RV camping near North Hero, Vermont offers access to Lake Champlain's 120-mile shoreline with seasonal availability concentrated between May and mid-October. Most campgrounds in the Champlain Islands region sit at elevations between 95-110 feet above sea level, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping months.
What to do
Explore Lake Champlain: Iroquois Campground & RV Park features a pond for recreation and proximity to the lake. As one camper noted, "Nice campground near Plattsburgh. Staff very friendly, under new ownership, lots of seasonal sites and folks, fun activities, campers friendly and welcoming, roadway a little rough but overall ok, nice large pond, reasonable price."
Golfing options: Apple Island Resort provides a 9-hole par-3 golf course with putting green. According to visitors: "My husband enjoyed his time at the golf course" and "They have a par 3 golf course with putting green."
Visit nearby attractions: The region offers easy access to breweries, wineries, and local markets. A camper at Apple Island mentioned, "Close to the campground are a winery, brewery, plenty of restaurants (we loved Wally's for bagel sandwiches), and a small grocery that has everything (including liquor) you might need (Keeler's Mkt.) South Hero and Grand Isle have nice farmers markets with a good selection of items."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Lone Pine Campsites offers particularly large camping spots. "The sites are absolutely the biggest I've ever seen. The kids have a soccer field out in front of us to play in," shared one enthusiastic camper.
Fall foliage views: The Champlain Islands provide spectacular autumn colors. A visitor noted, "Visit this campground in the fall and experience quintessential Vermont in all its glory. The campground is nice. The people are friendly."
Community atmosphere: Smugglers Notch RV Village creates a welcoming environment for seasonal and short-term campers. "Will is a wonderful host and owner of this hidden gem. We happened upon it when we were looking for a new place to relax. And relax we did," reported one camper.
What you should know
Site leveling challenges: Some campsites require substantial effort to level RVs. According to a visitor at Apple Island: "The hook-ups at our site (11AD) were well-placed but the sewer pipe was high off the ground which did not let it drain even with a 'slinky.'"
Off-season limitations: Most campgrounds reduce services after Labor Day despite remaining open through October. After early September, some facilities like pools may close or have restricted hours.
Varied site layouts: Plattsburgh RV Park and others often arrange sites differently than traditional campgrounds. "This Park was very nice, it has a real homey feel with mini golf, community hall, and pool. Most of the sites seemed seasonal, I am unsure if there were any overnight sites."
Tips for camping with families
Recreation amenities: Campgrounds provide different options for children. At Lone Pine Campsites, "Besides the playground and the pool, the campground also had a basic mini golf course, a game room, and rental go-carts."
Swimming options: Pool facilities vary between campgrounds. "There is a nice pool with plenty of chairs and umbrellas. The pool opens at 9am for adult lap swims for an hour which we took advantage of daily."
Day trips with kids: The region offers numerous family-friendly excursions. "While we stayed here we took the short drive into Burlington, drove our bikes to the lake bike path, and visited the Ben and Jerry's plant (highly recommended)."
Tips from RVers
Hookup configurations: Note that some campgrounds position utilities differently than expected. "One thing is that their hook ups are on the passenger side. You have to pull straight in with the truck and camper. This is because a lot of class A prefer this way, not sure."
View considerations: Shady Oaks Camping Resort and other parks have different site types with varying views. "No tents allowed. There was not many people around, everything looked clean. The families in the seasonal sites were very friendly. There is also a small pool, play ground and a picnic table and hook ups from the sites. Overnight sites are grassy with fire rings."
Wi-Fi reliability: Internet access varies significantly between campgrounds and can affect work-from-camp plans. One camper reported: "Wifi at campsite was inconsistent and unreliable. Had to work from rec center and pool which was ok but not what we were told."
