Best RV Parks & Resorts near Thetford Center, VT

I will start by saying I have not stayed here.  I looked into and toured this campground looking for a place for my extended family to camp at while in the area. While it does have a few tent sites, and a pond it is mainly a RV camping site with long term RV rentals.  It was not the kind of place I wanted My nephews camping at.

We visited Cozy Pond for the first time a few weeks ago. Nice-sized wooded sites. Quiet. Nice pool. Full hook-ups. Adult bingo and hay rides. We liked it so much we are going back again this weekend!

Older campground, friendly staff with lots of older seasonal sites. We paid $35 for a full hook up and had no problems. Rest rooms could use some updating, the large one was clean, the smaller one not so much and had no TP that day. The fire pits were full of ashes so maybe he only cleans it once a week and we were there on a Wednesday. For that price I would stay there again if I was in the area.

The camping is a large open area (no shade) with RVs lined up. There are full hook-ups and if you plan to only use the bathroom and shower in your RV it is likely fine. The showers are horrific. There are two different shower rooms, with two showers each. While we were there one whole room was labeled “out of order”. In the other, only one of the coin operated showers was working. So, only one shower for the entire campground. The shower area was FILLED with with bugs and spiders. We unfortunately had to kill one spider that was dangling from the ceiling into the shower we were trying to use. The kids screamed the whole time.

The lake water was deemed to high in bacteria to swim in while we were there, but the natives were swimming anyway, so we did too. The beach was nice and if it wasn’t for the bacteria concern we’d have enjoyed it even more. (Bacteria is why we didn’t skip the shower.)

The view was gorgeous.

Stayed here in early August during a heat-wave. River was too low for tubing but much appreciated for swimming. Site were large and easy to pull through. Great sites on the river but prefer the full hook-ups. Most the staff was pleasant and helpful. another camper even offered me a ride to my site when I was carrying my propane tank. If there was one con it was the overzealous Security guard. He had a screaming fit after he cut off my son in his golf-cart for driving too fast. How fast could he be going to get cut-off by a 10mph cart? Turned what should have been a simple warning to a major affair.

Personal Connection 

Baker River Campground will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s where I was first introduced to camping as a child. My first visit was in 1969 when I was eight years old. Last year, I returned for the first time in over 50 years. While much has changed, the basic layout of the camp remains the same, and it’s still family-owned, which is wonderful. 

Current Stay 

I stayed on site#20 with my class B van. Here are some highlights and details of my experience: Site Location: Conveniently near the road going out and to the beach. Amenities: Electrical and water hookup, a well-placed fire pit, and a bathroom/shower house right across from my site. The facilities were very clean, thanks to regular cleaning. Campground Condition: Maintained excellently, largely due to Reno, the full-time staff member who oversees the place. He was outstanding. The only reason I gave it a 5 was because of him. Environment: Located on the Baker River with a cozy beach. Limited amenities(horseshoe pit and a small playground), but both were in excellent condition. The campground is perfect for those who prefer a traditional camping experience without additional frills. During the week, the campground was quiet, but it got crowded on the weekends with seasonal campers and tent setups closer to the river. I appreciate the layout and the ambiance of the campground. 

Negative Aspects 

Unfortunately, a recent change in ownership to a corporation has brought noticeable changes: Loss of Personal Touch: The campground has lost its personal feel. Reno is still a lifesaver, but he’s the only one maintaining the old charm. Neglect by Management: The focus has shifted to another campground, Riverbrook, which is evident from their social media presence and activities. Baker River is largely neglected, and even basic acknowledgments from the management are lacking. Lack of Engagement: The director of both campgrounds visited but did not engage with campers. When Reno was on vacation, there was no other staff available to assist. Seasonal Campers' Discontent: Long-term campers have noticed the decline and are considering not returning next year. Corporate Focus: The corporation seems more interested in raising prices and saving money rather than maintaining and improving Baker River Campground. 

Final Thoughts 

I write this review out of a deep passion for Baker River Campground. It’s painful to see the decline in care and attention. I believe each campground should be treated as a separate entity with full-time events and dedicated management. The current corporate approach appears to prioritize profit over the well-being of the campground and its community. It’s a shame to see such a beloved place being neglected. I hope the management will take these concerns seriously and work towards restoring the charm and personal touch that made Baker River Campground special.

Mike Weild

Weild on Wheels

This is a small family-owned and operated campground just a few miles outside of St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The campground abuts the Moose River which makes for a pretty backdrop and wonderful place to dip your toes in the water. The shallow river is a clear flowing rocky river. 

The campground is a mix of seasonal and transient campers with sites large enough to fit big rigs. There is also a rental camper and cabin available. There were tent sites but the owner mentioned they may fade those out. We stayed in a large pull thru (well over 125’), full hook-up site in the center section of the campground. (Site 27 @ $47/night). The electric worked fine and the sewer was easily reached with my 20’ sewer hose. The pad was gravel (as were the roads) and the patio was nice grass. Cable television is available and produced 32 stations. Our Verizon hotspot and phone worked well. 

There are lots of activities at this park. It seems like every week there was a community bonfire where lots of palettes were set ablaze. During our stay, there was a potluck dinner in which the owners supplied roast beef and hosted us in a large covered pavilion. One evening they drove around the campground offering free ice cream sandwiches or drum sticks. Some mornings they supplied free bagels or donuts and always had free coffee. And, there were people always on the porch playing cards. Amenities include river access, a decent size dog park, large covered pavilion, bathhouse and laundry. When you arrive, you are given a swag bag with printed information about the surrounding area and businesses. This is a really nice touch because the reusable bag can be used in the grocery store as plastic bags have been banned in Vermont. 

If you can score a riverfront site those are nice to sit outside and enjoy a fire. The pull thru sites are very close on one side as each RV pulls in the opposite direction; however, the sites are so long that if you pull up far enough you are not looking at your neighbor. Your patio opens to a neighbor but the sites are far enough away that it’s not a bother and you don’t feel like you are on top of them. Probably the nicest site in the park is #23 which is a back-in site with your patio facing the river. 

The campground is in a good location, just a few miles from downtown St. Johnsbury, just a mile or so from “Dog Mountain,” and about 15 miles from Littleton, New Hampshire. There is a town forest just a few miles away that has some nice hiking trails. The campground is pretty small so we were happy to find places to hike with our dog.

This KOA is what you expect from a KOA– lots of amenities, sites of all sizes and levels of cost, tons of activities, and in a vacation destination area. We spent five nights at the campground and found lots to do in the area and that we had an enjoyable and pleasant stay. 

The park is a large park that is terraced since it is in a pretty hilly area. There is the range of sites from pull-thrus, pull-ins and back-in sites and can accommodate RVs of any size. Some sites are full hookup while others are not and that is reflected in the cost. We paid $57/nigh for our full hookup site which is pretty costly especially since we did not use any of the amenities. Most sites are gravel with gravel patios but there are deluxe sites with paved patios, patio furniture, umbrella, and gas bbq grill. There are also camping cabins, some of which have kitchenettes and bathrooms that sleep six people. 

Our site, was located in the back of the park in a quieter section because it was away from most of the activities and park entrance. The site was a pull-in which was kind of nice because the view out of our front windshield was of a wooded area. Our fire pit was in the front of our site so there was a nice amount of privacy when we sat outside by a campfire and didn’t feel like we were on the side of the road. Despite the hilliness of the park and all the trees, we did not have any trouble navigating our 45’ RV to our site. The trees at our site would prevent satellite television reception but our site had cable and we got about 20 or so channels. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Like many KOAs there are tons of amenities and things for kids to do – swimming pool, fishing ponds, bike rental, scheduled activities, propane sales, camp store, fire wood delivery, and more. There is a fenced dog park which was a fairly good size and our lab was happy to chase a ball. 

As a whole, the park was very clean and manicured. No trash laying around and the gravel roads were free of potholes. The campground is located near the Queechee Gorge, covered bridges, hiking trails (including sections of the Appalachian Trail), good dining, maple syrup/cheese farm, the Marsh Billings- Rockefeller National Historic Park.

We are a full-time traveling family with 2 kids (8 & 13) and 2 English Bulldogs. We have a Class A motorhome and flat tow a Jeep. We spent 2 nights at Moose River in Vermont. We knew ahead of time that their site said they don't cater to kids; however, we felt like we had eyes on us the entire time and not just because we had kids with us. The owners were certainly nice enough, but there were more rules of "what not to do" then there was a hospitable welcome. We didn't spend much time at the campground overall and tried to stay out exploring. We did stay in a level pull thru site with full hookups. We would've liked to have stayed on the water, but the available sites there did not offer 50amp. 

If you are not traveling with kids and are simply looking for a clean place to camp, you may really enjoy the site. 

Inside tip! Take the 30 minute or so drive to East Corinth to view the little town Beetlejuice was filmed in! Also, be sure to drive across the street to the top of Dog Mountain.

Can’t say enough good things about this place.  It is a private landowners land, and she has various camping options including a cabin, hives, or open locations for rv or tent camping.  We stayed for a long weekend with friends in a separate rv, and then a friend who rented a hive.  The land is 8 acres, and you feel a sense of privacy and serenity. You hear roosters in the morning from a local farm.  The views are vast, and it’s relaxing.

Logistically, there is a good place for rv parking below the garden hoop house.  It is a flat long gravel area, which can access power, but you’ll need an extension chord or two to reach it.  The hives are set back from this area and behind other gardens, near a water source.   There is a cabin in the middle of the property, and then additional rv or tent camping in another area above the main house, which also has an electric hookup.  Each area is far enough away from the others that you feel a sense of privacy and serenity.  

There is a common area building on the property with Wi-Fi, a bathroom and a kitchen area, which seemed to be used mostly for making tea or accessing the kitchen sink for water.  I am not sure if you could use it for cooking - you would need to ask the landowner.  It has a small sitting area with tourism/hiking/sightseeing guides and maps.  We used it to check email and make phone calls, as cell access is spotty in this general area of Vermont and we didn’t have a cell signal by our rv.  You can shower and use the toilet.  I would recommend bringing your own soap and shampoo.

There are a few fire pit areas on the property, and the land owner will show you where you can find wood in the surrounding woods.  The gardens are full of flowers and vegetables.    There is also a sauna and a yoga room, neither of which we used. 

It truly is a magical environment.  You are a few minutes away from Cabot, which is very small.  The area is a hiking and gravel biking hot bed.  The “Ride the Ridges” gravel ride passes the property, so you can do the course from there.  There are numerous hikes of all distances and difficulty in this area of Vermont.

PROs: Small and typically quiet (always depends on the neighbors you get) Right on the lake with great views of the mountains Easy access to the adjoining state park beach Always a nice breeze Full hookups (W,E,S) at each site Sites are level and mostly grassy Sites are more spacious than some RV campgrounds we’ve been at

CONs: Do not have fire rings/grills at sites, although some are available at the waterfront area No Pets allowed Little to no shade No privacy between sites, very open. Showers are currently not in service

Small Campground right on the river . Majority of campground appeared to be seasonal but some overnight spots open . Made reservations last minute and had a large full hookup pull through in middle of loop. Owner very welcoming . Stayed during Covid in August 2020. Road noise as it sits on busy road .

Would recommend as campground was well maintained and quiet . Definitely try for a site in the river .

This beautiful campground is located near many popular sight seeing locations, is well maintained, sites level and dirt/pine needle covered, full hookups available, tent camping available, large tree hugged sights. Tons of shade! Handles rain well. Bathrooms are immaculate! Owner is super sweet and helpful. I would absolutely stay here again and again!

We made reservations to hammock camp at a site here. Received confirmation of everything and was told I didn’t need to put money down. We drove all the way from Massachusetts and arrived to find out that our reservation was canceled! The lady at the counter was nice and trying to figure out and had the owner come down who turned out to be awful. He said that he was the one that canceled it because I didn’t return his phone call and didn’t put money down. When I tried to explain to him that I talked to someone on the phone two different times about the reservation he claimed I was lying! The site was open so he gave it to us but then sold us wet wood. Got to the campsite and the couple next to us said they had to sleep on the ground because the owner wouldn’t fix the electrical box that night and wouldn’t let them move to the next site over that was free. Def a campground for RVS and seasonal people only