Best Coastal Campgrounds in Maine

Maine’s seemingly endless islands, coves, and capes are home to dozens of coastal campgrounds to call home for the night. Who doesn’t love falling asleep to the wash of waves along the shore, and enjoy their morning coffee in the fresh salty air. In this blog, you’ll find a few of our tried-and-true favorites for beachside camping on the Maine coast.

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Wolfe’s Neck Campground

Freeport ME

Conveniently located just 30 minutes north of our Portland hub, Wolfe’s Neck is a hidden gem. Tucked on a quiet cove, campsites here “wind along the shoreline, though forests and along fields.” The campground hosts a farm-to-fork cafe, bike and kayak rentals, shower building, recreation field/playground, and a camp store. Additionally, Wolfe’s Neck offers incredible family-oriented interpretive programming – take the farm’s oberhasli goats for a walk in the woods, collect farm-fresh eggs for breakfast from the mobile chicken-house, or explore tide-pools with a naturalist! If you care to venture away from this paradise, neighboring Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park boasts 600 acres of mellow hiking trails and coastal views. Whether you want to simply sit and watch osprey fish in the shallows, or zip ten minutes down the road to LLBean’s flagship store, Wolfe’s Neck is sure to please!

Hermit Island Campground

Phippsburg ME

Hermit Island is as special as they come – these sites are pure magic! Just a ten minute drive from popular Popham Beach (one of Maine’s best sand beaches), Hermit Island is only accessible by driving across a small sandbar. Once on the island, you’ll feel transported back in time – the island is as rustic as it is charming. 270 campsites are scattered amongst eight sand beaches, all of which are worth exploring. Amenities include hot showers, toilets, a small camp store and snack bar, volleyball court, and coastal trail network. Reservations can be made by phone or mail beginning in March (no online booking platform) – hey, we told you it was rustic 🙂

https://hermitisland.com/

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Lobster Buoy Campsites

South Thomaston ME

Lobster Buoy Campground is charming in its simplicity; having hosted campers from over 55 years, this family run business prides itself on keeping the sites “updated yet unchanged.” As un-commercial as they come, coveted reservations are only accepted by phone or email (stays for seven nights or less typically open May 15th) – there is no online booking platform. Those that put in the extra effort to score a site are in for a treat, though – none of their 40 sites are farther than 150 yards from the shore! Swim in the private beach, watch schooners sail in the bay, and enjoy the little things in life. Hot showers, flush toilets, a dump station, and a small camp store round out the offerings at this little piece of coastal paradise!

Mount Desert Campground

Mount Desert ME

Though Mount Desert Island is home to scores of great campgrounds, Mount Desert Campground claims the title as our favorite. Located in the center of the island (five minutes from both Acadia National Park’s popular East-side and relatively quieter West-side), the campground sits on the shore of Somes Sound. Featuring 30+ spectacular oceanfront sites, plus dozens of others that are ocean-adjacent, you really can’t go wrong here. The campground has hot showers, kayak and SUP rentals, and a small camp store featuring local baked goods, coffee and ice cream – what more could you want! Plus, the campground is a frequent stop on Acadia’s Island Explorer, the free park shuttle, which is a great option if you don’t want to contend with finding parking at a popular trailhead midday. Reservations for the 2023 season open at 5 am Eastern January 10th – be prepared to book immediately if you want to land an oceanfront site!