Gifford Woods State Park

We had site 8 reserved which was advertised as an RV site, but even with a small 16 foot trailer there was no way to easily back into this site. We had to go the wrong way down the road to get a decent angle to back in. Too many trees and tree stumps just made it hard to do any other way.

That was really our only negative. Once into the site, it was quite nice and spacious. Very private as well, while we had neighbors in sites around us, we never saw and hardly heard them at all. The park employees were helpful and polite and the restrooms were clean and well maintained.

We were very happy to find places to access the Appalachian Trail right within the park, so our dogs (and us as well) had a great time hiking the trails for a few days.

I would recommend this park, just be aware that some sites, even though advertised as RV sites, might not be easy to get into. There is a bit of road noise, but we didn’t find it bothersome. Had we been in the lower campground instead of the upper, that might have been an issue for us,

Arrival is generally painless, though the sign can be easy to miss.
Office staff is friendly and informative and will let you know about Black Bear Activity in the park.
We always stay in a cabin when we go here, and can't think of anything bad about this place! We go here all the time and LOVE IT.
The bathrooms are clean, the grounds well kept and situated in the green mountains.
I elaborate more in depth in the blog post, but I daydream about Gifford Woods!
We usually travel midweek, and while it can be busier in the summer, it's never overcrowded.
Easily accessible off of Rt.4/100, and only 11 miles from Rutland near Pico.

Open Memorial Day weekend through the end of October, this small state park is a popular gem! We arrived on June 21 and had our choice of spots, but the upcoming weekend through the summer months are booked. Call (802.775.5354) or reserve ahead (www.vtstateparks.com).The park's 22 tent/trailer sites, 21 lean-to shelters and 4 rental cabins are all well cared for along with the restrooms. Firewood and ice are available. I gave this campground an overall 5-star rating but we found a couple of sites with less-than-easy access for a 30' trailer. This park is not equipped for large motorhomes (30'+).

Established in 1931, the ranger's house was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. Over time, acreage was added to its current size of 285 acres. You may see through-hikers on their Appalachian Trail journey which travels from Georgia to Maine.

Things to do in the area include great hiking trails and the nearby ski town of Killington which offers family fun, golf, mountain biking and gondola rides. Rutland, a larger town with all the amenities, is a 12-mile drive away.

Traveling in a 30' Airstream, we would definitely camp here again!