)," reports a visitor to Apple Island Resort.
What campers like
Uncrowded waterfront sites: Knight Island offers secluded camping experiences. "Not for the faint of heart, Knight Island is only accessible by private boat... It doesn't host a ton of amenities other than outdoor toilets, but it doesn't need to because every remote campsite is waterside, with fabulous access to amazing swimming, gorgeous sunsets, and fantastic hikes," reports a camper at Knight Island State Park Campground.
Adult-only atmosphere: Some campers prefer quieter campgrounds. "It is child free which means it is super quiet and so relaxed. We spent about 11 days in absolute paradise at this campground... the access to the lake is wonderful, providing a truly stunning view and wonderful place to cool off," shares a camper at Champlain Resort Adult Campground.
Wide-open campsites: Many parks offer spacious sites with room to spread out. "We had a huge campsite that was comfortable for 3 tents and 6 adults. The restrooms/showers are vintage but clean and functional," notes a visitor to Grand Isle State Park Campground.
Ferry access to unique camping: The boat-only access to some islands creates a special experience. "It's like going to to a tropical island without leaving Vermont... There are no cars on the island. You have to paddle yourself out or take the VT State Park passenger ferry from St. Albans," explains a Burton Island camper.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Waterfront sites book up quickly at popular campgrounds. "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," advises a camper at Burton Island.
Weather preparedness: Being on an island means dealing with varying weather conditions. "The 3/4 mile crossing from Kamp KilKare State Park can be rough and windy. If you are an experienced paddler, have a good copilot, and not too much gear, you would be fine," cautions a Burton Island camper.
Dog-friendly site selection: While many campgrounds allow pets, some areas have restrictions. "Dogs are allowed at Burton Island, but there are areas at the State Park that they are not allowed, such as the beach area," notes a visitor.
Site terrain variations: Campsite quality varies significantly between locations. "Some beach sites (some have a very high cement wall with a drop off to the beach- not recommended for families with dogs or small children)," warns a visitor to Ausable Point Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Choose sites near amenities: Look for campgrounds with playground access. "We had one right next to the playground so our daughter could walk straight to it without having to cross a road. And speaking of playground, it was large and very nice," shares a visitor at Lone Pine Campsites.
Rocky beaches awareness: Many Lake Champlain beaches feature rocks rather than sand. "The beach is nice even though rocky, the lean to sites are a great way to help keep things dry, and there were great accessible all-gender bathrooms," explains a camper at Grand Isle State Park.
Seasonal programming benefits: Some parks offer structured activities for kids. "It was a quiet, family friendly campground with a cute little beach and nature center with youth programs," notes a visitor to Grand Isle State Park.
Swimming safety considerations: Water conditions vary around the islands. "There is lake access for kayaking, sailing, swimming and fishing. Brush up on your French so you can converse with the many Canadian visitors while you charge your phone at the designated wi-fi/charging area surrounded by flowers," advises a Grand Isle State Park camper.
Tips from RVers
Electrical hookup variations: Not all RV sites provide the same electrical service. "Not sure why they charge the same when our site was overlooking two rows of RVs. The rows are terraced and they do offset sites on each row which is good. Our site was pricey at $94/night that includes taxes," shares an Apple Island Resort visitor.
Sewer connection challenges: Some sites have unusual sewer setups. "The hook-ups at our site were well-placed but the sewer pipe was high off the ground which did not let it drain even with a 'slinky,'" notes an Apple Island visitor.
Water hookup availability: Many campgrounds offer water spigots rather than direct hookups. "Our site was large, on the river and shaded. Not too far from the bathrooms and had a water spigot close enough to hook up to fill our water tank," explains an Ausable Point camper.
Site orientation considerations: RV sites may require specific parking configurations. "One thing is that their hook ups are on the passenger side. You have to pull straight in with the truck and camper. This is because a lot of class A prefer this way," advises an Apple Island Resort camper.
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