The northeastern Vermont landscape surrounding Calais features several state parks and established campgrounds with diverse accommodation options. Little River State Park Campground offers tent sites, RV spaces, cabin rentals, and glamping opportunities 25 miles west of Calais. Nearby Kettle Pond State Park provides more rustic experiences with tent and RV sites accessible via boat, drive-in, hiking, or walking trails. The region includes both developed facilities with full amenities and more secluded primitive camping areas throughout the Groton State Forest complex.
Vermont state park campgrounds in this region typically operate seasonally from mid-May through mid-October, with many closing after Columbus Day weekend. Road conditions can become challenging in spring with mud season affecting access to remote sites. Most campgrounds require reservations, particularly for weekend stays during peak summer months. Facilities like New Discovery State Park and Ricker Pond State Park maintain drinking water, picnic tables, and fire rings, but electrical hookups are limited to select locations. Cell service varies considerably throughout the area, especially in lower-elevation campsites. A visitor noted, "This is one of our favorite places to camp in Vermont. The sites are fairly private without being built too close together."
Waterfront camping opportunities represent a significant draw, with several campgrounds situated on lakes and ponds. Stillwater State Park Campground provides direct access to Groton Lake with designated swimming areas and boat launches. Many campgrounds connect to hiking trails and rail trails, creating opportunities for extended recreation beyond the campsite. Campers report high satisfaction with sites that balance privacy with access to water features. "The campground is right on the shoreline of Waterbury reservoir so there is boating and plenty of fishing. There is also ALOT OF HIKING," mentioned one reviewer. Bathroom and shower facilities receive mixed reviews, with some campgrounds offering modern amenities while others maintain more basic composting toilets without shower access.
$19 - $28 / night
"Little River State Park is located just outside of Waterbury Vermont so it’s an ideal location for jumping off on other adventures!"
"We came here to hike the Dalley Loop Trail (which is a great trail full of history), but we wish we had camped here instead of the private campground 45 minutes away where we did stay."
$19 - $110 / night
"This campground is easy to access, though owing to that one can hear traffic on the nearby road. The lake is beautiful, clear and clean, and there is a beach with sand for swimming."
"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."
"Remote campsite #9 was a bit wet this spring but in truth everything has been wet here in Vermont this year. 3 night get away with son, and first time on Kettle pond."
"Kettle Pond is a classic northern pond set in Vermont's Groton State Forest."
$20 / night
"I’d say this was one of Vermont’s best kept secrets, except I don’t think it’s exactly a secret. Even in October, the Park seemed full with visitors and Stowe was hopping!"
"They don't have all the usual amenities its more of a primitive set up. has great clean sites with multiple ways to access mount mansfields trail system which is the highest mountain in the state of Vermont"
$20 - $38 / night
"Easy access to a lake and a picnic pavilion. Noticed more than a few sites that I could hang at."
"There are hiking trails right from the campground, which we always appreciate. You can also go down to the water and rent a kayak or canoe from the rangers."
"While we were next to the creek at site 12, it was blocked by brush and trees.
Check in was easy, and the staff were present enough in case you had questions or needed to buy firewood.""It’s centrally located to many wonderful sites around Stowe and Waterbury. Check-in was a breeze. We picked up our packet from the office mail box and headed to our site."
"Check-in happens at Stillwater, purchase your firewood and drive the 2 min down to Big Deer. For Vermont, these sites felt close, but we could still get privacy."
"Very nice sites, most have good privacy and are rather large - many of them also have large boulders around them! Access to Boulder Beach is included, which is a short walk or drive down the road."
$19 - $28 / night
"Our lean-to, Hickory is situated in a lovely meadow, but quite close to other campers and a view that overlooks the campground road. There is very little shade and no privacy."
"Great hiking trails from easy to difficult. Early and late seasons are quiet. It's quite busy during the summer months as the lake is great for families and swimming."
"Tucked away in a beautiful part of Vermont, the campground is right on Groton Lake with a swimming area and designated boat launch."
"**Campground Review **
Stillwater State Park in Groton VT is a delightful retreat, nestled on the shores of Lake Groton. The campground has a mix of lean-tos and tent sites."
$35 / night
"The lake was gorgeous to swim in and had different rafts and stuff in the water for public use. The bathrooms were well maintained along with the showers."
GuideRight along the road (so if anything happens you can get help) also has wifi signal. It’s right along a creek that’s clean and beautiful. Crisp air and calming flowing river noises all night made it so I slept like a baby!
GuideDrove all the way here just to pull in and see signs that say “no overnight camping”
ScoutPublic Lands with about 8 semi private sites, each with nice views west or easterly. It's a large meadow and with a breeze, it will keep bugs away. Lacking a breeze, it is tough but still beautiful
TravelerMy favorite campsite we stayed at on my 2 week trip (despite the bugs lol). Great swimming hole and very well kept. Very beautiful and loved my stay.
ScoutI highly recommend this place, clean bathrooms, river front camping sites.
ScoutAs noted by others, most of the sites have a fire ring and nothing more. A little more than half of the sites can be driven to and others require a very short walk (50 ft?). The toilets mentioned are at Texas falls area and are not a practical walk from most of the campsites.
There are no showers.
Aside from the loop trail at the falls there are also a couple of snowmobile trails that cross the area.
RangerStayed here for a week. Josh and Dori were super nice and helpful. Level grass field with water and 30amp hookup. Fire pit port o potty, creek across the street. Very pretty setting. Dark sky area. Cell att and Verizon we decent enough to work plus they had WiFi if needed.
ScoutMy family and I stayed in cabin 1 and had a direct view on top of the Pemi river. On site managers were very helpful. Will be back!
TravelerFree dispersed camping right off of the road. 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. But, it's free, and in the beautiful mountains of vermont so cant really complain.
Camping near Calais, Vermont offers a mix of primitive and developed sites throughout Vermont's northeast region, with elevations ranging from 700 to 1,500 feet. The camping season typically spans late May through mid-October, with many campsites positioned near the extensive Groton State Forest trail system that includes 17 miles of hiking trails and 20+ miles of mountain biking routes. Weather patterns can shift quickly in this region, with average summer temperatures ranging from 50°F at night to 75°F during daytime hours.
Paddle remote sites: Kettle Pond State Park provides remote camping accessible only by water or hiking trails. "We rented canoes and paddles across Kettle Pond to one of the shelter sites in early September and it was incredible. Each site has access to a fire pit, lean-to, and outhouse but no immediate running water. Lots of great hiking near by," reports one Kettle Pond visitor.
Explore historic ruins: The trail system near Little River State Park contains remnants of abandoned settlements. "The hiking trails are really good--they're actually pretty steep. There are lots of old foundations hidden on the trails that are fun to discover," notes a camper at Little River State Park.
Climb fire towers: Several state parks offer mountain viewpoints with observation structures. "There is a fire tower you can hike at the top which provides beautiful views," mentions a camper at Elmore State Park, referring to the tower atop Elmore Mountain.
Night sky viewing: The minimal light pollution in northeast Vermont creates excellent stargazing conditions. "Because our lean-to was in a meadow with no tree coverage, we were treated to the most awesome night sky we've ever seen at a Vermont state park. It was mesmerizing!" shares a visitor at Elmore State Park.
Direct water access: Many campgrounds feature sites with waterfront locations. "Our site was right on the water and clean. The lake is really nice for kayaking or swimming, and has some loons," notes a visitor to Ricker Pond State Park.
Trail connectivity: The Cross Vermont Trail runs through several camping areas. "We took a half day bike trip on it one day to go to the town of Marshfield to visit Rainbow Sweets, home of some of the best French pastries in Vermont. We biked through marshland, seeing Great Blue Herons and other wildlife," shares a Kettle Pond camper.
Winter accessibility: Some campgrounds offer off-season use without fees. "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 a visitor to Smugglers Notch State Park.
Limited facilities: Many remote sites lack standard amenities. "Remote campsite #9 was a bit wet this spring but in truth everything has been wet here in Vermont this year... Site #9 had plenty of places to hang our hammocks, we chose the nearest location to the lean-to," shares a Kettle Pond State Park visitor.
Water restrictions: Some campgrounds require special equipment for water access. "There is a dump station and drinking water on site, but the spigots for the water are not threaded. We tried our water bandit, with messy wet results. Luckily, we found we could unscrew the head of the hose at the dump station and had no problem filling our tank with potable water," notes a camper at New Discovery State Park.
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly between camping areas. "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 a Ricker Pond visitor.
Kid-friendly sites: Certain campgrounds cater better to children's activities. "We visited here with our 5 kiddos for 2 nights late July 2016. The facilities were clean, the small playground was great, and the small boat launch and beach kept us in the water," recalls a Little River State Park camper.
Educational programs: Look for ranger-led activities for children. "On our second day, there was an interpretive program at the the pavilion. The ranger led visitors in making bark boats out of materials found in the park. The project was a great idea, as the kids could test their boats right there in the lake," shares a camper at Stillwater State Park.
Wildlife observation: Many campgrounds offer chances to view loons, beavers, and other animals. "I just took our Cub Scout Pack here and it was amazing. Bring Deet the bugs are thick but the things the kids learned and got to do they were entertained for the weekend. The fish were bitting all day long for catch and release fishing for our scouts which was perfect because some of the them kids never fished before," reports a visitor to Kettle Pond.
Bridge and road constraints: Access roads may limit larger vehicles. "Getting here isn't direct or easy, but the reward is worth it. Leave your mobile devices off, because cell towers haven't quite made it to this quiet corner of the woods," notes an RV camper at Ricker Pond State Park.
Private alternatives: For those needing hookups near towns, private campgrounds offer additional services. "Super conveniently located to all of the hiking and biking Stowe has to offer. The hosts are super friendly and the primitive camp sites are spacious and located along a quaint brook and sprawling meadow," reports a visitor to Gold Brook Campground near Stowe.
Site selection importance: Campground layouts vary significantly for RV suitability. "This campground is easy to access, though owing to that one can hear traffic on the nearby road. 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, accessible directly from the campground," mentions a Ricker Pond camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Calais, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, Calais, VT offers a wide range of camping options, with 218 campgrounds and RV parks near Calais, VT and 24 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Calais, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Calais, VT is Little River State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 24 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Calais, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 24 free dispersed camping spots near Calais, VT.
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