Waterbury Center, Vermont offers wilderness camping experiences at elevations ranging from 500 to 4,000 feet throughout the surrounding Green Mountains. The region experiences distinct seasonal variations with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during the day and 50-60°F at night. Most campgrounds in this area operate seasonally from mid-May to mid-October with varying terrain options from forest settings to waterfront locations.
What to do
Paddle the Waterbury Reservoir: Access remote tent sites only reachable by boat at Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites. "These remote sites are so peaceful. Be sure to launch from cotton brook road if your site r11-27... It was about 30 minutes from the cotton brook launch to the site and was much more doable for all the trips we took bringing our gear in."
Hike to mountain peaks: Underhill State Park Campground offers direct trail access to Mount Mansfield. "Spent a few nights here as a base camp while hiking some of the mountains in the area. 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."
Winter backcountry camping: Smugglers Notch State Park allows off-season camping with proper preparation. "Stayed at a lean-to site here in March of 2019. Free of charge during off season, you just have to call a couple weeks ahead to reserve and make sure you park in the allotted area. Hike/snowshoe in to your site as the gate is closed and the area is not plowed."
What campers like
Private sites with natural buffers: Campers appreciate the layout at Smugglers Notch State Park Campground. "Pristine facilities, private camp sites and a beautiful area. Smuggler's Notch is close enough to Stowe to not be a hassle to drive to, but far enough away that it's quiet and remote."
Accessible beaches and swimming: Little River State Park Campground provides water recreation opportunities. "We had easy access to hikes in Stowe, plus the Ben and Jerry's shop is about 20 minutes down the road! We stayed on the B side. The bathrooms were clean, the site was well maintained, and the reservoir was a great place to relax after a day of hiking!"
Historical hiking trails: Little River State Park features historical remnants throughout its trail system. "The hiking trails are really good--they're actually pretty steep. There are lots of old foundations hidden on the trails that are fun to discover."
What you should know
Limited availability at peak times: Most campgrounds fill quickly, especially during fall foliage. "Reserve early, as this place doesn't have a ton of sites and it folds up quickly!"
Cancellation policies vary: Read the fine print before booking. Some private campgrounds have strict cancellation policies.
Varied bathroom facilities: Campground bathroom quality ranges from rustic to modern. Elmore State Park Campground offers clean but basic facilities. "The restroom in the campground loop we were in was very clean but outdated. The sinks are cold water only, which I normally wouldn't mind, but the temps dropped into the 20s during our trip, which made washing up a little bit painful."
Bug protection required: "Beautiful campsite in Smugglers Notch State Park. Central to everything in Stowe and minutes away from the resort. Really nice campsite with great staff. The only complaint is mosquitos were rampant in standing water near our site. Bring bug spray."
Tips for camping with families
Best family-friendly activities: Camel's Hump State Park offers guided programs for kids. "The designated primitive camping area is about 1.5 miles into the hike. If I recall it had about 10-12 sites. The area had a host who was there 24/7 and a shared area for eating and food storage."
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer built-in entertainment. "We visited here with our 5 kiddos for 2 nights late July 2016. The facilities were clean, the small playground was great, and the small boat launch and beach kept us in the water."
Kid-friendly hiking options: Choose appropriate trails based on age and ability. "The Elmore Store just down the road has everything you need including AMAZING pizza (Fire Tower) and a great deli. Fun summer activities happen in Elmore and neighboring towns."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campsites require work to level RVs. "The sites in the field are generally un-level, and we had to really work to level our trailer. While we were there, there were car campers, tent campers, and a class C rv, in addition to us in our travel trailer."
Limited hookups: Mountain View Campground offers more developed options. "We loved having full hookups. We also met the nicest people here. You can purchase firewood at the office, and there are also propane options."
Access considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging entry roads. "Most sites up on hill looking over lake, not easily assessable from camp site, but still had a great time. Left kayak down at beach. Definitely recommend this campground, very remote, but Stowe and Waterbury close by!"
