Best Campgrounds near Bangor, ME

Campgrounds surrounding Bangor, Maine feature a mix of private RV parks, tent camping areas, and cabin accommodations within a short drive of the city. The Pumpkin Patch RV Resort in Hermon provides cabin and RV sites with modern amenities, while Paul Bunyan Campground offers more diverse options including tent sites, RV hookups, and glamping accommodations. Several facilities maintain seasonal operations, typically from May through mid-October, with Pleasant Hill Campground, Bangor Holden KOA, and Pushaw Lake Campground all closing for the winter months.

Most campgrounds in the region require reservations during the peak summer season when tourism increases due to visitors exploring nearby Acadia National Park. "We spent a week end of July. Good weather with nice breezes on a hill. Amenities a little old and tired but staff friendly and pretty quiet at night," noted one visitor about Pleasant Hill Campground. Travelers should plan accordingly as many facilities open in May and close by mid-October. Campground infrastructure varies considerably, with some properties offering full hookups, recreation facilities, and Wi-Fi access, while others maintain more rustic accommodations. Cell coverage can be inconsistent outside major population centers.

Waterfront camping represents a significant draw in the region, with Pushaw Lake Campground providing lake access for boaters and swimmers. Several visitors highlighted the peaceful environment as a primary reason for choosing campgrounds outside Bangor proper. According to one camper, "This is a hidden gem. We really enjoyed this campground and the good people staying there. The lake has 26.5 miles perimeter and a maximum depth of 124'. We had loons come in close to our site. Saw an Eagle too." Those seeking proximity to Acadia National Park may prefer campgrounds like Cold River Campground in Eddington, which serves as a convenient base for day trips while avoiding the higher rates and crowds of accommodations closer to Bar Harbor. The mixed-use campgrounds throughout the region accommodate varied camping styles, from primitive tent sites to luxury RV experiences.

Best Camping Sites Near Bangor, Maine (146)

    1. Pumpkin Patch RV Resort

    9 Reviews
    Hermon, ME
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 848-2231

    $50 / night

    "If you are planning on staying around Bangor, this is the place!"

    "Small outdoor game area, nice recreation room and just down the road to Bangor, shopping with short trips to Baxter state park and Bar Harbor. Staff very polite and pleasant."

    2. Paul Bunyan Campground

    4 Reviews
    Bangor, ME
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 941-1177

    "Beautiful campground close to all the attractions"

    "Close to the cross center and the waterfront concerts. Quite"

    3. Bangor Holden KOA

    4 Reviews
    Holden, ME
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 843-6011

    "Quick walk to bathrooms & showers, which are very clean. Held lots of activities over the weekend, busy crowd. Got a nice secluded tent space."

    4. Pleasant Hill Campground

    2 Reviews
    Levant, ME
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 848-5127

    $30 - $50 / night

    "No huge hills, several trash dumpsters conveniently located and even a barrel for animal waste. Bath house conveniently located.

    Campground has playground, pool and rec room."

    5. Red Barn Campground

    1 Review
    Holden, ME
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 843-6011

    6. Pushaw Lake Campground

    1 Review
    Stillwater, ME
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 945-4200

    "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."

    7. Cold River Campground

    1 Review
    Veazie, ME
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 922-2551

    $35 - $75 / night

    8. Parks Pond Campground

    3 Reviews
    Otis, ME
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 843-7267

    "My spot was right next to road. I honest didn't notice road threw out the night. Water rentals kayaks etc were very reasonable. Staff was very nice."

    "THe all around environment was very welcoming. I will definitely stay again in the future."

    9. The Hawnets Nest

    1 Review
    Stetson, ME
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 945-1944

    $60 / night

    10. Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park

    97 Reviews
    Seal Harbor, ME
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 288-3274

    $30 - $60 / night

    "Close proximity to Bar Harbor and a lot of the main attractions of the national park. Showers are just outside of the entrance to the campground, coin operated."

    "quiet, wooded, relatively secluded. good spot at 111 where we stayed. nice places for tents. private showers outside main camping area were a positive since none in camping area itself."

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Recent Reviews near Bangor, ME

734 Reviews of 146 Bangor Campgrounds


  • Aly E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Megunticook Campground

    Watch out for their prices

    Online the prices was 40$ for a tent site. We didn’t need water or electric just a spot to sleep for the night. I called to reserve cause the website wasn’t very easy to work with and the man on the phone said 76$ but couldn’t explain costs and was rude with the “you’ll not find another spot for this cheap!” Which we did. For less than half that cost. So watch out on prices and the extra charges.

  • Aly E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park

    So lucky!

    We tried staying here in the summer a few years back and it filled up weeks ahead of time. We got lucky this trip and got one spot open same day. Got here super late and was surrounded by other campers but the trees all around gave us privacy and everyone was super quiet so no disruptive folks like so many campgrounds. The bathrooms don’t have showers of course but they are so clean it was a great thing from other sites pit toilets. If you’re in Acadia this is the spot!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Forest Ridge Campground

    Clean, quiet and affordable

    Stayed here while visiting friends and Acadia NP. Facilities very clean every time I saw them. Showers were nice but you need to wait for the hot water. Run it all hot and it will get there in a little while. Wood available on site. Open spaces in the middle with no trees or shrubs. Campers can be very close. Sides have more wooded sites. Not too many seasonal looking sites. 1 issue: our clean out was a bit high so had to lift sewer hose to clear it out. Didn’t use pool , laundry area worked good , screen porch at facility building. Fire ring worked out well, kept lots of heat in. We were off-season mid September. Reservation system forced us into our site, wants to charge a site selection fee.

  • B
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park

    Great campground

    quiet, wooded, relatively secluded. good spot at 111 where we stayed. nice places for tents. private showers outside main camping area were a positive since none in camping area itself.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA

    Nice location, actually on the ocean

    A bit pricey, but it is a nice location and the free island bus stops right at the KOA

  • Jenna L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park

    Beautiful campground and a beautiful park!

    A good campground in a absolutely wonderful park. There's a lot of trees around so even though the campsites are close together they feel very private. Good amount of bathrooms, trash cans, and water spickets

  • T
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Spacious Skies Balsam Woods

    Russell

    Very nice staff friendly,everything met our expectations, will definitely book a week for next summer.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Smuggler's Den Campground

    Great place

    We stayed here one night in mid September without a reservation. Helpful staff, clean and tidy campground. There is a new bathhouse by the tents which I used - very nice! I would come again!


Guide to Bangor

Camping sites near Bangor, Maine vary in amenities and accessibility across Penobscot County, with options extending from Orono to Eddington. Most campgrounds sit at elevations between 100-200 feet above sea level, creating moderate drainage during typical rainfall of 3-4 inches per month in summer. Cell service reliability varies significantly between campgrounds, with stronger signals at higher elevation sites and sporadic coverage in more wooded locations.

What to do

Lake activities at Pushaw Lake Campground: The 26.5-mile perimeter lake offers swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities from May 15th to October 1st. Campers can rent kayaks and other watercraft at reasonable rates. As one visitor noted, "The camp store had a nice indoor dining area with views toward the lake that I believe was also closed for the season."

Hiking near Acadia: Using Cold River Campground as a base camp puts you about an hour from the northern entrance to Acadia National Park. The campground offers 86 sites and remains open from May through October, making it convenient for day trips to the park.

Explore downtown Bangor: Pumpkin Patch RV Resort provides easy access to Bangor's attractions. "You are about fifteen minutes to downtown Bangor which has some good restaurants(we like Timber Kitchen and Bar and Blaze), a casino, and a large outdoor concert venue which has big name musical acts throughout the summer," reports one camper.

What campers like

Clean, quiet environments: Many campers highlight the peacefulness at campgrounds like Parks Pond Campground. "Everyone there seemed so very friendly. The all around environment was very welcoming. I will definitely stay again in the future," wrote one visitor who gave the site 4 stars.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Campgrounds with waterfront access offer chances to observe local wildlife. Some campers report seeing loons, eagles, and other birds at lakeside sites.

Spacious sites: Paul Bunyan Campground offers sites that campers find comfortable. One first-time camper mentioned, "The showers are nice and hot, it's quiet here at night, and it's such a chill atmosphere. Thank you guys for making my first camping trip a fun one! First got one night, turned into a week!"

What you should know

Seasonal operations: Nearly all camping sites near Bangor, Maine operate on a seasonal schedule from May through mid-October. Plan trips accordingly as most facilities close for the winter months.

Varied internet access: Many campgrounds offer Wi-Fi, but quality varies significantly. At Bangor Holden KOA, some visitors report purchasing internet packages: "Only real disappointment was lack of cell coverage for AT&T and if you want internet you must buy a package. Upside to purchased package - there are very little slow downs. Just be sure to only use the number of devices you purchased. We paid $69 for 3 devices for 30 days."

Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking during summer months. Sites with water access or premium amenities fill quickly, especially on weekends and holidays.

Weather considerations: The area experiences average summer temperatures between 55-80°F, but can see significant temperature drops at night, particularly in early and late season.

Tips for camping with families

Organized activities: Some campgrounds provide scheduled events for children. At Bangor Holden KOA, one visitor reported, "We did the pancake breakfast for donation, crafts, and wagon ride during the day as well as enjoyed the well kept pool. The kids loved the playground and the ice cream window."

Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer swimming areas, but supervision levels vary. Lakes and ponds may not have lifeguards present.

Safety measures: Families should note that The Hawnets Nest and similar smaller campgrounds may offer more privacy but fewer structured activities for children. The site features an A-frame cabin and tent sites with basic amenities including drinking water, toilets, and showers.

Tips from RVers

Site leveling: Many RV sites require some leveling work. At Pleasant Hill Campground, one RVer noted, "It was raining when we got here but our site was relatively level and we were ok until things dried up and we could finish leveling."

Hookup placement: Check the position of utility connections before setting up. A Pumpkin Patch RV Resort visitor mentioned, "All the hook-ups were well-placed and we did not need extensions to connect."

Accessibility: Some campgrounds offer pull-through sites ideal for larger rigs or those not wanting to unhitch for short stays. According to one reviewer, "Most sites are level and there are long pull thrus so you don't have to unhitch if you are only staying one night."

Television reception: Over-the-air television channels are available at some sites. One camper at Pumpkin Patch RV Resort reported, "We received about twenty over-the-air channels with our television antenna."

Frequently Asked Questions

Is tent camping available near Bangor, Maine?

Yes, tent camping is available near Bangor, Maine. Paul Bunyan Campground offers tent sites close to the city with basic amenities including water and toilets. For a more nature-immersed experience, Machias Rips Campsite is about an hour from Bangor and offers primitive tent camping in a beautiful natural setting. The campsite is accessible via a marked dirt road that might be missed if you're not paying attention. Most tent campgrounds in the region are open from May through October, with limited availability during the shoulder seasons. Be sure to check reservation requirements as availability can be limited during peak summer months.

What are the best campgrounds near Bangor, Maine?

The Bangor area offers several excellent campgrounds for visitors. Pumpkin Patch RV Resort stands out for its quiet, clean, and well-maintained facilities with spacious sites. This campground caters to a more mature crowd with a recreation room and outdoor game area but no playground or pool. Pleasant Hill Campground is another popular option featuring spacious sites with well-placed hookups, a small fishing pond for kids, and playgrounds. For those willing to drive a bit further, Acadia National Park's campgrounds are within day-trip distance and offer spectacular natural settings. Most campgrounds in the area are seasonal, operating from late spring through early fall.

Are there state parks with camping facilities near Bangor?

Yes, there are state parks with camping facilities within driving distance of Bangor. Lamoine State Park Campground offers oceanfront camping about an hour from Bangor with beautiful views of Mount Desert Island. Camden Hills State Park Campground is approximately 1.5 hours from Bangor and features wooded campsites with access to hiking trails and scenic overlooks. These state parks typically provide basic amenities such as potable water, restrooms, and picnic areas. Most state park campgrounds in Maine operate seasonally from May through October, with reservations recommended during peak summer months. Fees typically range from $15-30 per night depending on residency status and specific amenities.

What RV parks and facilities are available in Bangor, Maine?

Bangor offers several RV-friendly options with various amenities. Bangor Holden KOA provides full-service RV sites with hookups, big-rig accessibility, and typical KOA amenities. It's conveniently located for exploring the Bangor area. For a highly-rated experience, Pushaw Lake Campground near Orono offers lakeside camping with RV sites featuring water and electrical hookups. Most RV parks in the area are open seasonally from May through October, though some may offer limited year-round availability. Facilities typically include dump stations, electric hookups (30/50 amp), water connections, and Wi-Fi. Many parks accommodate large rigs, but it's advisable to confirm site dimensions when making reservations.