Best Glamping near Calais, ME

Glamping Reviews near Calais, ME

62 Reviews of 9 Calais Campgrounds

• 

  Porcelain D.

  Scout

  Aug. 25, 2020

  Sunset Point RV Park

  Great camp on the bay

  Great fresh air (breezy). If you come with a tent you will have a lot of personal space (compared to other campgrounds).

• C

  Cheryl R.

  Guide

  Aug. 10, 2020

  Cottonwood Camping & RV Park

  A Wild West experience!

  This campground is absolutely adorable. RV, tent , Treehouse camping to camping out in a Teepee! I surprised my husband with the Teepee- we were not disappointed! A huge Teepee with a very comfortable queen size bed- a couch, table, area animal rugs , coffee maker and a fan if needed. We were asked to bring our own bedding due to Covid regulations - which we did not mind at all. The very clean restrooms were located nearby , which was convient. The staff was so friendly and very accommodating. Sleeping in the TeePee was an incredible experience and we would definitely do it again - so fun! All we needed was a horse- haha! The owner also offers horseback riding lessons and trail rides.

  Read More
• 

  Shari G.

  Legend

  Oct. 24, 2018

  Cobscook Bay State Park Campground

  Paddlers Paradise!

  Surrounded by water on 3 sides, this state park has a lot to offer. Well off the beaten track on the tidal backwater of Cobscook Bay, this park has a wide variety of sites to suit everyone’s style of camping. From full water and electrical RV hook-up sites, to tent-only camping loops, you can find your own camping bliss in this amazing park. 

  Each site comes with the standard picnic table and fire pit, but many have a shelter over the table as well. There are many pit-toilets scattered throughout, and the centralized bath house only offers inexpensive showers and sinks, no flush toilets however. 

  Additionally, there is a huge playground for the kids, as well as designated picnic sites complete with fire pit and picnic shelters. The campground loops wind around small headlands into the bay, so there are literally dozens of waterfront sites, but they are of course the most popular. 

  The bay is tidal, and has a HUGE tidal range, so opportunities for tide pooling, paddling, and other water sports just need a little planning ahead.   Be sure to check out the reversing falls, just a 20 minute drive from the park. There is a nice boat ramp and picnic area just north of the park on the main road. 

  Calais is the nearest town, about 30 minutes away, and has all the you need while camping in the area.

  Read More
• 

  Sarah C.

  Legend

  Apr. 22, 2021

  Machias Rips Campsite

  Not bad for free camping!

  Situated right off of Route 9 between Amherst and Wesley Maine, you can access the Machias River Corridor Public Lands. At this particular location, there are 2 RV sites, 3 tent sites and a lean-to shelter, all situated right on the bank of the river.

  We spent one night here in the lean-to on our way to the Cutler Coast. The lean-to was in decent shape but it's definitely been marked by its visitors and has quite the slope to it. It was large enough for us to pitch our 3 person tent in and it was pretty great to fall asleep to the sounds of the Machias River a stone's throw from our tent. 

  There was a massive fire pit at the lean-to that we didn't utilize. There was also a fair amount of trash in the site, and oddly enough a lot of chewed bubble gum. The sites are spaced out nicely and there's a fair amount of shade to be had. There is also a relatively new and quite clean pit toilet available for use. 

  All in all, it was a great stopping point that set us up well for our early morning departure to get to the Cutler Coast. I would certainly stay here again if I were in the area.

  Read More
• 

  John R.

  Guide

  Aug. 20, 2022

  Machias Rips Campsite

  Amazing FREE Camp Site for All Types of Campers!

  This campground is one of my favorites in Maine! Sitting only an hour from Ellsworth and Bangor ME this is a nature lovers dream!

  The dirt road leading to the camp can be easily missed if not paying attention! But is clearly marked with a blue sign at the head of the road. Your GPS might not give you an “exact” location but i promise I found the place with no problem!

  The road has a few pot holes but nothing my stock (Low to the ground) Dodge Caravan couldn’t handle, There is about 4 Sites with river front views and trails leading to the water from each camp. There are also bigger sites for campers and RV’s. There is a site with a wooden protection shelter for tent campers as well!

  New style out houses are on site but other than that it’s completely off grid!

  Most Cell phone carriers won’t have service back at the camp, I myself had to drive 20 Minutes up the road for signal, A cell signal booster may work here. Radio signal is fine tho.

  Great spot to fish and swim! I’ve caught smallmouth bass, chubs and trout in the river so far! (Black and silver Jerk baits work great) The mosquitoes can get bad in the area but fire pits and fires are permitted in the camp and they helped keep me comfortable from bugs!

  There is also a marked trail in the camp that leads deep into the woods, I followed it for about a mile before it got too thick for my interest. Could be the trail that connects to the large pools of water up the river with ADDITIONAL camping there as well.

  Read More
• T

  Thornton B.

  Guide

  Oct. 3, 2020

  Cobscook Bay State Park Campground

  Astounded that anyone could find negatives...

  Let’s be real. Camping near ANY water, fresh or salt, includes high likelihood of bugs...warmer weather makes it worse, of COURSE. And perhaps predictably, any odor, fecal or otherwise, is amplified with heat...hence the effectiveness of scented candles, no?

  I just spent the most splendid two nights at this gorgeous place, in site 103. We brought our kayaks too, and waved off launching not because of the steep path to the water, but simply due to the fascinatingly rapid tidal movements. We’d been camping for a week at a couple of lake places and had enjoyed enough kayaking to hold us over. And for the record: the government website clearly shows a diagram that describes all campsites designated as “walk-ins”, and most adults could be expected to be capable of using online topography and aerial photos to preview applicability of specific sites for shore access...ahem.

  That permitted plenty of time for casual touring locally and innumerable amazing photography opportunities on trails and at the sea coast. Breathtaking is a word overused but I have zero hesitation to apply it here.

  Locals are congenial and rightfully proud of their beautiful homeland, and happy to share information and recommendations.

  We stayed at the very beginning of October-leaves near peak color, no crowd and no bugs. Never smelled any poop except when contributing personally.

  Clams are so easy to harvest at low tide that the park sets a 1 Peck limit! Look it up-a peck is a sizable volume, haha, and refreshingly non-metric.

  DID find showering first thing in the morning to be an exercise in personal fortitude! Air was frosty and the facility was open to ambient conditions so there was quite a difference in temperature between the air in the stall and the hot water from the nozzle. Oh sure, the curtain was showing signs of a long season yet still functioned to shield my fresh towel and clothing from direct spray, and the stall had a plywood door and latch for privacy regardless. Hot water lasted fine and bathing success achieved.

  PLEASE consider general realities of outdoor environments and do not pass up any chance to stay here. It’s as nice as any place I’ve ever stayed and I’m a geezer with lots of comparators.

  Read More
• 

  Nancy W.

  Legend

  Sep. 13, 2022

  Sunset Point RV Park

  Excellent waterfront campground with great views!

  We love this campground because of the location and amazing views! Sunset Point is a small, family-owned campground that sits beautifully perched on Johnson Bay just minutes from downtown Lubec. After a busy morning of hiking or paddling we loved hanging out at our campsite in the afternoon and watching the seals, bald eagles, seabirds, and the tides come and go. 

  This is one campground where the tent sites are actually in the best location in the campground as all of them have great unobstructed water views. (The only downside is they are farther away from the bathroom.) Some tent sites (A– D) have a wooden shade structure with picnic table and fire pit, the others just have a fire pit and picnic table. RV sites are 50-amp/ water and vary in length. Some are right on the water and others are in rows behind them. Warning: RV sites are very close together and there is not much space between you and your neighbor. The best sites are 12, 12A, 12B, and 16 which have the best views and are the largest sites. There are no sewer hook-ups but there is a dump station, a tote (a.k.a.,“blue boy”) that you are welcome to borrow, or you can schedule a pump out for$10/tank. Most motorhomes (in sites 16-29) choose to pull-in forward so they have a water view out of their front window and run the utilities under their RV to hook-up. Warning: do not leave your awning out while you are away from your camper as the winds can really pick up in the afternoon and damage them. 

  The restrooms were super clean (although a little dated) and there is a laundry with three sets of washers and dryers for$1.50 each. Wood ($3) and ice are for sale in the camp store where they also have t-shirts/hats/post cards and a few other miscellaneous items. Wi-Fi at our site (#16) was pretty poor but worked very well near the office/laundry. We had a strong Verizon signal so we didn’t rely on their Wi-Fi. The grounds are manicured with nicely mowed grass. The only problem was that some people put out patio mats or screen rooms that killed the grass so the next camper has a big dead spot. There is a primitive kayak/canoe launch (which is basically a mowed path down to the water) which we used almost daily. It was so convenient to leave our boats down along path so we didn’t have to bring them back to our site every day. Beware that the tidal range is around 20 feet so make sure you paddle around high tide or you will have to cross a mucky, seaweed covered, rocky clam flat to get back to shore. There are lots of great places to paddle and downtown is about a 15-minute paddle and there are plenty of seals at high tide and the mackerel fishing is great. The campground has free use of lobster pots, burners, and propane tanks if you want to cook your own lobster and there is a seafood place right down the street that sells live lobster. Or you can drive about 25 miles to the town of Cutler and buy them fresh off the dock. 

  Lubec is a cute little town with a few shops, restaurants, historical museum, a brewery, grocery, and a scenic view of the Passamaquoddy Bay. There is plenty of hiking on nearby nature preserves. Bring your passport and cross over to Campobello Island which was the summer home of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and is now a museum open for tours. There is also lots of hiking and two lighthouses on Campobello. Nearby is Quoddy Head State Park which has some beautiful oceanfront hiking trails and a picturesque lighthouse.

  Read More
• 

  Sandie N.

  Guide

  Jun. 24, 2021

  Cobscook Bay State Park Campground

  Camp on the Bay

  I wouldn’t recommend this site to an inexperienced camper looking for simplicity. The sites are rugged, and some you’ll need a short hike uphill to get to. Be cautious with small children here as there are a lot of sites with drops to the bay.

  Our site was beautiful, had a gorgeous view, not too far from the outhouses, and fit what we needed perfectly. The site wasn’t huge and fitting more than two 6 person tents might be a struggle. The fire pit was on the smaller side which would legitimately be my only complaint for my families experience.

  Overall, I highly recommend especially if you’re visiting downeast. It’s a beautiful side to admire.

  Also, you can go clamming here, with a one peck limit. So, if you’re wanting a seaside experience with fresh seafood you gather yourself, this campground is perfect.

  Read More
• H

  Heather C.

  Guide

  Jan. 29, 2025

  Cobscook Bay State Park Campground

  Off the beaten path!

  Cobscook State Park is beautiful. The park is big, and many sites are very far apart - we had almost complete privacy.  There are both reservable and non reservable sites.  Some sites have Adirondack shelters.  All sites have picnic tables and fire pits.  The majority of the tent sites and small rv sites, and some larger rv sites, are on the water.   We stayed at 2 different sites - a waterfront site and non waterfront - and both were scenic and private.   There is no water/electric/power at any site.  There are water stations around the park, as well as a bath house and dump station.  The park rangers are friendly and helpful. There is a lot of wildlife and waterlife - we saw many seals and cormorants in the water, as well as a few eagles.  You can launch a kayak from your campsite, or from the large  dock/boat launch area in the park.  Kayaking should be done with prior research to ensure familiarity with the tide changes (which are up to 20 ft) and currents, which are strong and dangerous in certain areas of Cobscook Bay.   There is a great map published by Cobscook Shores that shows recommended kayak areas and tide access.  It includes the launch that is in the park.  https://cobscookshores.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/CS-System-Map.pdf  

   There are also a few open areas for picnicking or just relaxing, as well as a play area for kids.  There are a few nice, relatively short and easy  hiking trails that run through the park.  One of the trails is right at the entrance, so you can park there if needed. For more advanced hiking, the Cutler Preserve land, Boot Head, and Quoddy Head are all nearby and offer incredible hikes of varying distances, up to 10 miles.  Quoddy Head also has a lighthouse that is a popular attraction .

  Read More