Peru, Maine camping sites offer family-friendly experiences amid the western Maine mountains between 500-1000 feet elevation. The area sits at the edge of the Mahoosuc Range with numerous ponds and streams accessible for recreation. Local campsites typically maintain seasonal operations from May through October, with varying levels of amenities depending on proximity to major lakes and ponds.
What to do
Hike nearby mountains: Mount Blue State Park Campground sits at the base of Mount Blue and provides easy access to Tumbledown Mountain. "A really great state run campground. Has all the basics and well spaced campsites. Tumbledown mountain is close by and a must to hike up. Also fun place nearby to pan for gold flakes," writes Peter F.
Pan for gold: Coos Canyon Campground and Cabins offers unique gold panning opportunities in Swift River. "Rent a pan or sluice from the Coos Canyon Rock and Gem shop a 3 min walk from the office and pan for gold in the river right from the campground," reports David B. The river offers additional recreational opportunities with "rock climbing, cliff jumping, swimming, fishing, a cute little sandy beach for the littles to play on."
Explore local waterways: Papoose Pond Family Campground and Cabins provides pond access with equipment rentals. "Pond with rentals, pool, mini golf, daily activities, crafts....so family friendly," notes Carrie T. The campground offers "Kayak/canoe rentals an amazing beach. Guided hikes. If you bring your own kayaks there is a river with a take out close to the campground."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Grafton Notch Campground maintains spotless bathrooms and showers. "Each gender has two stalls and one ADA-accessible shower. The shower has nice warm water and a great flow. There is also a very clean vault toilet," explains Lee D. Campers appreciate that "bathrooms are spacious and spotless."
Quiet atmosphere: Martin Stream Campground provides a peaceful camping experience. "The campground is wonderful; clean, quiet but with plenty to do," shares Tim M. Another camper noted it's "a beautiful property and very quiet," making it ideal for those seeking tranquility.
Family activities: Stony Brook Recreation and Campground offers numerous recreational options. "Nice pool and clean bathrooms with showers!! Playground for the kids and a rec hall with games and TV. There is a volleyball net as well," reports one family. Another camper appreciated that "Kids had fun at playground and playing games."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Most campgrounds in the region have limited connectivity. At Coos Canyon Campground and Cabins, "There was no cell service but wifi was available at the office." Similarly, at Grafton Notch Campground, campers report "No cell service but front desk has wifi."
Site privacy varies: Campgrounds offer different levels of privacy between sites. At Mount Blue State Park, "the sites are nice but not much privacy," though the facilities remain clean. Some campers noted that sites can feel "more convenience than privacy, but quiet."
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds operate from May through October. "Most locations in this region maintain seasonal operations, with peak season occurring in July and August." Martin Stream Campground specifies their season runs "May-October," with 21 available sites.
Tips for camping with families
Look for organized activities: Papoose Pond Family Campground offers extensive programming. "They have weekly events that we love! Tuesday trivia, Wednesday beach party, Thursday dance party, and Friday karaoke- the latter being the most fun!" writes Jessica W. The campground has "tons of activities for kids and adults, nightly entertainment, and lots more!"
Consider kitchen-equipped sites: Some campgrounds offer enhanced camping sites with cooking facilities. "We stay in an HHK which is a site that has its own electric stove, kitchen sink, covered picnic table, and small bathroom in the back! It's definitely more lux than a standard site, but it makes camping with kids insanely easy."
Choose spacious sites: Stony Brook Recreation and Campground offers "Spacious Kid Friendly" sites. "Campground has a lot of wide open space, and room between spots," notes Jason. Another review mentions that "sites are a little close to each other, but they're very long," providing adequate space for families.
Tips from RVers
Check hookup availability: Honey Run Campground and Beach offers full hookup capabilities for larger rigs. "We grabbed a tent site for 3 days and it had water and electric! You get a picnic table and fire ring," reports Drew P. The campground is noted as "big-rig friendly" with electric, water, sewer hookups and a sanitary dump station.
Plan for dump station limitations: Some campgrounds restrict dump station usage. At Martin Stream Campground, "you are only allowed ONE use at dump station upon leaving the campground," according to Rod L. Plan accordingly by arriving with empty tanks or checking the dump station policies before booking.
Consider seasonal sites: Many campgrounds offer seasonal options for extended stays. "Nice campground, we enjoyed our site next to the cabin that our friends stayed in. One thing to note, lots of returning seasonal campers," reports Christopher S. about Honey Run Campground and Beach, suggesting reliable quality that brings campers back annually.
