Lincolnville Center serves as a central hub for RV camping along Maine's midcoast region, located about 10 miles inland from Penobscot Bay. The area has a varied topography with elevations ranging from sea level to approximately 1,300 feet at nearby Mount Megunticook. Most RV campgrounds in this region operate seasonally from mid-May through mid-October due to harsh winter conditions, with peak foliage season in late September attracting significant visitor traffic.
What to do
Kayaking at nearby lakes: Within a 30-minute drive of Lincolnville Center, several campgrounds offer direct water access for paddling. At Megunticook by the Sea Campground, the ocean proximity provides excellent kayaking options, with one camper noting, "The kayaking, biking and hiking in the area is superb" and mentioning the "views of the Penobscot Bay are drop dead gorgeous."
Explore downtown Belfast: The charming coastal town is just 15 miles from Lincolnville Center, offering shops and dining options. A visitor at Moorings Oceanfront RV Resort commented, "Belfast... offers plenty to do and see and is one of our favorite coastal Maine towns. We love shopping at the Co-op, eating pizza at Meanwhile in Belfast, lobster at Young's Lobster Pound, and lunch at Chase's Daily."
Lobster dinners at campgrounds: Several parks organize community seafood events. At Megunticook by the Sea Campground, "The owners host a Lobster bake on Saturdays and it was so good," according to one camper, who also mentioned, "Small but beautifully wooded sites. We had an amazing view of the sunrise."
What campers like
Cedar showers: Unique outdoor-style shower facilities receive consistent praise at certain campgrounds. A camper at Megunticook by the Sea noted, "We love the showers!! And super congenial and helpful hosts," while another raved, "Bathrooms were super clean and the showers are of similar construction to a sauna and it feels like a hot shower outdoors."
Community events: Social gatherings are popular at Narrows Too Camping Resort, where according to one long-term visitor, "The location of this park is outstanding... hundreds of trails and gorgeous views abound. Trails range from easy to strenuous with some taking you on a nice walk around a lake or pond where others guide you along steep ledges and up with ladders and rungs."
Off-season camping: Visiting before peak summer crowds arrives offers advantages. A visitor at Pumpkin Patch RV Resort shared, "This place is excellent! The staff are friendly, the park is quiet, clean, well maintained and spacious. If you are planning on staying around Bangor, this is the place!" Another mentioned it's "very adult oriented, super quiet, and super clean."
What you should know
Water quality varies: Some campgrounds have issues with water systems. At Mt Desert Narrows Camping Resort, a guest reported, "There is defined an issue with the water. When we turned in the tap the water ran brown." Another noted, "Overall, this was a nice place to stay... We had a beautiful view from our campsite! Not all campsites had full hookup and we were told that one of the dump stations worked, but as we were leaving, we realized it didn't."
Road noise affects some sites: Proximity to main roads impacts certain campgrounds. A reviewer at Megunticook by the Sea warned, "The only downside to this campground is traffic noise from Route! Not bad at night but it does start early in the morning. I would still stay there again."
Cell service and internet: Connectivity differs significantly between locations. At Narrows Too, a camper cautioned, "Be aware that cell phone reception is dismal at best. The camp wifi is just okay, but gets congested easily." Conversely, at Timberland Acres, "Showers & boathouse was clean and showers were some of the best I've had on a campground."
Tips for camping with families
Choose parks with dedicated amenities: Not all campgrounds cater to children. A visitor at Narrows Too Camping Resort advised, "I would primarily recommend this campsite for retirees and couples without children. The park doesn't offer many kid-friendly amenities beyond the pool, so families with young children might find it lacking in entertainment options."
Consider noise levels for tent camping: Tent sites at mixed-use campgrounds can be noisy. At Timberland Acres Campground, one camper observed, "We stayed here for 3 nights at one of the tent sites. Running water, shower and bathrooms and a pool which was nice. This is mostly geared towards RV campers which means more noise and the sites are pretty close together."
Tidal access affects water activities: Ocean campgrounds have limited water activity windows. A visitor at Moorings Oceanfront RV Resort reported about their kayak rental program, "You will be left walking across muddy soft clam flats if you are not mindful of the 10-12 foot tides."
Tips from RVers
Site selection is critical: Request specific sites based on noise and privacy. At Greenlaw's RV Park & Campground, a visitor mentioned, "My wife and really enjoyed our stay at this park. Esthetically it is a little rough around the edges, so as we pulled in our first impressions were not great. However, the site we were in was quite nice with enough room for 22' camper. Our site was wooded, and would have been tight for a larger rig."
Beware of tree sap: Parking under pine trees causes maintenance issues. At Camden Hills RV Resort, a camper noted, "Parking under the pines also meant a lot of sap on our roof which was a bear to remove."
Seasonal site differences: Weather affects site conditions differently. A camper at Narrows Too observed, "We stayed early in the season, before Memorial Day, and there were very few camp sites that were occupied. The site we chose was one of the premium ocean front lots and it was beautiful."
