River, stream, or creek camping near Rochester
An artsy gateway town to endless adventures in Vermont’s Green Mountains.
98% (4489 reviews)
- Rochester
98% (4489 reviews)
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12 top river, stream, or creek campgrounds near Rochester
97%
(348)
The Hummingbird Center
43 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents200 acres · NH
The Hummingbird Center is an recreation destination and permaculture farm nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We offer a variety of lodging options ranging in cost from tent camping and shared bunk rooms to private indoor lofts, tiny homes, and school buses.
In May of 2024, Nourish restaurant will be open during weekends at HBC, providing organic farm-to-table meals for the public and our guests–both indoor and outdoor seating is available. Thanks to our farm’s extensive perennial food system, Nourish has a rotating seasonal menu featuring fruit, herbs, and wild greens grown onsite. Call ahead for up-to-date details on hours and what’s in bloom!
HBC is a retreat destination for mountain biking, skiing, and hiking, with private access to Green Woodland’s 23,000 acres of public trails next door! Our trails feature hand and machine-built features for riders of all skill levels. Under an hour of driving will get you to Mt. Moosilauke on the Appalachian Trail, renowned climbing at the Rumney Crags, and dozens of pristine NH lakes. Back on the farm, our swimming holes, hammocks, and communal fire pit offer peace and community connection after a full day of outdoor adventures.
Guests are encouraged to recreate and restore amidst the natural beauty of our rural property, explore our orchards and vegetable gardens, and enjoy open-air, leisurely dining at our on-farm restaurant. Search for The Hummingbird Center of NH online to view our restaurant hours and learn more about our ongoing community events, including weekly yoga classes in summer of 2024.
Quiet hours after 10pm please!
Find us online at thehummingbirdcenter.com and @thehummingbirdcenternh on Instagram.
603-786-2366
No sewer hookups. Secluded spots for vehicles require high clearance and dry conditions.
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$15
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93%
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Spacious Skies Adirondack Peaks
140 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents20 acres · North Hudson, NY
Spacious Skies Adirondack Peaks combines the sweet nostalgia of classic campground fun with modern amenities and conveniences.
As you roll your RV or family vehicle onto the grounds, you’ll take in your forested surroundings, a myriad of family-friendly activities, and a peek of the Schroon River that leads down to Schroon Lake.
Pull in to your full hook-up site, deluxe cabin, or cozy yurt to begin your outdoor adventure! Our family-friendly amenities abound! Two swimming pools and waterslide; gaga ball; multiple playgrounds; gem mining; mini golf; a play house; pedal bike rentals; a spacious rec hall stocked with arts and crafts and arcade games; lazy river tubing; a riverside beach area and more – young campers will have endless options to choose from at Spacious Skies Adirondack Peaks.
A fully-stocked camp store, large laundry facility, and parkwide WiFi bring some creature comforts to your camp site.
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$38
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99%
(91)
Fern Hollow
6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents80 acres · Waitsfield, VT
Our property is nestled in the foothills of the Mad River Valley, close to the headwaters of the river. The property is composed of wetlands, agricultural meadows, old apple trees, and hardwood forest with 700 feet of elevation. All structures on the property are solar-powered and a rainwater system feeds the sink in the outdoor kitchen. There are a handful of individual camp sites available in the spring, summer and fall, as well as a communal outdoor kitchen with lighting, a fire pit, a stone pizza oven and a sitting/yoga deck. We also offer more of a "glamping" experience in our 14 ft yurt, which comfortably sleeps 2-3 people with wood stove heat and a solar battery for lighting. We love sharing this space with others and offering a rustic forest getaway.
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$30
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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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$55
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(103)
Camp Ebb and Flow
10 sites · RVs, Tents11 acres · Orford, NH
Camp Ebb and Flow is located on the western edge of the White Mountains, near the crossing of the Appalachian Trail and a short drive to VT. Three lakes nearby for swimming, kayaking, and fishing. Hiking trails nearby. The camp offers RV sites with water, electricity, and sewer, an RV site with no hookups, and several tent sites. One of the tent sites has water and electricity and another has electricity with nearby water. There is an "outhouse" with a flush toilet and over six acres of mowed fields for activities and walking. There is also a lovely brook running through the property with many areas you can cool off in from the summer heat.
This property has a lengthy history going back to colonial times.
It’s been a farm, an apple orchard, and once had a sawmill.
Please check the calendar for available dates.
Check-in is no later than 9pm unless late arrival arrangements have been made prior to booking. Whenever possible, try to arrive before dark because there are no lights at most sites, which can make setup difficult.
A note regarding electric vehicles (EV):
If you have an electric vehicle and would like to tent camp, please select one of our full hookup RV sites. If you have the proper electric adapter for your vehicle, you can charge your vehicle at the 30A or 50A RV plug while tenting in the field near the RV site. We do not supply these adapters, and we cannot allow you to charge your vehicle unless you have reserved an RV site with full hookups.
If you do not see an open site for the days you'd like to get away, please contact us. Sometimes we can make other arrangements, allowing you to stay.
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$47
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Booked 5 times
Metta Earth Farm Stay
11 sites · Lodging, Tents158 acres · Lincoln, VT
Metta Earth Institute (MEI) is a non-profit educational retreat center in Lincoln, Vermont. With 158 beautiful acres, we are nestled in a bowl of mountains with stunning mountain views in all directions. Meadows, pastureland, and horticultural fields are interspersed with hardwood and evergreen forest, old orchards, stonewalls, seasonal streams, and an enormous variety of wildlife habitat. Walking and hiking places abound, and a magnificent, pure river with clear pools and waterfalls is just a few minutes’ walk down the road.
MEI is based on a small-scale diversified, organic, and biodynamically oriented farm with an acre-sized retreat garden and other herb and flower gardens, and 2 food producing greenhouses. We practice regenerative agriculture, carbon farming, and many other environmentally sustainable practices.
Main House Front Porch
The front porch of the main house has continued to be a wonderful gathering place with outstanding sunset views and surrounding terraced gardens with blossoms and berries that attract hummingbirds and bees. We serve meals from the adjoining big kitchen, and these can be enjoyed on the porch or taken on trays to the nearby Plum Grove, other outdoor settings. The porch is a great place to meet with others or enjoy a place to sit and read. There is also a good internet connection on the porch and a place to charge devices.
Metta Earth has many structures and spaces to support individuals and groups. The main house has a newly renovated, lovely commercial kitchen space, a dining area, a large, covered porch, a handicapped access bathroom, a yoga/program room, and selected rooms and suites for sleeping. We also have an outdoor pavilion for yoga and other gatherings, and a heritage barn with a barn loft. Please do keep in mind that Metta Earth is a farm based, country retreat center, rustic, yet clean, cared for, and colorful.
Outdoor Pavilion
We have a 20’ x 24’ outdoor, open structure for groups made from tree poles and covered with a golden colored canvas tarp. The ground is grassy and well maintained. This space can comfortably support 10-15 yoga mats or seating options in a big circle.
Heritage Barn Loft
Of all the structures and spaces at Metta Earth, the barn loft is one of our most favorite rooms. On the second floor of the heritage barn, this space is often used for drying herbs for teas. It can also be used for gatherings of about 10 or so people. We like to roll out a rug on the wooden, pine floor or use our sheepskins and handmade wool meditation rugs for comfortable sitting. There are two tall windows looking out over the south pasture that cast light on the wooden beams of the barn. This space shines with the soul and warmth of Earth.
Bring a bathing suit and gear for swims in the beautiful nearby New Haven River. You are welcome to walk anywhere on Metta Earth land. Or you may want to walk on the surrounding dirt roads, all with very minimal cars and great mountain views or along the river. We can give further directions and information about the region when you are here.
Our stays range from basic tent sites to Yurts and Canvas Tents. We have something for everyone.
We have four yurts nestled on a knoll among maples, beeches, balsam, and other trees. They each are positioned for a sense of privacy from the others and have little paths connecting them. They all are well loved and humble, beautiful, light filled circular spaces with a round dome skylight, lattice siding, windows with screens for summer use and in winter extra insulation provided by window quilts. Each yurt has a wood stove for colder weather. The yurts are furnished simply with various configurations of single and double beds, tables, chairs, shelving, and sheepskins or other floor rugs. At night a few of the paths are lit with solar lamps, so it is wise to bring a flashlight/headlamp as well. Beeswax candles provide inside night lighting. Some of the yurts have string, solar lights around the inside of the yurt walls.
We have 5 bell tents that are lovely, roundish shaped tents with a peak. Four of them are smaller, one-person tents, and one is larger for a couple or 2 people. We usually provide a mattress and pillow with organic bedding and a sheepskin rug, and a simple storage crate/table. It’s a good idea to bring a sleeping bag for extra warmth, especially in the potentially colder shoulder seasons in May and in September.
If you have a tent, insulated ground mat, and sleeping gear, we have many inspiring sites in the surrounding forest glades, meadows, and fields. Those who choose to camp have access to outdoor composting toilets, a hot water outside faucet for bucket bathing, and outdoor shower available in the warmer seasons. Camping requires a certain hardiness and adequate gear. Weather during the growing season (May – October) in the mountains of Vermont is unpredictable. Temperatures range from freezing temperatures at night in the spring and fall to gloriously warm days and even hot days.
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$35
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99%
(432)
Free Verse Farm
4 sites · RVs, Tents40 acres · Chelsea, VT
Our farm & campground features stunning, panoramic views of the First Branch of the White River in the verdant hills of central Vermont. It overlooks the village of Chelsea, the shire town of Orange County.
Free Verse Farm is a hilltop herb farm run by two art-making, herb-loving farmers. The property boasts twenty sloping, knoll-laden, open acres overlooking the First Branch of the White River as it passes through the scenic village of Chelsea, Vermont. We have incredible views, forest trails that offer magical woodland wanderings, and spacious campsites in our fields.
We also invite you to explore our cultivated fields of herbs and vegetables and become acquainted with the wide variety of tea, culinary, and medicinal herbs that we grow and process on our farm. You can also visit with the cows that spend their summer munching our delicious green pastures.
Our full line of herbs and herbal products are for sale via our website or at Free Verse Farm Shop, located just one mile from our farm in downtown Chelsea. Our Farm Shop offers a wide variety of fresh produce, provisions, fresh baked goods, alcoholic (& non-) beverages, and more to enjoy during your stay or as you continue on your journey.
AMENITIES: we offer a hot outdoor shower & sink, as well as an outhouse with a composting toilet. Each campsite has a firepit and a picnic table.
CAMPSITE DETAILS: We currently have 2 campsites open. They are located in meadows with beautiful views of the First Branch Valley and Chelsea village. 4 wheel drive is recommended, but not necessary, and you are always welcome to hike up to your site. The site is spacious and private.
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS: We also run Free Verse Farm Shop (OPEN: Tuesday-Friday 11am-6pm, Saturday 9am-3pm), a local grocery, café, and apothecary to serve our community and visitors to the area, while supporting local farms and artisans. You can also pre-order online (shop.freeversefarm.com) to pick up in store or ship your order around the USA.
The village of Chelsea hosts a weekly summer farmers market May-September on Fridays from 3-6pm (mid-May through September). In downtown Chelsea there is also a pub (The Wagon Wheel), gas station (110 Quickstop), two town commons, a small library, and a general store (Will's Store), and a farm stand (Chicken Wiggle Farm).
Within 20-45 minutes of our farm you can reach the larger towns of Montpelier (state capital), South Royalton, Randolph, Woodstock, White River Junction, and the Upper Valley Region (Dartmouth College), all of which offer a wide variety of attractions and services. Upon your arrival, you will be given a welcome packet with more detailed information about our area, and we'll be happy to provide you with any other tips you're looking for.
We look forward to hosting Hipcampers and sharing our love of this land, and our region, with all who visit. We can't wait to meet you!
-Taylor & Misha
*VISIT our Farm Shop (shop.freeversefarm.com) in Chelsea to stock up on our herbal goods, fresh produce, baked goods, adult beverages, and other provisions. You can order online for pickup at the Farm Shop or ship your order anywhere in the USA.
**TAG @freeversefarm in your photos on Instagram! We love to see your shots from the farm!
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$26.25
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Four Springs Farm, Campground & Learning Center
9 sites · Tents70 acres · South Royalton, VT
Four Springs Farm is a working organic farm on a beautiful west-facing hillside in central Vermont. Walk-in tent camping sites are tucked away in private corners of the farm a reasonable distance from the parking areas. The centrally located Wash Houses have toilets and hot showers. A picnic pavilion, which has a spectacular view of the valley and the hills of the Green Mtns, is available for group gatherings and celebrations and has a sink area for guests to use.
Visitors are invited to tag-along-on-chores and meet the poultry sharing the farm with all of us and explore the seventy acres of paths, fields, streams, and woods. Guests will be dazzled by star-studded skies, treated to spectacular sunsets, and entertained by the farm cat Luna. The farm is mosquito free but inhabited by millions of fireflies. It's nature's playground at her best.
Our season opens the last weekend in April and closes around the end of October.
Wildflower Tent Site
is a mowed area in one corner of a hillside field. Hammock campers would have a woods location for their use. It is located near the Wash Houses with it's own back door path, Watercress Crossing, over a small stream. There are no lights on the farm and this open spot is perfect for star gazing. There is a 10 x 12 foot tent platform, picnic table and fire pit.
Morning Sunrise
is the largest site and can hold ten tents easily on a relatively level grass area. It is protected from the heat of a late summer day and open to accept the first sunshine hitting the farm in the morning. Groups of multiple families, friends celebrating a special occasion, cycling groups and scouting organizations as well as individuals use this site to be slightly set apart from the heart of the farm activities. There is a picnic table and a firepit with space around it for a gang.
Hidden Meadow
is the most isolated and smallest tent site accessed by it's own bridge and unseen from most of the farm. Though not in the woods it feels tucked away
and is ideal for couples or singles as it has room for only one tent ( on a 10 x 12 foot platform) and has a picnic table and fire pit. Maximum guests- three.
Plum Corner
as indicated by it's name is accessed along a path through the plum orchard. It is tucked up next to an old barn site with a stately old yellow birch defining the corner. It is ideal for families because of it's spaciousness and multiple tent options. There is one tent platform - 10 x 12 feet, a picnic table and fire pit.
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$32
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(272)
Mountain Home Tent Sites
3 sites · Tents200 acres · Tunbridge, VT
Mountain home tent sites sits on a nearly 200 acre historic hill farm in Tunbridge, VT. If you are looking for a quiet, private, and breath taking space to camp, look no further!
Over the years the farm has undergone many changes, but dairy farming has been a consistent activity. Still actively farmed as Fledgling Farmstead, our farm is home to cows, sheep, chickens, goats, fruit trees, and a veggie and herb CSA and farm store. We also host workshops and on-farm events including the annual music, arts and food festival called Fledge Fest held at the camp site location each summer. Find more information on our website!
The forest is actively managed for firewood and saw logs. The land is incredibly diverse from a high exposed hill top to a deep a forested mountain brook and everything in between.
Come pitch your tent on a remote hill top surrounded by amazing views and nearly two hundred acres of diverse forests and pasture lands. The camp sites are private from each other with a large common area at the top of the hill with a fire pit, lean-to shelter, outhouse complex with water for hand washing (seasonally available) and sweeping views of the Green Mountains.
There are trails for hiking and mountain biking (no dirt bikes or ATV's) all over the farm and a beautiful brook in a sheltered mountain valley. Just a 5 minute drive to the bottom of the hill is the first branch of White River; a beautiful clean river for swimming and fishing crossed by multiple covered bridges that lead to the farm.
We hope you will come visit the farm and enjoy the remote mountainous beauty of Tunbridge!
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$30
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Stargaze Over Camels Hump
5 sites · Tents70 acres · Waterbury, VT
Close to the base of Camel’s Hump, beautiful view of the hump, we have plenty of wildlife such as deer, bear and coyote at a distance. We have trails up in the back, approximately 70 acres that you can roam in. I only have one fire-pit set up so far and the pot-a-potty has not arrived yet. No power or water up there but it is a beautiful camping field.
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$29.70
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(13)
Overland Field
6 sites · RVs, Tents11 acres · Windsor, VT
The only spot to camp near Mt Ascutney! Overland Field is located directly off of Rt 44 and has 11 acres of meadow along the river right at the base of the mountain. Extremely close proximity to Ascutney Outdoors Center, mountain biking trails, gravel riding, and the Brownsville Butcher & Pantry.
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$43.20
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Texas Hill Brook & Dark Star Cabin
3 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Richmond, VT
Learn more about this land:
Both sites are located in beautiful Huntington, VT on the occupied lands of the Abenaki/Wabanaki.
Texas Hill Brook camp site
The Texas Hill Brook site is a flat, wooded campsite on Texas Hill Brook in Huntington. The campsite is roughly 10m x 30m (30' x 100'), large enough for several tents or a small camper/RV. It is accessed by a sloped 50m (about 150') gravel driveway. The narrowest part of the driveway is 2.6m (about 8.5 feet). There is a 3m x 3m (10' x 10') tent platform and a large picnic table. Firewood is provided. Near our home about 120m/400 feet away through the trees but relatively private. Within a short pedal or drive to some of the best mountain biking and hiking Vermont has to offer, 15 minutes to Richmond and Hinesburg, and just a half hour to Burlington. Electricity on site, primitive fire pit, but no other facilities, so ALL waste must be packed out. We have a bucket commode to loan if you don’t have your own.
Dark Star Cabin
Dark Star is the perfect base camp for your northern Vermont hiking and biking adventures! Comfortable accommodations for 6 in a solar powered cabin. Located in Huntington close to some of Vermont’s best trails, Dark Star is a short hike (less than a mile) from a private, secure parking area. The hike is not difficult, but ground is uneven, some of it is uphill, and it may be wet. Note that this property is HIKE-IN ONLY and pack in/pack out (i.e. you will need to pack out all trash, etc.). Unwind in the wood-fired sauna, lounge on the deck under the stars, sharing stories of your escapades and planning the next day’s adventures. Pull-out queen sofa bed on the main floor plus 2 full size beds in the loft. Pillows are provided but bring your own linens. Outdoor shower, WiFi, water filtration system, grill, small refrigerator/freezer, composting toilet, and many other amenities for a comfortable stay.
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$45
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Available this weekend
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River, stream, or creek camping near Rochester guide
Overview
Rochester is a small town in central Vermont situated at the base of the Green Mountains. The White River flows right through town, as it makes its way to the Connecticut River as its longest undammed tributary. Despite its small population, Rochester has a thriving arts and culture scene with several galleries, frequent festivals and concerts, and a theatre company. Rochester’s proximity to camping, hiking, and biking trails in the Green Mountain National Forest and several ski areas makes it a great basecamp for outdoor adventures.
Where to go
Moosalamoo National Recreation Area
Nestled into the western slope of the Green Mountains just twenty minutes from Rochester, the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area offers hiking and mountain biking trails, several camping areas, and plenty of scenic views. The area’s highlight is the Robert Frost Trail, an interpretive trail that commemorates Robert Frost’s poetry and introduces hikers to the area's landscape.
Chittenden Reservoir
The Chittenden Reservoir is tucked into the Green Mountain National Forest about 45 minutes from Rochester. This pristine lake is a popular spot for motor boating, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and swimming. There’s also several miles of trails around the lake for hiking, cross-country skiing, and snow-shoeing adventures.
Branbury State Park
Located at the base of Mt. Moosalamoo, on the eastern shore of Lake Dunmore about 30 minutes west of Rochester, Branbury State Park is a great spot for boating, kayaking, fishing, and swimming. The park offers 36 campsites suitable for tents and trailers as well as seven lean-to sites for tent campers.
When to go
The Green Mountain National Forest surrounding Rochester, Vermont is open year-round. Summer is the best time for camping, hiking, and water sports as long as you come prepared for mosquitoes and other biting bugs. The Green Mountain National Forest is also one of the best places to see fall foliage in Vermont. The Lake Dunmore area is particularly pretty in fall and colors are best between late September and middle of October.
Know before you go
- Rochester has a small grocery store, a few restaurants, and a bike shop.
- Many national forest and state park campgrounds near Rochester offer advanced reservations online. Parks typically have a handful of sites on a first-come, first-served basis too.
- Bears are common in the Green Mountains, so secure food in bear-proof containers.
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