Renting an RV in Vermont
Vermont, the Green Mountain State, is home to verdant landscapes and countless outdoor attractions and must-see natural wonders. From towering monuments climbing high above the mountains to rushing waterfalls dropping deep into ancient forests, Vermont is a land of wonder that rewards anyone with a sense of adventure. The green ridges and charming valleys of Vermont are calling—isn’t it time you answered? With a rented RV and the open road, this great state is yours to explore.
Who needs a hotel when you’ve got your very own suite on wheels? Vermont is a state of great natural beauty and so much of what it offers is decidedly off the beaten path—where the forest grows wild and nature is left untouched by man. These are the places you’ll get to see when traveling through Vermont by RV, and you’ll be able to see as many of them as you’d like as you stay mobile with a rented recreational vehicle. Between the excellent RV parks and resorts dotting the state and the widespread availability of free dry camping on the public, you’ll always find a comfortable spot to call home for the night and rest before your next big adventure in Vermont.
Few state nicknames in America are as apt as Vermont’s. Take one look at this land, and you’ll know it is defined by its rolling green hills and majestic mountaintops. Nestled in among the green ridges are plenty of beautiful lakes, rivers, streams, museums, ski resorts, and other destinations sure to provide your entire family with a lifetime of memories to share.
If you’re planning to make Lake Champlain Maritime Museum part of a broader Lake Champlain vacation, the area is home to some great parks and RV resorts where you can set up base in your RV rental. Button Bay State Park is only a half mile from the park, and in addition to its nature center, hiking trails, and pool, it offers 53 RV-friendly sites. A little further away, River’s Edge Campground is another great option for the RV crowd.
Learn more about Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.
Today, visitors to Smuggler’s Notch State Park aren’t smuggling goods, but they do come for the resplendent views, scenic highway through the mountains, and local outdoor activities.
For many, many years, the area where the park now resides was inaccessible by vehicle. And, while it has since been developed, the roads into the park remain tight and winding. As such, it’s a good destination for smaller RVs—only a few of the campsites in the park can accommodate vehicles of any kind. If you do plan on taking your RV out to Smuggler’s Notch, inquire early about reserving a campsite, and verify that your chosen RV will be able to make the trip.
Learn more about Smuggler’s Notch State Park.
Green Mountain National Forest is home to two campgrounds that allow RV camping. Greendale Campground is primitive—offering no hookups, no potable water, and only vault toilets—but can make for some great rugged camping with its 11 shady campsites. Alternately, Hapgood Pond Recreation Area boasts 28 sites, restroom facilities (in addition to the vault toilets in the sites themselves), drinking water, and access to Hapgood Pond, where you can waste away a day fishing with a Vermont fishing license.
Learn more about Green Mountain National Forest
The monument is located in Bennington, Vermont, near the New York border. Just over the state line, Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site can give history buffs a closer look at the battle itself. There are several RV parks and resorts in the Bennington area, including Greenwood Lodge and Campsites and the campgrounds at the nearby Woodford State Park. So, you can easily find an ideal place to call home for a few days while you explore this historic part of Vermont.
Learn more about Bennington Battle Monument and Museum.
The park’s 45-site campground is a spacious and comfortable place—accommodating even the largest of RVs you might take along for your visit. At the campground, enjoy rustic camping, volleyball, a game of horseshoes, and interactive nature programs put on by the park’s resident interpreter.
Learn more about Quechee Gorge.
At each of the forest’s state parks, there is ample camping to be had—whether you’re looking for a rustic RV campsite or an opportunity to get out of the RV for a night of backcountry camping. Mount Mansfield State Forest just might be the perfect destination for an RV road trip. With your campsite wherever you drive your RV, you can hit up all four state parks and customize your own Vermont camping experience.
Learn more about Mount Mansfield State Forest.
Located just a few miles away from Mount Mansfield itself, Moss Glen Falls is just one more reason to plan a full week’s vacation by RV to the Mount Mansfield State Forest. It’s also located just on the edge of the CC Putnam State Forest, which makes a trip to Moss Glen Falls a great pitstop on the road between two of Vermont’s beautiful state parks.
Learn more about Moss Glen Falls.
Located atop the nearly thousand-foot Mount Philo, Mt. Philo State Park earned the distinction of becoming Vermont’s first state park when it was founded in 1924. Visitors make the trip to the top of the mountain for awe-inspiring views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains just across the border in New York State. You can choose to drive all the way up to the summit, or take a ¾ mile hike to the top, where you’ll catch glimpses of white tail deer, moose, and birds of prey that have made the park a favorite among wildlife lovers.
If you do choose to drive your RV rental up to the top of Mt. Philo, you’ll find seven primitive campsites where you can make camp for the evening and watch the sun go down over the distant mountains. Alternately, the park’s close proximity to Lake Champlain puts you close to many of the campgrounds and other attractions that make the area a popular spot for tourists.
Learn more about Mt. Philo State Park.
There is no truly developed campground at Camel’s Hump, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take your rented RV for an incredible overnight experience in the park. There is a designated “tenting” area, though your best bet when going by RV is to find an area off the beaten path where you can boondock. You won’t get any hookups, but both park admission and camping this way is completely free—quite the small price to pay for a truly remote getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life!
Learn more about Camel’s Hump State Park.
Located along a bend of the West River near Jamaica, Vermont, Jamaica State Park is a unique park in that it is built around the river and all the fun it brings. Fishermen and women love the spot for its variety of fishing spots from rapid shallows to slower deeps. The West River is a great spot for canoes, kayaks, and rafts—though be prepared to get wet, since there’s no boat launch in the park. Because of the park’s location downriver from the Ball Mountain Dam, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is able to schedule large releases of water from the dam into the river, which makes Jamaica State Park a can’t miss whitewater rafting destination you can actually schedule a vacation around!
If you prefer to stay on dry land, the park is famous for its hiking trails, great mountain biking, and family-friendly campgrounds complete with a playground and other recreational activities. The campgrounds house 41 RV-friendly sites, all of which are available to reserve online ahead of your trip.
Learn more about Jamaica State Park.
Check out our Campground Guide to Vermont
Many of the parks, forests, and other destinations listed above operate seasonally. Vermont’s location in the northeastern part of the country means its winters can get quite cold. And, with cold weather comes snow and ice, especially in higher-elevation areas like mountain ranges. This means many of the parks in the area have roads that close during the offseason, and even those roads that remain open can remain precarious during the winter months. When camping by RV in Vermont, do plenty of research to make sure your preferred destinations are open and accessible during your visit.
That’s not to say that winter is a bad time to go RVing in Vermont; when you find a good campground or RV park with full electric hookups, you can stay quite comfortably and still enjoy the many ski resorts and ice climbing opportunities Vermont has to offer.
See a list of campgrounds in Vermont here compiled by Good Sam
Dry camping, also known as boondocking or “dispersed camping,” is a common feature of public lands like National Forests. Vermont offers many opportunities to set up camp for free, including at Camel’s Hump State Park and the sprawling Mount Mansfield State Forest. In addition to public parks, the RV community in Vermont recommends exploring other options, like retail parking lots, truck stops, and local county or city parks for some free, no-frills camping. Just be sure to always check first with landowners when considering using any private land, including parking lots, as an overnight stop.
Check out our Boondocking Guide to Vermont