Best Tent Camping near Abbot, ME

I’ll preface this by saying that we got in after dark and left by 10am so this review is limited. First, while being very nice the front desk worker was not very helpful in helping us understand the layout and our best choice for tent camping that night. She was just not very communicative. After some prodding questions that felt like I was pulling teeth, we chose site 1 which was by the beach and the only tent site in that area of the campground. It was mid Sept on a particularly windy and unseasonably cold night. The wind was coming right off the lake which made it particularly hard to set up. Blocking the wind with our car was our only choice. After we got settled in, a nice fire and a little bourbon made it all worthwhile. While not very private because we were right next to an RV (all the RVs were lined up on the waterfront with little space between), it was still quite a lakefront spot. The site included a picnic table, a fire ring and a charcoal grill. Buckets of well seasoned wood were available at the camp store right next to us. It had a nice porch to sit on for the morning sun but unfortunately, that looked the opposite way from the lake toward the dense central campground. The camp store had a nice indoor dining area with views toward the lake that I believe was also closed for the season. All in all, I would recommend this if you’re not very concerned with privacy and want a beautiful lake to camp by.

Northern Pride is a 5-bedroom lodge and RV and tent campground. The property sits adjacent to the 8-mile-long Roach Pond (which is more like a lake because of its size and deep water but the state of Maine classifies body of water a pond if there is water flowing in and out of it versus a lake that is contained and has no input or outfall). 

The campground has a mix of tent and RV sites. The RV sites are 20-amp electric and water with the exception of one(transient) site that is 30-amp and water. Sites are level and are back-ins so your back window has a view of the pond. Tent sites sit right between the shore and RV sites with an unobstructed view of the pond. Tent sites are large, open grassy areas far enough from the RV sites so you don’t feel like you have an RV staring at you. RV sites are pretty close together and all but two are seasonal sites. The seasonal sites were pretty junky when we visited and many campers needed to do a little cleaning up at their sites. Most people just come for the weekend to enjoy the pond so it is pretty quiet during the week. Tent and RV sites cost$35 and$40(respectively) for two people. If you have more people, it costs$3/person/night which seems like it could get quite expensive for a family of five, especially since you only have minimal electric and water. There is no sewer and the pump out service was quite steep at$50/pump out (both grey and black) and is only available on Wednesdays- so plan accordingly. Hot showers are available so you can save tank space by not showering in your RV. All sites have picnic tables and fire rings. Many of the firepits looked like they were dumpsters as they were filled with cardboard, paper plates, and other trash. Firewood is available for$6/milk crate sized amount. The lodge serves meals if you don’t feel like cooking you can order a la carte or there is the Kokadjo Trading Post just a short walk away which has some groceries and good burgers. The owner is a registered Master Maine Guide and they offer fishing and hunting trips (for a fee). There also have kayak, canoe, and a 16-foot motorboat for rent. 

There is a public boat launch right next to the campground if you have your own boat. Since the property is right on the water it is convenient to launch a canoe or kayak and the views of the surrounding mountains make for a great paddling destination. The closest town with services is Greenville that is about 20 miles away. The road from Greenville is a newly paved road that is easy to navigate. If you come from elsewhere, it’s best to call for directions and not follow your GPS because many roads are for ATVs only.

Northeast Whitewater is a mix of guide service, moose viewing tours, whitewater rafting, and camping. The camping options are yurts and primitive tent camping. There are no RV/Van camping facilities. All camping is walk-in as you can’t drive to your site but most campsites and yurts are not too far away. There are six yurts all with varying configurations, sleeping anywhere from 1-2 people (with king sized bed) up to up to six people (with bunk beds). All yurts have electricity and come equipped with heaters and fans; in addition, pillows, bedding and linens are supplied. Depending on the particular yurt you choose, some have small refrigerators, table and chairs, and nightstands. 

Tent sites are primitive with fire pits and picnic tables. The ground is level and cleared so there is no problem finding a place to put your tent. The sites are fairly close together so you will definitely hear and see your neighbor. There is no water or port-a-potties at camping sites. One bathhouse is located adjacent to the main building and there is a dish washing station located there as well. The bathhouse was clean when we visited (but we were not there during the busy summer season as there are many rafting trips and those customers share the same bathroom). The bathhouse is pretty far away from the camping area which is inconvenient when you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. All yurts and campsite have trash cans located at the site. Each site has a large fire pit and removable cooking grates are available. There are rustic log benches around the fire pits. 

Yurts and campsites are located behind the main building/office but you still get some road noise as Route 6 is a heavily traveled road. As far as amenities, there is a volleyball net and corn holes. A covered pavilion is located between the campsites and the main building and has a few picnic tables underneath. The main building has a gift shop stocked with moose gifts, apparel, snacks, drinks, and an assortment of “camp stuff.” This is also where you can book a moose tour, rafting trip, or inflatable kayaks if you are feeling adventurous. 

The campground is located between the towns of Monson and Greenville. The Monson General Store is a great little store with an assortment of grocery items and makes really good sandwiches and the nearby Lakeshore House Lodge and Pub has the most wonderful pot roast. Greenville has a larger grocery/trading post which has pretty much everything you need from shoes to lettuce. Hiking in the area is great! You can pick up the Appalachian Trail or head to Little Wilson Falls for a nice, wooded walk along a stream to a pretty waterfall. Borestone Mountain is nearby and provides amazing views.

Round barn campsites offers a dozen or so tent sites with two big group sites. It will pretty consistently have some campers, but I've never seen all the sites full before. It is right next to the stafford brook trail to hike to the top of Bigelow and you can easily hike from your campsite to the top of the mountain and back within a day. Multiple sites including both group sites are right on the water and there is a nice beach area big enough to accomodate however many people you bring. The best tent site is on the island just offshore accessible by sandbar which is usually just knee deep. The cove makes for safe swimming away from the wind and waves offshore. Great secluded spot where you won't feel crowded like at Baxter or Grafton notch areas.

Basically this is a small independent RV park split between season RV campers and regular RV campers. The only reason for a tent camper to go is to take advantage of the laundry room and the nicely scrubbed showers. It’s 5 minutes from Skowhegan and a short 2 minutes from Kennebec Banks rest area on route 2.

There are about 5 tent sites– two of which are on a small point stretching into the confluence of the great Kennebec River and the small Wesserunsett River. 

The only two tent sites I would recommend are #50 & #51 on the point with # 51 being most desirable. I absolutely would not recommend any of the other tent sites for various reasons. I used site #51 and pitched my tent about 20ft from the Kennebec. At 6:45am  I saw two bald eagles patrolling the Kennebec. 

The RV sites that are interesting are the ones directly along the Kennebec. They are sites 39-45; 47A; 47B; 47C; 48; and, they park parallel to the river. Otherwise, it’s a very tight center filled with RV’s and very large motor homes. Sites # 52– 58 may look like they are water sites… but the water feature on the map is only a brushy swamp. 

The 2 showers are very good, clean and include a bench. There are 2 flush toilets also sparkling clean; but, they are some distance from The Point. The 24hour self-operated laundry is housed in a small, dedicated bungalow. There are 2-3 docks and canoes to use. 

At night, one can clearly hear the noise from route 2 just at the edge of the campground. The river amplifies the sound of cars passing by.

Absolutely one of the jewels in the Maine State Park System, Lily Bay on enormous Moosehead Lake is generally open year round. Historically, this area was part of the Northern Canoe Trail and an important logging tract. It’s reasonably close to the Maine finish of the AT at Mt.Katahdin. 

It is worth remembering that weather can change suddenly on the lake and on the shore including substantial wind gusts and rain storms. Herds of deer are prevalent in the campground, and there are a few coyotes. 

Lily Bay, 9 miles north of Greenville, has two distinct camping clusters: Dunn Point and Rowell Cove. Each camping cluster has a trailerable boat launch area although these facilities may be more slightly more appealing on Dunn Point which also includes a playground and swim beach. Fishing is a very active sport on Moosehead. 

This review seeks only to observe the park from a tent camper’s point of view. There are hot showers in a central location called“comfort station” near the entrance. This multi-use comfort center is kept scrupulously clean. There is a helpful shower chair in each of about 6 shower bathrooms. Otherwise, there are vault outhouses throughout the park. One generally has to arrive at the plumbed comfort station by car. It is some distance from campsites. It may be nearly a mile from some of the campsites so campers will generally use the out-houses, not central bathrooms. 

Extensive usage of RV’s in the park means that if tent campers want to avoid being next to an RV they should select sites that are classified as“walk-in tent sites”. You don’t have to walk very far when using these sites but the category protects the tent user. In Dunn Point walk-in sites are 200T; 201T; 213T; 214T; 215T; 221T; 222T; 223T; 224T; 231T. In Rowell Cove sites that are protected for clusters of tents are 33T;34T; 35T; 36T; 37T; 38T; 39T; 40T; 41T; 44T; 45T; 46T. Site 41T has the longest walk-in path in the park. These tent sites are reasonably spaced and this reviewer can say that on Dunn point the most coveted beach tent site is the non-reservable site 221T. Most sites that front the water on Dunn Point are elevated high above the water, but sites 221T; 222T; and 223T have direct open water beach access. If you are a tent camper, regardless of which site you have reserved— it is definitely worth asking the park clerks if sites 221T; 222T, and 223T are open on Dunn Point. 

Park check-in closes about 4-4:30 and after that each camper does a self check-in on the specific site that has been reserved in advance. 

The park sells ice and wood. 

The forest in this 900 acre park is mixed spruce, cedar, hemlock, birch and maple. Each night loons call to each other.