Lake Shaftsbury State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed
- Camping
- 15 campsitesAlso cabins
- Official site
- vtstateparks.com(802) 375-9978
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Lake Shaftsbury State Park is a park in Bennington County, about 8 miles northeast of North Bennington.
The park supports canoeing and kayaking, boating, swimming, fishing, and hiking. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp and boat or kayak rentals. For overnight stays there are 15 campsites (tent sites). There are also cabins for rent.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | 10am - official sunset | ||
Official wording
10am - official sunset
Friday of Memorial Day Weekend through the second Monday in October.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Fees and passes
Per person day-use admission: Adult (14+) $5, Child (4-13) $2; no resident/non-resident difference except the Green Mountain Passport for VT residents 62+/veterans. Undeveloped park lands charge no fees.
Statewide fee rule from Vermont's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Vermont park passes
- Individual Season Pass — $40. Unlimited day-use entry to any park for one individual. Non-transferable. Details
- Vehicle Season Pass — $105. Unlimited day-use entry for up to 8 people in one vehicle; second vehicle pass $65. Details
- Organization Vehicle Pass — $180. Unlimited day-use for up to 17 people in one vehicle. Details
- Day-use punch card — $40. One punch provides day-use entry for one person. Never expires. Details
- Green Mountain Passport — $2. Lifetime free day-use entry for Vermont residents 62+ or honorably discharged veterans; sold at town clerk offices. Details
From the Vermont state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Vermont State Parks reservation website (vtstateparks-visit.com, Aspira/ReserveAmerica platform)
- Phone
- 1-888-409-7579
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed
Pets are permitted at this park. Please clean up after your pets.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Shaftsbury State Park campground Group camping | 15 | — |
Camping details from the park
15 lean-to sites
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
- cottage: 1 unit
1 cottage available to rent
Things to do
BoatingCampingFishingHikingSwimmingCanoeing and kayakingPicnicking
Trails
Hiking: The Healing Springs Nature Trail offers an easy hike around Lake Shaftsbury.
Swimming
Swimming: There is a sandy beach in the day use area for swimmers.
Boating and paddling
Boating: Boats are welcome at the park. Kayaks, canoes and pedal boats are also available to rent through the park office.
Stand-up Paddle Boarding: SUP's are available to rent through the park.
Fishing
Fishing: Rainbow trout, perch and panfish can be found in the waters of Lake Shaftsbury.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Playground
- Park or camp store
- Restaurant or food service
Water
- Boat ramp
- Boat, canoe or kayak rentals
Camping
- Tent camping
Lodging
- Cabins
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 262 Shaftsbury State Park Rd
Shaftsbury, VT 05262 - Nearest town
- North Bennington — about 8 mi northeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 43.0225, -73.1795
- Phone
- (802) 375-9978
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
From Bennington: Go 10 miles north on Route 7A
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Vermont State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Park Finder (one .parkInfo block per developed park) + Other State Park Lands list; coordinates/campsite counts from ANR Open Data ArcGIS 'Vermont State Parks' layer and 'ANR Unit Points'
- Wikidata
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology