Camden Hills State Park and surrounding areas offer a range of pet-friendly camping options for visitors to Maine's midcoast region. Lincolnville Center sits at approximately 387 feet above sea level, creating varied terrain with moderate temperature fluctuations between coastal and inland sites. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-80°F during peak camping season, with frequent morning fog near water.
What to do
Kayaking on Lake Megunticook: The lake provides excellent paddling opportunities within 5 miles of Camden Hills State Park. "The closest place for this the Camden City Park, which is 2.5 miles away, and is a great place to launch a kayak. Rockport Marine Park at Rockport Harbor is another - it has easy kayak launch access and a very very small beach, which is mostly used for kids to splash around in the water," notes Heather C. from Camden Hills State Park Campground.
Visit coastal towns: Explore the charming downtown areas within a short drive. "We loved taking the ferry to Vinalhaven Island for the day and picking up prepared food at the Market Basket and eating it along the Rockland Harbor waterfront watching the boats come and go," shares Nancy W. from Camden Hills RV Resort.
Summit hikes with views: Climb to mountain viewpoints within state parks. "What a beautiful campground with such unique charm. We stayed for a week and absolutely loved it. The atmosphere is the epitome of laidback and the scenery was breathtaking," writes Grace M. about Searsport Shores Ocean Campground.
What campers like
Wooded privacy: Many sites offer natural spacing between camping areas. "The campground hosts are very friendly and helpful. The campground is perfectly located between Camden and Rockland Maine. For a private campground the sites are a decent size with some trees," reports Mark C. about Megunticook Campground.
Ocean views: Waterfront camping options provide direct water access. "The ocean overlook which sits right by the sea is wonderful! The campground sits a short drive from Rockland and is also near to Camden. I highly recommend this campground!" says Dave about Megunticook Campground.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds maintain well-kept bathroom and shower facilities. "The cedar showers are awesome! We've been excited to come back here since we left," shares Chelsea about Meguniticook by the Sea Campground. "The bathhouse was very clean and there are both outdoor and indoor showers; both looked nice although we did not use them," adds Lee D.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Popular waterfront sites book quickly during summer months. "Reservations can be made on-line but only about half of the sites are reservable leaving the other half for walk-ups. I would advise making reservations if you want to stay over a weekend or during the summer season as this park really fills up," advises Nancy W.
Seasonal availability: Many campgrounds operate on limited schedules. "We arrived just a few days after the park opened for the season so the campground was especially quiet," notes Nancy W. about Camden Hills State Park Campground.
Additional fees: Some campgrounds charge for services beyond site rental. "I thought $50 for a tent site was a little steep but it was all the potential extra fees that irked me: $30 site lock to ensure you get the site you want when you reserve. I took a chance and was able to get the site I reserved without paying this fee," mentions Lee D. from Sennebec Lake Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming areas: Dedicated swimming locations offer safe water access. "I love to visit Lake Saint George! As a state park it's nice and clean and offers several comforts like a bathhouse with flushing toilets and showers. There is a day park for swimming with a life guard and an impressive playground for little ones," reports Anna W.
Playground options: Some campgrounds maintain play equipment for children. "We are pop-up campers. We had plenty of room for our camper. Dog friendly. Bathrooms were very clean. 'Playground' is a bit of a stretch. Firewood was a bit pricey at $7 a bundle," shares Jimmy M. from Camden Hills State Park Campground.
Kid-friendly activities: Campground-organized events provide entertainment. "We discovered this campsite in 2020 and just returned from our third year in a row camping here with 2 kids. Activities started up again this year, with events such as kids' crafts, a kids vs adults water gun fight, cornhole competition, and a DJ for an evening of dancing - just on the weekend we were there," describes Pam A. from Sennebec Lake Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site size considerations: Check specifications when traveling with larger rigs. "Although the park accommodates larger RV's, there are a limited number of sites for those over 35 feet and the gravel roads are easy to navigate in a big rig," explains Nancy W. about camping at Continuous Harmony Farm.
Hookup availability: Confirm utility connections before booking. "Our large back-in site was set in an open sunny area but most of the sites are nicely tucked into the woods with plenty of space between them. Approximately, half the sites have water and 30/50 amp electric and the others are no hookups," notes Nancy W.
Leveling requirements: Some sites need additional equipment. "We have a 35ft RV, and we faced no issues getting in and out of the property and the sites across the water were level, with no extra leveling needed," shares Jason G. about Sennebec Lake Campground.