1 campground with availability next weekend
St. Albans, Vermont provides a gateway to distinctive island and lakefront camping experiences along Lake Champlain. The region includes several state parks on islands within Lake Champlain, including Burton Island, Knight Island, and Woods Island State Parks, all accessible only by boat. Grand Isle State Park Campground offers tent sites, RV hookups, and cabins along the lakeshore with stunning mountain views. Campgrounds like Apple Island Resort and Champlain Resort provide full-service options with water and electric hookups, while more remote island locations offer primitive tent sites with minimal facilities.
Camping season in this region generally runs from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October, with island parks typically operating until Labor Day weekend. Most developed campgrounds require reservations, with waterfront sites booking up to 11 months in advance. Transportation logistics are a significant consideration as several campgrounds require boat access. Burton Island offers a passenger ferry service from Kill Kare State Park, while Woods Island and Knight Island require visitors to arrange private boat transportation with no dock facilities. One camper noted, "There is no ferry service to the island and visitors must make their own arrangements. There are no docks; visitors must either beach their boat or anchor off."
Lakefront camping locations consistently receive high ratings from visitors who appreciate the unique experience of island camping. Knight Island State Park features remote waterfront campsites with minimal facilities but exceptional swimming and sunset views. Burton Island State Park stands out for its car-free environment, creating a family-friendly atmosphere with accessible amenities including a camp store and bistro. Several visitors highlighted the special nature of these island experiences, with one noting that Burton Island is "like going to a tropical island without leaving Vermont." Winter camping permits are available for Knight Island through Vermont State Parks for those seeking solitude and ice fishing opportunities, though facilities are extremely limited during off-season months.
"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
"I've been exploring Vermont State Parks since before I could walk, and Burton Island State Park is my all time favorite!"
"Burton Island is a 2.5 mile long island state park off of the shoreline of Lake Champlain."
"We were able to spend some time around Lake Champlain, explore nearby areas and even make a trip toward the border without having to move the RV."
"We chose Kings Bay because we wanted to spend most of our trip outdoors and close to Lake Champlain."
from $58 - $95 / night
"Our first time in Vermont, we were coming from Montreal, Quebec. And while there are many nice campsites to visit in Quebec... we've done them all, within a 2-hour radius. Well, guess what?"
"Lakefront sites have a filtered view of the lake through the trees. Bath/Shower House: The one closest to us was very clean. Three stalls and one shower."
from $29 / night
"Visit this campground in the fall and experience quintessential Vermont in all its glory. The campground is nice. The people are friendly."
"Brewery and vineyards close by"
from $55 - $105 / night
"The laundry room is near most sites. The campground is in the perfect location to visit Lake Champlain. There is so much to do in the area."
"Site Quality: RV sites are arranged around an oval. Pads are gravel. Because the loop is on a hill, some sites are not quite level, but only slightly."
from $25 - $40 / night
"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."
"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."
from $37 - $100 / night
"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."
"Our boys had fun riding their bikes around, playing basketball, and playing a round of mini golf."
from $8 - $12 / night
"There are some nice leantos on the east side of the island that give you access to the lake and some good fishing. Deer, .turkey, fox and smaller animals can be seen throughout the island"
"It doesn't host a ton of amenities other than outdoor toilets, but it doesn't need to because every remote campsite is waterside, with fabulous access to amazing swimming, gorgeous sunsets, and fantastic"
"It had a view of the water yet it's a distance away. We had water and electric and a small dump station. There was a tree in our site which gave us a little shade yet no privacy in-between the sites."
"It’s always a great time, cabins are clean, neat & very close to the water. Everything is clean, no litter on grounds or in water. Boat access is very easy, docks can be a bit shakey lol."
ScoutFirst trip with our new RV and we were a little nervous about getting everything set up. Having full hookups made it way less complicated than we expected. Once we were settled, we just enjoyed the area and took a few day trips. Would definatly come back for another Adirondack trip.
ScoutIf youre traveling through northern NY, this is a really convenient place to base yourself. We were able to spend some time around Lake Champlain, explore nearby areas and even make a trip toward the border without having to move the RV. Coming back to a waterfront campground every evening was a pretty nice bonus.
ScoutWe came up for a quick Adirondack getaway and ended up spending most of our time outside. A little disc golf, some time by the pool, dinner at the site and plenty of walks with the dog. Pretty much everything we wanted out of the trip.
ScoutWhat started as a quick weekend ended up being one of our favorite stops this summer. We spent one day around the campground and another exploring the area. The beach and water were a huge plus for us.
ScoutOne of the best parts for us was not having to pack up the RV every time we wanted to go somewhere. We stayed put and explored the Adirondacks from here. Lake Champlain, Ausable Chasm and a bunch of other spots were all easy to get to.
ScoutWe decided to stay for the summer and so far it has been a really fun experience. There is always something going on and the lake gives everyone plenty to do. The kids have already made friends and we are getting to know the other campers too.
ScoutHaving the river and Adirondacks nearby made for a really nice change of scenery. We spent our days exploring and came back to the campground for dinner and a fire.
ScoutOur site had everything we needed and getting set up was easy. We also appreciated having wifi since we had a few things to take care of during the trip.
GuideWe had the upper sites all drive in or small camper. And or Tent. Amazing rolling brook beautiful sites we had site 32. The lower ones are rv. The owner gave us free wood as it was end of season. We were there Oct 10 I’m not sure but think they close the 13
Campsites near St. Albans, Vermont offer diverse experiences from lakeside settings to secluded island retreats with seasonal operations typically running May through October. Most campgrounds in this region provide water access to Lake Champlain with varying levels of amenities. Winter camping permits are available at select locations for those seeking off-season solitude, though facilities become extremely limited with temperatures dropping to the low 20s during January and February.
Kayaking from shore access points: At Grand Isle State Park Campground, visitors can launch directly from the park. "There is lake access for kayaking, sailing, swimming and fishing," notes Patricia E., who appreciated the convenient water activities.
Biking on local trails: The region offers excellent cycling routes connecting campgrounds to nearby towns. "We biked to this park from Burlington via the Island Line Trail. It was a super trip," shares John L. about his Grand Isle experience. Other cyclists frequently travel through South Hero, stopping at local wineries like Snow Farm Winery.
Ferry rides and island hopping: Explore multiple islands using local ferry services. One camper at Burton Island State Park Campground explains, "After getting all of our stuff packed on the ferry and arriving on the island, we chose to have the campground deliver our stuff to our campsite for $10... it was well worth it."
Fishing opportunities: Lake Champlain offers year-round fishing with seasonal variations. "We went fishing, swimming, and out in a canoe. We rented a canoe from the campground and paddled over to Wood Island," shares Michael L. about activities at Burton Island.
Car-free camping environments: Several campers appreciate the absence of vehicles on certain islands. "There are no cars on the island. You have to paddle yourself out or take the VT State Park passenger ferry from St. Albans," notes one reviewer about Burton Island, highlighting how this creates a distinct atmosphere.
Easy access to urban amenities: North Beach Campground offers proximity to Burlington while maintaining a natural setting. "Burlington is my favorite city by far, and this campground is right on the beach! You get the best of both worlds at this location. Biking into Burlington takes 5-10 minutes," writes Brittany R.
Clean facilities despite remote settings: Campgrounds maintain good standards even in primitive areas. "The bathrooms were pretty good and cleaned often. VT state does a great job of keeping the campground very clean," says one camper about Lake Carmi State Park Campground.
Adult-only options: For those seeking quieter environments, Champlain Resort Adult Campground provides child-free camping. "It is child free which means it is super quiet and so relaxed. We spent about 11 days in absolute paradise at this campground," shares Anthony I., noting the distinct atmosphere this creates.
Boat access requirements: Many island campsites require private boat transportation. At Woods Island State Park Campground, "There is no ferry service to the island and visitors must make their own arrangements. There are no docks; visitors must either beach their boat or anchor off."
Remote camping limitations: Island camping often comes with minimal facilities. "Woods Island is a 'remote area' campground. Remote area campsites, while beautiful, are not for everybody. Sanitary facilities are minimal, and there is no potable water supply," notes one reviewer.
Reservation timelines: Popular sites book quickly, especially waterfront options. For Burton Island, "Waterfront sites book very quickly (like 11 months in advance), but if you don't mind being farther from the main campground and running water, you can almost always rent one of the four primitive sites."
Water conditions: Lake quality varies seasonally. "The lake had green algae and we spotted several dead fish floating. It made me nervous about the water," reports one Lake Carmi visitor during a summer visit.
Accessible nature programs: State parks often offer educational activities. "It was a quiet, family friendly campground with a cute little beach and nature center with youth programs," shares Jessica G. about Grand Isle State Park.
Consider coin-operated shower facilities: Most state park showers require quarters. "Showers are coin-operated, but $0.50 will get you 5 minutes of hot water!" notes Tucker B. about Grand Isle, while another visitor mentions "The water pressure is barely enough to rinse the soap off" at Burton Island.
Look for car-free environments: Apple Island Resort offers family-friendly amenities in a controlled setting. "Plenty of spots for in and out visitors. Seasonals are mostly elderly residents but set back from the non-seasonal sites," notes Dave M., creating separate areas for different visitor types.
Check beach conditions before swimming: Rocky shorelines are common in the region. "Very rocky beach with little to no sand to play in," mentions Melissa L. about Grand Isle, suggesting water shoes for comfort on the pebbly lake bottom.
Site layout considerations: Many RV sites in the region face the water directly. At Apple Island Resort, "Most waterfront sites are nose-in and suited well for motorhomes. Sometimes they would park a towable next to them and if they backed in there would be a shared patio."
Hookup placements: Pay attention to utility locations when reserving. "Their hook ups are on the passenger side. You have to pull straight in with the truck and camper. This is because a lot of class A prefer this way," explains Ron H.
Off-season availability: Several campgrounds extend their seasons beyond summer. "We were there during the last week of the season so things were very quiet. Study the sites carefully because our 'premium view site' looked into a boulder," suggests Susan & Kevin W.
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds offer full sewer hookups. "Very nice campground, nice staff, the sites are spacious, the grounds and facilities are clean. They have a par 3 golf course and boat docks on site. FHU, at&t worked but not well," reports Jason E. about Apple Island Resort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds in St. Albans?
St. Albans offers excellent access to some of Vermont's finest lakeside camping experiences. Burton Island State Park Campground is a standout destination, accessible only by boat and offering a unique island camping experience with beautiful shorelines and trails. Another exceptional option is Woods Island State Park Campground, which provides a secluded natural habitat on a mile-long island in Lake Champlain's 'inland sea.' Both locations offer primitive camping with basic amenities like restrooms and picnic areas. For those seeking mainland options, Knight Island State Park and Lake Carmi State Park are also within reasonable driving distance from St. Albans, providing more accessible camping experiences with additional amenities.
What camping options are available near St. Albans, VT?
The St. Albans area offers diverse camping options for every preference. Grand Isle State Park Campground provides a peaceful lakeside experience with clean facilities and hot showers on Lake Champlain, perfect for families. For those seeking a unique private camping experience, Art and Health Chill Camping offers various accommodations including cabins, hives, or open locations for RVs and tents on 80 acres of private land. Additional options include Mountain View Campground with riverfront tent sites and family amenities, and Little River State Park near Waterbury with reservoir access. The region also features several island camping experiences accessible by boat, including Knight Island State Park for those seeking more remote adventures.
Are there RV campgrounds with electric hookups near St. Albans?
North Beach Campground offers RV sites with electric hookups about 25 miles south of St. Albans. These electric sites are specifically designated for RVs, though they tend to be placed closer together than the non-electric sites. For a more spacious option, Barber Homestead Park provides well-maintained RV sites with easy maneuverability and full hookups. The park also features nice restrooms, laundry facilities, and direct access to Lake Champlain. Both campgrounds serve as excellent bases for exploring the St. Albans area and offer varying levels of amenities for RV campers seeking electrical connections.
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