Best Tent Camping near Jay Peak, VT

Recent Tent Reviews near Jay Peak, Vermont

374 Reviews of 21 Jay Peak Campgrounds

• 

  Raj T.

  Guide

  

  May. 30, 2021

  Camel's Hump State Park — Camels Hump State Park

  Hump Brook Tent Site

  Great tent site, site 1 can have 3 platform and fire pit

• 

  M.A.D. P.

  Legend

  

  Dec. 31, 2022

  Kettle Pond State Park Campground

  Remote camping on a secluded pond

  My wife and I spent 10 days at this remote tent site. Our site was on the far western end of Kettle Pond and the only tent site in the remote camping area. A trail that goes around the pond is easily accessed from site 10. We were able to watch the Loons teaching it's chicks to hunt for food. A bit of work to get to this site but every bit worth the trade off for peace n quiet!

• 

  Jason D.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 31, 2019

  Mountain View Campground

  Good family camp ground

  Nice family campground nestled in between route 15 and the lamoille River. Great car accessible tent sites right on the water and plenty of amenities that the kids will love. We'll stocked camp store and two pools. It can get a bit noisy due to the proximity to the highway, but it's still a good option for car camping in this part of Vermont.

• A

  Ali B.

  Traveler

  

  May. 16, 2018

  North Beach Campground

  Lakeside Convenience

  Smaller tent sites. One centrally located bathroom. Nice mix of sun and shade. Convenient to down town and waterfront. Beach is beautiful and conveniently close to sites.

• 

  Geraint J.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 15, 2017

  Big Deer State Park Campground

  Beautiful

  A great place. Peaceful and quiet, camp sites are well maintained, great fire pits. Plenty of different tent sites available, a nice walk down to the lake. Enjoy.

• 

  Sara M.

  Scout

  

  Dec. 31, 2019

  Mountain View Campground

  Beautifully Kept

  A lovely family camp ground with rv and tent sites, all near the bathrooms, amenities galore, and a great camp store. Visited in early October and was not disappointed. A wonderful stay.

• N

  Nick

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 20, 2021

  Kingdom Campground

  Clean and quiet

  Very clean and quiet campground mostly set up for RVs. All RV sites have water, sewer, and electric. Tent sites have water and electric. Toilets and showers were very clean but showers were coin op. A bit on the pricey side but you’re close to everything in the NEK.

• 

  Bojangles R.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 20, 2024

  Underhill State Park Campground

  Terrific Camping

  Spent a few nights here as a base camp while hiking some of the mountains in the area. 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.

  Facilities were accessible and clean. Quiet hours were definitely observed. Easily one of the best camp sites I’ve stayed at.

• 

  Bryan P.

  Scout

  

  Dec. 24, 2017

  Kettle Pond State Park Campground

  Group Camping PLUS "Remote" Lean-tos

  Kettle Pond is a classic northern pond set in Vermont's Groton State Forest. Besides the group camping area, which can get busy, the pond has six lean-tos (across the pond from the group sites) and one tent site. They've got fire pits, crappers and a fair amount of privacy. The first two lean-tos are a few hundred feet apart. But the rest are fairly private, spread out along a trail that rings the pond. You must park in the lot and walk to all these sites. The farthest, most remote site, is about a mile from the parking lot. Here's a map: https://vtstateparks.com/assets/pdf/groton-remote.pdf

• 

  M.A.D. P.

  Legend

  

  Dec. 19, 2020

  Ricker Campground

  Our favorite Park in the whole Vt. State Park system

  Quiet little park on Ricker Pond. I have been camping at this park for 50 years. 3 generations of our family get together when we can. The pond is great for swimming, kayaking, fishing and exploring. Plenty of things to do in the Groton State Forest as well. Plenty of prime lean-to and tent sites on the wate. Site #8 is our favorite but it is very popular

• 

  Robin P.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 25, 2018

  Lakewood Campgrounds

  Lake Willoughby - Dispersed

  I couldn’t find a specific option for this campground, so I used a nearby one. This is Lake Willoughby near Lakewood. There are tons of primitive camping spots here. Lakewood has an available convenience store with a heap of RV and tent sites. There are also multiple parking lots in range where people camp out of their cars and absolutely no one will bother you. The view here is something you can’t capture in photos. also- There’s a nude beach for those of you who are interested!

• 

  Carley D.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 10, 2023

  Stillwater State Park Campground

  Amazing

  This campground was fantastic! Tucked away in a beautiful part of Vermont, the campground is right on Groton Lake with a swimming area and designated boat launch. There's also an access path to the Montpelier & Wells River Rail Trail. 

  The campsites are really nice with tent sites and leanto options. The overall facility was really well kept. What stood out the most at this campground was the staff! I was having car issues and the staff was extremely helpful in helping me fix the problem! They kept checking in and asking if I needed anything, helped me research solutions, and even on their own time tried to tinker with my car to figure it out. It was above and beyond expectations! I really enjoyed my stay here and will make a point to come back.

• H

  Heather C.

  Guide

  

  Feb. 2, 2025

  Art and Health Chill Camping

  Great vibe & location!

  Can’t say enough good things about this place.  It is a private landowners land, and she has various camping options including a cabin, hives, or open locations for rv or tent camping.  We stayed for a long weekend with friends in a separate rv, and then a friend who rented a hive.  The land is 8 acres, and you feel a sense of privacy and serenity. You hear roosters in the morning from a local farm.  The views are vast, and it’s relaxing.

  Logistically, there is a good place for rv parking below the garden hoop house.  It is a flat long gravel area, which can access power, but you’ll need an extension chord or two to reach it.  The hives are set back from this area and behind other gardens, near a water source.   There is a cabin in the middle of the property, and then additional rv or tent camping in another area above the main house, which also has an electric hookup.  Each area is far enough away from the others that you feel a sense of privacy and serenity.  

  There is a common area building on the property with Wi-Fi, a bathroom and a kitchen area, which seemed to be used mostly for making tea or accessing the kitchen sink for water.  I am not sure if you could use it for cooking - you would need to ask the landowner.  It has a small sitting area with tourism/hiking/sightseeing guides and maps.  We used it to check email and make phone calls, as cell access is spotty in this general area of Vermont and we didn’t have a cell signal by our rv.  You can shower and use the toilet.  I would recommend bringing your own soap and shampoo.

  There are a few fire pit areas on the property, and the land owner will show you where you can find wood in the surrounding woods.  The gardens are full of flowers and vegetables.    There is also a sauna and a yoga room, neither of which we used. 

  It truly is a magical environment.  You are a few minutes away from Cabot, which is very small.  The area is a hiking and gravel biking hot bed.  The “Ride the Ridges” gravel ride passes the property, so you can do the course from there.  There are numerous hikes of all distances and difficulty in this area of Vermont.

• 

  Michelle D.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 31, 2016

  Cumberland Bay State Park — Cumberland Bay

  Ranger Review: A2 Shoal Belt at Cumberland Bay State Park

  The grounds: This place looks like the place to be, great facilities (with real flush toilets near the beach), and great grassy sites which met of are in the shade! Very close to many different things (Montreal, Burlington, Lake Placid) and the beach is very clean and beautiful. There is a pump station for RVs but a lot of tent camping as well.

  The Belt: This belt is great, I love croaky belts in general, they are colorful and very sturdy. The design is great and they keep the pants up or give a splash of color to my outfits (when I wear them a little higher up. The colors are so pretty with the blues and are interesting to look at. Love that there are no holes, so it will not rip overtime. 5 out of 5 for sure!

• 

  Robin P.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 25, 2018

  Belview Campground

  Clean Facilities & Beautiful Location

  There are showers and toilets on property, only two for M/F. You pay $.25 for 5 minutes of hot water, which unfortunately isn’t always hot! I learned that the hard way. However, the sites are $30 per night (tents) and $40-$45 I believe for RV/Campers. There are a lot of people who have RV’s parked there year round and come seasonally. I was actually camping out of my car at this point and the site was perfect for it. Would be perfect for someone pitching a tent as well, as there is a lot of room on each site for multiple things. They also have running water for dishes and drinking. The owners live on a house on property, and cultivated the land from an RV they lived in while they developed the property. They have a big fluffy white dog that’s awesome. 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. However, you’d have to park your car at the top and hike down. it’s not too far!

• 

  Christyn R.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 25, 2018

  Magic Pines Family Camp Grnds

  Old campground with necessary amenities that has seen better days.

  This campground is not in horrible shape, but not in great shape either. When compared with camping resorts it leaves a lot to be desired, but it’s still solid in terms of amenities.

  Magic pines Is located in the adirondack eastern high peaks region. The closest of the 46 is rocky peak ridge, with giant mountain not being too far off. this campground is located 45 minutes min. from lake placid and most points of interest around the region, however it is located closer to I87 (the northway) than any other campground we’ve visited in the 15 years we’ve frequented the ADK region.

  Amenities include tent sites, trailer sites, RV sites, cabins, bathrooms, unheated pool, basic playground for kids, a store with basic necessities, and large grounds with opportunities for running!

  this campground is best suited toward seasonal campers, but is suitable for passing through as well. Major drawback is access to rivers, though the Boquet river and many ponds for fishing aren’t too far away!

• D

  David L.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 3, 2021

  North Beach Campground

  Great Campground “On The Water”

  I have a 24’ RV towing a 30 foot trailer for perspective. I easily fit in site 107 and lots of other sites would have worked. They have a place to drop trailers if you don’t fit.

  Sites 90 to 108 are best. Spaced out under trees.

  Sites 1 to 16 are close to each other.

  Sites 113 to 119 are bad. Very close to each other. No redeeming qualities.

  Sites have 30 amp electric and water but might need a longish cord or hose. Clean easy to use dump with water.

  Tent sites looked nice.

  Short walk to nice beach or you can drive a car. Short tunnel so no campers or bikes on the roof.

  Right next to rails to trails path that goes onto a causeway over the lake. There is a bike ferry to keep going. Nice ride.

  Nice dog park 3/4 miles to the South on the trail.

  Far away from noise. Can’t comment on loud campers.

• 

  Matthew D.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 29, 2018

  Ricker Pond State Park Campground

  Vermont State Park Campground

  We stayed two nights in early September 2018. Easily found with google maps. Was greeted by a friendly staff member and shown how to get to our site. Arrived in the pitch black but was easy to find out site. Tent site #10.

  It was very quiet, everyone seems to be enjoying their own spot. You can see your neighbors but there is some room in between sites. Clean bathrooms and relatively clean showers. Out site hand a picnic table and fire ring with grate.

  We were a very short walk to the beach, where you could swim. Perfect spot to practice some night photography with minimal light pollution.

  Also had a fire going all night by the building attached to the bathrooms. They offered wood, ice and small things to buy if needed.

  Definitely recommend staying here. Pricing would be the only slight negative, it is about average from what we have looked at. Wish we could have stayed longer.

• 

  Rachel P.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 16, 2018

  Smugglers Notch State Park Campground

  Smugglers Notch State Park

  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! Leaf peepers were in full force and the grounds were absolutely spectacular- I really picked the perfect time of year to go. Nights got pretty brisk, but the foliage was breathtaking.

  The Park, located along scenic Rte108, has about 20 tent sites and 14 lean-to’s well dispersed throughout the grounds. A couple spots were drive-in sites, accessible to those with disabilities; most had small pathways and/or stairwells leading to their platforms. There was not a bad site within the entire vicinity. All were fully shaded and extremely private. Although, I’d be curious about checking out Sites 1 or 16 next time around!

  Bathrooms were clean and the main office sold firewood at the entrance. Facilities are also pet friendly. Plus, there are so many hiking trails and recreational opportunities in and around the Park-from Stowe Mountain Resort to the quaint shops in town and local craft breweries. And even with the Park seeming “full”, the grounds were perfectly quiet, without the incessant sound of generators you find at larger state parks.

  Without a doubt, Smugglers Notch State Park is a favorite of mine!

• 

  Kara W.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 23, 2022

  Gold Brook Campground

  Surprisingly Great Campground

  I was a little worried after reading some negative reviews and realizing this is the only RV campground in the area, but was pleasantly surprised!

  Our site was level and extremely spacious, FHUs, and featuring a fire pit. There is a nice playground in the center and a creek that follows the tent sites. Our dog loved swimming in the creek and meeting his first bullfrog.

  The campground also has a small pool, one washer and one dryer, and decent showers/restrooms. Wifi was great over the week (was able to work without a problem), but collapsed when more people showed up on Friday. It’s centrally located to many wonderful sites around Stowe and Waterbury.

  Check-in was a breeze. We picked up our packet from the office mail box and headed to our site. Very laid back, hands off, which is nice after a long drive and during a pop up storm.

  We would definitely stay here again. Loved the community surrounding the campground and the place itself. Definitely check it out.

• 

  Rita M.

  Ranger

  

  Sep. 12, 2018

  Burton Island State Park Campground

  Ranger Review: Nature's Coffee Kettle International pack at Burton Island

  Burton Island is a 2.5 mile long island state park off of the shoreline of Lake Champlain. It is a car free paradise that requires a boat or ferry to get to but yield the rewards of peace, nature, and gorgeous shoreline.

  Campground Review:

  Campsites at Burton Island book far in advance. When we booked our Labor Day weekend tent site back in March, there were only 2 leantos (out of 26) left and a handful of tent sites (out of 14). You can visit https://vtstateparks.com/burton.html to book a reservation. The campground is open from Memorial Day Weekend through the Tuesday morning after Labor Day.

  We stayed at site 7 in the main tent site loop. While we didn't technically have shore line access, there was a short path through the woods that led to a rocky shoreline where we left our canoe and kayak. There was ample space among the trees for hanging hammocks. The dirt and gravel pad was mostly flat, without any pesky roots to poke us. The site also drained very well--it rained all night our last night and we had zero seepage into the tent floor.

  The tenter section was just a short walk to a clean bathroom up on the hill. Each side had one shower that cost 50 cents per 5 minutes of shower time. There are two other bathrooms available but a further walk. The tent site section was also nice and close to the Marina area, which included a store that serves coffee and sandwiches (the coffee was decent!). While one could hear the folks docked down in the Marina when they hung out on their boats, our site was not close enough for their noise to be a nuisance. There is a water access point within 300 feet of most campsites--which was perfect.

  Dogs are allowed at Burton Island, but there are areas at the State Park that they are not allowed, such as the beach area. Alcohol consumption is also allowed, but there wasn't any problem with people partying loudly or obnoxiously.

  There are beautiful trails that cover the island. 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. Lots of old trees abound as well. There are also tons of frogs! The trails are all short enough that they could be explored during one day--or go on them multiple times for sunsets and sunrises.

  Getting to the island was the hardest part. Depending on the weather, the 3/4 mile crossing from Kamp KilKare State Park can be rough and windy. If you are an experienced paddler, have a good copilot, and not too much gear, you would be fine. Also, if you have a boat with a motor, most of the time the water is not too rough. However, the Island Runner Ferry is likely the best option for most people who want to enjoy the island without being stressed about swamping a boat! 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

  Overall, we had a fabulous time. We watched a sunset on the South tip, caught frogs at our shoreline, rented a paddleboard, played int the waves, and enjoyed the icecream sandwiches form the camp store, skipped stones in the lake, and explored the island. Our kids can't wait to go back.

  ---

  Product Review:

  Since I am a Ranger for The Dyrt, I have the fun task of testing products every now and then.

  This camping trip I was quite thrilled to be chosen to test out a product from Nature's Coffee Kettle. We LOVE coffee, and generally bring our French Press and hand coffee grinder along camping so we can have a good cup of joe.

  As parents of 5 kids, we always need LOTS of coffee while camping. During this trip, we tested out the International 16-Cup Pack. We even left our own coffee at home so that we would not be tempted to use it instead.

  -- Nature's Coffee Kettle is basically an ultra-lightweight version of a pour-over coffee system. The basic component of the system is a heavy duty plastic bag with a spout and built-in funnel. Their coffees are really ground coffee (not instant) packaged in portions for 4 cups. The envelope of coffee gets placed into the funnel portion of the plastic reservoir, and you pour boiling water slowly over it. Sometimes you have to pause for the water to finish trickling down. The whole process takes about 4 minutes. The trickiest part of the system is the need to hold the bag upright while pour--a few times it tipped over since the base didn't have enough weight in it.

  Coffee verdict: It tasted GOOD! Not quite as amazing as the stuff we brew at home, but honestly, as good as most coffee I have had at coffee shops! We liked the Sumatran and Guatemalan flavors the best, though we also tried the Columbian and French Roast.

  System verdict: It was a little tricky to use at first--be careful not to burn yourself! I did love how lightweight it was, and how little space it took up. The plastic brew system folds flat, and is reusable. It would be fantastic for backpacking. It was so much better than instant coffee.

  .

• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  

  Mar. 23, 2023

  Maple Grove Campground

  Small campground with some nice amenities

  General: 30 RV plus 11 tent sites right on Route 104 in Fairfax. 

  Site Quality: RV sites are arranged around an oval. Pads are gravel. Because the loop is on a hill, some sites are not quite level, but only slightly. The sites on the outside of the loop are more desirable but they were not available when I reserved three months in advance (the campground was full on a weekday at the end of September). There are a lot of trees but limited privacy between sites. 

  Bathhouse/Shower: The bathroom was clean with two stalls. Soap and paper towels. One shower that takes quarters, but I did not use so cannot comment on it.

  Activities/Amenities: The office has a small store. Firewood is available. Horseshoes and a basketball hoop on a grassy area and a play structure for kids but no other activities. We appreciated the on-site laundry (which was stocked with books and brochures as well as a table and chairs) as otherwise we would have had to find a laundromat. 

  This is small but compact campground. It was just an overnight stay for us, so it worked for one night.

• 

  Tara S.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 31, 2017

  Smugglers Notch State Park Campground

  Great Base Camp for Exploring Stowe

  Smuggler's Notch State Park has a small campground with 20 tent sites and 14 lean-tos. We almost always splurge on a lean-to so we can camp comfortably rain or shine. This year we stayed in Hemlock, and it was so secluded and quiet. The whole place has a real wilderness feel, but it is very close to lots of hiking and the attractions in Stowe. You can easily walk to Bingham Falls across the street, which I think is one of the most lovely waterfalls in the whole state. There's also easy access to lots of hiking trails, although I would suggest driving to the trailheads as route 108 is not fun to walk along.

  A favorite Smuggler's Notch weekend in the summer would include a visit to Bingham Falls, hiking to Sterling Pond, and possibly up to the top of Mt. Mansfield. When we don't have time to hike up Mt. Mansfield, we splurge on a drive up the toll road. Then we can hike around on the summit. Lastly, we always stop at the Alchemist for a case or two of Heady Topper to bring home.

• 

  Tara S.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 24, 2020

  Elmore State Park Campground

  The Night Sky is Beyond Compare!

  I almost gave this campground three stars. Our lean-to, Hickory is situated in a lovely meadow, but quite close to other campers and a view that overlooks the campground road. There is very little shade and no privacy. Other sites in the campground have a similar feel. Some of the wooded tent sites are quite private, but most are not. 

  Despite not feeling all that private, I was impressed with the sandy beach on Lake Elmore and the hiking trail up to the top of Elmore Mountain. Because this is the only trail within the park, it does get really busy on the weekends, and I found it nearly impossible to give 6-feet of space to other hikers because of how narrow the trail is. I would not hike this on a Saturday in summer or fall, at least not until the threat from COVID is behind us!

  The restroom in the campground loop we were in was very clean but outdated. The sinks are cold water only, which I normally wouldn't mind, but the temps dropped into the 20s during our trip, which made washing up a little bit painful.

  Because our lean-to was in a meadow with no tree coverage, we were treated to the most awesome night sky we've ever seen at a Vermont state park. It was mesmerizing! I only wish that I had the skills with a camera to capture it! It totally erased all my grumblings about not having privacy. Starry sky for the win!

• 

  Whitney L.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 1, 2022

  Gold Brook Campground

  Great private campground near Stowe

  Public campgrounds are pretty limited in this part of VT, so we ended up at Gold Brook CG. This is definitely best for RVs/travel trailers where you can escape inside your unit because this place gets busy on the weekend. We visited in early June before the high season, so the crowds were minimal during the week but busy on the weekend. We personally would prefer more seclusion/privacy between the sites since we tent camp. All that said, the plots are level, grassy, and seemingly well maintained. The bathroom facilities were clean and nice; washer and dryer room available. Too cool for the pool but looked nice. We stayed in site 12, though next time i believe we’d opt for something further down to be closer to the creek. While we were next to the creek at site 12, it was blocked by brush and trees.

  Check in was easy, and the staff were present enough in case you had questions or needed to buy firewood. Road noise was moderate; I wouldn’t want to stay in sites 1-11 due to the proximity to the road.

  The campground served as a good ‘basecamp’ for accessing Stowe and other surrounding attractions.

  Can’t speak to the negative review re cancellations, but my experience with the staff was all positive and received relatively prompt responses to questions.

• 

  Craig F.

  Guide

  

  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!

• 

  Shari G.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 10, 2021

  Ricker Pond State Park Campground

  Like State Parks Used To Be!

  When we first heard of the North East Kingdom of Vermont, we had no idea where people were talking about, but something idyllic and natural came to mind. Ricker Pond State Park fits beautifully into this landscape. Getting here isn’t direct or easy, but the reward is worth it. Leave your mobile devices off, because cell towers haven’t quite made it to this quiet corner of the woods. 

  The pace here is slow, even by campground standards, but this adds to the charm. A wide array of rustic cabins, lean-to shelters, and traditional tent campsites scattered throughout the park along the shores of Ricker Pond.  No electrical hookups to be found, so bring your solar panels if you want power.  There is a ton of space between sites -- we could barely see our neighbors or hear them.

  The staff have gone the extra mile and planted flowers along many of the choicest camping areas. Campsite amenities include a toilet block with pay showers and flush toilets, but no electrical or water hook ups. The water is delicious by the way, so don’t bother with any bottled variety– this is the good stuff. 

  Paddling out on the lake has to be the best way to enjoy this wonderful area. With boats available for rent, you don’t even need to bring your own. Check out this quiet corner of Vermont and simply forget about it all. The nearby town of Groton, has a gas station with a small grocery store for all the most important staples (marshmallows, chocolate, bread, beer) at least one small restaurant, and the library offers free wifi 24/7 if you really must connect for a few minutes.