Dog-Friendly Camping near Worcester, VT

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    Little River State Park Campground permits pets while offering multiple access points including drive-in, boat-in, and walk-in options. Several campgrounds near Worcester welcome four-legged companions, including Kettle Pond State Park, Smugglers Notch State Park, and Gold Brook Campground, all with designated pet-friendly areas. Campers with pets can choose from varied accommodation types including tent sites, RV spots with full hookups, and cabins. Gold Brook Campground features spacious level sites along a creek where dogs can swim and meet local wildlife. Most state parks require pets to remain leashed at all times, with owners responsible for waste cleanup. Bathhouses and shower facilities remain clean and accessible, though pets are typically not permitted in these shared spaces. Sites are generally well-spaced with picnic tables and fire rings suitable for camping with pets.

    Hiking trails throughout the state parks provide excellent exercise opportunities for dogs, with Little River State Park offering trails that pass historical sites including old foundations and an abandoned house. The nature trails around Waterbury Reservoir provide access to water where dogs can cool off during summer months. Waterbury Reservoir's remote sites accessed by boat offer peaceful, secluded camping with pets, though the paddle from Cotton Brook Road takes approximately 30 minutes. Weather in Vermont can change rapidly, so packing extra pet supplies and proper shelter is recommended. The campgrounds maintain quiet hours where excessive barking must be controlled. Mountain View Campground in Morrisville and Onion River Campground in Plainfield serve as convenient basecamp locations for exploring the surrounding mountains and forests with dogs.

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    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Worcester (162)

      1. Little River State Park Campground

      4.7(25)11mi from WorcesterRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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

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      2. Smugglers Notch State Park Campground

      4.7(23)15mi from WorcesterRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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

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      3. Gold Brook Campground

      4.0(9)9mi from WorcesterRVs, Tents

      "While we were next to the creek at site 12, it was blocked by brush and trees.
      Check in was easy, and the staff were present enough in case you had questions or needed to buy firewood."

      "Our dog loved swimming in the creek and meeting his first bullfrog. The campground also has a small pool, one washer and one dryer, and decent showers/restrooms."

      4. Kettle Pond State Park Campground

      4.7(9)13mi from WorcesterRVs, Tents

      "Remote campsite #9 was a bit wet this spring but in truth everything has been wet here in Vermont this year. 3 night get away with son, and first time on Kettle pond."

      "Kettle Pond is a classic northern pond set in Vermont's Groton State Forest."

      5. Ricker Pond State Park Campground

      4.6(14)17mi from WorcesterRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "This campground is easy to access, though owing to that one can hear traffic on the nearby road. The lake is beautiful, clear and clean, and there is a beach with sand for swimming."

      "The campground has a small beach, boat launch and it's right on the Cross Vermont Trail. I stayed in October and it was really quiet and relaxing."

      from $19 - $110 / night

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      6. Elmore State Park Campground

      4.7(7)12mi from WorcesterRVs, Tents

      "Our lean-to, Hickory is situated in a lovely meadow, but quite close to other campers and a view that overlooks the campground road. There is very little shade and no privacy."

      "Great hiking trails from easy to difficult. Early and late seasons are quiet. It's quite busy during the summer months as the lake is great for families and swimming."

      from $19 - $28 / night

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      7. Mountain View Campground

      4.6(7)14mi from WorcesterRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "It can get a bit noisy due to the proximity to the highway, but it's still a good option for car camping in this part of Vermont."

      "Nice grass site with a large field behind, and Just a short walk to the river. Clean facilities and proximity for exploring Stowe and surrounding areas. Would love to camp here again."

      8. New Discovery State Park Campground

      4.0(6)13mi from WorcesterRVs, Tents

      "Easy access to a lake and a picnic pavilion. Noticed more than a few sites that I could hang at."

      "There are hiking trails right from the campground, which we always appreciate. You can also go down to the water and rent a kayak or canoe from the rangers."

      from $20 - $38 / night

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      9. Onion River Campground

      2.2(5)9mi from WorcesterRVs, Tents

      from $30 - $55 / night

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      10. Big Deer State Park Campground

      4.0(7)15mi from WorcesterRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "Check-in happens at Stillwater, purchase your firewood and drive the 2 min down to Big Deer. For Vermont, these sites felt close, but we could still get privacy."

      "Very nice sites, most have good privacy and are rather large - many of them also have large boulders around them! Access to Boulder Beach is included, which is a short walk or drive down the road."

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    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Worcester, VT

    859 Reviews of 162 Worcester Campgrounds


    • Shawn B.
      Sep. 25, 2018

      Silver Lake Campground

      This is a great place for the whole family

      This 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.

    • D
      Oct. 3, 2021

      North Beach Campground

      Great Campground “On The Water”

      I 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.

    • Christopher  S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 25, 2023

      Lake Champagne Resort Vermont, Inc.

      Great Campsite

      Very 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.

    • D
      Aug. 9, 2019

      Littleton / Franconia Notch KOA Holiday

      Top Notch

      We just spent 5 days at this wonderful campground. They have paid attention to all of the finer details. Beautiful landscaping, well leveled sites, very clean and neat. The staff is wonderful. My only disappointment with the camp is that there are only a few sites with sewer hookup. However, the dumping station is conveniently located, so if you have a small tank, daily trips are not a problem. There is plenty to do in the area - Littleton is a beautiful little town. The old houses in are incredible. New Hampshire is not a dog friendly state, but a short Drive into Vermont gets you access to many fine restaurants where you can bring your dog. Be sure to visit Dog Mountain in Vermont- a truly touching memorial to departed pets.

    • Dawn S.
      May. 30, 2020

      Quechee-Pine Valley KOA

      Everything

      We stayed in a cabin with our pup. This place was very clean and loaded with amenities: pool, dog park, events, open fields, deer, store, etc. This was glamping with a fire pit 😃 There were plenty of sites for all size RV’s with hook-ups. A town with lots to do and see is nearby including hiking trails.

    • T
      Sep. 1, 2018

      Camp Kiki

      A hidden gem in the heart of the Kingdom Trails.

      This campground is drive in and never touch the car again. Two huge sites that can be rented in tandem as a group site. Each site has a prep table, picnic table, fire pit, 5 gallons of fresh water, a raised platform for tents, and a porta potty. Very spacious sites. Easily two camoer vans and two tents on each site. Site is at the bottom of Kitchel and Herbs trails, atop the exit/entrance trails into the village of East Burke. Showers are a short walk away at Mike's Tiki Bar, in the Kingdom parking lot. The sites can be reserved, and usually are up to a year in advance. So call ahead! Sites are pet friendly and there's lots of space for big dogs to run around. Sites are super private from the outside world. This place is truly a hidden gem that can make your trip.

    • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
      Nov. 26, 2021

      Moose River Campground

      Great People, Nice Campground

      This is a small family-owned and operated campground just a few miles outside of St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The campground abuts the Moose River which makes for a pretty backdrop and wonderful place to dip your toes in the water. The shallow river is a clear flowing rocky river. 

      The campground is a mix of seasonal and transient campers with sites large enough to fit big rigs. There is also a rental camper and cabin available. There were tent sites but the owner mentioned they may fade those out. We stayed in a large pull thru (well over 125’), full hook-up site in the center section of the campground. (Site 27 @ $47/night). The electric worked fine and the sewer was easily reached with my 20’ sewer hose. The pad was gravel (as were the roads) and the patio was nice grass. Cable television is available and produced 32 stations. Our Verizon hotspot and phone worked well. 

      There are lots of activities at this park. It seems like every week there was a community bonfire where lots of palettes were set ablaze. During our stay, there was a potluck dinner in which the owners supplied roast beef and hosted us in a large covered pavilion. One evening they drove around the campground offering free ice cream sandwiches or drum sticks. Some mornings they supplied free bagels or donuts and always had free coffee. And, there were people always on the porch playing cards. Amenities include river access, a decent size dog park, large covered pavilion, bathhouse and laundry. When you arrive, you are given a swag bag with printed information about the surrounding area and businesses. This is a really nice touch because the reusable bag can be used in the grocery store as plastic bags have been banned in Vermont. 

      If you can score a riverfront site those are nice to sit outside and enjoy a fire. The pull thru sites are very close on one side as each RV pulls in the opposite direction; however, the sites are so long that if you pull up far enough you are not looking at your neighbor. Your patio opens to a neighbor but the sites are far enough away that it’s not a bother and you don’t feel like you are on top of them. Probably the nicest site in the park is #23 which is a back-in site with your patio facing the river. 

      The campground is in a good location, just a few miles from downtown St. Johnsbury, just a mile or so from “Dog Mountain,” and about 15 miles from Littleton, New Hampshire. There is a town forest just a few miles away that has some nice hiking trails. The campground is pretty small so we were happy to find places to hike with our dog.

    • Shanna M.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 12, 2025

      Valcour Island

      Valcour Island

      I'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.

    • Rachel P.
      Oct. 16, 2018

      Smugglers Notch State Park Campground

      Smugglers Notch State Park

      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! 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!


    Guide to Worcester

    Camping options near Worcester, Vermont offer reliable access to the Green Mountains at elevations typically between 900-1,500 feet. The region experiences temperature swings of up to 30°F between day and night during summer months, so layered clothing is essential for comfort. Most campsites in this area sit within mixed northern hardwood forests dominated by maple, birch, and beech trees.

    What to do

    Hiking fire tower trails: At Elmore State Park Campground, the trail to the fire tower provides panoramic views. "There is a fire tower you can hike at the top which provides beautiful views," notes Kelli M. The moderate 1.5-mile trail climbs approximately 600 feet in elevation.

    Paddling remote ponds: The glacially-carved Kettle Pond State Park Campground offers serene water experiences. "The remote sites accessed by boat offer peaceful, secluded camping with pets, though the paddle from Cotton Brook Road takes approximately 30 minutes," shares one camper. As Rick S. explains, "We canoed around to look at other sites and #10 was without a lean-to but a pretty nice spot at the very end of the pond."

    Rail trail adventures: Access the Cross Vermont Trail directly from several campgrounds. "We took a half day bike trip on it one day to go to the town of Marshfield to visit Rainbow Sweets, home of some of the best French pastries in Vermont," writes a visitor. The trail runs on old farm roads and railroad beds, making it suitable for both hiking and biking.

    What campers like

    Remote camping access: Big Deer State Park Campground offers seclusion that appeals to many visitors. "Very nice sites, most have good privacy and are rather large - many of them also have large boulders around them!" reports Tim R. The campsites feature unique natural landscaping that enhances privacy.

    Swimming opportunities: Several state parks offer beach access for cooling off. "The sandy beach on Lake Elmore and the hiking trail up to the top of Elmore Mountain" impressed one visitor, while another noted, "The small boat launch and beach kept us in the water." Most beaches open by 10am and close at sunset.

    Winter accessibility: Some campgrounds maintain off-season access. "Free of charge during off season, you just have to call a couple weeks ahead to reserve and make sure you park in the allotted area," explains Ed M. about Smugglers Notch State Park Campground. "Silent and starry nights, just make sure you have the gear/experience and a warm sleeping bag."

    What you should know

    Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. For pet-friendly camping near Worcester, Vermont, book several months in advance. "Book early, as this place doesn't have a ton of sites and it folds up quickly!" advises Ben C.

    Facility variations: Campground amenities differ significantly across the region. "This state park has a little bit of everything. There are sites with electric hookups as well as some without. Some sites are in the middle of a grassy field while others are tucked in the trees," explains Sarah C. about New Discovery State Park Campground.

    Water access considerations: For campers seeking shoreline sites, research water proximity carefully. "Most sites up on hill looking over lake, not easily assessable from camp site, but still had a great time. Left kayak down at beach," shares Cindy L. Boat launch areas often require a short walk from campsites.

    Tips for camping with families

    Look for playground amenities: Mountain View Campground offers multiple recreation options. "There is a small camp store with s'more fixings and a great beer selection... There was a small putt-putt course, a corn hole set and a short hiking trail," says Sarah C. The campground also features two pools and a hot tub.

    Consider educational programs: Many state parks offer ranger-led activities. "The ranger programming was exceptional, as are the views and the nearby areas for hiking and backpacking," notes Harry H. These programs typically run on weekends during peak season.

    Select sites with play spaces: Some campgrounds feature natural play areas. "The tent only loop is so private and perfect for kids biking and swimming. Nice pavilion and the pond was wonderful for canoes and kayaks," recommends Rita M. Look for sites with level ground for setting up games.

    Tips from RVers

    Water access planning: Many campgrounds in the Worcester area have limited hookups. "There is not ANY running water. The running water is accessed by going to New Discovery Campground, which is about 3 miles down the road," advises one visitor. Bring large water containers if staying at primitive sites.

    Size limitations: Vermont campgrounds often have tight access roads. "Our 42 foot fifth wheel barely made it in," cautions Cyn D. about Onion River Campground. Check campground maps and call ahead to confirm your rig will fit.

    Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds in the region operate from Memorial Day through mid-October. "We stayed in October and it was really quiet and relaxing. There is absolutely no cell service for miles, so plan accordingly," advises Michele S. Late season camping offers fewer crowds but may have limited amenities.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Worcester, VT?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Worcester, VT is Little River State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 25 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Worcester, VT?

    TheDyrt.com has all 162 dog-friendly camping locations near Worcester, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.