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Best Tent Camping near Gray, ME

811 Reviews

Tent campsites near Gray, Maine offer a mix of established grounds and dispersed options with varying levels of facilities. The White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road provides primitive tent camping with large, well-separated sites in a wooded setting, while Mac's Camping Area in Poland features 30 designated tent sites with both drive-in and boat-in access. Several options sit within a 30-minute drive of Gray, providing access to the region's forests and waterways.

Most tent campgrounds in the area provide basic amenities including fire rings and picnic tables, though facilities vary significantly between established and dispersed sites. Webbs Mills Stead offers walk-in tent access with fires allowed and drinking water available, despite lacking showers or permanent toilet facilities. Many primitive tent setups require campers to bring their own water filtration systems or sufficient water supplies. At White Mountains Camping, sites permit campfires but offer no other amenities—campers must pack out all trash and be prepared for self-sufficient camping without toilets or running water. These areas typically follow standard National Forest dispersed camping regulations, requiring sites to be at least 100-200 feet from water sources.

The forested terrain around Gray provides ample shade at most tent campsites, making summer camping more comfortable than exposed areas. Walk-in tent locations offer increased privacy and a more immersive wilderness experience than roadside sites. According to one visitor's review of White Mountains Camping, "It's easy to forget there are other people camping on other sites because they're so far apart. It's wonderfully relaxing and quiet." Several areas feature proximity to hiking trails and water bodies, making them ideal bases for day hiking or paddling adventures. While established campgrounds like Mac's Camping Area provide more creature comforts, including showers and water hookups, the primitive tent campgrounds deliver a more authentic outdoor experience with fewer neighbors and less ambient noise from RVs or cabins.

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Best Tent Sites Near Gray, Maine (24)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Gray, ME

15 Photos of 24 Gray Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Gray, ME

811 Reviews of 24 Gray Campgrounds

  • Sarah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 5, 2020

    Hastings Campground

    Wonderful Fall Location

    This quiet spot is perfect for late season camping in the fall in New England. It is relatively small but there is a host on site who was incredibly friendly and attentive. Situated just off the Wild River and off of major roads, Hastings was incredibly peaceful while we were there. The sites are nicely spaced out and most have small wooded sections in between them for privacy. Additionally, sites are meticulously kept as are the two pit toilets available. 

    There is a water spogit a short walk from most campsites. Each site has a fire ring with grate, clear flat spots for pitching a tent or backing in an RV. Since I'm not an RV camper, I didn't pay much attention to those ameneties. Sites have a nice picnic table as well. There is plenty of space at each site to pitch a tent or two as well as a canapoy of some sort if you want. 

    While this place can get busy in the summer season, it's perfect for those in between seasons and super close to some great hiking in the White Mountains!

  • L
    Aug. 20, 2021

    Desert of Maine Campground

    Aesthetically pleasing campground-- good for tent campers

    Desert of Maine campground is an excellent choice just 4-5 miles from the heart of Freeport at interstate exit # 22. This campground is well-imagined. Sites are close together, and some are small. There are 2 hike-in sites which are set apart. Wifi is provided throughout the campground and most sites have power. They must have studied "best practices" when designing this lovely campground. 

    I booked an extra night.

    This is an outdoor experience campground- not a wilderness adventure -- but perfect for young families…especially for those new to camping or those for whom a very sanitary classic bathroom is needed.Children find and entertain each other in the common area.

    Sites 19-27 face a shared square with excellent access to the modern and stylish bath house. Other sites have a somewhat further walk. Sites 17-27 are best for tents due to the configuration of the sites.. Tent sites # 2 & # 3 are short walk-in and very private, but lack easy access to the bath house. Almost all sites in this campground have shade and are under a beautiful canopy of old pine, maple and balsam.

    Site 24 is lovely & slightly set apart and cars are parked close by but not on the tent site. Site 27 is located down a steep slope and is very private but has difficult access. I would categorize site 27 as a hike-in site, but not # 24.  All sites are generally level and have been graded. Sites have scant privacy in front, but back up to forest. Sites 4, 6,17, 19, 23 & 26 have slightly more space but space is not the defining issue in this campground. RV's that are large should not try this campground. The maintenance is superb; and the thoughtful design of the overall campground is aesthetically pleasing. 

    This attractive campground is small-scale and personally managed. 

    Ice is available for purchase…as is wood. 

    Beware of speed trap on the 2 mile access road between the interstate & campground.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 10, 2024

    Beach Camping Area

    Motorcycle camping

    Next to river and had a major flood this spring. I was tent camping on motorcycle and tent site are on dirt due to flood. Tent Site consists of picnic table. No water or sewer or electrical. $43 a night and bring quarters for shower. Clean restrooms and showers but I feel way over priced for what was offered. Should have looked for alternate.

  • Justin P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 27, 2022

    Paugus Brook Farm

    Great field camping at a great location

    I stayed here tent camping on the way to some fishing on the Saco River.

    The location is a great place to either explore the immediate area (Mount Chocorua and Chocorua Lake) or head further north to Conway and North Conway).

    The camping area is a field in the back with fairly level ground and lots of space, and is a very short walk from the designated parking area.

    The outhouse is brand new and super clean and right nearby, though there are no picnic tables and fires aren’t permitted due to area fire restrictions.

    Communication with the host was fast and helpful.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 29, 2020

    White Ledge Campground

    Rustic with road noise, but great location for hiking, climbing, exploring

    White Ledge Campground is in the White Mountain National Forest and should not be confused with nearby White Lake State Park. Located a few miles south of the Kancamagus and Conway, you have ready access to the Carter Ledge trail up Mt Chocurua or shorter loop trails. 

    The sites are generally large and wooded. Designated tent sites are not suitable for RVs/trailers because the site may require a short walk or steps. Facilities include potable water and vault toilets. There are no hookups and no dump station. The lack of amenities contributes to the low fee of$20/night, though online reservation fees will add somewhat to that. If you want a shower, they are available at Jigger Johnson campground along the Kancamagus Hwy, about 20 minutes away.

    If you head up on a holiday weekend, get an early start or be ready for traffic. The loop for sites 14-28 parallels NH16; you WILL hear and even see road traffic and Rte 16 is busy.  Sites 2-5 are more open, larger, and suitable for RV or tent. Site 10 is a nicely wooded, level site for tent or RV. About half the sites are reservable. The campground is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

  • Heather P.
    Jul. 2, 2018

    White Lake State Park Campground

    Pristine clear lake with view of white mountains

    Primitive large campsites, no hookups...no water, no cable, no electric. Clean bathrooms and pay showers. Been camping here for over 30 years..in a tent originally and now a 30 ft trailer..been to many campgrounds with lots of amenities and activities and our kids would rather be here than anywhere else. Now our children will bring their children here, it feels like our second home.

  • Sarah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2020

    Wild River Wilderness Area

    Backcountry Wilderness Camping

    The Wild River Wilderness area spans both New Hampshire and Maine and can be accessed by multiple trail heads in either state. Route 113 (open seasonally late May/early June until the snow begins to fall) travels through the Evans Notch in the White Mountain National Forest and has multiple trail heads that enable you to access the Wild River Wilderness Area. This wilderness area is relatively new and is one of my favorites in the country.

    There are several established campsites in the Wilderness Area, most of which had shelters at one point that were taken down once it received the Wilderness designation. However, the areas are still established camping areas with tent cribbing and many have established fire rings and National Forest Service signage. I will try to add those camping areas and review them based on their names and not lump them into one review. 

    That being said, this particular review is focused on camping in the Wilderness outside of designated sites. In our household, we call this "bush crashing." In May of this year, the Dyrt magazine published a helpful article about this very thing and you can check it out here: https://thedyrt.com/magazine/lifestyle/free-camping-national-forests/

    There is plenty of "dispersed" (aka bush crashing) available in the Wild River Wilderness. Just keep in mind that some areas are not open to camping, mainly Forest Protection Areas that are generally located within a 1/4 mile from trail heads and established designated campsites. Otherwise, just find a spot 100-200 feet from water and the trail and you're golden. On this particular trip we parked at the Wild River Campground (fee required to park here) and headed into the woods via the Wild River Trail. Once you're in the wilderness area, keep your eyes pealed for any flat-ish spot up from the river and you won't be disappointed. 

    Just remember, dispersed camping can be a little bit of a shock if you're used to rolling up to an established and/or maintained camping area. It will not look like what you may expect, so don't be disheartened or deterred. You can still make a cozy home for the night. Be sure to bring a stove to cook one, as fires are not permitted outside of designated sites. Also be prepared to dispose of your solid human waste per Leave No Trace principles (back a WAG bag or trowel). There's a lot to explore and with the ability to camp just about anywhere you want, there's no need to worry about mileage or a camp site being full. The world is your oyster when you hone the art of bush crashing!

  • Sable W.
    Jun. 19, 2018

    White Lake State Park Campground

    Your experience will depend heavily on your neighbors!

    A friend and I decided to camp here before a backpacking trip in the Whites, to cut down on morning-of driving time. Our site, #02 on Loop 2, was in very close proximity to all of the neighboring sites. We had children on several sides, and a rowdy group of adult men on another side. Quiet hours are supposed to start at 10:00pm, but our rowdy male neighbors were up, playing music, talking loudly, and singing, until midnight. Then, just when we thought they were ready to settle in, they turned on a headlamp aimed directly into our tent. We are both very experienced car campers and backcountry campers, but even we struggled to get any rest through all the noise and light. The staff drove by a few times in a golf cart but never stopped to encourage this group to quiet down or use a little etiquette/common sense with their headlamp use. It wouldn't have been so much of a problem if the sites weren't SO close to each other. I attached a photo to show just how closely all the sites are situated; that's my backpacking tent, for scale.

  • JustinTimePizza
    Jan. 19, 2022

    Blackberry Crossing

    BlackBerry Crossing and the rest of the Kanc is great!

    My wife, neice, sister inlaw and myself stay here for a week every summer. The Swift River and Lower Falls is great on a hot day! We tent camp in an Ez-up 10×10 and have anotther tent that hooks to the 10x20 awning. The hosts are a friendly couple with their dog peanut. The camp site is great for free standing tents that dont need to be tied down this is NH so the ground is all granite so stakes do not work unless you camp out in the field but if it rain you wilp get wet. We like the sites to the far right and then to the far back left. Drive safe children at play. they have Vaulted toilets no running water but there is a spigot pump to fill a jug. in 15-25mins you can drive down to several different river tubing places, restaurants, grocery stores, walmart in North Conway. Its 25 a night 5 bucks for additional car cant beat that anywhere respect the campsite its bear country so keep ur food and coolers in ur cars at night and respect quiet hours the forest needs sleep too. All and all one of my favor spots in NH

Guide to Gray

Tent campsites near Gray, Maine range from basic primitive sites to those with modern comforts within a 30-minute radius. The region sits at the transition between coastal lowlands and interior foothills, with summer temperatures typically ranging from 55°F at night to 80°F during the day. Fall camping season extends into October with cooler temperatures and vibrant foliage displays throughout the surrounding forests.

What to do

Paddling access options: Several campgrounds offer direct water access for kayaks and canoes. At Mac's Camping Area in Poland, campers enjoy both drive-in and boat-in access with a private beach and boat launch. Jake C. reports, "Mac's camping has large RV Sites with access to their private beach & boat launch!"

Apple picking near Leeds: Fall campers can combine outdoor stays with orchard visits. Boothby's Orchard offers seasonal tent camping with apple picking opportunities. According to Asher K., "Make sure to check out some of the amazing hiking in the area if you stay here and dont forget to eat some apples."

River float adventures: The Saco River provides popular floating routes for summer recreation. Saco Bound serves as a base for river activities with camping right on the water. Brian P. notes, "Right on Saco river. Gets busy in the summer."

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Campers consistently praise locations with well-separated sites. At White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road, Amanda B. describes, "8 huge, beautiful campsites in the heavily wooded Evans Notch section of The White Mountains National Forest. It's easy to forget there are other people camping on other sites because they're so far apart."

Access to hiking trails: Proximity to trails ranks high for tent campers. Rhonda H. explains White Mountains Camping's appeal: "The sites are a great size and are surrounded by trees. The road is uphill. It is very quiet except for the occasional loud motorcycle that you might hear down on the main road."

Water features: Many campers value sites with nearby water. Jason R. shares about White Mountains Camping: "Creek runs through road near sites good for getting water to filter or washing. Trailhead at end of road."

What you should know

Cell service varies significantly: Coverage can be spotty at more remote sites. At White Mountains Camping, Kevin H. advises: "Just enough t-mobile / starlink signal to watch streaming and message, but wouldn't be enough for remote work so we went to the White Mountain National Forest Picnic area off the main road about 5 minutes away and had great signal."

Seasonal limitations: Many campgrounds operate only from May through mid-October. For example, Swans Falls Campground in Fryeburg runs from "May 26 to October 9" according to their listing.

Wildlife awareness needed: Some camping areas have active wildlife. At White Mountains Camping, Kt warns: "Upper two top sites beware of bears especially the right side site. Game trail heaven."

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly amenities: Campgrounds with planned activities keep children engaged. At Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach, Jill P. shares, "Kid activities were done regularly. Pizza and breakfast is very good if you don't want to cook. Outdoor movies were fun."

Beach shuttle services: Families appreciate easy beach access without parking hassles. Nancy W. notes about Sun Outdoors Saco, "In the summer there is a shuttle that takes you to the beach which is convenient. During the shoulder season dogs are allowed on the beach but not the summer."

Cabin options for mixed comfort levels: For families with members who prefer more comfort, cabins provide a middle ground. Rachel P. describes Sun Outdoors Saco: "K16 was a single room cabin that could comfortably sleep 4, furnished with a full-sized bed and a bunk bed. We were shocked to find that the cabin had electrical, lights and a small heater."

Tips from RVers

Site selection for privacy: RV campers value seclusion despite typically closer sites. Erin M. shares about Sun Outdoors Saco: "We stayed for 3 nights in a pop-up while my mother rented a cabin. We loved that were able to stay right next to each other and were still in nice wooded sites with an awesome space for the fire."

Table alternatives for primitive sites: When camping at basic sites, prepare for limited amenities. About White Mountains Camping, Amanda B. advises, "The only thing I regret not bringing with me is a table to put my camp stove on."

Weekend congestion planning: Popular water access points can become crowded on weekends. K R. warns about Swans Falls Campground: "On weekends there's a huge line up of people putting in to float down the river, which is busy and noisy. It calms down by afternoon."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Gray, ME is Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach with a 4.2-star rating from 22 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 24 tent camping locations near Gray, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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