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Multiple dispersed campsites can be found in the Green Mountain National Forest near Townshend, Vermont, offering free primitive camping with fire rings and access to streams, ponds, and reservoirs. Forest Roads 71 and 83 contain several primitive camping areas, including Somerset Airfield, George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed sites, and various unnamed pull-offs. Most sites feature established fire rings but lack other amenities. The Stratton Pond area includes hike-in opportunities with shelter access on the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail junction.
Access to many sites requires driving on unpaved forest roads with varying conditions. Several reviews note that high-clearance vehicles are preferred for certain areas, particularly NF83 where at least 8 inches of ground clearance is recommended. Road conditions can deteriorate after rain, with one camper describing a site along Forest Road 71 as "very muddy." Fire rings are available at most locations, but campers must pack out all trash and bring their own water. According to one visitor, "This is a nice clearing near the river where the road used to cross," highlighting the riverside options available.
These forest dispersed campsites provide quiet backcountry experiences with natural features like streams and ponds nearby. Somerset Reservoir is accessible from multiple camping areas, offering paddling and fishing opportunities. Winter camping is possible but challenging; one camper described enduring "snow and mid-20s Friday night with 8 inches of fresh snow to wake up to." Cell service is limited or nonexistent at most locations. A reviewer noted that sites in the George D Aiken Wilderness area are "all pretty spread out from each other," providing privacy not always found at developed campgrounds. Most areas remain fairly quiet except during holiday weekends when some sites report increased traffic and noise.
"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."
"It was large and flat. We were off the road by 100 feet or so. It made it more private. I would highly recommend this site. We stopped on our way through to Stowe Vermont."
"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."
"Great little dispersed camping area off Forest Road 71 in West Dover, Vermont."
"No public bathrooms, no hookups, I personally didn’t have service."
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.
Primitive camping near Townshend, Vermont offers campers secluded backcountry experiences within the Green Mountain National Forest. Access to these dispersed sites typically requires travel on unpaved forest roads that can deteriorate after rainfall or during spring thaw. Winter temperatures in this region can drop to single digits with significant snowfall accumulation, making seasonal preparation essential for overnight stays.
Paddling on Somerset Reservoir: Located near Somerset Airfield, the reservoir provides excellent kayaking and swimming opportunities. "Enjoyed the stunning babbling brook and reservoir- saw happy people swimming, kayaking, and camping," notes one visitor who appreciated the recreational options available just minutes from camp.
Hiking to Stratton Pond: The Stratton Pond Shelter area sits at the intersection of three major trails. "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," explains a winter hiker who visited the junction of the Appalachian Trail, Long Trail and Stratton Mountain trail.
Stargazing opportunities: The remote location of dispersed sites offers exceptional night sky viewing. At NF83 Dispersed site, a camper observed it was "a great spot with no light pollution, cell signal or distractions," making it ideal for astronomy enthusiasts seeking dark skies away from town light sources.
Privacy between sites: The George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed area receives positive feedback for site spacing. "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," mentions one camper who appreciated the separation between camping areas.
Riverside camping options: Many dispersed sites offer proximity to streams or rivers. At NF 83 - riverside, a visitor described finding "a large open grassy area with a sizable fire pit" positioned "peacefully along the bends of the river," providing both scenic views and the relaxing sound of flowing water.
Well-built fire rings: Despite minimal amenities, campers note the quality of established fire areas at many sites. "The spot I chose had a beautifully built fire pit," reports a visitor to George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed, highlighting the care taken with this essential primitive camping feature.
Vehicle clearance requirements: Forest roads accessing these sites often require appropriate vehicles. For NF83, a reviewer warns: "Don't expect to get in here unless you have more than 8" of clearance under your vehicle," indicating the challenging terrain encountered on some access roads.
Site conditions vary seasonally: Dispersed camping areas around Townshend can become waterlogged after rain. At Dispersed site along Forest RD 71, one camper found "this particular campsite is 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."
Pack-out requirements: All trash must be packed out, and some sites show evidence of improper waste disposal. One visitor noted having to "spend over an hour cleaning the site from the people before us," underscoring the importance of following leave-no-trace principles.
Site selection timing: Arriving during daylight hours improves your chance of securing preferred spots. At NF 83 - riverside, a camper advises "if you get there while its still sunlight you can pick a spot by a flowing stream/river," which offers both recreational opportunities and natural white noise for sleeping.
Crowd fluctuations: Holiday weekends bring increased traffic to otherwise quiet areas. A visitor at Somerset Airfield reported that during a Fourth of July weekend, the area "was rowdy during the holiday with illegal fireworks set off every night over the dry forest," suggesting families might prefer non-holiday timing.
Shelter options for hikers: Families hiking with older children might consider the shelters at Stratton Pond. The site includes "2 tent platforms, 2 outhouses and at least 16 bunk spaces in the shelter," providing multiple accommodation options for groups with various needs.
Suitable alternatives: For RVs unable to access rougher forest roads, Hogback Mtn Trailhead provides "a large open lot at top of paved highway pass" that's "great for any number of rigs" when seeking an overnight stopping point.
Somerset Airfield accessibility: This area accommodates larger vehicles better than some alternative forest sites. One camper notes it "is probably good for people who camp with RVs or Trailers that can't get into smaller sites," making it worth considering for those with larger setups.
Road condition monitoring: Recent rainfall significantly impacts access for larger vehicles. The swampy conditions affect entrances to sites, with one camper advising: "The left side of the drive in is swampy so be sure to not drift to that side," highlighting the need for careful driving even in established dispersed areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Townshend, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Townshend, VT is Somerset Airfield with a 3.9-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Townshend, VT?
TheDyrt.com has all 19 dispersed camping locations near Townshend, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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