Camping near Green Mountain National Forest

Green Mountain National Forest has many different camping spots throughout Vermont. Coolidge State Park Campground gives you good space between sites if you want some quiet time away from neighbors. At Emerald Lake State Park Campground, you can camp near the water for swimming and paddling, with trees that keep the sites cool in summer. Frontier Town Campground has a more basic woodland feel and puts you close to several good hiking paths. Vermont's weather makes camping best from late spring to early fall when it's not too hot or cold. Snow can block roads in winter, so always check conditions before driving out, especially if you don't have a vehicle with good clearance. Most campgrounds around here have toilets and tables, but you should bring everything you need since stores in the area might not have much selection. The forest works well for both tent and RV camping depending on what site you choose.

Best Camping Sites Near Green Mountain National Forest (208)

    1. Gifford Woods State Park Campground

    16 Reviews
    Killington, VT
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 775-5354

    "Decent bathroom situation--I've seen better and I've seen worse in Vermont."

    "The park is amazingly clean, well run, located just of RT 4 and very near to Killington, Vermont. It has multiple lean-to sites which are in wooded areas."

    2. Moosalamoo Campground

    16 Reviews
    Salisbury, VT
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 767-4261

    $15 / night

    "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."

    "there are no amenities other than cascading waterfalls, mountain views, incredible swimming hole, a nearby lake, a picnic table and a fire ring. the easiest access to sites one and two is the Silver Lake"

    3. Chittenden Brook Campground

    5 Reviews
    Goshen, VT
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 767-4261

    $15 / night

    "Chittenden Brook Campground is in the Green Mountain National Forest off of Rt 73."

    "Nice hiking trails close to long trail, really tucked away a few miles off 73. Great if you’re looking for some solitude."

    4. Lake Bomoseen KOA

    10 Reviews
    Bomoseen, VT
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 273-2061

    "No ATM on site to get cash…

    The sites are spacious enough, but are very close to each other. Zero buffer between neighboring sites means encroaching slide outs."

    "family camping Kabins, rv, and tent sites, arcade, store, ice cream, and Lake Bomoseen. Easy to get to, close to Castleton, Rutland, and Hubbarton Battlefield. Great spot for a family get-a-way."

    5. Branbury State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Salisbury, VT
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 247-5925

    "The site was so scenic with a little waterfall and stream nearby. The camp staff was so nice. They kept the the bathrooms and areas so clean."

    "Love to lake access, secluded camping, the hiking and remote area.

    Planning on revisiting next summer, even in august the nights get to a good sleeping temperature a vast majority of the time."

    6. Coolidge State Park Campground

    13 Reviews
    Plymouth, VT
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 672-3612

    "This place gets my vote for best campground in Vermont. Especially true if you're lucky enough to get one of the few sites on the outside of A loop that has a Lean-to with a view."

    "Coolidge is off the beaten path but well worth the wander! There are no water sites, it’s on the side of a heavily wooded mountain with a few sites having amazing views!"

    7. Michigan Brook Road Camping - Green Mtn Ntnl Forest

    3 Reviews
    Pittsfield, VT
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 747-6700

    "I stayed at this campsite located at the end of upper Michigan road. It is winter and there is a lot of snow. The main road to the parking lot is plowed and sanded."

    8. Half Moon Pond State Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    Bomoseen, VT
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 273-2848

    "Bomoseen State Park is right down the road, but I recommend staying at Half Moon and taking advantage of the large swimming area at Bomoseen, as well as all the cool ponds, lakes, and hiking trails nearby"

    "The pond is clean and swim-able and great for kayaks/canoes (near Glen Lake and Lake Bomoseen for boating and more kayaking/canoeing)."

    9. Silver Lake Campground

    6 Reviews
    Salisbury, VT
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 767-4261

    $10 / night

    "This is one of our favorite places to camp in Vermont. 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."

    "Lovely place, free camping, fire pits at the campsite, and access to the water. We camped in the off season, but in the on season there are pit toilets and campground stewards."

    10. Michigan Brook

    3 Reviews
    Pittsfield, VT
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 747-6700

    "Drive in about a mile after the parking lot!! Can use car to get in! There’s 3 camping spots. 1 before the bridge and 2 after the bridge!"

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Recent Reviews near Green Mountain National Forest

748 Reviews of 208 Green Mountain National Forest Campgrounds


  • alicianlv The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Grout Pond Campground — Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests

    Grout Pond Loop

    Camping Grout Pond Loop is truly nice after Labor Day (Sept 5-7). Campsites 15 & 16 offer pull-out space to turn around truck campers --we lucked out w/ 4 wheel camper pop-up). Over hanging trees would make it difficult for larger equipment, plus saw posting that excludes trailers from certain roads. We reserved well in advance; however many fellow campers were trying to find first come sites and ended up hiking in to camp around pond sites. Sites are in eye-site of each other but you don't feel crowded. Temps during day around 65-70 F. Nights dipped to 45-55F.
    We saw deer & turkeys driving the surrounding woods after short hikes.
    We love chatting w locals and learned of a special shrine that was faithfully built from stone to resemble original in modern day Turkey. What a special & serene place.

  • Andy M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Statton Pond Camp on Forest Road 71

    Large Area with Fire Pit in the middle

    This was a great site.  I couldn't believe that the site was not being used at all, especially the just a couple of days before Fourth of July weekend.  Many other sites further south on 71 were filled and some were just TTs holding the space for the upcoming weekend.

    The site was very flat and could accommodate several small campers.  It was quiet during our overnight stay other than a car or two on Stratton-Arlington Rd.  There weren't many mosquitoes either.  Hiking trail to Stratton Pond close by.

  • Laura W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Rogers Rock Campground

    Roger's Rock

    It was a pretty good park. Wooded nicely. Big lots where we were. Down near the water the sites were pretty crammed together Not parked in a row like an RV park.

  • Greg D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2025

    Lazy Lions Campground

    Nice quiet place

    Nice campground with plenty of shade, well maintained and decent restrooms. The showers are ok and cost a quarter for 4 minutes. Our site was level and along with a picnic table, they also provide two Adirondack chairs (plastic) and a fire ring.

  • W
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Quechee State Park Campground

    Good location

    The park is in a good location; it is right next to the road. We were at sight #3.  We were able to walk to the gorge as well as to the Antique mall.  The staff was very friendly and accommodating with us. My wife really enjoyed it and had a lot of fun. The ice cream was really close and really good. 

    The issue I had was the camp next to ours had the generator on all night long and I had a hard time getting back to sleep after going to the bathroom. Next time I will get a volunteer or park ranger to get it turned off.

  • K
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Mount Philo State Park Campground

    Hidden gem!

    Great little campground at a beautiful state park. The campground had widely spaced wooded sites and was exceptionally quiet. Very well-maintained! Recommend nearby Charlotte town beach for swimming ($10 for non-residents).

  • Jessica C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Chittenden Brook Campground

    Great site

    This was a great site that feels secluded but isn’t. There’s quite a bit of space between each site so you can’t really see your neighbors which is excellent. The vault toilets were surprisingly clean besides the expected smell/flies. No running water or electricity. No cell service a few miles leading up the site, so download your maps in advance. There’s a 2.5 mile dirt road with a steady incline into the camp, which my subie had no issue with, but not sure how well an RV would fair.

    Didn’t see any bear, but take bear food precautions regardless. Each site has a fire pit, tent platform, and picnic table. The sites were well cared for. There were two dumpsters, one for recycling and one for trash, at the end of the loop. They are bear proof and almost me proof! The constant sound of running water from the brook was truly relaxing. I didn’t have issues with bugs (beginning of August) but I also didn’t stay in the camp during the majority of the day.

    All in all, a great campsite and I’ll definitely be back.

  • M
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Brookwood RV Resort

    Nice Campground

    Well maintained campground. Shop onsite with all you can possibly need. Beautiful pool. And easy access to Fort Ticonderoga, restaurants in town and Lake George area.

  • Snooz H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 5, 2025

    Shelburne Camping Area

    Oh My God. NO!

    Electricity would not work. We got an error on our control panel that said stop! Power source is not correct! Dan, one of the owners, said that somebody must have tried to hook a 50 amp into the 30 amp. box. He went about a half block to check breaker said that it was not flipped but it was wobbling pretty loose in there.

    My husband is a licensed electrician and of course had his own testing equipment. It showed 25 amp coming out of it. So he said move to spot 50. Well before we moved our vehicle, we went down there and checked it. He took off before we could. And guess what the exact same problem. We did not even hook into the second one. (#50)
    So he proceeded to tell us that it was our equipment that had gone bad. Even though we never plugged into spot 50!

    I had planned on one night thank God! He did refund our $52. we had to drive down the road and try to find someplace else at 7:00 in the evening. Another thank God, the Walmart about 10 or 15 miles down the road would allow overnight.

    So we are now on our way to our next location which is about a 7 hour drive. We are just hoping that they did not damage our equipment. It has been extremely stressful if you go there you better watch out!


Guide to Green Mountain National Forest

Camping near Green Mountain National Forest, Vermont, offers a fantastic escape into nature with plenty of options for outdoor enthusiasts. From scenic views to family-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful area.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails around the campgrounds. At Quechee State Park Campground, one reviewer mentioned, "There’s a hiking trail beside of 37 and it’s steep going down and up but well worth it." The trails lead to stunning views, including the Quechee Gorge.
  • Fishing and Swimming: Enjoy the clear waters at Emerald Lake State Park Campground. A visitor shared, "The lake and beach is lovely, clean, and the water is warm and clear." It’s a great spot for families to relax and have fun.
  • Mountain Biking: For biking enthusiasts, Moosalamoo Campground offers trails suitable for all levels. One camper noted, "We did the campground loop mountain bike trail and it was perfect for a beginner/intermediate biker!"

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the bathrooms and showers. A review for Gifford Woods State Park Campground stated, "Bathrooms were cleaned daily, showers were fine." This attention to cleanliness makes for a more pleasant stay.
  • Spacious Campsites: Many campgrounds, like Emerald Lake State Park Campground, offer large, well-spaced sites. One visitor mentioned, "The sites are nicely spaced and seem to accommodate big rigs rather well."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often rave about the helpfulness of the staff. At Quechee State Park Campground, a reviewer said, "Everyone is friendly," which adds to the welcoming atmosphere.

What you should know:

  • No Electric Hookups: Many campgrounds, including Coolidge State Park Campground, do not offer electric hookups. A camper noted, "No Electric or hookups," so be prepared for a more rustic experience.
  • Coin-Operated Showers: Be ready to bring quarters for showers at places like Gifford Woods State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "Showers were hot but minimal pressure," so manage your expectations.
  • Wildlife Awareness: Campers should be cautious of wildlife. A review for Gifford Woods State Park Campground mentioned, "There has been an increase in Black Bear activity," so store food properly.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Lean-To Options: Consider staying in a lean-to for added protection from the elements. A family at Emerald Lake State Park Campground found it helpful during a rainy weekend, stating, "It was very helpful to have a lean-to."
  • Snack Bar Nearby: Many campgrounds have snack bars or nearby dining options. At Quechee State Park Campground, one reviewer recommended, "I recommend eating at the snack bar! Their food is so good."
  • Quiet Hours: Respect quiet hours to ensure everyone has a good time. A camper at Gifford Woods State Park Campground noted, "Everyone respects the quietness," which is great for families with young kids.

Tips from RVers:

  • Big Rig Friendly: Many campgrounds, like Emerald Lake State Park Campground, are big rig friendly. A reviewer mentioned, "Nice large spots available," making it easier for larger RVs to navigate.
  • Dump Stations Available: Be aware that dump stations are available at several campgrounds, including Gifford Woods State Park Campground. One camper appreciated, "There are plenty of fresh water spigots and a spacious dump site if needed."
  • Cell Service: Expect limited cell service in some areas. A visitor at Moosalamoo Campground mentioned, "Cell phone reception was pretty good, but could be slow at times," so plan accordingly.

Camping near Green Mountain National Forest, Vermont, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. With a variety of campgrounds to choose from, you can find the perfect spot for your next adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is dispersed camping allowed in Green Mountain National Forest?

Yes, dispersed camping is allowed throughout Green Mountain National Forest. Several areas specifically accommodate dispersed camping, such as Austin Brook, which offers 4-5 primitive sites along the Mad River with fire rings and porta-potties. Near Chittenden, free dispersed camping sites can be found along the service roads leading to established campgrounds. When dispersed camping, you must set up at least 200 feet from water sources, trails, and roads. There are no fees for dispersed camping, but you should follow Leave No Trace principles, properly store food to prevent wildlife encounters, and limit your stay to 14 days in a 30-day period. No permits are required, but camping is generally best from late spring through early fall.

Where are the best campgrounds in Green Mountain National Forest?

Green Mountain National Forest offers several exceptional campgrounds, with Moosalamoo Campground standing out for its large sites, friendly hosts, and direct access to an extensive trail network. This hidden treasure is tucked down a gravel road in the forest and provides access to cascading waterfalls and mountain views. Silver Lake Campground is another top choice, featuring private sites spaced well apart, a clean lake with a concrete dock perfect for swimming, boat rentals, and ranger-led nature tours. For those seeking amenities beyond the national forest but still in Vermont, Jamaica State Park offers private, quiet camping with both tent/RV sites and lean-tos, some situated right on the West River.

Are reservations required for camping in Green Mountain National Forest?

Reservations are recommended but not always required for camping in Green Mountain National Forest. Chittenden Brook Campground offers both reserved sites and a cabin, while also providing free dispersed camping options along the service road leading to the campground. Most developed campgrounds in the forest accept reservations through Recreation.gov, which is advisable during peak season (Memorial Day through Labor Day) and weekends. Some campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis, particularly in the shoulder seasons. For dispersed camping areas like Michigan Brook Road Camping, no reservations are needed or accepted. Plan to arrive early in the day during summer weekends to secure a spot at non-reservable campgrounds.