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North Beach Campground provides pet-friendly accommodations within walking distance of Lake Champlain, offering both tent and RV camping options with water and electric hookups. Several state parks near Williston also welcome pets, including Smugglers Notch, Grand Isle, and Little River State Parks, all requiring pets to remain leashed when outside. Shelburne Camping Area maintains year-round pet-friendly sites with full hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings. Most campgrounds in the region accept dogs at no additional fee but require proof of current vaccinations. Campsites at these locations feature varying levels of privacy, with Little River and Smugglers Notch offering more wooded separation between sites. Bathrooms are generally clean and well-maintained across all locations.
The Burlington bike path connects directly to North Beach Campground, providing miles of dog-friendly trails for exercise and exploration. Camping with pets near Lake Champlain offers water access opportunities at several locations, though swimming areas specifically designated for dogs are limited. Shelburne Camping Area's convenient location places campers within minutes of local pet supply stores and veterinary services. Sites with more shade are recommended during summer months to keep pets comfortable during peak temperatures. Wildlife encounters are possible at more remote state park locations, so keeping dogs leashed is essential for their safety and the protection of local fauna. The spacious tent sites at Little River State Park provide ample room for accommodating camping gear and pet supplies.
"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 Availability"This is a nice little private campground in Shelburne, just outside of Burlington. Close to Lake Champlain. Good place to spend the night and good access to activities."
"Lastly, the location was perfect, just outside of Burlington made access to the area ideal."
"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"Beautifully set on Lake Champlain in Vermont! This is a relatively large campground but is well laid out and doesn't feel small even when it's packed to the gills."
"Since the park is on a island in Lake Champlain in Vermont there is water all around. Good places to walk and ride."
from $6 - $28 / night
Check Availability"We had one right next to the playground so our daughter could walk straight to it without having to cross a road. And speaking of playground, it was large and very nice."
"Cool little campground right in Mallets Bay on Lake Champlain. Campsites are kind of close together. Nice pool, game room, and little store. Its a fun place for families!"
from $8 - $12 / night
Check Availability"The toilets are composing toilets, but from the user experience, it's very close to a regular toilet in that it's in a stall in a nice, well maintained proper bathroom (unlike some composting toilets in"
"the best part is every night its 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"
from $23 / night
Check Availability"Visit this campground in the fall and experience quintessential Vermont in all its glory. The campground is nice. The people are friendly."
"Lots of things to do around here with dogs and kids. Breweries near by for the so inclined. Should have brought my roadbike, this is a bicyclers heaven."
from $55 - $105 / night
Check Availability"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."
"This is a smaller campground tucked away in the bayside of Colchester."
"Right on the water, a nice breeze coming off of the lake, close to everything downtown, but still felt like we weren’t on top of our neighbors. Run by some great people! Highly recommend!"
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.
ScoutWe visited this campground twice this summer after the switchover to KOA. They had lots of activities to take back to the campsite for rainy days. They do not have a dog park and this caused our pup to get a bit hyper.
GuideTo start off, we are avid KOA campers. So when we looked at this campground, we expected the typical layout which had a swimming pool and other stuff for the kids, however, this campground lacked all of the above. When we arrived here, check-in was easy we did drive along ways to get to our campsite which was nice to be wooded, but I did miss the typical activities and KOA usually has which when I booked the site, I usually expect them since the prices usually, fairly high compared to state parks. Our main reason for seeing KA versus state parks for these extra activities. With that said the bathrooms were clean, which we barely use since we have a full hook up camper. The dog park was very small and it looked like they did the very minimum to check the block. If you’re looking for a place to run your little guy around, he might be disappointed at this place. However, there are plenty hikes nearby to wear them out if you desire. As far as location, there is a lot of stuff to do in the area as we went and hike, the mountain, which was amazing.
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!
RangerMostly Seasonal area with some overnight spots. No tents allowed. But pet friendly. Small but clean areas with electric at each site. Has some benches outside, a small pool, playground, and community of seasonal campers. I think there was only a few overnighters.
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.
Camping sites near Williston, Vermont sit at an average elevation of 350 feet above sea level within Vermont's Champlain Valley. Winter lows average 9°F while summer temperatures typically range from 65-82°F. Seasonal variations significantly impact campsite selection, with many area campgrounds closed from late October through mid-May due to the region's harsh winter conditions.
Hiking at Mount Mansfield: Underhill State Park Campground, located 25 miles from Williston, offers direct access to Vermont's highest peak. "The campground is in a perfect spot. About a .3 mile hike to the main trail to climb the mountain," notes Sam T. The surrounding area features multiple difficulty levels of trails.
Water recreation on Lake Champlain: Apple Island Resort provides boat access and waterfront camping. "We launched our paddleboard and kayak there but it was pretty mucky getting in and out of our boats. We were allowed to leave our kayak locked on a rack at the marina so we didn't have to take it back to our campsite every day," explains Nancy W.
Sightseeing at Shelburne Farms: Just 6 miles from Shelburne Camping Area, visitors can tour historic buildings and working farms. "Great location!! Close to museums, the town, and farm areas," states Mackenzie B. Most area attractions operate May through October with reduced winter hours.
Sunset views from Mount Philo: This small state park offers panoramic vantage points. "Great little park, not many sites but I come here for the short hike and the amazing views. You can't beat them in the Summer, Spring, Fall, or even snowshoeing in the winter," shares Meag F.
Privacy between campsites: Many campers appreciate the wooded separation at Smugglers Notch State Park. "Campsites are well spaced. Some of the campsites on the outside ring you need to walk into (a very short distance), but it makes it feel very secluded and less like car camping," explains Jess O.
Quiet camping environments: Little River State Park Campground receives consistent praise for its peaceful atmosphere. "Clean, quiet campground that feels like wilderness, but is accessible!" reports Brenna T. The campground maintains quiet hours starting at 10pm with strict enforcement.
Access to Burlington attractions: North Beach Campground provides urban camping with city convenience. "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," writes Jess O. The campground sits approximately 8 miles from Williston.
Year-round camping options: Unlike most Vermont state parks, some private campgrounds remain open during winter months. "Love that it's open year round!" notes Alyssa S. about Shelburne Camping Area. Winter camping typically requires full-service sites due to frozen water lines.
Limited shower facilities: Many state parks have rustic bathroom setups. "No shower but one of the best weeks I had camping in a while," reports Michael V. about Underhill State Park. Most parks charge $0.25-0.75 for 5 minute shower sessions.
Seasonal closures affect availability: The majority of campgrounds operate from mid-May through mid-October. "Due to COVID, mostly call ahead/pick-up or drive thru for many things...incl. delicious coffee in town at Village Wine & Coffee and AWESOME cider donuts at Shelburne Orchards!" mentions DJ about Shelburne services.
Limited cell reception: Coverage varies significantly by location. "Moderate cell service," notes Kaelin P. about Mount Philo State Park. Signal strength decreases as distance from Burlington increases, with mountaintop locations often having better coverage than valleys.
Weather fluctuations: Vermont's climate demands preparation. "Camped here for the last week of the season so things were very quiet. Study the sites carefully because our 'premium view site' looked into a boulder," warns Susan & Kevin W. about Apple Island Resort.
Beach access considerations: Grand Isle State Park offers waterfront recreation with limitations. "Very rocky beach with little to no sand to play in, a bit of a walk to the water," cautions Melissa L. Alternative swimming spots include Charlotte town beach ($10 for non-residents).
Playground availability: Lone Pine Campsites features family amenities. "We had one right next to the playground so our daughter could walk straight to it without having to cross a road. And speaking of playground, it was large and very nice," shares Erin S.
Activity programming: Many parks offer ranger-led activities. "The ranger programming was exceptional, as are the views and the nearby areas for hiking and backpacking," states Harry H. about Smugglers Notch. Most programs run weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Dog-friendly campgrounds near Williston: While most campgrounds accept pets, policies vary. "The Burlington bike path connects directly to the beach! You get the best of both worlds at this location. Biking into Burlington takes 5-10 minutes and you're also right on the beach of Lake Champlain," explains Brittany R. about North Beach Campground.
Site orientation challenges: Setup at some campgrounds requires planning. "Their hook ups are on the passenger side. You have to pull straight in with the truck and camper. This is because a lot of class A prefer this way," explains Ron H. about Apple Island Resort.
Elevation and access issues: Smugglers Notch State Park Campground has terrain limitations. "Steep and winding, it's not suitable for RVs," warns one reviewer. Most state parks accommodate RVs up to 30 feet, while private campgrounds can handle larger rigs.
Electrical service reliability: Voltage issues occur at some locations. "Electricity would not work. We got an error on our control panel that said stop! Power source is not correct!" reports Snooz H. about a problem at Shelburne Camping Area. Testing electrical outputs before full hookup is recommended.
Seasonal site differences: Site conditions change throughout the year. "Sites are open, so no privacy and the sites are fairly small. Toilets and showers are ok but nothing fancy. A bit worn," notes Arno W. about Lone Pine Campsites. Reservation systems typically open 11 months in advance for peak season dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Williston, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Williston, VT is North Beach Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Williston, VT?
TheDyrt.com has all 142 dog-friendly camping locations near Williston, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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