Campgrounds near Waterbury Center, Vermont range from developed tent and RV sites to remote waterfront and backcountry options across the surrounding state parks and forests. Little River State Park, located just outside of Waterbury, serves as a popular base for exploring the region with sites along the Waterbury Reservoir offering boating, fishing, and hiking opportunities. Nearby, Camel's Hump State Park provides more primitive hike-in tent sites for those seeking backcountry experiences. The Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites are accessible only by boat, offering secluded tent camping on the reservoir's shoreline. Within a 30-minute drive, Smugglers Notch State Park provides well-spaced sites with exceptional privacy in a mountain setting.
Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from mid-May through mid-October, with some extending slightly later into fall foliage season. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for summer weekends and during peak autumn color periods. Cell service varies considerably throughout the region, with better coverage in developed areas and limited or no service in more remote locations. As one camper noted, "Little River State Park is located just outside of Waterbury Vermont so it's an ideal location for jumping off on other adventures! The park is on the shoreline of Waterbury reservoir so there is boating (rentals available) and plenty of fishing." Weather conditions can change rapidly in the Green Mountains, with cool nights common even during summer months.
Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors, with the Waterbury Reservoir sites being particularly sought after. Many campgrounds feature a mix of tent sites, RV spaces, and rustic cabins or lean-tos, accommodating various camping preferences. State park facilities typically include basic amenities like drinking water, pit toilets or restrooms, and designated fire rings. Smugglers Notch State Park campers frequently mention the exceptional privacy of sites, with one reviewer noting that "there was not a bad site within the entire vicinity. All were fully shaded and extremely private." Fall camping is especially popular for viewing foliage, though temperatures can drop significantly at night. Most campgrounds are pet-friendly, though leash requirements and other pet policies vary by location.
$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!"
"We came here to hike the Dalley Loop Trail (which is a great trail full of history), but we wish we had camped here instead of the private campground 45 minutes away where we did stay."
$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"
"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.""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."
"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."
"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!"
$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."
$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."
"It can get a bit noisy due to the proximity to the highway, but it's still a good option for car camping in this part of Vermont."
"Nice grass site with a large field behind, and Just a short walk to the river. Clean facilities and proximity for exploring Stowe and surrounding areas. Would love to camp here again."
$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."
GuideRight along the road (so if anything happens you can get help) also has wifi signal. It’s right along a creek that’s clean and beautiful. Crisp air and calming flowing river noises all night made it so I slept like a baby!
GuideDrove all the way here just to pull in and see signs that say “no overnight camping”
ScoutPublic Lands with about 8 semi private sites, each with nice views west or easterly. It's a large meadow and with a breeze, it will keep bugs away. Lacking a breeze, it is tough but still beautiful
TravelerMy favorite campsite we stayed at on my 2 week trip (despite the bugs lol). Great swimming hole and very well kept. Very beautiful and loved my stay.
ScoutPam met us outside as she said ‘dodging rain drops’ to stack wood. She was warm and friendly. You can tell she runs a tight ship immediately telling us when quite hours were, and letting us know the dogs needed to be on leash and under our control. We brought our 2 labs with us. Only 2 vehicles per site is allowed. You do need tokens to use the shower. 2 tokens was more than enough for me to shower and not feel rushed. The bathrooms are AMAZING! I am looking forward to coming back!
ScoutAs noted by others, most of the sites have a fire ring and nothing more. A little more than half of the sites can be driven to and others require a very short walk (50 ft?). The toilets mentioned are at Texas falls area and are not a practical walk from most of the campsites.
There are no showers.
Aside from the loop trail at the falls there are also a couple of snowmobile trails that cross the area.
ScoutSame name and google search, but new owner since 2024. We just wrapped up a stay at this campground and I can honestly say… we’ll be back.🙌 From the moment we arrived, you could feel the pride the owner has poured into this place. The new power and water hookups are a huge upgrade, and it’s exciting to see the vision for future expansion already coming to life. Everything about our stay felt easy, welcoming, and most importantly—safe. It’s the kind of spot where you can truly relax, enjoy your time, and feel right at home. Clean, well cared for, and clearly built with heart. Can’t wait to come back and see how it continues to grow.🌲✨
RangerStayed here for a week. Josh and Dori were super nice and helpful. Level grass field with water and 30amp hookup. Fire pit port o potty, creek across the street. Very pretty setting. Dark sky area. Cell att and Verizon we decent enough to work plus they had WiFi if needed.
TravelerFree dispersed camping right off of the road. Includes picnic tables and a fire ring. It is located in the mountains of Vermont and right next to a beautiful river. The only con was the highway noise since it's pretty close to the road. But, it's free, and in the beautiful mountains of vermont so cant really complain.
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.
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."
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."
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."
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."
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!"
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Waterbury Center, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, Waterbury Center, VT offers a wide range of camping options, with 187 campgrounds and RV parks near Waterbury Center, VT and 16 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Waterbury Center, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Waterbury Center, VT is Little River State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 24 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Waterbury Center, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 free dispersed camping spots near Waterbury Center, VT.
What parks are near Waterbury Center, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Waterbury Center, VT that allow camping, notably Union Village Dam and Green Mountain National Forest.
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