Burton Island State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Amid Lake Champlain's blue waters in northwestern Vermont, Burton Island State Park protects the entire 253-acre island. While its location in a lake makes it a remote destination for recreation, the state park offers numerous amenities and creature comforts for visitors to enjoy. Formerly known as White's Island and Potter's Island, the island's current name is derived from its owner in the early 1900s, Sidney Burton. Burton used the land for agriculture, fishing, and hunting, and some of the agricultural structures' remnants from that time are still present today. After the land was sold to the state in 1962, it was converted to a state park that opened in 1964. The park is only accessible via a passenger ferry or a personal boat in Kill Kare State Park. Nearby Cities: • St. Albans, VT • Fonda, VT • Swanton, VT • Milton, VT
Spring 23-69 F
Summer 57-82 F
Fall 32-72 F
Winter 12-35 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Burton Island State Park
Burton Island Campground • Water hookup: No • Electrical hookup: No • Sewer hookup: No • Wi-Fi: No • Pet-friendly: Yes • Max RV length: Tent camping only • Other amenities: Restrooms with coin-operated showers and flush toilets, park store, picnic tables
Sunset Rock RV Park
On the shores of Lake Champlain in La Motte, Vermont, Sunset Rock RV Park, offers a public boat ramp, fishing pier, and swimming. Rates start at about $25 per night at this campground, offering plenty of space for outdoor games.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: boat ramp, fishing pier, outdoor games
Maple Grove Campground
If you are looking for a quiet place to go camping, then Maple Grove Campground near Fairfax, Vermont, may be perfect for you. Rates start at about $40 per night.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Pull-through spots, laundry room
Campbell's Bay Campground
Campbell's Bay Campground offers very convenient amenities to travelers. Shop for supplies at the general store before heading out in a boat rented on-site. Rates start at about $25 per night at this campground in West Swanton, where you can play horseshoes.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Boat rental, general store
What to Do at
Burton Island State Park
Whether you decide to visit Burton Island State Park for a day trip or you want to pitch a tent for a longer stay, there are many ways to enjoy the park. The ferry to the island carries passengers; you can enjoy a stroll to the Burton Island Bistro, marina, hiking trails, nature center, museum disc golf course, and designated swimming area without contending with vehicular traffic. The park store sells ice, beer, wine, to-go foods, and camping items.
Inside Burton Island State Park
After you cross Lake Champlain to arrive at Burton Island State Park, you can find many different recreation opportunities. Be sure to connect with the park’s interpreter to see if they have special activities planned for the day. You can also enjoy a stroll along the hiking paths. Get a bite to eat at the Blue Bistro before touring the museum and shopping at the nature store.
Fishing
Fishing is available on the island's shoreline and by boat. Lake Champlain is home to more than 80 fish species. In the waters near Burton Island, abundant species are pumpkinseed, rock bass, bluegill, largemouth and smallmouth bass, bowfin, salmon, walleye, drum, and others.
Nature Watching
Burton Island State Park is a popular spot for birdwatching. You may spot Canada geese, kingfishers, flickers, blue jays, chickadees, gulls, blue herons, woodpeckers, ospreys, and numerous others.
Stargazing
The largest city in Vermont, Burlington, has a small population of under 45,000, and it is more than 28 miles away. With this in mind, light pollution is minimal because the state park is on an island in the middle of Lake Champlain. This makes Burton Island State Park an excellent spot for stargazing.
Hiking
There are three hiking trails on Burton Island. The most popular trail is the Burton Island Loop, which takes you on a 2.5-mile route around the island's perimeter. As an easy trail with minimal elevation change, hikers can typically complete the trail in under an hour.
Boating
Canoes, stand-up paddle boards, and kayaks are available for rent at the park store. Burton Island also has a 100-slip marina for those who prefer to reach the island on their boat rather than via the ferry. The marina offers Wi-Fi, a pump-out station, and dockside electricity.
Swimming
The designated swimming area at Burton Island State Park is located on the island's northeastern coast, close to the marina. There are also several other more remote swimming spots that you can access via the Burton Island Loop.
Biking
Bike rentals are available at the park store. On a bike, you can enjoy the state park's three trails, which also make it easy to get to attractions like the disc golf course, the museum, and other spots.
How to Get to
Burton Island State Park
The only way to reach Burton Island State Park is via a passenger ferry that departs from Kill Kare State Park. Only bicycles and camping gear are permitted on the ferry. Seasonally, Kill Kare State Park departures are from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Visitors are strongly advised to reserve a seat on the ferry ahead of time. You should also make a separate reservation for gear delivery to and from the island. To reach Kill Kare State Park, travel to St. Albans City from the north or south on Interstate 89. In St. Albans City, take the exit for Highway 36 and proceed west on this road through St. Albans Town. Turn left on Hathaway Point Road and follow this road directly to Kill Kare State Park. A large parking lot is located at the park's western end, close to the ferry launch point. Additional parking is located along the southern perimeter of the park.
Entering Burton Island State Park
Burton Island State Park Day-use per person : $8.0
Burton Island State Park Camping per person : $16.0
Burton Island State Park Bike transportation fee : $4.0
Frequently Asked Questions About Burton Island State Park
Burton Island State Park is open annually from the end of June through September. As a result, the best and only time to enjoy all that the state park offers is during these four months.
As an island, you will not find any large mammals in the park. Burton Island State Park has many bird species, including kingfishers, Canada geese, ospreys, flickers, woodpeckers, chickadees, blue herons, gulls, and more.
Burton Island State Park does not have RV camping spots. There are three rental cabins, 26 lean-tos, 14 tent sites, and four remote tent sites. The tent camping fee is $20 for state residents and $28 for non-residents, and the fee for lean-tos starts at $30.
Because of the limited number of camping spots at Burton Island State Park, reservations are recommended. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance, and an additional reservation fee of $8 applies.
Pets are allowed in all park areas except the marina and designated swimming area. Guests must clean up pet messes and always keep pets on a leash.