The Green Mountain National Forest surrounds North Bennington, Vermont, providing a range of camping environments from developed campgrounds to remote dispersed sites. Woodford State Park Campground, situated at the highest elevation of all Vermont state parks, offers tent sites, RV spots, and cabins around Adams Reservoir. Camping On The Battenkill provides riverside sites with full hookups, while dispersed camping options exist at George D Aiken Wilderness and along Forest Road 273. Several campgrounds in the area feature waterfront access, picnic tables, and fire rings, with varying levels of amenities from primitive to full-service.
Camping season in southern Vermont typically runs from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October, with most state parks and private campgrounds closing for winter. Many campgrounds require reservations, especially for weekend stays during peak summer months and fall foliage season. The region's higher elevations can experience cooler temperatures even in summer, with Woodford State Park being notably cooler than surrounding valleys. Forest roads accessing dispersed camping areas may require high-clearance vehicles, particularly after rain. Cell service is limited in mountainous areas, especially in wilderness zones. According to one visitor, "Woodford State Park is situated between Wilmington and Bennington in the southern part of the Green Mountain National Forest. The park surrounds the Adams Reservoir and happens to be the highest elevation of all the Vermont state campgrounds."
Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors, with sites along rivers and lakes being particularly sought after. Campers report that Woodford State Park offers "clean, quiet, relaxing great water views" with sites that are "nice and private." The Battenkill River provides popular swimming and fishing opportunities, with several campgrounds offering direct river access. Dispersed camping in the George D Aiken Wilderness offers more solitude but fewer amenities. Many campers appreciate the proximity to hiking trails, with several mentioning the trail around Adams Reservoir at Woodford and access to the Green Mountain trails. The region's fall foliage season draws significant crowds, with one reviewer noting that "the fall foliage is unreal" at Woodford State Park. Winter camping options are extremely limited, with most facilities closing after Columbus Day weekend.
"Woodford State Park is situated between Wilmington and Bennington VT in the southern part of the Green Mountain National Forest."
"The views on some of the sites to the lake are beautiful. the grounds and facilities are well kept. and you are close to both Bennington and Wilmington. a great spot to camp at in Southern Vermont!"
$45 - $57 / night
"Our first time in Vermont and we picked an awesome campground. This place has a great layout with lots of great sites to choose from. There are several sites right on the river!
Clean bath houses."
"Site 16 had a path to the river and was slightly tucked away. Sites 13 and 14 were cool spots too, I’d imagine in the summer you may have less privacy because it’s near the swimming area."
"A LOT of bugs due to dense wooded surroundings. The bugs seems to be unbothered by the bug spray as well."
"The entrance to the road had a sign that said “road closed ahead”. We chanced it and was able to find a really nice open spot right before the road closure. Was a great spot!"
$41 - $57 / night
"Great little campground close to Albany. We needed a place to stop for the night but could have stayed all weekend. There is a small pond that is fun to fish and swim in."
"It is a really cute little campground with a pond and surrounded by small mountains/hills covered in trees. We had a full hookup site and everything worked well."
"We stopped on our way through to Stowe Vermont."
"The camp spots were all pretty spread out from each other and the road was easy to drive on. There were only about 10 spots along the access road."
"There are two lakes and another nearby. It is close to many hiking trails. We arrived an hour after the water was turned off due to freezing temps."
"Absolutely beautiful campsites near water, good facilities and a cozy lodge space."
"Great location near Somerset Reservoir. Weekend was interrupted by a domestic violence situation a few sites downbeat resulted in fights and someone shooting off a handgun."
"Some sites have access to a stream that flows behind the park. The real attraction is the huge Somerset Resevoir which is up the road."
$20 - $30 / night
"Dolores had great communication with us, and we should have followed her written email instructions rather than rely upon the Get Directions link on The Dyrt which took us to the wrong location."
"Krawczyk Farm has all the hookups for a relaxing stay in your RV, make sure to check out the Robert Frost House Museum close by to connect to one of the most famous poets in New England! "
$17 - $55 / night
"Nestled in the Berkshires and basically walking distance to Vermont, Clarksburg State Park provides a comfortable and semi-private tent site."
"Our site was right next to another with little in between and our neighbors had a big rig and ran the generator long chunks of the day."
GuideMade the trip on a Friday evening. Set up in freezing drizzle. Not a bad weekend all things considered. Lots of snowmobile traffic, which didn’t bother me. Saturday was the best day by far. Was only one other couple that weekend. Bathrooms were open, but very basic and no water. But grateful nonetheless.
GuideI stayed at the camp for about 2 months while working up in NH. And it was wonderful big pool and playground for the kids. Plenty of trails close to everything you need. Full hookup site was awesome
TravelerI’m writing this mid-October from western MA. In between homes and looked forward to staying another night, but can not because of a 12 hour advance policy. There were plenty of tent sites available last night. Not a happy camper.
ScoutWe enjoyed our stay with Gus very much. With the email to confirm our stay, there were excellent directions to get there. It is behind his home by a lake with creek nearby. There is also a hiking trail. We had no problems. If we are in the area again, we would camp here again. Thanks
ScoutThis was our second stay at this Vermont State Park. It was a great three days. The park rangers were tremendous in ensuring we had a delightful visit. They worked with us to get the right site. The bathroom facilities, while rustic, were clean. There is a plethora of things to do in the park itself and in the local community. Nonetheless, it starts and ends with the management of the campground. Lauren, the campground manager, and her team of professionals, do a great job. We will definitely return.
GuideWe stayed for 3 days off season so not busy. Sites located along the river are wooded, field sites are very open great for seeing the stars at night. Sites have fire rings with excellent airflow for good burning with low smoke. Hook ups are in great condition for power, water, sewer. Showers and bath house on site. Laundry and game room at office area. Office staff was very helpful and they’re open later into the day til 7 PM. Good firewood and large bundle delivered for $15 to your site. We passed over this site on our first trip to the area but are glad we came here and we’re planning to return. Follow the website directions to get here as there are covered bridges in the area with low Clearance and low weight limits.
GuideTons of different styles of camping spots (if you get there while its still sunlight you can pick a spot by a flowing stream/river). No public bathrooms, no hookups, I personally didn’t have service.
ScoutGreat camping site. The road into the site was pretty rough.
GuideWe spent another great weekend at the Ashuelot River Campground. We recently purchased a new-to-us camper and wanted to get in a trip or two before putting it away for the winter. This was our 2nd visit to Ashuelot.
We were in site 59, a pull-through with water and 30/50 amp service. The site was level and easy to get into and park. We were in a fully wooded area on the left side of the campground, which we prefer. They have sites located in fully open areas, as well as some that are partially wooded and have river access. There is a nice mix.
Having good weather, we took a lazy tube ride from one side of the campground to the other. It has been quite dry in the area, so they are experiencing a drought. However, a little rain in the week got the river moving a bit. We were able to enjoy a nice, slow drift around the campground.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time again and will definitely be back.
The southern Green Mountains provide multiple camping spots near North Bennington, Vermont where elevation changes create distinct microclimates. Temperatures can vary by 10-15 degrees between valley locations and higher elevation sites like Somerset Airfield. Most dispersed camping areas require high-clearance vehicles, especially after spring thaw when forest roads remain muddy into June.
Kayak on Somerset Reservoir: The reservoir near Somerset Airfield offers paddling opportunities in a quiet setting. "The reservoir is beautiful- plenty of space to spread out for paddling and swimming," notes one visitor who enjoyed both water activities.
Trout fishing: Fish the Battenkill River at Camping On The Battenkill where riverside sites provide easy access. According to a camper who visits regularly: "We camp here every June, and we love being close to the river. We sleep in tents so the sound of the river puts you to sleep at night."
Hiking the AT and Long Trail: Access these famous trails from several nearby campgrounds. One visitor at Woodford State Park noted they appreciated the "access to nearby hiking including the AT and LT. Clean lodge (hostel) for hikers; access to a kitchen and showers as well."
Family-friendly atmosphere: Pine Hollow Campground offers activities centered around its fishing pond. A visitor shared: "Great little campground close to Albany. We needed a place to stop for the night but could have stayed all weekend. There is a small pond that is fun to fish and swim in."
Wildlife encounters: The region's forests provide opportunities to hear and see wildlife. At Woodford State Park, a camper reported: "We heard coyotes at night and loons in the morning. We're going back later this summer for a longer stay."
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain well-kept restrooms and shower facilities. A visitor to Clarksburg State Park mentioned: "Bathrooms and showers were clean, some campsites have a nice view of the pond. Trails that surround the pond make for a nice hike."
Varied site privacy levels: Site selection significantly impacts camping experience. At Clarksburg State Park, a camper advised: "The campsites could be a little more private, they were very close and not much in between them."
Limited cell coverage: Most camping areas have spotty reception. A camper at George D Aiken Wilderness noted: "No garbage service, no water, no cell service. Basically a camp site where you can share a fire with the neighbors."
Weather considerations: The region's weather can change rapidly. One winter camper at Somerset Airfield described extreme conditions: "We endured snow and mid 20s Friday night with 8" of fresh snow to wake up Saturday... Saturday evening, we had 3" more by 11pm. Then temperatures plummeted to 8° with a windchill of -3."
Kid-friendly campgrounds: Select camps designed for children. At Woodford State Park, one parent shared: "Perfect for families! There are tons of different types of campsites with either tent spots, lean-tos, and a few (hard to get) cabins. Bathrooms are plentiful and clean, hot showers for a small price."
Swimming options: Look for campgrounds with swimming areas. A visitor to Pine Hollow mentioned: "The sites are all set up around the pond. We put our trailer sideways and faced the pond. It was very lovely with a great breeze."
Rowdy holiday periods: Holiday weekends attract crowds and noise. At Somerset Airfield, a camper reported: "A neighbor said it was rowdy during the holiday with illegal fireworks set off every night over the dry forest."
Site access challenges: Some campgrounds have limited maneuverability for larger rigs. A visitor to Greenwood Lodge & Campsites shared: "From gorgeous tent sites to a class A pull-through, this place has it all. We stayed a week in July Sun-Friday."
Seasonal hookups: Water systems at many campgrounds shut down during freezing temperatures. One RVer at Greenwood Lodge noted: "We arrived an hour after the water was turned off due to freezing temps. We were allowed to fill the fresh tank from the lodge."
Site drainage issues: Heavy rain can affect camping spots. A visitor to Clarksburg State Park warned: "Our site (#6) was on a slope, and there was the telltale sign of stormwater runoff tracks running through the middle. We pitched our tents to the left and the right, which worked out well because the next day we had a stream running through our site."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near North Bennington, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, North Bennington, VT offers a wide range of camping options, with 181 campgrounds and RV parks near North Bennington, VT and 20 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near North Bennington, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near North Bennington, VT is Woodford State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 23 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near North Bennington, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 free dispersed camping spots near North Bennington, VT.
Keep Exploring
