Vermont is know as “The Green Mountain State” and there are many free Vermont boondocking spots available. Vermont is one of the smallest states in the country, both in terms of population and geographic area, and is known for its autumn foliage and maple syrup. Despite its small size and predominantly rural nature, Vermont has many beautiful sites to explore, including Lake Champlain, one of the country’s largest freshwater bodies.
Best Time of Year to Visit Free Vermont Boondocking Spots
To get the most out of your Vermont camping site, visit Vermont between late spring and early fall. In Vermont, the summer and fall months provide lush green forests, gurgling brooks, and vivid colors as the leaves change color all around you.
Late spring weather provides beautiful wildflower blooming and bright days in the 70s. The typical summer temperature is around 80 degrees, with lows in the mid-50s. The autumn months bring cooler days and temperatures, as well as some relief from the summer heat.
Want more ideas to round-out your trip to the New England States?
► Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Vermont ◄
- 6 Free Connecticut Boondocking – RV Parking & Camping Spots
- 4 Free Delaware Boondocking – Camping Spots & RV Parking
- 20 Free Maine Boondocking – RV Parking & Camping Spots
- 7 Free Maryland Boondocking – Camping Spots & RV Parking
16 North Vermont Boondocking Spots
Jump directly to the 7 South Vermont Boondocking Spots
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1. Dead Creek
Address
Vergennes, Vermont
GPS: 44.08525, -73.34477
Management: Public – Fish and Wildlife Service
Free Vermont boondocking spots in large, gravel parking lot in wildlife Management: area. Parking up to 72 hours is allowed in conjunction with a permitted activity such as wildlife viewing or photography.
2. Michigan Brook
Address
Chittenden, Vermont
GPS: 43.779411, -72.855109
Elevation: 1404′
Management: Public – Forest Service (USDA) (Unofficial)
The road in is Dirt. Michigan Brook is open Year-round. There are 6-15 Free Vermont camping spots at this location. You may stay 14 in 30-nights at Michigan Brook. Michigan Brook Road: Forest Road 35 in Pittsfield provides many camping opportunities in the woods and along Michigan Brook. The road is not recommended for low clearance vehicles.
3. Kettle Brook
Address
Pittsford, Vermont
GPS: 43.807495, -72.971001
Elevation: 1864′
Management: Public – Forest Service (USDA) (Unofficial)
The road in is Dirt. Kettle Brook is open Year-round. There are 1-5 Free Vermont boondocking spots at this location. You may stay 14 in 30-nights at Kettle Brook. A small meadow site at the end of Furnace Brook Road in Pittsford.
4. Bingo Brook
Address
Robinson, Vermont
GPS: 43.889141, -72.945869
Elevation: 1611′
Management: Public – Forest Service (USDA) (Official)
Bingo Brook is open April 15 – Dec 31. There are 6-15 Free Vermont camping spots at this location. You may stay 14 Nights at Bingo Brook. Forest Road 42 in Rochester runs alongside a mountain stream; camping is allowed at designated sites only. These 10 campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
5. Texas Gap
Address
Hancock, Vermont
GPS: 43.934719, -72.900833
Elevation: 1205′
Management: Public – Forest Service (USDA) (Unofficial)
Texas Gap is open Year-round. There are 1-5 Free Vermont boondocking spots at this location. You may stay 14 in 30-nights at Texas Gap. These old fields and side roads on Forest Road 39 in Hancock offer many camping opportunities. There is a trail leading to Texas Falls.
6. View On the Meadow
Address
Granville, Vermont
GPS: 43.993725, -72.870894
Elevation: 1365′
Management: Public – Forest Service
There are Free Vermont camping spots available on the road by the river. The road doesn’t appear on Google maps. We sleep in our SUV. Would also work for a van, small RV I would think! Count about 2 minutes to go up, it’s not far. Nice view on the mountains and there is at least 2 fire pits.
7. Steam Mill Clearing
Address
Ripton, Vermont
GPS: 43.992165, -72.966728
Elevation: 1958′
Management: Public – Forest Service (USDA) (Unofficial)
The road in is Dirt. Steam Mill Clearing is open Year-round. There are 1-5 Free Vermont boondocking spots at this location. You may stay 14 in 30-nights at Steam Mill Clearing. There is a large open field on both sides of Forest Road 59 at the Skylight Pond Trailhead in Ripton.
8. Sparks Landing
Address
Ripton, Vermont
GPS: 43.997814, -72.994461
Elevation: 1603′
Management: Public – Forest Service (USDA) (Unofficial)
The road in is Dirt. Sparks Landing is open Year-round. There are 1-5 Free Vermont camping spots at this location. You may stay 14 in 30-nights at Sparks Landing. There is one site in a small meadow on Forest Road 233 in Lincoln. There is good fishing in Sparks Brook, which lies just south of the meadow.
9. New Haven River
Address
South Lincoln, Vermont
GPS: 44.040001, -72.952202
Elevation: 1654′
Management: Public – Forest Service (USDA) (Unofficial)
New Haven River is open Year-round. There are 1-5 Free Vermont boondocking spots at this location. You may stay 14 in 30-nights at New Haven River. There are a few campsites next to the New Haven River at Emily Proctor and Cooley Glen trailhead, on Forest Road 201 in Lincoln.
10. New Haven River, South Lincoln
Address
Lincoln, Vermont
GPS: 44.05004, -72.95957
Elevation: 1473′
Management: Public – State Forest (Unofficial)
The road in is Dirt. New Haven River, South Lincoln is open n/a. There are 1-5 Free Vermont cammping spots at this location and the maximum RV length is 15 feet. You may stay n/a at New Haven River, South Lincoln.
11. Austin Brook
Address
Alpine Village, Vermont
GPS: 44.061932, -72.8536
Elevation: 1248′
Management: Public – Forest Service (USDA) (Unofficial)
The road in is Dirt and .25 miles from a paved road. Austin Brook is open Year-round. There are 1-5 Free Vermont boondocking spots at this location. You may stay 14 in 30-nights at Austin Brook. There are many general forest areas available on the Green Mountain National Forest for rustic or dispersed camping. Visitors can camp anywhere on the forest unless the area is posted closed to camping, while staying the recommended 200 feet from roads, and trails.
12. Downingville
Address
Downingville, Vermont
GPS: 44.137863, -72.963051
Elevation: 1565′
Management: Public – Forest Service (USDA) (Unofficial)
The road in is Dirt. Downingville is open Year-round. There are 1-5 Free Vermont camping spots at this location. You may stay 14 in 30-nights at Downingville. There is one secluded site in a small clearing near a mountain stream on Forest Road 291 in Lincoln.
13. Lake Chaplain
Address
South Hero, Vermont
GPS: 44.62579, -73.24083
Elevation: 92′
Management: Public – State Forest (Unofficial)
Free Vermont boondocking spots before you cross the bridge there is a nice pull off on the left. Fenced in but the gate doesn’t seem to close. A porta-potty. Beautiful views and fairly quiet.
14. Clyde Pond
Address
Newport, Vermont
GPS: 44.9399, -72.172
Management: Public – Fishing Access (Official)
The road in is Dirt and 3 miles from a paved road. Clyde Pond is open Year round. There are 1-5 Free Vermont camping spots at this location and the maximum RV length is 25 feet. You may stay 2 days at Clyde Pond.
15. Lake Willoughby (hike-in)
Address
Westmore, Vermont
GPS: 44.709002, -72.025761
Elevation: 1562′
Management: Public – State Forest (Official)
The road in is Dirt and Half mile to paved road miles from a paved road. The maximum RV length in Free Vermont boondocking spots at Lake Willoughby (hike-in) is 15 feet. Free camping Lake Willoughby.
16. Stone Dam Wildlife Refuge
Address
Guildhall, Vermont
GPS: 44.78417, -71.68832
Elevation: 1050′
Management: Public – Bureau of Land Management: (Official)
The road in is Paved. Stone Dam Wildlife refuge is open. There are 1-5 Free Vermont camping spots at this location and the maximum RV length is unlimited. You may stay ???? at Stone Dam Wildlife refuge. Vermont, Stone Dam Wildlife refuge, Rt 105 just west of Bloomfield VT on Northeast side of state. Nice gravel lot just off the road.
7 South Vermont Boondocking Spots
Jump directly to the 16 North Vermont Boondocking Spots
1. Vermont Distillers Parking Area
Address
7755 Route 9 East
Dummerston, Vermont
GPS: 42.853912, -72.79632
Elevation: 2165′
Management: Private – Retail Store (Official)
The road in is Paved. There are 1-5 Free Vermont boondocking spots at this location and the maximum RV length is unlimited. You may stay 1 night at Vermont Distillers Parking Area.
2. Wilder Mountain
Address
Wallingford, Vermont
GPS: 43.39163, -72.90701
Elevation: 2343′
Management: Public – National Park Service
The road in is Gravel and 2.8 miles from a paved road. There are 1-5 Free Vermont camping spots at this location and the maximum RV length is 25 feet. You may stay 14 at Wilder Mountain.
3. Old Job
Address
Danby, Vermont
GPS: 43.35556, -72.93
Elevation: 1651′
Management: Public – Forest Service (USDA) (Unofficial)
The road in is Dirt and 9 miles from a paved road. There are 1-5 Free Vermont boondocking spots at this location. You may stay 14 Nights at Old Job. Off Forest Road 30 there are a few camping opportunities; an open area along FR 30, and both an open field area and a site near Lake Brook at the end of FR 30 in Green Mountain National Forest.
4. Kelley Strand
Address
Arlington, Vermont
GPS: 43.0411, -73.087112
Elevation: 1565′
Management: Public – Forest Service (USDA) (Official)
The road in is Gravel. Kelley Strand is open Year-round. There are 6-15 Free Vermont camping spots at this location. You may stay 14 Nights at Kelley Strand. Kelley Strand Road Connects the towns of Arlington to West Wardsboro, traveling along an unpaved forest road. Numerous camping opportunities exist along the roadside near Roaring Branch River.
5. Branch Pond
Address
Sunderland, Vermont
GPS: 43.070453, -73.021635
Elevation: 2792′
Management: Public – Forest Service (Official)
You may stay 14 days in Free Vermont boondocking spots at Branch Pond. Despite rumors you can still pull over on this road after a few miles. . . but what is MUCH better is about six miles in and you turn left at Branch Pond access road. . .there are multiple great campsites before the dead-end which has two great ponds!!!!
6. Somerset Airfield (FR71)
Address
Somerset, Vermont
GPS: 42.996811, -72.975777
Elevation: 2194′
Management: Public – Forest Service (USDA) (Official)
The road in is Gravel. Somerset Airfield (FR71) is open Year-round. There are 6-15 Free Vermont camping spots at this location. You may stay 14 Nights at Somerset Airfield (FR71). This forest road stretches from the old Somerset airfield to the Kelley Stand Road. Campsites can be found in various spots along the way, and along some of the forest roads leading off of Forest Road 71.
7. Kelly Camp Trail
Address
Woodford, Vermont
GPS: 42.869408, -73.019966
Elevation: 2178′
Management: Public – Forest Service (USDA) (Unofficial)
The road in is Dirt. Kelly Camp Trail is open Year-round. There are 1-5 Free Vermont boondocking spots at this location. You may stay 14 Nights at Kelly Camp Trail. Forest Road 74: This forest road is a little less remote than other roadside camping opportunities. Off Route 9, it dead-ends a couple miles in. Campsites are found unevenly spaced along the way.
Free Boondocking in Vermont
Vermont is a state in the northeastern United States that is recognized for its predominantly forested natural scenery. It’s part of the New England region and is noted for having over 100 19th-century covered wooden bridges as well as being a significant maple syrup producer. Hiking routes and ski slopes traverse thousands of acres of hilly landscape.
It has a rolling landscape filled with farms and picturesque communities perfect for Vermont RV boondocking. It is famed for their family-run inns, antique stores, and restaurants, and is divided in half by the Green Mountains, a favorite holiday destination for hiking and skiing. While on vacation, be sure to visit the state’s various wild areas, but be aware of the so-called “mud season,” when the state’s unpaved roads become impassable due to spring thaw.
It is a wonderful place to visit. Vermont is beautiful, pleasant, charming, quaint, and full of Vermont boondocking locations with plenty of interesting places to see and things to do. The Ben & Jerry’s factory tour is unquestionably Vermont’s most popular tourist destination for children, but it’s also a popular experience for adults.
Vermont is noted for its beautiful forested landscapes, towering green mountains, gorgeous hiking paths, Vermont camping spots, and world-class skiing. The state is also known for its beautiful wooden covered bridges, which number in the hundreds.
It is known for its breathtakingly beautiful scenery and infinite scenic sites to visit while using their Vermont RV parking areas. It is well known for its excellent food, safe cities, excellent schools, and kind people. Vermont is a lovely place to visit. It is sparsely inhabited, verdant, and attractive, with a population of only 620,000. You will most likely be the only people using the Vermont dispersed camping sites. Its picturesque towns and villages, with ancient buildings clustered along Main Streets and around village greens, are a big draw.
FAQs About Vermont Camping and Vermont Boondocking
Can you camp anywhere in Vermont?
Vermont offers a variety of dispersed camping options throughout the state. There are several national and state forests in the area, and the majority of them allow free boondocking at basic campgrounds. Green Mountain is a famous dispersed camping site where you can camp for up to 14 days in a 30-day period.
Can you camp on public land in Vermont?
Many portions of state land are open for free primitive camping, sometimes known as “no trace” camping. Camping in a wilderness with no built facilities and leaving little or no indication of human visitation is referred to as primitive camping. Primitive camping places are frequently located in difficult-to-reach areas.
Can I camp anywhere in Green Mountain National Forest?
Backwoods campers are welcome to set up camp anywhere in the Green Mountain National Forest as long as they are at least 200 feet away from a road, path, or body of water. Before you go, it’s a good idea to call one of the US Forest Service’s district offices.
Can you camp for free in Green Mountain National Forest?
There are a number of back country roads in the Green Mountain National Forest that enable rustic roadside camping. Campsites are free to use and have no amenities other than a fire ring, a pull-off off the road, and occasionally a gravel-filled site.
Do any Vermont state parks have electricity?
There are no water, electric, or sewer hookups at any of the Vermont State Parks sites right now. Drinking water, toilets, and showers are all within 150 feet of universally accessible sites.
About Vermont Camping Spots
Vermont is not only one of the best places to live and work in the United States, but it is also one of the most beautiful. It is also a famous tourist site where people come from all over to use the Vermont RV boondocking locations. From the long, snowy winters to the delightfully sunny summers and, of course, the magnificent fall foliage, every season has its own beauty in this freethinking New England state. Vermont’s popularity with campers should come as no surprise. Vermont dispersed camping is one of the best things to do in this beautiful state, alongside hiking, skiing, and fishing.
Vermont is one of the most sparsely inhabited states in the United States, with extensive forests, accessible mountains, and charming communities. Whether you’re looking for world-class fishing, hiking, kayaking, or skiing, Vermont has it all with Vermont RV boondocking for your convenience. On Lake Champlain, fishing is available all year, from ice fishing in the winter to boat trips in the summer, and kayaks and canoes are permitted on most rivers and lakes.
Hiking, on the other hand, is undoubtedly the most popular outdoor activity in Vermont. What better way to get to the wilderness areas than by taking advantage of the Vermont boondocking locations. Trails go along the magnificent Lake Champlain shoreline and up to the highest Green Mountain summits, such as Camels Hump and Mount Mansfield, crisscrossing the landscape. The Long Trail, the country’s oldest long-distance trail, is located in Vermont with plenty of Vermont RV parking areas. This path follows the crest of the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts border all the way to Canada.
A segment of the well-known Appalachian Trail also runs through the southern part of the state. You’ll find plenty of Vermont camping spots along the road, on trails, along riverbanks, and along lake-shores. Are you also a winter camper? We certainly hope so! Vermont is one of the top skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing locations in North America. It’s a winter sports enthusiast’s dream with renowned resorts including Killington, Sugarbush, and Stowe.
US Forest Service Tips on Back-country Camping (Dispersed Camping)
Back-country camping is allowed in most locations on the forest unless there is a specific closure order in place for a particular area.
The following camping practices are recommended:
✪ Locate campsites at least 200′ from trails or bodies of water, including ponds, rivers, and streams
✪ When able, utilize sites already managed for overnight use including designated tent platforms and established shelters
✪ Do not camp in alpine or sub-alpine areas where trees are 8’ or less. Help protect these fragile ecosystems!
Please follow the principles of leave no trace:
★ Plan Ahead and Prepare
★ Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
★ Dispose of Waste Properly
★ Leave What You Find
★ Minimize Campfire Impacts
★ Respect Wildlife
★ Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Vermont Boondocking Locations
In Vermont, boondocking is fairly easy because there are many national and state preserves that allow free camping. There are numerous more locations throughout the state where you can keep your vehicle overnight, including parking lots and other approved spaces. In the national forests, you can “car camp,” but in state parks, you must park your vehicle and walk to the primitive sites.
If you’re using a primitive campsite, keep in mind that you’ll need to bring everything you need, including potable water or water treatments, food, camping gear, and navigation devices. Bring no wood into the woodlands and only burn dead or fallen trees. Make sure to pack out any trash and leave nothing behind when you depart. Check out our blog for everything you need to know about boondocking before you leave on your journey.
Vermont is a lovely place with many outdoor and indoor activities to choose from. Despite the fact that Vermont was not one of the original thirteen colonies, it shared many of the same events and happenings. Vermont is the 14th state in the United States and has a long and illustrious history. You can read about the Native Americans who lived in the area before European contact and the Europeans who settled in Vermont subsequently. Mountain ranges, woods, and watersheds will appeal to outdoor enthusiasts. Taking a road trip in an RV will allow you to see everything Vermont has to offer.
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