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Best Tent Camping near South Pomfret, VT

620 Reviews

Tent campers visiting South Pomfret, Vermont have access to several backcountry shelter options along the Appalachian Trail, as well as dispersed camping areas in the nearby Green Mountain National Forest. The Winturri and Thistle Hill Backcountry Shelters offer tent sites for hikers, while Michigan Brook Road Camping provides more accessible primitive tent setups approximately 15 miles west of South Pomfret. Happy Hill and Stony Brook shelters are additional options for those seeking established tent camping areas along the AT corridor.

Most tent sites in this region require hikers to pack in all supplies, as amenities are minimal. The backcountry shelters typically feature basic privies but inconsistent water sources that may be seasonal or unreliable during drought conditions. Michigan Brook Road sites offer drive-in access but require high-clearance vehicles during spring when the dirt road becomes muddy and rutted. Fire rings are established at most sites, though some AT shelters prohibit fires. Campers should practice Leave No Trace principles, as several areas have experienced issues with trash accumulation. Bear boxes are available at some AT shelters but not all.

The tent camping experience near South Pomfret varies significantly between backcountry and more accessible sites. AT shelter areas provide level tent platforms or designated tent spaces around the shelters, offering a wilderness experience with fellow hikers. One visitor noted that Stony Brook shelter "stood out because of a brand new privy, large tenting areas, and a swimming hole and consistent water just a bit further down the trail." Michigan Brook sites offer more privacy and the sound of flowing water, though weekend crowds can fill all available spots. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "The one before the bridge that's right next to the river is the best one!" These primitive tent camping areas serve as excellent bases for exploring the surrounding mountains and forests.

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Best Tent Sites Near South Pomfret, Vermont (35)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near South Pomfret, VT

51 Photos of 35 South Pomfret Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near South Pomfret, VT

620 Reviews of 35 South Pomfret Campgrounds

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2019

    White Mountain National Forest Wildwood Campground

    quiet, large sites

    I reviewed this campground last fall after visiting on the final day of the season, but I just had a chance to sty here during a peak summer weekend and have a few additional insights. Fees are now up to $20/night, still a bargain, but it comes with only the most basic amenities, i.e. vault toilets, running water at faucets, picnic tables and fire rings. Although the campground description indicates that the sites are first-come, first-served, this has changed and many of them are available online in advance. I didn't realize this and when i arrived late Friday afternoon I had 5 or 6 campsites to choose from that could accommodate my small teardrop camper; if I were tent camping, I'd have had a couple more sites available to me. The tent only sites require a short walk from the parking area.

    When you arrive, each site will be labelled either Reserved or _Open. _ If it is Reserved, the dates it is reserved will be listed and they may not be contiguous. All the sites filled up Friday night. 

    I had site 24 which I liked. it was very large and level, with ample space for today's large tents. The water spigot was near the site next door. I could see my neighbors, but they didn't bother me. Every host site always seems to look messy with tarp-covered items and wood piles and site 24 will give you a view of the host site, but it's far enough away that you can ignore it. 

    If I were in a tent, I'd try for site 22. It's a walk-in site that includes 7-8 steps down, but it opens into a large open area and just a bit beyond there is a small brook, too.

    The campground is just a few miles west of I-93 and the town of Woodstock. If you want to hike Mooselauke or the Kinsmans, the Appalachian Trail crosses 112 nearby. Lost River Gorge is nearby as are numerous tourist attractions/activities in Woodstock and Lincoln. Take some time to explore Cascade Park in Woodstock if you want to cool off in the river and lounge on the rocks (park on the street or in the lot that is north of 112 just before the traffic light at Rte 3 in Woodstock). While you're there, pick up ice cream at Coneheads; choose among numerous hard serve ice cream made on site (downstairs) or dozens of soft-serve flavors.

    This side of 112 seems quieter than the stretch east of Lincoln. Noise level was quite low. Cell coverage is non-existent for several miles around here; you'll start to get a signal closer to Lost River Gorge in the direction of Woodstock.

  • Justin P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2022

    Baker Rocks

    Great location and amazing facilities

    I tent camped here while doing some fishing in the area.

    Baker Rocks had a host of different camping options onsite including tent platforms, yurts, and cabins. I booked one of the tent platforms.

    The site had a large tent platform they could fit multiple tents, a brand new picnic table, a fire ring (with a free bundle of firewood), two chairs by the fire ring, and even a few strings of solar lights around the camp area.

    The tent sites are within the wooded area around the property and felt very secluded. There was a bit of road noise overnight.

    The facilities here were great. There is a full bathhouse with individual rooms for showers and sink/toilets, with running water.

    Around the campground there was a little beach along the Baker river. I only caught a few minnows when fishing but that may have been more to do with the angler. Along another bend of the river were two chairs for taking in the scenery.

    Check-in was super easy with the camp hosts who were very flexible with timing and wanted to make sure I had a great stay. The property and individual sites are deliberately designed with guests in mind.

    I would definitely stay here again if I’m in the area and might try some of the glamping options as well.

  • 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

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

    Gifford Woods State Park Campground

    Quiet and well maintained campground

    I tent camped here before doing a section hike of the Appalachian Trail and it was one of the best campgrounds I’ve stayed at before.

    The sites have some privacy and woods in between, though the tent sites vs. shelters and cabins were mostly closer to the access road. All sites were super clean and had a picnic table and fire ring. Most sites had a built in cooking fire structure (vs. a fire ring) they looked great for camp cooking, though my site (T01) seemed to be the only without it.

    The facilities were well-maintained, there were water spigots everywhere, and though I didn’t get a chance to enjoy, there were lots of activities right there (volleyball lawn, the AT running right through the campground, mountain bike trails).

    I didn’t stay in them, but the cabins and lean-tos looked great for group or family options.

    Kent Pond was also just across the road for water activities, and I saw at least one fly fisher out.

    Killington was also right nearby for restaurants and other needs.

    I will definitely be coming back to explore more!

  • Lauren S.
    Jul. 27, 2020

    Moosalamoo Campground

    Hidden Gem

    Tucked down a gravel road in the Green Mountain National Forest is this hidden treasure. Large sites, friendly campground host, the moosalamoo trailhead right next to campground. The trail connects to many others. You will pass several trailheads on your way up to the campground. Many of the sites are reservable, others are first come first serve. You will find a pay station as you enter the campsite. The camp host is at site 1. Surprisingly clean vault toilets. No showers. There are dumpsters on the way out for trash and recycling. I saw bear storage lockers but I did not use them as I had my bear keg with me. Behind the parking spur at the site there is gravel with picnic table and fire pit. Beyond that in the trees was a spot for the tent. I didn’t experience many bugs, no mosquitoes, what I saw the most of were caterpillars. But If you needed bug spray or forgot anything back in town a few miles Ripton grocery has you covered.

  • Sarah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 1, 2021

    New Discovery State Park Campground

    Interesting State Park

    This state park has a little bit of everything. There are sites with electric hookups as well as some without. Some sites are in the middle of a grassy field while others are tucked in the trees. Site size various pretty vastly as you travel through the campground. There are two main loops, one is more secluded and spaced out than the other. The campground loops have bath houses, complete with coin operated showers. Park staff were attentive and restrooms were being cleaned with frequency. 

    There are more remote walk-in shelters on the Osmore Pond, located within New Discovery State Park. The shelters are rustic, have shared outhouses between a few sites, fire pits and small picnic tables. The remote sites are spaced nicely around the pond along a hiking trail that skirts the perimeter. The walk from the parking area to the shelters varies, depending what side of the pond you are camping on. If bringing a full-sized cooler(or other large/luxury car camping items) be sure you are heading to a site closer to the parking area. It would be a challenge to get some of those larger, heavier items to sites across the pond from the parking lot.

Guide to South Pomfret

Tent camping opportunities around South Pomfret, Vermont extend beyond the Appalachian Trail corridor into several dispersed camping areas within Green Mountain National Forest. The region sits at elevations between 700-2,000 feet with seasonal variations that impact camping conditions throughout the year. Vermont state lands allow primitive camping with restrictions on stay duration and group size, typically limiting campers to 14 days within a 30-day period.

What to do

Explore Michigan Brook Road: Michigan Brook Road in Pittsfield (about 15 miles west of South Pomfret) offers multiple dispersed camping areas along a dirt access road. "Drive in about a mile after the parking lot!! Can use car to get in! There's 3 camping spots. 1 before the bridge and 2 after the bridge!" notes TRUCKER C.

Visit local swimming spots: During summer months, several backcountry areas feature natural swimming opportunities. The area near Last Light on Michigan Brook provides stream access for cooling off. "Love this site! The very last spot on the right hand side. If you've reached the closed gate you've missed the site!" writes Thomas and James S.

Prepare for seasonal road conditions: Spring visits require high-clearance vehicles on forest service roads. "Road goes in pretty far. Some parts are muddy and very rough. Higher clearance would be advised!!!" cautions Thomas and James S. regarding Michigan Brook Road access.

What campers like

Proximity to water features: Many campers prefer sites with stream access for both water supply and recreation. As Maggie F. notes about Michigan Brook, "We camped near the beginning of the road but would recommend driving down if you can because you can camp next to the river after you cross the bridge."

Spacious tent platforms: Winturri Backcountry Shelter receives positive reviews for its tent options, with Justin P. noting, "The shelter is on the larger side and could fit maybe 6-8 folks. There were lots of tent camping spots as you worked up the hill perpendicular to the shelter."

Winter accessibility: For cold-weather camping, some areas remain accessible with proper preparation. "I stayed at this campsite located at the end of upper Michigan road. It is winter and there is a lot of snow. The main road to the parking lot is plowed and sanded," reports Keegz M., though adding that continuing down service roads requires "snowshoes or a snowmobile."

What you should know

Limited cell service: Communication can be challenging in these remote areas. One Michigan Road camper explicitly warns: "PLEASE NOTE: THIS LOCATION DOES NOT PROVIDE CELL PHONE SERVICE OR WIFI CONNECTION." They add that cell service is available "if you walk to the end of upper Michigan Brook road."

Water source reliability: Water availability varies dramatically by season and weather conditions. At Thistle Hill Backcountry Shelter, Justin P. notes, "There was a decent privvy (see photos) and water during my stay, though it was right after a smaller storm the previous evening."

Area closures possible: Always check current status before planning your trip. One reviewer reported in May 2021 that "Road has been closed" regarding Michigan Brook access, although more recent reviews indicate it has reopened.

Tips for camping with families

Best tent camping near South Pomfret: For families seeking the best tent camping near South Pomfret, Vermont with children, select sites with level, open spaces. At Happy Hill Backcountry Shelter, Justin P. found "a bunch of level tent camp sites around the shelter," making it suitable for groups with kids.

Facilities consideration: When camping with children, sites with newer facilities may prove more comfortable. One camper noted about Happy Hill that "The privvy was relatively new and in great shape," an important factor for families.

Pack-in necessities: Families should plan to bring all essentials. At Michigan Brook Road Camping, the nearest supplies are at "a gas station along with a United States Post Office as well as a general store which also serves as a restaurant. There you can find just about anything. Gas, firewood, water/drinks and a restroom."

Tips from RVers

Road clearance requirements: RV campers report that Michigan Brook sites can accommodate smaller rigs but require caution. Maggie F. advises, "The area is big enough to bring an RV if you can get it down the dirt road," but warns about spring conditions when "the dirt road gets muddy and quite rutted."

Seasonal considerations: For the best tent camping near South Pomfret with an RV, timing matters significantly. Michigan Brook area is described as "open for camping year-round but probably only accessible in Spring through early Fall because the dirt road is not plowed."

Site selection strategy: During busy periods, arrive early to secure preferred locations. "I found most of the spots to be on the road before the GPS marker. Few nice ones near the creek. I stayed at one on top of a hill—lots of space at mine," reports goose10091203 about Michigan Road Camping.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near South Pomfret, VT is Winturri Backcountry Shelter on the AT in Vermont — Appalachian National Scenic Trail with a 4-star rating from 3 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 35 tent camping locations near South Pomfret, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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