New England Camping Information- The Who, What, When, Where, and How

Most bikepackers and cyclotourists would agree that camping is a crucial part of the experience. Camping keeps costs down on long trips where nightly accommodations would be prohibitively expensive, connects us with the natural environment, and frankly, it’s just more fun. In the western United States, finding a place to camp is often the easy part; thanks to the widespread federal land that many popular bikepacking routes traverse, dispersed or ‘wild’ camping is allowed almost anywhere you can find to pitch your tent (there are obviously exceptions). In New England, and southern New England in particular, public lands where dispersed (wild) camping is permitted are few and far between. Continue reading for state-specific public camping information pertaining to bikepackers.

Broadly, US national forests and BLM lands have no blanket restrictions on dispersed camping. What this means for cyclotourists is that in these areas, you can legally camp anywhere as long as there are no forest or district-specific regulations. Bikes are NEVER allowed in wilderness areas, so camping in these areas on a bike trip is out of the question. Always be sure to double-check the legality of your planned camping location before you start riding. Illegal campers on public lands can be cited and fined, and trespassing on private property is even worse! While there are other federal land management agencies, the US Forest Service and BLM manage the largest areas and are the most likely cyclotourists will encounter.

Where to camp

Unfortunately, New England has few national forests. The White Mountain National Forest in NH and ME, and the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests in VT are the only ones in the region but they do both allow dispersed camping!

White Mountain National Forest General Dispersed Camping Rules:
Dispersed camping is allowed in the WMNF with the following exceptions. No Camping:\

  • Within 200 feet of certain trails and water bodies.
  • Within 1/4 mile of backcountry facilities (shelters, huts, and trailheads).
  • In the alpine zone - where trees are 8 feet or less (except on two feet of snow).
  • Within 1/4 mile of certain roads. Otherwise, consult the local ranger station, check signage, or refer to the WMNF Backcountry Camping Rules and Forest Protection Plan for specific regulations. The Forest Service also has a handy interactive viewer showing forest boundaries, established campgrounds and other pertinent information.

In addition to the legal dispersed camping in the national forests, New England states have extensive state park systems with a multitude of campgrounds, state and town forests with camping options, and some public options related to specific long-distance trails.

The RideWithGPS collection below includes route layers for each New England state, denoting POI markers of public camping locations and required permits and/or reservation links. Add one or more of these layers to a RideWithGPS route to add the included POIs to your route.
View this collection directly

Connecticut

Connecticut DEER properties:

Connecticut has a standing ‘No Turn Away’ policy for hikers and bikers at DEER campgrounds (state parks/forest campgrounds). A standard CG fee of $14.00 applies. The standing policy is not intended for visitors PLANNING thru hiking or biking trips – they can and should make a reservation, or take advantage of free backpacking sites for thru hikers at some DEER campgrounds. I believe that most people who utilize this policy need a place to stop to sleep for safety reasons, which is why it’s limited to visitors from out-of-state and considered an ‘emergency need’. In emergencies, you/other backpackers would not be turned away from a state campground. However, if it is not an emergency, and you live within 50 miles of the current location, you would be asked to arrange transportation back home.

Maine

Camping, included dispersed camping, is broadly allowed in Maine National Forests and private forest lands including the North Maine Woods. HOWEVER, cycling is NOT allowed anywhere on North Maine Woods lands/roads, in KI Jo Mary Forest, or on the Golden Road. In addition, biking is not allowed on Nature Conservancy land in the Debsconeag Lake Area. As a result these areas are effectively off-limits for bikepackers and cyclotourists. We’ve compilied a list of state park campgrounds and other public camping locations that should be accessible via bike in the RideWithGPS collection, below.

Massachusetts

Public Lands in Massachusetts are overseen by a patchwork of entities and municipalities including the Federal Government (US Fish and Wildife Service, FWS), the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, cities and towns, and other entities. Each entity has its own rules governing recreation and camping. Before you set out, make sure to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations governing camping in the areas you plan to ride.

Massachusetts DCR properties:

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) oversees the majority of public lands in state which include state forests, state parks, and other conservation lands. Dispersed camping on any of these public lands is broadly prohibitted under state regulation 302 CMR, § 12.08 - Rules of Conduct on DCR Properties - Camping and Campsites which states that ‘(1) No person may camp on DCR property, except in a designated campsite, camping structure, or camping area.’ However, there are some concessions and accommodations that are made for long-distance hikers and cyclotourists including shelters along established long-distance hiking trails, and the DCR no-turn-away policy.

Long-distance hiking trails such as the Appalachian Trail (no bikes allowed), the MidState Trail, and others have numerous lean-tos or other strucutres that can be used first-come first-serve and are considered designated camping areas. In addition, Massachusetts DCR has a long standing ‘no-turn-away’ policy which states that self-contained hikers or cyclotourists who arrive at a reservation only DCR managed camping facility will not be turned away even if the facility is full. Please note that DCR requires you to pay the standard overnight fee even when relying on the no-turn-away policy. You can find a copy of the policy here, or displayed below. We reccommend that users who are planning to utilize this policy print and carry a copy that can be shared with DCR staff.

City and Town Forests:

Cities and towns across MA maintain forested areas for the enjoyment of their residents and there are no blanket rules governing camping in these areas. We have identified a few locations which indicate camping is allowed with a permit according to the town bylaws. Make sure you plan in advance if you wish to camp in these areas.

New Hampshire

Rhode Island

Vermont

Vermont State Parks

Reservations can be made:

Online, 7 days a week By phone, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Directly through the park during the operating season

UPDATE
Starting February 11, 2026 VT State Parks are updating their camping policies! Changes have been made to the timing of reservation release dates, allowing same-day reservations, allowing one-night reservations, and updating their cancellation policy for all site types. Rolling Reservation Window
Instead of releasing all reservations on a single day each month, camping reservations will open on a rolling basis daily, 11 months in advance at 9:00 a.m. This change gives you more chances to book the dates you want—30 or 31 opportunities each month instead of just one. This rolling window applies to all parks.

Same day Reservations Available
Also, you can now make same-day reservations until 2 p.m. on your day of arrival. This update makes it easier to plan a last-minute getaway when sites are available.

One-Night Reservations Allowed Within 7 Days of Arrival
To offer more flexibility closer to your trip or for last-minute trips, Reservations made more than 7 days in advance will still require a two-night minimum, but one-night stays are allowed within 7 days of arrival, any day of the week Exceptions: Remote sites at Waterbury Reservoir, Osmore Pond, and Kettle Pond will continue to require a two-night minimum stay.

Updated Cancellation Policy for Tent, RV, Lean-to, and Cabin Sites
An updated cancellation timeline has been implemented to better align with neighboring state park systems and improve site availability.

  • Cancel 10 or more days before arrival: Full refund, minus the $8 reservation fee
  • Cancel 3–9 days before arrival: Refund minus the $8 reservation fee and the cost of one night
  • Cancel 0–2 days before arrival: No refund There are no changes to cottage or shelter reservation policies.

Bike Camping specifics:
Vermont State Parks do not require self contained cyclists to adhere to the 2 night minimum reservation requirement for VT state parks. However reservations must be made in advance by calling the park. Campsite availability restrictions still apply. People traveling to VT State Parks (that allow camping) under their own power (hiking, biking, or paddling) or camping in a group camping area may make 1 night reservations. Otherwise there is a 2-night minimum for advance reservations made before March 1 of the current operating season, except for Green River Reservoir. After March 1, 1-night reservations can be made Sunday - Thursday for the current operating season (except for remote sites at Waterbury Reservoir, Osmore Pond and Kettle Pond, which still have minimum stays of 2 nights. Refer to the document below on page 4, section II.a. 2.a(i) for specific verbage regarding self-containined campers. State Forest Primative Camping is also available in some places, general areas are marked on the map with a link to the VT DFPR maps.