Best Campgrounds in Maine for Coastal Views, Lake Days, and RV Trips
Maine packs a lot of camping into one state. You can pitch a tent on a rocky island in the morning fog. You can park an RV near a sandy beach with a boardwalk. Or you can wake up beside a quiet lake in the woods. The catch is that the best sites book up months ahead. And many of them don't have hookups. This guide covers the best campgrounds in Maine by region and style. It also explains how to book them and keep your gear charged on the way.
Picking the Right Part of Maine
Maine is nearly as big as the other five New England states put together, so your region shapes the whole trip. Coastal spots bring ocean views and crowds. Inland parks offer lakes, mountains, and more elbow room.
Region | Best For | Campgrounds to Know |
Downeast and Acadia | Hiking, ocean views | Blackwoods, Seawall, Schoodic Woods |
Midcoast | Harbor towns, island trips | Camden Hills, Hermit Island |
Southern Coast | Beaches, family fun | Old Orchard Beach resorts |
Western Lakes and Mountains | Swimming, boating | Sebago Lake, Rangeley Lake |
North Woods | Remote lakes, wildlife | Lily Bay |
Your setup narrows the list fast. Tent campers have great options in Acadia, on Hermit Island, and at most state parks. Pop-ups and truck campers fit almost anywhere, including Hermit Island. Big RVs do best at private resorts near Bar Harbor and Old Orchard Beach. If you'd rather sleep in a bed, several private campgrounds rent cabins with heat.
Timing matters just as much. Most campgrounds open in May and close by mid-October. July and August are the busiest months by far. September is a quiet sweet spot, with cool nights and fewer crowds. Early October brings leaf peeping across New England and a final rush of campers.
Nights can feel chilly on the coast, even in summer. Pack a warm sleeping bag no matter when you go. Inland spots often have black flies in late spring, so bring bug spray and a head net too.
Acadia is the name most people know first. So that's where the planning usually starts.
Campgrounds in Bar Harbor, Maine, and Acadia
Bar Harbor is the gateway to Acadia National Park. You can camp inside the park or at a private campground nearby. The right pick depends on your rig and your need for hookups.
Inside Acadia National Park
Acadia has two campgrounds on Mount Desert Island and one on the Schoodic Peninsula. It also has five lean-to shelters on Isle au Haut. Every site needs a reservation made ahead on Recreation.gov.
Blackwoods: Sits on the busy east side of the island, close to the Park Loop Road.
Seawall: Sits on the quieter west side near the coast. Its 2026 season runs May 20 to October 11.
Schoodic Woods: Sits on the only mainland section of the park. It has a few sites with electric and water hookups.
The Acadia camping page from the National Park Service explains the booking rules. Most sites open six months ahead, on the first of each month at 10 a.m. Eastern. The rest open 14 days before your arrival date.
Your campsite fee doesn't cover park entry, so you'll still need an Acadia entrance pass. In summer, the free Island Explorer shuttle stops at Blackwoods. That lets you leave the car parked for the day.
Private Campgrounds Near Bar Harbor
Private parks fill the gap for big rigs. Bar Harbor Campground, Hadley's Point, and Mt. Desert Narrows all offer full hookup sites. Hadley's Point also has tent sites and cabins. These spots often have pools, laundry, and camp stores too. They're a good backup when Acadia is fully booked.
Park campgrounds like Blackwoods and Seawall don't have hookups. Many hikers spend a full day exploring Acadia's best hiking trails and come back with dead phones. A portable power station solves that without a generator. It charges phones, cameras, and headlamps overnight. It can also run a small cooler or a string of camp lights.
That setup suits tent campers and couples on a weekend trip. Families in a pop-up or truck camper often need more capacity, though. Running a fridge, a fan, and a coffee maker adds up over a long weekend. A larger battery gives you more breathing room.
Hermit Island and Old Orchard Beach
Maine's southern and midcoast shores offer two very different beach trips. One is rustic and quiet. The other is busy, fun, and packed with amenities.
Hermit Island Campground in Maine
Hermit Island sits at the tip of Small Point in Phippsburg. It has been open since 1952 and still feels old-school. You drive across a sand causeway to get there. Here's what sets it apart:
Size: 271 sites spread across the southern end of the island
Equipment: Tents, pop-up trailers up to 25 feet, and truck campers only
No RVs: Hard-sided campers and motorhomes aren't allowed
No dogs: Pets can't camp here, and visitors aren't allowed either
Perks: Free hot showers and several beaches
Booking works the old-fashioned way, by phone or mail only. Mail requests for stays of a week or longer need a $125 deposit. Ocean-view sites go first, so plan well ahead.
The 2026 season runs from May 22 to October 12. Sites have no hookups, so you'll need your own power for lights and devices. Simple tips for camping on a beach help a lot here, like using longer stakes and a good tarp.
Campgrounds in Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Old Orchard Beach is the opposite of Hermit Island. It's lively, with a pier, arcades, and a long sandy beach. Several big campgrounds sit within a short trolley ride of downtown.
Powder Horn Family Camping Resort has been family owned since 1970. It offers full hookup sites for RVs up to 45 feet. Sun Outdoors Old Orchard Beach Downtown, formerly Hid'n Pines, has a trolley stop right at its front gate. Sun Retreats Wild Acres is a 90-acre, pet-friendly park close to the beach.
Expect pools, planned activities, and a real resort feel. Expect higher prices in July and August too. Book early for the Fourth of July and any summer weekend. If the beach towns feel too busy, Saco and Scarborough have campgrounds just a few miles away.
If you're bringing a larger RV, hookups matter a lot. That's where Maine's state parks come in.
RV Campgrounds in Maine and State Park Options
Maine runs 12 state park campgrounds. Several have sites with water and electric hookups. They cost less than most private resorts and sit in some of the prettiest spots in the state.
State Parks With Hookups
The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands fee page lists nightly rates for hookup sites:
State Park | Maine Residents | Nonresidents |
Camden Hills | $35 | $45 |
Sebago Lake | $35 | $45 |
Mount Blue | $30 | $40 |
Peaks-Kenny | $30 | $40 |
Rangeley Lake | $30 | $40 |
Aroostook | $25 | $35 |
Reservations add $5 per site, per night. A 9% lodging tax also applies to all camping fees. Pets are welcome at every state park campground except Sebago Lake.
Before you hook up, it's smart to know how RV electric hookups actually work. Some sites offer 30 amps and others offer 50. Bring the right adapter so you're not stuck.
If you want salt water views, your state park choices are short. Most famous coastal parks, like Popham Beach and Reid State Park, are day-use only. Camden Hills, Lamoine, and Cobscook Bay are the main coastal picks for camping. Warren Island is another, but you need a boat to reach it.
State park reservations open in early February, and Lily Bay and Sebago Lake open first. Camden Hills is one of the hardest sites to get on summer weekends. Be online the moment booking opens, and try weekdays if weekends are full. You can book up to 14 nights per reservation. It also pays to check back for spring cancellations.
Late in the season, things loosen up. Starting September 14, 2026, all state park sites became first come, first served. Most parks stay open through October 15, but call ahead to confirm.
Conclusion
The best campgrounds in Maine fit very different trips. Acadia and Bar Harbor suit hikers and sightseers. Hermit Island offers quiet, rustic beach camping. Old Orchard Beach brings resort fun, while state parks give RVs affordable hookups. Book early, check hookup options, and pack warm layers. For sites without power, the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus and EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus keep lights, phones, and coolers running. Pick the one that fits your trip.
FAQs
Q1: What are the best campgrounds in Maine for first-timers?
Camden Hills State Park and Seawall in Acadia are great picks. Both have well-kept sites, easy trail access, and nearby towns for supplies.
Q2: Can you bring an RV to Hermit Island Campground?
No. Hermit Island only allows tents, pop-up trailers up to 25 feet, and truck campers. Hard-sided RVs and motorhomes aren't permitted.
Q3: Do Acadia National Park campgrounds have hookups?
Most don't. Schoodic Woods has a few sites with electric and water hookups. Blackwoods and Seawall have none, so bringing the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus makes sense there.
Q4: How far ahead should you book campgrounds in Bar Harbor, Maine?
Book as early as you can. Acadia releases most sites six months ahead. Private Bar Harbor campgrounds also fill up quickly for July and August.
Q5: Are there RV campgrounds in Maine with full hookups?
Yes. Many private campgrounds offer full hookups. You'll find several near Bar Harbor and Old Orchard Beach. Some state parks offer water and electric sites too.
Q6: Can you bring a dog to Maine state park campgrounds?
Yes, at most of them. Sebago Lake is the one exception. Dogs must stay on a leash and can't be left alone at the site.
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