One of Vermont’s greatest treasures, Lake Champlain provides recreation, solitude, and beauty for thousands of visitors and locals each year.
Lake Champlain is 125 miles long and has more than 587 miles of shoreline. It’s also home to 318 species of birds, 81 fish species, and a mysterious monster affectionately known as Champ.
At its widest point near Burlington, Lake Champlainis almost 12 miles long, but it narrows significantly on either end.
This gorgeous lake is one of our favorite spots for a family lake vacation. I’ve been swimming, boating, paddling, and fishing these waters since before I could walk, and this love affair will last for as long as I do.
There are 13 Vermont State Parks on Lake Champlain, making it easy for campers, swimmers, hikers, and nature lovers to explore the lake’s waters and shores.
Some of our favorite Vermont State Parks are just south of Burlington, and you can explore them all during a long weekend or summer getaway.
And if you’re looking for the best camping near Burlington, you’ve several great choices.
Incredible Camping Near Burlington, VT
For unparalleled outdoor recreation opportunities, camp at one of Vermont’s incredible state parks on Lake Champlain, and then take a day trip into Burlington for a taste of city life.
If you want to be right in the city, I’d recommend checking out North Beach Campground, which is run by the city of Burlington.
While this is a busy campground and not much of a wilderness experience, North Beach Campground does have a lot going for it.
This prime spot for camping near Burlington is located right on Lake Champlain and the Burlington Greenway (bike path).
You can pitch your tent or park your RV and then bike into the downtown area. North Beach is a busy day-use area in the summer, and there’s a playground, sandy beach, and concessions.
Also read: The Best Easy Hikes Near Burlington
Here are three more of our all-time favorite camping spots near Burlington:
- Button Bay State Park: For dog-friendly camping on Lake Champlain, paddling, and watching the sunset.
- Mt. Philo State Park: For a nice uphill hike and incredible sunsets over Lake Champlain. The small campground is lovely and very quiet.
- Grand Isle State Park: This is the most popular campground in the Vermont State Park system. Located on Lake Champlain, this beautiful park is about 30 minutes north of Burlington.
Weekend Getaway Idea: Camping at Button Bay State Park
If you have a summer weekend to spend camping near Burlington, we recommend staying in Button Bay State Park, spending at least an afternoon swimming at Kingsland Bay, and taking a few hours to hike to the top of Mount Philo.
This area is an outdoor lover’s dream.
We’ve camped at lots of different Lake Champlain campgrounds over the years, and one of our all-time favorite spots is Button Bay State Park in Ferrisburgh (about 30 minutes south of Burlington).
The park has a great family vibe and is fabulous for camping from summer to fall.
Summer camping at Button Bay State Park can be crowded, with both people and mosquitoes. Our favorite time to camp at Button Bay is in late September, when the campground is mostly cleared out, but the weather is still beautiful.
During our last visit, we tried to reserve our favorite lean-to, Willow, but it was booked. Instead, we snagged Cedar, a lovely, private lean-to site just a short walk from the bathrooms and from the trail to the water.
Button Bay State Park Camping
There are two campground loops in Button Bay State Park, each with its own bathhouse.
The first loop consists mostly of lean-tos and a few tent sites. The sites are private and offer a bit of shade. Between Catalpa and Willow, there’s a beautiful meadow trail down to the beach. This is called the dog walk, and our puppy definitely appreciated the walk and the beach on her recent visit.
The second loop is very open, and most of the sites are either in the middle or around the edge of a big field. This loop has a nice playground, a trail to the pool, and incredible lake and mountain views. It’s the perfect place for families.
Button Bay State Park also has four camping cabins, each with gorgeous, sweeping views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. We’ve been eyeing them for many years and hoping to reserve one for a fall weekend, but they’ve always been booked.
Only the Sedge cabin allows dogs. Tip: Don’t procrastinate when booking a camping cabin at Button Bay!
Not far from the Button Bay Campground is a trail out to Button Point.
It’s a short hike that takes you past a nature center nestled in the woods. Here, you can learn more about Champ, Lake Champlain’s famous monster, and the button-like concretions that gave the park its name and are found along the rocky shoreline.
The trail follows a service road for a bit, delves into a beautiful hardwood forest, and then pops out onto a rocky peninsula. It’s a great place to watch the sunset, take pictures of your puppy, or have a picnic!
Button Bay State Park is the only state park with a pool and a lifeguard. Kayak rentals are available for an extra fee if you want to get out on the water.
Swimming in Lake Champlain at Kingsland Bay State Park
Button Bay State Park has a lovely pool to swim in, which is perfect for families with small children.
For lake swimming near Burlington, I recommend driving to Kingsland Bay State Park, just 11 miles north of Button Bay. Kingsland Bay is only open for day use, and it is absolutely perfect for a luxurious picnic followed by a hike and a swim.
The sprawling lawns are lightly shaded by stately locust trees. There’s ample room to spread out, and the water is deep, clear, and refreshing. This is our favorite place to swim on Lake Champlain and definitely one of our favorite state parks near Burlington.
Kingsland Bay is nice and sheltered, and there are lots and lots of sailboats coming and going.
Is there anything better than watching those graceful sailboats as you relax on the shore of your favorite lake, all sleepy after a beautiful swim? I think not. Unfortunately, dogs are not permitted at Kingsland Bay State Park.
One note about Kingsland Bay: While I find it perfect in every way, there isn’t much of a beach—just a dock for jumping off of. I probably wouldn’t bring toddlers here to swim, and dogs aren’t permitted, either.
Kingsland Bay has a great trail that heads along a peninsula on Lake Champlain. It’s very shaded, and there are little nooks for picnicking or swimming.
You could definitely spend a full day at Kingsland Bay State Park!
The Best Lake Champlain Sunset: Mount Philo State Park
What to do after the most relaxing summer day ever at Kingsland Bay State Park? How about a taste of Vermont’s yummiest maple creemee, followed by a vigorous hike up Mount Philo and a fantastic sunset over Lake Champlain?
Okay, so I haven’t tried all of Vermont’s creemees, but Seven Days awarded the best creemee to Vermont Cookie Love (and Palmer Lane Maple in Jericho) in 2024.
Lucky for us, Vermont Cookie Love is located right on Route 7 between Kingsland Bay State Park and Mount Philo State Park.
Can your weekend get any better?
Mount Philo is under 1,000 feet in elevation, and the trail to the top is just ¾ of a mile. This fantastic hike made our list of the best easy hikes near Burlington.
Hiking not your thing? You can certainly drive to the top with your picnic and binoculars.
Mount Philo State Park is Vermont’s oldest state park, created in 1924. Whether you hike or drive to the top of the mountain, you’ll be rewarded with one of the prettiest views in Vermont!
Mount Philo State Park has one of the quaintest and smallest campgrounds near Burlington, VT. There are just 11 sites, and the day-use area closes just after sunset, making for a really quiet night on the mountain.
We recently met some of our favorite people at the top of Mt. Philo to celebrate a perfect summer weekend.
We watched the sun go down with a handful of locals and visitors.
We were all stunned into silence by the magic of that sunset, and the cool breeze that came with the twilight reminded us all that autumn was just a handful of sunsets away.
Read Next: Family-Friendly Things to Do in Burlington this Summer
State Parks Near Burlington Map
Here’s a map featuring the best camping near Burlington, VT. Click on the expand icon in the upper right to open this map in Google Maps.
Have you been to any of Vermont’s amazing campgrounds near Burlington? Share your favorites in the comments!
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Tara Schatz is a freelance writer and the founder and editor-in-chief of Vermont Explored and Back Road Ramblers, an American road trip blog. She is also the co-author of the 3rd edition of AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Vermont, released in May 2023, and the author of 100+ Wonderful Ways to Experience Vermont.
