Tent camping near Hinesburg, Vermont offers access to both the Green Mountain forests and Lake Champlain shorelines within a 40-minute drive. The area sits at approximately 640 feet elevation, with nearby camping destinations ranging from 300 feet at lakeside to over 4,000 feet on mountain slopes. Summer temperatures typically range from 55-80°F, while spring and fall camping seasons often drop to 30-45°F at night.
What to do
Sunrise hikes at Mount Philo: Wake up early for a 10-minute hike to catch spectacular sunrises over Lake Champlain. According to one visitor at Mount Philo State Park Campground, "I only got to stay two nights here but it was very nice... the best part is every night it's only a ten minute hike to the summit from where the sites are and you get to watch the sunset over Vermont and lake champlain as the sun falls behind the adirondack mountains."
Paddling Indian Brook Reservoir: Bring a kayak or canoe to explore the quiet waters at Essex. "We have explored this park in the winter as well as the summer. There is an extensive trail system that is easy to navigate. Nestled in the woods are several tent platforms that you can access by foot or by boat," notes a camper at Indian Brook Reservoir.
Swimming at Burton Island: Access the island via ferry ($8 per person) or paddle your own watercraft from Kamp KilKare State Park. "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," writes a visitor to Burton Island State Park Campground.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Campers consistently mention well-spaced sites at Underhill State Park. "Camp spots were far enough away from one another, trees helped with privacy, and the tent site had a great area to setup the tent," writes a reviewer at Underhill State Park Campground.
Quiet nights: The smaller, more secluded campgrounds offer peaceful evenings. "Only 8 campsites, dispersed in the trees. $23/night. Picnic table and fire pit. Moderate cell service. Nice hikes and cool views of the area!" notes a visitor about Mount Philo State Park.
Waterfront camping options: Several campgrounds offer direct water access. At Indian Brook Reservoir, one camper reports, "Site was gorgeous and private, right on the reservoir. Really lovely setting!"
What you should know
Composting toilets: Many campgrounds use environmentally friendly facilities. "The toilets are composting toilets, but from the user experience, it's very close to a regular toilet in that it's in a stall in a nice, well maintained proper bathroom (unlike some composting toilets in outhouse situations I've used)," explains a Mount Philo camper.
Limited facilities at dispersed sites: The Green Mountain National Forest dispersed camping areas along FR25 offer a more primitive experience. "Beautiful sites on the River but with the wet summer, we just couldn't dry out. Make sure to lock your valuables. Our Jackery, Solar panels & toilet were stolen," warns a camper at Green Mountain National Forest FR25.
Ferry schedules: Burton Island requires planning around ferry schedules. "The ferry is $8 per person, with no extra charge for gear. They do charge $2 for bikes. If you want to use the ferry, but still want a kayak or canoe at the island, you have to paddle it across separately."
Tips for camping with families
Island adventure camping: For a unique family experience, Burton Island offers car-free camping. "There are no cars on the island. You have to paddle yourself out or take the VT State Park passenger ferry from St. Albans...the island is full of free range kids, and they're having a blast."
Easy-access nature viewing: Mount Philo provides accessible wildlife viewing for children. "The sites are very private and shaded, and it's close proximity to Burlington make it a good choice for travelers, but because the road is steep and winding, it's not suitable for RVs."
Pack light for remote sites: Some of the best tent spots require a short walk. At Camel's Hump State Park, "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."
Tips from RVers
Limited RV accessibility: Most campgrounds near Hinesburg cater primarily to tent campers with few RV amenities. "Little river st park wide flat camp sites no hookups limited gen. use hours 8am/10am and 4pm/6pm. Rough road coming to campground. Very quiet. Site could hold big rig we have a 28ft 5th wheel plenty of room for 35/40," notes a camper about Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites.
Generator restrictions: Where generators are allowed, hours are typically restricted to preserve the natural camping experience. Burton Island is entirely car-free, requiring all equipment to be transported by ferry or boat.
Site size limitations: Most tent camping areas near Hinesburg have limited space for large rigs. Mount Philo specifically notes that "because the road is steep and winding, it's not suitable for RVs."
