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Best Tent Camping near Biddeford Pool, ME

709 Reviews

Tent campgrounds near Biddeford Pool, Maine provide access to coastal camping experiences with several established options in the region. Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach (formerly Saco/Old Orchard Beach KOA) offers designated tent sites situated among tall pine trees approximately 15 miles southwest of Biddeford Pool. For those seeking walk-in tent camping experiences, Huttopia Southern Maine in Sanford features 107 tent sites with more privacy and natural surroundings about 25 miles inland from the coast.

Most tent sites in the Biddeford Pool area are situated on mixed terrain of pine needles and dirt with varying degrees of shade. Sun Outdoors provides basic amenities for tent campers including picnic tables, fire rings, drinking water, and access to clean restrooms and showers. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, "The bathrooms and showers were really clean and you constantly saw yellow-shirted people busily working." Walk-in tent locations typically require carrying gear short distances from parking areas to more secluded sites. The camping season generally runs from May through mid-October, with peak season bringing higher occupancy rates and potential noise at more developed campgrounds.

Tent campers in the Biddeford Pool region gain the advantage of proximity to both coastal activities and inland recreation. Areas beneath the tall pines offer welcome shade during summer months when temperatures can reach the 80s. Tent sites at Sun Outdoors allow campers to utilize shuttle service to nearby Old Orchard Beach, combining the camping experience with easy beach access. A camper noted, "We tent camped at Saco/Old Orchard Beach KOA. The staff was very friendly and when I called to book the site, they assisted in helping us pick out the nicest campsite." For backcountry tent camping enthusiasts seeking more solitude, the walk-in sites at Huttopia Southern Maine provide a more authentic forest experience with fire rings and picnic tables while still maintaining access to basic amenities like showers and toilets.

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Best Tent Sites Near Biddeford Pool, Maine (13)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Biddeford Pool, ME

709 Reviews of 13 Biddeford Pool Campgrounds

  • L
    Aug. 20, 2021

    Desert of Maine Campground

    Aesthetically pleasing campground-- good for tent campers

    Desert of Maine campground is an excellent choice just 4-5 miles from the heart of Freeport at interstate exit # 22. This campground is well-imagined. Sites are close together, and some are small. There are 2 hike-in sites which are set apart. Wifi is provided throughout the campground and most sites have power. They must have studied "best practices" when designing this lovely campground. 

    I booked an extra night.

    This is an outdoor experience campground- not a wilderness adventure -- but perfect for young families…especially for those new to camping or those for whom a very sanitary classic bathroom is needed.Children find and entertain each other in the common area.

    Sites 19-27 face a shared square with excellent access to the modern and stylish bath house. Other sites have a somewhat further walk. Sites 17-27 are best for tents due to the configuration of the sites.. Tent sites # 2 & # 3 are short walk-in and very private, but lack easy access to the bath house. Almost all sites in this campground have shade and are under a beautiful canopy of old pine, maple and balsam.

    Site 24 is lovely & slightly set apart and cars are parked close by but not on the tent site. Site 27 is located down a steep slope and is very private but has difficult access. I would categorize site 27 as a hike-in site, but not # 24.  All sites are generally level and have been graded. Sites have scant privacy in front, but back up to forest. Sites 4, 6,17, 19, 23 & 26 have slightly more space but space is not the defining issue in this campground. RV's that are large should not try this campground. The maintenance is superb; and the thoughtful design of the overall campground is aesthetically pleasing. 

    This attractive campground is small-scale and personally managed. 

    Ice is available for purchase…as is wood. 

    Beware of speed trap on the 2 mile access road between the interstate & campground.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 15, 2021

    Tidewater Campground

    Large campground near, but not on the beach

    First of all, the location is a little quirky and I think I only arrived once without a wrong turn! Watch the GPS carefully. That said, it’s very close to Hampton Beach and you can easily drive or bike over. The campground is parallel to US1, so there is some road traffic noise. Some of the tent sites overlook the marsh. The tent sites are definitely tighter than trailer sites. Some sites back up to each other and it takes a moment to understand where one ends and the next begins. 

    I was here early in the season and placed in a seasonal site with water/electric. Site was level. Neighbors were friendly. The bathroom was a short walk away and spotless. I did notice that in the tent areas, the main bathrooms are supplemented with portable toilets. Sites are mostly wooded, which will offer nice relief from the heat. It's a nice base for exploring the area.

    There’s a gated entry and turtle-speed limit that they take seriously. The pool was not yet open. There’s a small store onsite for ice and essentials. All the big box stores and a number of restaurants are nearby. For a change of pace from seafood, I picked up Shane's Texas Pit BBQ and brought it back to my site. 

    You may request a reservation online, but you have to confirm and pay for it via the phone. You’ll need to arrive before 9pm to check in. Bring $10 for a cash deposit on the gate card. Only 1 vehicle and 1 camping unit (tent or trailer) allowed on a site.

    Downside: They charge for showers, the amount and duration is unclear and the duration varies depending on which shower you choose! Given the rates they charge, this seems petty.

  • Meg T.
    Jul. 30, 2025

    Salisbury Beach State Reservation

    Seagulls hungry for Egg Rolls and sunsets galore!

    Stayed here with my partner for her birthday while we were up in the Plum Island/Rockport area. Beautiful ocean access and great facilities. We stayed in a site right next to a large bathhouse with showers, plentiful stalls, and water bottle fill-up and rinse off station. We were situated next to a kind family who lent us fire starter and offered us some of their snacks they were making when we arrived, while we were setting up we did lose some egg rolls to a hungry seagull but I think he needed them more than we did. Not very private and sites are packed close together, but that is what I expected based off the map! I would absolutely return again, this time to check out the beach and surrounding area!

  • k
    Aug. 15, 2019

    Dixons Coastal Maine Campground

    LOTS of people but lovely campground

    This is an extremely large campground.  It seems that most of them on the coast of Maine are.  We didn't get a very good sight, but the person who answered the phone basically told us that when we called and it was all they had, so I can't say too much about that either (#17).  The sight was small and between the two driveways.  All of the sights seem to have rocky ground, so I recommend a sleep pad and a footprint for your tent so you don't rip the bottom.  

    Now, on to the other stuff.  There is a small playground that is weathered but in decent shape.  The pool is lovely and meticulously kept.  The grounds, bathrooms and showers are spotless.  It's 50 cents for 5 minutes to take a shower (unheard of) with hot water.  There is even hot water to wash your dishes next to the bathrooms.

    They sell ice, wood ($7) and many "I forgots" in the store (bacon, milk, etc...).  They give you a security card to get into the grounds ($10 deposit).  The campground was SUPER quiet and quiet hours go to 8am (thank you)!  Only an RV about to leave made a ton of noise at 7.

    I would go there again.  It was a safe place close to so many things.  The beach and everything else is VERY close but not so close as to be annoying.... 5 minutes at most.

  • Anna C.
    Oct. 15, 2019

    Pawtuckaway State Park Campground

    Ranger Review: Red Ledge Rebel Shell Rain Pants at Pawtuckaway State Park

    *CAMPGROUND REVIEW*

    This campground is definitely a dazzler and I was fortunate to visit on a quieter weekend. I was able to enjoy an especially picturesque sunset over the lake and I would definitely visit this spot again, especially with how accessible the campground is. There is a nice stretch of sandy beach at the campground as well as canoes and kayaks for rent. The convenience store at the campground had essentially everything you would need for a good camping trip. Definitely do your research on the different site numbers because some sites are much more private and scenic than others. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and fire pit as an added bonus.

    Pros: 

    -Within a short driving distance from the Boston area 

    -Lakefront sites available 

    -Canoe and kayak rentals available 

    -Well stocked convenience store 

    -Reasonable cell reception

    Cons: 

     -Can get busy during peak camping times 

     -Some sites have a lack of privacy

    *PRODUCT REVIEW*

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. During this trip, I took out a pair of Red Ledge Rain Pants. While it didn’t rain during my camping stay (great from a camper perspective, not so great from a reviewer perspective), I was able to try out the general fit of the pants. They have a nice stretch fit to them and a certainly one of the more stylish options as far as rain pants go. As is true for most waterproof gear, they run on the warmer side and don’t have a ton of ventilation so they may not be the best choice for hotter weather. Although I didn’t get to test out the pants in a camping setting, I did wear them a few days ago while making the 1.5 km evacuation route trek from my apartment to the flood shelter during one of the biggest typhoons to make landfall in Japan. After about 25-30 mins of walking in record breaking-ly heavy rain, the pants started to saturate around the knees and the upper thigh area started to get a bit soggy. That being said, this is probably the most extreme possible test setting and they did hold up reasonably well. Due to the aforementioned, I would recommend using these pants as a waterproof option when skiing/snowboarding in warmer weather where you still want a snow barrier but may not necessarily need the insulative warmth offered by actual snow pants.

    Pros: 

    -Stylish look 

     -Stretch fit 

     -Waterproof 

     Cons: 

     -Trap heat 

     -Not typhoon proof

  • Jess G.
    Aug. 19, 2017

    Sebago Lake State Park Campground

    In the woods but very crowded

    This campground was in the woods and was well maintained. The campsites definitely felt like they were on top of each other and are pretty small. We picked a medium one and could barely fit 2 tents and 2 cars with a safe distance from the fire. 2 sites were within 15ft of our fire pit. The bathrooms were very clean. The lake was nice too, sandy beaches. For a large portion of our stay it torrentially downpoured. The trees allowed us to canopy a tarp but our fire pit completely flooded and we had to bail it out when the rain finally stopped. If the sites weren't so close together and small I would definitely give this place 5 stars.

  • M.A.D. P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 1, 2023

    Pawtuckaway State Park Campground

    Large and friendly park with plenty of water activity opportunities

    My first time experiencing a park in the New Hampshire Park system. We went down with a group. Pawtuckaway State Park offers a variety of landscapes, with something to do and see for everyone. The park includes a large family beach on the lake. There are many opportunities for hiking, with trails leading to many special points of interest, including a mountaintop fire tower; an extensive marsh where beavers, deer, and great blue herons may be seen.

    The park lines the shore of beautiful Pawtuckaway Lake.  The 192 sites are wooded and many provide views of the lake.  Each campsite has an open fire ring, picnic table, flat areas for a tent, and a parking space. The bathhouses are equipped with running water, flush toilets, and 24 hour showers.  There are no hook-ups at any of the campsites. The park also has a camp store where canoe and kayaks are available, as well as a plublic canoe and kayak launch. Five cabins are available; each sleeps six people, has electricity, and includes a fire ring and picnic table. Pets are not allowed in the campground or beach area of the park.

  • Sara D.
    Aug. 23, 2020

    Sun River Campground

    Pretty Happy with this Campground!

    Pros=rustic tent sites available on a River, very quiet nights, secluded campsites (however the 5 sites near us were empty so that likely has a little to do with noise level & space), playground available, pretty clean, the site we were on had plenty of elbow room and was spacious enough for our 12 person tent & bean bag toss game set up (site ground was a little uneven with minimal roots here & there), friendly staff, friendly owner when I booked that was very accommodating, they had a band on Saturday night in one of the common areas, site was shaded with lots of tall trees, $30/night = cheap, free showers, firewood & $2 bags of ice available to purchase at the office, lots of wildlife in campsite areas (not bears but more like birds and whatnot) & a small beach area.

    Cons=campground is a little hard to find off the main road so you really have to keep an eye out for the turn, only 1 main bathhouse but porta potties available throughout grounds, the beach water is connected to the river and a bit on the stagnant/murky side (I’m a little bit of a water snob & really only swim in fairly clear water), some tent sites are bundled together that seem to be best for group camping so if you’re only booking one site that might be a bummer if you like space from neighboring campers, no campground store available, didn’t seem like there was a lot of activities offered to do/amenities, seem to be very minimal staff but there was someone at the office upon our very late check-in.

    P.s. Dunk’s is a 7 minute drive if you are a must-have-dunkin’s every day person like my husband.

    Overall, good campground and we will be going again!😉

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 12, 2018

    Pawtuckaway State Park Campground

    Home

    Home is the place in the world where we can just be. For me, this is home. Maybe it's because I was born and raised not so far away, and I've visited the park for years, marking my growth by the granite boulders dispersed throughout the park. Yet, even as a child, I was always drawn to Pawtuckaway, the still waters, the quiet sunset, the loons calling across the ripples in the lake, and the soft pine needles below bare feet.

    Pawtuckaway is a great spot to set up camp in New England. It is a preserve for loons and dotted with islands where they nest. It is close enough to the White Mountains of NH and all they have to offer (Lost River, Flume Gorge, etc.), NH's seacoast and colonial Portsmouth, the seacoast of Southern Maine with its widow's walks and seafaring charm, and Boston with all of its heritage, history, and great food.

    The campground and park offer several amenities, including a swimming beach, boat rentals, snack bar, playground, showers, and a small campstore where firewood and ice are sold. There is a grocery store, a laundromat, and a Dunkin' Donuts only a few minutes from the park. If you are not from New England, you may not understand the Dunkin' Donuts reference, but trust me, it's relevant. There are several shower houses, although hot water may be an issue--or maybe it was just getting in after a woman decided to stand under the shower for 40 minutes while others were waiting?

    The camping is divided into three main areas: Horse Island, Big Island, and Neal's Cove. All offer lakefront campsites, and there is at least one remote, hike-in site on Big Island. The lakefront sites easily accommodate kayaks and canoes for instant access to the water. The campsites are all very spacious and fairly private.

    When visiting, site selection is everything (as we discovered). We first ended up with an interior site. A handful of the sites on Big Island, and even in Neal's Cove may be lying next to a wet, muddy and wooded area--and # 97 was one of those. In the evening so many mosquitos swarmed our site that we couldn't stand outside long enough to cook (we didn't even dare to open our mouths). That was a Saturday night. On Sunday, campsites opened up that were otherwise available for the rest of our stay. We swapped our reservation to site number 6 on Horse Island. Our family picked up the still-pitched tent and marched it down the road with air mattresses hanging out of the back of our van. Site 6 was absolutely amazing (and there wasn't a single mosquito). The breeze from the lake and lack of standing water makes these sites ideal (not to mention, they are lakefront). Lesson learned: be weary of interior sites! Some of the interior sites are on high ground and quite fabulous, offering few mosquitos, but a few them are an absolute disaster.

Guide to Biddeford Pool

Tent camping options near Biddeford Pool, Maine cluster primarily within a 25-mile radius, with most sites situated in pine forest settings. The camping season typically runs from mid-May through mid-October, with July and August bringing average high temperatures between 75-80°F. Morning coastal fog can persist until mid-day during summer months, especially at campgrounds within 5 miles of the ocean.

What to do

Beach exploration: At Salmon Falls River RV Resort and Family Campground, families can enjoy multiple swimming options both on-site and at nearby beaches. "If you have young kids this place is so fun! Multiple pools, a water slide, high ropes, a jump pad, mini golf and more!!! My niece had so much fun!" notes Samantha N.

Lake activities: Campers at Mac's Camping Area gain direct water access for fishing, kayaking and swimming. "Mac's camping has large RV Sites with access to their private beach & boat launch!" according to Jake C. The lake provides a calmer alternative to ocean beaches for families with small children.

River adventures: River camping provides a different experience from coastal sites. "Right on Saco river. Gets busy in the summer," reports Brian P. about Saco Bound. The campground provides fire rings and picnic tables at each site, with canoe and kayak rentals available on-site during peak season.

What campers like

Clean facilities: Tent campers consistently praise sites with well-maintained restrooms. "The bathrooms were the cleanest I've seen camping and the staff was incredibly friendly!" says Brittany M. about Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach.

Wooded privacy: Sites positioned along campground perimeters offer more seclusion. "We lucked out with our cabin and the cul-de-sac it was in. It overlooked the woods and was a bit more secluded than many of the other sites," writes Erin M. The most private tent sites at Sun Outdoors are numbers 96, P5, P4, P3, P2 and P1, offering full shade.

Convenience amenities: On-site food options save campers from cooking every meal. "One of the nice features was the on-site restaurant which claims to be famous for their 'blueberry pancakes' and also offers Belgian waffles, pizza, hamburgers, and hot dogs," notes Nancy W. about Sun Outdoors. Several campgrounds also offer camp stores with essentials like ice, firewood, and basic groceries.

What you should know

Site selection matters: The best tent camping near Biddeford Pool, Maine often requires advance planning. Kathie M. mentions that Sun Outdoors offers "clean and friendly! Nice facilities, large sites." For greater privacy, request sites along the perimeter of campgrounds rather than central locations.

Transportation options: Several campgrounds provide shuttle service to nearby attractions. "Great location trolley will pick you up from the campground and take you to Old Orchard Beach. Very friendly staff," explains Jill P. The trolley runs hourly from 9am to 10pm during peak season (June 15-September 5).

Weather considerations: Even summer nights can be cool. "Being a chilly fall night, this was greatly appreciated," mentions Rachel P. about cabin amenities at Sun Outdoors. Tent campers should pack layers as coastal temperatures can drop into the 50s even in July and August.

Tips for camping with families

Activity planning: Huttopia Southern Maine offers structured programming for children. "Grounds are manicured and aimed to be family friendly," notes A.C. The campground schedules daily activities including nature walks, crafts, and evening entertainment during summer months.

Swimming options: Both freshwater and saltwater swimming are available within a 30-minute drive of most campgrounds. "I loved the lazy river and had so much fun!" shares Samantha N. about Salmon Falls River Resort. Most campground pools are open from 9am-8pm, with designated adult swim times from 5-6pm daily.

Noise levels: Expect varying activity levels depending on campground. "This KOA is very kid-friendly so if that is not your thing don't come in the summer," advises one camper. For quieter camping experiences, consider sites further from playgrounds and recreation areas, or visit during weekdays when occupancy tends to be lower.

Tips from RVers

Site access: Many campgrounds near Biddeford Pool have limited facilities for larger rigs. "Campsites are level and site is fairly easy to maneuver with bigger rigs," reports Aaron G. about Salmon Falls River Camping Resort. Sites with full hookups typically require reservations 2-3 months in advance during peak summer season.

Local resources: RVers should note dump station locations and operating hours. "A little of everything at this campground, 2 pools 2 hot tubes, a giant water slide that is even fun for the adults!" continues Aaron G. Most campgrounds charge a $5-10 fee for dump station use for non-registered guests.

Seasonal considerations: Not all campground facilities remain open throughout the advertised camping season. Most pools and water activities close after Labor Day, while shower buildings may operate with reduced hours after mid-September. Water hookups at some campgrounds are winterized by early October.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Biddeford Pool, ME?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Biddeford Pool, ME is Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach with a 4.2-star rating from 22 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Biddeford Pool, ME?

TheDyrt.com has all 13 tent camping locations near Biddeford Pool, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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