Vermont's lakes, ponds, and mountains around Poultney create a diverse camping landscape at elevations ranging from 500 to 2,000 feet. Campers find moderate summer temperatures between 70-85°F during peak season with cooler evenings in the 50s. The region's mix of state parks and private campgrounds supports both traditional and yurt camping near Poultney, Vermont with varying levels of amenities.
What to do
Paddling opportunities: 15 minutes from Poultney at Half Moon Pond State Park Campground, where the shallow pond is perfect for kayaking from waterfront sites. A camper noted, "We were easily able to go straight from the tent to our kayak, which was so awesome." Another visitor mentioned, "We had a waterfront site so we could launch our kayaks right from our site." Though the pond is weedy, it creates a peaceful paddling environment.
Hiking trails: Several marked paths at Gifford Woods State Park Campground, located about 40 minutes from Poultney. A reviewer shared, "The Appalachian Trail runs right through the park and you can hike up to Deer Leep, around Kent Pond, or to Thundering Falls right from the campground." For more challenging hikes, "Nearby hikes include the Bucklin Trail to the top of Killington, Sherburne Pass to Pico Peak, and Canty Trail to Blue Ridge Mountain."
Swimming options: Public beaches at Lake Bomoseen KOA feature multiple swimming areas. One camper mentioned, "It has three pools. A kiddie pool, a water slide pool and a larger pool that goes from 3 ft to 6 ft." For those seeking natural swimming, Emerald Lake State Park Campground offers "a small, sandy beach at one end of the lake, with a bath house and changing rooms nearby."
What campers like
Well-maintained facilities: Emerald Lake State Park Campground provides clean restrooms and showers. A visitor noted, "The campground is large, with three camping loops. While there are trails down to the lake from the campground, none of the sites are waterfront, or even water view." Despite this, campers appreciate the overall maintenance: "Restrooms are about average for state parks. They were definitely cleaned daily."
Privacy between sites: Moose Hillock Camping Resorts offers well-separated camping spots. A reviewer shared, "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." Another camper confirmed, "Sites are huge. Plenty of room for our RV, and small tent. Private."
Quiet camping environment: Several campgrounds maintain peaceful surroundings. A Half Moon Pond visitor stated, "The park is small, quiet and very well cared for. Everyone seems to adhere to quiet hours so it was easy to get a good night's sleep." At Gifford Woods, a camper noted it's "a smaller campground which is really great" and "very centrally located and takes no time at all to get to Killington and Rutland."
What you should know
Limited connectivity: Lake Bomoseen KOA has poor cell service and internet. A camper warned, "There is NO cell coverage and the Wi-Fi is poor and very slow if you can connect." Another visitor confirmed, "Cell service is very limited. Very remote... the WIFI didn't even work at the office."
Varied site quality: Check campground maps carefully. At Emerald Lake, "Many of them are perched on a steep ledge, making them a bit sketchy for families with kids. If you have little ones, check out the map before you reserve a site and find one on the opposite side of the ledge." At Rogers Rock Campground, "Look carefully at the map when choosing your site. Many of them are near the main road. Sites aren't particularly level or large."
Weather preparation: Vermont's season is short but variable. One visitor to Emerald Lake noted, "Campfire wood was a reasonable price, but all of it was very wet! Fires were a challenge. I'm assuming that this was just a wet season here." For yurt camping near Poultney, Vermont, structures provide protection from unpredictable weather conditions.
Tips for camping with families
Choose kid-friendly sites: At Rogers Rock Campground, families appreciate the beach access. A camper shared, "The day use area has shady spots and grills, nice for the kids." Another noted it's "a great campground with many things to do like hiking, kayaking, swimming, biking and playing on a playground."
Look for organized activities: Some campgrounds offer structured entertainment. At King Phillip's Campground, campers found it "Great for families, we stayed at a tent site right near the playground. Pool, arcade, a short trolley ride to downtown lake George. It was a great stay and the kids loved it."
Consider lean-to or yurt camping: Protection from weather can save family trips. At Emerald Lake, "Leantos at this state park give you protection from the elements - mind you not all sites have a leanto. (The kids also enjoyed the view from the top of the leanto but I cannot officially recommend that. : P)" This same benefit applies to yurt camping around Poultney, Vermont, which provides more weather protection than tents.
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: Lake George Escape Campground has varied site sizes. One RVer noted, "Our site was fine and large enough to accommodate our RV and tow car but some campsites were pretty small and would not fit large RVs. Roads in the park are confusing because none are parallel or perpendicular so we had to go slow just to make sure we didn't miss a turn in the RV."
Hookup variations: Check what's available at your specific site. At Moose Hillock, "There is a cable hook-up at each site. I was able to use my roof-mounted satellite dish and get reception but that would not be true for all sites." Some locations like Half Moon Pond don't offer electric hookups for RVs, while others provide full service connections.
Level sites are limited: Prepare with leveling blocks. A visitor to Rogers Rock noted, "Sites aren't particularly level or large." Another camper at King Phillip's warned, "Some have room, privacy, and trees. Others are close together, and out in the open. Getting the right site here is key."
