Camping near Quechee, Vermont offers access to both the Connecticut River Valley and Green Mountain terrain at elevations ranging from 600 to 3,000+ feet. The camping season typically spans mid-May through October with average summer temperatures between 75-85°F during the day and 50-60°F at night. Many sites feature traditional New England lean-tos that provide protection during occasional summer thunderstorms.
What to do
Paddling the Connecticut River: Wilgus State Park Campground provides direct river access with kayak and canoe rentals. "Kayaking on the river is the big draw, which is a great place to be on a hot day," notes one visitor. The park offers a shuttle service through Great River Outfitters that transports paddlers upstream to Windsor for a downstream return trip.
Mountain biking trails: Mount Ascutney State Park Campground maintains its own mountain biking trail loop accessible directly from the campground. "The mountain biking trails are awesome and the hiking is fantastic!" reports one camper. For more options, the Mount Ascutney Outdoor Center offers a trail network with routes ranging from novice to expert.
Hiking the Appalachian Trail: Gifford Woods State Park Campground has the Appalachian Trail running directly through it. "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," explains a reviewer. The AT also passes near backcountry options like Winturri Shelter for more remote camping.
What campers like
Private, spacious sites: Coolidge State Park Campground receives praise for its site layout. "Private and well kept sites, clean bathrooms, friendly service, gorgeous Mountain View, gave me the real feel of camping outdoors," writes one reviewer. The sites are arranged to maximize privacy in the wooded setting.
Lean-to accommodations: Most state parks in the area feature lean-to shelters which provide increased comfort. At Quechee State Park, "They offer several lean-tos that you can rent," while at Coolidge State Park, one camper recommends, "I stayed at the Basswood lean-to site. Private and well kept sites... will come again!"
Convenient amenities: Quechee-Pine Valley KOA offers amenities for those seeking more conveniences. "This campground is small and quaint and kept in immaculate condition. The staff are so courteous and informative," reports one visitor. Many campers appreciate the firewood delivery service and full hookup availability.
What you should know
Road noise considerations: Several campgrounds have some traffic noise due to their proximity to highways. At Mount Ascutney, "Like many of the other reviews, I cannot give this a 5 star rating solely for the fact of road noise. We were in site 27 and it was a beautiful site but the road noise from interstate 91 was extremely loud."
Bathroom facilities: Most state parks have coin-operated showers. At Silver Lake State Park Campground, "Bathrooms are clean, showers are coin-op but so great and the hot water is plentiful." Expect to pay between $0.25-$1.00 for showers at most state parks.
Cell service variations: Coverage is generally stronger near Quechee and White River Junction, becoming more limited at more remote campgrounds like Coolidge State Park. For reliable service, stay at locations closer to main highways rather than backcountry sites.
Tips for camping with families
Educational programs: Rangers often conduct programs specifically for children. At Quechee State Park, "Rangers also run fun programs for children - my children churned butter and made popcorn over the campfire one night, and made tie dyed T-shirts the next (for no fee)."
Swimming options: Silver Lake State Park Campground offers family-friendly water activities. "The beach is great with a fun dock to jump off of. It is a great lake for kayaking and paddleboarding," notes a visitor. The lake includes a designated swimming area with lifeguards during summer.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. At Wilgus State Park, "We loved walking the trail behind the campsites along the river to the beautiful vista views with a group with young kids, rented kayaks and fished from the boat launch."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Pine Valley KOA, "There is the range of sites from pull-thrus, pull-ins and back-in sites and can accommodate RVs of any size. Some sites are full hookup while others are not and that is reflected in the cost." The campground offers sites with electric, water, and sewer hookups.
Leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. At Gifford Woods, "Site 16 is one of the smaller sites and is not super level, but we were able to get the Subaru backed in and relatively level for camping." Consider bringing additional leveling blocks for state park sites.
RV size limitations: State parks generally accommodate smaller to mid-sized RVs. As one camper at Coolidge State Park noted, "I accidently booked a tent site, and my popup camper and truck almost didn't fit. We will have to go back and get a shelter site." For larger rigs, the Pine Valley KOA provides more suitable options.
