Cabin camping near Manchester Center, Vermont provides options between 1,500-2,500 feet elevation in the Green Mountain National Forest region. The area experiences distinct seasons with cold winters and mild summers, typically seeing significant snowfall from November through April. Most cabin sites are situated within mixed hardwood forests featuring maple, birch, and pine trees that provide natural shade and habitat for local wildlife.
What to do
Water activities at Woodford State Park: The park features a 23-acre pond for swimming, fishing, and paddling. Visitors can rent kayaks or canoes to explore the reservoir. "The reservoir is beautiful- plenty of space to spread out for paddling and swimming," notes one camper who stayed at Woodford State Park Campground.
River swimming and tubing: The convergence of two rivers at Winhall Brook creates excellent swimming opportunities. "2 rivers intersect in the campground. Most sites are on or just off the river. Kids enjoy tubing the small rapids," reports a reviewer at Winhall Brook Camping Area.
Hiking on the Appalachian Trail: Access portions of the famous long-distance trail directly from some campgrounds. "The AT runs directly through this park. While on a 4 state section hike I traveled by foot through this park," shares a visitor at Gifford Woods State Park Campground.
What campers like
Private, spacious cabin sites: Many campers appreciate the separation between sites at certain locations. "The sites at this park are huge. You could have parked three RVs in our site. Added bonus is that there is nice separation between sites with trees and shrubs that block out your neighbors and provide lots of privacy," according to a review at Moose Hillock Camping Resorts.
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness is frequently mentioned as a positive feature. "The bathrooms were the cleanest campground bathrooms I've ever seen! The campsites are pretty big and somewhat private which is nice," notes a reviewer about their cabin experience.
Convenient locations: Many cabin sites provide good access to local attractions. "The location was very good in allowing us to visit family in nearby village and go into nearby Manchester Center. Facilities were extremely well kept," says a camper at Dorset RV Park.
What you should know
Seasonal operation limitations: Most cabin rentals in the region operate from mid-May through mid-October only. "Season: May 1 - Oct 31" is the standard operating window for many facilities, with prime fall foliage viewing in late September through mid-October.
Limited or fluctuating connectivity: Cell service and WiFi vary significantly across the region. "No service or wifi," reports one visitor, while others mention spotty connections or unreliable service depending on exact location and carrier.
Reservation requirements: Popular cabin sites book quickly, especially during peak season. "We had to wait till 2wks prior to book since we are under the 4 night minimum in season," notes a camper at Moose Hillock. For Moreau Lake State Park Campground, a reviewer advises: "The park was not very crowded when we were there, but we can imagine it could get very busy and noisy in the busy summer season."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer organized events for younger visitors. "There are planned activities each day like limbo, scavenger hunts, movie night at the pool (in summer months) and a great pool to swim in with two water slides," shares a camper about their family experience.
Playground access: Many cabin sites include playground facilities. "Nice playground and beach, volleyball," mentions a visitor at Moreau Lake State Park, while another notes: "There are a scattering of amenities like a rec room with games, shuffleboard, playground, volleyball, horseshoes."
Space for outdoor games: Cabins with large outdoor areas allow for family recreation. "Each site is level but some definitely were not. We had a picnic table and fire pit. The sites next to us were not occupied which was nice because otherwise it would have felt a little tight," observes a visitor at Dorset RV Park.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling requirements: Many cabin and RV sites require some adjustment. "Sites are huge. Plenty of room for our RV, and small tent. Private. Our site was level but some definitely were not," notes a camper at Caton Place Campground.
Tree clearance considerations: Some sites have tight access due to trees. "Our campsite was spacious but required some maneuvering to avoid scraping trees with our RV," shares a reviewer from Moreau Lake, adding "Campsites are spacious, shady, and had good separation between the neighboring sites which we enjoyed."
Road conditions: Interior roads vary significantly between campgrounds. "The roads and campsites are gravel and a little tight to get around because of all the trees but we were able to manage in our 45' motorhome," explains a visitor describing their experience navigating to their cabin site.
