Vermont may be known as the Green Mountain State, full of mountains, lakes and forests, but don’t forget about Vermont’s wonderful beaches! Nestled along the shores of beautiful lakes with fabulous mountain vistas in the distance, Vermont’s beaches make the perfect travel destination. Some of them are even located in Vermont State Parks, meaning that they’re impeccably maintained and each beach has restroom facilities with running water. Others have onsite boat rentals and snack bars, and some have waterfront vacation rentals available for the most picturesque of vacations. Whether you’re looking for hiking, camping, boating, or sunbathing, Vermont beaches have everything you want for an epic summer. Pick a beach, reserve your vacation rental in Vermont, and start packing! Here’s our list of the 10 best beaches in Vermont.
1. Sand Bar State Park
This 2,000-foot beach is a perfect spot for families with small children thanks to its smooth and sandy lake bottom that remains shallow well out from shore. Here, the water is crystal clear and the surroundings are breathtakingly beautiful. No wonder Sand Bar is the most visited day park in Vermont.
2. Bomoseen State Park
With stunning views, nearby camping, and a newly renovated beach house and playground, Bomoseen State Park is the perfect spot for relaxing summer fun. The top beach here is Half Moon Pond, State Park. This is a camping only park with no day use opportunities so plan to stay for at least one night. Don’t worry, it’ll be worth it. With two sandy beaches great for swimming and boating, you can rent kayaks, canoes, and pedal boats. The pond also has excellent fishing.
3. Boulder Beach State Park
Get your grill on at Boulder Beach State Park. This 200-foot beach has 75 shaded picnic sites with tables and hibachis. There’s also a swimming area, cartop boat launch, play area, and convenient concession stand. For more fun on the water, rent a canoe, kayak, or pedal boat, or bring your own and store it in the garage of your vacation rental when it’s not in use. Have fun!
4. Crystal Lake State Park
Crystal Lake is a glacial lake with nearly a mile of sandy shoreline and a designated swimming area, but that’s just a fraction of the draw to this beach. The large historic granite bathhouse has restrooms, changing areas, and a concession stand. You can also take advantage of the 40 free standing charcoal grills, 80 picnic tables, play areas, or boat and canoe rentals.
5. Silver Lake State Park
Silver Lake State Park’s dock makes the perfect diving board jump into Silver Lake. This favorite Vermont beach is popular for its sandy swimming area, picnic grounds, and camping area, and its close proximity to Woodstock and other central Vermont tourist destinations makes it the ideal family vacation. There’s also excellent fishing of northern pike, perch, and smallmouth bass, and great opportunities for paddling and other water sports.
6. Camp Plymouth State Park
Come for the day or camp for the weekend. Either way, you’ll love the sandy beach, large field, play area, horseshoe pits, concession stand and a boat rental at Camp Plymouth State Park. Be sure to stay all day, because you won’t want to miss watching a spectacular sunset from your canoe on the water. Better yet, stay overnight in one of the group camping areas on the south side of Buffalo Brook.
7. Branbury State Park
Branbury State Park has a 1,000 foot natural sandy beach on Lake Dunmore and a large open grassy area, making is popular for swimming, sunning or picnicking. You can also rent a non-motorized small boat or state overnight at one of the 20 tent sites or seven lean-tos. In the grassy perimeter, you can rent one of the 17 tent and RV sites. There’s something for everyone!
8. Elmore State Park
A definite family favorite, Elmore State Park has a sandy beach, grassy areas where the kids can play, and an indoor are with a snack bar and bathrooms. Get ready for some fun in the water as well because canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, and stand up paddleboards are available for rent. You can even rent the entire beach house, making Elmore State Park perfect for group gatherings, family reunions, or any other special event.
9. Burton Island State Park
Burton Island State Park has a mostly rocky beach making it a popular destination for camping and hiking. One of the things that set Burton Island apart from other beaches in Vermont is that it’s only accessible by boat or ferry. Get ready for loads of family fun, because once you reach the island, you’ll never want to leave. You won’t have to because you can enjoy a great meal or sweet treat at the bistro located right on the island.
10. Maidstone State Park
Maidstone is located is the end of a 6-mile dirt road, making it one of the most remote of the State Parks and allowing it to retain most of the character associated with the Northeast Kingdom. Along with a great beach, this area offers amazing lake trout and salmon fishing and even has some outstanding record catches. Maidstone Lake is also perfect for viewing nesting loons. These birds, who were once on the endangered species list, love the solitude of the northern lakes and make their nests in the local spruce firs.