Camping

Maine has the most pristine pine forests in the United States, making the state a natural destination for your next camping vacation. Maine offers infinity of camping facilities, from family camping along the rugged coast, to a more wilderness experience on the clear lakes and in North Woods, some of them endorsed by the Maine Campground Owners Association.

There are 12 state parks with campsites and other facilities, but only available by reservation and paying a fee for camping through the state agency. The Bureau of Parks and Lands is part of Maine Department of Conservation, and also grants reservations to private campgrounds.

It is suggested to call ahead to campgrounds, because they usually fill up quickly on season and during peak times, such as the 4th of July or national holidays. Also, make sure to confirm your reservation because all the reservations are held until a certain hour before they give it to someone else late in the evening.

When reservations are not possible for any given reason, it is still possible to start looking for a campsite before 4 pm in the evening in order to get one of those unconfirmed reservations and to set up a camp during day light. Private campgrounds have plenty of amenities, but public campgrounds at State Parks offer hiking, boating, and even historic options to enjoy.

In the Aroostook Region, with the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, wide open spaces and no large urban centers. The most popular campgrounds are the Aroostook River Camping and Recreation in Caribou in Fort Kent, My Brothers Place in Houlton, Patten Pond Camping Resort and the Shin Pond Village in Patten. The Wilderness Island at Portage, the Arndt's Aroostook River Lodge in Presque Isle, or the Lakeview Campgrounds in Winterville.

In the Katahdin and Moosehead Region, home to Mount Katahdin in the Baxter State Park and the largest fresh water lake in Maine, the Moosehead Lake. Campgrounds are located at Balsam Woods Campground in Abbot Village, Casey's Spencer Bay Camps and Moosehead Family Campground, Northern Pride Lodge and Campground, and South Inlet Campground in Greenville, Lakeside Camping in Lincoln.

In this same region, you can also find the Katahdin Shadows Campground in Medway, The Big Moose Inn Restaurant Cabins and Campground, the Jo-Mary Lake Campground, Northern Outdoors, the Pine Grove Campground, and the Hidden Spring Campground in Millinocket, or the Wildwood Shores Campground in Monson.

The Downeast Region of Maine has lakes for fishing, coastal villages and the area is home to Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park and Bangor. Campgrounds include Paul Bunyan Campground, Pleasant Hill Campground in Bangor, Bar Harbor Campground, Hadley Point Campground, Mount Desert Narrows Camping Resort, Narrows Too Camping Resort, and Spruce Valley Campground in Bar Harbor.

Other camping facilities are the Bass Harbor Campground in Bass Harbor, the Ocean Wood Campground in Birch Harbor, the Flying Dutchman Pool and Spa, Masterhead Family Campground, and Shady Oaks Campground in Bucksport. Also the Keenes Lake Camping Grounds in Calais, the Camden Hills RV Resort in Camden, among many others at Carmel, Danforth, Deer Isle, East Eddington, East Holden, East Orland, Eastbrook, Eddington, Ellsworth, Gouldsboro, Howland, Lubec, Mount Desert, New Harbor, Newport, and Southwest Harbor

In the Kennebec, Moose River Valley Region, camping includes Moose watching, hiking, whitewater rafting and the attractiveness of the state capital, Augusta nearby, with the Great Pond Campground in Belgrade Lakes, Augusta-Gardiner KOA in Gardiner.

The list also include Moose Pond Campground in Harmony, Jackman Landing Campground, John's Four Seasons Campground, Loon Echo Campground, and Moose River Campground in Jackman, as well as those in Litchfield, Madison, Mount Vernon, Norridgewock, North Monmouth, Rockwood, The Forks, Waterville and Winthrop.

Maine's Mid Coast Region has shipyard history and coastal villages, including popular destinations like Camden and Boothbay Harbor, and campgrounds such as Hermit Island Campgrounds in Bath, Searsport Shores Camping Resort in Belfast, Campers Cove and Little Pondersosa Camping in Boothbay.

Other points on this region include Thomas Point Beach and White's Beach and Campground in Brunswick, the Sennebec Lake Campground in Camden, and many others at Damariscotta, Jefferson, Liberty, Lincolnville, Medomak, Nobleboro, Orrs Island, Phippsburg, Rockport, Warren, West Rockport, West Southport and Wiscasset.

Camping in the Western Lakes and Mountains is the best way to approach summer hiking or winter skiing and campgrounds. Among these we can name, the Woodland Acres Campground in Brownfield, Littlefield Beaches in Bryant Pond, Granger Pond Camping Area in Denmark, Big Sky Acres Campground in Durham, Nor-40 Campground and Twin Pond Motel in Farmington.

Besides the ones above, you may consider those at Freeport, Fryeburg, Gray, Greene, Hanover, Harrison, Hebron, Kingfield, Leeds, Lewiston, Livermore Falls, Lovell, Naples, North Bridgton, North Fryeburg, North Sebago, North Turner, North Waterford, Oquossoc, Oxford, Peru, Poland, Pownal, Roxbury, Scarborough, Waterford, Weld and Windham.

South Coast is the region with the major urban centers, ideal for family camping and coastal vacation getaways with camping facilities at Apple Valley Campground in Acton, Bunganut Lake Camping Area, Scott's Cove Camping Area, and Walnut Grove Campground in Alfred.

Beaver Dam Campground in Berwick, as well as the campgrounds located at Cape Neddick, East Lebanon, East Parsonfield, East Waterboro, Eliot, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, New Portland, Old Orchard Beach, Saco, Wells, York Beach and York Harbor.

The Official State of Maine Campground Owners Association offers free camping guides to help you choose your region of interest. Camping in Maine during the summer months is the most popular pastime for thousands of visitors every year, and most campgrounds offer reduced off-season rates!

Campers can enjoy popular tourist areas and attractions, which are less crowded in spring and a few weeks preceding the official start of summer. Maine is also home to over 20 different Agricultural Fairs held during the months of August and September, and also the famous Fryeburg Fair, celebrated the first full week of October every year.

Northern and northwestern regions offer the best camping during the last week in September, while the rest of the state, are great on any date after winter and before middle of October, including the eastern, central, rivers and coastal regions.