Tent and RV camping sites near Sharon, Vermont range from private woodland clearings to waterfront locations with views of White River and Quechee Gorge. The region sits at 731 feet elevation with summer temperatures averaging 65-80°F and lows of 50-60°F. Fall camping season brings temperature drops to 40-60°F during the day and potential frost at night, requiring proper insulation for tent and yurt camping.
What to do
Water activities at Gifford Woods State Park: Paddle on the pond or fish for brook trout within a short walk from campsites. "A quiet camp ground on Ricker Pond, a motor free pond, is a wonderful place to spend the weekend. The pond is serene and a great place to swim, paddle, explore, and fish," writes Hannah H. about Ricker Pond State Park Campground.
Hiking the Appalachian Trail: Follow the famous trail directly through several campgrounds in the region. "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," explains Tara S. about Gifford Woods State Park Campground.
River exploration: Wade in shallow waters or tube down local rivers during summer months. "They had a playground area for kids, horseshoe area and a net for volleyball next to the bathroom/showers. There were tubes and a picnic table at the top of the beach area, we ended tubing down the river one day," notes Isabella K. about Baker River Campground.
What campers like
Secluded woodland sites: Many campgrounds offer private, wooded sites with ample space between neighbors. "The sites are large. If you stay in the back it's quieter. The bathroom is very clean. They offer showers that cost you a few quarters. There are no hookups but they do have a dump station if you are in a RV," writes Jan B. about Quechee State Park.
Swimming opportunities: Natural water features provide cooling relief during hot summer days. "The lake is beautiful, clear and clean, and there is a beach with sand for swimming. We had our trail bikes so took advantage of the Montpelier-Wells Rail Trail (Cross Vermont Trail), accessible directly from the campground," mentions Emma B. about Ricker Pond State Park.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently praise the maintenance of bathrooms and shower facilities. "The bathrooms are immaculate with coin (quarters)operated showers. There are plenty of fresh water spigots and a spacious dump site if needed," notes Chris A., who stayed at Quechee State Park for a full week.
What you should know
Limited connectivity: Cell service and Wi-Fi availability varies greatly between campgrounds. "This is a pretty small State Park, so it fills up quickly. The sites on the pond are beautiful if you can get one! The campground has a small beach, boat launch and it's right on the Cross Vermont Trail. I stayed in October and it was really quiet and relaxing. There is absolutely no cell service for miles, so plan accordingly," warns Michele S. about Ricker Pond State Park.
Site selection matters: Some campgrounds have significant terrain variation affecting the camping experience. "The campground 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 and that is reflected in the cost," explains Nancy W. about Quechee-Pine Valley KOA.
Road noise considerations: Proximity to major routes affects some camping locations. "Very nice campground, great location! The reservoir was beautiful. Took the kayak, only issue I had was getting to the lake. Most sites up on hill looking over lake, not easily assessable from camp site, but still had a great time," shares Cindy L. about Little River State Park Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Book early for waterfront yurt camping: Yurt and cabin options at Sharon area campgrounds fill quickly, especially those near water. "I've been visiting Ricker Pond for nearly 20 years (except for the years that I don't book enough in advance and aren't able to secure a spot for my desired length of stay). My favorite lean to site is directly on the water, private, and fills up fast," advises Neena B.
Consider the terrain: Some campgrounds have challenging hills that may be difficult for young children. "The hilly terrain is insaneeee! If you have never been before, book a sight as close as possible to the pool and office, because the further you get, the higher the altitude. We chose bottom of the hill sites so we lucked out but it could've been very difficult to navigate with two/three very young kids," suggests Jessica W. about Moose Hillock Camping Resort.
Look for ranger activities: State parks often offer educational programs for children. "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 Jen B. about Quechee State Park.
Tips from RVers
Accessibility varies greatly: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger RVs, despite listings. "This campground is not big rig friendly. Driving out of the site was just as bad. You have to go down a small hill and bottom out the front and then drag the backend out of the dirt," warns Jim B. about Caton Place Campground.
Hookup availability: Full-service sites are limited in the Sharon area, especially at state parks. "Our site, was located in the back of the park in a quieter section because it was away from most of the activities and park entrance. The site was a pull-in which was kind of nice because the view out of our front windshield was of a wooded area," explains Nancy W. who stayed at Quechee-Pine Valley KOA.
Reserve for level sites: Many campgrounds in the mountainous Sharon region have uneven terrain. "Site 16 is one of the smaller sites and is not super level, but we were able to get the Subaru backed in and relatively level for camping. Bathrooms are super clean. Staff is friendly. Seasoned firewood available for purchase ($6 a stack)," notes Emil about Gifford Woods State Park Campground.
