Coastal Maine campground recommendations

Unfortunately the selection of lakeside campgrounds close to the ocean is pretty slim. You found one with Lake Pemaquid but I don't personally know of any others.

If a 45 min drive to the ocean works then the options really grow. For example, Poland Spring Campground in Poland Maine is about 45-50 minutes from several coastal spots. It's on a good size body of water with decent fishing, they have a beach and a swimming pool. Some sites have full hookups but none are actually on the water, it's a short walk to the water and we just leave our Kayaks down at the beach. Private is not a word I'd use to describe their sites (especially ones with full hookups) but they have plenty of shade. The most private site with full hookups would be F5.

Another option in Pemaquid area would be Sandy Shores. It's an RV resort with privately owned sites people sublet for weekly campers. It seems to be everything you are looking for but I have never actually stayed there.

Good luck!

hbrady wrote:
Hello Erica,

A lot depends on what you are looking for, do you have kids, what types of activities do you enjoy, are WiFi and good cell service important etc. etc. There are wide variety of options in Maine, the coast has great options but there are also some really nice spots in the Western mountains. Let me know some specifics and I'll try to help :)

You mentioned Lake Pemaquid, here are some reviews:
Lake Pemaquid

We just stayed at Pemaquid Point 2 weeks ago and love it, not on the water but you can smell the ocean breeze and the beach is a 5 minute drive:
Pemaquid Point

Ideally the campground would have a large lake for fishing with lake front sites and not far from the coastal areas. We have 3 kids 2 of which would fish all day long. The third just needs to be able to swim. We like shaded private campsites with W/E/S.


Thank you for everyone's input!

Hello Erica,

A lot depends on what you are looking for, do you have kids, what types of activities do you enjoy, are WiFi and good cell service important etc. etc. There are wide variety of options in Maine, the coast has great options but there are also some really nice spots in the Western mountains. Let me know some specifics and I'll try to help :)

You mentioned Lake Pemaquid, here are some reviews:
Lake Pemaquid

We just stayed at Pemaquid Point 2 weeks ago and love it, not on the water but you can smell the ocean breeze and the beach is a 5 minute drive:
Pemaquid Point

Cobscook Bay State Park. Best camping I've done in a long time. No hook-ups, pit toilets, hot showers available. Private sites on a bay. Truly Maine.

GeoBoy wrote:
Acadia NP is #9 out of the top 10 most visited NP's. Read the whole thread and maybe you will figure out the comments. Wow!

I read the thread before your very first post.....Didn't need to read afterward...Your first post said what you think of Bar Harbor and Acadia!

We have family in the BoothBay area and stayed at a nice campground in Wiscassett (sorry can't remember the name). This year we made the trip north to Acadia and stayed at BarHarbor Campground. Not as fancy as KOA (which is in a beautiful location by the way), but much less expensive, great views, pool. Only downside was no reservations. First come first serve. We took the risk with no problem but it was early June. Did not spend much time in the campground as we were either in Acadia or Bar Harbor most of the time. Amazingly beautiful! Great kayaking, great food, just an all around great vacation! My only complain is the main tourist areas of Acadia get pretty busy. We did most of the main tourist items, but looked for things less popular as well such as the south west side of the island.

Enjoy!

Acadia NP is #9 out of the top 10 most visited NP's. Read the whole thread and maybe you will figure out the comments. Wow!

GeoBoy wrote:
Bar Harbor/Acadia NP, ooooh you don't want to drive all that way, nothing to see up there, there has to be some place nicer, just saying.

Nothing to see up there !!!!!!! You gotta be kidding!

Acadia is one of the most visited NP in the United States: Camping, biking, hiking, sight seeing, whale watching, beach, beautiful Bar Harbor with all its little shops.
Not to mention, it's a port of call for cruise ships (they wouldn't go there if there is nothing to see or do.

Did you leave the campground to visit !......GEEZZZZZZZ !!

ryegatevt wrote:

GeoBoy wrote:

Crowe wrote:
Bar Harbor/Acadia NP, ooooh you don't want to drive all that way, nothing to see up there, there has to be some place nicer, just saying.

Tongue in cheek I assume.

Why would I not want to drive to Maine?

You do want to go to Maine-it's well worth it. There's so much to see and do, the people are great, the food is great, and there's tons of nice places to stay.

Oh there you've done it now. I started going to Freeport back in the early 80's, then a little further north eventually ending up in Bar Harbor/Acadia NP. We go every year but I am now reluctant to recommend it to anyone because it keeps getting busier and busier. Beautiful place.

Exactly. That's why we go to Acadia at the very end of September when most of the tourists are gone. We also mostly steer clear of the village of Bar Harbor. Almost everything on the island is still open, the crowds are small, and the weather is usually beautiful. Just watch out for the cruise ships discharging thousands of passengers into Bar Harbor! Oh, and here's another vote for the Oceanside KOA...

Oh come on Steve, now you really let the cat out of the bag. You could have kept the September secret out of your post. Here comes the crowds, Sheesh!!

GeoBoy wrote:

Crowe wrote:
Bar Harbor/Acadia NP, ooooh you don't want to drive all that way, nothing to see up there, there has to be some place nicer, just saying.

Tongue in cheek I assume.

Why would I not want to drive to Maine?

You do want to go to Maine-it's well worth it. There's so much to see and do, the people are great, the food is great, and there's tons of nice places to stay.

Oh there you've done it now. I started going to Freeport back in the early 80's, then a little further north eventually ending up in Bar Harbor/Acadia NP. We go every year but I am now reluctant to recommend it to anyone because it keeps getting busier and busier. Beautiful place.

Exactly. That's why we go to Acadia at the very end of September when most of the tourists are gone. We also mostly steer clear of the village of Bar Harbor. Almost everything on the island is still open, the crowds are small, and the weather is usually beautiful. Just watch out for the cruise ships discharging thousands of passengers into Bar Harbor! Oh, and here's another vote for the Oceanside KOA...