Many campgrounds near Bingham, Maine sit between 300-800 feet elevation in the Upper Kennebec River Valley. Summer temperatures average 70-80°F during day, dropping to 50-60°F at night. Fall camping season typically ends by mid-October when overnight temperatures regularly drop below freezing and many facilities close for winter.
What to do
Fishing local waters: Cold Stream Forest offers pristine fishing opportunities within 30 miles of Bingham. "Great kayaking up and down the stream and pond area. The roads were a bit crazy as you can see in my pictures. A bunch of warblers were there too," notes a visitor to Lone Jack Campground. Access requires high-clearance vehicles as "there were so many pot holes, puddles, and big rocks" on entry roads.
ATV trail access: Several campgrounds connect directly to regional ATV networks. "Moose Creek RV Resort is in a great location in Greenville, close to town and to ATV trails. A good amount of ATV parking across the street," reports a camper at Moose Creek RV Resort. Many parks provide dedicated ATV parking areas but prohibit riding within campground boundaries.
Wildlife viewing: Early morning and dusk provide optimal wildlife observation times. "We were trying to find moose and did not succeed but saw deer a few times, a red Fox, a grouse, turkey, a great blue heron and numerous ducks so wildlife is around," mentions a Moose Creek visitor. For improved moose sighting chances, drive forest roads near dawn or dusk, particularly during spring and fall.
What campers like
Heated pools: Several campgrounds maintain heated swimming pools available during summer months. At Spacious Skies Balsam Woods, "Nice large, level site with water and electric hookups. Large, clean shared bathrooms with good water pressure. Loads of amenities - general store with basic supplies, tons of activities for kids, pool, atv trail access and walking trails."
Waterfront sites: River access for boating and paddling ranks highly among camper preferences. "We had a long pull-thru site that was located under pine trees which provided welcomed shade since the temperatures were in the high 80's. Some of the RV sites are located parallel to the river so your patio is open to the river and you have an unobstructed water view," notes a visitor to Two Rivers Campground.
Bathroom facilities: Shower quality varies significantly between parks. "Beautiful new bathrooms with beautiful showers that are for male or female, which i loved, also had the handicapped and elderly in mind building the showers," reports a Moose Creek visitor. Most parks maintain shower houses with hot water, though some primitive sites offer only vault toilets.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Mobile connectivity remains inconsistent throughout the region. Outside of towns, prepare for limited or non-existent service. "Due to the campground's location in a remote part of Maine, I'm sure our over-the-air antenna would not have worked," notes a camper at Moosehead Family Campground.
Road conditions: Access roads to more remote sites require appropriate vehicles. "You will need a vehicle with 4x4 and decent ground clearance. The road in takes you down atv trails and there is a hill that has a very steep incline that's pretty washed out," warns a Lone Jack visitor. Spring conditions worsen with mud and washouts.
Insect activity: Horse flies affect outdoor activities during summer months. "The only challenge is we stayed in July, and the horse flys were viscous. They were not by the campsite, but were abundant on the trails, and I literally had to run to get back to the camper to minimize the bites," reports a camper from Alderbrook Camp Site.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Several RV campgrounds near Bingham offer dedicated children's facilities. "This campground has the access to snowmobile trail in the winter as well as the ATV trails. It has its own parking lot for your atvs. Their is a inground outdoor heated pool, a great big playground, basketball court, volleyball net, arcade, ice cream, outdoor projector for Saturday night movie," explains a visitor to Spacious Skies Balsam Woods.
Themed events: Holiday weekends feature special activities at many parks. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, "Every week is themed. My family goes every year for magic pumpkin week which includes TRICK OR TREATING IN SEPTEMBER. My nieces and nephews love it!" Most family-oriented campgrounds offer scheduled weekend activities from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Quiet time enforcement: Parks maintain different noise policies. "Lisa enforces quiet time and no fireworks within the campground. If you plan on being roudy this is not the place for you," notes a Moosehead Family Campground visitor. Typical quiet hours run 10pm-7am at most locations.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Many RV campgrounds in Bingham area feature sloped terrain. "Our site (#25) was a long pull thru that sloped down in the front and took a bit for us to get level and our front steps were pretty high off the ground," reports a visitor to Moosehead Family Campground. Bring additional leveling blocks for uneven sites.
Site selection: Premium sites offer improved privacy and amenities. At Happy Horseshoe Campground, "We were there for 3 nights, everything was very clean and the staff were very helpful and pleasant. I'd definitely try to go for the premium sites as they are more wooded." Request specific site numbers when making reservations based on your RV length and privacy preferences.
Traffic noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some locations. "You will hear some road traffic," notes a Moosehead Family Campground visitor. For quieter experiences, request sites further from main roads when making reservations at campgrounds along Route 6 or Route 2.
