Tent camping near Waterbury Center, Vermont offers a mix of established campgrounds and remote backcountry sites within the Green Mountains. Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites in Waterbury Center State Park provides boat-in tent-only camping with peaceful shoreline locations accessible via a 30-minute paddle from Cotton Brook Road. Camel's Hump State Park, located just south of Waterbury, features primitive tent camping areas approximately 1.5 miles into the hiking trail with designated sites for backcountry tent camping. Underhill State Park Campground, situated north of Waterbury, offers walk-in tent sites with privacy provided by surrounding trees.
Most tent campgrounds in the Waterbury region operate seasonally from May through mid-October, with specific opening and closing dates varying by location. Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites feature composting toilets but no potable water, requiring campers to pack in their own drinking water. Fire rings are provided at established sites, and fires are permitted in designated areas only. Camel's Hump tent sites include a shared area for food storage to mitigate bear encounters. Weather conditions can change rapidly in the Green Mountains, particularly at higher elevations, so tent campers should prepare for temperature fluctuations and possible precipitation even during summer months.
The backcountry tent camping experience around Waterbury Center offers exceptional access to Vermont's natural landscapes. According to reviews, the Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites provide particularly secluded experiences. One visitor noted, "These remote sites are so peaceful. Be sure to launch from Cotton Brook Road if your site is R11-27. The paddle to the site was about 30 minutes and much more doable for all the trips we took bringing our gear in." At Underhill State Park, campers appreciate the privacy between sites, with one reviewer commenting, "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." Many primitive tent sites in the region offer excellent access to hiking trails, swimming areas, and wildlife viewing opportunities.
"The bathroom is a composting toilet that you’ll share with fishing spiders the size of your hand, slam the lid before use!"
"Little river st park wide flat camp sites no hookups limited gen. Use hours 8am/10am and 4pm/6pm. Rough road coming5th to campground. Very quite. cell phone t mobile works fine."
"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.""Very primitive and quiet campground. Great staff and campsites. No shower but one of the best weeks I had camping in a while. Will definitely go back this year."
"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."
"Great tent site, site 1 can have 3 platform and fire pit"
from $10 / night
"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."
"Right off the road, a small handful of camp sites, some picnic tables, presumably some fire rings although with snow coverage I didn’t see any."
"apparently this is the first state park in Vermont. Only 8 campsites so try to book early. Nice trails that lead to scenic views of Lake Champlain. Bathrooms and showers were clean."
"There are less than 20 sites total, and all sites are near walk-in paths to excellent views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks or the Green Mountains. The facility is small, but adequate."
from $23 / night
"It’s a primitive park, perfect for paddling, wild camping, swimming, and watching wildlife. The reservoir is 653 acres with 19 miles of shoreline. There are 27 campsites and two group camspites."
"I love this location because you have to paddle out to a site for camping. It‘s private, quiet, and really gives you that “forest bathing” escape."
from $20 - $50 / night
"All the sites were full when I visited (6 to 8 sites, approximately, but i didn't go down a couple little gravel paths to check each spot as you couldn't turn around easily) , so I didn't get to camp there"
"Beautiful sites on the River but with the wet summer, we just couldn’t dry out. Make sure to lock you valuables. Our Jackery, Solar panels & toilet were stolen."
"There is an extensive trail system that is easy to navigate. Nestled in the woods are several tent platforms that you can access by foot or by boat. They are spacious but not too private."
"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."
from $21 - $36 / night
"Route 2 traverses the northern edge of the property and there is a dam at the western end of the reservoir that is owned by Green Mountain Power Company. "
"Weather was not cooperative and my fiancé and I were able to rent one of the cabins for our second night. We will definitely recommend it to others and we will be back again."
"The small amount of camping space made the experience quite unique and private. The host, Dianne, was really friendly. Many amenities such as wood, water and outhouse nearby. Very nice experience."
from $35 - $45 / night
ScoutFirst trip with our new RV and we were a little nervous about getting everything set up. Having full hookups made it way less complicated than we expected. Once we were settled, we just enjoyed the area and took a few day trips. Would definatly come back for another Adirondack trip.
ScoutWe came up for a quick Adirondack getaway and ended up spending most of our time outside. A little disc golf, some time by the pool, dinner at the site and plenty of walks with the dog. Pretty much everything we wanted out of the trip.
ScoutOne of the best parts for us was not having to pack up the RV every time we wanted to go somewhere. We stayed put and explored the Adirondacks from here. Lake Champlain, Ausable Chasm and a bunch of other spots were all easy to get to.
ScoutHaving the river and Adirondacks nearby made for a really nice change of scenery. We spent our days exploring and came back to the campground for dinner and a fire.
GuideThere was a few sites 5-6 we didn’t get to the eastern loop. But the sites we saw were very secluded. All had fire pits ours had a picnic table. And was right next to the creek. Would highly recommend if you want to get away from city lights. All sites are not maintained. We had a small off road camper it was easy In and out some sites could be hard with larger pull behinds. Some sites might need 4wd to get in and out we had lots of mud after a lot of rain.
GuideMost sites are secluded. There is a creepy old cemetery in walking distance. Nice showers on site !!
GuideWe had the upper sites all drive in or small camper. And or Tent. Amazing rolling brook beautiful sites we had site 32. The lower ones are rv. The owner gave us free wood as it was end of season. We were there Oct 10 I’m not sure but think they close the 13
ScoutWe were looking for somewhere to stay while checking out Ausable Chasm and this worked out really well. Easy drive over, then back to the camper in the afternoon. Made the whole trip alot easier.
ScoutWe only planned on staying a few nights but ended up adding another week. Once we got settled in, it was hard to leave.
Tent camping near Waterbury Center, Vermont provides access to the scenic northern portion of the Green Mountains. The area sits at elevations ranging from 800 feet at the Waterbury Reservoir to over 3,500 feet on nearby mountain peaks. Temperatures can drop into the low 40s even during summer nights, creating significant temperature variations between daytime and nighttime, particularly at higher elevations.
Swimming at quiet shorelines: At Green River Reservoir State Park Campground, the 653-acre reservoir offers excellent swimming in clear waters. "Wild camping and good wildlife viewing... It's a primitive park, perfect for paddling, wild camping, swimming, and watching wildlife," notes one camper who visits each summer.
Summit hiking with views: Mount Philo State Park provides quick access to panoramic vistas after a short hike. A camper explains, "The best part is every night it's only a ten minute hike to the summit from where the sites are and you get to watch the sunset over Vermont and lake champlain as the sun falls behind the adirondack mountains."
Wildlife observation: The Waterbury area offers abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. At Green River Reservoir, one visitor recommends, "Be sure to paddle out to the Beaver Meadow - we have seen moose there several times." Camping at primitive sites increases chances for wildlife encounters throughout the region.
Privacy between campsites: Campers consistently praise the secluded nature of sites at Mount Philo State Park Campground. "Sites 1, 6 and 8 are the best if you're only camping with those at your site as they're the most secluded and private. Sites 2 and 3 are more open, to both each other, and to those en route to the bathrooms," advises a frequent visitor.
Quiet wilderness camping: The remote access camping at Green River Reservoir creates a truly immersive experience. "I love this location because you have to paddle out to a site for camping. It's private, quiet, and really gives you that 'forest bathing' escape. There is a lot of beautiful wildlife," notes an enthusiastic camper.
Natural sleeping soundscapes: Sites near running water create soothing background noise for sleeping. At Underhill State Park, one camper appreciated "waking up to the sound of the stream down the embankment" at their campsite.
Mosquito preparation: The Green Mountain forests can have significant insect activity, especially near water. Bring appropriate repellent and lightweight long sleeves/pants for evenings.
Sudden weather changes: The mountain terrain creates unpredictable conditions. Pack rain gear and layered clothing even for summer camping trips.
Limited facilities at remote sites: At Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites, composting toilets have minimal amenities. One camper notes: "The bathroom is a composting toilet that you'll share with fishing spiders the size of your hand, slam the lid before use!" Remote sites typically lack potable water.
Varying launch points: When paddling to remote sites, choosing the correct access point is crucial. At Waterbury Reservoir, a camper advises: "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."
Short hikes with big rewards: Indian Brook Reservoir offers family-friendly tent sites with moderate access efforts. "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," reports one family of four.
Pack-in strategies: For remote sites, plan multiple trips or use watercraft to transport gear. A visitor at Waterbury Reservoir mentioned the paddle to their site "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."
Food storage systems: When camping with children in bear country, proper food storage is essential. At Camel's Hump State Park, tent sites include a shared area for food storage specifically designed to prevent wildlife encounters.
Limited RV options: Most remote sites around Waterbury Center are tent-only. For RVs, Underhill State Park Campground has some RV-accessible sites but with no hookups and strict generator usage rules. "Little river st park wide flat camp sites no hookups limited gen. Use hours 8am/10am and 4pm/6pm," notes one RVer.
Road conditions: Access roads to many campsites in the area can be challenging. An RVer commented on the "rough road coming to campground" but mentioned they could accommodate their "28ft 5th wheel" with "plenty of room for 35/40" foot rigs at some sites.
Wheelbarrow assistance: Some campgrounds provide wheelbarrows to help transport gear from parking areas to walk-in sites. "They provide wheelbarrows for easy moving of your stuff, and the campsites are super clean and well organized," notes a camper at Underhill State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Waterbury Center, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Waterbury Center, VT is Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites — Waterbury Center State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Waterbury Center, VT?
TheDyrt.com has all 41 tent camping locations near Waterbury Center, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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