Best Tent Camping near Bristol, ME

Recent Tent Reviews near Bristol, ME

373 Reviews of 15 Bristol Campgrounds

• 

  Rachel P.

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 8, 2022

  Augusta / Gardiner KOA

  Endearing, but in need of a little love…

  BF and I wanted a last minute fall weekend getaway in Maine, and ended up at the Augusta-Gardiner KOA. Generally tough to accomplish during leaf-peeping season, but we worked it out. We stayed at site T5, which was wooded but pretty open. Size was decent enough.

  Overall, I’d say sites T8, T9, T10 are best if you’re tent camping. While all tent sites are tightly spaced next to one another, these 3 provide the most shade and privacy of the bunch.

  Owners are super nice, but the campground could use a little love. Bathrooms and amenities are a little tired. There’s potential though, and some really cute details, like a little fairy house and homemade, bear-carved benches around a KOA-community fire pit, that make the campground endearing. Also, there’s a bunch to do during prime season, particularly for the kiddies- pool, mini-golf, bounce house, playground and space to runaround.

• 

  Brittany M.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 13, 2018

  Winslow Park And Campground

  Beautiful Sunrise

  Clean bathrooms and spacious tent sites. You can choose to have a tent site right on the bay or off of the bay view. The bay view sites are our favorite, we get front row seats every morning to the sunrise on the water, we just have to peek outside our tent. So beautiful! One of my favorite campsites!

• 

  Eileen N.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 31, 2018

  Searsport Shores Ocean Campground

  Family friendly, ocean views from some tent sites.

  There's a handful of private tent sites with picnic tables. Some tent sites have ocean views. The tents sites aren't accessible by car though, so you need to put all your camping equipment into a wagon and pull it to your site.

  There's a small pavilion for campground-communal lobster/clam bakes. Showers, laundry, playground, and small camp store are all available.

  I definitely like more backcountry camping, but this was the only available campground in the area. It was great for a one-night stay, but it was very busy and too touristy.

• P

  Paige A.

  Scout

  

  Apr. 24, 2024

  Tiny Cabins of Maine

  Wonderful Camping Spot

  I recently stayed at the Tiny Cabins of Maine with my family for two nights, opting for their tent camping site. From the moment we arrived, the host's warm welcome made us feel right at home. Despite some distant road noise at night, the overall ambiance was serene and beautiful. The tent camping amenities, including the pop-up toilet and sturdy wooden platform, were thoughtfully provided. The fire pit and picnic table were perfect for evening gatherings, and the hammock added an extra touch of relaxation. We enjoyed the pub's games and even tried our hand at axe throwing. Kayaking in the pond was a highlight, thanks to the convenient dock. While the trails required attention to follow, the directional signs helped. Overall, I highly recommend Tiny Cabins of Maine for a memorable small family retreat, and we're already looking forward to returning in the future.

• S

  Suzanne S.

  Scout

  

  May. 29, 2024

  Chewonki Campground

  Great Campground

  We stayed in a large tent site. Very quiet and clean. We also fished off the dock.

• 

  Jake C.

  Legend

  

  May. 2, 2023

  Tiny Cabins of Maine

  Waterview Tenting!

  Jake from the Dyrt here!  This smaller campground offers great privacy on a large pond in the Maine forests.  They recently added a tent site alongside the cabins for those looking to bring their tents into this awesome location!  Make sure to post some pictures on the Dyrt when you stay there!

• A

  Amanda N.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 26, 2018

  Desert of Maine Campground

  Great for late arrivals!

  While on the road on a Saturday night, it was difficult finding an available tent site for Saturday night only in the area. Called Desert Dunes and the man helping me couldn’t have been more friendly or helpful. We weren’t even sure if we would make it but he posted a campground map with my name on it and directions drawn out to an available tent site. We got there well after dark and ended up with a great little site (T3) and lucked out with no neighbors. The desert tour looked very cool but will have to wait for next time as we had to get back on the road.

• W

  Wally S.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 30, 2023

  Northport Campground

  Rude,dirty,argumentive.

  Advertised tent camping….No Vans not allowed in non electrical sites or 20 amp sites. Parts look like a homeless encampment, others look like a junk yard. When we found the owner he was unknowledgeable and rude.

• 

  Ken G.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 16, 2020

  Wassamki Springs Campground

  A hidden gem in Downeast Maine

  Friendly staff, clean facilities, nice pond. A great getaway for a night or month for families of all ages. Both RV and Tent sites available.

• 

  Jamie M.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 29, 2021

  Wassamki Spring Camping Area

  Great little campground

  Beautiful views from the tent camping sites. a7 was real nice. My only complaints were the toilet paper was so thin I could barely pull it (so I brought my own) and the planes. Not horrible but something to consider… I would definitely go back

• A

  Alison

  Scout

  

  Jul. 22, 2021

  Duck Puddle Campground

  Friendly Campground

  We've stayed at Duck Puddle several times over the years. The sites have always been tidy and staff friendly. Tent sites are close together but comfortable and the location is very convenient to Damriscotta and other downeast towns.

• 

  Jake C.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 19, 2023

  Rainbow Koala Farm

  Stay on a Goat Farm

  Jake from the Dyrt here!  The Rainbow Koala Farm has a spot for anyone, you can choose from a cabin, tent site or RV site.  Check them out and share some pictures of your stay on the Dyrt!

• G

  Grace D.

  Guide

  

  Dec. 23, 2019

  Lobster Buoy Campsites

  Friendly staff, beautiful location

  The staff/owners were very friendly and my tent site was right on the beach. The sunrise and sunset were absolutely gorgeous. The price was incredible given the proximity to the water. The only negative was that the RVs were pretty loud.

• 

  Jason D.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 22, 2018

  Lake Pemaquid Campground

  Crowded, but great for kids

  lots of great amenities and events for kids. tent sites are on top of each other, but easy walk to camp store and bath houses. beach access for swimming in the lake. can be noisy outside of quiet hours, but becomes surprisingly quiet later at night.

• R

  Robert L.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 12, 2020

  Augusta West Kampground

  October 2020

  Really loved the scenery....canoe around the lake, visit 1Big Sustainable island. Lot of tent sites on the water, we had #24, with loud family of 6 children 10’ away. Friday night 3am train is loud. Sunrise on the water beautiful, which gives this site an extra star

• D

  David G.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 30, 2023

  Meguniticook by the Sea Campground

  Ocean Front Property

  The check-in couple were awesome! Chatted for a while and made us feel welcomed. The campgrounds were very nice, and our tent site was the largest site on the grounds.

  The loss of one star is the pricing. I guess the campgrounds were bought out by some corporate conglomerate last year, and the current pricing shows. We paid $75 for one night. There was water to the site, but no electricity.

• 

  Lauren A.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 1, 2021

  Searsport Shores Ocean Campground

  Ocean camping

  Great campground. Bigger than we expected. Our site looked right over the water. Direct access to Maine's rocky shore. Everything you need to be comfortable including hot showers and bathrooms cleaned three times a day. A basic rec room, playground, beautiful gardens, clean sites. Rvs are so close together and some seasonal snobs, but also tent sites some drive up and some walk to more private/dispersed. Small store friendly staff. Some sites have a wooden deck for picnic area overlooking water. Laundry, wifi, made it an easy week. We had rain and wind a couple nights, tarp went over tent as not permitted in trees. Just fine. We will definitely be coming back.

• D

  David G.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 30, 2023

  More to Life Campground

  Awesome place. More Awesome people!

  Despite a very recent personal loss, the owners welcomed us with open arms and heartfelt greetings. The grounds and sites were well maintained. The bathrooms and showers were clean and well stocked.

  When we arrived, we were given a map with available sites marked and free reign to pick the spot of our liking.

  The pricing has increased from the dyrt's listed prices. We paid $40 for a tent site with elec. and water.

  I would stay here again in a heartbeat!

• 

  Tiffany N.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 5, 2018

  Wolfe's Neck Oceanfront Campground

  Wonderful!

  A beautiful place with a farm, campground and state park all together! There are tenting spots, camper spots and field spots. I recommend any with tree coverage. There are bathrooms close by to all, the main lodge is nice and the food at the snack shack is sooo good!! burgers, pizza, salad- all local and from their gardens. The working farm is open to visit and walk around. Pet the baby cows and see the pigs and goats. they have a ton of activities going on through the summer. Our huge tent site was $60 for a busy August weekend. totally reasonable! we had a lovely time despite the rain and will try to go again next year! The grounds are a short drive to downtown Freeport for shopping at the outlets and LLBean.

• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  

  Feb. 15, 2025

  Megunticook Campground

  Nicely wooded sites BUT...

  The sites here are nicely wooded and have a decent amount of separation between most of them BUT the campground is located too close to the road and, with the exception of sites 84-87 and cabins 8-10, you will hear road noise in your site. Options are 10 rustic cabins, tent sites, partial and FHU sites. 

  The bathhouse was very clean and there are both outdoor and indoor showers; both looked nice although we did not use them. 

  I thought $50 for a tent site was a little steep but it was all the potential extra fees that irked me:

  *$30 site lock to ensure you get the site you want when you reserve. I took a chance and was able to get the site I reserved without paying this fee

  *$4 weather guarantee (allows you to cancel due to inclement weather). I didn’t bother with this one

  *7.95 if you need to hook up to WiFi. We were able to use our own portable WiFi

  *$10 to use the dump station (we found another place that charged $5) 

  Aside from the fees and proximity to the road, this is a nice campground with a host of amenities: pool (which I was surprised was still open on October 1), horseshoes, laundry, dishwashing sink, a playground, and trash pick-up at your site. There is also a path to the shore with picnic tables, and chairs. Repairs to the sea wall are in progress so caution was recommended.

• L

  LoneCamper C.

  Legend

  

  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.

• c

  chelsea

  Guide

  

  Aug. 8, 2021

  Sagadahoc Bay Campground

  Beautiful Maine Camping

  This campground is awesome. We got moved last minute down to the RV Oceanview section which was a great surprise. It’s a wide open field, and you’re definitely next to people with no trees to separate you but the sites have plenty of space. There’s a small beach within about a 1 minute walk, and when the tide goes out you can walk for forever. Lots of people come here to clam. There is not a bathhouse in the RV section (most people are self contained) so that was tough but there was a porta potty. We never made it up to the upper campground to explore the tent sites so can’t speak to up there. We’ll definitely return and check out the rest another time.

• 

  Meag F.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 28, 2016

  Wolfe's Neck Oceanfront Campground

  Bayside Campsites

  This campground is fantastic! My friend and I headed up to Freeport for some Bean gear and good times and we have since decided this should be on the list for a future trip. Some of the sites are close together so be sure to look at the map before booking (online booking is super easy). People working the store and registration were great as we came in late at night and they had everything waiting for us. The site we had was private and wooded, in my opinion a perfect tent site (nice and flat as well). From the Farm to walking the streets of Freeport nearby or going to the beach this is a great location right near the ocean.

• 

  Neal R.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 15, 2021

  Duck Puddle Campground

  Decent place, long-time staple, but that may be its downfall

  First day, my wife was helping our 5 year old climb onto the float like the big kids. 5 minutes later, management came over and said, "I heard you were pulling my float in." No sense of customer relations, just rude. My wife clearly cannot move a float. Even if she could, shouldn't it be chained to the lake floor?

  Pros: Water at all sites Lake swimming with float Events Family friendly Office folk are friendly

  Cons: Many tent sites are tiny, ours wasn't too bad Live band went past quiet time Many rules are ignored by management Other camp crew unfriendly Playground not updated since the 80s Game room is 6 claw machines, 2 arcade games, and a broken jukebox packed in a tiny room

  The camping was decent, but we will not be back.

• C

  Claire T.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 18, 2023

  Two Lakes Camping

  Typical Campground

  We had a few sites scattered over the campground for the weekend and had an overall...interesting time. We live relatively close and have been here a few times, each time has been mid. 

  Getting into your site with a camper requires maneuvering no matter how you come into the campground. We had a few sites higher up in the campground and had a tent site right on the water near the "boat ramp". 

  I try not to judge a campground based on the people around you because you literally cannot control that. The beach had flooded the weekend that we were there, leaving the only beach area available the spot...in our site. A HUGE group of people set up camp IN OUR SITE. It left a really bad imprint on the weekend and I won't be returning. 

  The campground itself is average, wooded sites with a camp store, field area, small beach and basic amenities.

• 

  Jean C.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 19, 2018

  Poland Spring Campground

  Family friendly campground on Maine pond with eagles, loons and herons

  This campground has numerous activities to keep the whole family occupied (pool, rec hall, volleyball, baketball, and bocce ball). The waterfront offers a beach and a place to put in your boat (paddle or <10hp). A friend and I camped here not for the family fun, but because we wanted to be able to slip into our kayaks for an early paddle with the loons, bald eagles, and herons. Had an amazing experience when loons took off from the far end of the lake and came in right beside and over us for a landing. We visited in late August and enjoyed seeing mature and immature bald eagles, too. In addition to kayaking in the morning, we also took a drive to Weld to hike Tumbledown Mountain.

  We tent camped in a loop where the sites were wooded and close together, but others are well suited to larger rigs and offer full hookups. The noise you hear will largely be the sound of kids and families having fun. Generators are not permitted. Bathrooms are clean The gate is is secured; plan to arrive by 9pm for check-in. If you're tenting and don't need electric, sites 101-106 offer slightly more seclusion and are close to the water.

• 

  Trip Over Life

  Ranger

  

  May. 28, 2018

  Wolfe's Neck Oceanfront Campground

  Your Stay Supports a Non-Profit!

  Your stay at Recompense Campground supports Wolfe’s Neck Farm - a working organic farm and non-profit organization. Wolfe’s Neck Farm is set on 626 acres with four miles of coastline and is the legacy of a local family farming operation. The family donated the land to the community based on their belief in useful preservation and protection of open spaces. The farm is now open to the public, free of charge every day and is committed to continuing and improving upon the long tradition of sustainable agriculture, recreation and education while preserving its open space.

  The campground has oceanfront campsites as well as sites nestled in wooded areas. There are RV sites (some with hookups), tent sites, and even three oceanfront cabins. The farm also has a dump station as well as free showers. You can freely roam the farm (or hike in the adjacent Wolfe’s Neck State Park) or rent a kayak/canoe and explore Casco Bay. Definitely a unique experience and great educational opportunities for families with kids!