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Little River State Park Campground permits pets throughout its wooded campsites and cabin accommodations near the Waterbury Reservoir. The park features tent sites, RV spaces, cabins, and glamping options where dogs can stay with their owners. Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites at Waterbury Center State Park also welcome pets at their boat-in tent camping areas, providing a more secluded experience for campers with dogs. Most sites are well-maintained with good separation between campsites, offering privacy for pet owners concerned about proximity to other campers. Sites around Little River are freshly raked before arrival with leftover firewood stacked near fire pits. The campground maintains clean facilities, though bathroom buildings lack dedicated dishwashing stations.
Hiking trails throughout Little River State Park accommodate leashed dogs with options ranging from easy historical walks to more challenging mountain paths. Dogs can join their owners exploring the abandoned town foundations scattered throughout the trail system. The Waterbury Reservoir provides water access where pets can cool off after hiking, though owners should supervise pets near the water. Beach areas for swimming are available, with the B beach offering a grassy shoreline and sandy bottom that many dogs enjoy. Campers with boats can access remote shoreline sites where pets have more room to explore. Little River's location also offers convenient access to nearby attractions, placing pet owners within 20 minutes of Stowe's hiking trails and the Ben & Jerry's factory in Waterbury. The campground typically operates from mid-May through October, with most sites requiring advance reservations during summer weekends and holidays.
"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."
from $19 - $28 / night
Check Availability"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!"
"Close to tons of beautiful hikes. As for the campground. It was quiet, comfortable, and kid, as well as pet friendly. Would definitely camp here again."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"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.""Our dog loved swimming in the creek and meeting his first bullfrog. The campground also has a small pool, one washer and one dryer, and decent showers/restrooms."
"It is not as remote as some other locations, mainly because you are in Waterbury, VT and Waterbury can be quite busy with visitors. "
"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!"
"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."
"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."
from $19 - $28 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Large sporting field car park suitable for big dogs. No 'no camping' signs. There was a portaloo on site."
"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."
"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."
from $37 - $100 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $24 / night
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ScoutThis is one of our favorite places to camp in Vermont. The sites are fairly private without being built too close together. Lake is clean and has a great concrete dock that the kids love to jump off. They have boat rentals and nature tours on the lake led by the state park faculty. When the kids get tired from swimming they're a nice beach area and playground.
GuideI have a 24’ RV towing a 30 foot trailer for perspective. I easily fit in site 107 and lots of other sites would have worked. They have a place to drop trailers if you don’t fit.
Sites 90 to 108 are best. Spaced out under trees.
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. Clean easy to use dump with water.
Tent sites looked nice.
Short walk to nice beach or you can drive a car. Short tunnel so no campers or bikes on the roof.
Right next to rails to trails path that goes onto a causeway over the lake. There is a bike ferry to keep going. Nice ride.
Nice dog park 3/4 miles to the South on the trail.
Far away from noise. Can’t comment on loud campers.
GuideVery nice, clean campsite. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Campsites are spread out, great dog walking areas , and very spacious dog parks, one for big dos and one for little ones.
GuideWe just spent 5 days at this wonderful campground. They have paid attention to all of the finer details. Beautiful landscaping, well leveled sites, very clean and neat. The staff is wonderful. My only disappointment with the camp is that there are only a few sites with sewer hookup. However, the dumping station is conveniently located, so if you have a small tank, daily trips are not a problem. There is plenty to do in the area - Littleton is a beautiful little town. The old houses in are incredible. New Hampshire is not a dog friendly state, but a short Drive into Vermont gets you access to many fine restaurants where you can bring your dog. Be sure to visit Dog Mountain in Vermont- a truly touching memorial to departed pets.
GuideThis campground is drive in and never touch the car again. Two huge sites that can be rented in tandem as a group site. Each site has a prep table, picnic table, fire pit, 5 gallons of fresh water, a raised platform for tents, and a porta potty. Very spacious sites. Easily two camoer vans and two tents on each site. Site is at the bottom of Kitchel and Herbs trails, atop the exit/entrance trails into the village of East Burke. Showers are a short walk away at Mike's Tiki Bar, in the Kingdom parking lot. The sites can be reserved, and usually are up to a year in advance. So call ahead! Sites are pet friendly and there's lots of space for big dogs to run around. Sites are super private from the outside world. This place is truly a hidden gem that can make your trip.
LegendThis is a small family-owned and operated campground just a few miles outside of St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The campground abuts the Moose River which makes for a pretty backdrop and wonderful place to dip your toes in the water. The shallow river is a clear flowing rocky river.
The campground is a mix of seasonal and transient campers with sites large enough to fit big rigs. There is also a rental camper and cabin available. There were tent sites but the owner mentioned they may fade those out. We stayed in a large pull thru (well over 125’), full hook-up site in the center section of the campground. (Site 27 @ $47/night). The electric worked fine and the sewer was easily reached with my 20’ sewer hose. The pad was gravel (as were the roads) and the patio was nice grass. Cable television is available and produced 32 stations. Our Verizon hotspot and phone worked well.
There are lots of activities at this park. It seems like every week there was a community bonfire where lots of palettes were set ablaze. During our stay, there was a potluck dinner in which the owners supplied roast beef and hosted us in a large covered pavilion. One evening they drove around the campground offering free ice cream sandwiches or drum sticks. Some mornings they supplied free bagels or donuts and always had free coffee. And, there were people always on the porch playing cards. Amenities include river access, a decent size dog park, large covered pavilion, bathhouse and laundry. When you arrive, you are given a swag bag with printed information about the surrounding area and businesses. This is a really nice touch because the reusable bag can be used in the grocery store as plastic bags have been banned in Vermont.
If you can score a riverfront site those are nice to sit outside and enjoy a fire. The pull thru sites are very close on one side as each RV pulls in the opposite direction; however, the sites are so long that if you pull up far enough you are not looking at your neighbor. Your patio opens to a neighbor but the sites are far enough away that it’s not a bother and you don’t feel like you are on top of them. Probably the nicest site in the park is #23 which is a back-in site with your patio facing the river.
The campground is in a good location, just a few miles from downtown St. Johnsbury, just a mile or so from “Dog Mountain,” and about 15 miles from Littleton, New Hampshire. There is a town forest just a few miles away that has some nice hiking trails. The campground is pretty small so we were happy to find places to hike with our dog.
ScoutI've camped on Valcour all my life since I was 7. It was amazing. So beautiful. Now it's covered in cockroaches and the water is murky and everything is covered in Zebra muscles. Other campers are rude and have no respect for your property. Has been all Canadians from my experience. They let their pets on the island to defecate and we've had one let their two large dogs swim ashore from their yacht and urinate on all our tents and destroyed our campsite and stole our food off from the picnic table all while the owners watched and laughed it off from their boat. The dogs then swam back and boarded the boat and they left. It's not like it used to be. We were yelling at them the whole time, trying to get the dogs away from our campsite and the owners didn't even apologize. One of the dogs defecated on my son's clothing that has fallen off the line.
RangerI’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! Leaf peepers were in full force and the grounds were absolutely spectacular- I really picked the perfect time of year to go. Nights got pretty brisk, but the foliage was breathtaking.
The Park, located along scenic Rte108, has about 20 tent sites and 14 lean-to’s well dispersed throughout the grounds. A couple spots were drive-in sites, accessible to those with disabilities; most had small pathways and/or stairwells leading to their platforms. There was not a bad site within the entire vicinity. All were fully shaded and extremely private. Although, I’d be curious about checking out Sites 1 or 16 next time around!
Bathrooms were clean and the main office sold firewood at the entrance. Facilities are also pet friendly. Plus, there are so many hiking trails and recreational opportunities in and around the Park-from Stowe Mountain Resort to the quaint shops in town and local craft breweries. And even with the Park seeming “full”, the grounds were perfectly quiet, without the incessant sound of generators you find at larger state parks.
Without a doubt, Smugglers Notch State Park is a favorite of mine!
RangerWe stayed last year during the fall and the views were breathtaking. Close to tons of beautiful hikes. As for the campground. It was quiet, comfortable, and kid, as well as pet friendly. Would definitely camp here again. The staff was friendly and the bathroom facilities were kept nice and clean.
Waterbury Center offers extensive camping options in Vermont's Green Mountain range, situated between 700 and 2,500 feet elevation. The area experiences warm summers with average highs of 75-80°F while nights can drop to the 50s even in July. Most campgrounds maintain seasonal operations from mid-May through mid-October with limited availability during shoulder seasons.
Bike the Cross Vermont Trail: Access this multi-use path directly from Kettle Pond State Park Campground via connecting trails. "We took a half day bike trip on it one day to go to the town of Marshfield to visit Rainbow Sweets, home of some of the best French pastries in Vermont. We biked through marshland, seeing Great Blue Herons and other wildlife" (Rita M.).
Winter camping options: For adventurous campers, Smugglers Notch State Park offers off-season camping opportunities. "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. No facilities off season…Carry out all trash/waste" (Ed M.).
River activities: The Lamoille River offers recreation opportunities at several dog friendly campgrounds near Waterbury Center. At Mountain View Campground, "You can rent kayaks and tubes from the store or bring your own and float down the river. There are multiple spots where you can put in and float down a little ways before reaching the other access point" (Nancy W.).
Remote waterfront sites: For privacy at pet-friendly campgrounds around Waterbury Center, Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites provide secluded options. "These remote sites are so peaceful. Be sure to launch from cotton brook road if your site r11-27. We made the mistake of parking at Little River rd the first time and the paddle to r14 from there was way too long" (Julia S.).
Lake swimming access: Elmore State Park offers excellent water activities. "The beach on the shores of Lake Elmore and a hiking trail to the fire tower atop Elmore Mountain" provide recreational options. Campers note that "45 spacious tent/RV sites" make this location feel "extremely private" when not at capacity (Trip Over Life).
Night sky viewing: Some campsites offer exceptional stargazing opportunities. At Elmore State Park Campground, "Because our lean-to was in a meadow with no tree coverage, we were treated to the most awesome night sky we've ever seen at a Vermont state park. It was mesmerizing!" (Tara S.).
Campsite reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. At Smugglers Notch State Park Campground, visitors advise to "Reserve early, as this place doesn't have a ton of sites and it folds up quickly!" (Ben C.).
Water availability varies: Some campgrounds have limited water access. Kettle Pond State Park "is primitive. There is not ANY running water. The running water is accessed by going to New Discovery Campground, which is about 3 miles down the road" (Rita M.).
Elevation considerations: Many campgrounds feature significant elevation changes. At Underhill State Park, visitors note that hiking trails are "actually pretty steep" with "old foundations hidden on the trails that are fun to discover" (Rita M.).
Kid-friendly activities: Gold Brook Campground offers family amenities close to Waterbury Center. "The campground features a nice pool and spacious level camp sites. This campground is the perfect location to setup base camp to see all that Stowe has to offer!" (Jeff W.).
Multi-generational camping: For groups with varying camping preferences, Little River State Park has diverse accommodation types. "Great campground for hanging out and a place to bring your boat. The reservoir is a fun place to explore via kayak and cannoe as well as by motorboat!" (Hannah H.).
Educational opportunities: Kettle Pond provides wildlife viewing opportunities for children. During evening paddles, families can observe loons teaching chicks to hunt for food. Campers report that "Wild life abounds here, including fish, beavers, and loons" (Rita M.).
Site selection: For RV camping near Waterbury Center, Gold Brook Campground offers "level and extremely spacious" full hookup sites featuring fire pits. "The campground also has a small pool, one washer and one dryer, and decent showers/restrooms. Wifi was great over the week" though it becomes congested on weekends (Kara W.).
Road access considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads. At North Beach Campground, RVers appreciate having "easy access to hikes in Stowe, plus the Ben and Jerry's shop is about 20 minutes down the road" while still maintaining "full hookups" for comfort (Laura L.).
Off-season stays: Mountain View Campground operates from May 1 to October 15, providing extended seasonal access compared to state parks. Campers note it's "Super conveniently located to all of the hiking and biking Stowe has to offer" with "friendly hosts" and "primitive camp sites" that are "spacious and located along a quaint brook and sprawling meadow" (Shannon L.).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Waterbury Center, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Waterbury Center, VT is Little River State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 26 reviews.
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