Best Campgrounds near Pittsford, VT
Pittsford, Vermont provides access to several developed campgrounds and primitive camping areas across the Green Mountains region. Gifford Woods State Park Campground, located near Killington, offers tent sites, RV spaces, cabins and glamping accommodations with amenities including drinking water, picnic tables, and showers. For those seeking free camping options, Michigan Brook Road in the Green Mountain National Forest provides dispersed sites with fire rings but no facilities. Half Moon Pond State Park, situated approximately 15 miles west of Pittsford, features waterfront tent and RV sites, lean-tos and cabins along a small, quiet pond ideal for paddling and fishing.
Most campgrounds in the Pittsford area operate seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October, with state parks like Bomoseen and Branbury closing after Columbus Day weekend. Winter access to dispersed sites becomes limited as roads are not maintained. Michigan Brook Road can be particularly challenging during spring thaw when mud and ruts make travel difficult. Many visitors recommend vehicles with higher clearance for accessing primitive sites. Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with most dispersed camping areas having little to no coverage. As one camper noted, "This location does not provide cell phone service or WiFi connection," though service can sometimes be found by walking to the end of certain forest roads.
Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors to the area. Half Moon Pond State Park is praised for its quiet atmosphere and direct water access: "We were easily able to go straight from the tent to our kayak, which was so awesome." The pond supports swimming, fishing and paddling, though some visitors mention it can be shallow and weedy in spots. Primitive sites along Michigan Brook are valued for their seclusion and natural setting, with campers appreciating the opportunity to camp beside the river. Many reviewers emphasize the importance of proper waste disposal at these free sites. Camping in established campgrounds provides clean facilities and often includes hot showers, while the dispersed sites offer a more rustic, back-to-nature experience with greater privacy.
