Green Mountain National Forest offers multiple dispersed camping areas near Townshend Lake, primarily along Forest Road 71 and NF83. These free primitive campsites are among the best dispersed camping options in Vermont, typically including fire rings but no other facilities, with most accommodating both tents and small RVs. According to reviews, the sites along FR71 provide "good hiking access to Stratton Pond, to Branch Pond, to Grout Pond Recreation Area, to the AT/LT." Vehicle access varies significantly by location—some sites require high-clearance vehicles, with one camper noting "don't expect to get in here unless you have more than 8" of clearance under your vehicle."
Somerset Airfield provides a more accessible dispersed camping option with vault toilets, though it offers less privacy. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, "campsites are all next to the road and have fire circles" and the area becomes "a grass strip next to FR71 with a bunch of sites." The George D Aiken Wilderness area contains several free primitive campsites that tend to be more secluded, making it a strong choice for those seeking solitude. Cell service is limited throughout the region, with most locations offering spotty coverage at best. Fire restrictions may apply seasonally, and campers should follow Leave No Trace principles, as multiple visitors reported having to clean up trash left by previous campers.
"It has pit toilets. These sites are close together with little to no shade. Some sites have access to a stream that flows behind the park."
"I arrived after the 4th of July and a neighbor said it was rowdy during the holiday with illegal fireworks set off every night over the dry forest. These pics are from a weekday morning."
"The camp spots were all pretty spread out from each other and the road was easy to drive on. There were only about 10 spots along the access road."
"We brought our school bus down the dirt road just fine and backed right in. They also have fireplaces which was nice!"
"We stayed at one near the creek just over a little bridge. Cute little site, nice fire pit, clean, perfect rock to put a big water jug on. The sound of running water was soothing."
"One of many locations along Forest rd 71, this spot was a good place to pitch a tent for the night while exploring the area even in the rain."
"Easy access to an open circle, capable of handling multiple rigs for a large gathering. Stone fire ring in the center. We had this all to ourselves in our Bean teardrop. "
"The site was very flat and could accommodate several small campers. It was quiet during our overnight stay other than a car or two on Stratton-Arlington Rd. There weren't many mosquitoes either. "
"This is a nice clearing near the river where the road used to cross."
"The left side of the drive in is swampy so be sure to not drift to that side."
"The shelter is a 3.75mi hike from the nearest parking lot in winter. There are 2 tent platforms, 2 outhouses and at least 16 bunk spaces in the shelter. "
"A LOT of bugs due to dense wooded surroundings. The bugs seems to be unbothered by the bug spray as well."
"Went on a Wednesday night late October and had to drive about 4 miles down the dirt road to find a suitable spot. After what was very quiet and a peaceful place to be."
"Free camping"
"No public bathrooms, no hookups, I personally didn’t have service."
"Great little dispersed camping area off Forest Road 71 in West Dover, Vermont."
ScoutJust about what you would expect in a national forest. Nice dirt road without too many potholes. As far as I can tell about 10 different sites, maybe more, all spaced out enough you don’t see anyone else. No toilet or water but there is a fire ring.
LegendThe Airfield Campground is a strip of land with several campsites and fire pits. It has pit toilets. These sites are close together with little to no shade. Some sites have access to a stream that flows behind the park. The real attraction is the huge Somerset Resevoir which is up the road. Plenty of fishing, paddling, hiking and picnicking opportunities. There are other dispersed sites down the road that are free
RangerOnly the first section of the campground was open due to flooding. As a result, there were puddles everywhere.
Campsites are listed as disbursed but there are only 7 trees to separate 9 camp sites. The campsites are all next to the road and have fire circles.
There is a single pit toilet at the end of the camping area. No garbage service, no water, no cell service. Basically a camp site where you can share a fire with the neighbors.
GuideWent with a friend on an impromptu last minute camping trip up in the NF and hoped we could find a spot on a Friday night. Quite a few spots were taken but there were still some free ones. We stayed at one near the creek just over a little bridge. Cute little site, nice fire pit, clean, perfect rock to put a big water jug on. The sound of running water was soothing. In the morning, adorable little red squirrels with big personalities made themselves known and there were wildflowers blooming all over with hummingbirds going about their business. This is dispersed camping so there’s no rest rooms, running water, etc. The particular site we stayed at did have another site on the other side of the creek and we could hear the family during the day and see them as they walked past, so it wasn’t as isolated as some of the other sites. It was a cute spot and I’ll def be back.
TravelerA LOT of bugs due to dense wooded surroundings. The bugs seems to be unbothered by the bug spray as well. A few miles down the road there is another campsite that is more open and also has a fire pit with a lot less bugs flying around and more open space.
ScoutThe camp spots were all pretty spread out from each other and the road was easy to drive on. There were only about 10 spots along the access road. Brewery, distillery, beautiful lakes and scenic towns all within 15 minutes of the sites.
GuideWent on a Wednesday night late October and had to drive about 4 miles down the dirt road to find a suitable spot. After what was very quiet and a peaceful place to be. Many pull offs but a lot were too wet for my van and I was afraid of getting stuck. The road itself was in great condition though.
TravelerMy 2008 Prius handled the road with ease. Sites were spaced out. There was hiking at the end of the road but not too much space to wander around from the sites given the road’s high speed limit. Sites had fire pits and that was it. Very quiet and fairly accessible from society. Given the lack of free camping in the southern northeast this spot is a gem!
RangerEnjoyed the stunning babbling brook and resevoir- saw happy people swimming, kayaking, and camping. It's been quiet and peaceful and sometimes generators running all night. I arrived after the 4th of July and a neighbor said it was rowdy during the holiday with illegal fireworks set off every night over the dry forest. These pics are from a weekday morning. It's great to see families camping. There are pit toilets. AT.T service at bridge prior to camp- short walk. SOS only in camp. Another camper told me Starlink works here.
Dispersed camping near Townshend Lake offers primitive sites throughout the Green Mountain National Forest with elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,500 feet. Winter temperatures often drop below 10°F while summer days typically reach 70-85°F. The region's forest roads connect multiple camping areas with varying accessibility depending on vehicle clearance and seasonal conditions.
Paddling at Somerset Reservoir: Located a short drive from Somerset Airfield, this large body of water provides excellent opportunities for kayaking and swimming. A camper at Somerset Airfield noted they "enjoyed the stunning babbling brook and reservoir—saw happy people swimming, kayaking, and camping."
Winter camping adventures: For cold-weather enthusiasts, the area offers challenging but rewarding winter camping experiences. A visitor at Somerset Airfield described their experience: "We endured Snow and mid 20s Friday night with 8" of fresh snow to wake up to Saturday... Saturday evening, we had 3" more by 11pm. Then the fun began as the wind blew the storms out and temperatures plummeted to 8° and a windchill of -3."
Hiking to mountain ponds: The region contains several backcountry ponds accessible by trail. A camper at Statton Pond Camp on Forest Road 71 mentioned the "good hiking access to Stratton Pond, to Branch Pond, to Grout Pond Recreation Area, to the AT/LT."
Remote stargazing spots: The area's limited light pollution creates excellent stargazing opportunities. A camper at NF83 Dispersed site 1 appreciated the "great spot with no light pollution, cell signal or distractions."
River access: Many sites offer proximity to streams or rivers. At NF 83 - riverside, one camper described: "Peacefully placed along the bends of the river is a large open grassy area with a sizable fire pit!"
Multi-day backpacking options: For those seeking a more immersive experience, the area provides access to long-distance trails. A visitor to Stratton Pond Shelter shared: "The shelter is a 3.75mi hike from the nearest parking lot in winter. There are 2 tent platforms, 2 outhouses and at least 16 bunk spaces in the shelter."
Vehicle clearance requirements: Many forest roads require high-clearance vehicles. A visitor to NF83 Dispersed site 1 warned: "Don't expect to get in here unless you have more than 8" of clearance under your vehicle."
Road conditions vary seasonally: Spring can bring especially challenging road conditions. A camper noted that one dispersed site along FR71 was "very muddy. Well, at least today it is. I have an SUV and I didn't trust it to get through, and I didn't want to get stuck."
Trash management issues: Pack out all waste as previous campers sometimes leave trash. At George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed, a visitor reported: "Site was littered with places previous campers had left human excrement. While not in the site directly, it was all around it."
Choose sites with flat terrain: Look for established areas with level ground for tents. A camper at George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed noted: "Large, well organized camping spots along the road. The spot I chose had a beautifully built fire pit."
Consider proximity to water features: Children often enjoy camping near streams. At NF 83 - riverside, a visitor mentioned: "If you get there while its still sunlight you can pick a spot by a flowing stream/river."
Be aware of weekend crowds: Holiday weekends can bring rowdier groups. At Somerset Airfield, a camper reported: "A neighbor said it was rowdy during the holiday with illegal fireworks set off every night over the dry forest."
Somerset Airfield for larger rigs: This location accommodates larger vehicles better than some other dispersed sites. One camper noted it "is probably good for people who camp with RVs or Trailers that can't get into smaller sites."
Hogback Mountain Trailhead parking area: For a quick overnight stop, this location offers ample space. A visitor to Hogback Mtn Trailhead described it as a "large open lot at top of paved highway pass. Great place to stop for the night. Not a lot of ambiance, but plenty of room for any number of rigs."
Check roads after rain: Many forest roads become challenging after precipitation. A visitor to NF 83 - riverside cautioned: "The beginning of the little driveway is quite rough with some bigger rocks... smaller ground clearances may feel a bump or two!"
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Townshend Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Townshend Lake is Somerset Airfield with a 3.9-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Townshend Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 19 dispersed camping locations near Townshend Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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