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Are you planning a road trip to the northeast? Campgrounds in Maine are the best way to stay as you travel around the coastal state. Outdoor adventures abound, from ocean views to forest wonderlands.
Keep reading to learn about the perfect campgrounds in Maine. Let’s start with the best time to camp and if the state is RV friendly.
When Is the Best Time to Camp in Maine?
Late spring to early fall is the best time to stay at campgrounds in Maine. Most are only open from May to October. It gets too cold in the region for winter camping.
During the spring, you’ll find wildflowers and birds singing. The summer brings mild to hot temperatures, making it perfect for swimming.
Is Maine RV Friendly?
Maine is a popular destination for RVers. It’s an RV-friendly state and has some beautiful campgrounds. Imagine camping on the coast of Maine and eating fresh lobster and other seafood every night. It’s a dream RV trip that you’ll want to add to your itinerary.
We do recommend using an RV GPS to avoid those New England narrow roads or low clearance bridges. The northeast has some of the country’s oldest road systems, so you’ll want to be extra cautious about your trip planning.
Can You Camp for Free in Maine?
You can find free camping options in Maine. It doesn’t have an abundance of public land to boondock on, like in some states in the southwest. However, Maine does have free campsites worth checking out. Keep reading to find three places we recommend.
Best Campgrounds in Maine
You’ll find plenty of camping options dispersed throughout the state. But we’ve narrowed it down to some of the best campgrounds in Maine that you’ll want to add to your road trip itinerary.
We have some close to the national park, along the coast, and the best free options. So let’s check them out!
Close to Acadia National Park
To start our list, learn about these near Acadia National Park. This park offers unmatched beauty on the Atlantic coast. Look at these four campgrounds in Maine that offer a base close to the park.
Hadley’s Point Campground
Hadley’s Point Campground is on Mount Desert Island, a few minutes from Acadia National Park. The campground offers full hookups, some electricity, or water-only sites.
Amenities include a heated seasonal swimming pool, bathrooms, showers, laundry facilities, and Wi-Fi. Additionally, it has an Island Explorer Shuttle Bus that picks you up at the campground.
Schoodic Woods Campground
Schoodic Woods Campground lies inside Acadia National Park on Schoodic Peninsula, about an hour from Bar Harbor. It has RV sites with electricity only or with electricity and water.
The campground also has small RV drive-up sites and hike-in primitive camping for tents.
Mt Desert Narrows RV Resort
Mt Desert Narrows is a waterfront RV resort. You can enjoy the heated swimming pool, playground, outdoor recreation, and a walk along Maine’s coast.
The resort has water and electric RV sites, including pull-through options and ocean-front lots. This is a Thousand Trails campground, so if you’re a Thousand Trails member, make sure to make your reservations early!
Keep in Mind: Before visiting Acadia national park, there are a few things you’ll need to know. Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Acadia National Park Camping!
Oceanfront Camping at Reach Knolls
Oceanfront Camping at Reach Knolls provides easy access to the coast and Acadia National Park. Its campsites have electricity only. But you can get drinking water onsite to fill your tanks. Additionally, it has a dump station and showers.
Along the Southern Maine Coastline
Maine’s southern coastline has a lot to offer, including beaches, wildlife refuges, and amazing fresh seafood. Check out three of the best campgrounds on Maine’s southern coast.
Powder Horn Family Camping Resort
Powder Horn Family Camping Resort offers full hookup sites in Old Orchard Beach. You’ll find resort amenities here, including activities, four swimming pools, two hot tubs, and mini-golf. The resort also has restrooms, showers, and a camp store.
Pro Tip: While you’re in Maine, you have to visit Bar Harbor. Here are some Fun and Unique Things to Do in Bar Harbor, Maine!
Wild Duck Adult Campground & RV Park
Wild Duck Adult Campground and RV Park is quiet and serene in the Maine Audubon’s Scarborough Marsh. Whether on a honeymoon or just passing through, the RV park caters to anyone over 21 years old.
RV sites have full hookups and some pull-through sites. The campgrounds also have bathrooms, showers, laundry facilities, a dump station, and firewood.
Sandy Pines Campground
Sandy Pines Campground offers RV sites, glamping tents, and cottage rentals. RV sites have water, electricity, a fire pit, and a picnic table. It also features some pull-through lots, a bathhouse, and laundry facilities.
Additionally, the campground has a heated saltwater pool, activities for kids, bike rentals, and paddleboard and kayak rentals.
Free Campgrounds in Maine
Campgrounds in Maine don’t have to break the bank. We found three free campsites worth checking out.
Jewett Cove on Moosehead Lake
Jewett Cove has a lot of free campsites for boondocking. This beautiful area has Moosehead Lake as a focal point.
You can stay for 14 nights on Moosehead Lake Public Reserved Land. Additionally, you can find many other free sites in the area.
Airline Rips Campsite
Airline Rips Campsite offers boondocking spots just off Route 9 in Wesley, Maine. It’s peaceful and sits on a stream.
It even has a bathroom, unlike other boondocking areas. Reviewers said it had level parking but no cell reception.
Seboeis Lake Boat Landing
Our final free campsite is Seboeis Lake Boat Landing. It is part of the Department of Natural Resources in Brownville, Maine. You can stay up to 14 nights.
Additionally, it has a couple of campsites right next to the lake. Reviewers said some spots could fit RVs, and they have a nice tree cover.
Are You Planning on Visiting Any of These Maine Campgrounds?
Each of these campgrounds in Maine is worth staying for a week or two. You may want to plan on visiting more than one as you make your way through the state.
In Maine, anywhere you go will guarantee beautiful views and plenty of things to do. You can find peaceful lakes, quaint streams, and gorgeous views of the sea.
We would love to hear about your experience if you check out one or more of the campgrounds on our list. Tag us in some photos or write a comment below.
I would add Wolfe’s Neck Oceanside Campground at the Wolfe’s Neck Farm in Freeport, ME. It sits on the Casco Bay so has tides (watch the timing if you go kayaking!) and you can dig for clams and wade/swim as well. There is a section for RVs and there are also many other sites with water and electric, some on the water, and many dry sites. They have a tent-only section, and a remote area that is only accessible by carting your stuff there. There are also a couple of cabins and some “glamp” yurt sites that have most of the equipment you’ll need. It’s a working dairy farm with educational exhibits, other animals, children’s programming (the Farm Camp during the summer is a favorite), year-round events, a cafe and camp store on site, as well as hiking trails and a playground. Very family-friendly and lots to do in the area.