Campgrounds near Reading, Vermont are nestled within the scenic Green Mountains, providing a mix of state park and private camping options. Several established campgrounds in this area, including Coolidge State Park and Mount Ascutney State Park, offer accommodations ranging from tent sites to lean-tos and cabins. Camp Plymouth State Park features both tent sites and cabins along Echo Lake, while Crown Point Camping Area provides water access with both RV and tent options. The developed campgrounds typically include amenities such as drinking water, toilets, and fire rings, with many offering picnic tables and showers.
Most campgrounds in the Reading area operate seasonally, typically from May through mid-October, with many closing after Columbus Day weekend. Reservations are recommended, particularly for prime sites with mountain views. "Coolidge is off the beaten path but well worth the wander! There are no water sites, it's on the side of a heavily wooded mountain with a few sites having amazing views," noted one visitor. Mount Ascutney State Park features multiple hiking trails of varying difficulty levels, while some campgrounds provide mountain biking access directly from campsites. Winter weather conditions often make camping impractical during colder months, and spring can bring muddy conditions that affect accessibility, particularly at higher elevations.
Campers consistently praise the views from elevated sites at Coolidge State Park, where prime lean-to sites overlook the Green Mountains. These scenic spots tend to book quickly, especially during fall foliage season. One review described Mount Ascutney State Park as having "quiet and peaceful" sites with "amazing views" from the mountain summit. The region's mixed-use campgrounds balance natural settings with convenient amenities like showers and firewood availability. Road noise can be an issue at some locations, particularly at Mount Ascutney State Park where proximity to Interstate 91 affects some sites. Most camping areas feature well-maintained facilities with clean bathrooms and showers, though many require quarters for hot water.
$38 / night
"The Quechee Gorge, best accessed from the back of the lawn behind the bathhouse, is the deepest in Vermont.. which is kind of like saying the best bagel or most populous city in Vermont."
"Got there close to the time the rangers left for the night, Nick was really kind to make sure I got situated before he left."
"This place gets my vote for best campground in Vermont. Especially true if you're lucky enough to get one of the few sites on the outside of A loop that has a Lean-to with a view."
"We decided to check out Coolidge State Park after reading the reviews on their website. They have some of the most amazing views right from your campsite."
"The state park had everything we were looking for: close proximity to mountain bike trails, beautiful hiking trails, available leantos, and less than two hours from our home."
"Vermont parks are just some the most lush you’ve ever seen."
"Easy to drive into the campground and into the site. We had no issues at all. Hosts were very friendly and helpful. Campground was very clean and well manicured."
"Decent bathroom situation--I've seen better and I've seen worse in Vermont."
"The park is amazingly clean, well run, located just of RT 4 and very near to Killington, Vermont. It has multiple lean-to sites which are in wooded areas."
$20 - $30 / night
"Wilgus State Park is the first Vermont state park to open each spring, well before Memorial Day each year."
"Wilgus state park has amazing campsites, very friendly staff, and great access to the Connecticut River. This campground was beautiful and very quiet even though it was full."
"Nice rustic ,small all amenities park.Great place to explore Vermont ,hundreds of things to do and see in the area. Really like this park."
"While staying here I could enjoy some fishing, taking the dog for a nice walk, enjoy the evening with a nice fire, camp side, and go swimming on those hot summer days."
"From there we were able to access the small boat access and kayak beautiful Echo Lake. This Park has a huge beach and picnic area with a snack bar and boat rentals."
"This is a great campground set in a thick pine forest near a large pond. They have a lagoon for swimming and a children's playground. Hiking trails nearby. Canoes for rent."
"They have scheduled events that occur including family and adult only fire truck rides around the campground."
$26 - $36 / night
"While searching online we learned that Vermont state parks do not have hook ups. We are a family of five with a pop up pull behind and the Glamping lifestyle is a little bit easier on us these days ."
"There are a few trails around the campground and it is close to Mt Ascutney which if you are feeling a bit lazy there is an auto rd that goes about 3/4 of the way up. 3 mi."
GuideRight along the road (so if anything happens you can get help) also has wifi signal. It’s right along a creek that’s clean and beautiful. Crisp air and calming flowing river noises all night made it so I slept like a baby!
ScoutPublic Lands with about 8 semi private sites, each with nice views west or easterly. It's a large meadow and with a breeze, it will keep bugs away. Lacking a breeze, it is tough but still beautiful
TravelerI have stayed at several of the waterfront tent and lean-to camp sites. It’s a nice organized place but can get pretty noisy when larger groups take over the loop c spots. There’s an open grassy field near the water at that end of the campground and it doesn’t take much to make a disturbance as sound carries over the water to loop b and a. Several people ignore the no dogs on the beach rule too. Those issues aside it’s a nice accessible campground with quiet water for kayakers like me. Generally I find the flies and mosquitoes are less of a problem once the dragon flies arrive.
ScoutDEC has designated and constructed 12 camp sites in areas around Shelving Rock Road and Dacy Clearing Road. Camping will only be allowed at the designated campsites or more than 500 feet from the Shelving Rock and Dacy Clearing Roads.
ScoutAs noted by others, most of the sites have a fire ring and nothing more. A little more than half of the sites can be driven to and others require a very short walk (50 ft?). The toilets mentioned are at Texas falls area and are not a practical walk from most of the campsites.
There are no showers.
Aside from the loop trail at the falls there are also a couple of snowmobile trails that cross the area.
ScoutOxbow Campground in Deering has a helpful and friendly staff. The bathrooms are kept clean although should be updated.
The campsites are spacious, trash picked up and very quiet at night promoting a good night's sleep.
They sell their own fire wood, an employee who services campers is also available.
They have a propane fill station for your convenience too!
Dogs must be kept on leashes for safety.
Owners live right there within the park.and take pride in their facility.
A nice family owned and run park promoting peacefulness.
RangerStayed here for a week. Josh and Dori were super nice and helpful. Level grass field with water and 30amp hookup. Fire pit port o potty, creek across the street. Very pretty setting. Dark sky area. Cell att and Verizon we decent enough to work plus they had WiFi if needed.
RangerOur favorite campground in the area is Winhall Brook, but it has been closed for about 3 years since the flooding in VT. Hapgood Pond is a good alternative. It is a little more primitive with pit toilets in most of the campground except the bath house. We appreciate the pond for swimming and the nice easy pond loop trail for hiking. Hapgood is in close proximity to Manchester and near the Appalachian Trail.
GuideWent to test out a new coody tent. Arrived on Saturday morning 3/28/26. Found an abandoned camper onsite. Not bad area, but can tell as soon as summer gets here, it will turn into a party camp ground. (not for me)
Camping spots near Reading, Vermont range in elevation from 600 to 2,000 feet across the region's varied terrain. Winter closure typically begins after Columbus Day weekend, with many campgrounds reopening in early May when snow melt has subsided. Sites along ridgelines experience temperature drops of 10-15°F compared to valley locations, creating microclimates that affect camping conditions throughout the season.
Hiking at Gifford Woods: Access the Appalachian Trail directly from Gifford Woods State Park Campground, where camping puts you steps from multiple trail options. "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," notes one visitor. Nearby hikes include trails to Killington and Pico peaks.
River paddling: Camp at Wilgus State Park Campground for direct Connecticut River access. "We rented kayaks and fished from the boat launch," shares a camper. The river current is gentle enough for upstream paddling, with shuttle services available from Great River Outfitters on select days.
Mountain biking: Camp at Mount Ascutney and access both beginner-friendly and challenging trails. "The state park maintains its own mountain biking trail loop, which is accessible directly from the campground. It is a 3 mile beginner friendly loop, with some nice rollers and moderate terrain," reports one visitor who explored the network.
Lean-to sites: Coolidge State Park Campground offers sturdy lean-tos that provide protection from weather. "I highly recommend the lean-to's. The bathrooms were clean and the coin-operated showers were great. Each site was neatly maintained," writes one camper. Lean-tos are equipped with brooms for sweeping out debris.
Private, wooded sites: Mount Ascutney State Park Campground provides secluded camping among trees. "Due to the spacing between sites, and all the trees, it was quiet and peaceful. The campground couldn't have been more than a third full, but I bet it would still be quiet if it were more populated," notes a visitor who appreciated the privacy.
Clean facilities: Many campers note the well-maintained bathhouses. "Might be the nicest bathrooms I've seen in decades of camping," says a visitor to Quechee State Park. Showers typically require quarters, with rates around $1 for 10 minutes at most locations.
Road noise concerns: Some campgrounds experience traffic sounds. "The road nearby is noisy. Because of its location, you can hear both the local highway and I91. If being in the quiet wilderness is important to you, than this campground might not work out," warns a camper about Tree Farm Campground.
Weather variability: Spring conditions often include mud and cooler temperatures, especially at higher elevations. "We had a great hike and lunch at top of mountain. Climbed weather tower and was an awesome experience," notes a visitor to Mount Ascutney, but conditions change rapidly.
Limited hookups: Quechee State Park Campground and most state parks don't offer electric hookups. "No Electric or hookups," confirms a reviewer, though dump stations are available at many locations. Expect rustic accommodations at state parks.
Swimming options: Crown Point Camping Area provides family-friendly water access. "They have a lagoon for kids, with built-in water rafts in the middle for kids to jump in," reports one visitor. Most swimming areas lack lifeguards, so supervision is necessary.
Ranger programs: Several parks offer educational activities led by staff. "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)," shares a parent who camped at Quechee State Park.
Field space for play: Look for campgrounds with open areas. At Coolidge State Park, one site has "direct access down a path to a large recreation field that included a volleyball net. Our children and their friends loved biking around the field and exploring it while waiting for meals," notes a family.
Size restrictions: Many state parks have limited capacity for large rigs. "You have to go down a small hill and bottom out the front and then drag the backend out of the dirt. This campground is not big rig friendly," warns a camper about Caton Place Campground.
Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at some sites. "The RCA on the sites probably could have spread out better and made more level. Also tough to drive a stake into," mentions a visitor to Quechee State Park regarding site conditions.
Full-hookup options: For those needing connections, Quechee-Pine Valley KOA offers more amenities than state parks. "The park is a large park that is terraced since it is in a pretty hilly area. 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," explains an RVer who stayed for five nights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Reading, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, Reading, VT offers a wide range of camping options, with 197 campgrounds and RV parks near Reading, VT and 30 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Reading, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Reading, VT is Quechee State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 24 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Reading, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 30 free dispersed camping spots near Reading, VT.
What parks are near Reading, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Reading, VT that allow camping, notably North Hartland Lake and Green Mountain National Forest.
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