Camping in Vermont: Best Months, Booking and Fire Rules
Across Vermont's 3 NOAA reference stations, camping weather is mild from May to September, with average highs of 67 to 80 F and lows of 44 to 58 F. Nights at or below freezing show up from October to May, most often in January, when they average 29.5 a month. State park sites are booked through Vermont State Parks reservations, up to eleven months ahead.
Check this weekend’s weather at your campsite
Live from the National Weather Service
The best months for camping in Vermont
By NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, camping weather in Vermont is mild May to September. Pick the station nearest your campground below; high ground runs colder than any station.
- Jan28° / 9°Freezing nights
- Feb31° / 11°Freezing nights
- Mar40° / 20°Freezing nights
- Apr54° / 32°Freezing nights
- May67° / 44°Freezing nights
- Jun76° / 53°Mild
- Jul80° / 58°Mild
- Aug78° / 56°Mild
- Sep71° / 48°Mild
- Oct57° / 38°Freezing nights
- Nov45° / 28°Freezing nights
- Dec34° / 17°Freezing nights
Each month shows the average high and low across the state’s reference stations, in F. Mild means an average high of 60 to 85 F with lows of 40 F or more. Freezing nights means the stations average one or more nights a month at or below 32 F.
Burlingtonelevation 330 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29 F | 13 F | 28.7 |
| February | 32 F | 14 F | 26.1 |
| March | 41 F | 24 F | 25.7 |
| April | 55 F | 36 F | 12.9 |
| May (mild) | 69 F | 48 F | 0.9 |
| June (mild) | 78 F | 57 F | 0 |
| July (mild) | 82 F | 62 F | 0 |
| August (mild) | 81 F | 61 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 73 F | 53 F | 0.3 |
| October | 59 F | 42 F | 6.2 |
| November | 46 F | 32 F | 17.3 |
| December | 35 F | 21 F | 26.6 |
Montpelierelevation 1,126 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26 F | 7 F | 30 |
| February | 29 F | 9 F | 27.1 |
| March | 38 F | 18 F | 27.8 |
| April | 52 F | 30 F | 17.9 |
| May (mild) | 65 F | 42 F | 3.5 |
| June (mild) | 73 F | 51 F | 0.1 |
| July (mild) | 78 F | 56 F | 0 |
| August (mild) | 76 F | 54 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 69 F | 46 F | 1.2 |
| October | 55 F | 36 F | 11 |
| November | 43 F | 26 F | 21.8 |
| December | 31 F | 15 F | 28.8 |
Rutlandelevation 620 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29 F | 8 F | 29.8 |
| February | 32 F | 9 F | 26.9 |
| March | 41 F | 18 F | 27.2 |
| April | 55 F | 31 F | 16.4 |
| May (mild) | 68 F | 42 F | 3.4 |
| June (mild) | 76 F | 52 F | 0.1 |
| July (mild) | 80 F | 56 F | 0 |
| August (mild) | 78 F | 54 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 71 F | 46 F | 1.3 |
| October | 58 F | 35 F | 10 |
| November | 46 F | 26 F | 21.2 |
| December | 35 F | 16 F | 28.1 |
How to book a state park campsite in Vermont
Vermont State Parks (Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation) takes reservations through Vermont State Parks reservations. The longest advance booking its page states is eleven months.
How far ahead you can book
Camping reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance on a rolling basis.Vermont State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
First come, first served sites
Feeling spontaneous? You can camp without a reservation — if space is available.Vermont State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
When the campgrounds are open
Most Vermont State Parks are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day or until the second Monday in October.Vermont State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Cancellations
If you cancel at least 10 days before your scheduled arrival date, you will receive a full refund, minus the $8 reservation fee.Vermont State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Quoted from Vermont State Parks (Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation) pages read October 18, 2026. Windows and fees change, so confirm on the booking site.
Camping outside a campground in Vermont
Dispersed Camping or “backcountry” campsites are free areas where people camp outside of designated campgrounds.USFS, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Campfires when you camp in Vermont
Campfires in state parks and forests
In developed State Parks areas, fires are allowed only in fire rings, fireplaces, or charcoal grills at designated picnic and camping areas. All fires must be attended and under control at all times.Parks and Recreation, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Where fire restrictions are posted
No outdoor burning should take place in areas with a red fire danger rating.Parks and Recreation, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Current restrictions: Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.
Vermont camping questions
Camping in other states
Where this page’s facts come from
- State park, forestry and federal land pages (read October 18, 2026). Booking windows, reservation systems, campfire rules, fire restriction sources and rules for camping outside a campground, each quoted word for word with a link to the page it came from.
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 (read October 18, 2026). Average monthly high, low and nights at or below 32 F at 150 reference stations, the same stations the heat season and heating season pages use.
- National Weather Service alerts (live, read in your browser when the page loads). Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Fire Warnings, Freeze Warnings and High Wind Warnings, read live from api.weather.gov.
- National Weather Service 7 day forecast (live, read in your browser when the page loads). The weekend forecast for the ZIP code a visitor enters, read live from api.weather.gov.
Climate figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals at 3 reference stations in Vermont. Rules are quoted from agency pages and can change.