Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Readsboro, VT

My first visit to New York state was amazing, largely in part due to my campsite at the Woodland Hills campground. I had a back in site and was having problems with my camper, and they were able to change to a pull through at time of check in. However, it was in early May and before the summer crowds. The pond has a fountain which sounds like a small waterfall at night, and wildflowers were in bloom. Very nice bathrooms and showers, and my dog loved the dog park.

This was my very first trip in an rv so I was a little nervous but overall everything went very smoothly. All of the sites are pull through so no worries about backing in. They are pretty close together but we went so early in the season we didn’t have anyone on either side of us - in fact I think we were the only people there that weren’t seasonal. We didn’t have a ton of interactions with the other campers beyond a smile and nod but no one was outright unfriendly. At the office/store the employees were very nice and helpful. The public bathrooms were very clean but the toilets didn’t flush very well in the 2 different bathrooms we went to. The pools looked nice but they weren’t open yet because it was still cold. There was a nice little dog park fenced in area for my dog to run around in. The kids/teens were typical kids/teens and did get a little rowdy/noisy but it wasn’t anything excessive and quiet hours seemed to be well respected. Overall I’d stay again.

Easy access site, riverside electric 30A and water. Nice people. Great for pets. They have pet poo drop boxes and bags. Super clean bathrooms. The sites are not very private, but spacing is decent. Getting there you have to follow directions on their website to avoid the two low covered bridges. u.s. cellular coverage 3 bars.

Nicely treed sites and cabins with a pretty lake. Hiking, biking, swimming, boat/canoe/paddleboard rentals. No hookups but does have dump station. Pets allowed. We really like it here

We camped here with our dog on a tent site in camping area B. I really appreciated the VT state parks interactive campground map, which allowed us to see the sites from home and choose the one that would suit us best.

The site was large and clean, and relatively quiet even though it was a holiday weekend. Hiking trails are steep, so prepare for a good workout. We were a little confused about the No Dogs signs on the hiking trails, because it contradicted the pet policy on the park map that the ranger gave us. But we were glad to have an out of the way spot to launch our kayaks and take our dog for a boat ride.

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. Restrooms are about average for state parks. They were definitely cleaned daily. Don't forget to bring quarters for the shower.

Overall it was a great weekend, and we can't wait return!

Site was clean, easy to get in/out with 21' travel trailer. Swimming at the beach wasn't inviting. Lots of seasonal campers with years of lawn ornaments. There was a sense of the campground being clicky place. Pet friendly. Mixed emotions....

Camped here Labor Day Weekend in our 40 ft 5th wheel. We had a pull thru site. 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. Pet friendly, and we met a lot of nice folks. We will definitely be back!

Monadnock State Park is a beautiful hiking adventure for families, beginners, and anyone looking for a fun weekend trip with amazing views. There are several lookouts on the journey to the summit, and the view from the top is amazing. This was my first benchmark and the adventure inspired me to go explore and collect more!

P.S. There are no pets allowed in Monadnock State Park.

This tops our list for camping in Vermont. There is so much to do here, and yet the campground feels very private and quiet. There are 41 tent/RV sites to choose from and 18 lean-tos. Some of the lean-tos are situated right on the West River, but they are well-loved and coveted so we've never actually stayed in one.

For our July trip, we stayed in the Juniper lean-to, which is incredibly quiet and near the overlook hiking trail. The park is small enough to walk to the swimming area from your campsite, as well as into town. Note that you will not get cell service here, but if you walk into the village of Jamaica, you will find Wi-Fi hotspots at the library or the grocery store. 

Here are all the awesome things to do in Jamaica State Park:

1. Learn about the first peoples who lived here: The area along the West River was an important trade route for the Abenaki tribe. Throughout the park, there are interpretive signs with lots of information about the Abenaki, as well as the archaeological dig that was conducted here in 2010.

2. Cool off in the West River: The main swimming area is at Salmon Hole, right in the campground, but you can swim anywhere in the West River. It's awesome!

3. Ride your bike to the Ball Mountain Dam: There's a bike trail that leads from the campground all the way to the federally-owned Ball Mountain Dam, which provides great views of Ball Mountain Lake and the surrounding mountains. It's a 5-mile ride from the campground, round-trip.

4. Learn about Jamaica's railroad history: It's crazy that the rail trail was really a railroad at the turn of the century. It's a narrow, mountainous route. As you ride along the trail, stop and read the signs. No wonder it was called 36 miles of trouble!

5. Hike the Overlook Trail: It's a 2.5-mile loop that brings you up on a ridge with great views.

6. Hike to Hamilton Falls: It's actually easier to bike part of the way on the rail trail and then hike the 1.1 miles to the falls. Otherwise, it's a 6-mile hike round-trip. Hamilton falls is 125 feet tall, and one of the loveliest waterfalls in Vermont.

7. Walk into the village of Jamaica for donuts: Seriously! Head to D&K Grocery for the best donuts ever, or stock up on camping provisions.

What a fun place to stay! The sites are spaced apart nicely and well maintained. There is electric at most sites with water near the ends and there is a tent area with nothing. Also each site had large fire pits and picnic tables!! Large well maintained bathrooms are provided in the middle of each campground circle. They have recycling there and a large selection of books for you to use also! I told you this is a fun place. All the staff was very helpful, and courteous! Nicole at the front gate was very professional as were the others we encountered throughout our stay! The trails were fun to mountain bike ride on and hike! Just watch out on the weekends as there may be horses on the trail and leave their droppings behind "on" the trail.(Why do the owners not clean up after them, dog owners manage their pets!) We kayaked up and down the Schodack Creek, just watch out for the tide changes. It moves about 5' difference most days. It was fun. Lots of birds, turtles and some fish jumping! We watched the boats, some barges, go up and down the Hudson River as well as people fishing along the banks. Grocery store(Hannaford's) is just SE of there about 8 miles or you can go to Albany(17 miles). Laundry(Nine Juliet Laundromat) is in Castleton just N of there.. 3 miles.. very nice, clean and friendly owner! Go have fun and enjoy yourself!.(Oh, we were out-of-staters so we paid an extra fee but it was well worth it!)

The road to our campsite was paved and in good shape but there were a few tight spots because of the trees that make it tricky for a big rig (Loop A seems to be the best for big-rigs). Great thing about this park is the hiking trails and lake so you don’t even have to leave to the park to enjoy great outdoor recreation. We found it enjoyable just to hang out in the park rather than trying to find things to do in the area. After hiking and paddling, we loved relaxing out at our campsite with a campfire. 

Our campsite was spacious but required some maneuvering to avoid scraping trees with our RV. Campsites are spacious, shady, and had good separation between the neighboring sites which we enjoyed. Generators are allowed but not too many people were using them. The few other campers around that used them were mindful of quiet hours. Since it was still a little cool and our windows were closed and we never heard anyone’s generator. The park was not very crowded when we were there, but we can imagine it could get very busy and noisy in the busy summer season. The beach area seems to be a draw for people so the summer camping season is probably packed. The snack bar and gift/supplies shop at the sandy beach area were not open as we were there late in the season. There is also a nice playground for kids to enjoy. 

This is dry camping so there are no hook-ups but there are restrooms and shower. Both were clean but the shower fluctuated between lukewarm, hot, and warm during my shower. Oh well, the shower felt good after our active days. There are two pavilions you can rent which are nice if big groups want to gather. Take note that only two pets are allowed per campsite, so plan accordingly if you are a pet owner. 

Access is fairly easy, just off I-87, and there are plenty of signs directing you which way to go. Saratoga Springs and Lake George are nearby if you want to explore. We recommend visiting the National Horse Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, if you have time. We would definitely stay here again.

Foolhardy Hill is the nicest facility that I have ever "Camped". I used quotes, because this is NOT a "roughing it" Campground. Katie and Biddy, the host/owners, are the nicest and most accommodating. This "off the grid" place is convenient, comfortable, spotless clean and I would HIGHLY recommend a stay. I would also recommend renting the entire facility for a family reunion, off site business meeting, fishing club meeting, or just a place to meet up with a bunch of old friends... The bathrooms are clean and the showers are HOT. The pavilion provides a meeting place for groups to maybe discuss the day's catch, the one that got away, or just to meet new friends. The pavilion also has everything you will need for grilling, flat top cooking and 2+ gas burners. 

I was here for fishing. Foolhardy is located centrally for the best the Deerfield River has to offer. 

Pets welcome, but leave the little ones at home (unless renting the entire facility). 

If I have to leave just ONE negative comment; after the shower, the mirror above the sink was VERY fogged! (Did i mention, the showers are HOT!) :-D

Vermont to begin with is beautiful.

Getting into a national park to begin with is usually a fee, and then camping is a separate fee.

You can stay in the National Green Mountain forest for only TEN DOLLARS A NIGHT.

Its not the biggest campground, but it’s never been too busy. Plus it’s only ten dollars!! I’ve always just filled it a slip and left my money in a box, so it’s present relaxed and based on a trust system.

Dog friendly, and around a decent pond for swimming. It’s also close to other locations in Vermont for hiking/swimming.

We have camped at Woodford State Park in the summer and fall. It's a small park, but it never feels crowded. Most park activities are based around a small, 25-acre lake. You can rent canoes or kayaks, fish for trout, or hike the loop trail around the lake. Here's what we love most about camping here:

1)It's the highest elevation campground in Vermont, which means that when the temperatures soar in the valleys, you can come here for a noticeable temperature difference.

2. It's one of the most dog-friendly state parks. Dogs are allowed everywhere except three of the camping cabins.

3. The fall foliage is unreal!

There are great waterfront sites, cabins if it's too cold to tent, and the bathrooms are modern and clean.

Stayed 3 nights with 2 buddies.  We had 2 tents set up on the ground (2 man and 6 man capacity tents) and a third specialty tent in the bed my buddy's pick-up truck.  Plenty of room for a pop-up canopy over the picnic table and my car with its own attached awning.  We had a third car parked just off the roadway and we were never asked to move it to the parking area since there is usually a 2 car limit (my friend is lazy like that).

Weather was warm, so we were mostly trying our best to stay cool.  Unfortunately, I did not take full advantage of the park's amenities.  I did some light biking, walking around and mostly relaxing at the campsite.  The electricity and running water work 100%, the campsite was cleared and clean.  The picnic table was very new and stable.  Ice and firewood were delivered at our request at a decent price.  best of all, this campsite had the cleanest bathrooms and shower facilities of any place I have ever been.  Only one of my friends had trouble with his shower as the water stopped running and he could not completely rinse off.  There must have been some momentary problem with the plumbing.  I know it was fixed quickly and everything was running once again.

Not a lot of tents, mostly RV's.  All my neighbors were quiet and in bed around 9p.  Unfortunately, my group of three like to stay up late so I hope our talking didn't interfere with our neighbor's ability to sleep.  No one complained, so I am assuming we kept it down low enough. Pet friendly, though we didn't bring ours.

I recommend this place for families, though the age group observed there were mostly late 30's, 40's and 50's.  Not too many kids.  Many "exotic" birds (for a Brooklyn boy, anything that is not a pigeon or sparrow is exotic).  We had frequent visits from Gray Catbirds, and I saw a glimpse of a Bald Eagle through the treeline.  Didn't spot any turtles, though I hear they are there if you go looking.

I plan to return to this campsite, and likely very soon. I had a great time and it was nice not having a park ranger sniffing around every 2-3 hours like I have experienced in other parks and campsites.

Campground facilities are very clean.  Only 1 shower station which isn't always convenient. Staff is great. Something for everyone to enjoy. Wish all fellow campers with dogs would leash them at all times per the campground rules, and clean up after their dog(s).   Very family friendly. Most fellow campers respect the quiet hours, and each other.  This is our go to campground.

Super easy hike, will take a few hours! A great little campground like all state parks around! I'd recommend it, downside, no dogs allowed

This pandemic has thrown us all for a loop, so some things just aren't accessible right now. Office is closed, store is closed. We were kindly brought to our site by Carole, she was a huge help getting all booked up for out site. Pool is open, and it's a beautiful one!! River front sites like the one we were on was perfect for the dogs and kids, myself included. I drank my coffee in the river and read my book while dogs and kids played. Caught crawfish fish for fun, the boys didn't have luck fishing. Our neighbors to the right were really great, we wouldn't mind at all if we camped next to them again. The folks across from us had a daughter my daughter's age. They made fast friends and enjoyed riding their bikes. Lots of seasonal sites but people seem to be quite friendly, lots of golf carts, and bicycles. We will for sure be back, hopefully again this season!!