Where to spend summer in VT with 2500 to spend?

Submitted by CapGrundle t3_10oodw9 in vermont

Just like the title says. I’ve got about $2500 and eight weeks to chill. I just want to hike, mountain bike, and kick around some little community. Thinking I’ll probably stay in a tent in a campground, cook meals there, and retreat to my junky car if weather gets too miserable.

Suggestions to where I might base myself for maximum enjoyment, cool vibes, good trails, affordability, and proximity to services (would like to avoid using car entirely once I’m established). Thanks!

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Bomdiggitydoo t1_j6fvri1 wrote

Try Burke, NEK is where it’s at.

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KyussSun t1_j6kgod2 wrote

This. Not sure what the rates are at that little campground at Lake Willoughby but spending the summer at Kingdom Trails and the Lake sounds wonderful.

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mmartino03 t1_j6hv11a wrote

Most campgrounds book out months in advance so I'd jump on that now. That said Little River state park/campground is pretty spot on for what you're looking for.

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serenij1 t1_j6j1kin wrote

Second Little River State park or Waterbury in general.

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wut_the_phuck t1_j6g86yj wrote

Lol I’d let you come chill on my property for WAYYY cheaper than any of that. I’m 15 min from Bennington but live in the middle of the woods. I have 30 acres that you could go nuts on so to speak. I am very liberal and do not care what you do, as long as you are respectful of the land. Camping and biking would be more than encouraged though. I live in a valley on a mountain with nothing but dirt roads and logging roads. And if your extreme enough most of my land is on a 45 degree angle hills 😋

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Beardly_Smith t1_j6haqbp wrote

2500 will barely cover a room for 8 weeks

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cpujockey t1_j6ox1bl wrote

still, with the way everything is going up in price - might want to save up more money.

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advamputee t1_j6g057g wrote

Rutland is cheap, has hiking and mountain biking nearby. Pine Hill Park for some good XC trails outside of town, Killington for lift-serviced downhill. The Long Trail and Appalachian Trail run just outside of town (and split apart outside of Mendon).

With your budget, camping will definitely be the most affordable option. If you have a car / van to camp out of it’d make your quality of life better. You can dispersed camp in a few areas but there are rules about how close you can camp to trails, roads and sources of water — maps of where to camp can be found online.

If you’re primarily interested in hiking, I’d do a stretch of the AT. There’s tons of free camping options, and plenty of places specifically catered to AT hikers (like a hostel in downtown Rutland that’s free for hikers — though it’s owned by a literal cult, so there are some mixed opinions about it).

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Twombls t1_j6i8uuf wrote

I personally wouldn't stay in that hostel for an extended period of time. Thats how they get you.

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GrilledSpamSteaks t1_j6gmfag wrote

Walk the AT.

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Twombls t1_j6icdf4 wrote

That would be a problem if he wants to bring his mountain bike. One of the long distance bike trails would be a suggestion though

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patonbike t1_j6hkbj4 wrote

Try a national forest camp site which could be free.

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WhatTheCluck802 t1_j6jfwgh wrote

Really any State Park is a great choice. You can’t go wrong with whichever you choose.

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Ok-Address-1768 t1_j6k0gv7 wrote

I’ll let you hang out in my yard for 15 mins.

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-_Stove_- t1_j6i2dw0 wrote

So there's this big green forest thing...

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Twombls t1_j6fz7z3 wrote

Probably nowhere

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Senior-Tradition-246 t1_j6i6rbx wrote

says the person who went on a beer vacation to NY last year... so you can vacation how you want to but others cant? the dude wants to go camping for the summer.

"probably nowhere" lmfao

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Twombls t1_j6i8p5f wrote

Idgaf if he goes on vacation here. I just dont know of a place that is walkable to a community, has access to all these sports without a car that wont burn a hole through 2500 in 2 months

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Senior-Tradition-246 t1_j6idm5w wrote

I mean, they say they have a car, and they don't say they aren't willing to drive it anywhere once they park it at a campground...

Vermont is probably the only place in new england where you CAN do this... OP, there's a shit ton of National Forest camping up and down the state with everything you want to do out the back door.. you can stay at a campsite for up to 3 weeks (maybe 2? I think it's 3 though). Theres enough of them to enjoy one for 5 days at a time, go to town, and go look for another one (on a tuesday morning lol. they fill up...) There's also dispersed camping. There's also the Appalachian Trail, Long Trail, state parks (although reservations might be tough for those). Basecamp all along rt 100 from Waitsfield-Warren-Rochester stretch are probably the little basecamp type towns you're envisioning. Don't expect to chill on the sidewalk for 3 weeks in these towns, but perfect if you're basecamping in the national forest, but a couple times a week you want to go in for a coffee, groceries, a general store sandwhich, a farmers market.

If you're in-the-know with the borderline dirtbag lifestyle, 300$ a week will keep you loving this area for hikes, bikes, chilling and summer vibes.

"probably nowhere" for the rich new yorker who needs Vermont to bow down to them 3 meals a day. Probably everywhere for the crafty outdoors nomad.

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edit: you could even bike into warren/waitsfield from the nice little national forest camping road (#5 maybe) just south of warren by a little bridge and pullout on rt100.

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Twombls t1_j6ikfaj wrote

Thats fair. I didn't consider the route 100 side. When I do the national forest im usually camping along the LT and I access it from the west side. There really isnt anywhere near a town to boondok near a town except for some parcels near Ripton and breadloaf. But honestly I get really bad vibes from those places. Weird shit goes down there. And other than national forests everything in vt is slowly getting regulated due to popularity. Almost no dispursed camping. Only primitive with a 3 night limit on state land.

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