Best Campgrounds near Waterbury Center, VT

State parks and forests surrounding Waterbury Center, Vermont feature diverse camping experiences ranging from developed sites to remote wilderness options. 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.

Best Camping Sites Near Waterbury Center, Vermont (182)

    1. Little River State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Waterbury Center, VT
    3 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!"

    "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."

    2. Smugglers Notch State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Stowe, VT
    10 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
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 253-7683

    "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."

    4. Underhill State Park Campground

    6 Reviews
    Underhill Center, VT
    12 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."

    5. Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites — Waterbury Center State Park

    2 Reviews
    Waterbury Center, VT
    2 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!"

    6. Elmore State Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    Lake Elmore, VT
    15 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."

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

    2 Reviews
    Bolton, VT
    8 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."

    8. Mountain View Campground

    7 Reviews
    Lake Elmore, VT
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 888-2178

    "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."

    10. North Beach Campground

    28 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."

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Recent Reviews near Waterbury Center, VT

641 Reviews of 182 Waterbury Center Campgrounds


  • Stuart M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Moscow Recreation Park

    Quiet & Safe in Stowe

    Quiet spot out of the way. Large sporting field car park suitable for big dogs. No 'no camping' signs. There was a portaloo on site.

  • Marc D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Shelburne Camping Area

    Nice Campground

    This is a nice little private campground in Shelburne, just outside of Burlington. Close to Lake Champlain. Good place to spend the night and good access to activities. Sides are somewhat small close together. Bathrooms spotlessly clean. Older couple is the staff, very friendly and unhelpful.

  • Panvira T.
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Fransted Family Campground

    Good location

    The place so nice and cleaned,quite also close to you must see and things to do. The price reasonable too. Highly recommended

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Woodbury Meadows Campground

    Family-Owned Campground Near Stowe

    With 6 sites, this family-owned campground was the perfect pit stop on our road trip to Stowe. Dig and kid friendly. Has showers, water, and electrical hookup.

  • Jenna L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Crown Point Campground

    Nice with a view

    Pretty nice campground all things considered, bathrooms are definitely rustic but kept clean. Some of the campsites are very close together, and others have a decent amount of space between them, not necessarily a lot of trees in between campsites for privacy. Beautiful views of the water, and surrounding mountains. Staff was extremely friendly!

  • R
    Oct. 10, 2025

    AuSable Chasm Campground

    Beautiful/Fun Campground

    I wish I had my bike!!! I didn’t know that this was a biking campground and there were SO MANY trails. Made the most of them with running, but overall, a fantastic campground. Showers were clean, staff was very friendly. Sites and attractions within walking distance (but busy roads to cross).

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 8, 2025

    Austin Brook

    Site is mislabeled as FR 25

    There are a handful of sites down Austin Brook road, I had trouble finding a level spot. Minimal ATT reception but overall pretty area

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Kampersville

    Nice

    The campsites are all in the trees with some sites not clearly defined. The sites seem good sized with new bathroom and showers, with individual showers with a toilet. There are a lot of monthly staying here. Overall a nice park


Guide to Waterbury Center

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!"

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 182 campgrounds and RV parks near Waterbury Center, VT and 15 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 15 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.