Best Camping in and near Smugglers' Notch State Park

94% (10 reviews)

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Smugglers' Notch adventure.

Discover the rugged beauty of Smugglers' Notch State Park.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Smugglers' Notch State Park

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Smugglers' Notch State Park

94%

(10)

Smugglers' Notch Campground

20 sites · RVs, Tents In Smugglers' Notch State Park

from

$20

/ night

Top-rated campgrounds near Smugglers' Notch State Park

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Harold's View Farm

6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents75 acres · Westford, VT

Former Dairy Farm but the milking & hay barns burned many years Past. The fields have been maintained to some degree until 2019 when Lee came up with the idea of primitive camping. The land turns out to be ideal because each site makes you feel like the only campers there. New this year you will find a picnic table for 6 and a 3 Ft. dia. fire pit with adjustable grill that flips out for open fire @ each site. Another new item is "Hot Shower"

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Hogback Homestead

5 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents109 acres · Johnson, VT

Located on 109 scenic acres, we offer beautiful campsites, as well as RV parking and canvas tents for rent. Our property borders Vermont's Long Trail, less than 1/2 mile from the gorgeous vista of Prospect Rock. The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is nearby for bicycle or foot travel, and the Lamoille river is easily accessed for fishing, tubing, kayaking etc. We feature a full-size professionally built Disc Golf course, Elevation Chains, on property. Beautiful views of river and mountains and a secluded yet very accessible location make this an ideal property for camping. New in 2022, a fully functioning outdoor kitchen is now available to all campers. Propane stove, running water and cutlery are provided to make food planning and prep as easy as possible. It also features a large firepit and serves as a great center for community gatherings. A new outdoor shower and outhouse has also been constructed. Biodegradable soaps and beauty products only please! The frogs will thank you. Ask us about canoe and paddleboard rental! About us: At Hogback Homestead we strive to be positive stewards to our land. We actively farm and forage, and appreciate it when our guests take interest as well. We graze sheep, pigs and sometimes other ruminants, keep gardens and perennials, and manage our lands with the most ecological practices available to us. We believe that a strong and thriving community is foundational to a healthy, happy life and welcome all to come visit! Ask about long term camping and internship programs as well.

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The Meadows of Worcester View

2 sites · RVs, Tents2 acres · Morrisville, VT

Single camping site with great views of the Worcester Mountain Range with close proximity to Stowe & Morrisville! Central location to many different mountain biking areas, waterfalls, hiking trails, road cycling routes, picturesque Stowe, breweries, distilleries and of course epic foliage

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Singing Wood Farm

9 sites · RVs, Tents77 acres · Morrisville, VT

Singing Wood is located on 77 acres in Morristown Vermont, Lamoille County. Our farm offers gorgeous all season views of Vermont’s Green Mountains. We are located on Bull Moose Road and Mud City Loop. The farm is sits just outside the edges of Mount Mansfield State Forest with views of White Rocks, Bull Moose Hill, Sterling and Morse Mountains. A hidden tranquil gem in the Vermont countryside surrounded by forest and farmlands, bordered by the pristine trout brook Beaver Meadow Brook. Our family farm features forest trails, wildflower meadows, berry patches, herbs, cut flowers, honeybees, wood fired maple syrup and vegetables. Our farm store is filled with our own farm fresh products as well as a small selection from other quality food artisans and crafts people. The Catamount trail (a 300 mile long winter trail system) passes through our property and offers some of Vermont’s finest backcountry skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. We are just 20 mins from the ski area and town of Mt. Mansfield in Stowe, 35 minutes to the ski areas of Smugglers Notch and Bolton Valley. 1 Hour to Burlington International Airport. We are located near many fine restaurants and breweries (Lost Nation, The Alchemist, and Rock Art among many others). The area is full of year round recreational opportunities.

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River Camp at Smuggler's Notch

7 sites · Tents10 acres · Cambridge, VT

Camp alongside the Brewster River at the base of Smuggler's Notch. Access to the Smuggler's Notch Resort trail system from the property for mountain biking, hiking, disc golf, wildlife viewing, and more! Camp site features flat spot for pitching your tent, swimming hole in the river, the sounds of the babbling river, fire ring, and porta potty. Nearby you can access all of Smuggler's Notch Resort amenities. You are just over the notch from Stowe with access to its world-class restaurants, shops, and outdoor recreation. Here in town you are next door to the Brewster River Brewery, and easy access to the Burger Barn and more great Vermont spots to discover.

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Vermont Ranch & Riverside Retreat

3 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Moretown, VT

⛰ 🐦Wake to the sound of bird calls and water in this private retreat, situated squarely on the confluence of 2 rivers. Eventually, once part of a much larger working merino sheep farm owned by the Cobb family in the 1700s-1800’s, part of the land transitioned to a dairy cow farm operation, c.1940. Today, we steward 10 acres specially designed with horses in mind. Adjacent to a 40-acre cornfield on one side and Mt. Cobb on the other, with sweeping views our place overlooks the confluence of the Mad and Winooski Rivers. From here, you can mountain bike or hoof it to access miles of trails and bucolic scenery. Come visit this gateway to the Scenic Mad River Valley! 🌲🏊🐟The Swimming/Fishing/Tenting site ("site 1") is perched directly aside the Mad River and the Sweet Meadow Side site ("site 2") is just a 2-minute walk across the grassy meadow and down the secluded riverside path to our beloved Mad River beach. This is a semi-private beach, naturally divided and hidden from our other semi-private beach sites. Swim, tube, fish and relax up or down the river and confluence. 👢👓 Get curious about the history of this place by checking out the old abandoned Massey Furgeson hay baler tucked in the woods, the Cobb family cemetery, and more gems from many years gone by. Leave from either site on foot to access a sweet trail that travels along the river, over a private bridge, down a beautiful dirt road and into the forest. 🚴 Our property is located on the CROSS VERMONT TRAIL: "a multi-use path connecting communities, and the natural areas in between - across Vermont!" Check out their website (Cross Vermont Trail Association) for maps, guides, events and outings! Many adventurists also enjoy nearby, mountainous and beloved trails: Camel's Hump, The Long Trail, Mt. Mansfield, Stowe Pinnacle, Smuggler's Notch and more. There are a plethora of shorter, scenic and gentle hikes in our region, "the crossroads and recreation center of Vermont"! We are located just 2 miles from Interstate 89 and we reside on Vermont State Route 100B, allowing ease of access to points North, South, East and West Explore our on-site activity offerings: 🐴 Introduction Session: Get acquainted with our horses, tour the barn, and learn about equine-guided education and grooming. $45 for 1 hour for 1-6 people. 🐴 Horsemanship and Riding Lessons: Learn non-forceful bareback and bit-less leading and mounted techniques step by step. $100/hour or $150/1.5 hours for 1-2 people. 🐴 Family Team Building-Bonding (Most Popular): Enjoy an adventurous, fun, and challenging experience together as a family with exercises and activities facilitated by Lucinda. Non-mounted equine guided education at its best! $250 for 2.5 hours. These rates are discounted for our onsite Hipcampers 🙏🏼 Visit our website for more details: Horses and Pathfinders dot com. We'd love to hear from you! You are welcome to review all the varied, detailed and descriptive reviews and photos from other guests' experiences. This is a working ranch and sometimes equipment is running, but never for more than an hour at a time. Horses are on site and they have full access to this property. If you have an untrained, young or problematic dog, please consider a long lead line and read the dog rules and limits carefully. This is not a deep-woods, wilderness site. Please review the map and note our proximity to the interstate and the route where we reside. ❤️ Many guests, families and couples return here year after year as their destination vacation and getaway. We welcome you to experience what they enjoy so much -- right on site and in this special region, the heart of Vermont. ❤️

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Huntington Open Women's Land

10 sites · Tents50 acres · Huntington, VT

Eclipse weeked is almost here! A total Solar Eclipse will be taking place on the afternoon of Monday, April 8. Camel’s Hump Road will be open only to local traffic from Sunday, April 7 at 9 am to Monday, April 8 at 4 pm. Hiking TRAILS are CLOSED for mud season! HOWL overnight guests qualify as local traffic, so if you have booked a room or a campsite, you are allowed to drive on Camel's Hump Road. Men are not allowed at HOWL (with the exception of trans men). Thanks! In April, we'll still be in winter camping mode. It will be early spring in Vermont, and a variety of weather is possible. We're likely to have snow, rain, and/or mud. It's also likely to be windy, and if that’s the case, it will feel colder than it is. Please plan accordingly, and know that the eclipse might not be visible (but it will get really dark in the middle of the afternoon!) . Bring warm clothes, layers, a raincoat or snow shell, and sturdy shoes/boots. Eclipse viewing glasses will be available free of charge at the check-in station. Recently, Vermont has experienced catastrophic flooding and wind storms, leaving many trees unstable and broken tree limbs stuck in the canopy overhead. All visitors to HOWL understand that activity is at their own risk and take responsibility for checking overhead canopy for unstable trees before walking underneath. Hammock campers especially need to be careful. -- Eclipse Update! -- Hello and greetings from HOWL! We are now fully booked for Sunday night. For those who have signed up for a campsite, we’re looking forward to hosting you during the long weekend of the eclipse. Traffic is going to be quite heavy in Vermont, especially on Monday. If you’re arriving on Monday, feel free to get here anytime from 9 AM on. Just give us a heads-up. This VTDigger article focuses on the traffic: https://vtdigger.org/2024/03/24/2024-eclipse-expected-to-bring-traffic-jams-to-vermont/ Traffic is expected to be worst on Monday afternoon and evening, but it will probably still be pretty heavy in the morning, and possibly all weekend. Not to be discouraging; we don’t really know. If you are traveling this week, know that we are getting rain and SNOW, Wednesday through Friday. National Weather Service forecast: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=44.47588&lon=-73.21207 Road crews are awesome in Vermont, and I'm sure they will be keeping the roads clear as best possible. Driving conditions could be hazardous at times, especially if we get a "wintry mix". Some roads may be shut down for part of Monday. This site for eclipse-related news may be the best place to look for road closure updates: https://www.vermont.gov/eclipse#gsc.tab=0 On that site, it says: "Many towns will report road closures to WAZE, which will be displayed on the app. Not all towns will report road interruptions, so the app will not be all-inclusive. Please respect road closures and detours." Use your judgment and drive safely! I’m sorry to say that there may be snow on the ground when you arrive. On the other hand, it could be melted (due to rain and warmer temperatures). Between the traffic and the snow, the forecast seems a bit daunting. I trust each of you to make the best decision about your travel plans. Not sure what the weather will be like on the 8th. Right now the forecast is for clear skies, but this could change at any moment! Keep an eye on the weather, and you may want to check out this Burlington Free Press article: https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/vermont/2024/03/28/chances-of-vermont-eclipse-2024-viewing-obscured-by-clouds-clear-skies-april-8/73127363007/ This (older) article talks about the influx of visitors expected to come to Vermont: https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/vermont/2023/05/26/solar-eclipse-2024-vermont-path-of-totality-planning-guide-visiting/70203653007/ If you have eclipse glasses, bring them along. We have about 20 pairs, but we may run out if we get more people. Finally, please go easy on our caretaker. She is only one person and will not have the bandwidth to organize activities for the eclipse. Be perpared to keep yourselves entertained, and please feel free to socialize with other visitors! If you'd like to talk with a Collective member, send us a message or email and we can arrange another time. Thanks! ------ HOWL is a non-profit land trust held in perpetuity for the full diversity of women, regardless of gender assigned at birth, and transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive individuals. We are an intentional community working to create an alternative to systemic oppression and patriarchy. We work collectively to preserve and steward the land, to provide space for community building, service, and skill-sharing, and to collaborate in projects and programming that reflect our shared values of intersectional feminism, compassion, respect, sustainability, and love of the earth.

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Sasquatch Acres

16 sites · Tents20 acres · Hardwick, VT

Welcome to our wooded haven, offering a rustic camping experience amidst nature's embrace. With over 20 acres of forested land, complete with a babbling brook and extensive hiking trails, you'll find tranquility at every turn. Just a short distance from Lake Elmore, the Elmore General Store, and Elmore Mountain, our location provides easy access to local amenities and outdoor adventures. As stewards of the land, we cherish its beauty and hope you'll do the same. Our camping area offers primitive accommodations with no facilities currently available. Please remember to bring your own camping toilet and pack out all trash. We're in the process of setting up picnic tables and a fire pit for your enjoyment. Rumor has it that Sasquatch pays us a visit every spring, particularly in early April. While we can't guarantee a sighting, the allure of encountering this legendary creature adds to the mystique of our surroundings. Feel free to explore the photos provided, showcasing the scenic beauty of Lake Elmore, nearby hiking trails, and the majestic Elmore Mountain. Unfortunately, we don't have any snapshots of Sasquatch – at least not yet. So come prepared for adventure and immerse yourself in the untamed wilderness that awaits!

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The Rooney Farm

3 sites · Lodging, Tents820 acres · Morristown, VT

The Rooney Farm is an 820 acre working organic dairy farm and maple sugarbush in Morristown, VT that has been stewarded by the Rooney family for four generations. We milk a herd of fifty holstein, jersey, guernsey, and ayrshire cows. We are right off the Long Trail, Catamount Trail, and VAST trail systems. We have mountain bike trails on the farm as well as a great swimming hole. We have miles of hiking trails that link up to the Beaver Meadow trail network in the Vermont State Forest as well as Morristown Forest trails. Our camp has two full size beds and sleeps four people. The camp is not winterized: will protect you from wind and snow but not the cold!

Saved 5 times

ZenDen in Stowe

1 site · Lodging1 acre · Stowe, VT

9x15 insulated and heated cabin with electricity. SAUNA right off the porch. Grill. WiFi and Satellite. Cold/Hot water dispenser. Saw-dust toilet. Fire pit. Covered 10x10 deck with screen protector. Picnic table. Beautiful sunset. Plenty of parking for camper van or small RV. Prime location in Stowe. Text for more photos.

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Parade Rest

1 site · RV8 acres · Stowe, VT

Private property on 8 acres. Deer and turkeys pass thru almost daily. It's not uncommon to see a bear running through in season. Private, level spot near garage with electric and water. Fire pit available. Up the hill from main road. Paved road turns into dirt. Gorgeous views on approach. Extremely quiet star filled nights.

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Private campsite on Lamoille River

3 sites · RVs, Tents14 acres · Johnson, VT

This beautiful 14 acres has nearly half a mile of frontage on the Lamoille River in Johnson, Vermont. Corn field and mountain views across the river. Great chance for star gazing and seeing wildlife. The property is also home to several tiny home and glamping rentals. Campsite comes with access to a porta-potty and firewood.

The best camping near Smugglers' Notch State Park guide

Overview

About

Smugglers’ Notch State Park has a beautifully diverse landscape of forest, waterfalls, rock outcrops, rivers, caves, and alpine lakes. The park is named for Smugglers’ Notch, a scenic road that winds through the Green Mountains, lined with 1,000-foot cliffs. The road was once used to smuggle goods into the country from Canada, but now you can enjoy your moonshine right out in the open! The park is especially beautiful in the fall when the forest is covered in a myriad of colors.

When to go

The best time to visit Smugglers' Notch State Park is during the summer and fall months, when the weather is ideal for outdoor activities. Summer offers lush greenery and perfect hiking conditions, while fall dazzles with a spectacular display of foliage. Winters can be harsh, with the park's higher elevations receiving significant snowfall, making it a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts but less accessible for casual visits.

Know before you go

Check the weather forecast before your visit, as conditions can change rapidly amid the mountains.
Some areas may be closed due to seasonal weather or conservation efforts, so verify accessibility in advance.
Wear appropriate footwear and clothing for rugged terrain and variable weather.
Cell service may be limited, so plan accordingly and inform someone of your itinerary.
While the park offers a range of amenities, always bring sufficient water and snacks for your adventure.