Best RV Parks & Resorts near Greenville, ME

Lily Bay State Park is a great facility.  Most of their sites offer shade.  While the sites do not provide RV hookup ability, there is a dump station on site.  The tenting only sites are premier locations; large and generously spaced.  Almost all of the campsites are spaced well, with screening between them.  The facilities are well maintained.   This was real pleasure to visit in leaf peeping season!

While we don’t usually stay in private campgrounds due to their high cost, the price was reasonable for the quality of this campground and amenities provided. We were in need of a shower and a place for the night and this campground was perfectly situated off the highway to Greenville. 

Most of the sites are designed for larger RVs with full hook-ups, but they have just a handful of simple tent/small camper sites without services, which is exactly what we needed.   Just a picnic table and fire ring and some privacy and we were happy campers.

The shower house was newly remodeled and very clean, as was the laundry facility with dishwashing/utility sink. The campground has access to over 1000 miles of trails, which are designed for ATV’s. They even have an ATV washing station. While it was not open in late September, the campground offers a nice pool, game room for the kids of all ages, a small camp store, and even has a snack bar and ice cream counter.  And, if you are seeking some amazing hiking, it's relatively close to Borestone Mountain and sections of the Appalachian Trail.

The young husband and wife team who own/run the place are very sweet folks who seem to really pay attention to the needs of their customers.  For instance, they recently spent a good deal of money on high speed wifi because that is what their customers said they wanted.  We didn't need it, so can't comment on its quality, but it's there if you do.

Basically this is a small independent RV park split between season RV campers and regular RV campers. The only reason for a tent camper to go is to take advantage of the laundry room and the nicely scrubbed showers. It’s 5 minutes from Skowhegan and a short 2 minutes from Kennebec Banks rest area on route 2.

There are about 5 tent sites– two of which are on a small point stretching into the confluence of the great Kennebec River and the small Wesserunsett River. 

The only two tent sites I would recommend are #50 & #51 on the point with # 51 being most desirable. I absolutely would not recommend any of the other tent sites for various reasons. I used site #51 and pitched my tent about 20ft from the Kennebec. At 6:45am  I saw two bald eagles patrolling the Kennebec. 

The RV sites that are interesting are the ones directly along the Kennebec. They are sites 39-45; 47A; 47B; 47C; 48; and, they park parallel to the river. Otherwise, it’s a very tight center filled with RV’s and very large motor homes. Sites # 52– 58 may look like they are water sites… but the water feature on the map is only a brushy swamp. 

The 2 showers are very good, clean and include a bench. There are 2 flush toilets also sparkling clean; but, they are some distance from The Point. The 24hour self-operated laundry is housed in a small, dedicated bungalow. There are 2-3 docks and canoes to use. 

At night, one can clearly hear the noise from route 2 just at the edge of the campground. The river amplifies the sound of cars passing by.

Nice large, level site with water and electric hookups. Large, clean shared bathrooms with good water pressure.

Loads of amenities - general store with basic supplies, tons of activities for kids, pool, atv trail access and walking trails.

Was here in the fall. Campground was quiet and there were no crowds for the bathroom. Very enjoyable.

Northern Pride is a 5-bedroom lodge and RV and tent campground. The property sits adjacent to the 8-mile-long Roach Pond (which is more like a lake because of its size and deep water but the state of Maine classifies body of water a pond if there is water flowing in and out of it versus a lake that is contained and has no input or outfall). 

The campground has a mix of tent and RV sites. The RV sites are 20-amp electric and water with the exception of one(transient) site that is 30-amp and water. Sites are level and are back-ins so your back window has a view of the pond. Tent sites sit right between the shore and RV sites with an unobstructed view of the pond. Tent sites are large, open grassy areas far enough from the RV sites so you don’t feel like you have an RV staring at you. RV sites are pretty close together and all but two are seasonal sites. The seasonal sites were pretty junky when we visited and many campers needed to do a little cleaning up at their sites. Most people just come for the weekend to enjoy the pond so it is pretty quiet during the week. Tent and RV sites cost$35 and$40(respectively) for two people. If you have more people, it costs$3/person/night which seems like it could get quite expensive for a family of five, especially since you only have minimal electric and water. There is no sewer and the pump out service was quite steep at$50/pump out (both grey and black) and is only available on Wednesdays- so plan accordingly. Hot showers are available so you can save tank space by not showering in your RV. All sites have picnic tables and fire rings. Many of the firepits looked like they were dumpsters as they were filled with cardboard, paper plates, and other trash. Firewood is available for$6/milk crate sized amount. The lodge serves meals if you don’t feel like cooking you can order a la carte or there is the Kokadjo Trading Post just a short walk away which has some groceries and good burgers. The owner is a registered Master Maine Guide and they offer fishing and hunting trips (for a fee). There also have kayak, canoe, and a 16-foot motorboat for rent. 

There is a public boat launch right next to the campground if you have your own boat. Since the property is right on the water it is convenient to launch a canoe or kayak and the views of the surrounding mountains make for a great paddling destination. The closest town with services is Greenville that is about 20 miles away. The road from Greenville is a newly paved road that is easy to navigate. If you come from elsewhere, it’s best to call for directions and not follow your GPS because many roads are for ATVs only.

The sites are good size, roomier than most rv parking lots as I call them.they have planted some evergreens so in s few yrs they’ll be some trees, but the way the spots are placed makes u not on top of your neighbor. The premiums are better. Beautiful new bathrooms with beautiful showers that are for male or female, which i loved, also had the handicapped and elderly in mind building the showers. I went it mid Oct so there were no crowds but they had a beautiful pool that was closed, newer laundry and never had to add more money to the dryers, lots of amenities for the kids and the pond was on property but I did not get to fish because the weather had taken a bad turn. I would stay here again in a heartbeat. We were trying to find moose and did not succeed but saw deer a few times, a red Fox, a grouse, turkey, a great blue heron and numerous ducks so wildlife is around. I thought the prices were reasonable

Campground Review

I headed to the Millinocket area because I wanted to explore the new Katahdin Woods & Waters (KWW)National Monument, Baxter SP, ponds and byways. Staying at Wilderness Edge proved to be an ideal location with full amenities. It’s convenient to each of these areas without requiring an extensive drive to any of them. My visit was very early in the season ( late May/early June) and the trails to peaks at Baxter state Park were still closed, so it was quiet. The sites are in two sections, with tenters up the hill in an area I did not have time to explore, and a lower section with hookups for RVs. The RV sites offer electrical and water. The location of the hookups is somewhat unusual and inconsistent. My site had the connections on the right side of my camper once I had backed it in, so I had to be careful about placement or have longer cords. It then made sense why Marcel explained that some campers like to park parallel to the camp road to create some privacy,

My site (6) was large and level, backing up to the woods and with trees between the sites providing some privacy. There were no sites directly opposite mine as the loop road turned and went up a hill. The very clean bathrooms are up the hill, providing free hot showers and also a dishwashing sink.

There’s a small camp store with a selection of necessities, just in case you need a map or forgot a backpack, etc. They’ll deliver firewood to your site. There was wi-fi available, strongest near the bathroom, but I had more than adequate cell phone coverage (Verizon) at my site, that I did not need to use the wifi. There’s a pool and a play area near the entrance.

This is not a campground packed with seasonal sites; they only have 2 seasonal campers. Instead, the campground fills with families, singles, couples, looking for a quiet camp setting with amenities. The amenities do come at a price, costing more than other campgrounds, but also providing more.

If you want to explore, the Discover Katahdin app is great for identifying hikes or paddles, etc. so be sure to install it to help with your planning. It’s also worth stopping by the Moose Prints Gallery in Millinocket. Anita provided some excellent suggestions for wildlife watching and paddling. If you’d like a guide, Marcel is happy to offer small tours.

In town there are a variety of shops, including groceries, dollar stores, and hardware.

Product Review: GCI Outdoors Compact Camp Table 20

As a ranger with The Dyrt I sometimes get to test and review camping equipment. On this trip, I was able to review the GCI Outdoors Compact Camp Table 20 (it also comes in a larger, 25” size). This is a great little table with telescoping legs (love the squeeze mechanism to get them to collapse), giving you two height options while occupying very small space in your vehicle while traveling. You may find yourself using it for more than just camping (I saw one in a picture of a recent tailgate party). It’s aluminum top allows you to place a hot pot on it. It can handle a substantial weight and doesn’t feel wiggly. It’s great for dinner by the campfire!

Lily Bay is located nine miles north of the town of Greenville and in one of the best regions to explore Maine’s wilderness. The park sits on the shoreline of Moosehead Lake and provides plenty of outdoor activities. There is a nice, fairly short (2-3 mile) hiking trail along the shoreline and through the woods and there are many other great mountain hiking trails in the area (like#4 Mountain and Whitecap Mountain). Two boat launches are adequate to launch trailered boats and great for kayaks and canoes. There are floating docks so you can leave your boat in the water during your stay. Other amenities include a swim beach and playground. Ice and firewood are available at the gatehouse which is convenient because there is not too much immediately surrounding the park. Grocery, gas, restaurants, etc. are located about 10 miles away in the town of Greenville. 

All sites are primitive with no water or electricity with water spigots and vault toilets scattered throughout. The park is divided into two loops with a “comfort station” that is a bathhouse with toilets and free hot showers (located between the two loops). It is a bit far to walk to from campsites but there is parking in front of the building. A dishwashing sink is located at the comfort station which is handy. There is a dump station with potable water and non-potable water to flush your tanks before you leave but there is only one sewer outlet so it gets pretty busy when there are a lot of check-outs on Sunday morning so you may have a bit of a wait to dump. The campground is heavily treed and gets pretty dark so a flashlight or headlamp is a good thing to bring along. 

This campground is pretty quiet with spacious sites are spacious and lots of trees for privacy and shade. The campground has walk-in tent sites and other drive-in sites suitable for RVs and tents. Generators are allowed so if you are tenting you may want to book a walk-in site away from where RVs park. The best sites are those right on the water which provide superb views of Moosehead Lake. While most of the RV tent sites are long enough to fit big-rigs, beware that park staff does very little in the way to trim trees along the roads and at the sites and you will scratch your rig navigating around the loops. The road to, and inside, the park was recently paved and are smooth and easily traversed. 

Lily Bay is a nice quiet place to hang out, fish, paddle and enjoy the surrounding trails. Nearby is the B-52 Memorial Crash site being an interesting place to visit. Kokadjo is the closest town to the north and has a general store/deli so you can pick up something to eat on your way to exploring the beautiful Maine north woods. Rum Pond is a nice place to hike if you are interested in seeing moose. We saw tons of droppings along the trail and finally saw a beautiful bull moose in one of the ponds.  The second weekend in September is the International Seaplane Fly-in in Greenville which is a wonderful event attracting hundreds of seaplanes.

This campground on the shore of Flagstaff Lake features large level sites nestled among towering pines, both with and without hookups (w/e; dump station available). There are clean showers, flush toilets, laundry, wifi in some locations, a campers only and a public beach, opportunities for canoeing and kayaking Flagstaff lake with rentals available if you didn't bring your own. Get a lakeside site to watch the sunrise, but know that the sites don't necessarily provide easy access for launching a canoe or kayak. I've used this campground as a basecamp as I was bagging the Maine 4000-footers in the area. It's a great place to return and relax after climbing the Bigelow range, Sugarloaf & Spaulding, the Crockers, even Saddleback, although that's a little farther away. If riding an ATV on the many area trails is your thing, just be aware that ATVs can't be ridden in the campground. In the evenings or early mornings you can explore the area in search of moose. There's a small rec hall as well as a cabin for games/reading/puzzles on a rainy day. There's also a playground and you'll often see kids riding around. It's a gated campground, so you'll get a gate pass for a $10 deposit, refundable upon return. There's a gas station/general store nearby. Group camping sites are separate from the individual sites. Reservations are low-tech…although you can inquire about availability via email, give them a call to make the reservation (or send a letter) because deposit is required at time of reservation. This is a beautiful non-profit campground I've returned to each time I'm in the area.

Small campground with 36 RV and tent sites located just a couple of miles from downtown Greenville. The owners are very nice and helpful and are always busy working in the campground. The campground has lots of large trees and narrow roads which make it very difficult for big rigs. In fact, there was only one of two sites in the front section that would fit our 45’ motorhome. The back section of the park was way too tight for us to navigate. 

Our site (#25) was a long pull thru that sloped down in the front and took a bit for us to get level and our front steps were pretty high off the ground. We had 50-amp electric which worked fine and a water hookup. Since we had a clear view to the sky, we were able to use our satellite television. Due to the campground’s location in a remote part of Maine, I’m sure our over-the-air antenna would not have worked. They did have wifi which worked great at out site. The tent sites are located off to themselves in a wooded area not too far from the bathrooms. The back section of the campground is heavily treed with nice amounts of shade. Most of the sites have good separation from the neighboring site and privacy. The fire pits have grates next to them so you can cook over the fire. There are garbage cans scattered about the campground which makes it easy to dump your trash. No sewer at any sites but there is a dump station and they offer a pump out service for$20. We contemplated using the dump station but the roads were so tight that it would have been difficult for us to pull into it and our RV would have scrapped lots of trees. There are apple trees everywhere in the campground. The owner said he does rake them but so apparently it was a banner year, so there were tons of apples which meant that you did get a smell from the rotting ones. The bathrooms were old and pretty nasty and we didn’t want to use the toilet, much less shower there. Despite having a pull thru site, we had to back out because we would have had to go thru the back part of the park and because of the low hanging trees without scraping our RV. Also, the turn into the campground from the main road (Route 6) is very tight and we ended up having to go into the other lane and take up the whole road in order to make the turn in. 

We did like the proximity of this campground to downtown Greenville. The area is beautiful with great hiking, boating, and fishing. Just a short drive away is the east outlet of the Kennebec River which is renowned for its fly fishing. Some touristy things to do are a boat ride on the Katahdin (an old steam ship), ferry ride over to Mt. Kineo for hiking with a great view, and a drive out to the B-52 crash site.

This small, family run campground is a nice spot to get off the grid and explore western Maine. I stayed here because of its proximity to the Fire Warden trail up Mt. Abram; I like to get up and on the trail early, so this was an ideal location. It's not far to the peaks in the Bigelow Preserve, Sugarloaf, Spaulding, or the Crockers, either. It is a 4-hour drive from Boston, so it's not a quick getaway from there.

Each wooded site is relatively level and offers water and electric hookups, all for a price on par with state parks without utilities (even after tax is added to fees, you're still under $25/night). Bring cash or a check because they don't accept credit cards. Although they don't offer sewer, they do offer a dump station. I was in a tent. They do not offer wi-fi and your cell phone isn't much good either. Bathrooms are clean and hot showers are free. I was there late in the season, so the campground wasn't full. It was quiet.

Although I was there to hike, I checked out the Tufts Pond, a short walk across the street from the main campground, It is a nice place to swim, canoe/kayak, or fish in season. And at the beginning of my hike I saw a lot of ATVs out on the trails. There is also an open field area and a playground at the campground.

I bought wood when i checked in and there is a small store. Kingfield offers a grocery store as well. Kingfield also offers a few dining options if you're not up to cooking your meals.

We are a full-time traveling family (2 kids - 8 & 13) and 2 English Bulldogs. We have a Class A motorhome and flat tow a Jeep. We stayed here in June for 11 nights in site B6 and loved it! Owners Matt & Jamie are wonderful and we left feeling like we had stayed at a friend's place. Our site was great because we could see the kids at the playground and the pool, but there were many great sites a bit more tucked away as well. The kids also loved the Saturday night movie they would play on the big screen as well as the movie rental options available for personal use while there. We did not use the ATV trails that are directly off the campground, but they were great! We did, however, rent an ATV from Northwoods Outfitters in Greenville (just 20 minutes away) and it was our favorite activity yet! 

The campground is within 20 minutes drive or so to Hannaford grocery and there is a great little market, Whitney's Market, even closer in Guilford. Greenville is also about 20 minutes away and is a wonderful little town to visit with great restaurants and boating/ATVing options. 

Highly recommend visiting Central Maine and definitely stay at Balsam Woods!

We enjoy our weeks on Moosehead Lake. Lily Bay Campground has spacious and wooded. The staff is very helpful and friendly. There is a beach and a playground. A clean shower and flush toilet facility. The sites have pit toilets that are plentiful and well maintained. Pets are welcomed. There is a boat launch and if you get a water site you can launch your canoe or kayak from there. The hosts clean the sites after check out so they are clean and ready for the next guests. There are no hookups, electric or water on site. Water is available at faucets every few sites. There is a dump station and there is potable water to fill you fresh water tank there. Plenty of hiking, fishing opportunities. You can take a short ride to Greenville for shopping, restaurants, laundry and a hospital. We are Mainers, but Lily Bay always feels like getting away.

 There are a few times in your travels when you find someplace you never want to leave. It’s the kind of place where you pull in and it just feels right and we found ourselves at the registration desk extending your stay…and again…and again. The Birches Resort and Campground in Rockwood, Maine was that slice of paradise we absolutely loved. 

The Birches is perched on Moosehead Lake about 30 minutes north of Greenville which is a pretty small town (we’re talking population 1,600) with a few restaurants, a fly fishing shop, a great grocery/outdoor/camping/clothing store and a scattering of interesting attractions like an old passenger ship offering lake excursions. There is a ferry over to Mt. Kineo which has spectacular hiking and definitely worth spending an afternoon. There is great fishing in the area in numerous rivers and lakes. 

The Birches has a magnificent historic lodge dating back to the 1930’s that is warm and comforting and smells of wood burning fires, fresh coffee, and salty bacon. There are only a handful of campsites (for RV’s and tents) and a bunch of cabins all with great views. Don’t be expecting to have all your creature comforts of television, wifi, and phone service because they are nonexistent or sketchy at your site. However, the lodge provides all those services where you can enjoy them by the fire or at the bar. There is also a full-service restaurant serving three meals a day with delicious comfort food like Thanksgiving turkey dinner, slow roasted prime rib, and French onion soup. RV sites can be a little tight for larger RVs but we were able to manage. The best campsite (#5) backs up to the lake so your patio and fire pit are right there on the water and provide spectacular sunrises. Our site was 30-amp which was fine for us as we were there in October and didn’t need air conditioning. Since no one else was coming into the site next to us, we were allowed to pull in such that we took up two spots and overlooked the marina. There was water but no sewer however the dump station was easy to access and never very busy since the campground is so small. The tent sites are located farther away from the lodge and facilities but are spacious and private with great water views. The sites are surrounded by trees so you get some shade if you want or can be in the open sunny areas. Each tent site has its own garbage can so you don’t have to trek over to the dumpster. There are also picnic tables, rock-lined fire rings, low electric hook-up, and a water spigot. The restroom/showers were older but clean and we did not mind showering there which meant we didn’t have to pack up the RV and dump our tanks during our stay. They do have a hot tub for those who like to soak in steaming water. 

We absolutely loved our stay at the Birches. Having the lodge for warm fires, cold beer, and hot meals was a definite plus. There are so many outdoor activities between hiking, fishing, paddling, and just enjoying the natural beauty. There are boat rentals and seaplane flights you can book for sightseeing and a launch for boats/paddle craft. We will definitely be back.

Campground Review:

This large state park has two loops located on the shore of Moosehead Lake in Greenville Maine. Many of the sites are on or have a view of the water. They are large and, in general, private. The campground map includes letters to indicate the rig size each site can accommodate. Tent only sites generally require you to walk in from a parking area, many taking you closer to the water.  When I arrived, it was quite windy and I was grateful that my site in the Rowell loop was a little farther away from the water. The sites are wooded. Both loops have boat launches. There’s a playground and beach. At night you can enjoy the call of the loons; that was the only sound I heard at night during my stay, but I had few neighbors so early in the season (late May)

Because of its proximity to the water, the toilets in the loops are all vault toilets. There is a centralized bathroom with flush toilets, showers, and dishwashing sinks.

This is a great location for fishing and boating on the lake or nearby ponds, hiking peaks as part of the Pinnacle Pursuit in the greater Greenville area, exploring the B-52 crash site memorial, or seeking out moose on small ponds and logging roads. If you want some assistance finding moose, check out the moose tours that run out of Greenville, but you’ll likely have success at Lazy Tom Bog, the Maine DOT lot on your way into Greenville from the south, or on any of the logging roads at sunrise or dusk.

2-bar cell service on Verizon at some areas in the campground (I had coverage at my campsite, but not in the more central locations and not on Lily Bay Rd).

Product Review

As a ranger for the Dyrt, I sometimes get to review equipment that is useful when camping. During this trip, I was able to review a GCI Roadtrip Rocker. I already own (and love) a Freestyle Rocker and wanted to compare it to the Roadtrip.

The Roadtrip Rocker has a taller back and a deeper seat, so it’s more comfortable, providing greater support under the thighs. They both have a cloth pocket for holding drinks. The rocking mechanism seemed less consistent…depending on the terrain, it didn’t always seem to feel as smooth. Shorter friends found it less comfortable.

The Roadtrip folds up into a bag which means I can toss it into my camper without worrying that it will bring dirt in with it, but it’s heavy and tall. It does take a little longer to get it into the bag. They’re both great for sitting around a campfire.