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Best Campgrounds near Jay, VT

346 Reviews

Jay, Vermont offers a mix of camping options in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom region, with several established campgrounds within a short drive. Prouty Beach Campground in Newport provides year-round camping with full hookups for RVs and tent sites along Lake Memphremagog. Tree Corners Family Campground in Irasburg features tent, RV, and cabin accommodations with seasonal operation from May to October. Lake Carmi State Park Campground offers lakeside camping with cabins and various site types accessible by boat, car, or foot. The region includes both privately operated campgrounds and state park facilities, with most locations situated near water features.

Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping in the Jay area, with most campgrounds operating from May through mid-October. Winter conditions make many sites inaccessible, though some year-round options exist. Lake Carmi State Park provides electric hookups and boat access, while several campgrounds offer cabin rentals for those seeking shelter during cooler weather. Cell service can be spotty throughout the region, particularly in more remote areas. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer months and fall foliage season when campgrounds frequently reach capacity. A camper noted, "This is one of the most beautiful and peaceful parks I have stayed in. The facilities were clean and the shower was nice and hot."

Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors to the Jay area. Campers particularly value the pristine lakes and mountain views characteristic of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Several campgrounds provide direct water access for swimming, fishing, and boating activities. While some sites offer significant privacy, others place campers in closer proximity to neighbors. As one visitor to Lake Carmi State Park described, "Our first time in Vermont, we were coming from Montreal, Quebec. The drive there was really pleasant. It took us mostly through very scenic routes in both Quebec, and Vermont." Proximity to Kingdom Trails mountain biking network makes the area particularly appealing to outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Most developed campgrounds provide basic amenities including showers, toilets, and fire rings, while more remote sites offer a more primitive camping experience.

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Best Camping Sites Near Jay, Vermont (94)

    1. Prouty Beach Campground

    6 Reviews
    Newport, VT
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 334-7951

    $33 - $75 / night

    "We stayed at T4, a site w electric right on the lake."

    "There is a very nice bike trail that runs through the campground, to the city of Newport on one side and to Canada on the other!"

    2. Tree Corners Family Campground

    3 Reviews
    Orleans, VT
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 754-6042

    $42 - $100 / night

    "Great place to go if you’re looking to go trail riding- trail is right across from the campground alongside the corn field."

    3. Lake Carmi State Park Campground

    12 Reviews
    Franklin, VT
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 933-8383

    $29 / night

    "Our first time in Vermont, we were coming from Montreal, Quebec. And while there are many nice campsites to visit in Quebec... we've done them all, within a 2-hour radius. Well, guess what?"

    "Lakefront sites have a filtered view of the lake through the trees.  Bath/Shower House: The one closest to us was very clean. Three stalls and one shower."

    4. Eden Rec Area Camping

    1 Review
    Eden Mills, VT
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 635-7725

    $25 - $40 / night

    "Camper.on the beach on a friends property on the lake, canoed and enjoyed the area. There are campgrounds on or near the lake as well. It was a very peaceful retreat."

    5. Belview Campground

    2 Reviews
    Barton, VT
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 525-3242

    "We got space 14 which is an easy drive through site for beginners like us. The bench around the fire ring and the spacing between other sites where great. The short walk to the beach was a plus."

    "Lastly, there is a grill and picnic table at every site and they even have a waterfall on property with an available tent site nearby."

    6. Lavender Essentials of Vermont

    1 Review
    Derby Line, VT
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 323-3590

    $35 / night

    7. Smugglers Notch State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Stowe, VT
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 253-4014

    $20 / night

    "I’d say this was one of Vermont’s best kept secrets, except I don’t think it’s exactly a secret. Even in October, the Park seemed full with visitors and Stowe was hopping!"

    "They don't have all the usual amenities its more of a primitive set up. has great clean sites with multiple ways to access mount mansfields trail system which is the highest mountain in the state of Vermont"

    8. The Millbrook Campground

    Be the first to review!
    Westfield, VT
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 744-8085

    9. White Caps Campground

    9 Reviews
    West Burke, VT
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 467-3345

    $35 - $75 / night

    "But the grass area and view of lake right in front of you is priceless. We were able to just walk our kayaks across street and put in right there."

    "Cheaper than a hotel for kingdom trails though and right next to lake Willoughby"

    10. Barrewood

    Be the first to review!
    Westfield, VT
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 744-6340
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Recent Camping Photos near Jay, VT

192 Photos of 94 Jay Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Jay, VT

346 Reviews of 94 Jay Campgrounds

  • Stuart M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Moscow Recreation Park

    Quiet & Safe in Stowe

    Quiet spot out of the way. Large sporting field car park suitable for big dogs. No 'no camping' signs. There was a portaloo on site.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Woodbury Meadows Campground

    Family-Owned Campground Near Stowe

    With 6 sites, this family-owned campground was the perfect pit stop on our road trip to Stowe. Dig and kid friendly. Has showers, water, and electrical hookup.

  • nThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites — Waterbury Center State Park

    State park

    Little river st park wide flat camp sites no hookups limited gen. Use hours 8am/10am and 4pm/6pm. Rough road coming5th to campground. Very quite. cell phone t mobile works fine. Site could hold big rig we have a 28ft 5th wheel plenty of room for 35/40

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2025

    Brewster River Campground

    A regular

    Been coming here for a few years now and it’s my favorite place to go in Vermont so far.

  • jonathan M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Ladd Pond Cabins And Campground

    Hidden gem

    Stayed in a tent they do have multiple tent sites RV sites and cabins available more than enough room for tents they have a beautiful pond in the back they have showers or a shower and toilet for those that need it a common room for those that want to cook food play games watch movies. it's about 11 minutes to the grocery store in downtown colebrook. The owners are amazing people they are very nice and kind. This place is really a hidden gem

  • Jim S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Happy Hill Maple Farms

    Offseason

    Quiet spot just off the Hwy. you can hear traffic but not many cars out this time of year(August). They had a fire pit and picnic table . No electricity so we used the generator. We the only one here so the noise should not bother anyone. Great pace for fall visits

  • E
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Indian Brook Reservoir

    Family of 4 tent camping

    I mistakenly assumed they had drive up campsites. They do not. It was a 15 minute hike to the site, so pack light. If you have a kayak, you can transport your stuff over. Site was gorgeous and private, right on the reservoir. Really lovely setting!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 4, 2025

    Meadowcrest Campground

    Meadowcrest

    Very nice place . Quiet the staff are very kind people . It was hard to book over phone but messages worked well . I was tent camping on the river . Very private

  • Matilda A.
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Maidstone State Park — Maidstone State Forest

    QUERRS AND DISABLED AVOID!!!

    AVOID MAIDSTONE STATE PARK

    Being thrown out of Maidstone because Tom thinks he can make up the ADA, threatened to call the police over nothing and threw us out.

    We have been in the state parks this summer since the 9th of may missed 7 days and us and our dogs have had zero issues until Maidstone

    Great a transphobic park manager targeted us over service dogs and harassed a teenager who has major medical issues, purposely not going to the sight leader and harassing a disabled teenager when isolated from the rest of our site.

    Maybe I’ll post the videos here, it’s unhinged.

    Our lives are worth so much more then some unhinged manager trying to make up his own version of the ADA

    Throw on transphobia was the motivation, awards Maidstone as the worst state park in the system so far.

    My ex wife’s 3 sisters all worked for him at basin harbor club in there younger years and he was unhinged and problematic then, I remember how elated they were to see him move on to the state parks and out of the community.

    Maidstone state park horrific transphobic and disability based discrimination was the most surprising, according to Maidstone one of our service dogs is not allowed in the state parks system. Yet Kathy up in the Ilands who runs that campground with an iron fist didn’t have any problems in the 46 days I spent there to open the season………

    The documentation I have is shocking, way yo cut our time short by 2 weeks and have to panic pack and flee

    

    0 stars

    It’s also alarming how the manager and the staff are excited attendance it’s down 30%, 3 of the 5 employees stating they don’t want it busy and the collective goal of the campground was low attendance for less work.

    What a disgusting audited to have. I’m way over qualified to run Maidstone state park, 1/3 of side A is closed, soon side B as soon as that bath house gives out.

    It’s a small place, it should be packed with Vermonters, as a businesswoman it would be ridiculously easy to pack that campground week in and week out, quickly justifying new facilities and oping back up the loop

    2 years at the helm, I’d be planing a summer of renovations at Maidstone

    Instead it’s going to fizzle and fail under its current management.

Guide to Jay

Campgrounds near Jay, Vermont feature a mix of RV, tent, and cabin options within the northeastern corner of the state. Most sites operate seasonally from mid-May through mid-October due to Vermont's winter conditions. The area sits at elevations ranging from 700 to 1,500 feet with the nearby Jay Peak reaching 3,968 feet. Cell service can be unreliable throughout the region, particularly at campgrounds nestled in more remote valleys.

What to do

Biking near campgrounds: Tree Corners Family Campground is located directly across from trail access points. A camper noted, "Great place to go if you're looking to go trail riding- trail is right across from the campground alongside the corn field."

Paddling opportunities: Lake Carmi State Park Campground provides water access with two boat launch areas ideal for smaller watercraft. A visitor stated, "There are two boat launch areas, one in each loop. Great for kayaks, and canoes, and we saw what looked like a fishing boat."

Winter off-season access: Some campsites permit winter visitors for backcountry skiing and snowshoeing. According to one Smugglers Notch State Park Campground visitor, "Free of charge during off season, you just have to call a couple weeks ahead to reserve and make sure you park in the allotted area. Hike/snowshoe in to your site as the gate is closed and the area is not plowed."

What campers like

Larger campsites: Several campgrounds offer spacious sites compared to typical New England campgrounds. A Prouty Beach visitor remarked, "The sites are HUGE! Probably the biggest we have ever seen in our travels thus far."

Private wooded areas: Belview Campground receives praise for site spacing and natural features. A camper noted, "The bench around the fire ring and the spacing between other sites where great. The short walk to the beach was a plus."

Clean facilities: Maintenance standards remain high across many campgrounds in the Jay region. A visitor to Lake Carmi State Park mentioned, "Clean bathrooms. No cell service," highlighting the common trade-off between amenities and connectivity.

What you should know

Seasonal water conditions: Water quality can vary throughout the summer months. A White Caps Campground visitor warned, "The lake had green algae and we spotted several dead fish floating. It made me nervous about the water."

Coin-operated showers: Many campgrounds require quarters for showers. According to a Lake Carmi visitor, "The showers do take quarters and although you get five minutes for each quarter (up to 15 quarters), it was quite possibly the wimpiest shower I've experienced in quite some time."

Site size limitations: Check dimensions before booking at certain locations. One camper noted about White Caps Campground, "The spots are so close to each other that I could hear my neighbor flush their toilet from inside my rv."

Tips for camping with families

Youth programming awareness: Some campgrounds host summer camps that impact noise levels. A Prouty Beach Campground visitor observed, "Being at the lake meant a lot of noise from others including the campers that use the facility, I mean like actual camp, like groups of kids and counselors."

Family-oriented amenities: Tree Corners Family Campground offers extensive children's facilities. A visitor described, "Massive campground made mostly for those with kids. They have two separate pools and hot tubs for kids and adults. Tons of other activities for kids- splash pad, water slides, playground, basketball court, etc."

Beach quality considerations: Sandy areas vary significantly between locations. One Lake Carmi visitor reported, "The beaches were rocky and almost a mud/sand mix," which may affect family swimming plans.

Tips from RVers

Electric service reliability: During peak heat, some campsites experience power issues. A Prouty Beach Campground reviewer noted, "Our electric was problematic. Granted it was hot while we were there (in the high 80's and low 90's) our electric pedestal showed readings between 110 and 115 volts which was constantly cutting off our air conditioners."

Hookup verification: Confirm specific utility connections before booking. As one White Caps visitor discovered, "It was a 110 conversion electric not 30 amp. No dump site on property, i was told my only option was to go down the road to Willo Campground and i could dump my tanks there for $30."

Seasonal closures: Most RV campsites near Jay close by mid-October. The Dyrt listings show seasonal operations with most opening around May 15 and closing between October 9-15.

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at Jay State Forest campgrounds?

Jay State Forest campgrounds typically offer basic amenities focusing on primitive camping experiences. In the nearby area, Mountain View Campground provides more developed options with a well-stocked camp store, two swimming pools, and tent sites located along the Lamoille River. For those seeking a more rustic experience within Jay State Forest, expect minimal facilities - typically just basic toilets. Most state forest camping requires you to bring your own water, as potable water sources are limited. Fire rings may be available at designated sites, but always check current fire regulations before your visit.

Do I need permits for camping in Jay State Forest?

Yes, you typically need to obtain a permit for camping in Jay State Forest. Vermont state forests generally require free permits for overnight stays, especially for primitive camping. These permits help manage usage and protect natural resources. For specific information, contact the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation before your trip. If you prefer established campgrounds near Jay State Forest, Barrewood near Westfield offers drive-in access with basic toilets, while Belview Campground near Barton provides reservable sites with water and toilet facilities. Always check for seasonal restrictions, as some areas may be closed during winter months.

Where can I find camping in Jay State Forest?

Jay State Forest offers several camping options nearby. Tree Corners Family Campground near Irasburg provides drive-in access with reservable sites and is conveniently located for exploring the forest. Alternatively, consider The Millbrook Campground near Westfield, which serves as a good basecamp for Jay State Forest adventures. For primitive camping within the state forest itself, Vermont generally allows dispersed camping on state forest land following Leave No Trace principles, staying at least 200 feet from any water source, and 1000 feet from developed areas.

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