Smugglers' Notch State Park Campground in
Stowe Township (VT)

Very nice campground. But look out for big rocks as you turn into your campsite at night

Wonderful, clean and quiet campground. level and roomy sites. Nice staff that communicated well. We had no issue as others have noted about patrols. I do believe some people or paranoid or possibly believe the whole world revolves around them. If you are looking for a clean, quiet and comfotable campground-this is it.

Constant guards patrolling looking for a reason to come onto your site and assert their “authority.” Driving around with their obnoxiously loud gator once every ten minutes. For park rangers who claim to care so much about the grounds and environment they patrol, maybe they should consider a more environmentally friendly means of transport. Shocking hypocrisy.

Great spot and we'll maintained campground! Went early September and weather was nice and crisp, and staff were helpful! There were signs of bears active, and sure enough a bear was about 50 feet from our site, called the ranger and they came by quickly to scare it off. Overall wonderful experience with nature!

Loved this! Convenient and comfortable! Great campground! Clean bathrooms and showers (paid) ! Site was private enough, we had no neighbors. Some bear on site but everything was fine. The staff were well informed and easy to reach after hours.

Beautiful little campground on the lower slope of Mt. Mansfield. Campers only, so it doesn't get too busy. Sue is an extraordinary greeter, fun and helpful!

We got a spot with a lean-to. I don’t think I’ve been to a cleaner campground. The staff is helpful and accommodating.if your looking for quiet and solitude it’s perfect.The surrounding area is beautiful with lots todo

Lovely well run tidy campground. Great staff. Good location. Nice facilities. Easy.

Tis a very nice and clean campground. The site was large enough for 3 x 2 man tents with room for a car. Beware of the bears as there are a ton of them. We had a Mama bear with her 3 cubs scampering up a tree right next to my tent. They roam the campground on the count of negligent campers of which there are tons of!! Be careful and keep your dog leashed and food and coolers in your car. Peace and love!

As soon as we pulled in and met Sue at registration we knew this would be the best campground on our stay. The amenities were “top notch” and the exposed wood and plants in the bathrooms made it feel more like a vacation home than a campground. Fluffy is running around but never saw him and just keep your wits about you and you’ll be fine. Seriously cannot say enough good things about this campground and their staff definitely was the highlight of our two week camping trip and we look forward to going back in the future !

The campground is beautifully situated and very well maintained — a great spot for a weekend in nature. However, the staff could be more welcoming. We arrived on a Friday night around 10 PM after work and stopped at the check-in booth, but no one was there. A bit later, the ranger showed up at our reserved site and treated us as if we were trying to avoid check-in, which was frustrating. He didn’t allow us to set up at our designated spot because it was past 9 PM and instead gave us two options: camp near the entrance by his booth or in another site, but we’d have to move early the next morning. We appreciated having alternatives, but the reasoning (not to disturb other campers) didn’t really hold up since the alternate spot was just as close to others. The whole interaction felt unnecessarily rude and rigid — a little more thoughtfulness and friendliness would’ve made a big difference.

The ranger running this park is extremely unfriendly. Upon arrival, I was greeted " Check-in is 2PM" I'm here for a day hike sir.... OH, Its $ 5. Keep your car in designated parking and the speed limit is 15mph. Constant patrols. Its like a prison camp. I have been to a lot of VT state parks. I see no need to go back to this one as long as this guy is running it.

It was a cold September night at Smugglers’ Notch State Park. The leaves had just begun to change, casting blood-red shadows across the forest floor. Campers had thinned out for the season, but one lone tent sat nestled beneath the towering pines—its only occupant, a hiker named Dave, who was wrapping up a solo trek across Vermont’s Long Trail. Around midnight, Dave was stirred from sleep by something… off. Not a sound, exactly. More like the absence of sound. The forest, normally alive with owls and rustling leaves, had gone completely silent. Then, a soft thud echoed through the woods. Followed by another. And another—closer now. Dave sat up, heart pounding, and reached for his flashlight. The beam cut a narrow path through the mist seeping in between the trees. Just beyond its edge, something moved. Tall. Slouched. Its legs bent backward, like a deer’s—but its eyes glowed an unnatural yellow, low to the ground but far too wide apart for any forest animal. He held his breath. The creature paused, just outside the light, as if studying him. Then it made a sound—a garbled mimicry of a human voice: “Help… lost…” Dave bolted. He didn’t stop until dawn. When he returned the next day with a park ranger, his gear was still there. But the ground around the tent was covered in deep, hoof-like prints. The ranger didn’t say much, only that “things have lived in these woods long before the park was ever made.” Dave never went back.

As i came from montreal, It doesn’t feel worthwhile to spend an hour driving just 20 km to get there. The travel time outweighs the experience, especially considering other closer alternatives that provide a similar experience. I would recommend finding a more accessible option if time is a concern.

I would not recommend anyone stay at this campground. Staff aside from the very nice lady checking in, was incredibly rude. Even hostile. Park staff do loops every 15 minutes looking for someone to put in there place. We had park rangers/employees at least 4 times park up the road from our campsite. And sneak onto our site. Sneaking around our camper and the bushes unannounced until one of us noticed them. And then they announced they were there. No flashlights. No "hey it's park ranger Andy". Just being creepy in the dark. I would not want my wife or daughter to stay at this campground by themselves. We happened to notice them creeping in the shadows. But still don't know, were they there for 1 minute? Or 15 minutes? Just watching from the dark. The entire staff needs to be retrained. This is a family campground. Not a prison. Please stay away.

Beautiful campground with friendly staff. The bathrooms are clean and regularly maintained. There's only one shower for each restroom, and they are quarter operated (maximum amount of time is 10 minutes for $1.25). Firewood is fairly priced. The tent sites are a walk away from where you park your car, about 40ft away for our site. I loved coming here, and I'd definitely visit again!

Wow, what a gorgeous campground! Clean, beautiful, spacious/private camp sites with fire pits all ready for a ?. Totally spotless restrooms with great showers (yes, please!!). The wonderful, kind, & helpful park rangers & employees made our time there even better (a huge thank you to Susan! You are sooo awesome and deserve a big, fat raise!) ? We enjoyed every moment (even with a few heavy rain storms). We plan to return soon & often. 5 stars is not enough! Recommended? Obviously, YES!! Thank you!!! Julie & Robert

Susan has my heart amazing women. amazing campsites, nice bathrooms, everything was clean and maintained. ? for smuggs

I have camped at Smugglers’ Notch state park a few times and I enjoy it each time. The lean to campsites are my favorite setup but I have also stayed at the tent sights. The campsites are clean and well maintained as well as the facilities. The campground is located in the beautiful mountains with waterfalls within walking distance, and an easy drive into Stowe Vermont. My stay here has always been peaceful and regenerative being surrounded by natural forests and people respecting the quiet hours. It’s important to be careful with your food storage and keeping food locked in your car when not in use because there are active bears. I have never encountered a bear here, but we have had chipmunks steal some berries while we were cooking breakfast.

We only spent one night, but what a beautiful and laid back place! Will definitely come back! Bingham Falls is a short walk down the street, then a hike down the trail to the falls. Gorgeous spot!

We camp here annually at the end of camping season and love the beauty of the nature that surrounds us here. It's typically very peaceful, even though it's always busy in Stowe this time of year. However, typically I don't hear the people or car traffic. There is a small stream near the site we stay at which is a lovely sound to fall asleep to. Staff here is informative, but not always super friendly. I wish there was a dish-washing station and would love to have warm water at the lower bathroom, especially on those cold camping weekends. But, all-in-all, the rustic nature of this campground is one of the things I love about it.

Going in October, which we've done for many years, we always seem to get rain but it's actually not a big deal here. The sites are so wooded and the drainage is so good that we have never really had a problem with it. Clearly, the pup doesn't like it! This is a beautiful park, in a wonderful location. You could eat every meal at a different restaurant within a 15 minute drive or you could never leave your site in which case you wouldn't know how close you were to civilization. Hiking opportunities, either within driving distance or from the park, abound.

Beautiful windy roads lead you to the notch where you are in close to the giant granite rocks. It’s definitely worth the drive to Stowe and then take the gondoliers to the top of the mountain!! A little pricey but excellent views

The camping areas looked well maintained and the grounds officers were very nice. The campsites were full when we pulled in to check it out so we didn't stay here but I would most likely return. The picnic area and trails were very nice in the designated areas. We enjoyed lunch in the park with our 25 foot RV. The roads are well maintained and we were able to move about easily in the RV.

This place is absolutely stunning. Plenty of trails to choose from with varying levels of difficulty. There are mountains and waterfalls all in one place. Can’t wait to go back!

Beautiful drive through the area on 108 with several hiking areas along the way and parking area/clean bathrooms at the top. If you're from out of town, the road gets very narrow... tractor trailers and camper drivers don't do it!

Don’t miss the drive from Stowe up to the Smugglers Notch State Park. It’s perfect for summer and a dream during fall. Most suitable for foliage viewing and leaf peeping!