CampgroundsDB

First-come camping in Vermont (no reservation needed)

Vermont has 38 public campgrounds you can camp at without a reservation, 32 free and 2 charging a fee. All are run by the U.S. Forest Service.

38
Total
0
Reservable
38
First-come
Cooley Glen Shelter

noindex Fewer than 3 campgrounds here clear the indexable bar yet, so this page stays noindex.

First-come campgrounds vs. dispersed camping

Every campground below is a named, developed site that takes no reservations: show up, find an open site, pay if there's a fee. Dispersed camping (boondocking) is different: camping on open public land away from any campground. BLM limits dispersed camping to 14 days within any 28-day period (stay limits vary by field office), asks campers to stay at least 200 feet from lakes and streams, and says most areas need no permit or reservation (blm.gov, read 2026-09-26).

Most first-come campgrounds by town: 6 near Bennington , 4 near Danby , 4 near Rutland , and 3 near Killington .

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Battell Shelter Warren · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Big Branch Shelter Danby · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Bingo Brook Rochester · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Boyce Shelter Ripton · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Bromley Shelter Manchester · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Churchill Scott Shelter Killington · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Clarendon Shelter Rutland · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Congdon Shelter Benninton · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Cooley Glen Shelter Lincoln · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Douglas Trail Shelter Manchester · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Emily Proctor Shelter & Tent Area Lincoln · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Goddard Shelter Bennington · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Gov. Clement Shelter Shrewsbury · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Greendale Weston · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Greenwall Shelter Wallingford · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Griffith Lake Tent Area Bennington · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Happy Hill Shelter Norwich · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Kid Gore Shelter Bennington · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Little Rock Pond Shelter & Tent Area Danby · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $5 per person per night
 Lost Pond Shelter Danby · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Melville Nauheim Shelter Bennington · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Minerva Hinchey Shelter Rutland · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Old Job Shelter Rutland · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Peru Peak Shelter Danby · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Rolston Rest Shelter Rutland · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Seth Warner Shelter Stamford · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Skyline Lodge & Tent Area Ripton · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Somerset Airfield Bennington · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Spruce Peak Shelter Manchester · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Stony Brook Shelter Killington · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Story Spring Shelter Bennington · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Stratton Pond Shelter & Tent Area Stratton · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Stratton View Shelter & Tent Area Dover · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Sucker Brook Shelter Goshen · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Sunrise Shelter Brandon · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Thistle Hill Shelter Woodstock · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Tucker-johnson Shelter Killington · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Wintturi Shelter Bridgewater · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free

Common questions

Is there free camping in Vermont?

Yes. 32 public campgrounds here are free and first-come: Big Branch Shelter, Bingo Brook, Boyce Shelter, Bromley Shelter, and 28 more.

Can you camp on BLM land in Vermont?

Yes, in most places. BLM limits dispersed camping to 14 days within any 28-day period (stay limits vary by field office), asks campers to stay at least 200 feet from lakes and streams, and says most areas need no permit or reservation (blm.gov, read 2026-09-26).

Campgrounds you can book ahead: camping in Vermont.