241 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The Thetford, Vermont area features multiple established campgrounds offering a mix of accommodation types within a 15-mile radius. Rest N Nest Campground in East Thetford provides tent and RV sites with full hookups, while nearby Quechee-Pine Valley KOA in White River Junction offers cabins and glamping options in addition to traditional sites. Campgrounds on both sides of the Connecticut River serve this region, with facilities in neighboring New Hampshire towns like Orford and Hanover providing similar camping experiences. Primitive camping can be found at backcountry shelters along the Appalachian Trail, which passes through the area.
Most developed campgrounds near Thetford operate seasonally from late April through mid-October, with limited year-round options. "The bathrooms were cleaner than mine at home. Nostalgic feel with playground, pool, and rec hall," noted one camper at Rest N Nest Campground. Reservation requirements vary by facility, with most private campgrounds accepting advance bookings while backcountry sites typically require permits but not reservations. Weather conditions factor significantly into camping plans, with spring bringing potential flooding along riverfront sites. Cell service can be spotty in more remote locations, particularly at Appalachian Trail shelters and in areas with steep terrain. Facilities range from full-service campgrounds with electric hookups, water, and dump stations to primitive sites with only basic toilets.
Riverside camping represents a distinctive feature in the Thetford region, with several campgrounds situated along the Connecticut River. According to reviews on The Dyrt, the Pastures Campground in Orford offers "spacious lots with tables and fire rings" directly on the river, providing water views and recreational opportunities. Family-friendly amenities appear frequently in campground reviews, with playgrounds, swimming pools, and recreation halls mentioned at multiple facilities. Smaller, family-owned campgrounds tend to receive particularly positive feedback regarding cleanliness and owner hospitality. For those seeking a more rustic experience, backcountry shelters along the Appalachian Trail provide opportunities for solitude, though water sources may be unreliable during dry periods and visitors must pack in all supplies.
"The Quechee Gorge, best accessed from the back of the lawn behind the bathhouse, is the deepest in Vermont.. which is kind of like saying the best bagel or most populous city in Vermont."
"Got there close to the time the rangers left for the night, Nick was really kind to make sure I got situated before he left."
from $38 / night
Check Availability"Nice rustic ,small all amenities park.Great place to explore Vermont ,hundreds of things to do and see in the area. Really like this park."
"While staying here I could enjoy some fishing, taking the dog for a nice walk, enjoy the evening with a nice fire, camp side, and go swimming on those hot summer days."
"Only one of the sites is located along the brook (45), but there's an easy path down a hill. "
"Off the beaten path so its peaceful. Sites are a little small but great if you're camping with a group so your close together. Plenty of sites/types to choose from."
from $30 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Both times were very different experiences, but overall very positive. Just because there are a few, I will mention the cons first."
"Plenty of walking for dogs with a natural pool for them to swim in and the large pool with pirate ship is perfect for little kids with the beach entry. easy location to get to with a travel trailer too"
from $49 - $129 / night
Check Availability"In New Hampshire; Vermont is across the river on the north side of the property. Nice bathroom, showers, laundry room, library. Spacious lots with tables and fire rings."
from $25 - $35 / night
Check Availability"I had site 1 which is near office but away from all other sites so it was very quiet. It's a large site with a nearby brook on 2 sides."
from $30 - $40 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $75 / night
Check Availability"Nice campground located in the valley of mountains. Wooded sites but close to your neighbors."
"On our walk our daughter found a lost “moose” who got away from the camp store. Once returned she was able to pick a prize. They also had a tinker bell walk and other activities."
from $62 - $209 / night
Check Availability"I set up my tent in one of the tent areas outside the shelter. There were a few spots for tenting but not a lot. There was a standard back country privacy here as well."
ScoutReally enjoyed the setting at Crow’s Nest. There are lots of trees and having the Sugar River running alongside the campground gives the whole place a nice New Hampshire feel. We were mostly looking for somewhere to disconnect for a couple of days, cook outside, fish a little, and enjoy being away from home. Crow’s Nest was a great fit for that.
ScoutWhat we liked most about Crow’s Nest was being able to choose between doing absolutely nothing or heading out and exploring. One day we stayed around the campground, went swimming and relaxed by the river. The next day we got out and explored more of the Lake Sunapee area. It made a really good home base and it was always nice coming back to our campsite at the end of the day.
ScoutVery Disappointed With the Changes
Crown Point Campground used to be a wonderful place to camp. Unfortunately, since Happy Grounds purchased the campground, we have seen a significant decline in the overall experience.
I do want to make one thing very clear: the woman managing the campground is absolutely wonderful. She genuinely cares about the campers, is kind, helpful, and does her best to make people feel welcome. Our frustrations are not directed toward her. She deserves recognition for the effort she puts in, especially given the circumstances.
Unfortunately, there are serious concerns with the direction the campground has taken. There is no reliable Wi-Fi or cell service, which is especially concerning because there is no dependable way to call out in the event of an emergency. We have also seen a significant change in the atmosphere and clientele. Drugs have been found on the premises, including needles, which is extremely concerning for the safety of campers, especially families with children.
The campground has also become increasingly overcrowded. Tent sites have had upwards of 10 people on a single site, creating a very different camping experience from what many long-time campers originally signed up for.
Seasonal campers were told that there would be a gradual increase over two years to bring rates up to the new “going rate.” However, when the new contracts came out for next year, the price had increased by approximately $900. That is a substantial increase for a campground that, in our opinion, has continued to decline rather than improve.
What was perhaps most disappointing was how campers' concerns were handled. When people questioned the increase and expressed their frustrations, the response from the corporation was, and I quote:
“Get out and leave. I’ve heard enough complaints. Just leave if you don’t like it.”
That is an incredibly disappointing way to speak to people who have supported this campground for years.
It is heartbreaking to see what Crown Point Campground has become. There are good people here, and the campground itself has so much potential. Most importantly, the manager genuinely cares about the campers, and she deserves credit for that.
Our hope is that Happy Grounds will listen to the people who have invested years of their time and money here, address the safety and overcrowding concerns, and bring back the sense of community that once made Crown Point such a wonderful place to camp.
Scout⭐**Gunstock Campground: Apparently Your Reserved Site Is More of a Suggestion**
I don't believe I have**ever** left a negative Google review. I generally think that when something goes wrong, you contact the business, give them an opportunity to make it right, and most businesses are genuinely interested in doing exactly that.
Gunstock Campground has cured me of that quaint notion.
I reserved a full-hookup campsite for two nights. I was unable to make it there the first night, but arrived shortly after 7:00 a.m. the next morning. The camp store, where registration takes place, wasn't open yet, so I headed out for my planned hike— about six miles through the Belknaps, including summiting Rowe twice and Gunstock.
By the time I returned, I was utterly exhausted, starving, and actually feeling weak. My ambitions for the afternoon were modest:**eat something, take a shower, and collapse at the campsite I had paid for.**
The staff at the camp store greeted me warmly, checked me in, and sent me on my way.
I drove to my site. There was already a camper in it. Not merely*parked* there, mind you. They had apparently moved right in. They were hooked up to**my site's water and electric**, with water spraying from their ill-fitting hose connection and forming a rather impressive puddle underneath the camper.
I returned to the camp store to report that someone had apparently activated Gunstock's new**"Choose Any Site You Like"** camping plan. A staff member went down to speak with them and came back to tell me they were "packing up." Excellent! My mistake was assuming" packing up" meant**leaving**. It did not.
Apparently these campers had actually reserved a site**two rows away** that had**no water or electric**. Yet somehow, sometime after arriving the previous night, they had accidentally found themselves two rows over, in my clearly different site, connected to utilities their reservation didn't include.
We've all made mistakes. I've occasionally parked one space away from where I intended. I've never accidentally parked**two rows away, hooked myself up to someone else's electricity and water, and spent the night.**
But perhaps I lack imagination.
After they had now consumed about an hour of my afternoon— which, incidentally, is an hour I normally bill at attorney rates— I went back toward my site expecting to find it finally vacated.
And it was! Because Gunstock had moved these folks to another site**two spaces away from me**, apparently allowing them to pay for the upgrade they had already been test-driving. So the people who knowingly or unknowingly occupied my reserved full-hookup site, used the utilities, and delayed me from getting into the site I paid for were rewarded with...a nearby full-hookup site.
They never walked over to apologize. At that point, I no longer felt comfortable staying. It's difficult to relax at a campground when you've just discovered that site assignments appear to operate somewhat on the honor system— and that when someone helps themselves to your reserved site and utilities, management's solution is apparently to make sure *they* remain comfortably accommodated nearby. So I left. On my way home, I called Gunstock and asked for a refund. Surely, I thought, this would be the easy part. After all, I had paid for two nights, hadn't used the first, couldn't get into my site when I arrived for the second, waited while unauthorized occupants vacated it, and ultimately left because the entire experience had become so unpleasant.
Nope. Instead, the staff member **defended the other campers**. I was told they arrived late and "mistakenly" took my site. I was even told they supposedly **hadn't used the utilities**. This was particularly fascinating information for me to receive because **I PERSONALLY SAW THEM HOOKED UP TO THE WATER AND ELECTRIC.** I also took photographs. Including the enormous puddle underneath their camper from the leaking water connection. But apparently my eyewitness account and photographs were no match for the alternative version of events.
For my inconvenience, however, Gunstock did give me a coupon for a **free Bavarian pretzel**. So there is that.
I paid for a full-hookup campsite. Someone else occupied it and used the hookups. I lost roughly an hour waiting to access what I had reserved. The other campers were accommodated with an upgraded site nearby. I left because I no longer felt comfortable staying. And when I asked Gunstock to make the situation right, they refused to refund me and instead argued with me about things **I had personally witnessed and photographed**. The most disappointing part isn't that another camper took my site. Campers can behave badly. Businesses can't control everything their customers do. **What a business CAN control is how it responds when that happens. ** Gunstock had every opportunity to turn this into a mildly annoying story about a camping mix-up. Instead, they turned it into my first negative Google review.
But hey... **I do have that free pretzel coupon.**
ScoutCrow’s Nest was a really convenient stop for us while traveling through New Hampshire. Getting our RV situated was easy and we had everything we needed for a comfortable stay.
TravelerIt was everything we were looking for, right on the river, quiet and clean, the section we stayed in was all tent camping so we weren’t sandwiched in between a bunch of RVs blocking the view. There was no lights, generators or loud music. Alcohol wasn’t permitted so that really cuts down on a lot of unnecessary nonsense. Pets are permitted and our dog loved it. It was very pleasant and relaxing. Can’t wait to go back.
ScoutWe brought the kids here for a few days and they had a blast. Between swimming, exploring around the campground, and just riding around and making friends, they always had something to do. For us, it was nice being able to actually relax while the kids stayed entertained. We cooked at the campsite most nights and spent the evenings around the fire. Great family trip.
ScoutThe Sugar River was probably our favorite part of staying here. There is something really relaxing about waking up, making coffee, and being able to walk down by the river first thing in the morning. We spent our days fishing, hanging around the campground, and exploring the area. Crow’s Nest has a classic New Hampshire campground feel and we would definitely come back.
TravelerNo major complaints. Beautiful location, easy to get to, convenient RV hookups. Goose poop everywhere so watch your step. Showers are relatively expensive. Sites are very very close together.
The Connecticut River Valley bordering eastern Vermont and western New Hampshire defines the camping landscape near Thetford, Vermont. Situated at approximately 600 feet elevation with rolling hills and riverside terrain, this area receives moderate rainfall even during summer months. Campgrounds in this region typically offer more secluded wooded sites rather than open field camping, with several riverside options providing direct water access.
Explore Quechee Gorge: Vermont's deepest gorge offers hiking trails accessible from Quechee State Park Campground. "We were able to walk to the gorge as well as to the Antique mall. It is right next to the road. We were at sight #3," notes William P.
Visit local attractions: Many camping areas serve as convenient bases for regional exploration. "It's a beautiful part of the state... The park is close to good shopping, and also the Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park in Woodstock, which is an awesome destination for families," shares Tara S. about Quechee State Park.
Enjoy river activities: The Connecticut River provides fishing and water recreation opportunities. At Pastures Campground in Orford, NH, campers appreciate "spacious lots with tables and fire rings" directly on the river, according to Kathy S.
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness stands out as important to campers in this area. At Quechee State Park, one camper noted, "Might be the nicest bathrooms I've seen in decades of camping," while Douglas L. mentioned, "Bathroom were clean and the grounds were quite at night."
Wooded privacy: Jacobs Brook Campground offers "clean, quiet wooded sites," according to Rick G. The campground features a brook running through the property, "providing a shady respite and swimming hole" during summer.
Family-owned hospitality: Smaller campgrounds receive positive reviews for their personal service. At Rest N Nest Campground, Jeff D. appreciated that "the owners are nice and friendly," contributing to the "beautiful campground and peaceful place" experience.
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies significantly throughout the region. At Lost River Valley Campground, Dawn D. reported "No cell service on the south side of campground," a common situation in the area's more remote locations.
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds operate from late April/early May through mid-October. Quechee State Park specifically operates "from May 19 to October 16," requiring advance planning for shoulder season visits.
Site variability: Some campgrounds have significant terrain differences between sites. At Jacobs Brook, sites in the 50s have "a sloped approach," while "the lower numbers offer pull-through access," according to Jean C.
Look for dedicated play areas: Family-friendly amenities make a significant difference. At Quechee State Park, Jen B. noted, "Rangers also run fun programs for children- my children churned butter and made popcorn over the campfire one night, and made tie dyed T-shirts the next (for no fee)."
Consider riverside sites: Several campgrounds feature water access that children enjoy. Michele S. shared that at Lost River Valley Campground, "You can't really swim much in the river, but the kids had a blast playing in it and fishing for little trout."
Choose campgrounds with organized activities: Quechee-Pine Valley KOA offers structured entertainment for families. "Saturday you can go for a Hay Ride which is so much fun!" reported Donna C., highlighting one of the scheduled activities available.
Assess hookup options: Different campgrounds offer varying levels of service. In Rest N Nest Campground, campers appreciate the "primitive, woodsy full hookups" that combine natural settings with conveniences RVers need.
Check site dimensions: Sites vary considerably in size and layout. At Lost River Valley Campground, Heather O. warned about site 41: "Unfortunately we were unable to use the fire pit due to being so close to our 19 foot camper."
Consider access and terrain: Some campgrounds present challenges for larger rigs. Trapper John Backcountry Campground is "entirely hike in" according to Justin P., making it unsuitable for RVs, while Jacobs Brook Campground notes some sites accommodate RVs while others don't.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Thetford, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, Thetford, VT offers a wide range of camping options, with 241 campgrounds and RV parks near Thetford, VT and 24 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Thetford, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Thetford, VT is Quechee State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 24 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Thetford, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 24 free dispersed camping spots near Thetford, VT.
What parks are near Thetford, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near Thetford, VT that allow camping, notably Union Village Dam and North Hartland Lake.
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