The Green Mountains surrounding Underhill Center, Vermont offer several tent camping options, with Underhill State Park Campground providing established tent sites at the base of Mount Mansfield. Located within Camel's Hump State Park, primitive tent sites can be accessed via hiking trails about 1.5 miles from trailheads. Indian Brook Reservoir provides scattered tent platforms accessible by foot or boat, offering a more secluded experience. These designated primitive tent camping areas typically operate from late May through mid-October, with most sites requiring advance reservations through Vermont State Parks.
Tent sites at Underhill State Park feature dirt pads suitable for standard camping tents, with sites spaced far enough apart to provide decent privacy. According to one visitor, "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." Most primitive camping areas have basic amenities including fire rings and picnic tables, though facilities are minimal with most locations offering only composting toilets or vault latrines. Campers should pack in their own drinking water or bring filtration systems, as potable water access is limited. Sites in national forest areas follow leave-no-trace principles with visitors expected to pack out all waste.
Early fall tent camping provides colorful foliage views and generally fewer mosquitoes than summer months. The terrain around tent sites is typically wooded, offering good shade and natural windbreaks for tent setups. The designated primitive camping area at Camel's Hump is about 1.5 miles into the hike with approximately 10-12 sites and a shared area for eating and food storage. One camper noted that "This is a short and sweet hike to one of the higher points in Vermont... The designated primitive camping area is about 1.5 miles into the hike." Backcountry tent camping requires proper food storage techniques as bears are present in the region. Most tent sites accommodate standard 2-4 person tents, though some walk-in sites can handle larger family tents if you're willing to carry the equipment from parking areas.
"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.""Very primitive and quiet campground. Great staff and campsites. No shower but one of the best weeks I had camping in a while. Will definitely go back this year."
"The bathroom is a composting toilet that you’ll share with fishing spiders the size of your hand, slam the lid before use!"
"Little river st park wide flat camp sites no hookups limited gen. Use hours 8am/10am and 4pm/6pm. Rough road coming5th to campground. Very quite. cell phone t mobile works fine."
"There is an extensive trail system that is easy to navigate. Nestled in the woods are several tent platforms that you can access by foot or by boat. They are spacious but not too private."
"I mistakenly assumed they had drive up campsites. They do not. It was a 15 minute hike to the site, so pack light. If you have a kayak, you can transport your stuff over."
from $21 - $36 / night
"This is a short and sweet hike to one of the higher points in Vermont. It is a beautiful scenic (somewhat strenuous) hike to the summit. The views are pretty epic though."
"Great tent site, site 1 can have 3 platform and fire pit"
from $10 / night
"Weather was not cooperative and my fiancé and I were able to rent one of the cabins for our second night. We will definitely recommend it to others and we will be back again."
"The small amount of camping space made the experience quite unique and private. The host, Dianne, was really friendly. Many amenities such as wood, water and outhouse nearby. Very nice experience."
from $35 - $45 / night
"apparently this is the first state park in Vermont. Only 8 campsites so try to book early. Nice trails that lead to scenic views of Lake Champlain. Bathrooms and showers were clean."
"There are less than 20 sites total, and all sites are near walk-in paths to excellent views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks or the Green Mountains. The facility is small, but adequate."
from $23 / night
"Spacious sites with fire rings. Shade is limited at certain times of the day. Nice hiking trails nearbye."
"When we booked our Labor Day weekend tent site back in March, there were only 2 leantos (out of 26) left and a handful of tent sites (out of 14)."
"It’s a primitive park, perfect for paddling, wild camping, swimming, and watching wildlife. The reservoir is 653 acres with 19 miles of shoreline. There are 27 campsites and two group camspites."
"I love this location because you have to paddle out to a site for camping. It‘s private, quiet, and really gives you that “forest bathing” escape."
from $20 - $50 / night
"Includes picnic tables and a fire ring. It is located in the mountains of Vermont and right next to a beautiful river. The only con was the highway noise since it's pretty close to the road."
"Right off the road, a small handful of camp sites, some picnic tables, presumably some fire rings although with snow coverage I didn’t see any."
"Just a truly beautiful place ♡ One of Lake Champlains BEST hidden gems!"
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.
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.
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.
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.
GuideThere was a few sites 5-6 we didn’t get to the eastern loop. But the sites we saw were very secluded. All had fire pits ours had a picnic table. And was right next to the creek. Would highly recommend if you want to get away from city lights. All sites are not maintained. We had a small off road camper it was easy In and out some sites could be hard with larger pull behinds. Some sites might need 4wd to get in and out we had lots of mud after a lot of rain.
GuideMost sites are secluded. There is a creepy old cemetery in walking distance. Nice showers on site !!
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
ScoutWe were looking for somewhere to stay while checking out Ausable Chasm and this worked out really well. Easy drive over, then back to the camper in the afternoon. Made the whole trip alot easier.
ScoutWe only planned on staying a few nights but ended up adding another week. Once we got settled in, it was hard to leave.
Tent camping near Underhill Center, Vermont offers campers access to the northern Green Mountains region at elevations between 850-4,395 feet. The area experiences cool summer nights with temperatures often dropping into the 40s even in July and August, making proper sleeping gear essential for comfort. Primitive campsites throughout the region typically close earlier in the season than other Vermont camping areas due to colder fall temperatures.
**Mountain hiking access: Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites at Waterbury Center State Park provide an excellent basecamp for hiking Mt. Mansfield and Camels Hump. "These remote sites are so peaceful. Be sure to launch from cotton brook road if your site r11-27," notes one camper. The boat-in sites require about a 30-minute paddle from the cotton brook launch area.
Swimming in natural settings: Indian Brook Reservoir offers multiple water activities in a less crowded setting. "The Reservoir lends itself to peaceful boating, nature watching and great fishing," reports one visitor. Sites are accessible either on foot or by boat, with several tent platforms nestled within the woods.
Wildlife observation: Green River Reservoir State Park Campground provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly at the Beaver Meadow area. "Be sure to paddle out to the Beaver Meadow - we have seen moose there several times," mentions one camper. The 653-acre reservoir features 19 miles of shoreline and requires a paddle of up to 2 miles to reach some of the more remote sites.
Site privacy: Mount Philo State Park Campground receives high marks for its secluded camping spots. "Sites 1, 6 and 8 and the best if you're only camping with those at your site as they're the most secluded and private," notes one visitor. The small park has just 8 campsites total, dispersed among trees.
Car-free camping experience: Burton Island State Park Campground offers a unique camping experience on an island in Lake Champlain. "There are no cars on the island. You have to paddle yourself out or take the VT State Park passenger ferry from St. Albans," explains one camper. The ferry costs $8 per person with no extra charge for gear, though there is a $2 fee for bikes.
Quiet natural settings: At Black Creek Maple's Nature Escape and Tent Haven, campers appreciate the peaceful surroundings. "Most quiet and peaceful place for camping. Such a great host," comments one visitor. The site offers multiple amenities including clean water, firewood, cooking racks, and a sink for washing dishes.
Reservation timing: Most waterfront sites at popular locations book very quickly. At Burton Island State Park Campground, "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."
Bathroom facilities: Most campgrounds have basic facilities. At Mount Philo, "Bathrooms were very clean. Coin-op shower with hot water is 50 cents for 5 minutes, 75 cents for 7:30, etc." Many primitive sites share composting toilets or outhouses between multiple campsites.
Access challenges: Many of the more remote sites require additional effort to reach. At Indian Brook Reservoir, one family noted: "It was a 15 minute hike to the site, so pack light. If you have a kayak, you can transport your stuff over."
Site selection for children: At Knight Island State Park Campground, waterside sites offer ideal settings for families. "Every remote campsite is waterside, with fabulous access to amazing swimming, gorgeous sunsets, and fantastic hikes across the island," writes one visitor. However, they caution that "mosquitoes and black flies in the middle of the island can be nasty, sometimes better to take the perimeter route."
Gear transport options: At Underhill State Park Campground, moving camping equipment from parking to sites is made easier. "They provide wheelbarrows for easy moving of your stuff, and the campsites are super clean and well organized," notes one camper who stayed at site 6.
Activities planning: Green River Reservoir offers excellent swimming and fishing opportunities for families but requires advance planning. "Despite the fact that Green River Reservoir is only open to paddlers for primitive camping and limited day-use activities, it can still get pretty busy on the weekends. Definitely recommend trying to reserve for a weekday, or in the off season."
Site limitations: Most campgrounds near Underhill Center have significant RV restrictions. At Underhill State Park, the facilities are "very primitive and quiet" with no hookups and minimal amenities for larger camping units.
Generator restrictions: Campers with RVs should note that many area campgrounds prohibit generator use. At Mount Philo State Park Campground, the road is described as "steep and winding" and "not suitable for RVs" by experienced campers.
Alternative options: While many primitive sites cannot accommodate RVs, Little River State Park near Waterbury Reservoir offers some RV-friendly options. "Little river st park wide flat camp sites no hookups limited gen. use hours 8am/10am and 4pm/6pm. Rough road coming to campground. Very quite. Site could hold big rig we have a 28ft 5th wheel plenty of room for 35/40."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Underhill Center, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Underhill Center, VT is Underhill State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 6 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 35 tent camping locations near Underhill Center, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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