Gifford State Park

Gifford Woods State Park is a great location for hikers (or any visitor to the Killington area for that matter) to bunk for a couple of nights. The park hosts 4 cabins, 22 tent/​RV sites, and 21 lean-​to sites located around two paved/​well-​maintained dirt roads on the premises. It appears to be open Memorial Day weekend to late October. It is a breeze to find, easily located just off Route 100. The Appalachian Trail runs right through the park so you may catch a glimpse of some thru-​hikers on their journey between Maine and Georgia!
The park is very well-​maintained! The campsite was neatly raked, the fire pit cleaned out for use. I stayed at campsite #1 and it was quite spacious… a bit further removed from the road than the other campsites. The whole site was marked out with a fine gravel, plenty of room for parking and maneuvering the car. Each road loop contains modern bathrooms and coin-​operated hot showers. There are areas for picnicking, volleyball, horseshoes, trash/​recycling, and drinking water. Kent Pond is just across the way complete with boat launch and fishing!
Booking and check-​in were a breeze for this location. I called 10 days before our intended arrival and got a site no problem. On arrival, the ranger at the park office was very friendly and sold us firewood and ice straight from there. If you need any assistance during off-​hours, the ranger lives in a cute house attached to the park office. They encouraged us to knock on the door at any time if we needed help. The campsite is pet-​friendly and I came across quite a few well-​behaved dogs during my stay. Quiet hours are from 10pm-​7am. The park itself is pretty quiet all day long… I heard nothing but birds chirping, trees rustling, and a bit less-​welcoming: the traffic from Route 100. This didn’t bother me so much since I generally wear earplugs to sleep but something to consider if you prefer a more rustic atmosphere when camping.
Tent sites are between $ 20-​$ 22/​night, $ 27-​$ 29 for a lean-​to site, and $ 50 for cabins. There is a 2-​night minimum for reservations. Affordable, clean, convenient… I would definitely stay here again!