The Best Camping in Maine - 25 Perfect Ideas

© styxclick/stock.adobe.com

Protecting and showcasing the beautiful rocky headlands of Mount Desert Island on the northern Atlantic Coastline, the Acadia National Park is one of the most popular in the US. One of the best ways to explore the park is to bring your tent or RV to one of the 14 campgrounds located close to the park and visit for a while. Most of the privately owned campgrounds offer both tent and RV parking and a variety of on-site facilities to offer you a home-from-home camping experience. You can spend your days hiking the scenic trails within the park or enjoying activities like canoeing, kayaking, tide-pooling and swimming, while evening are spent around the campfire enjoying the great outdoors.

Acadia National Park, Maine, Phone: 207-288-3338

© Balsam Woods Campground

Located 20 miles south of Moosehead Lake, the Balsam Woods Campground is ideally located to use as your base for exploring Baxter State Park, Mount Katahdin and Moosehead Lake. The campground is ideal for families, offering many activities to keep the kids happy, and you can also bring your four-legged friends along. Your campsite features full hook-up as well as cable TV and fast Wi-Fi at all sites. On site activities for the family include kayak rentals, a boat launch, hayrides, a playground and tennis, volleyball and basketball courts. You can stock up at the campground shop, use the laundry facility and visit the Rec Hall and Big Screen TV Lounge on rainy days.

Balsam Woods Campground, 112 Pond Rd, Abbot, ME 04406, Phone: 207-876-2731

© New Africa/stock.adobe.com

Perfectly located close to the town of Bar Harbor and the fabulous Arcadia National Park, Bar Harbor Campground invites visitors to come and experience the joys of family camping in a beautiful coastal environment. The campground is a little different from most in that you cannot book in advance and you will be allowed to choose your own available site on arrival. There are 300 campsites to suit everyone – some are basic without any hookup, some have water and electric hook-up, some have fully hook-up including sewer and some have wonderful sea views. Arrive early and you can take your pick. Onsite facilities include a heated pool, hot showers, a shuttle service and much more.

Bar Harbor Campground, 409 State Highway 3, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, Phone: 207-288-5185

© Bayley’s Camping Resort

Offering so much more than a regular campground, Bayley’s Camping Resort will surprise you with a wide array of on-site resort facilities. Once you have set up camp in one of the serviced or basic campsites you can set off to explore all the campground has to offer. There is a trolley shuttle to the nearby (1 mile) beach, or you can rent a golf cart to make your way around the large campground. Bayley’s offer excellent children’s activity programs (to ensure Mom and Dad get some downtime) – sign up at Bayley’s Cove Outdoor Recreational Center. Besides enjoying the beautiful 7-mile sandy beach you can rent a kayak, do some fishing or enjoy all the amenities at the Little River Club.

Bayley’s Camping Resort, 275 Pine Point Rd, Scarborough, ME 04074, Phone: 207-883-6043

You are reading "The Best Camping in Maine - 25 Perfect Ideas Today" Back to Top

© Jen Lobo/stock.adobe.com

Located just two miles north of the quaint New England town of Camden, The Camden Hills State Park is a popular vacation area for outdoor enthusiasts. Once you have set up camp at one of the 107 campsites you can look forward to spending many happy hours exploring the very scenic hiking trails within the park. In total, there are over 30 miles of trails to be explored, including the very popular hike to the top of Mt. Battie. Other activities within the park include horse-back riding, bird watching and mountain biking in summer and snow-mobiling and snow-shoeing in winter. After a busy day on the trails you can look forward to a hot shower and a comfortable night at your serviced campsite.

Camden Hills State Park, 280 Belfast Rd, Camden, ME 04843, Phone: 207-236-3109

© stock.adobe.com

Located on the Saco River in Fryeburg, the Canal Bridge Campground is an excellent location for your next family camping vacation. Offering a genuine back-to-nature camping experience (no hookups) this primitive campground offers 37 campsites (including 8 accessible sites), all of which have fire pits and picnic tables. The large bath houses offer free hot showers and all the fun of the Taco River is right on your doorstep. There is a large sandy beach alongside the river for swimming and you can also try your hand at river tubing, kayaking, canoeing and fishing. For a change of pace you can go bargain hunting at the near-by Settlers Green Outlet Shopping Mall.

Canal Bridge Campground, 2144 ME-5, Fryeburg, ME 04037, Phone: 207-935-2286

© Yura Yarema/stock.adobe.com

Beautifully positioned on Frenchman’s Bay, just 8 miles from Ellsworth, the Lamoine State Park is an ideal place to spend your summer sea-side vacation. This campground has 62 primitive campsites (no hookups) suitable for tents or RV’s up to 45 feet. Most visitors come here to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the campground which is away from the hustle and bustle of Bar Harbor, but still offers easy access to Arcadia National Park. On site activities include boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking and wildlife watching during the summer season, and cross-country skiing in winter. At the end of an active day you can come home to a hot shower and toasted marshmallows around the camp fire.

Lamoine State Park Campground, 23 State Park Rd, Lamoine, ME 01605, Phone: 207-667-4778

© Vinoverde/stock.adobe.com

Lily Bay State Park covers over 900 acres of public recreational land along the east shore of Moosehead Lake near the town of Greenville. The park boasts two campgrounds which offer 90 spacious campsites, several of which are located on the scenic lake shores. Here you and your family can enjoy a genuine back-to-nature camping experience (no hook ups) in your tent or RV. Your enviable location alongside Moosehead Lake promises a wide variety of fun water activities including fishing, boating, canoeing and kayaking. You can launch your boat at one of the boat slip and spend the day fishing for native trout species and small-mouth bass. There are on-site hiking trails and you have easy access to other hiking areas outside the park.

Lily Bay State Park, 425 Lily Bay Rd, Beaver Cove, ME 04441, Phone: 207-695-2700

More ideas: Things to do in Belfast

© LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/stock.adobe.com

Offering wonderful views of Webb Lake and its surrounding mountains, the campground at Mount Blue State Park is a very fine place to spend a few days getting back to nature in Maine’s largest State Park. The campground near Webb Beach has 136 primitive (no hookups) sites to choose from. Once you have set up camp in one of the spacious campsites you can look forward to enjoying a good selection of activities. It is an easy walk to the Webb Lake beach for swimming, boating, canoeing and fishing and there are several trails for hiking, mountain biking and bird watching. The park also offers access to ATV trails and in winter you can enjoy snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing and snow mobiling.

Mount Blue State Park Campground, 187 Webb Beach Rd, Weld, ME 04285, Phone: 207-585-2347

© Mount Desert Narrows Camping Resort

Offering campers a choice of 258 campsites which are available from May to October, the Mount Desert Narrows Camping Resort is a favorite with families wanting to explore the Bar Harbor area. If you enjoy basic camping with no electric or water hookup, you will find that this campground offers a good selection of facilities for primitive campers. You can stock up on basics at the Camp Store, enjoy a dip in the swimming pool and make use of the on-site laundry facilities. In addition, the resort offers volleyball and basketball courts, a playground for young visitors and a clubhouse with Wi-Fi and a billiard room.

Mount Desert Narrows Camping Resort, 1219 State Hwy 3, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, Phone: 207-288-8106

© Oceanfront Camping at Reach Knolls

If your idea of camping heaven is to pitch your tent in a rustic but beautifully situated sea-side campsite then Reach Knolls is for you. Located on the shores of Eggemoggin Reach, Oceanfront Camping is small and intimate, offering around 40 campsites for RV’s and tents. Here you can enjoy electrical hookup at your campsite (20-30 amp sites available) and convenient access to drinking water. The restrooms have hot showers where you can refresh after spending a relaxing day on the beach. As you fire up your barbeque you can hear the waves lapping the shoreline as another perfect day comes to an end.

Oceanfront Camping at Reach Knolls, 670 Reach Rd, Brooklin, ME 04616, Phone: 207-359-5555

© simona/stock.adobe.com

Patten Pond Camping Resort is a popular family vacation spot located on the shores a 740 acre lake. From the moment you arrive until you pack up to go home you and the family will have plenty of activities to keep you happy. Most of the campsites offer beautiful views of the lake and can accommodate large pull-through RV’s. There is a private beach right on the lake where families can spend relaxing days swimming, canoeing, fishing and boating – the marina offers boat rentals. Pets are welcome and there is a playground for younger visitors. Other facilities include a laundry, billiard room, camp store and club house as well as volleyball and basketball courts.

Patten Pond Camping Resort, 1470 Bucksport Rd, Ellsworth, ME 04605, Phone: 877-570-2267

© bilanol/stock.adobe.com

Covering over 800 acres along the south shore of Sebec Lake, the Peaks-Kenny State Park is a great option for a back-to-nature camping vacation. The park offers a fine sandy beach and a spacious and highly-rated campground with 56 campsites which can accommodate pull-through RV’s and trailers or tents. Once you have set up camp you can spend your days exploring about 10 miles of hiking trails which meander through beautiful hard-wood forests. If you are more interested in water activities you can spend your days on the beach which offers swimming, boating, fishing and paddling. The campground is open from May 15th to October 1st.

Peaks-Kenny State Park, 401 State Park Rd, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426, Phone: 207-564-2003

© Alex Stemmer/stock.adobe.com

Pelletier’s Campground is a very popular base for canoeing enthusiasts who have been (or are planning to) explore the many canoeing excursions on the St. John River. The primitive campground is located about 10 miles downriver from Allagash Village, where it provides easy access to the river and a good place to rest after your canoeing adventure. The campground will take care of all the necessary details for you when you enroll in one of their guided paddling adventures, including moving you and your canoe (or your vehicle) to the starting and end points of each excursion. Canoe rental is available nearby and you can sign up for several multi-day adventures.

Pelletier’s Campground, 1007 Main St, St. Francis, ME 04774, Phone: 207-398-3187

© Powder Horn Family Camping Resort

Located close to Old Orchard Beach, Powder Horn Family Camping Resort has been welcoming happy campers for over 50 years. Spread out over 65 acres of forested land, this camping resort offers visitors a comfortable home-from-home experience. You will not need to sacrifice little luxuries like cable TV, electricity or Wi-Fi – most of the campsites have full electric and water hookup. There are 4 on-site swimming pools to keep you cool, and two large whirlpools where you can relax. To keep the kids busy and happy there is an 18-hole mini-golf course and 3 playgrounds, as well as shuffleboard, horseshoes, volleyball and basketball. Two Laundromats, a camp store and children’s entertainment program complete the picture.

Powder Horn Family Camping Resort, 48 Cascade Rd, Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064, Phone: 207-934-4733

© Red Apple Campground

Offering campers a comfortable spot to kick back and relax, Red Apple Campground in Kennebunkport has 140 spacious and (mostly) shaded campsites where you can pitch your tent or park your RV. All the sites offer water and electrical hookup and most also offer cable TV and sewer hookup so that you can have a relaxing home-from-home camping experience. To keep the whole family busy, you can join in the various forms of entertainment at the Recreation Hall including dancing, bingo, karaoke and more while the outdoor recreation area has volleyball and pickleball courts, horseshoe pits. Uniquely, you can order fresh steamed Maine lobster delivered to your campsite.

Red Apple Campground, 111 Sinnott Rd, Arundel, (Kennebunkport), ME 04046, Phone: 207-967-4927

© Riverbend Campground

The Riverbend Campground is perfectly positioned to take advantage of all the water activities on offer on the Dead River, which flows into Androscoggin Lake. The river provides ideal conditions for canoeing and kayaking and excellent bass fishing is available. You can pitch your tent or park your RV on one of the spacious serviced (electrical and water hookup) campsites and get ready for a relaxing vacation. There are plenty of on-site activities available to keep the whole family busy and Mums will be happy to know there are two on-site Laundromats. Golfers have easy access to nearby golf courses and the campground provides entertainment for all ages on Saturday nights.

Riverbend Campground, 1540 Route 106, Leeds, ME 04263, Phone: 207-524-5711

© Sagadahoc Campground

Open from May through October, Sagadahoc Bay Campground offers great ocean-front camping on Georgetown Island. The campground is ideal for boating enthusiasts – some of the waterfront sites even have their own direct access to the water and your boat can be moored right beside your campsite. The sites all offer water and electrical hookup and the campground has a large open area for lawn games. If you would like to linger longer, you can book one of the seasonal RV sites which have full hookup and space for a small garden. You are welcome to bring along your (well-behaved and vaccinated) pooch or kitty.

Sagadahoc Campground, 9 Molly Point Lane, Georgetown, ME 04548, Phone: 207-371-2014

© Sandy Pines Campground

Tucked away in a secluded forest and bordered by a beautiful beach and a salt marsh, the Sandy Pines Campground is an ideal family ocean-side campground near Kennebunkport. If you have never tried camping before this is your chance to rent an on-site glamp-tent, wagon or trailer and see why all your friends love camping. If you have your own tent or RV you can set up camp at one of the spacious serviced campsites which boast water, electric and sewer hook-up. All the campsites offer easy access to clean restrooms and showers and there is an on-site laundry. Activities include paddle boarding and kayaking, a heated swimming pool, rental bikes and various lawn games. You will be just steps away from Goose Rocks Beach which is great for families, offering three miles of soft sand and gently lapping waves.

Sandy Pines Camping, 277 Mills Rd, Kennebunkport, ME 04046, Phone: 207-967-2483

© Searsport Shores Ocean Camping

When it comes to choosing the ideal destination for your family camping vacation along the outstanding Maine coastline, Searsport Shores Ocean Camping is hard to beat. The campground lies between bustling Bar Harbor and Arcadia National Park and Camden Village, where it offers sea-facing campsites and a fun atmosphere that the whole family will enjoy. There are 125 campsites for tents and RV’s, most of which offer water and electric hookup. You can spend many happy hours exploring the outstanding coastline by kayak – rentals are available on site. The campground offers an artist-in-residence program and hold regular lobster bakes for everyone.

Searsport Shores Ocean Camping, 216 West Maine St, Belfast, ME 04974, Phone: 207-548-6059

© zphoto83/stock.adobe.com

Open from May through October, the Sebago Lake State Park Campground is a firm favorite with outdoor enthusiasts. The campground lies in the heart of the State Park and offers 250 campsites for tent or RV campers, most of which offer electric and water hookup. Once you have set up camp you can spend many happy hours exploring hiking and biking trails or having fun on the lake. Water activities include both motorized and non-motorized boating, swimming, fishing and paddling. The campground offers all the usual facilities including a dump site, clean restrooms and showers, a picnic shelter and a playground.

Sebago Lake State Park Campground, 3 State Camping Rd, Naples, ME 04055, Phone: 207-693-6613

© Two Lakes Camping Area

Offering an ideal location for water-sport enthusiasts, Two Lakes Camping Area is located on Hogan Pond in Oxford. The campground has a variety of comfortable campsites for tents or RV’s, most of which have electric and water hook-up. Your lake-side location guarantees hours of fun for the whole family and planned weekend activities ensure that even rainy days are fun days. Children will enjoy the horse-drawn wagon rides, mining sluice, movie nights and the game room while the whole family can enjoy the regular music and dancing evenings, pot-luck suppers and Hawaiian Luau. You can rent all the boating and paddling equipment you need right on site.

Two Lakes Camping, 215 Campground Lane, Oxford, ME 04270, Phone: 207-539-4851

© evannovostro/stock.adobe.com

Located off Lincolnville in beautiful Penobscot Bay, Warren Island is a delightful place to spend a few days enjoying primitive camping and water sports. To reach the island you need to have your own boat, as there is no ferry service. There are a limited number of moorings for your boat on the sheltered side of the island and you can choose from twelve basic campsites where you can truly get back to nature and enjoy a true outdoor adventure. There is drinking water available on site but you will need to bring in (and carry out) everything else you need.

Warren Island State Park, Islesboro, ME 04848

© Wild Duck Adult Campground

If you are planning an adults-only camping trip with your partner or a few friends the Wild Duck Adult Campground in Scarborough could be an ideal choice. While most campgrounds are designed to suit families and offer a lot of noisy children’s activities, at Wild Duck you can avoid the noise and bustle and get back to nature in a quiet and peaceful location. The campground nestles in the heart of Scarborough Marsh and offers excellent bird watching, hiking and canoeing. The campsites are spacious and offer all the home comforts you need including full hook-up and cable at each site. Wi-Fi, laundry and limited supplies are available on site.

Wild Duck Adult Campground and RV Park, 39 Dunstan Landing Rd, Scarborough, ME 04074, Phone: 207-883-4432

© Wolfe’s Neck Oceanfront Campground

Offering beautiful rural and coastal vistas, the Wolfe’s Neck Oceanfront Campground has been welcoming happy campers for over 50 years. Tucked into 626 acres of forests and farmlands, and boasting a 4 mile stretch of beach, Wolfe’s Neck has something for everyone. The West Bay area is ideal for tent campers with young children, offering wide open grassy sites with great views. RV campers are accommodated on serviced campsites in East Bay, close to the camp store and Farm Café. Activities include hiking, biking and kayaking as well as a various immersive farmyard activities. Children will love the “Farmer for a Morning” program, where they get to help out with the resident farm animals.

Wolfe’s Neck Oceanfront Campground, 134 Burnett Rd, Freeport, ME 04032, Phone: 207-865-9307