Camping in Maine: Best Maine Campgrounds 2023

Q: Is Maine good for camping?

Maine is an excellent destination for camping, offering a diverse range of landscapes and outdoor experiences. From coastal campgrounds to lush forests, the state boasts numerous public and private camping options for both tent and RV campers. Maine 's natural beauty, including Acadia National Park , Baxter State Park , and the famous Appalachian Trail, provide ample opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, canoeing, and fishing. To explore some of the best camping options in Maine , check out Hipcamp. Keep in mind that the camping season in Maine is typically from May to October, with peak season falling between June and August. During the off-season, some campgrounds may be closed or have limited services available.

Q: Is there free camping in Maine?

Yes, there is free camping in Maine , particularly in the state's vast public lands, such as the North Maine Woods and the Downeast Lakes Land Trust. These areas offer primitive, dispersed camping opportunities with limited or no facilities. Keep in mind that you should always practice Leave No Trace principles and respect the environment when camping in these areas. Additionally, some locations may require a small fee or permit for access, so it's essential to research specific areas before your trip. For more information on camping in Maine , visit Hipcamp.

Q: Is it legal to camp anywhere in Maine?

No, it is not legal to camp anywhere in Maine . Camping is allowed in designated campgrounds, state parks, and national forests. In some cases, you can camp on private land with the landowner's permission. Wild camping, also known as dispersed or primitive camping, is allowed in some areas of Maine , such as the White Mountain National Forest and the Appalachian Trail. However, it is essential to follow the specific rules and regulations for each area where you plan to camp. You can find more information about camping in Maine on Hipcamp.

Q: Is boondocking allowed in Maine?

Boondocking, also known as dry camping or dispersed camping, refers to camping without any hookups or amenities, typically in remote areas or on public lands. In Maine , boondocking usually means camping on public lands, such as national forests or Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas, where you can camp for free or with minimal fees. Boondocking in Maine allows campers to enjoy the state's natural beauty, solitude, and wildlife while being self-sufficient and leaving no trace. Some popular boondocking areas in Maine include the North Maine Woods and remote parts of Downeast Maine . It's essential to follow Leave No Trace principles and local regulations when boondocking to ensure these pristine areas are preserved for future generations.

Q: When should I go to Maine for fall colors?

For the best fall colors in Maine , plan your visit during late September to early October. This timing typically coincides with peak foliage in various parts of the state, including Acadia National Park and the Maine Highlands. For the most accurate fall foliage predictions, check out Hipcamp's interactive foliage map .

United States
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Maine

95% (6868 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Maine

Under $50

97%

(1412)

Top camping destinations

View of the Bubble's from Jordan Pond House

Acadia National Park

486 campgrounds

Sebago Lake State Park

1039 campgrounds

Lake Arrowhead

906 campgrounds

Camden Hills State Park

583 campgrounds

Cobscook Bay State Park

421 campgrounds

Sanford

893 campgrounds

12 top campgrounds in Maine

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Hidden Valley Nature Center

8 sites · Lodging, Tents1000 acres · Newcastle, Lincoln

HIDDEN VALLEY NATURE CENTER IS 1,000 ACRES OF PROTECTED LAND IN JEFFERSON, MAINE - RICH WITH A VARIETY OF HABITAT AND TERRAIN INCLUDING OVER A MILE OF SHORE FRONT ON LITTLE DYER POND. Miles of multi-use trails great for hiking and biking, rolled and groomed XC ski trails, and several rustic huts and tent sites are waiting for you. Hidden Valley Nature Center (HVNC) is your forest. HVNC is part of Midcoast Conservancy, and a portion of the booking fees goes to support our mission to protect and restore vital lands and waters on a scale that matters. Midcoast Conservancy members receive a 40% discount. Not a member? Visit the Midcoast Conservancy website and join through the "donate" button at the top right of the home page. Your membership confirmation email will include your discount code. Thank you!

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Ellie's RV spot

2 sites · RVs1 acre · Ellsworth, Hancock

This spot has been in the family since 1935. Apple trees and wildlife abound year round. Ellie's is a new (May 2019) single RV site designed for use by all Class A thru C motorized or towable style recreational vehicles including conversion vans or off grid vehicles. 50 or 30 amp electric, water, sewer and wifi are provided. Should you choose to book this site and use a vehicle that doesn't have a shower and toilet on board, you will not have access to a bathroom on site. You must provide your own porta potty. The RV's pictured belong to past guests and are not available for rent. Ellie's is located to allow easy access to both the Mount Desert Island section of Acadia and the Schoodic Peninsula section. August 2021 update: You can purchase your park pass online and print it before you arrive. Reservations for Cadillac Mtn are now requireddue to overcrowding. All rigs including off grid and pop-ups, please set up on GRAVEL PAD only. Stay off grass area to prevent damage to the private septic system. **Tenting is not an option on this site, sorry.** Campfires are allowed on this site when winds are under 10 mph. Check local weather first. We continue to provide free, locally grown, organic firewood in order to combat inflation and help you stretch your vacation dollar. While Ellie's doesn't have direct water access, there are many shoreline points of access close by. Beaches and water access are everywhere. Wide open space does exist. Come explore the Maine coast. Commuter traffic can be seen and heard from Ellie's RV spot. In 2019 over 3.5 million people visited the Acadia area. 2022 has been jammed with visitors, more than ever before, be patient. We have one security camera located on the main fence. This is for your protection as well as ours. Unit is powered 24/7 For winter RVing, please send a request before booking. We have 30 or 50 amp electric and sewer only from Nov 1 ~April 30. Water, wifi and trash removal are suspended for the winter. Snow might prevent access during some weeks, others it will not. Request first please. Questions? Please ask I'm very responsive.

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Camps of the Pioneers

11 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents7 acres · Ellsworth, Hancock

Our property has a history detailed in the arrowheads and other Wabanaki artifacts found around the property. European settlers have also left clues behind of the shipbuilding industry and 1700's culture.Experience a bit of natural immersion and enjoy the endless opportunities for outdoor recreation while camping in the northern forests of Downeast Maine! We use our 6 acre property to focus on producing organically grown herbs, fruit, vegetables for local markets. We're finally making available the properties scenic brooks, forests and meadows to folks seeking to experience a truly unforgettable, countryside retreat.We’re just off the beaten path in an agricultural and fishing community on the Union River, 20 minutes drive from Acadia National Park and Mt. Desert Island. See what our other guests have had to say about their stays-“It’s an experience I would repeat with pleasure. Difficult to be short about my highlights: hearing the loon at night certainly, waking up with the quarter moon over my head, seeing the progression in changing colors of the leaves,the views from Mount Cadillac, and Beech Wood trail, Jordan Pond and the Bubbles,so many things really.” - Christine from Montpelier, France, Sept 2021."We were so at peace when we got here we just spent the rest of the day hanging at the yurt enjoying the peace and quiet today we are heading to the ocean!"- Jody from New Hampshire, July 2021."We could not have found a more idyllic place, plus it was our first experience in a yurt. We found your notes about Acadia super helpful and the yurt was just so beautiful and cozy. Having a hot bath and a little fire in the wood stove after a day of biking the Carriage Roads and swimming at Sand Beach could not have been more perfect. So glad we were at the yurt to enjoy the area and Acadia. We had an incredible stay and are hoping to come back next summer."- Jenn & Neil, August 2020.

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TreeYurt

1 site · Lodging4 acres · Cumberland, Cumberland

It started years ago my sister and I stayed in a yurt at a campground in Oregon. That was it. I was hooked so I got one. There is something magical about staying in a round structure in the trees. My love of nature and comfort drove me to create this special place to be able to share it with others. My TreeYurt is a platform built high in the trees so it essentially like a treehouse but with a yurt instead. It is located in the back part of my property surrounded by woods. In the spring there is a small stream running nearby and soon to come a bridge over to the fairy village. The land is somewhat sloped yet comfortable. There are apple orchards nearby and many hiking trails a short distance away as well as Portland a mere 15 minutes. The kitchenette has a small fridge a coffee maker a cook top with two burners pots pans utensils and kitchen towels as well a propane grill outside. There is a wood stove for heating in the winter as well as a monitor heater that makes it very cozy for chilly nights. The yurt is insulated so it is a great year round glamping adventure. I provide fire wood for the wood stove inside but the camp fire wood for the outdoor fire pit is $5 per bundle. The outhouse has a dry flush toilet and instructions at located in the yurt and out house. There is no running water although recently added an outdoor sink for the warmer months is available for use for dishwashing and a bit of cleaning up. I provide gallons of drinking water and dishwashing water for the colder months inside the yurt with dish tubs sponges and soap.

Four Acre Woods Campground

14 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents4 acres · Deer Isle, Hancock

A beautiful island campground, thickly forested with spruce, fir, and birch, was created over 60 years ago, on Sunshine Island in Maine. Under the name, Sunshine Campground, it hosted people from all over the world and delivered the spirit and essence of this ancient, abundant land - that so many ancestors had roamed and celebrated before. As far as through the 90’s, it was open to the public, but then sat, alone, for 15 years, waiting for someone to revive it and bring it back to the world. Then one day, Caleb and Wolf met on a bus, heading south from Down East Maine, and instantly connected and joined forces. They worked together, redressing a home, in Stonington, for visitors to experience and became brothers. Eventually, the presence and opportunity of the campground caught their attention and after working out the technicalities, they worked together to bring this beautiful land and campground back to the people under its new life and name, Four Acre Woods. After opening on July 1st 2020, the land is finally back to sharing all of her beauty and spirit with the people. So, Welcome Home. Sincerely, - Four Acre Woods Caretakers

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The Point

7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents8 acres · Gouldsboro, Hancock

The Point is located in Gouldsboro, in Downeast Maine on the Schoodic Peninsula near the Schoodic portion of Acadia National Park on occupied Wabanaki land. The point is our home, offered to guests as a place for seekers of peace and solace to gain a better relationship and appreciation with nature in a world that has forgotten the importance and connection we all have with the planet that sustains us. A priority here for me is keeping this land pristine and respected. Our mission to save and protect our natural environment and keep it natural and wild can only be accomplished with the active mindfulness of you. We aim to prove that hipcamp can be a magical experience for private landowners and campers alike, to provide a means of temporal community and beneficial alternative to traditional campgrounds; one that does not degrade the environment and break the peace that small towns still contain. Please be mindful of the trash you generate and mindful of the noise you are making— we aim to provide seekers of peace a *quiet* time in nature. Together we are here to be an example to others of what mindful camping can look like in this changing world. Thanks for caring to come, see, explore, learn and being apart of the solution! <3 We hope to hear from you <3

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Cabin Creek Farm

9 sites · Tents10 acres · Cranberry Island, Hancock

Welcome to Cabin Creek Farm! The beauty and tranquility of our offshore Maine island are what many visitors hope to experience but few actually do. If you're hoping to exhale and slow down while being surrounded by nature, and quiet, we're your perfect spot! We are located just offshore from Mount Desert Island home to Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor and other nearby towns. Catch a passenger ferry (BOAT) (sorry can't bring vehicles) out to Great Cranberry Island, Maine from: Northeast Harbor, (search: Beal and Bunker Ferry) Exact schedules shown in individual camp site descriptions. OR FROM Manset/Southwest Harbor. (search: Cranberry Cove Ferry) Exact schedules shown in individual camp site descriptions. (Note: Ferry reservations are NOT needed just get aboard and you pay once underway. You can view exact ferry departure times on individual camp descriptions.) Our camp is located on a quaint pristine, offshore Maine island. We are an easy 1 mile walk from the ferry landing once you arrive. NEW! We just added a shared use golf cart for our guests to get to and from camp! Great Cranberry Island is a beautiful peaceful place where the pace of life slows, nature abounds and the stars are bright. There is a small well stocked general store. NOTE: currently being rebuilt after a disastrous fire. (due to open fall 2023), a museum, cafe and miles of pristine trails and rocky beaches to explore. Bicycles can be brought on the passenger ferries and are a great way to get around and further explore the island. Our camp is on the site of our former organic farm called Cabin Creek Farm overlooking the ocean (a tidal estuary called the pool), where we grew flowers, herbs and veggies. You can even kayak directly to us at high tide. The sites are a combo of a mixed manicured deciduous and conifer forest and open spaces with ocean views. "Once you have slept on an island, you'll never be quite the same!"

Wolves and Sounds of the Night

9 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Trenton, Hancock

Before you make a reservation read the description of each site. Read all of the info. Our camping section is located on the property of Kisma Preserve. Home to black bear, local mammals , and our favorite, wolves. We live here full time and have been here in one way or another for over 30 years. The sounds of the night are magical. Unleash your imagination and camp here away from the crowds you may find within the local Acadia National Park area. Close to basic necessities, and a step away from the masses. We do educational tours daily by reservation. We may allow camping in Winter months but if it is between November and May it is very important to call and find out. The shower will be unavailable in freezing months and some sites inaccessible. CALL and speak with a staff member before reserving. Self contained Adventure Vans and tent campers with Winter Gear can be accommodated. If you want to have a solid roof , screens and a fabulous view ask about reserving our Cadillac Mountain View Loft or if the idea of being naked under the stars is appealing opt for our Raw and Rough site.! Pulling in late, and leaving early for a typical Sunrise reservation.? We can also accommodate that if we know that is all you want. Traveling with your horse.? Talk to us about an Equine site. The Biker’s Bunkhouse is ideal for motorcycle travelers as it shelters both the guest and the Bike/s. Always call, we can answer all questions to get you into the right site for your style of adventuring. With each listing be sure to read all the information. If you are interested in a spontaneous camping adventure, if your luggage got lost or if you just don’t want to deal with transporting camping gear we can connect you with a local gear renter who can supply you with a basic box of necessities including a tent. Questions.? Call.

Slippery Rock Trails LLC

5 sites · Lodging, Tents400 acres · Greene, Androscoggin

Forty five years ago, our family started assembling 400 acres of woods and fields on the banks of the beautiful Androscoggin River. We enjoy actively managing the property for wildlife habitat and tree growth. The diverse landscape includes over 1/2 a mile of river frontage, a 10 acre wildlife pond, rolling hills in the meadows and steep forested terrain with more than 10 miles of multi-use trails running throughout. Our lands have long been open to local hikers, bikers and cross country skiers, we are excited to share this beautiful property with a larger community. Scout for wildlife and birds, on our private 400 acres of forests and fields. Tire yourself by hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, or cross country skiing the 10 miles of private trails. Located across the river from Riverlands State Park, just minutes from Lewiston-Auburn, Bates College, local breweries and just 2 1/2 hours from Boston. Wildlife abounds both on the property and across the river at Androscoggin Riverlands State Park.Quite often, a gentle breeze off the water will offer relief from black flies and mosquitoes, but the right bug repellent is recommended especially to fend off those pesky ticks that are so common in Maine.

The Howling Woods

2 sites · Tents16 acres · Tremont, Hancock

A wooded campsite surrounded by moss and Cedars. A small duck pond just 100 feet away. Acadia trails, swim spots and boat launches as close as 2 miles from property. Bar Harbor and Acadia 20-30 minute drive.

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Trees of Life Retreat (ToLR)

3 sites · Lodging, Tents130 acres · Farmington, Franklin

Once owned by the namesake of the access road to the property (Tolman Lane), this property consists of over 130 wooded acres which provides a quiet, secluded getaway to reset your clock and melt the stress away. A property boundary map is available at the cabin that matches the painted property lines. The entire property boundary is painted red although several hundred additional unposted acres are available for the wanderers out there. There is some posted property to the north that should be avoided. Enjoy!

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Tucker N.’s land

2 sites · Lodging, Tents105 acres · Alna, Lincoln

Our cabin is an off grid post and beam structure that we built 6 years ago. It's got a full kitchen, wood stove, and screened porch. The water is limited as is the electricity This is a small two story timber frame cabin off grid and secluded deep in the woods. It has limited water/power with a separate outhouse. The cabin has a king sized bed in the loft with a child size fold down bunk above it; there is also a pull out couch on the first floor. As well as a kitchen, screened in porch and fire pit. Linen, dishes and utensils are not included please bring all that you need. There is a propane 4 burner stove with oven and solar shower bags. Trash and campfire wood is included. We are very busy with kids and work, we try our best to clean and re-supply between guests but it is not always possible, please let us know if something needs attention!