Williamsville, Vermont sits at an elevation of 1,125 feet in the Green Mountain region. The area experiences four distinct seasons with heavy snowfall in winter and mild summers, making camping conditions variable throughout the season. Most campgrounds operate from Memorial Day through mid-October when temperatures remain comfortable for yurt camping and other accommodations.
What to do
Mountain hiking: Explore the Mt. Olga Fire-tower trail at Molly Stark State Park Campground. "The hike up Mt. Olga is 1.7 miles (round trip). There's a fire tower at the top, which provides awesome views of the Green Mountains. It's also fun to explore the relics of the old Hogback Ski Resort," notes camper Tara S.
Watercraft rentals: Paddle on Woodford Reservoir at Woodford State Park Campground. The park offers canoes and kayaks for rent with camper beach access. "The reservoir is beautiful- plenty of space to spread out for paddling and swimming. We drove down to the second loop and parked on the side of the campground road and carried our kayaks down to the camper's beach," reports Melissa S.
River activities: Float the Ashuelot River with access from multiple points near campgrounds. "Great riverfront location. Awesome campground with two of the greatest host/owners Chuck and Laura. Beautiful river to float down or paddle up. Saw a bald eagle this past weekend while paddling up past the campground," shares Michael M.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Modern restrooms and shower buildings at most state parks. At Molly Stark State Park Campground, visitors appreciate the maintenance. "Beautiful grounds, super clean, nice staff. A great escape from the world right now. All staff has masks on and it's spotless here," notes Dakota B.
Private sites: Well-spaced camping spots for those seeking quiet. "We unexpectedly had a free Saturday afternoon and night and 2 borrowed kayaks. Site 13 was the only one available. It's on the corner of the first loop, but that wasn't an issue to us at all! There were plenty of trees and brush and space so we didn't feel we were in the road," explains a camper at Woodford State Park.
Yurt accommodations: Alternative lodging options near Williamsville. Grateful Acres Vermont offers yurt camping with beautiful views. "Over looks a lake that has amazing sunsets and wildlife!" reports Jessica G. This provides a comfortable glamping experience for those seeking yurt camping in Williamsville, Vermont and surrounding areas.
What you should know
Seasonal timing: Most campgrounds operate limited seasons due to Vermont weather patterns. Most state parks, including Emerald Lake State Park Campground, run "Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day weekend" only. "We try and get to Emerald Lake State Park at least a few times every summer. It's an awesome park for kids, and the turquoise water is a dream to cool off in," states Tara S.
Wildlife encounters: Bears and other wildlife are common in the area. "We heard coyotes at night and loons in the morning," reports Melissa S. about Woodford State Park. Many campgrounds provide bear boxes for food storage at each site.
Token-operated showers: Bring quarters for shower facilities at most state parks. "You need quarters for showers," notes Lauren at Savoy Mountain State Forest. Hot showers typically cost $0.25 for a few minutes of water.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with beaches and playgrounds. "Perfect for families! There are tons of different types of campsites with either tent spots, lean tos, and a few (hard to get) cabins. Bathrooms are plentiful and clean, hot showers for a small price. Beautiful clean swimmable lake with a walking trail around it," recommends Sambath T. about Woodford State Park.
Site selection: Choose outer ring sites for privacy when booking at Ashuelot River Campground. "Sites along the river, pull thrus in the field, shaded along the edge of the field, completely wooded area towards the end of the campground. Playground, volleyball, horseshoes, game room. Kayaks and canoes for rent," describes Camie S.
Educational opportunities: Visit nearby historical sites between camping adventures. Many campgrounds are close to museums and cultural attractions in Manchester, Bennington, and Brattleboro, all within 30-45 minutes of Williamsville.
Tips from RVers
Access challenges: Follow specific directions to avoid difficult roads. "Don't come in off of rt 10, there's a low covered, one lane bridge that you can't tow thru. Some of the turns aren't so friendly either," warns Camie S. about accessing Ashuelot River Campground.
Hookup limitations: Most state parks lack full hookups. Caton Place Campground is one of the few in the area offering electric, water and sewer. "Camped here Labor Day Weekend in our 40 ft 5th wheel. We had a pull thru site. Easy to drive into the campground and into the site. We had no issues at all," shares David.
Leveling requirements: Bring blocks for uneven sites. "The pull through site is not level and is barely long enough to fit my 43' rig (with my motorcycle lift)," notes Jim B. about one campground. Consider bringing extra leveling equipment as Vermont's terrain often creates uneven camping sites.
