Vermont’s state-park campgrounds have no hookups, short seasons and a big nonresident premium. Plan around the dump station and the closing dates.
Stillwater, Elmore and Gifford Woods are the three Vermont state parks this guide covers. None lists hookups. Stillwater and Gifford Woods have a dump or sanitary station, and the state’s fee page lists dump-station fees of $25 for RVs up to 30 feet and $50 for longer rigs, free for campers.
RV and tent sites cost $20 a night for Vermont residents and $38 for nonresidents. Vermont State Parks says plainly that its campgrounds have no electric, water or sewer hookups for RVs. Per-site lengths are on each park’s reservation map, and a state list of the largest sites (trailers over 30 feet or RVs over 34 feet) is linked below.
Smugglers’ Notch (Route 108) is closed to long rigs. Vermont Agency of Transportation prohibits single vehicles over 40 feet and combination vehicles (a vehicle with a trailer) over 45 feet. Fines begin at $10,000, rise to $20,000 if you block traffic and to $40,000 for a second offense within three years.
| RV/tent site | $20 Vermont resident, $38 nonresident per night |
|---|---|
| Lean-to | $30 resident, $49 nonresident |
| Extras | Prime site +$2; pets $3; extra people over 4 $8 each; $8 reservation fee |
| Stillwater | 56–59 tent/RV sites (page differs), 19 lean-tos, dump station |
| Elmore | 44 tent/RV sites, 15 lean-tos |
| Gifford Woods | 22 tent/RV sites, 19 lean-tos, trailer sanitary station |
| Route 108 limit | Single vehicles 40 ft; combinations 45 ft; fines from $10,000 |
Vermont is clear on hookups (none), dumping and the biggest sites.
Season dates from the individual park pages.
| Time of year | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Memorial Day Friday | Elmore and Gifford Woods open. |
| Third weekend in May | Stillwater opens. |
| September 14, 2026 | Stillwater closes. |
| Second Monday in October | Elmore closes. |
| Third weekend in October | Gifford Woods closes. |
Rates apply to all three; see the fees page.
Best for: The longest list of RV sites and an on-site dump station.
Watch out: Boat launch is for registered campers only because of parking constraints.
Best for: Lake setting with a longer season.
Watch out: Hookups, dump station and lengths not listed. Fire Tower closed Sept. 14–Oct. 30.
Best for: Small park near Killington.
Watch out: Four Appalachian Trail hiker sites are bookable only through the office at 802-775-5354.
Best for: The largest of the parks here, with a dump station.
Watch out: Prime-site maximum stay is 14 days. Lengths not listed.
Best for: Southern Green Mountains base with an RV dump station.
Watch out: Hookups and lengths not listed.
Best for: Lake Dunmore setting with six large-RV sites listed by the state.
Watch out: No dump station is listed on the page.
Private RV parks and national forest campgrounds in Vermont were not verified for this guide.
Plans use one state park as a base.
First visit.
More variety.
Buffer days.
A larger campground with a dump station.
A state-park campground with tent/RV sites and lean-tos.
A small campground with a trailer sanitary station and Appalachian Trail hiker sites.
Book early. Each reservation adds a non-refundable $8 fee.
Bring your own power plan. The pages we read list no hookups.
Check swim and trail status. The parks link to water-status and closure pages.
Fuel, groceries and repairs were not covered by the pages we read.
From the Vermont State Parks fees page.
| Item | What we found | Note |
|---|---|---|
| RV/tent site | $20 resident / $38 nonresident | Per night; up to 4 people. |
| Lean-to | $30 resident / $49 nonresident | Per night. |
| Dump station | $25 up to 30 ft / $50 over 30 ft | Free for campers. |
| Reservation fee | $8 per site | Non-refundable. |
Fees are the amounts listed by the managing agency when this guide was checked. Use the budget worksheet to add fuel, groceries and contingency.
The pages for Stillwater and Gifford Woods say there are no hookups.
$20 per night for residents and $38 for nonresidents, plus extras.
In 2026: Stillwater September 14, Elmore the second Monday in October, Gifford Woods the third weekend in October.
Not if a single vehicle is over 40 feet or a rig with a trailer is over 45 feet. Fines begin at $10,000.
The state publishes a list of sites that accommodate a trailer over 30 feet or an RV over 34 feet, park by park.
Rules were checked October 20, 2026. Fees, closures and availability will change, so use the official pages below as the source of truth.