Best Tent Camping near Calais, ME

This is as close to heaven as you can get. Huge state park. Tent sites and RV sites are on separate peninsulas. No electricity so it’s quiet. Absolutely stunning sites on the ocean. Great place to launch your exploration of Maine’s Bold Coast.

all of the sites are very nice and secluded. a lot of very nice walk in tent sites right along the bay! big sizes with woods in between. space to hang your hammock!

This was an amazing escape despite variable weather.  Being at the tent sites on the peninsula are worth every cent and even better when visited during the week and volume at the campground is lower.  The walk in sites are amazing.

Loved the privacy and remoteness of this park. We had a tent site (53) that had a short root-laden walk into the site, but not bad and well worth the bay view. Woke early enough for the sunrise on the bay, which was spectacular (and first in the country!). Great home base for exploring this rustic coastal part of Maine; totally enjoyed: Lubec, West Quoddy Lighthouse, Campobello Island, Eastport, Reversing Falls, Western Head Trail (amazing) Sipps Head Trail, Shackford Trail (careful; not well marked interior and we nearly got lost at dusk) and Machias. Love this area! And the campground, while rustic, has quarter-operated showers; excellent bonus! Highly recommend this place.

This is a small, well-run campground with lots of amenities. All but the tent sites have E/W. There is a dump station, restrooms/showers, and 3 sets of basic (but efficient) washers and dryers. ($1.50 each). Each site has table/fire pits, and firewood is plentiful and only $3/bundle. WiFi is weak and slow, but free and usable. We have great Verizon signal, so didn’t really need it. The grounds are well cared for, with lots of grassy spaces. They also maintain a mowed pathway down to the “beach” for water access and to launch a kayak. There is a broad variety of sites, so be sure to check out the campground map as well as satellite view when requesting a reservation. The tent sites are great — right on the water’s edge — and much more spacious and private than the hookup sites. Of the RV sites (E/W), some are MUCH more desirable than others. 12A and 12B are close to the water with great views, but only suitable for smaller camper vans and trailers. Of the other RV sites, 12, 13, and 16 are nice because they are at the end of their rows so there are neighbors on only one side. 13 is next to the pond, but still has a good view of the bay, and the added bonus of a million frogs serenading throughout the night. (This may not be a positive thing for some.). The rest of the E/W sites are side-by-side RV park style where the only view (from inside) is the side of your neighbor’s RV just a few feet away. The town of Lubec is tiny without a lot of charm, but the waterfront area provides a nice view of the rushing tide and Canada across the narrow channel. Nearby Quoddy Head State Park has a picturesque lighthouse and a couple of nice hiking trails. Antique lovers should visit the nearby Clutter Shop. HD&Sons about a mile west sells freshly caught lobster for about $10/pound and will cook them up for $5/pot. The campground is on a peninsula, and there was never a day without a nice breeze.

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.

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 .

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.

This is a huge campground. So many of the campsites here are lovely, many with views of the water and the amazing change of tides. Some are perched on a slope with tent platforms level but not much else on the site is. Pit toilets. There are showers at the main area, a bit of a walk or drive. There is a boat launch area a short distance away and the kayaking is great. This campground was so quiet and peaceful. We loved it.

One could easily break an ankle or leg here trying to scramble to your assigned campsite. These are not drive in sites-- with isolated exceptions.

These are mainly walk-in sites which, here, means that you park near the road and have to scramble down a hill or up a hill on a trail which was never prepared for foot traffic. Some sites have steep drops to the bay - really steep: a concern at night particularly.

Some normal drive-in sites are #53, 54, 63, 64, 66, 68. My site 68 was excellent but unusual in its normalcy.

I had one of the very rare sites in which you can pull in next to your campsite but most sites are really  "walk-in". There is no grading and apparently no such thing as trail prep here to mitigate the exposed roots and hazards. It is wild.

Toilets are outhouses only. Wifi does not exist here. Staff not friendly.

Most sites are for tents--- but there is an industrial RV section high on the hill (sites 1-27) with good sized parking on a loop furthest from the campground entrance. The tides are extreme--- take care.

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.

Cobscook Bay State Park is a particular favorite of mine. Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast, a first timer, or just itching to get away, Cobscook is the place to go. Sites are spread out and surrounded by views of the bay. Staff are incredibly helpful and friendly. This park is a great place to canoe, kayak, clam, and take short hikes with youngsters. There are a number of parks, trails, and great sites to see within driving distance. I have had fresh calms and periwinkles off the coast cooked on an open fire, and have seen tides go out 20 ft within a days time. If you face the tent the right way, you can fall asleep to the stars and wake up to the first glimpses of the sunrise in America.

I promise that Cobscook will not disappoint!

This is one of 5 available campsites along the Cutler Coast Bold Coast hiking trail. Situated on top of a little knoll overlooking the Bay of Fundy, this is a lovely gem. The site is extremely small and it's obvious others have found other spots outside of the designated area to camp (please don't be on of those folx). There is a small wooden stair case that leads up to the small flat spot. Our 3 person tent fit but it was quite tight and I find it difficult to imagine trying to squeeze a larger tent in the spot. I suppose that's why the group size is limited to 4 at each site.

There is a small wooden box with a toilet seat, surrounded by hardware wire that is boasted as a "toilet." These were quite full and odiferous, a pit toilet would be less offensive to the eyes and nose but I'm sure the State has their reasons. 

The views are spectacular and the sunrise won't disappoint if you're there on a clear morning. There is a nice large rocky beach a short distance from the campsite where we spent the afternoon in the sunshine watching the tide come in (you can get stranded on the rock at high tide so be advised). This time of year (spring) there was fresh running water available to treat/filter for drinking. I've heard that most of the water sources are totally dry by the middle of the summer so you may need to hike in all of your water depending on the time of year you visit. 

There is supposed to be a register at the trail head for folx to sign in on to help prevent you from hiking in and not being able to find a site. That being said, there was only a single sheet of notebook paper that was already full when we arrived. We donated the only sheet of paper we could find in the car and added it to the register. I was hesitant to put our exact camping locations for safety reasons, as two female hikers I intentionally left the register information vague. 

This is a very popular location so plan on getting an early start or visiting in more of the "off season."

Hiking along the Cutler Coast is a unique opportunity that if you get the chance to explore, you absolutely should. There are only 5 campsites total available along the Cutler Coast, 3 of them are at the Fairy Head. We approached the area via the Inland Trail, about a 5.5 mile hike from the trial head(trail signs are inaccurate, they don't account for the recent re-route). From this direction, sites were a little challenging to find but we managed. Just be aware that these three sites are NOT well marked and you have to hike up a wooden ladder to get to at least 2 of the 3. There isn't much fresh water around either, so we hiked in enough for dinner and breakfast the following day. The site we stayed in, site 1(at least we think it's site 1) was perched on a beautiful cliff top in the trees. The area is very small and fitting anything larger than a 4 person tent might be difficult(we had a 3 person). While there was a make-shift fire ring, fires are NOT allowed in the public land reserve here. Sites also have very rudimentary privies but these are not pit toilets, far from it. They are quite pathetic and gross consisting of a toilet seat sitting on a wooden frame, caged in by hardware wire. You can see everything and the odor isn't masked at all. I'm not sure why this design is in use. Not to mention that folx can't be bothered to pack out their trash. This site gets hit by first light and you can watch the sun rise right out of your tent just by sitting up in your sleeping bag. The views are incredible but these are very high impacted sites. There was a sheet of paper completely full at the trail head that serves as a register for folx to sign in, in order to avoid hiking in and not finding a site. We scrounged up a sheet of paper from our car and put it on the clipboard for folx to use. It was an old Amazon receipt but it's all we had. I was hesitant to put where we were camping exactly just for security reasons as two female hikers. But it was helpful to see that there was space for us when we arrived. All in all, it was a beautiful night!

We decided to spend the night at this park after having to adjust our plans due to high winds. Given our timing(early October), the place was almost entirely empty. We chose one of the small lean-to shelters for the night. There are a few of these and they do require you to walk your gear in a short distance, so pack accordingly. 

The site we stayed in had a gorgeous view of the bay and it was super cool to watch the tide come and go with such a drastic change in the water levels. We even saw a racoon take a swim across the bay at high tide. 

There was a nice small and consolidated fire ring and a large picnic table. The lean-to was the perfect size for our three-person tent and kept us out of some cray wind(gusting up to 40 mph). 

The state park has primitive pit toilets scattered throughout the various loops that require a bit of a trek from where we were camped. There are also numerous sites right on the water in the picnic area that would be great day use options if you’re just looking to enjoy the area for a few hours. The gentleman making the rounds was friendly and it was nice to know there were a few employees still around and available if needed.

The state park is located close to Lubec as well as the St. Croix International Historic Site, which we visited while we were in the area. Given the pandemic, we weren’t able to venture over to Canada but maybe next time!

The easiest directions from the southern part of the state would be to drive north on I95 to Bangor, then take a right and go east until you run out of US soil. That is correct, this is some of the most eastern parts of the United States. A nearby state park holds the official title but we will chat about that later. On our way up, we counted over 30 licence plates from different states, plus another 4 provinces from Canada during this road trip. You would have thought the parents in the car were a couple kids every time we saw a new plate. There are even Apps you can download that help keep track while also providing trivia on each state. We truly live in the Vacation State and lots of people were trying to soak up what’s left of summer, including us.

This trip was our 3rd camping trip as a family and we spent 2 nights, 3 days away. We also brought our dog Baxter on this one but not because we 100% wanted to. Bax is what some would call high maintenance and he’s a hard one to find a sitter for on long weekends. Our dog Braddock on the other hand has a fan club but that doesn’t mean he’s less work. He’s just not 75lbs of pure muscle and is twice Baxter’s age. You might say we failed in some areas at training our pups over the years but we love em both, warts and all. So, we took a leap of faith now that we had a couple trips under our belt with the baby and added Baxter to the mix. Not only did it work out, but the monster was given an overall B for the weekend. He crushed it! You have to realize a B for Baxter is pretty much an A for other dogs. Bax is not much of cuddler but he snuggled up both nights in the tent. He looked peaceful all weekend and really seemed to love the experience. We underestimated this city dog for sure.

Either people have never heard of Cobscook Bay or they say it’s one of the best parks in Maine. With that in mind we had some high expectations before spending the weekend there. We chose August for this trip a while back because the weather can be tricky in this part of Maine and we figured mid-August would be ideal temperature wise; we ended up hitting the nail on the head. When it comes to picking parks to camp at, we are shooting for at least 4 a year, but also being mindful of average weather, black flies, etc. For example, in June we chose Camden Hills because after a very buggy spring we figured the closer to the coast the better, and it worked out perfectly.

Machias is the last town with large stores before you get to the park and it’s about 35 minutes away. There are some gas stations closer to the park, but we decided to hit up Hannaford while driving through. We didn’t expect the couple minutes of bumper to bumper traffic for the annual Machias “Wild Blueberry Festival.” It was cute and it looks like the whole town comes out for it. While checking out at Hannaford, the bagger stated that the “Black Fly Dance” was the real party of the weekend. Temping, but we took a raincheck on the festivities. This might be a good time to say that we started to get a little smarter budgeting for these trips. On our first camping trip, we spent just over $200 at the grocery store. This camping trip we spent just over $200 for the entire weekend! That’s gas, food, firewood and our camping reservation. This summer has brought some big changes for our family and working off a tighter budget has become a priority. What’s funny is that zero sacrifices were made by following a budget, it just came down to a little extra planning and not being wasteful. Something as simple as bringing condiments and snacks from home and building a shopping list according to our meals which we planned out. Also, why buy a 12 pack of beer when you have a stocked beer fridge at home leftover from summer gatherings? To look back on the weekend, what we ended up having for $200 is mind-blowing. We didn’t skimp on the good stuff either. We bought all-natural meats and produce from Pineland Farms and splurged for the wild Maine blueberries.

It would be hard to find a bad site at Cobscook Bay State Park. This park is around and on a peninsula so there are a lot of sites on the water, and several with water on both sides. There are over 100 sites so odds are you would have your pick, especially if you planned ahead before summer started. Most sites are quite private with lots of shade, covered picnic tables, plus they are groomed and well cleaned. They were very flat and free of rocks and roots; which is a tenters dream. The one time we thought for a second, “maybe those two sites might not be the best to have”, we quickly realized how truly amazing this park was. There were two sites not far from us that were in the open and not as private. They are still near the water (with a view), had a bathroom next to them, were extremely flat and free of debris, had their own water stations, a fire place with higher walls and easy access to the road. After a closer look, we realized they were reserved handicap sites and they were designed perfectly for families that might need additional amenities, but still getting the full experience of the park without missing a beat. I’m sure many of you reading this can think of family and friends who are often limited to experiencing certain things based off lack of handicap accessibility. With all the beauty and wonder of this park, these site were a highlight for us. Kuddos to the park and their staff; hopefully it’s something we see more of as we travel around the state.

This park is on the ocean, I repeat, you are camping under tall trees on the ocean. It was a dream! Just an absolute treasure of a park. There are clam shells in the woods, I mean where are we? The trees are towering and thin, everything is super green from the moisture in the air. The tides will be like something you’ve never seen before, dropping in some areas up to 24 feet! You feel like you’re on the edge of the world and this isn’t the first time we experienced this. While our daughter, Eloise was still baking in the oven in April of 2016, we did a 10 mile, 1 night, 2 day hiking trip along the Cuter Preserve. It’s quickly becoming a popular hike after several publications have featured this area of Maine as must see for destination hikers. We won’t get into that trip, but all we will say is that it’s a bucket list type of hike. Cutler isn’t too far from this park so the terrain here brought back some wonderful memories. There is a perfect little hike on the Cobscook Bay State Park property called the “Nature Trail” that takes you along the water and into the woods. It’s ideal for kids but still challenging in a couple areas as you make your way up to the gorgeous scenic overlook.

Eloise passed out on our way back and it was enough to tire Baxter out so that he was more manageable on his leash about half way through. We spent just over an hour exploring on the trails before it emptied us out less than 100 yards from our site. Somehow, for the first time we were able to transfer a napping baby from one area to another. Eloise usually doesn’t allow this, but she went from passed out in the hiking pack to getting some extra Zs in the camper.

Not much more to say besides it’s a place you want more time at. We could have used another day there to be honest, but because of the drive up and back and everything in between, we could have used another day at home as well. We certainly felt pretty run down when we got home and even more so getting ready for work the next morning. It took a couple days for us to get back to our well-oiled routine, but that’s what trips like this are all about. They are made to derail your routine and slow life down to the point where the little things stand out and you don’t overlook or take them for granted. We had lots of firsts on this trip. Eloise tried and shared a vanilla soft serve with her mom. Mom, who doesn’t drink coffee, fell in love with black coffee and Dad was forced to master starting a fire with wet wood. Eloise also officially slept through the night for the first time. She made it to 6am! Never thought this day would come and especially in a camper.

We didn’t visit the two state parks (Shackford Head and Quoddy Head) that were within 30-45 minutes of Cobscook Bay State Park because this park shouldn’t have to share a weekend. Actually, we never plan to visit any two parks in one day but I’m sure we will have a few long weekends in which we will visit a couple. It just gives us a reason to come back another year as a family. We plan to lump in an overnight stay on Campobello Island in Canada during that visit as well. If it was good enough for FDR and his family, then I guess it’s good enough for the Rubys.

 With all the license plates we saw, Maine plates dominated in the park. It’s not a place you stumble upon and it’s certainly not one of the usual must-see attractions regurgitated in a Maine magazine. With that being said, the folks that we met at this park seemed to be on the same page as us. Everyone waves as they drive by, people take time to introduce themselves, and the park staff even offered to deliver our fire wood down to our site after check in. Our neighbors at a nearby site who also happened to live within a couple miles from us in Portland, checked in before going to the store to see if we needed anything after we were setting up on night #1. We had our space but when we were around people, they were the type of people we wanted to be around. Of course, going to a park way out in the middle of nowhere wasn’t easy and when you experience more wilderness you sacrifice some amenities, but all the good outweighed any little blemishes for us. This is the type of escape we prefer and what we want to expose Eloise to. We highly recommend you spend some time exploring this unique and less crowed part of Maine.