Best Campgrounds near Waterbury, VT

Searching for the best camping near Waterbury, VT? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Find the best campgrounds near Waterbury, VT. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.

Best Camping Sites Near Waterbury, Vermont (182)

    1. Little River State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Waterbury Center, VT
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 244-7103

    $19 - $28 / night

    "Little River State Park is located just outside of Waterbury Vermont so it’s an ideal location for jumping off on other adventures!"

    "Very nice campground, great location! The reservoir was beautiful. Took the kayak, only issue I had was getting to the lake."

    2. Smugglers Notch State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Stowe, VT
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 253-4014

    $20 / night

    "I’d say this was one of Vermont’s best kept secrets, except I don’t think it’s exactly a secret. Even in October, the Park seemed full with visitors and Stowe was hopping!"

    "They don't have all the usual amenities its more of a primitive set up. has great clean sites with multiple ways to access mount mansfields trail system which is the highest mountain in the state of Vermont"

    3. Gold Brook Campground

    9 Reviews
    Moscow, VT
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 253-7683

    "It’s centrally located to many wonderful sites around Stowe and Waterbury.

    Check-in was a breeze. We picked up our packet from the office mail box and headed to our site."

    "While we were next to the creek at site 12, it was blocked by brush and trees.

    Check in was easy, and the staff were present enough in case you had questions or needed to buy firewood."

    4. Camel's Hump State Park — Camels Hump State Park

    2 Reviews
    Bolton, VT
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 879-6565

    $10 / night

    "This is a short and sweet hike to one of the higher points in Vermont. It is a beautiful scenic (somewhat strenuous) hike to the summit. The views are pretty epic though."

    5. Underhill State Park Campground

    6 Reviews
    Underhill Center, VT
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 899-3022

    "They ask that you limit your driving on the path to the site- so we were sure to go into town to get all we needed before we settled into camp- which wasnt hard to do."

    "Camp spots were far enough away from one another, trees helped with privacy, and the tent site had a great area to setup the tent.

    Facilities were accessible and clean."

    6. Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites — Waterbury Center State Park

    1 Review
    Waterbury Center, VT
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 585-4855

    "Also the spot where you set up tent at this site was on a slope, others sites might be better.. still 10/10 will return, these sites are all prime locations!"

    7. Elmore State Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    Lake Elmore, VT
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 888-2982

    $19 - $28 / night

    "Our lean-to, Hickory is situated in a lovely meadow, but quite close to other campers and a view that overlooks the campground road. There is very little shade and no privacy."

    "Great hiking trails from easy to difficult. Early and late seasons are quiet. It's quite busy during the summer months as the lake is great for families and swimming."

    8. Brookside RV Camping (Electric hookup only)

    2 Reviews
    Berlin, VT
    11 miles
    +1 (214) 789-3822

    $24 / night

    9. North Beach Campground

    27 Reviews
    Burlington, VT
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 862-0942

    $37 - $100 / night

    "We stay every year for the Vermont City Marathon. It is a convenient bike ride down the bike path to the waterside park. Easy access to all of Burlington by bike."

    "Sites 1 to 16 are close to each other.

    Sites 113 to 119 are bad. Very close to each other. No redeeming qualities.

    Sites have 30 amp electric and water but might need a longish cord or hose."

    10. Austin Brook

    6 Reviews
    Warren, VT
    17 miles
    Website

    "All pretty much have access to the streams. Nice fire rings. Keep it clean!"

    "This area is right next to FireRoad 25 rd. We did not camp here we camped on FR25."

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Recent Reviews near Waterbury, VT

622 Reviews of 182 Waterbury Campgrounds


  • Greg D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2025

    Lazy Lions Campground

    Nice quiet place

    Nice campground with plenty of shade, well maintained and decent restrooms. The showers are ok and cost a quarter for 4 minutes. Our site was level and along with a picnic table, they also provide two Adirondack chairs (plastic) and a fire ring.

  • K
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Mount Philo State Park Campground

    Hidden gem!

    Great little campground at a beautiful state park. The campground had widely spaced wooded sites and was exceptionally quiet. Very well-maintained! Recommend nearby Charlotte town beach for swimming ($10 for non-residents).

  • Jim S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Happy Hill Maple Farms

    Offseason

    Quiet spot just off the Hwy. you can hear traffic but not many cars out this time of year(August). They had a fire pit and picnic table . No electricity so we used the generator. We the only one here so the noise should not bother anyone. Great pace for fall visits

  • Jessica C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Chittenden Brook Campground

    Great site

    This was a great site that feels secluded but isn’t. There’s quite a bit of space between each site so you can’t really see your neighbors which is excellent. The vault toilets were surprisingly clean besides the expected smell/flies. No running water or electricity. No cell service a few miles leading up the site, so download your maps in advance. There’s a 2.5 mile dirt road with a steady incline into the camp, which my subie had no issue with, but not sure how well an RV would fair.

    Didn’t see any bear, but take bear food precautions regardless. Each site has a fire pit, tent platform, and picnic table. The sites were well cared for. There were two dumpsters, one for recycling and one for trash, at the end of the loop. They are bear proof and almost me proof! The constant sound of running water from the brook was truly relaxing. I didn’t have issues with bugs (beginning of August) but I also didn’t stay in the camp during the majority of the day.

    All in all, a great campsite and I’ll definitely be back.

  • E
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Indian Brook Reservoir

    Family of 4 tent camping

    I mistakenly assumed they had drive up campsites. They do not. It was a 15 minute hike to the site, so pack light. If you have a kayak, you can transport your stuff over. Site was gorgeous and private, right on the reservoir. Really lovely setting!

  • Snooz H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 5, 2025

    Shelburne Camping Area

    Oh My God. NO!

    Electricity would not work. We got an error on our control panel that said stop! Power source is not correct! Dan, one of the owners, said that somebody must have tried to hook a 50 amp into the 30 amp. box. He went about a half block to check breaker said that it was not flipped but it was wobbling pretty loose in there.

    My husband is a licensed electrician and of course had his own testing equipment. It showed 25 amp coming out of it. So he said move to spot 50. Well before we moved our vehicle, we went down there and checked it. He took off before we could. And guess what the exact same problem. We did not even hook into the second one. (#50)
    So he proceeded to tell us that it was our equipment that had gone bad. Even though we never plugged into spot 50!

    I had planned on one night thank God! He did refund our $52. we had to drive down the road and try to find someplace else at 7:00 in the evening. Another thank God, the Walmart about 10 or 15 miles down the road would allow overnight.

    So we are now on our way to our next location which is about a 7 hour drive. We are just hoping that they did not damage our equipment. It has been extremely stressful if you go there you better watch out!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 4, 2025

    Meadowcrest Campground

    Meadowcrest

    Very nice place . Quiet the staff are very kind people . It was hard to book over phone but messages worked well . I was tent camping on the river . Very private

  • Brittany P.
    Jul. 30, 2025

    Jacobs Brook Campground

    Owners dog attacked ours twice

    We stayed at Jacobs Brook Campground in Orford, NH last summer for 3 months and loved it so decided to come back for the whole season this year, May thru october. Me and my husband walk our dogs every day between 3-4pm on leashes. The first occurrence the owners dog was being walked by their elderly work-camper and drug her across the gravel to get loose. The dog locked on to one of my dogs throat and my husband had to put it in a choke hold to get it to let go. During the scuffle i got bit too but did not require medical attention. They promised to keep it indoors so we let it go to prevent any animosity during the rest of our stay. 2 weeks later we were walking close by the office and the dog busted through the storm door and ended up biting our other little dog. The owner did apologize but made statements like he(the dog) never acts this way with other dogs, it must be something wrong with your dogs. The more he talked to us the more it felt he was upset with us and viewed us as the problem. We have previously heard this dog aggressively barking and banging on the windows before when people get near the office/house. We were so upset at this second occurrence and did not feel safe there anymore so we left. We did request a partial refund for the remainder of the season since we had to pay up front for the 5 months but have not heard back from them.

  • Ryan M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 17, 2025

    Moose River Campground

    Right on the Moose River

    Clean park on the river. The WiFi is weak and inside the park is little to no service.


Guide to Waterbury

Camping near Waterbury, Vermont, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a peaceful retreat, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: There are many trails nearby, including those around Lafayette Place Campground — Franconia Notch State Park. One reviewer mentioned, "The campground is close to Lincoln, NH so if you need supplies you can easily run into town for food and drink."
  • Fishing and Swimming: At Grand Isle State Park Campground, you can enjoy fishing and swimming in Lake Champlain. A visitor said, "The facilities were clean and the shower was nice and hot."
  • Exploring Nature: Lost River Valley Campground offers beautiful wooded sites and access to trails. One camper noted, "The sites are large, wooded, and private."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review for Little River State Park Campground stated, "The restroom is a bit dated and dingy, but clean."
  • Friendly Staff: Many campgrounds have helpful staff. A visitor at Moose Hillock Camping Resort mentioned, "Very friendly staff and the pool was amazing for the kiddos."
  • Spacious Sites: Campers enjoy having room to spread out. One review for Quechee State Park Campground highlighted, "The sites are nicely spaced and seem to accommodate big rigs rather well."

What you should know:

  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can get noisy, especially during peak seasons. A camper at North Beach Campground noted, "Seemed really popular and a little loud until around 11."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. A review for Hancock Campground mentioned, "There was no running water at any of the pumps and the pit toilets were quite full."
  • First-Come, First-Serve: Some campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. A visitor at Franconia Notch State Park said, "This campground is first come first serve."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with pools and playgrounds. One review for Moose Hillock Camping Resort said, "The Pool is Huge! Nice sites with great fire pits!"
  • Plan for Noise: Be prepared for potential noise from other campers. A visitor mentioned, "Some of the drawbacks were not some of the campgrounds' fault... we had some very noisy neighbors."
  • Pack Snacks: Having snacks on hand can keep kids happy. A camper at Lost River Valley Campground noted, "They also had a tinker bell walk and other activities."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Hookups: Make sure your campground has the right hookups for your RV. A review for Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday mentioned, "The hookups look new."
  • Level Sites: Look for campgrounds with level sites to avoid issues. One camper at Moose Hillock Camping Resort said, "Our campsite was very level."
  • Wi-Fi Availability: If you need to stay connected, check for Wi-Fi options. A visitor at Moose Hillock Camping Resort mentioned, "Zero Verizon service but Wi-Fi at the pool for getting some work done."

Camping around Waterbury, VT, has something for everyone, whether you're looking for adventure or relaxation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping amenities and features are available in Waterbury, Vermont?

Waterbury, Vermont offers excellent camping amenities centered around water activities. At Little River State Park Campground, you'll find clean bathhouses, well-maintained sites with good separation, and access to Waterbury Reservoir for swimming and boating with boat rentals available. The park offers outstanding ranger-led programs including guided paddles, nature walks, and educational activities for children. Many campgrounds in the area provide fire pits, picnic tables, and hiking access. The region is particularly family-friendly, with playgrounds at some locations and natural features like waterfalls and swimming holes nearby. Waterbury's central location makes it an ideal base camp for exploring Vermont's attractions, including easy access to restaurants, shops, and the famous Ben & Jerry's factory.

Is camping available at Waterbury Center State Park?

Traditional drive-in camping isn't available at Waterbury Center State Park itself, but the park offers unique Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites accessible only by boat. These sites provide a more secluded experience with basic amenities including toilets. For conventional camping near Waterbury Center, the closest option is Little River State Park Campground, located on the shoreline of Waterbury Reservoir just outside the center. Little River offers 70 tent/RV sites, 20 lean-to sites, and five cabins divided between two camping areas, with amenities including clean bathrooms, beach access, and boat launch facilities. The campground serves as an excellent base for exploring Waterbury Center and surrounding attractions.

What campgrounds are available near Waterbury, VT?

Several campgrounds surround the Waterbury area, offering diverse camping experiences. Silver Lake Campground features private sites set at comfortable distances from each other, with a clean lake for swimming, a concrete dock, boat rentals, and nature tours. Gold Brook Campground provides spacious, level RV sites with full hookups, fire pits, a playground, and a creek. For a more rustic experience, Moosalamoo Campground offers sites with mountain views, waterfalls, and access to a swimming hole and nearby lake. Other options include Maple Hill Campsites on a private farm and remote boat-in sites on Waterbury Reservoir, with Camel's Hump State Park and Smugglers Notch State Park also within reasonable driving distance.