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Tent Camping near Caratunk, ME

34 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

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    Tent campsites surrounding Caratunk, Maine offer primitive settings alongside scenic waterways and mountain trails. Magic Falls Adventures Campground provides tent sites along the river with fire rings and picnic tables, while the more remote Round Barn Campsites features walk-in tent areas with pit toilets. Maine Huts & Trails system connects multiple backcountry tent camping locations across 35 square miles in the Carrabasset Valley, allowing hikers to access established tent sites near trail huts.

    Most primitive tent sites in the region require campers to obtain fire permits before starting campfires. The Little Moose Public Lands area maintains several first-come, first-served tent sites with 14-day maximum stays and carry-in, carry-out waste policies. Walk-in tent sites at Round Barn Campsites are accessible via rough roads that require careful navigation. Sites typically include basic amenities like stone fire rings and picnic tables, with vault toilets at larger established areas. Many sites in the Bigelow Preserve offer sandy, level surfaces for tents but minimal facilities. According to one visitor, "The campsite is really large in a nice open cleared spot with some large trees for shade."

    Backcountry tent camping in this region provides direct water access at many locations. The Bigelow Preserve campsites feature multiple tent pads with excellent mountain views and lake or stream frontage. Tent sites at Trout Pond Campsite and Little Notch Pond Campsite offer secluded settings with direct pond access for fishing and paddling. Morning loon calls and evening owl hoots create an immersive natural soundscape for tent campers. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with moose sightings common near water sources. Most remote tent sites experience minimal crowding except on peak summer weekends. A camper wrote that Round Barn provides "remote sites with privacy and great views" where "you won't feel crowded like at Baxter or Grafton notch areas."

    Best Tent Campgrounds near Caratunk (34)

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      1. Magic Falls Adventures Campground

      4.0(1)8mi from Caratunk2 sitesTents, Glamping

      "Cheap spots right next to the river. It was also right off the high way so we heard trucks all night, but I found it pretty reasonable."

      from $25 - $100 / night

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      2. Maine Huts & Trails

      5.0(1)10mi from CaratunkTents, Cabins

      "What an impressive set up. Multiple huts laid out over 35 square miles in the heart of the Carrabasset Valley."

      from $100 - $150 / night

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      3. Round Barn Campsites

      5.0(2)13mi from CaratunkTents

      "There were even people camping in their rooftop tents. Sites that I saw looked great, trails need some maintenance though, and some of the sites need clean up."

      "Round barn campsites offers a dozen or so tent sites with two big group sites. It will pretty consistently have some campers, but I've never seen all the sites full before."

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      4. Moose Falls Campsite — Bigelow Ecological Reserve

      4.0(1)16mi from CaratunkTents

      "My daughter and I stayed there last Friday night and shared the site with some wonderful people. Site was quiet and really felt like one was “in” the Maine woods. 4 platforms and a privy."

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      5. Bigelow Col Campsite — Bigelow Ecological Reserve

      5.0(2)21mi from CaratunkTents

      "Despite contending with a fair share of mosquitoes, the tranquility of the location made it all worthwhile. The campsite, offering access to the lake, was a real gem."

      "Some areas fit small tents with no fire rings."

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      6. Trout Pond Campsite

      4.0(1)20mi from CaratunkTents

      "This primitive campsite is located in the Little Moose Public Lands area about five miles from downtown Greenville, Maine. The public lands area is approximately 15,000 acres."

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      7. Little Notch Pond Campsite

      4.0(1)20mi from CaratunkTents

      "The Little Notch Pond campsite is located in the Little Moose Public Lands area in Greenville, Maine."

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      8. Myer's Lodge East

      3.0(2)21mi from CaratunkTents

      "we had a blast having water access right from our site and the ability to park within steps of our tent."

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      9. Upper Gravel Pit - Dispersed

      3.0(2)21mi from CaratunkTents

      "Great spot is you don't mind dry camping. Amazing views of the surrounding mountains. There are two sites and plenty of space between them."

      10. Northeast Whitewater Lodge

      4.0(1)21mi from CaratunkTents, Glamping

      "All camping is walk-in as you can’t drive to your site but most campsites and yurts are not too far away."

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    Recent Tent Camping Photos near Caratunk, ME

    19 Photos of 34 Caratunk Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers

    Tent Camping Reviews near Caratunk, ME

    250 Reviews of 34 Caratunk Campgrounds

    • Nancy W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 24, 2026

      Rangeley Lake State Park Campground

      Fall camping at its best!

      This campground is located in one of the prettiest places in Maine during the fall. The expansive views are magnificent! Rangely State Park is fairly small with just over 800 acres but has lots to do other than camping like hiking, wildlife watching, photography, fishing, hunting, and lots of winter sports. 

      The campground at Rangeley Lake State Park has 50 sites which are well-spaced and most are close to the lakeshore. There is not much in the way of amenities except a picnic area, playground, and a boat launch with docks(in fact, there are canoes for rent on-site). A“beach” area has picnic tables with grill and stairs leading down to the swimming area. Make sure you wear shoes because the beach is more rocky than sandy. A short-forested hiking trail (slightly less than a mile) runs from the park entrance to the contact station. There are bathrooms, showers, water fill-up, dish washing station. Two dump stations are located near the entrance and are level and easily accessible. There is also a potable water fill-up near the dump stations. There are very few sites that will accommodate big-rigs as many are short. The website and reservation system has a map which identifies what size RV fits in each site. The larger and more private sites are 23 through 48. Some sites have electric and water and some are primitive. Many sites can be reserved in advance on-line (with a two-night minimum and max stay of two weeks). The campground does have quiet hours between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m which all campers abided by. By in large, this was a pretty quiet campground with most people keeping to themselves and void of loud music and parties. A couple of things to beware of are bugs and booze. Be prepared for black flies and mosquitoes, particularly in the spring and summer. Plus, ticks can be really bad so make sure you do tick checks regularly. And, park rules prohibit use of intoxicating beverages in public areas. We did all our drinking discretely at our site and didn’t have any problems.   

      Nearby is the Height of Lands which provides amazing expansive views, especially in the summer. The town of Rangely has the largest grocery store in the area, restaurants, and some shops and a theater. The nearby town of Oquossoc has a great brewpub(the Portage Tab House) and a great little historical outdoor-themed museum which is very interesting.

    • Nancy W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 24, 2026

      Leisure Life Family Resort

      Rustic Campground Adjacent to Hotel and Restaurant

      This facility is a unique combination of campground(RV and tent), hotel, restaurant, bar, and golf driving range. Camping is in a grassy field or tucked into the woods. There are no hook-ups and no dump station. Sites are dispersed and have a fire pit and picnic table. Campsites are very affordable- the price is $25/night for two people and$10 for each additional person which means the price for four people would be$45/site (plus a 9% Maine tax). Some sites are tucked in the woods and more private, while others are more open. The grass was mowed and the campsites were clean. There is a bathhouse but it a quite a distance from the campsites. Amenities include a small catch and release trout pond (with a peddle boat available for use), volleyball net, and driving range. Access to snowmobiling and ATVing(which is really big in the area) is adjacent to the property. There is a restaurant and bar onsite but it is only open in the evenings three days a week and not open when we were there. However, the town of Greenville is very close with more dining options (we especially loved pizza from Jamos). 

      The surrounding area has lots of hiking trails and places to paddle. We loved paddling Prong Pong and Lilly Bay State Park and hiking in Little Moose Public Lands. Fall is a great time to visit this area as the autumn colors are fantastic. Another great time to come is for the International Seaplane Fly-in in early September when hundreds of seaplanes come for the event.

    • WThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 10, 2026

      Cupsuptic Lake Park & Campground

      Car camping

      Car camped Friday October 9, Columbus Day weekend, their last open weekend. CG was mostly full. Sites are too tightly packed for my liking and tent camping cost $38. Staff was neither friendly or unfriendly. Shower facilities were quite nice. Spacious with lots of room to shower and change without risk of getting clothes wet.

    • Dana M.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 30, 2026

      Rangeley Lake State Park Campground

      Great Little Campground

      This is our second time here. We stopped here again because it’s close to Mtn Biking in the area. Bathrooms were clean. Shower pressure amazing.

    • CThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 6, 2026

      Cathedral Pines Campground

      Excellent night

      We got the last site. I assumed it would be a blah experience- I don’t usually stay at giant campgrounds with RV camping- I had it all wrong though. What a great place! It’s a very quiet, respectful place. Families everywhere who all are respectful- no screaming kids, drunk campers or barking dogs. Everywhere you saw folks walking, peddling bikes, rollerblading, and scooters. Kids playing happily in the park or having an old-school experience. The sites were spaces out enough so you have privacy with neighbors nearby. We lucked out that a blues band was rocking the pavilion- a great, friendly party where all ages were grooving and having fun. The lake boasts gorgeous views of The Bigs which I couldn’t get enough of. I’m not going to lie- most of the plates were Maine on Labor Day weekend. This strikes me as a home-based vacation that many Maine-ahs enjoy again and again. This Maine-ah will stay again on our next hike…

    • CThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 6, 2026

      Mountain View Motel & Campground

      We left

      There are 11 or 12 sites- each are right on top of each other in a very small space. Very small. We looked at each site and only two have a level space for a small tent. Seriously- angles everywhere because it is not a flat space. My recommendation to the owner would be to cut the number in half, 5 or 6 sites AFTER you truck in some material to flatten the areas. This “campground “ screams money grab and ripoff. We continued to a different place and had a fabulous night. It would have sucked at the motel site.

    • Roberta S.The Dyrt Pro User
      Aug. 9, 2026

      Spencer's Cove

      Free boondocking

      The only amenities are a fire ring, picnic table, and a vault toilet. 5 sites at the first spot, about 13 at the larger site down the road. You need to register at the second site, but there's no fee. Beautiful spots on the lake.

    • Roberta S.The Dyrt Pro User
      Aug. 5, 2026

      Bigelow Col Campsite — Bigelow Ecological Reserve

      Great boondocking site by Flagstaff Lake

      This is a first- come- first- serve area. There are only 4 fire pits and tables, and turnover seems pretty steady. Some areas fit small tents with no fire rings.

    • Kathy D.The Dyrt Pro User
      Jul. 16, 2026

      Moose Creek RV Resort

      Moose Creek RV resort

      Love this place . Super well maintained & clean! Just booked 2 more weeks for the fall

    Guide to Caratunk

    Tent camping near Caratunk, Maine offers backcountry experiences within the 15,000-acre Little Moose Public Lands area and throughout the Bigelow Preserve. Temperatures during summer nights often drop to the 40s and 50s°F despite warm days. Most locations sit at elevations between 1,000-1,500 feet with higher camps providing mountain views across the rugged Carrabassett Valley.

    What to do

    Pond fishing access: Trout Pond Campsite provides direct pond access with fishing opportunities for native brook trout. A camper noted, "Access to the trailhead leading to the campsite is well-marked and there is a nice large parking lot. Head down the relatively easy trail (about 250 feet elevation change) for about ¾ of a mile until you reach the campsite" where you can enjoy water activities.

    Mountain hiking: Maine Huts & Trails maintains an extensive network connecting primitive campsites to backcountry huts. "Multiple huts laid out over 35 square miles in the heart of the Carrabasset Valley. Trails lead you into a paradise of Maine's backcountry," notes one visitor, mentioning the various huts available to explore.

    Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk offer prime moose viewing opportunities, especially near ponds. The Northeast Whitewater Lodge area offers dedicated moose tours from their location. According to a visitor, "This is also where you can book a moose tour, rafting trip, or inflatable kayaks if you are feeling adventurous."

    What campers like

    Lakefront camping: Myer's Lodge East sites offer direct water access with mountain views. One camper described, "My fiancé and I tented here over the weekend and although it was chilly at night (33F!) we had a blast having water access right from our site and the ability to park within steps of our tent."

    Private tent spots: Round Barn Campsites features secluded sites including a unique island location. A visitor shares, "The best tent site is on the island just offshore accessible by sandbar which is usually just knee deep. The cove makes for safe swimming away from the wind and waves offshore."

    Natural soundscape: Several campsites feature distinctive natural sounds. At Bigelow Col Campsite, "The echoing calls of loons during both day and night created an immersive natural ambiance, and the hooting owls added to the enchanting soundscape after sunset."

    What you should know

    Fire permit requirements: Most areas require fire permits before starting campfires. At Little Notch Pond Campsite, "You do need to obtain a permit (call 207-695-3721) prior to kindling a fire and can collect firewood but many of it is wet and unseasoned."

    Road conditions: Access roads to many sites require careful driving. One camper at Round Barn Campsites advised, "The Road is rough, but with care you can get there, just go slow."

    Facility limitations: Most primitive sites have minimal facilities. Upper Gravel Pit camping area has "no utilities, potable water, restroom, or garbage facilities so bring the water your need and carry out your trash."

    Tips for camping with families

    Proximity camping: Magic Falls Adventures Campground offers more developed facilities suitable for families. One visitor mentioned it "would be great for a big family or group because it would all be close together. They supplied all the sites with bottle/can and trash cans."

    Beach areas: Some locations feature small beaches perfect for children. Round Barn Campsites offers "a nice beach area big enough to accommodate however many people you bring" making it ideal for family swimming.

    Bathroom considerations: Most backcountry sites have primitive toilet facilities. At Little Notch Pond, the toilet "is essentially a toilet seat on an open wooden frame with chicken wire around it," which might require preparation for children unaccustomed to primitive facilities.

    Tips from RVers

    Limited RV options: Most camping near Caratunk is tent-only with minimal RV access. A visitor to Myer's Lodge East warns, "It mentioned on this site that it's for RV parking, but that isn't accurate. There is a parking lot (which you cannot camp in) and you must walk in (tent only)."

    Nearby dump stations: For RVs staying in the region, services are available nearby. At Upper Gravel Pit, a camper notes, "There is a dump station at the nearby Moosehead Family Campground" for those needing to service their vehicles.

    Parking limitations: Little Notch Pond Campsite requires hikers to leave vehicles at the trailhead. "Entrance to the trailhead leading to the campsite is well-marked and there is a nice large parking lot," notes one camper, making it important for RVers to have alternative transportation methods from their parked vehicles.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular tent campsite near Caratunk, ME?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Caratunk, ME is Magic Falls Adventures Campground with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

    What is the best site to find tent camping near Caratunk, ME?

    TheDyrt.com has all 34 tent camping locations near Caratunk, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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