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Best Tent Camping near South Duxbury, VT

695 Reviews

Dispersed tent camping near South Duxbury centers primarily on Green Mountain National Forest, where several walk-in tent locations provide primitive experiences along rivers and streams. Route 100 Dispersed Camping and Green Mountain National Forest FR25 offer tent sites with fire rings and picnic tables but minimal services. Camel's Hump State Park provides designated tent platforms approximately 1.5 miles into the hiking trail, with a campsite host and shared food storage area to mitigate bear encounters.

Tent campers should be prepared for truly primitive conditions at most sites. The dispersed areas along Forest Road 25 feature established fire rings but no drinking water, toilets, or trash service. Many sites are positioned along small streams or rivers, providing natural ambiance but potentially damp conditions. Several walk-in tent locations require wheelbarrows or multiple trips to transport gear from parking areas. According to reviews, some areas have experienced overuse issues, with the Forest Service posting notices about proper waste disposal to prevent site closures. Most backcountry tent sites remain open from May through October, though higher-elevation locations may have shorter seasons due to snow.

Tent camping areas in this region offer exceptional privacy and natural immersion. The walk-in sites at Underhill State Park provide a sense of backcountry camping while maintaining vehicle access nearby. Sites along Patterson Brook feature crystal-clear water and relative seclusion despite being accessible from a dirt road. During weekdays, many tent campsites see minimal traffic, though reviewers note weekend popularity has increased. For those willing to paddle, remote tent sites at Waterbury Reservoir provide exceptional isolation. One visitor described their experience: "These remote sites are so peaceful. The bathroom is a composting toilet that you'll share with fishing spiders the size of your hand, slam the lid before use!"

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Best Tent Sites Near South Duxbury, Vermont (48)

    1. Camel's Hump State Park — Camels Hump State Park

    2 Reviews
    Bolton, VT
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 879-6565

    $10 / 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"

    2. Green Mountain National Forest FR25 - Dispersed Camping

    4 Reviews
    Warren, VT
    13 miles
    Website

    "All the sites were full when I visited (6 to 8 sites, approximately, but i didn't go down a couple little gravel paths to check each spot as you couldn't turn around easily) , so I didn't get to camp there"

    "Beautiful sites on the River but with the wet summer, we just couldn’t dry out. Make sure to lock you valuables. Our Jackery, Solar panels & toilet were stolen."

    3. Route 100 Dispersed Camping

    5 Reviews
    Warren, VT
    13 miles

    "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."

    "This is right next to Mad River with a area to walk down into a swimming hole. Great place."

    4. Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites — Waterbury Center State Park

    1 Review
    Waterbury Center, VT
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 585-4855

    "The bathroom is a composting toilet that you’ll share with fishing spiders the size of your hand, slam the lid before use!"

    5. Mount Philo State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Charlotte, VT
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 425-2390

    $23 / 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."

    6. Underhill State Park Campground

    6 Reviews
    Underhill Center, VT
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 899-3022

    "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."

    7. Patterson Brookside camp on West Hill Road

    2 Reviews
    Granville, VT
    18 miles

    "The dirt road along the river is an easy drive, though it is single lane in a few locations, so be aware of oncoming traffic. "

    "Be sure to camp at spots with established fire rings! There is no services of any sorts at this location. Mostly local traffic. Peaceful! Gorgeous rock river 💜"

    8. Indian Brook Reservoir

    2 Reviews
    Essex Junction, VT
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 878-1342

    $21 - $36 / night

    "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."

    9. Molly’s Falls Pond State Park Campground (Remote Hike In Sites)

    1 Review
    Marshfield, VT
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 476-0170

    "Route 2 traverses the northern edge of the property and there is a dam at the western end of the reservoir that is owned by Green Mountain Power Company. "

    10. Green River Reservoir State Park Campground

    3 Reviews
    Hyde Park, VT
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 888-1349

    $20 - $50 / night

    "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."

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near South Duxbury, VT

50 Photos of 48 South Duxbury Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near South Duxbury, VT

695 Reviews of 48 South Duxbury Campgrounds

  • Beth R.
    Jun. 27, 2024

    Smugglers Notch State Park Campground

    Newly Developed … Work in Progress

    Pros: Full hookup (sewer, water, 50 AMP) 1.7 mile from #7 Ranked World's Best Disc Golf Course: Fox Run Meadows New fire ring New picnic table Gorgeous Mountain View

    Cons: Grass site No amenities No Wi-Fi Soft ground, sinked during setup

  • Amber A.
    Jul. 25, 2016

    Ausable Point Campground

    Ranger Review: Crazy Creek Air Chair Plus at Ausable Point Campground

    Campground Review: Lakeshore camping! Beautiful little peninsula where you can watch the sunrise/set. Lovely in autumn. Good birding, water activities, sunsets, geology/gorge, short easy forest hikes, beach walking, all the good stuff you expect from this part of New York. Most of the site is off limits because of wildlife preserve, still a lot to explore. Good as base camp for a few days in the area. Get the tents sites near the lake! Popular for day use area (picnics, birthday parties, etc). Stay here and you can say you camped in Peru! (Lots of upstate NY towns are named for countries.)

    Gear Review: As a The Dyrt Ranger I receive products to test and review. I won the Crazy Creek Air Chair Plus in a campground review contest in June 2016. I had been thinking of purchasing both a camp chair (for camping) and an air mattress (for camping & backpacking), as on my last few trips I got pretty sick of sitting on my closed-cell foam mat and a recent knee injury was making me rethink my open-cell foam ultralight sleeping pad. Well, this Crazy Creek Air Chair Plus does both and does them both well. It starts out as a camp chair (adjustable angle, typical back height) and flips open to a full size air pad made by Klymit. Sounds great right? I flew to NY for a whirlwind family/business/camping trip soon after receiving the chair and had ample opportunities to try it sleeping on friends’ floors and in tents. The chair portion was super comfortable, way better than any simple camp chairs I’d used. I was nervous about sitting on more rugged surfaces (I’m just paranoid about inflatables!) but so far so good. You can also flip open the bed part while you're sitting and have an extended leg rest to protect against hot sand or dirt. The conversion to the sleeping pad was simple. It inflates fairly easily, but at high altitude after a long day of hiking you might be a little annoyed puffing it all up. Sleeping on it was great: my knee and back were happier than with my open-cell foam mats (similar to the typical Thermarest). The one issue I had was that there’s a big dip/joint where the mattress flips out in the conversion from chair to bed---it’s not really that intrusive but I guess my side-sleeping and height (5’4”) conspired to annoy me a bit. Also the R value is very low (it’s not insulting) just like every other air pad but in the summer that’s fine with me. All the other aspects of sleeping on it were similar to other pads I’ve used (it’s kind of narrow, your bag will slide around a bit, etc). Doesn’t pack down too small & isn’t ultralight, but you could remove the chair aspect to help with that. In sleeping mode it’s 20” wide, 70” long, 2.5” thick, 2 lb 13 oz (according to packaging). So while this is my very first camp chair and air mattress, I’m really happy with it after 7 nights sleeping on it and many hours in the chair. It’s not gimmicky at all!

    PS: Can you tell I’m way more picky about gear than campsites? :)

  • Craig F.
    Jul. 23, 2018

    North Beach Campground

    Amazing Location!

    We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at North Beach Campground.

    We spent 4 days in a full hookup site. The site was spacious, tree covered, and hard packed grass/dirt. Overall the site was very level with good water pressure. The water/electric sites in the middle of the campground were a bit snug. The campground is a city operated campground and we were impressed with the upkeep, maintenance and friendly service during our stay. The camp office is small, but has information on area attractions, Ice, and fire wood. The bathhouse/restrooms were well kept during our stay even with the volume of campers at the site.

    Location, Location, Location is the main reason to stay at North Beach. The campground is literally along the Island Line bike/walking trail and had direct access to the beach on Lake Champlain (life guards, snack bar, and patio bar). The city center of Burlington is only 1.5 miles along the bike path from the campground. Most days we either walked or biked into town (which has ample bike racks to park your bike).

    While we stayed in our camper, as a former die-hard tent camper, I was impressed with the number of tent friendly sites, because most campgrounds see tenters as “second class”. The tent sites were spacious, level, and not located in some obscure location.  

    We loved North Beach and plan to camp here in the future!

  • Justin P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2022

    Velvet Rocks Shelter Backcountry Campground on the AT — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    Standard AT back country shelter on the limited site of tent camping

    Note this is a back country shelter along the Appalachian Trail, so it is 100% long hike in with no guaranteed water and a basic privvy.

    I tented along here for a night during a section hike of the AT from Lyme into Vermont.

    The shelter was the basic AT 3-sided wood structure and was generally in good shape.

    The water source here was dry during my trip which was expected during the drought (August 2022).

    The tent camping here was ok, with some slightly slanted spots around the main shelter area.

    There was no real view from the shelter.  There was also a basic privvy available.

    This was a decent shelter to stop at along the AT, but I would not consider it a weekend destination.

    There was no bear box onsite.

  • Justin P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2022

    Stony Brook Backcountry Shelter on the AT in Vermont — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    Basic AT shelter with lots of tent camping and swimming hole nearby

    Note: This is a hike in back country shelter with unreliable water and a pit bathroom.

    I tented here on a section hike of the AT. The shelter was a fairly basic 8ish person shelter, but this stop stood out because of a brand new privvy, large tenting areas, and a swimming hole and consistent water just a bit further down the trail (when heading northbound).

    For camping, there were a few large tent areas where multiple tents could fit and which looked quite level.

    The privvy looked brand new and was more spacious than most on the trail.

    There was no water on the shelter, but there was plenty of water at Stony Brook / Mink Brook a bit further northbound. I only explored a bit offtrail down the brook but found a decent swimming hole (could just barely submerge myself) to clean off a bit.

    There was also a bear box here, which I hadn't seen at other shelters along the AT in Vermont (heading southbound).

    Although the shelter was fairly basic, I would keep this on my list as a go-to place to stop if I was planning to hike in the area.

  • Kate K.
    Aug. 1, 2019

    Camel's Hump State Park — Camels Hump State Park

    Amazing Hike! Great Campground

    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. The designated primitive camping area is about 1.5 miles into the hike. If I recall it had about 10-12 sites. The area had a host who was there 24/7 and a shared area for eating and food storage (I guess Bear’s are a problem there). We hiked all day, so we didn’t have a fire and to be honest I can’t remember if there was a shared spot for them or not. Either way, this hike was gorgeous and so was the camping. I would love to go back!

  • J
    Sep. 24, 2018

    Lazy Lions Campground

    Adults only, comfortable but lacking excursions

    Lazy Lions is a comfortable campground with an adults-only policy. Having spent time in plenty of campgrounds with screaming or unwinded children, I could see this as a positive draw for the RV'ing crowd. I think we were the only tent campers the night we stayed.

    Our tent site was level and on comfy plush grass, well maintained and either a beautiful addition of two (plastic) adirondack chairs at our fire pit with grill. This was especially welcome because we hadn't really planned on cooking but when we saw the great fire set up not only did we save time and energy by not having to take out (and put away!) our camping chairs, I was able to turn our chips and salsa into nachos using some amazing Vermont cheese we'd picked up earlier. My boyfriend has declared this was his favorite camping meal ever so thanks Lazy Lions for the unexpected awesomeness.

    Our check in was smoothe, there was plenty of room at this campground, perhaps due to the fact that there isn't too much to do other than set up and sleep. It did have a pool.

    On check in we found the front desk (owner?) to be less than warm, and at $7 to firewood a little pricey. We were warned to be careful with our food because of "critters" and when I asked what kind of critters the man responded, "all of them". Less than helpful. In hindsight we believe we found bear scat on our site.

    We slept well, bathroom facilities were clean and well stocked. Showers, which we did not use, we $0.25 for four minutes. There was a microwave and wash sink as well for dishes, we didn't use either.

    We met lovely people and had a fine night, there was just nothing particularly special about the place

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 10, 2024

    Lake Carmi State Park Campground

    Quiet lakefront camping post Labor Day

    General: Large state park with two loops, both of which are lakefront. A mix of primitive sites (no w/e/s), lean-tos, and two cabins, one in each section. Sites/lean-tos are designated premium (lakefront) or non. There is also an ADA-accessible lean-to. Upon check-in, you are given a gate code to enter. 

    Site Quality: Our site, like all others, was generous in size and a back-in site. Most sites don’t have clearly defined camper pads, and the surface is grass/dirt (or mud if it has rained recently). A large wooden picnic table and fire ring complete the site. There are plentiful trees, so each site has at least some shade and some are very shaded. 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. Cold water only at both the sinks and the shower (at least I didn’t get any hot water). The showers do take quarters and although you get five minutes for each quarter (up to 15 quarters, although I can’t imagine taking that long of a shower), it was quite possibly the wimpiest shower I’ve experienced in quite some time. But, after I finished, I saw my quarter had been returned. The toilet paper was so thin, it was nearly transparent! 

    Activities: Although swimming is allowed, the “beaches” are very small and there was a bacteria warning in place when we were there advising against swimming. There are two boat launch areas, one in each loop. Great for kayaks, and canoes, and we saw what looked like a fishing boat. There was one very annoying motorboat revving its engine while doing circles in the lake. The day-use area has a small, dated playground, fire pit, horseshoe pit, and volleyball net. There is a short nature trail and one other small walking trail. Nearby is access to the Missisquoi Rail Trail. 

    A surprise was a family of ducks who visited our site when I was outside reading! Our 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. We were annoyed by one loud boat so I can’t imagine what it would be like if the lake was filled with boaters. This is why we prefer shoulder-season camping!

  • S
    Mar. 27, 2017

    White Caps Campground

    We were so surprised that this was such a dump!

    We made a single nights reservation, for a tent, based on recommendation from Kingdom Trails website. The campground is located in a beautiful area of Vermont, but....the tenting campground, a bit dismal. We arrived to find a teeny tiny space, right next to other spaces...in fact, had we set up our small tent, we would be less than ten feet from adjacent tents. Within less than 20 feet across the dirt path were side by side tent trailers and rvs. We would not have been able to use the metal fire ring because the fire would have been within 6 feet of our small tent. When we backed our car onto the narrow space, it was within a foot of the picnic table. Basically, it would have been like camping in a WalMart parking lot on a Saturday morning...if the parking lot was a treeless dirt lot. Within 3 minutes, we decided there was no way we could stay here, we were just not that desperate! We stopped at the rest room on the way out...gross! Smelly, wet, dirty, dingy. As we left, we decided that this was the best 25.00 we ever wasted...in fact, you could not have paid us to stay there . We cannot believe Kingdom Trails continues to suggest this disaster. I will add, the girl at the store/office was quite friendly...but she did not seem surprised when we returned for our bathroom key deposit so quickly! We were fortunate in that we could just head home...but if you are planning on a peaceful nights rest after mountain biking or hiking, this is not the place. There are beautiful state parks that we could recommend, and we just don't want folks that end up here to think that this is typical for Vermont camping!

Guide to South Duxbury

Dispersed tent camping in South Duxbury, Vermont offers primitive backcountry sites within 30 miles of Montpelier at elevations from 800 to 2,500 feet. Forest Service roads provide access to isolated camping areas along mountain streams, particularly in sections of Green Mountain National Forest where seasonal roads may limit vehicle access during winter and spring mud season.

What to do

Paddling to remote sites: Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites offers boat-in tent camping with exceptional privacy. "These remote sites are so peaceful. Be sure to launch from cotton brook road if your site r11-27. We made the mistake of parking at little River rd the first time and the paddle to r14 from there was way too long," advises Julia S.

Hiking Mt. Mansfield: The trails near Underhill State Park connect directly to Vermont's highest peak. "The campground is in a perfect spot. About a .3 mile hike to the main trail to climb the mountain," reports Sam T. This proximity makes it convenient for tent campers wanting early summit starts.

Fishing opportunities: Several tent camping areas provide access to local waterways with diverse fish populations. "Anglers will find a variety of fish including rainbow trout, brown trout, northern pike, pickerel, smallmouth bass and yellow perch here," notes a reviewer about Molly's Falls Pond State Park, which offers 5 unofficial remote campsites.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Mount Philo State Park earns praise for its secluded tent sites. "Only 8 campsites, dispersed in the trees. $23/night. Picnic table and fire pit. Moderate cell service," writes Kaelin P. The small campground size means less crowding even during summer weekends.

Stream-side camping: Patterson Brookside camp provides tent sites alongside running water. "Mountain road lingers along the river. There's quite a few sites along the road. Be sure to camp at spots with established fire rings! There is no services of any sorts at this location," advises Thomas and James S.

Dark night skies: The rural setting and minimal development create excellent stargazing conditions. "What can i say about this lovely state park campground? Totally beautiful, private spots, pit toilets and a night sky to die for!" reports Molly G. about her tent camping experience at Underhill State Park.

What you should know

Site closure risk: Some areas have faced management challenges. "This area is being heavily use and some spots are being shut down from abuse, please be aware that you have a lot of impact, and that impact can be positive or negative. Choose Positive!" warns Miccal M. about Patterson Brookside camp.

Weather considerations: The best tent camping near South Duxbury, Vermont often experiences significant moisture. "Beautiful sites on the River but with the wet summer, we just couldn't dry out. Make sure to lock you valuables. Our Jackery, Solar panels & toilet were stolen," reports Melissa M. about Green Mountain National Forest FR25.

Signage confusion: Some areas have unclear status. "This site was lovely, but signs say No Camping. There were a few spots with fire rings and picnic tables and would be a great place to camp though! Not sure how strict that is," explains Helen P. about Route 100 Dispersed Camping.

Tips for camping with families

Transportation logistics: Indian Brook Reservoir requires planning for gear transport. "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," advises Erin B.

Campsite selection: When tent camping with children, certain sites offer better accommodations. "Campsite 6 and loved waking up to the sound of the stream down the embankment," reports Ali T. about her family's experience at Underhill State Park.

Wildlife awareness: Camping in this region requires proper food storage. "The area had a host who was there 24/7 and a shared area for eating and food storage (I guess Bear's are a problem there)," notes Kate K. about Camel's Hump State Park.

Tips from RVers

Access limitations: Most dispersed camping areas near South Duxbury have poor RV access. "Entrance and exit are a little steep and tricky in the winter, lot wasn't plowed so AWD/4x4 and good ground clearance are recommended," explains Chris D. about Route 100 Dispersed Camping.

Site restrictions: Green River Reservoir State Park maintains strict use policies. "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," notes Mackenzie B., highlighting that no RVs can access these remote tent sites.

Alternative campgrounds: When seeking RV-friendly options near the best tent camping near South Duxbury, Vermont, look to established parks. "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," writes Rita M. about Mount Philo, though she cautions "the road is steep and winding, it's not suitable for RVs."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near South Duxbury, VT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near South Duxbury, VT is Camel's Hump State Park — Camels Hump State Park with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near South Duxbury, VT?

TheDyrt.com has all 48 tent camping locations near South Duxbury, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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