222 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Buxton, Maine provide a mix of amenities from developed facilities to rustic settings within a short drive of popular coastal attractions. The area includes several established campgrounds such as Old Orchard Beach Campground and Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach, offering tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. Most camping options concentrate along the coastal region between Saco and Scarborough, approximately 15-20 miles from Buxton, with several providing amenities like swimming pools, recreation areas, and shuttle services to nearby beaches. Inland options extend toward Sebago Lake State Park Campground, offering more nature-oriented experiences with hiking trails and water access.
Seasonal operation dominates the camping landscape, with most developed campgrounds open from May through mid-October. "We picked Green Meadow due to its proximity to Story Land. Didn't realize it's literally right next door... We could have walked if we weren't lazy," noted one visitor about a nearby attraction. Many campgrounds require reservations well in advance during peak summer season, particularly for waterfront or premium sites. Facilities typically provide water hookups and electric service, though amenities vary widely between basic tent sites and full-service RV locations. Winter camping is limited primarily to Sebago Lake State Park, which maintains year-round access but with reduced services during colder months. Road access throughout the region remains generally good with paved access to most developed sites.
Campers consistently highlight water access as a key feature at highly-rated campgrounds in the area. According to reviews from The Dyrt, sites with proximity to beaches or lakes are particularly sought after, with several visitors noting Old Orchard Beach's convenient trolley service to the shore as a significant advantage. Family-friendly amenities appear frequently in reviews, with visitors mentioning basketball courts, swimming pools, playgrounds, and organized activities. Several campgrounds cater specifically to different demographics, with Wild Duck Adult Campground offering a quieter experience while others like Bayley's Camping Resort provide more family-oriented activities. Proximity to Portland's urban amenities and the Maine coastline creates versatility for campers seeking both outdoor recreation and cultural experiences within a single trip.
"Just a stones throw away from Old Orchard Beach, fantastic Sandy Maine beach. Staff was friendly. Only thing I would say is there were a lot of people!"
"Mainly pancakes and bacon. The only problem I had with this campground with no fault of there own is the noise at night."
"Spent three nights in a nice sized, quiet spot, on the camps’ outside loop. The park is well located, near the beach, shopping, and with access to Portland."
"This adult only campground is peaceful and quiet, with the sounds of birds and the trees being the main thing you hear - it is quite relaxing. "
"Right next to the road. So yes lots of family glamping fun. But not for those looking for a more visceral Maine camping experience."
"The campsites are on top of each other all the way around. Of course, as we always find in the RV community, everyone was very nice."
"Old Orchard Beach is a fun, family-oriented campground located in the fun little beach town of Old Orchard Beach."
"Easy access to area stores, eats. Very accommodating. Clean showers, laundry, arcade."
from $100 - $145 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful setting, lots of trees, bordering on beautiful marsh area. Many different types of campsites: rent, RV, seasonal RV, cottages, glamping tents and cabins etc."
"Sandy Pines is located a very short bike ride from Cape Porpoise, home of Nunann's Restaurant , Mussette, Lost Fire and Pier 77."
"Great campground, it is walking distance to Old Orchard beach and has large sites. Many family activities including fishing, 2 pools, a dog park, and a snack shack."
"Walking distance to Old Orchard Beach, this campground has something for everyone. While the site are fairly small and crowded, it harldy matters because of all of the amenities at the campground."
from $63 / night
Check Availability"Pond is warm water and sandy entrances although a little mucky further in from fallen pine needles. Water shoes suggested. Well organized events even in a pandemic. Cleaning done constantly."
"One unique thing that I liked was that each spot had multiple faucet hookups which may not always be necessary but it was a nice thing to have when we needed to run water outside without having to unhook"
from $30 - $390 / night
Check Availability"Extremely crowded, close sites, and heavy car traffic in walking and bike areas. Sun night was way quieter than Fri and Sat night."
"Good first: it’s the closes campground to the beach around. Quick walk to the sand and just a little further to the pier. Clean and neat facilities. Great activities for the kids."
from $60 - $400 / night
Check Availability"Lovely campground near the lake."
"Used this spot for two day stop-over to visit family nearby. Friendly and accommodating. Terrain is a little hilly and tight for large vehicles. Sights are comfortable size."
from $30 - $155 / night
Check Availability"Nice place, good people convenient location"
GuideThere are no bad camping spots at this charming, scenic, squeaky clean campground. If you love water views, walking trails and exploring low-tide. Run, don’t walk and make a reservation today!
ScoutIt's old school in that you can't reserve online, and they only take cash or checks, but the campground is beautiful, clean and well maintained.
TravelerA mix of seasonal and short term campers. Here for 3 nights I did not feel out of place at all - quite the opposite. Staff are very nice, campground is quiet, clean and has lots of amenities(laundry, games- pool, table tennis, badminton, small kids playground, kayak rental for the placid river, swimming area at the river"beach"). All sites have water and hookup. Couple of excellent tent spots right on the river. I had a small space down by the river for my tent trailer and found it quite spacious. Sites overall are somewhat close together but not overly and it remains peaceful. About 30 minute easy drive to the coast (Portsmouth, Hampton Beach etc.).
ScoutThis campground is near our home but one feels miles away. Lovely views of the shoreline, saltwater pool, and many choices for hook-ups. We stayed there over Labor Day weekend in 2025 and are returning this year in 2026
Scout⭐**Gunstock Campground: Apparently Your Reserved Site Is More of a Suggestion**
I don't believe I have**ever** left a negative Google review. I generally think that when something goes wrong, you contact the business, give them an opportunity to make it right, and most businesses are genuinely interested in doing exactly that.
Gunstock Campground has cured me of that quaint notion.
I reserved a full-hookup campsite for two nights. I was unable to make it there the first night, but arrived shortly after 7:00 a.m. the next morning. The camp store, where registration takes place, wasn't open yet, so I headed out for my planned hike— about six miles through the Belknaps, including summiting Rowe twice and Gunstock.
By the time I returned, I was utterly exhausted, starving, and actually feeling weak. My ambitions for the afternoon were modest:**eat something, take a shower, and collapse at the campsite I had paid for.**
The staff at the camp store greeted me warmly, checked me in, and sent me on my way.
I drove to my site. There was already a camper in it. Not merely*parked* there, mind you. They had apparently moved right in. They were hooked up to**my site's water and electric**, with water spraying from their ill-fitting hose connection and forming a rather impressive puddle underneath the camper.
I returned to the camp store to report that someone had apparently activated Gunstock's new**"Choose Any Site You Like"** camping plan. A staff member went down to speak with them and came back to tell me they were "packing up." Excellent! My mistake was assuming" packing up" meant**leaving**. It did not.
Apparently these campers had actually reserved a site**two rows away** that had**no water or electric**. Yet somehow, sometime after arriving the previous night, they had accidentally found themselves two rows over, in my clearly different site, connected to utilities their reservation didn't include.
We've all made mistakes. I've occasionally parked one space away from where I intended. I've never accidentally parked**two rows away, hooked myself up to someone else's electricity and water, and spent the night.**
But perhaps I lack imagination.
After they had now consumed about an hour of my afternoon— which, incidentally, is an hour I normally bill at attorney rates— I went back toward my site expecting to find it finally vacated.
And it was! Because Gunstock had moved these folks to another site**two spaces away from me**, apparently allowing them to pay for the upgrade they had already been test-driving. So the people who knowingly or unknowingly occupied my reserved full-hookup site, used the utilities, and delayed me from getting into the site I paid for were rewarded with...a nearby full-hookup site.
They never walked over to apologize. At that point, I no longer felt comfortable staying. It's difficult to relax at a campground when you've just discovered that site assignments appear to operate somewhat on the honor system— and that when someone helps themselves to your reserved site and utilities, management's solution is apparently to make sure *they* remain comfortably accommodated nearby. So I left. On my way home, I called Gunstock and asked for a refund. Surely, I thought, this would be the easy part. After all, I had paid for two nights, hadn't used the first, couldn't get into my site when I arrived for the second, waited while unauthorized occupants vacated it, and ultimately left because the entire experience had become so unpleasant.
Nope. Instead, the staff member **defended the other campers**. I was told they arrived late and "mistakenly" took my site. I was even told they supposedly **hadn't used the utilities**. This was particularly fascinating information for me to receive because **I PERSONALLY SAW THEM HOOKED UP TO THE WATER AND ELECTRIC.** I also took photographs. Including the enormous puddle underneath their camper from the leaking water connection. But apparently my eyewitness account and photographs were no match for the alternative version of events.
For my inconvenience, however, Gunstock did give me a coupon for a **free Bavarian pretzel**. So there is that.
I paid for a full-hookup campsite. Someone else occupied it and used the hookups. I lost roughly an hour waiting to access what I had reserved. The other campers were accommodated with an upgraded site nearby. I left because I no longer felt comfortable staying. And when I asked Gunstock to make the situation right, they refused to refund me and instead argued with me about things **I had personally witnessed and photographed**. The most disappointing part isn't that another camper took my site. Campers can behave badly. Businesses can't control everything their customers do. **What a business CAN control is how it responds when that happens. ** Gunstock had every opportunity to turn this into a mildly annoying story about a camping mix-up. Instead, they turned it into my first negative Google review.
But hey... **I do have that free pretzel coupon.**
ScoutWe stayed midweek and the park was 1/2 empty. Lots of kids activities. Wonderful bathrooms and showers. Great laundry. Close to Freeport but not the water
ScoutWe just came back from a big family weekend there. We had 5 sites with 19 people(including children). This is by far the most rundown campground I've stayed! Only 1 bathroom facility was functioning. Of the 3 times I tried taking a shower, I only succeeded 1 time. The other 2 times(once at night and once the following morning at 6am) I only got drops coming out of the hot and cold faucets. I tried the only 2 stalls. Speaking of bathrooms...these have not been updated since the 60s-early 70s when I was camping with the same style bathroom facilities. The children's playground should be condemned!!! At least 25% of the wood is rotted. Some steps are missing from ladders. My granddaughter was swinging in the childs swing, the bottom unlatched and she fell through the bottom. If she wasn't monkey like in holding on she would have done a face plant to the ground. After looking at the swing, I found the plastic latch broken! 2 positives: the campsites are very nice! and the beach is great! Bottom line, these owners are not putting any money back into the campground and it's facilities. They are running it into the ground. I won't be coming back again!
ScoutWonderful stay! Clean bathrooms/showers. Woodsy and quiet. Clean campsites with water and electric. The people were super helpful and friendly! Wonderful stay, would easy stay here again :)
GuideStayed 8 nights with complete solitude. Bugs weren't too bad. There were plenty of dead birch trees and beech trees for firewood. Not any evergreens though. Site 16 has two campsites. I took the further one with plenty of room. Good size fire pit, but people before me left some large pieces of wood not completely put out along with lit coals.
Campers seeking sites near Buxton, Maine find the area's rich forest terrain offers options spanning 10-20 miles in each direction. Located just 20 minutes from Portland and with proximity to southern Maine's coast, this region provides camping options with varied terrain ranging from lakeside settings to wooded sites with varying degrees of privacy. Most campgrounds maintain standard operating hours between 7am-10pm during the May-October camping season.
Water recreation on Sebago Lake: Sebago Lake State Park Campground offers paddleboarding opportunities on calm mornings. "We had two paddleboards which are add-ons with the MainelyGlamping package and we spent some time on one of the calm clear mornings paddling around the lake which was amazing," notes one visitor who enjoyed the clear waters.
Explore Portland and surrounding areas: From Wild Duck Adult Campground & RV Park, travelers can easily access urban amenities. "Close to the city of Portland, about 20 minutes, but tucked away in the beautiful riverside marsh," writes one camper. The area offers a mix of outdoor and cultural experiences within short driving distances.
Fishing and kayaking: Several campgrounds provide fishing opportunities. At Bayley's Camping Resort, "The kayak/paddle board, canoe launch is great because the river is impounded so you never have to worry about the tide going out while you are paddling." The campground includes fishing ponds with both catch-and-release options and stocked areas for anglers of all skill levels.
Visit Kennebunkport: The historic coastal town is accessible from several camping locations. "It is a short drive to the beach and the town of Kennebunkport," notes a visitor at Sandy Pines Campground, making it convenient to experience Maine coastal culture during your camping trip.
Trolley service to beaches: Old Orchard Beach Campground offers convenient transportation to the shore. "There is a trolly that will take you to the city for $2, but if you have a bicycle it is a quick 15-minute ride to the beach," explains one camper. This accessibility allows visitors to enjoy ocean access without dealing with parking challenges.
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain high standards for bathroom and shower facilities. A visitor to Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach noted, "We definitely enjoyed our stay-the cabin was comfortable, facilities were clean, and we were within 20 minutes of Portland and 10 minutes to Old Orchard Beach."
Adult-only camping options: For those seeking quieter environments, Wild Duck Adult Campground offers an age-restricted experience. "This adult only campground is peaceful and quiet, with the sounds of birds and the trees being the main thing you hear - it is quite relaxing," shares a recent visitor who appreciated the atmosphere.
Natural settings: Despite proximity to urban areas, many campgrounds maintain wooded environments. "The trees are quite tall and create a lovely canopy overhead," notes one camper about Wild Duck, highlighting how the natural environment enhances the camping experience even near developed areas.
Reservation timing requirements: During peak season (July-August), campgrounds fill quickly. "We chose this campground because it was close to Portland... The close proximity to Portland is one of the pluses of this campground," explains a visitor at Wassamki Spring Camping Area. Reservations 2-3 months in advance are recommended for weekend stays.
Site privacy varies significantly: Campgrounds offer dramatically different experiences regarding site spacing. "Tent sites are pretty close to each other but we had no issues with noise," reports one camper at Wild Duck Adult Campground, while others note some campgrounds have virtually no privacy between sites.
Seasonal crowds affect experience: Paradise Park Resort sees significant seasonal variation. "We're typically state park campers, but decided to stay 2 nights at a resort campground to recharge and be close to the beach," explains one visitor. Weekends during July-August bring much larger crowds and noisier environments than shoulder seasons.
Train and traffic noise: Some campgrounds experience transportation noise. At Wild Acres, "The trains all blow there horn and you will hear it if your at one of the site 'by the ocean'," cautions one reviewer. Sites further from major roads typically offer quieter experiences.
Pool and playground access: Bayley's Camping Resort offers extensive recreation options. "Multiple pools and jacuzzi. Fishing pond, restaurants. One bar/pool area is for adults only. Big playground. Free trolly to transport you back and forth to ocean," shares a visitor who appreciated the range of activities for different ages.
Consider noise levels and site location: Family-friendly campgrounds often have higher activity levels. At Bayley's, one camper advises, "Depending on your site location you may get more privacy than if you stay in the big rig sites. The wooded sites tend to be more private and less loud. Staying by any of the pools will be louder."
Check campground entertainment schedules: Many sites offer organized activities. "The days are packed with actives. You will love this place!" notes a Paradise Park visitor. These can include movie nights, themed weekends, and group activities designed specifically for families with children.
Prepare for insects: Particularly near marsh areas, bugs can be challenging. "BRING BUGSPRAY!!! They were TERRIBLE. In the time it took after we parked the camper, to when I could dig the bug spray out of our truck I was covered in bites," warns a visitor to Wild Duck, highlighting the importance of preparation for comfortable camping.
Site selection based on hookup needs: Sandy Pines offers varied RV sites. "There are a myriad of sites including rustic tent, cabins, and full hook-up RV sites that accommodate the largest of RV's," explains one camper who noted the amenity differences between site types.
Rig size considerations: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles. "The only reason I give if 4 instead of five stars is that there are only a few transient sites that can handle a camper over 30ft," notes a Sandy Pines visitor, emphasizing the importance of confirming size restrictions before booking.
Seasonal stay options: Many campgrounds offer longer-term arrangements. "It is family friendly, kids ride their bikes around the campground and you can hear your neighbors," explains a Bayley's visitor who noted the balance of camping styles. Seasonal sites typically require booking 6-12 months in advance and offer reduced rates for longer commitments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find camping sites near Buxton?
The Buxton area offers several excellent camping options within driving distance. Old Orchard Beach Campground provides a family-friendly base in a popular beach town with seven miles of sandy shoreline. For those seeking a quieter adult-oriented experience, Wild Duck Adult Campground & RV Park offers peaceful sites with convenient access to beaches, shopping, and Portland. Additional options include Bayley's Camping Resort near Scarborough and Paradise Park Resort near Old Orchard Beach.
What amenities are available at Buxton camping grounds?
Camping grounds near Buxton offer diverse amenities to enhance your stay. Desert of Maine Campground provides free showers, laundry facilities, and campwide WiFi, with some sites nestled near a small stream. The campground is well-maintained with both standard and unique hike-in sites. At Thousand Trails Moody Beach, you'll find good proximity to Orchard Beach and Portland, though WiFi can be spotty away from the recreation areas. Many nearby campgrounds include water hookups, toilet facilities, and are big-rig friendly.
Are there any seasonal restrictions for camping in Buxton?
Camping in the Buxton area typically follows seasonal patterns common to Maine. Lakeside Pines Campground on Long Lake operates primarily during the warmer months, offering lake access when conditions permit. Crocker Pond allows stays from 1 to 14 days during its operational season. Most campgrounds in the region are open from late spring (May) through early fall (October), with limited or no winter operations due to New England's harsh winter conditions. Always check with specific campgrounds for their exact seasonal schedule and any weather-related closures before planning your trip.
Keep Exploring
