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Lakegirl's avatar
Lakegirl
Explorer
Jul 25, 2016

Recommendations in New England?

My husband and I are planning a trip from Raleigh to Maine. We want to explore coastal areas. We would like to hear recommendations for campgrounds. Thanks!
  • Stay at Normandy Farms and take the bus tour of Boston.
  • Go all the way Downeast to Seaview Campground in Eastport, Maine. Make every effort to get one of the few shore sites. From there, you can watch eagles and whales.

    Saltwater Farm in Cushing is a good location for the mid coast.

    Checkout Schoodic Woods Campground. https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/camping.htm

    Another bay side opportunity would be Winslow Park in Freeport. It is a dry site with generous limited generator hours.

    Western Maine Mountains - Cathedral Pines in Eustis, Maine and/or Cupsuptic in Oquossoc. The next paved road is in Canada.
  • You didn't mention when you are planning on going.

    If it's in the fall beware that lot's of leaf peepers go then and the RV parks are booked up way in advance.

    Also beware they start shutting down in the fall so call ahead.

    New England is a very pretty area to visit. We spent about a month up there wandering around. Boston was, let's say, interesting to drive in.
  • Look in the Bar Harbor Mount Desert Island area. Lots to do there and Acadia National Park is on the Island. The Park Loop drive includes a drive to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. If you go there at sunrise in the autumn you can be the first to see the sun rise over the continental USA.

    Bar Harbor is a pretty cool town and a good place for celebrity sightings. The small local airport has the most private jets parked there you are likely to ever see in such a small airport.

    There are plenty of camping choices including ocean front or lake front sites. Oceanside KOA and Narrows Too are adult orientated with sites right on the ocean. Both are pricy but worth it. Biggest difference is Narrows Too sites are larger and more private and are full service but KOA Oceanside has better sunsets.

    Bar Harbor Campground, Headley's Point and Mount Desert Camping are more kid friendly and still offer ocean front/view sites.

    If you want a true beach vacation then Old Orchard beach in southern Maine is the place to be. Miles of fine sand, bearable water temperatures and crowds.

    In Old Orchard try Bailey's, Paradise Pond, Wagon Wheel or many others. If you plan to stay in Old Orchard beach in July or August make reservations at least 4 weeks in advance. They have a permanent mid-way set up on the beach, fireworks every Thursday night, tacky beer bars and junk stores galore. Tacky as it is it has a certain charm and is relaxing in a weird way.

    Bailey's is our favorite when in Old Orchard. It has a big rig section which includes an adult only pool with a bar and restaurant in the pool area (strictly enforced). It's not the kids that bother us, it's the loud yelling parents. No parent's screaming at their kids is a luxury beyond words!
  • I liked Libbys in York ME. Nice town and people, central location to Kittery, Kennebunkport, Freeport, etc. some sites right on the water on a cliff, beach is short walk next door! The sites, however are pretty small.
    We also stayed as Scusset beach, MA at Cape cod bay . This place had a fantastic beach, but the sites were kind of weird.... Overlooking a big power plant and along a harbor wall, a nice park in some ways, but look out for ticks!!!!! Everywhere.