RV camping near St. Albans, Vermont typically occurs between early May and mid-October when temperatures range from 45-80°F. The region sits along Lake Champlain at elevations between 95-500 feet, with most campgrounds built on former agricultural land. Fall camping requires advance planning due to foliage tourism increasing occupancy rates by 70% during peak color season.
What to do
Fishing access points: Multiple campgrounds offer direct lake access or boat ramps. At Apple Island Resort, campers can launch paddleboards and kayaks from the marina across the street. "We launched our paddleboard and kayak there but it was pretty mucky getting in and out of our boats. We were allowed to leave our kayak locked on a rack at the marina so we didn't have to take it back to our campsite every day," notes one visitor.
Local food exploration: Farm stands within 1-5 miles of most campgrounds sell seasonal produce and maple products. Visitors at Alburg RV Resort mention "Devyn's Creemee Stand is close we got ice cream, farm fresh eggs and Maple syrup from there. There was a farm stand on the main road we got the best lettuce, strawberries and cilantro from the stand."
Golf options: Several campgrounds feature on-site golf amenities. Apple Island Resort includes a 9-hole par-3 golf course with putting green, and as one camper notes, "My husband enjoyed his time at the golf course."
What campers like
Fall foliage viewing: October camping provides direct access to Vermont's famous color displays. According to one Smugglers Notch RV Village visitor: "At the peak of foliage was our last trip last year. I really hesitated to leave a review because selfishly I want it to be OUR SECRET HIDEAWAY."
Lake views: Waterfront sites at several campgrounds offer direct lake views. At Apple Island Resort, "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; whereas, our site was three rows back."
Clean facilities: Many reviews specifically mention facility cleanliness as a standout feature. At Lone Pine Campsites, campers report "Nice place to spend time, great people, weekend activities, and overall clean park with nice bath and laundry facilities."
What you should know
Site layouts vary significantly: Some campgrounds feature tiered or terraced designs that impact views. At Apple Island Resort, "The rows are terraced and they do offset sites on each row which is good," while at Plattsburgh RV Park, "Most of the sites seemed seasonal, I am unsure if there were any overnight sites."
Seasonal site concentration: Many parks maintain a mix of transient and seasonal campers. One Apple Island visitor observed: "The front sections of the campground are where most of the transient RVs parked (and have the views of the lake) whereas the back section of the campground has a mix of transient RV sites and seasonal park models but no views."
Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some locations. Lone Pine Campsites has "noise from the highway but it eventually became white noise to us."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: When booking with children, request sites near play areas. At Lone Pine Campsites, one family chose a site "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."
Recreation options: Family-oriented campgrounds offer multiple activities. Lone Pine features "a soccer field out in front of us to play in. This is the kind of campground I'd want to come and spend weeks at on vacation. Super nice people, multiple pools, activity center, playgrounds, ball courts."
Space considerations: Site sizes impact family comfort. At Brookside RV Camping, "this property offers nice flat sites and electric hookups," while Lone Pine offers "absolutely the biggest [sites] I've ever seen."
Tips from RVers
Hookup configurations: Some campgrounds have unusual utility placement. At Apple Island Resort, "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."
Drainage challenges: Sewer connections may require additional equipment. One RVer at Apple Island noted "the sewer pipe was high off the ground which did not let it drain even with a 'slinky.'"
Site reservations: Reserve well in advance for RVs with towed vehicles. Smugglers Notch RV Village "offer a variety of different sites to fit each campers needs" with full hookups and both 30-amp and 50-amp service available.
