Best Campgrounds near White River Junction, VT

Camping options near White River Junction, Vermont range from established campgrounds to remote backcountry sites throughout the Connecticut River Valley. Quechee State Park Campground and Quechee-Pine Valley KOA provide developed sites with varying amenities just a few miles west of White River Junction. Mount Ascutney State Park Campground, located about 15 miles south, offers both tent and RV camping opportunities. Several campgrounds in the area accommodate diverse camping styles including tent sites, RV hookups, cabin rentals, and even glamping experiences. The region's mix of state parks and private campgrounds ensures options for different preferences and budgets.

Most campgrounds in the White River Junction area operate seasonally from May through mid-October, with peak season running from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Vermont's state parks typically open in late May and close after Columbus Day weekend. The shoulder seasons offer less crowded camping but may have limited services. Winter camping is extremely limited in this region. Reservations are strongly recommended for summer weekends and holiday periods, particularly for waterfront sites. Cell service varies significantly throughout the area, with better coverage near towns and spotty reception in more remote locations. "The campground is small enough to walk to the swimming area from your campsite, as well as into town," noted one visitor about a nearby state park.

Riverside camping ranks highly among visitors to the White River Junction area, with several campgrounds offering sites along the Connecticut River and its tributaries. Mount Ascutney State Park receives praise for its mountain views and hiking opportunities, with one camper noting it has "amazing views" and "incredible beauty and tranquility." Campers frequently mention the region's proximity to outdoor recreation, including hiking, mountain biking, and water activities. State park campgrounds typically feature clean facilities, fire rings, and picnic tables, while private campgrounds may offer additional amenities like swimming pools, playgrounds, and camp stores. Several campgrounds provide both wooded sites for privacy and open sites for larger groups or RVs. Reviews consistently highlight the area's natural beauty, particularly during the fall foliage season.

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Best Camping Sites Near White River Junction, Vermont (207)

    1. Quechee State Park Campground

    22 Reviews
    Quechee, VT
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 295-2990

    "There’s a hiking trail beside of 37 and it’s steep going down and up but well worth it. It takes you out to the gorge and to the visitors center. I recommend eating at the snack bar!"

    "This is a nice state park located near the Quechee Gorge, a lovely place to explore and play. Vermont State parks often offer lean-to options and Quechee is no exception."

    2. Quechee-Pine Valley KOA

    11 Reviews
    Quechee, VT
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 296-6711

    "Nice rustic ,small all amenities park.Great place to explore Vermont ,hundreds of things to do and see in the area. Really like this park."

    "While staying here I could enjoy some fishing, taking the dog for a nice walk, enjoy the evening with a nice fire, camp side, and go swimming on those hot summer days."

    3. Mount Ascutney State Park Campground

    9 Reviews
    Ascutney, VT
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 674-2060

    "The state park had everything we were looking for: close proximity to mountain bike trails, beautiful hiking trails, available leantos, and less than two hours from our home."

    "Vermont parks are just some the most lush you’ve ever seen."

    4. Good Night Moon Vintage

    2 Reviews
    Quechee, VT
    6 miles
    +1 (626) 808-2923

    $59 - $99 / night

    5. Winturri Backcountry Shelter on the AT in Vermont — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    3 Reviews
    West Hartford, VT
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 244-7037

    "Note: This is a back country shelter on the Appalachian trail that doesn't have consistent water.

    I stopped here on a section hike of the Appalachian trail."

    6. Coolidge State Park Campground

    13 Reviews
    Plymouth, VT
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 672-3612

    "This place gets my vote for best campground in Vermont. Especially true if you're lucky enough to get one of the few sites on the outside of A loop that has a Lean-to with a view."

    "Coolidge is off the beaten path but well worth the wander! There are no water sites, it’s on the side of a heavily wooded mountain with a few sites having amazing views!"

    7. Storrs Pond Recreation Area

    1 Review
    Hanover, NH
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 643-2134

    $30 - $40 / night

    "I had site 1 which is near office but away from all other sites so it was very quiet. It's a large site with a nearby brook on 2 sides."

    8. Wilgus State Park Campground

    9 Reviews
    Ascutney, VT
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 674-5422

    $20 - $30 / night

    "Wilgus State Park is the first Vermont state park to open each spring, well before Memorial Day each year."

    "Wilgus state park has amazing campsites, very friendly staff, and great access to the Connecticut River. This campground was beautiful and very quiet even though it was full."

    9. Rest N Nest Campground

    3 Reviews
    Thetford Center, VT
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 785-2997

    10. Velvet Rocks Shelter Backcountry Campground on the AT — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    1 Review
    Hanover, NH
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 536-6100

    "Note this is a back country shelter along the Appalachian Trail, so it is 100% long hike in with no guaranteed water and a basic privvy."

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Recent Reviews near White River Junction, VT

833 Reviews of 207 White River Junction Campgrounds


  • Erin D.
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Lost River Valley Campground

    Dirty and Disappointing

    Here’s the revised version of your review with the laundry issue added in seamlessly:⸻ I came to this campground after seeing it advertised in a New Hampshire magazine, noting that it had once been recommended by Yankee Magazine. Unfortunately, it seems that recommendation must have been from many years ago, because what we experienced was nothing like what was promised. From the moment we arrived, it was clear the property was extremely rundown. The entrance and camp store were full of broken wood, broken signs, and musty smells. The bathrooms were absolutely atrocious—filthy, smelly, and clearly not maintained. They may not have been updated in years, but they could at least be kept clean, and they were not. The playgrounds—despite this being advertised as a family-friendly campground—were unsafe and neglected. Structures were practically falling down, weeds were everywhere, and one so-called playground was nothing more than a tarp on the ground with a tiny jungle gym. The game room was equally disappointing: dirty, moldy, and unusable. We had also looked forward to using the laundry facilities, but they were completely out of order and appeared to have been that way for quite some time. This was extremely disappointing and added to the sense that the entire campground is neglected. The swimming area was also a major letdown. The water was murky and uninviting—I wouldn’t even consider kayaking or putting my feet in it. Calling it a“beach” is misleading; it was unkempt and unpleasant. Overall, this campground was an extreme disappointment. It felt neglected, unsafe, and unhygienic in every way. I will not be returning, and I would strongly caution others to look elsewhere for a true family-friendly New Hampshire camping experience.⸻ Would you like me to shorten this into a punchier version(since some review sites have word limits), or keep it as a full detailed account for maximum impact?

  • Greg D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2025

    Lazy Lions Campground

    Nice quiet place

    Nice campground with plenty of shade, well maintained and decent restrooms. The showers are ok and cost a quarter for 4 minutes. Our site was level and along with a picnic table, they also provide two Adirondack chairs (plastic) and a fire ring.

  • W
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Quechee State Park Campground

    Good location

    The park is in a good location; it is right next to the road. We were at sight #3.  We were able to walk to the gorge as well as to the Antique mall.  The staff was very friendly and accommodating with us. My wife really enjoyed it and had a lot of fun. The ice cream was really close and really good. 

    The issue I had was the camp next to ours had the generator on all night long and I had a hard time getting back to sleep after going to the bathroom. Next time I will get a volunteer or park ranger to get it turned off.

  • J
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Plymouth Sands Camping Area

    Nice campground with amenities and friendly owners

    The campground is in a convenient location near lots of hiking trails and attractions. The sites are decently spacious and have various configurations for utilities. There is a nice beach on the river with a rope swing and ability to swim. We were there while the water was fairly low, so it was great for kids. Firewood is available on site. There is a bathroom with a few stalls and sinks that is well kept and clean. The showers are quarter operated with a coin heat lamp as well for the colder seasons. The office has a lending library of games available. The couple that owns the campground are very friendly and have owned it for 3 seasons now and they have done a great job making sure that amenities are kept up and upgrades are being made.

  • Jessica C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Chittenden Brook Campground

    Great site

    This was a great site that feels secluded but isn’t. There’s quite a bit of space between each site so you can’t really see your neighbors which is excellent. The vault toilets were surprisingly clean besides the expected smell/flies. No running water or electricity. No cell service a few miles leading up the site, so download your maps in advance. There’s a 2.5 mile dirt road with a steady incline into the camp, which my subie had no issue with, but not sure how well an RV would fair.

    Didn’t see any bear, but take bear food precautions regardless. Each site has a fire pit, tent platform, and picnic table. The sites were well cared for. There were two dumpsters, one for recycling and one for trash, at the end of the loop. They are bear proof and almost me proof! The constant sound of running water from the brook was truly relaxing. I didn’t have issues with bugs (beginning of August) but I also didn’t stay in the camp during the majority of the day.

    All in all, a great campsite and I’ll definitely be back.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 9, 2025

    Lost River Valley Campground

    Great Location

    The best thing about this campground is definitely the location. Perfect place to explore the White Mountains. We stayed in a basic cabin. It was clean, but did smell very musty. It was still comfortable. The sites on the river look amazing. Unfortunately my tent is a little too big for some of those sites, but I could still hear the steam from my cabin/site. Bathrooms were okay. Not as clean as they could have been, but they not bad. Again, the location can’t be beat though. And the sites next to the stream look very nice.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 4, 2025

    Meadowcrest Campground

    Meadowcrest

    Very nice place . Quiet the staff are very kind people . It was hard to book over phone but messages worked well . I was tent camping on the river . Very private

  • J
    Aug. 1, 2025

    Coolidge State Park Campground Vermont

    Views to Write Home About

    We have been camping at lean-to sites here for almost 20 years. The views from the prime sites are breathtaking. The bathrooms are updated and have been well maintained.Although there is no swimming in the campground, the state park a few miles away is included with the park pass and has a nice lake beach, although no dogs are allowed.

  • Brittany P.
    Jul. 30, 2025

    Jacobs Brook Campground

    Owners dog attacked ours twice

    We stayed at Jacobs Brook Campground in Orford, NH last summer for 3 months and loved it so decided to come back for the whole season this year, May thru october. Me and my husband walk our dogs every day between 3-4pm on leashes. The first occurrence the owners dog was being walked by their elderly work-camper and drug her across the gravel to get loose. The dog locked on to one of my dogs throat and my husband had to put it in a choke hold to get it to let go. During the scuffle i got bit too but did not require medical attention. They promised to keep it indoors so we let it go to prevent any animosity during the rest of our stay. 2 weeks later we were walking close by the office and the dog busted through the storm door and ended up biting our other little dog. The owner did apologize but made statements like he(the dog) never acts this way with other dogs, it must be something wrong with your dogs. The more he talked to us the more it felt he was upset with us and viewed us as the problem. We have previously heard this dog aggressively barking and banging on the windows before when people get near the office/house. We were so upset at this second occurrence and did not feel safe there anymore so we left. We did request a partial refund for the remainder of the season since we had to pay up front for the 5 months but have not heard back from them.


Guide to White River Junction

Camping near White River Junction, Vermont, offers a mix of beautiful scenery, outdoor activities, and friendly campgrounds. Whether you're looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are plenty of options to enjoy the great outdoors.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails around Quechee State Park Campground. One reviewer mentioned, "There’s a hiking trail beside of 37 and it’s steep going down and up but well worth it." The trails lead to stunning views of the gorge and surrounding nature.
  • Fishing: Enjoy some quiet time by the water at Gifford Woods State Park Campground. A camper shared, "Great hiking trails and a pretty peaceful pond with fishing across the street."
  • Exploring Local Attractions: Visit nearby attractions like the Harpoon Brewery and the American Precision Museum. One visitor noted, "This is a small park, but it's a good spot to stay to explore the area."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the well-maintained bathrooms and showers. A review for Moose Hillock Camping Resort stated, "The bathrooms were immaculate and seem to be somewhat newer than the other state parks."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer plenty of space between sites. A visitor at Quechee State Park Campground mentioned, "Great campground with a decent amount of space between campsites."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of the staff. One review for Baker River Campground said, "The host is extremely nice and welcoming."

What you should know:

  • No Electric Hookups: Many campgrounds, like Gifford Woods State Park Campground, do not offer electric hookups. A camper noted, "No Electric or hookups."
  • Seasonal Reservations: Some campgrounds require two-night reservations during peak seasons. A visitor at Wilgus State Park Campground mentioned, "Only downside is I had to book two nights because of the seasonal policy."
  • Wildlife Awareness: Be mindful of local wildlife. One camper at Gifford Woods State Park Campground mentioned, "There has been an increase in Black Bear activity but that won't deter us from ever coming back."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with activities for kids. A review for Moose Hillock Camping Resort said, "The pool was amazing for the kiddos."
  • Spacious Sites: Choose campgrounds with larger sites for family gatherings. A camper at Quechee State Park Campground noted, "The tent sites are so spacious and clean."
  • Plan for Meals: Make sure to check out local dining options. One visitor suggested, "If you’re looking for different places to eat, go to White River Junction. Lots of options!"

Tips from RVers:

  • Big Rig Friendly: Many campgrounds are accommodating for larger RVs. A review for Quechee-Pine Valley KOA stated, "Sites are level and a good size."
  • Check for Amenities: Look for campgrounds with amenities like dump stations and water hookups. A camper at Baker River Campground mentioned, "The facilities were very clean, thanks to regular cleaning."
  • Quiet Areas: Seek out quieter sections of campgrounds if you prefer peace. A visitor at Mount Ascutney State Park Campground noted, "The sites are very well maintained and have decent spacing between sites."

Camping near White River Junction, Vermont, is a great way to enjoy nature and create lasting memories. With a variety of campgrounds to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect spot for your next adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best campgrounds near White River Junction, VT?

Within a short drive of White River Junction, Quechee State Park Campground offers an exceptional camping experience with clean facilities, friendly staff, and amenities like showers ($0.50/minute) and electrical outlets. For those willing to venture a bit farther, Mount Ascutney State Park Campground provides clean facilities and excellent mountain biking trails. Both locations feature well-maintained sites and beautiful Vermont scenery. Other notable options include Jacobs Brook Campground just across the New Hampshire border and Wilgus State Park Campground, which opens earlier in the season than most Vermont state parks.

Can I find camping with cabins near White River Junction, Vermont?

Wilgus State Park Campground offers four camping cabins that allow visitors to start their camping season early, as this is the first Vermont state park to open each spring (before Memorial Day). These cabins are perfect for those who want to camp when it's still too cold for tenting. Another excellent option with cabin accommodations is the Littleton / Franconia Notch KOA Holiday, which features well-landscaped grounds, level sites, and exceptionally clean facilities. While slightly farther from White River Junction, it's worth the drive for the quality of accommodations and attentive staff.

Where can I rent an RV or camper in White River Junction?

While there aren't dedicated RV rental facilities directly in White River Junction mentioned in reviews, nearby options exist. Consider checking Storrs Pond Recreation Area near Hanover, which accommodates RVs and might have information about local rental options. Alternatively, Rest N Nest Campground near East Thetford is big-rig friendly and might offer rentals or know of local services. For most visitors, the best approach is to secure an RV rental through national platforms like Outdoorsy or RVshare, which connect you with local RV owners who rent their vehicles when not in use. Reserve well in advance, especially during peak summer months.