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Little River State Park Campground welcomes pets at all 70 tent/RV sites and 20 lean-to sites on Waterbury Reservoir, a 30-minute drive from Richmond. Smugglers Notch State Park Campground, Mount Philo State Park, and North Beach Campground also permit dogs throughout their facilities. Most sites require pets to remain on leash at all times and limit the number of animals per campsite. Trails within these parks offer dogs ample hiking opportunities, though the historical Dalley Loop Trail at Little River requires extra attention to keep pets away from old foundations and settlement remains. The campground features freshly raked sites with fire pits, picnic tables, and access to clean bathrooms with hot showers.
Waterbury Reservoir provides excellent pet recreation opportunities with designated swimming areas where dogs can cool off during summer months. Dogs should be kept away from wildlife and hiking trails may require special consideration during muddy seasons. The proximity to Stowe and Waterbury allows for quick access to veterinary services if needed. Brook Run Dog Retreat offers a specialized glamping experience specifically designed for dog owners, featuring extensive trail systems for off-leash exploration when appropriate. Gold Brook Campground and Apple Island Resort provide pet-friendly accommodations with hookups for RVs, while Shelburne Camping Area remains open year-round for those camping with pets outside peak season. Weather conditions should be monitored as temperature variations can affect pets, particularly in spring and fall.
"Little River State Park is located just outside of Waterbury Vermont so it’s an ideal location for jumping off on other adventures!"
"We came here to hike the Dalley Loop Trail (which is a great trail full of history), but we wish we had camped here instead of the private campground 45 minutes away where we did stay."
from $19 - $28 / night
Check Availability"Sites 1 to 16 are close to each other. Sites 113 to 119 are bad. Very close to each other. No redeeming qualities.
Sites have 30 amp electric and water but might need a longish cord or hose."
"We stay every year for the Vermont City Marathon. It is a convenient bike ride down the bike path to the waterside park. Easy access to all of Burlington by bike."
from $37 - $100 / night
Check Availability"I’d say this was one of Vermont’s best kept secrets, except I don’t think it’s exactly a secret. Even in October, the Park seemed full with visitors and Stowe was hopping!"
"Close to tons of beautiful hikes. As for the campground. It was quiet, comfortable, and kid, as well as pet friendly. Would definitely camp here again."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"This is a nice little private campground in Shelburne, just outside of Burlington. Close to Lake Champlain. Good place to spend the night and good access to activities."
"Lastly, the location was perfect, just outside of Burlington made access to the area ideal."
"The toilets are composing toilets, but from the user experience, it's very close to a regular toilet in that it's in a stall in a nice, well maintained proper bathroom (unlike some composting toilets in"
"the best part is every night its only a ten minute hike to the summit from where the sites are and you get to watch the sunset over Vermont and lake champlain as the sun falls behind the adirondack mountains"
from $23 / night
Check Availability"They ask that you limit your driving on the path to the site- so we were sure to go into town to get all we needed before we settled into camp- which wasnt hard to do."
"Camp spots were far enough away from one another, trees helped with privacy, and the tent site had a great area to setup the tent.
Facilities were accessible and clean."
"We had one right next to the playground so our daughter could walk straight to it without having to cross a road. And speaking of playground, it was large and very nice."
"Cool little campground right in Mallets Bay on Lake Champlain. Campsites are kind of close together. Nice pool, game room, and little store. Its a fun place for families!"
from $8 - $12 / night
Check Availability"While we were next to the creek at site 12, it was blocked by brush and trees.
Check in was easy, and the staff were present enough in case you had questions or needed to buy firewood.""Our dog loved swimming in the creek and meeting his first bullfrog. The campground also has a small pool, one washer and one dryer, and decent showers/restrooms."
"Beautifully set on Lake Champlain in Vermont! This is a relatively large campground but is well laid out and doesn't feel small even when it's packed to the gills."
"Since the park is on a island in Lake Champlain in Vermont there is water all around. Good places to walk and ride."
from $6 - $28 / night
Check Availability"Visit this campground in the fall and experience quintessential Vermont in all its glory. The campground is nice. The people are friendly."
"Lots of things to do around here with dogs and kids. Breweries near by for the so inclined. Should have brought my roadbike, this is a bicyclers heaven."
from $55 - $105 / night
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ScoutThis is one of our favorite places to camp in Vermont. The sites are fairly private without being built too close together. Lake is clean and has a great concrete dock that the kids love to jump off. They have boat rentals and nature tours on the lake led by the state park faculty. When the kids get tired from swimming they're a nice beach area and playground.
GuideI have a 24’ RV towing a 30 foot trailer for perspective. I easily fit in site 107 and lots of other sites would have worked. They have a place to drop trailers if you don’t fit.
Sites 90 to 108 are best. Spaced out under trees.
Sites 1 to 16 are close to each other.
Sites 113 to 119 are bad. Very close to each other. No redeeming qualities.
Sites have 30 amp electric and water but might need a longish cord or hose. Clean easy to use dump with water.
Tent sites looked nice.
Short walk to nice beach or you can drive a car. Short tunnel so no campers or bikes on the roof.
Right next to rails to trails path that goes onto a causeway over the lake. There is a bike ferry to keep going. Nice ride.
Nice dog park 3/4 miles to the South on the trail.
Far away from noise. Can’t comment on loud campers.
GuideVery nice, clean campsite. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Campsites are spread out, great dog walking areas , and very spacious dog parks, one for big dos and one for little ones.
ScoutWe visited this campground twice this summer after the switchover to KOA. They had lots of activities to take back to the campsite for rainy days. They do not have a dog park and this caused our pup to get a bit hyper.
ScoutI've camped on Valcour all my life since I was 7. It was amazing. So beautiful. Now it's covered in cockroaches and the water is murky and everything is covered in Zebra muscles. Other campers are rude and have no respect for your property. Has been all Canadians from my experience. They let their pets on the island to defecate and we've had one let their two large dogs swim ashore from their yacht and urinate on all our tents and destroyed our campsite and stole our food off from the picnic table all while the owners watched and laughed it off from their boat. The dogs then swam back and boarded the boat and they left. It's not like it used to be. We were yelling at them the whole time, trying to get the dogs away from our campsite and the owners didn't even apologize. One of the dogs defecated on my son's clothing that has fallen off the line.
GuideTo start off, we are avid KOA campers. So when we looked at this campground, we expected the typical layout which had a swimming pool and other stuff for the kids, however, this campground lacked all of the above. When we arrived here, check-in was easy we did drive along ways to get to our campsite which was nice to be wooded, but I did miss the typical activities and KOA usually has which when I booked the site, I usually expect them since the prices usually, fairly high compared to state parks. Our main reason for seeing KA versus state parks for these extra activities. With that said the bathrooms were clean, which we barely use since we have a full hook up camper. The dog park was very small and it looked like they did the very minimum to check the block. If you’re looking for a place to run your little guy around, he might be disappointed at this place. However, there are plenty hikes nearby to wear them out if you desire. As far as location, there is a lot of stuff to do in the area as we went and hike, the mountain, which was amazing.
RangerI’d say this was one of Vermont’s best kept secrets, except I don’t think it’s exactly a secret. Even in October, the Park seemed full with visitors and Stowe was hopping! Leaf peepers were in full force and the grounds were absolutely spectacular- I really picked the perfect time of year to go. Nights got pretty brisk, but the foliage was breathtaking.
The Park, located along scenic Rte108, has about 20 tent sites and 14 lean-to’s well dispersed throughout the grounds. A couple spots were drive-in sites, accessible to those with disabilities; most had small pathways and/or stairwells leading to their platforms. There was not a bad site within the entire vicinity. All were fully shaded and extremely private. Although, I’d be curious about checking out Sites 1 or 16 next time around!
Bathrooms were clean and the main office sold firewood at the entrance. Facilities are also pet friendly. Plus, there are so many hiking trails and recreational opportunities in and around the Park-from Stowe Mountain Resort to the quaint shops in town and local craft breweries. And even with the Park seeming “full”, the grounds were perfectly quiet, without the incessant sound of generators you find at larger state parks.
Without a doubt, Smugglers Notch State Park is a favorite of mine!
RangerMostly Seasonal area with some overnight spots. No tents allowed. But pet friendly. Small but clean areas with electric at each site. Has some benches outside, a small pool, playground, and community of seasonal campers. I think there was only a few overnighters.
RangerWe stayed last year during the fall and the views were breathtaking. Close to tons of beautiful hikes. As for the campground. It was quiet, comfortable, and kid, as well as pet friendly. Would definitely camp here again. The staff was friendly and the bathroom facilities were kept nice and clean.
Campers seeking dog friendly options near Richmond, Vermont can access several state parks within a 30-mile radius. The region sits in the foothills of the Green Mountains with elevations ranging from 200-4,000 feet, creating diverse terrain for hiking and exploration. Winter camping options remain limited with most campgrounds closing by mid-October, though Shelburne Camping Area stays open year-round for cold-weather adventurers.
Paddle the reservoir: At Little River State Park Campground, the reservoir provides excellent water recreation opportunities. "Great campground for hanging out and a place to bring your boat. The reservoir is a fun place to explore via kayak and cannoe as well as by motorboat!" notes Hannah H. Several water-accessible backcountry sites allow for secluded overnight trips.
Explore Burlington by bike: The North Beach Campground connects directly to Burlington's extensive bike path network. "Biking into Burlington takes 5-10 minutes and you're also right on the beach of Lake Champlain. Take your kayaks paddle boards or whatever you have and enjoy the lake! A gorgeous bike trail also runs right through the campground," says Brittany R. The path extends 7.6 miles along Lake Champlain.
Winter camping adventure: For experienced cold-weather campers, Smugglers Notch State Park offers free off-season camping. "Free of charge during off season, you just have to call a couple weeks ahead to reserve and make sure you park in the allotted area. Hike/snowshoe in to your site as the gate is closed and the area is not plowed," notes Ed M. No facilities operate during winter months.
Remote lake access: The backcountry sites at Little River State Park provide water-only access camping opportunities. Caitlin M. explains, "There are many beautiful backcountry campsites right on the water only accessible via the water. Great local overnight spot with flat tenting, privies, and picnic tables." These remote sites offer significantly more privacy than the main campground area.
Private wooded sites: Mount Philo State Park Campground offers secluded camping with only 10 total sites. "Sites 1, 6 and 8 are the best if you're only camping with those at your site as they're the most secluded and private," recommends Drew Q. The limited number of campsites prevents overcrowding even during peak season.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the well-maintained facilities at dog-friendly campgrounds. A visitor to Smugglers Notch noted, "Pristine facilities, private camp sites and a beautiful area. Smuggler's Notch is close enough to Stowe to not be a hassle to drive to, but far enough away that it's quiet and remote." Most Vermont state parks offer coin-operated showers (typically 50¢ for 5 minutes).
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds in the area operate from mid-May through mid-October. At Grand Isle State Park Campground, the season runs "May 12 to October 16." Shelburne Camping Area remains the primary exception, operating year-round for campers needing late fall or winter accommodation.
Limited lakefront: Despite proximity to water bodies, direct waterfront access can be limited. Regarding Grand Isle State Park, one camper noted, "Very rocky beach with little to no sand to play in, a bit of a walk to the water." At other parks, vegetation may block views from waterfront sites.
Quiet environment enforced: State parks maintain strict quiet hours and noise regulations. A Smugglers Notch visitor mentioned, "The staff was helpful and very good about controlling excessive noise from other sites." Expect family-friendly, peaceful camping environments at most state park locations.
Historical exploration: Little River State Park offers unique historical sites for kids. Rita M. shares, "The hiking trails are really good--actually pretty steep. There are lots of old foundations hidden on the trails that are fun to discover." The park was once home to a settlement abandoned in the early 1900s.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas for children. Erin S. describes Lone Pine Campsites: "The sites were long and spacious. We had one right next to the playground so our daughter could walk straight to it without having to cross a road. And speaking of playground, it was large and very nice."
Consider shoulder seasons: For families seeking quieter experiences, camping outside peak summer months offers advantages. At Apple Island Resort, one visitor noted, "We stayed there the last week of the season so things were very quiet." Spring and early fall weekdays typically see lower occupancy rates at most campgrounds.
Full hookup options: Apple Island Resort offers complete services for larger RVs with premium waterfront sites. One camper explains, "The sites with the best views are the Platinum Plus which are also the most expensive. Some Platinum Plus sites are in the first row with unobstructed views." Sites include water, electric (including 50 amp), and sewer connections.
Advance planning required: The limited number of RV-suitable sites with hookups makes advance reservations essential. At Gold Brook Campground, "Our site was level and extremely spacious, FHUs, and featuring a fire pit." Most state parks have fewer electric sites available compared to private campgrounds.
Site orientation considerations: Some campgrounds have unique site layouts. Nancy W. observed at Apple Island Resort, "The hook-ups at our site were well-placed but the sewer pipe was high off the ground which did not let it drain even with a 'slinky.' Most of the waterfront sites are nose-in and suited well for motorhomes."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Richmond, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Richmond, VT is Little River State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 25 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 141 dog-friendly camping locations near Richmond, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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