Grand Isle State Park - Grand Isle, Vermont

Grand Isle State Park - Grand Isle, Vermont

Named after the largest island in Lake Champlain, Grand Isle is about 14 miles long and 3 miles wide.  Known as the South Hero the island holds the Grand Isle state Park.  Why the name Hero Island?  Because it was named to commemorate early Vermonters who served in the American Revolution. 

The park is located on the east shore of the island off Route 2.  The Park began in 1959 when Birchcliff was purchased.  Birchcliff had been a private summer resort.  The original Birchfliff building is the Activity Center for today's park.  When the purchase was made it consisted of 54 acres.

Today the Park is 226 acres from the addition of other property purchased by the state to expand the park.  Being the second largest campground in the state park system Grand Isle boasts the highest annual visitation in the state.  There are 4,150 feet of shoreline in the park along Lake Champaign.  Some people come and spend their entire vacation at the park to enjoy nature and beauty.  Population centers in reasonable proximity are such places as Burlington, Vermont and Montreal, Canada.

The campgrounds hold 117 tent/trailer sties, 36 lean-to sites and just 4 cabin sites.  The rest rooms have running water and hot showers (for a fee).  There is a trailer sanitary station by no hookups.  Half of the sites at the park are large enough to accommodate self-contained RVs.

Think of spending your vacation where you can fish, boat and swim in beautiful waters and even rent kayaks and rowboats through the park office.  Such a wonderful way to relax with nature.  The Nature Center will host interpretive programs, games and holds entertainment for those camping or visiting the park.  You can play sand-court volleyball, horseshoes or entertain your children in the play area.  Take a nature walk in the park and explore the plants and wildlife all around you.

Campers are also allowed free entry to the sand beach at Knight Point State Park, seven miles north of Grand Isle and to Alburg Dunes State Park which is 19 miles north of Grand Isle.

Address:  36 East Shore Road South
Grand Isle, VT 05458 

Phone(s):  (802) 372-4300 
Summer (voice)
(888) 409-7579 Toll Free Reservations Only
 
Contact(s):  Rochelle Skinner
 
Email:  parks@state.vt.us

Season: May 18 to Columbus Day Weekend

Directions:

From the South:

Take I-89 to Exit 17; Travel west on US Route 2 through the towns of South Hero and Keeler Bay.  Continue straight through the flashing light at the junction of US Route 2 and VT Route 314.  The park entrance road is exactly 2 miles past the light on the right side of the road;  Follow road to park entrance, approximately 1 mile.

   

From the North:

Travel East on US Route 2 through the Champlain Islands.  Drive through the towns of Alburgh, North Hero and Grand Isle.  The park entrance is approximately 2.5 miles on the left after the flashing light, just past the Grand Isle Elementary School.

N44 41.401 W73 18.546