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Best Tent Camping near Hancock, VT

671 Reviews

Green Mountain National Forest surrounds Hancock, Vermont with several primitive tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. Patterson Brookside camp on West Hill Road offers tent-only camping along a river with both drive-in and walk-in sites. Just north of Hancock, Route 100 Dispersed Camping and Green Mountain National Forest FR25 provide additional tent campsites with varying levels of accessibility. Michigan Brook Road Camping in Pittsfield, about 15 miles south of Hancock, features free tent camping in a forested setting. For backcountry tent camping, the Appalachian Trail corridor includes Stony Brook Backcountry Shelter, which accommodates tent campers with level sites near the shelter.

Most tent campgrounds near Hancock require self-sufficiency as amenities are minimal. Patterson Brookside sites lack drinking water, toilets, and cell coverage, requiring campers to pack in all necessities and pack out all waste. Fire rings are available at most locations, though campers should bring their own firewood. Road conditions vary significantly, with Michigan Brook Road becoming rutted in spring and impassable in winter. According to recent reviews, Route 100 Dispersed Camping has entrance and exit points that can be challenging in winter, requiring AWD/4x4 vehicles with good ground clearance. The 14-day stay limit applies to most national forest sites, and some areas close seasonally due to snow.

Tent campers frequently use these sites as bases for hiking and exploring the surrounding Green Mountains. One visitor noted that Patterson Brookside offers "a handful of sites along the river, each providing a slightly different experience" with both drive-in and walk-in options. The sites along FR25 are described as "pretty, scattered sites along a small stream" that fill quickly during peak season. Michigan Brook campers recommend driving to sites beyond the bridge for riverside camping. Areas farther from main roads offer deeper seclusion, though some sites have experienced overuse. Campers should practice Leave No Trace principles, as forest service signs indicate some areas face closure due to improper waste disposal and litter.

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Best Tent Sites Near Hancock, Vermont (41)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Hancock, VT

55 Photos of 41 Hancock Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Hancock, VT

671 Reviews of 41 Hancock Campgrounds

  • Beth R.
    Jun. 27, 2024

    Smugglers Notch State Park Campground

    Newly Developed … Work in Progress

    Pros: Full hookup (sewer, water, 50 AMP) 1.7 mile from #7 Ranked World's Best Disc Golf Course: Fox Run Meadows New fire ring New picnic table Gorgeous Mountain View

    Cons: Grass site No amenities No Wi-Fi Soft ground, sinked during setup

  • Craig F.
    Jul. 23, 2018

    North Beach Campground

    Amazing Location!

    We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at North Beach Campground.

    We spent 4 days in a full hookup site. The site was spacious, tree covered, and hard packed grass/dirt. Overall the site was very level with good water pressure. The water/electric sites in the middle of the campground were a bit snug. The campground is a city operated campground and we were impressed with the upkeep, maintenance and friendly service during our stay. The camp office is small, but has information on area attractions, Ice, and fire wood. The bathhouse/restrooms were well kept during our stay even with the volume of campers at the site.

    Location, Location, Location is the main reason to stay at North Beach. The campground is literally along the Island Line bike/walking trail and had direct access to the beach on Lake Champlain (life guards, snack bar, and patio bar). The city center of Burlington is only 1.5 miles along the bike path from the campground. Most days we either walked or biked into town (which has ample bike racks to park your bike).

    While we stayed in our camper, as a former die-hard tent camper, I was impressed with the number of tent friendly sites, because most campgrounds see tenters as “second class”. The tent sites were spacious, level, and not located in some obscure location.  

    We loved North Beach and plan to camp here in the future!

  • Justin P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2022

    Velvet Rocks Shelter Backcountry Campground on the AT — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    Standard AT back country shelter on the limited site of tent camping

    Note this is a back country shelter along the Appalachian Trail, so it is 100% long hike in with no guaranteed water and a basic privvy.

    I tented along here for a night during a section hike of the AT from Lyme into Vermont.

    The shelter was the basic AT 3-sided wood structure and was generally in good shape.

    The water source here was dry during my trip which was expected during the drought (August 2022).

    The tent camping here was ok, with some slightly slanted spots around the main shelter area.

    There was no real view from the shelter.  There was also a basic privvy available.

    This was a decent shelter to stop at along the AT, but I would not consider it a weekend destination.

    There was no bear box onsite.

  • Justin P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2022

    Stony Brook Backcountry Shelter on the AT in Vermont — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    Basic AT shelter with lots of tent camping and swimming hole nearby

    Note: This is a hike in back country shelter with unreliable water and a pit bathroom.

    I tented here on a section hike of the AT. The shelter was a fairly basic 8ish person shelter, but this stop stood out because of a brand new privvy, large tenting areas, and a swimming hole and consistent water just a bit further down the trail (when heading northbound).

    For camping, there were a few large tent areas where multiple tents could fit and which looked quite level.

    The privvy looked brand new and was more spacious than most on the trail.

    There was no water on the shelter, but there was plenty of water at Stony Brook / Mink Brook a bit further northbound. I only explored a bit offtrail down the brook but found a decent swimming hole (could just barely submerge myself) to clean off a bit.

    There was also a bear box here, which I hadn't seen at other shelters along the AT in Vermont (heading southbound).

    Although the shelter was fairly basic, I would keep this on my list as a go-to place to stop if I was planning to hike in the area.

  • Kate K.
    Aug. 1, 2019

    Camel's Hump State Park — Camels Hump State Park

    Amazing Hike! Great Campground

    This is a short and sweet hike to one of the higher points in Vermont. It is a beautiful scenic (somewhat strenuous) hike to the summit. The views are pretty epic though. The designated primitive camping area is about 1.5 miles into the hike. If I recall it had about 10-12 sites. The area had a host who was there 24/7 and a shared area for eating and food storage (I guess Bear’s are a problem there). We hiked all day, so we didn’t have a fire and to be honest I can’t remember if there was a shared spot for them or not. Either way, this hike was gorgeous and so was the camping. I would love to go back!

  • J
    Sep. 24, 2018

    Lazy Lions Campground

    Adults only, comfortable but lacking excursions

    Lazy Lions is a comfortable campground with an adults-only policy. Having spent time in plenty of campgrounds with screaming or unwinded children, I could see this as a positive draw for the RV'ing crowd. I think we were the only tent campers the night we stayed.

    Our tent site was level and on comfy plush grass, well maintained and either a beautiful addition of two (plastic) adirondack chairs at our fire pit with grill. This was especially welcome because we hadn't really planned on cooking but when we saw the great fire set up not only did we save time and energy by not having to take out (and put away!) our camping chairs, I was able to turn our chips and salsa into nachos using some amazing Vermont cheese we'd picked up earlier. My boyfriend has declared this was his favorite camping meal ever so thanks Lazy Lions for the unexpected awesomeness.

    Our check in was smoothe, there was plenty of room at this campground, perhaps due to the fact that there isn't too much to do other than set up and sleep. It did have a pool.

    On check in we found the front desk (owner?) to be less than warm, and at $7 to firewood a little pricey. We were warned to be careful with our food because of "critters" and when I asked what kind of critters the man responded, "all of them". Less than helpful. In hindsight we believe we found bear scat on our site.

    We slept well, bathroom facilities were clean and well stocked. Showers, which we did not use, we $0.25 for four minutes. There was a microwave and wash sink as well for dishes, we didn't use either.

    We met lovely people and had a fine night, there was just nothing particularly special about the place

  • Justin P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 19, 2022

    Gifford Woods State Park Campground

    Quiet and well maintained campground

    I tent camped here before doing a section hike of the Appalachian Trail and it was one of the best campgrounds I’ve stayed at before.

    The sites have some privacy and woods in between, though the tent sites vs. shelters and cabins were mostly closer to the access road. All sites were super clean and had a picnic table and fire ring. Most sites had a built in cooking fire structure (vs. a fire ring) they looked great for camp cooking, though my site (T01) seemed to be the only without it.

    The facilities were well-maintained, there were water spigots everywhere, and though I didn’t get a chance to enjoy, there were lots of activities right there (volleyball lawn, the AT running right through the campground, mountain bike trails).

    I didn’t stay in them, but the cabins and lean-tos looked great for group or family options.

    Kent Pond was also just across the road for water activities, and I saw at least one fly fisher out.

    Killington was also right nearby for restaurants and other needs.

    I will definitely be coming back to explore more!

  • Lauren S.
    Jul. 27, 2020

    Moosalamoo Campground

    Hidden Gem

    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. The trail connects to many others. You will pass several trailheads on your way up to the campground. Many of the sites are reservable, others are first come first serve. You will find a pay station as you enter the campsite. The camp host is at site 1. Surprisingly clean vault toilets. No showers. There are dumpsters on the way out for trash and recycling. I saw bear storage lockers but I did not use them as I had my bear keg with me. Behind the parking spur at the site there is gravel with picnic table and fire pit. Beyond that in the trees was a spot for the tent. I didn’t experience many bugs, no mosquitoes, what I saw the most of were caterpillars. But If you needed bug spray or forgot anything back in town a few miles Ripton grocery has you covered.

  • Sarah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 1, 2021

    New Discovery State Park Campground

    Interesting State Park

    This state park has a little bit of everything. There are sites with electric hookups as well as some without. Some sites are in the middle of a grassy field while others are tucked in the trees. Site size various pretty vastly as you travel through the campground. There are two main loops, one is more secluded and spaced out than the other. The campground loops have bath houses, complete with coin operated showers. Park staff were attentive and restrooms were being cleaned with frequency. 

    There are more remote walk-in shelters on the Osmore Pond, located within New Discovery State Park. The shelters are rustic, have shared outhouses between a few sites, fire pits and small picnic tables. The remote sites are spaced nicely around the pond along a hiking trail that skirts the perimeter. The walk from the parking area to the shelters varies, depending what side of the pond you are camping on. If bringing a full-sized cooler(or other large/luxury car camping items) be sure you are heading to a site closer to the parking area. It would be a challenge to get some of those larger, heavier items to sites across the pond from the parking lot.

Guide to Hancock

Green Mountain National Forest offers multiple dispersed camping options within 15 miles of Hancock, Vermont. Located at elevations between 1,200 and 2,000 feet, these primitive tent campsites near Hancock accommodate outdoor enthusiasts year-round, though spring access often involves navigating muddy forest roads. Weather conditions vary significantly with summer highs averaging 75°F and winter temperatures frequently dropping below freezing.

What to do

Swim in natural water holes: Michigan Brook Road Camping provides access to swimming spots during summer months. One camper reports, "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! The one before the bridge that's right next to the river is the best one!!"

Hike sections of the Appalachian Trail: Stony Brook Backcountry Shelter serves as a convenient base for AT section hikes. A reviewer notes, "The shelter was a fairly basic 8ish person shelter, but this stop stood out because of a brand new privvy, large tenting areas, and a swimming hole and consistent water just a bit further down the trail."

Winter camping adventures: For cold-weather enthusiasts, winter camping requires specific preparation. One winter camper at Michigan Brook Road Camping advises, "The main road to the parking lot is plowed and sanded. However if you would like to continue down the service road during winter months I would highly recommend snowshoes or a snowmobile."

What campers like

Private riverside spots: Campers appreciate secluded tent sites along waterways. One visitor to Last Light on Michigan Brook stated, "Love this site! The very last spot on the right hand side. If you've reached the closed gate you've missed the site!"

Proximity to local amenities: While most sites lack services, some camping areas offer access to nearby conveniences. A Michigan Brook Road camper explained, "If you walk to the end of upper Michigan Brook road you will have cell phone service and a gas station along with a United States Post Office as well as a general store which also serves as a restaurant."

Seasonal water features: Green Mountain National Forest FR25 offers stream-side camping that changes with the seasons. One camper observed, "We were here on a Friday & Saturday nights. Friday night had the whole place to ourselves. Saturday night all spots filled. We had quiet and respectful neighbors."

What you should know

Theft concerns: Secure your valuable items at all times. A camper at FR25 warned, "Beautiful sites on the River but with the wet summer, we just couldn't dry out. Make sure to lock you valuables. Our Jackery, Solar panels & toilet were stolen."

No-camping zones: Several areas marked as campsites on maps actually prohibit camping. A visitor to Route 100 Dispersed Camping cautioned, "This site was lovely, but signs say No Camping. There were a few spots with fire rings and picnic tables and would be a great place to camp though!"

Road conditions: Forest access roads deteriorate seasonally. A Michigan Brook visitor advised, "Road goes in pretty far. Some parts are muddy and very rough. Higher clearance would be advised!!!"

Overuse concerns: Dispersed tent campsites near Hancock face closure threats due to misuse. A camper observed, "There was a NFS sign along FR-25 posted asking people to clean up after themselves (litter and human waste) as there'd been complaints to the extent that they were considering closing the sites if people didn't do better."

Tips for camping with families

Site selection for kids: Choose sites with safe water access. A visitor to Patterson Brookside commented, "Mountain road lingers along the river. There's quite a few sites along the road. Be sure to camp at spots with established fire rings!"

Plan for zero connectivity: Most camping areas lack cell service. A camper noted, "There is no electricity, no cell coverage, not outhouses in this area. Be prepared to pack out everything you bring in."

Weather preparedness: Bingo camping area and other forest spots experience rapid weather changes. Pack layers and rain gear regardless of forecast. A visitor simply stated, "Couple of spots along the forest access road. Beautiful stream close by."

Tips from RVers

Vehicle clearance requirements: For RVs attempting to access dispersed camping, ground clearance is critical. A Route 100 camper advised, "Entrance and exit are a little steep and tricky in the winter, lot wasn't plowed so AWD/4x4 and good ground clearance are recommended."

Length restrictions: Forest roads have tight turns and narrow passages that limit RV size. Most tent campsites near Hancock cannot accommodate large trailers or motorhomes longer than 20 feet.

Spring mud season warnings: Avoid bringing RVs during spring thaw. One camper at Michigan Brook reported, "Beware that in Spring the road gets muddy and quite rutted, I would not recommend driving down there with a car that is low to the ground."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Hancock, VT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Hancock, VT is Michigan Brook Road Camping - Green Mtn Ntnl Forest with a 5-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Hancock, VT?

TheDyrt.com has all 41 tent camping locations near Hancock, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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