Jamaica State Park Campground provides a riverside experience with camping sites on level ground approximately 2,000 feet in elevation. The park serves as a convenient base for exploring the Green Mountains of southern Vermont with sites available from May 12 to Columbus Day weekend. Vermont camping areas often feature varied terrain with notable elevation changes that impact both temperature and accessibility.
What to do
River activities: Jamaica State Park Campground offers direct access to the West River for kayaking and fishing. "In the Spring the water is released behind Ball Dam, creating a white water adventure. The prime lean-to sites on the water are beautiful and spacious," notes one visitor.
Swimming holes: Natural water features provide cooling options during summer months. "You can go to the waterfall/rock slides and take a dip in the pools," explains a Jamaica State Park visitor, while another mentions that at Tree Farm Campground, "we visited and hiked Mt Ascutney and did some fun stuff at Okemo but highlight was finding then awesome swimming hole at Buttermere falls next to Okemo."
Hiking trails: Woodford State Park Campground connects to several trail networks. A camper reports, "There's a bunch of different types of campsites with either tent spots, lean tus, and a few (hard to get) cabins... beautiful clean swimmable lake with a walking trail around it." Another notes Molly Stark provides "plenty of trails in the area and you can go to the waterfall/rock slides."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Molly Stark State Park Campground maintains exceptionally clean bathrooms and showers. "THE BATHROOM was the best I've seen camping very clean and updated and honestly gorgeous," states one visitor. Another notes, "The bathrooms were also kept nice, and the levels of trash around the campgrounds were pretty much non-existent."
Privacy between sites: Tree Farm Campground offers spacious sites with natural barriers. "The campground is clean and quiet, with sites that are spacious and private," reports a camper. Similarly, at Tree Farm Campground, visitors appreciate that "the sites are level and a decent size with a picnic table, fire pit, shaded by the tall pines."
Helpful staff: Campground hosts consistently receive positive mentions. At Tree Farm Campground, "the owners, Liz and Ben, are super friendly, easy-going, and welcoming." A Jamaica State Park visitor observed, "Drove in on a whim and were pleasantly surprised by how well the staff accommodated us."
What you should know
Cellular connectivity: Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with several campgrounds having minimal coverage. "Find something that you dont like about this park... go ahead, ill wait. Small town general store, no cell service and a gorgeous back drop is a perfect spot to just unwind from the real world," notes a Jamaica State Park visitor.
Limited accessibility: Kampfires and other rv parks near Williamsville, Vermont have varied terrain that may challenge some campers. One visitor reported about Kampfires: "Very nice people and place. A lot to do here," though others note the hilly nature of the region can make navigation difficult.
Wildlife encounters: Local campgrounds feature active wildlife. At Kampfires, a camper reported: "SURPRISE- when I went to hook up the water, a pile of fresh bear scat was right there! They did say there was wildlife in the area!" Many campgrounds post wildlife advisories during check-in.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Kampfires offers numerous activities for children. "This place is pretty awesome. They have an ice cream shop attached to their office/store, mini golf just outside of it too. There is an amphitheater for concerts and shows throughout the summer," explains one visitor.
Space for games: Jamaica State Park provides open areas for recreation. A camper reports, "For us, they also had a playground to play at, and a boat dock to kayak." Another mentions, "Nice little weekend getaway. Clean bathrooms, roomy tent sites, nice staff. Fun playground and nature area for kids."
Educational opportunities: Mt. Greylock Campsite Park includes nature programming. According to a visitor, "There were activities planned for the weekends that we took advantage of too. The band on Saturday night was fun and we brought our chairs and a cooler up there after dinner. The kids enjoyed just running around the open field while we enjoyed the band."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Dorset RV Park and other Williamsville-area RV parks require careful consideration when choosing sites. A camper advised: "The campground was clean and tidy with nice tall trees. The roads and campsites are gravel and a little tight to get around because of all the trees but we were able to manage in our 45' motorhome."
Seasonal considerations: Most RV campgrounds in the region operate seasonally. Dorset RV Park runs from May 1 through October 31, while Tree Farm Campground operates from May 10 to October 19. One visitor noted: "We were only there for an overnight but we will be back. In the Spring the water is released behind Ball Dam, creating a white water adventure."
Level site availability: Dorset RV Park offers varied terrain that impacts leveling. One RVer observed, "Our site was level but some definitely were not. We got twenty or so television channels with the cable hookup. The hookups were all well-placed and we didn't have any issues with the electric and the wifi at our site worked well."
