7 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
New Discovery State Park Campground features horse stalls within the campground for equestrians bringing their own mounts. For those seeking horse camping near Vershire, VT, the sites range from wooded loops to open fields, giving horse trailer access throughout. Some sites are situated deep in the woods with ample tree cover, while others are positioned in open fields, allowing flexibility for horse trailers. The campground's location provides convenient access to trails throughout the forest, with a rail trail nearby allowing for extended riding without retracing paths. Multiple ponds within the park offer water access for horses and riders.
Trail riders have access to the extensive network of trails in Groton State Forest directly from the campground. The maintained paths connect to Osmore Pond, Kettle Pond, and Ricker Pond, offering varied riding terrain and swimming opportunities. Horse owners must follow standard park regulations, including proper waste management and keeping horses secured at designated areas. The park remains open from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend, making it ideal for summer and early fall riding excursions. Reservations are recommended as the equestrian sites can fill quickly during peak season. The bathroom facilities are regularly maintained, though riders occasionally report temporary shortages of supplies during busy weekends.
"Decent bathroom situation--I've seen better and I've seen worse in Vermont."
"The park is amazingly clean, well run, located just of RT 4 and very near to Killington, Vermont. It has multiple lean-to sites which are in wooded areas."
"There are even sites with stalls if you're into horses. The bathhouse looks typical and clean.
Not much cell service, but some in places.
Easy access to a lake and a picnic pavilion."
"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."
from $20 - $38 / night
Check Availability"This would be one of few places I find acceptable to camp, that are near other people. I usually don't like camping with 20+ other people in one looped area."
"Used the tent sides a quick hill walk down from the parking lot. River great for splashing around and nearby path to Lincoln Woods trail."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $35 / night
"The site was so scenic with a little waterfall and stream nearby. The camp staff was so nice. They kept the the bathrooms and areas so clean."
"Love to lake access, secluded camping, the hiking and remote area. Planning on revisiting next summer, even in august the nights get to a good sleeping temperature a vast majority of the time."
"It is next to the Highway on a paved fire road. So you can hear traffic. And it is paved (which is good if it’s wet and muddy elsewhere). The other spots looked amazing."
"They have a fire pit, plenty of woods around, and are free."
from $35 - $45 / night
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LegendPlenty of space between sites. Decent bathroom situation--I've seen better and I've seen worse in Vermont. The (AT&T) cell phone reception was pretty good, but could be slow at times (which could be because of the area or because of the busy fall color season.)
ScoutI've stayed at 10 of the state parks of VT. Gifford Woods takes the cake in friendliness of its staff. The park is amazingly clean, well run, located just of RT 4 and very near to Killington, Vermont. It has multiple lean-to sites which are in wooded areas. Cool stone bathrooms and playing fields for kids but the highlight (for me) is access to the Appalachian Trail. The AT runs directly through this park. While on a 4 state section hike I traveled by foot through this park. The ranger gave me an ice cream, pointed me to the showers and then chatted with me for an hour about my hike so far. He also gave me a ride to the Inn at Long Trail to pick up a resupply box since I was a few days behind schedule and low on food. I'll always remember his kindness. Living just across the state line in NH, I have frequented Gifford Woods on 4 other occasions for day hiking with family. Enjoy! I sure did!
LegendThis easy-to-access campground has made it on my list of places to stay.
There are two loops of sites, some deep in the woods with great-looking trees, others in a field, and some in between. There are even sites with stalls if you're into horses.
The bathhouse looks typical and clean.
Not much cell service, but some in places.
Easy access to a lake and a picnic pavilion.
Noticed more than a few sites that I could hang at.
GuideThis campground is the number one rated in Vermont for a reason. The staff were wonderful, the sites are pristine and picturesque, the faculties are decorated with wildflowers. We met a number of AT through hikers, who were very willing to share their adventure stories.
RangerThis would be one of few places I find acceptable to camp, that are near other people. I usually don't like camping with 20+ other people in one looped area. The sites here are pretty well spread out. Not ALL of them, but look around. We found what I would think is the best. The one we ended up at had stairs leading from the car down to our site. It was further away from the other sites and had the pretty much private stream running by it. The area we had for use was pretty huge, we had a giant tent 10-12 plus a pop up tent to put over the picnic table, and there was still a ton of room for the car, fire pit and general run around area for our dog. I never felt like we had to lock up everything we owned either. A short walk to the toilets from all sites. Bring a headlamp of course. TP is in the outhouses bring a spare hand sanitizer bottle to use after.
FYI there is a pretty awesome hike close by you can do. I mean you have to drive there but it wasn't far. It goes up to Mt Moosilauke. We ended up taking Beaver Brook Trail to the Cascades, checked out the shelter and headed to Moosilauke Summit. A crazy hike pretty much going up the side of a waterfall. The peak was 4,802ft. Worth it! I'd say an 8 mile trek from the car, up, and back. I included just a couple pictures to entice you since its not about the campsite! There are a TON of trails near this campsite, this would just be my favorite of the 6 or 7 we did.
ScoutIf I could leave a no star rating, I would. To anyone who is looking to park there camper for the season, I recommend going elsewhere. The previous owner was a more reasonable guy and well respected. Save yourself the time and energy and do not sign a contract here, unless you want to later be told you have to leave for a reason that will not be discussed. The current owner is a dictator who likes to show favoritism. Please save yourself the trouble and try a different campground, there are plenty in the state of Vermont.
TravelerMost amazing spot I’ve ever camped and not too many people. Used the tent sides a quick hill walk down from the parking lot. River great for splashing around and nearby path to Lincoln Woods trail.
LegendI haven't stayed here, but I checked it out on Columbus Day weekend because it's one of the few campgrounds open year-round (plowed, unlike Lafayette Place, which is walk-in) in the White Mountains. Most of the reviews talk about the walk-in tent sites, but there's more to this campground that is located along the Kancamagus Highway just before the Lincoln Woods Visitors' Center.
If you're a tent camper and don't mind carrying your gear downhill to a site, drive straight ahead to a parking lot. A few of the sites (3 & 4) are accessible from the far end of the parking lot, but for most of them you'll head down the steps in the middle with sites in two levels branching out on each side. Sites are large, but close together and although you're in the woods, there's not much to separate you from your neighbors. Even sites 10-20 are directly on the water.
Sites 22-55 are suitable for RVs and tents. Those on the back side of the loop are close enough that you can hear the Pemi River running below. A few of the sites are pull-through. There are no hook-ups, but water available via spigots and flush toilets are available - except in winter. I'd recommend sites on the back side of the loop to provide some more distance from traffic noise. I chatted briefly with a host who remarked that sites on the western end of the loop have some cell phone coverage, unlike the rest of the campground.
If you stay here, you're only a few miles from Lincoln where you can pick up any necessary supplies. This end of the Kanc your nearest hiking options are Lincoln Woods and Greeley Pond for family friendly trails, or Lincoln Woods to head into the Pemi wilderness, including peaks in the Pemi loop and Owl's Head. The Hancocks are via a trail at the hairpin on the Kanc. Franconia Notch and its many hiking trails and the multi-use trail are a short drive away.
Bring cash or a check to pay your camping fee in the iron ranger. Fees cover the first vehicle; a second vehicle is an additional $5.
LegendHancock Campground is one of 6 national forest campgrounds along the Kancamagus Highway. Campsites can't be reserved and the campground does fill up on the weekends. We were lucky to score a walk-in tent site on a Saturday in August, and while it did feel a bit like a tent city, we loved that there were no cars at the campsites. It made the tenting area feel more like a community. This is a busy campground, but lovely all the same.
We got site #19, which was one of the last sites available. It had a picnic table, fire pit, and bear box. There were awesome waterfront sites nearby, but they were taken, of course. Cost was reasonable - $22 per night. Pit toilets were near the parking area, but there was a real bathroom with a sink and a flush toilet in the car camping area. There is also a fabulous swimming hole. Clear, cold and deep just off the car camping area.
Hancock Campground is a five-minute drive from Lincoln, NH, and very close to awesome hiking trails in the White Mountain National Forest and Franconia Notch State Park.
New Discovery State Park Campground provides tent and RV sites in Groton State Forest at 1,100 feet elevation. During summer months, average temperatures range from 50°F at night to 75°F during day, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms common in July and August. The forest contains over 26,000 acres with several bodies of water, creating varied camping options for equestrian and non-equestrian visitors.
Boating access: Osmore Pond within New Discovery State Park offers canoe access to remote sites. "We had the most perfect spot in a private site on osmore pond that was accessible only by canoe! Quiet, serene, beautiful!" writes camper Sambath T. about New Discovery State Park Campground.
Swimming options: Lake Dunmore at Branbury State Park provides a designated swimming area with amenities. "The day use section has a wonderful beach with a swimming area and boat launch. Large trees provide shade on a grassy lawn, and grills are available," notes Lisa S. about Branbury State Park Campground.
Rail trail exploration: The converted railway corridor offers miles of flat, wide trail surface ideal for walking or biking. "Right along a long rail trail where you can put in many miles and not even know it. Swimming and boating is a short ride in a couple different directions," reports Rick S. from a weekend at New Discovery.
Riverside sites: Hancock Campground offers waterfront tent sites near flowing water. "We camped here Wednesday-Friday on one of the riverfront tent sites... which had a nice little opening to the water and had a bit more tree coverage to separate us from our neighbors," explains Lindsey M. about Hancock Campground.
Lean-to shelters: Several parks feature covered wooden structures providing protection from elements. "The lean-to sites are really cool, and if I was tent camping I think they'd be so fun to sleep in," comments Laura M. from New Discovery State Park.
Site privacy: Many campgrounds offer adequate separation between camping spots. "I camped at New Discovery this weekend, the sites are well separated and private. The grounds are beautiful and well situated to enjoy Groton State Forest," notes Robin B. about her experience at Groton Forest Road Campground.
Bear awareness: Store food properly in provided containers. "There are bears in the area though so please be bear smart when camping here," advises Laura M. about camping at New Discovery, where bear boxes are available at some sites.
Water access limitations: At some campgrounds, filling RV tanks requires adapters. "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," explains one visitor.
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds in the area operate on limited schedules. "The park remains open from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend," states Tippicanoe Campground, which maintains different operating hours than some state parks.
Water recreation options: Multiple ponds provide family-friendly activities. "The lake was gorgeous to swim in and had different rafts and stuff in the water for public use," shares Reid B. about his experience at Groton Forest Road Campground.
Playground facilities: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. "There's a nature center with all kinds of information and activities. A large playground. Volleyball and horseshoe pits," notes J L. about family amenities at Branbury State Park.
Hiking accessibility: Trail networks connect directly to camping areas. "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," reports Laura M. about Hancock Campground.
Site selection considerations: Not all sites accommodate larger vehicles. "Each site is so different and may or may not fit an RV. Some sites are so sloped I don't even know how a car would camp there. Some sites are out in the open grass where you just find a spot within the site that works for you," warns Laura M. from her RV camping experience.
Water and electric availability: Utility hookups vary widely between campgrounds. "The sites all have water, 50amp and sewer hookups. Very few tenting, mostly RVs on the well laid out grounds where you are not far from the beautiful beach, trout stocked pond and all amenities," reports David G. about options at Tippicanoe.
Dump station access: Most state parks provide sanitary dump stations, but locations can be inconvenient. "There is a dump station and drinking water on site, but the spigots for the water are not threaded," notes one RVer about facilities at New Discovery State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Vershire, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Vershire, VT is Gifford Woods State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Vershire, VT?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Vershire, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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