Step back in time and relive those lazy summer days by the lake!
Built in 1930, Blue Camp is one of the few remaining original Vermont lake camps. Located directly on beautiful Malletts Bay, this charming three-bedroom waterfront retreat combines the character and nostalgia of days gone by with the comforts of home.
Whether you're planning a family vacation, a fishing trip, a visit to Burlington, or simply a peaceful getaway, Blue Camp offers a wonderful opportunity to experience life on Lake Champlain.
Relax, Unwind, and Enjoy the Lake
One of Blue Camp's most treasured features is its spacious screened-in porch overlooking Malletts Bay. Start your morning with coffee while watching the boats pass by, enjoy meals with family and friends, or simply settle into a comfortable chair and take in the lake views.
The porch is a favorite gathering place, rain or shine, and some guests even enjoy sleeping there for a more traditional outdoor camp experience.
Spend your afternoons swimming, fishing, or sunning yourself on the private raft. Waterfront access includes a combination of sandy and stony shoreline areas.
Two kayaks and a paddleboard are provided for exploring the bay.
Bringing your own boat? Limited dock space and a mooring may be available by advance arrangement, subject to water levels and the size and type of boat. Dock access is reserved for getting on and off a prearranged motorboat or sailboat and is not available for general recreational use, swimming, sunbathing, or relaxing.
A Classic Vermont Camp with the Comforts of Home
Blue Camp accommodates up to eight guests, including the queen sofa sleeper.
Sleeping arrangements include:
Bedroom 1: Queen bed
Bedroom 2: Double bed
Bedroom 3: Two twin beds
Living room: Queen sofa sleeper
The camp also features one bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen with a natural gas stove and oven, a dining area, and a comfortable living room.
A remote-controlled natural gas fireplace in the upstairs main living area provides effective heat during cooler spring and fall weather. For those who enjoy the warmth and ambiance of a traditional wood fire, a woodstove is also available for guest use in the main living area, with firewood provided.
As an authentic seasonal camp dating to 1930, Blue Camp does not have air conditioning.
A gas grill is available for outdoor cooking, and guests can enjoy the camp's recreational amenities, including a ping-pong table.
Bed linens and towels are provided, and laundry facilities are located on the lower level.
Bike, Walk, and Explore Right from the Camp
Four adult-sized bicycles are provided for guest use, and access to the local bike path is less than two minutes away.
From there, you can head toward Burlington or in the opposite direction toward one of the area's most memorable cycling experiences—the Island Line Trail and Colchester Causeway. The Causeway carries the trail for miles out across Lake Champlain, with water on both sides and expansive views of the lake, islands, Green Mountains, and Adirondacks.
For a shorter outing, nearby Rossetti Beach Natural Area is approximately four minutes away by car or about 15 minutes by bicycle. Follow a wide trail beneath a canopy of trees, cross a bridge over a peaceful wetland, and emerge onto a sandy Lake Champlain beach with a panoramic view across the bay—a beautiful outing just minutes from the camp.
Burlington Is Just Minutes Away
Blue Camp is situated on a quiet, dead-end dirt road within walking distance of the local general store, yet downtown Burlington is only about 15 minutes away by car.
You can also reach Burlington by bicycle along the community bike path, approximately 30–45 minutes, or by boat.
Explore Church Street Marketplace, enjoy waterfront dining, browse local shops and breweries, or take a scenic cruise on Lake Champlain.
On the Burlington waterfront, visit the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Vermont's science and nature museum. Its interactive exhibits and live animals provide a fascinating look at Lake Champlain's ecology and wildlife, including native fish, turtles and amphibians. It's a particularly enjoyable way for families to discover more about the lake they're experiencing during their stay.
The camp is also conveniently located for visits to the University of Vermont and the greater Burlington area.
Explore More of the Champlain Valley
There's much more to discover within an easy drive of Blue Camp.
Visit Shelburne Farms, the former country estate of Dr. William Seward Webb and Lila Vanderbilt Webb, daughter of railroad magnate William H. Vanderbilt. Beginning in the 1880s, the Webbs assembled nearly 4,000 acres overlooking Lake Champlain, with famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. helping shape the estate. Today, visitors can explore this historic working farm, its trails and magnificent Lake Champlain setting.
Nearby Shelburne Museum has an equally fascinating family history. Founded by Electra Havemeyer Webb, who married into the Webb/Vanderbilt family, the museum reflects both the Vanderbilt connection and the Havemeyer family's sugar fortune.
Spread across 45 acres, the museum combines art, Americana and historic buildings with some wonderful surprises. Among them are the restored Lake Champlain steamboat Ticonderoga and original French Impressionist works by Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet and Mary Cassatt.
For a memorable Vermont day trip, drive through Smugglers' Notch on scenic Route 108 when the road is open for the season. The narrow, winding mountain road passes between dramatic cliffs and enormous boulders and is closed to through traffic during the winter.
Anglers can arrange Lake Champlain fishing charters, while those who would like to spend a day cruising can find pontoon and other boat rentals in the area.
Hikers can explore both the Green Mountains of Vermont and the Adirondacks across the lake in New York. You'll also find wineries, historic sites, scenic drives, seasonal ferry trips, and the nearby Sunset Drive-In Theater.
Whether you prefer biking, boating, fishing and hiking or simply relaxing by the water, Blue Camp makes an excellent home base for exploring the Champlain Valley.
A Traditional Vermont Camp Experience
Blue Camp welcomes one pet with advance approval when booking.
We take pride in offering a traditional lake-camp experience and maintaining a welcoming property for our guests.
Our Guest-Managed Cleaning Arrangement
To help keep rental costs down and avoid a separate cleaning fee, Blue Camp operates under a guest-managed cleaning arrangement.
Guests are responsible for leaving the camp clean and ready for the next visitors. For guests using the linens and towels provided by Blue Camp, this includes washing, drying, folding, and putting them away, along with completing the other cleaning tasks outlined in our house rules.
Guests who prefer to simplify their departure are welcome to bring and use their own bed linens and towels, reducing the amount of laundry that needs to be completed before leaving.
Please review our house rules and rental agreement before booking to ensure this arrangement is suitable for your group.
We appreciate our guests' cooperation in helping preserve this traditional Vermont camp experience.
We look forward to welcoming you to Blue Camp and helping you make lasting memories on Lake Champlain!