Camping sites near Sheldon, Vermont range from boat-accessible islands to lakefront state parks across the Lake Champlain region. The area sits at approximately 400 feet above sea level with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during the day and dropping to 55-65°F at night. Northern Vermont camping seasons typically run May through mid-October, with some primitive camping available during shoulder seasons.
What to do
Hiking trails and water activities: Lake Carmi State Park Campground offers short nature trails and access to the Missisquoi Rail Trail. "We enjoyed biking, hiking, campfires, etc and everyone was so nice and helpful for us, especially since we were first timers," notes one camper who visited during COVID restrictions.
Island exploration: Burton Island State Park Campground offers a car-free camping experience with trails covering the entire island. "There are beautiful trails that cover the island. The south tip of the island gets more wind, and therefore waves, which my children greatly enjoyed for swimming. The northern part has shale beaches, and a few areas of mucky/pebbly beaches," explains a visitor.
Winter camping options: For off-season adventure seekers, some state parks permit winter camping. At Knight Island State Park Campground, "you can obtain a permit from the Vt. State Parks to winter camp. 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."
What campers like
Remote camping experiences: Knight Island provides secluded waterfront sites. One camper describes it as "not for the faint of heart, Knight Island is only accessible by private boat, though there are a few unregulated boat taxis that will agree to take the boat-less out there...every remote campsite is waterside, with fabulous access to amazing swimming, gorgeous sunsets, and fantastic hikes across the island."
Off-season tranquility: Smugglers Notch State Park Campground offers free off-season camping. "Stayed at a lean-to site here in March of 2019. 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," reports one winter visitor.
Lake access from multiple sites: Campbells Bay Campground provides boat rentals and docks. A visitor mentions, "We stayed in Site # 3 A. 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. There is a boat launch, gas for boats and docks to keep a boat."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Service varies significantly across camping options in the Sheldon area. At Lake Carmi, a camper notes, "There's no cell service & power... you can fill up the camper with water on the way in but no sites have any hookups. And there are few that are big enough for large RVs."
Water conditions: Lake quality changes seasonally and varies by location. One Lake Carmi visitor reported, "the lake had green algae and we spotted several dead fish floating. It made me nervous about the water." Check with park rangers about current water conditions before planning water activities.
Shower facilities: Black Creek Maple's Nature Escape and Tent Haven provides basic amenities despite being off-grid. A camper mentions, "Clean water, fire wood and cooking rack are provided for your first night. There's extra fire wood for sale along with a sink to do dishes. A very clean outhouse and shower right on site."
Reservation timing: Many waterfront sites book up 11 months in advance, especially at popular state parks. Weekend dates in July and August fill particularly quickly.
Tips for camping with families
Beginner-friendly options: Lake Carmi offers supportive staff for first-time campers. "We had a great time here! We were there during Covid and they did a great job spreading everything out and setting visitor expectations to follow the safety guidelines. We enjoyed biking, hiking, campfires, etc and everyone was so nice and helpful for us, especially since we were first timers."
Kid-friendly water activities: Burton Island offers varied swimming options. "The south tip of the island gets more wind, and therefore waves, which my children greatly enjoyed for swimming. The northern part has shale beaches, and a few areas of mucky/pebbly beaches. Lots of old trees abound as well. There are also tons of frogs!"
Noise considerations: Check campground quiet hours policies. At Lake Carmi, one camper noted their "stay was very quiet during the week after Labor Day, but I imagine the vibe is quite different during summer weekends, especially given the sign in the restroom stating that quiet hours are strictly enforced."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Maple Grove Campground offers RV sites with varying topography. "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. The sites on the outside of the loop are more desirable but they were not available when I reserved three months in advance."
Longer RVs with trailers: Mill Pond can accommodate combined vehicle lengths. "We reserved on line a month before as we were pulling a motorcycle behind our RV. Total distance of 38 feet. Site accommodated us nicely. Owners were very friendly and loaned me some tools to tighten trailer."
Limited hookup options: Many state parks have minimal or no hookups. At Lake Carmi, a visitor notes, "No sites have any hookups. And there are few that are big enough for large RVs." Most campgrounds with electric and water connections are private operations rather than state parks.
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