If you're looking for a place to dispersed camp near Madison, look no further. The Dyrt provides you with a diverse selection of places to camp, from dispersed backcountry camping to boondocking, and everything in-between. Each dispersed site offers quick access to one or more of Madison's most popular destinations.
$28 / night
Traveler
Great spot is you don't mind dry camping. Amazing views of the surrounding mountains. There are two sites and plenty of space between them. When I went (labor day weekend) there was a porta-potty about 1.5 miles down the road. Plenty of trail heads nearby. About 30 mins to downtown Greenville.
Ranger
The main camping area has about 10 long narrow sites that have large rocks bordering each site. Each site is bordered by the road. There is a single vaulted toilet.
The paved area of the road ends just past the campground. Lots of people drive just past the pavement and then they turn around.
Across the road from the campground is a beautiful river. The sound of the river put us to sleep and greeted us the next morning.
Legend
This location is Beautiful, but it comes at the cost of privacy. When I first discovered this spot, it wasn't an official campsite, people just came here to swim and there was a fire ring. That was over 20yrs ago.
There are 4 sites, 3 have no separation between them, 1 is at the entrance, all are on the access road with 0 privacy. This area is overused, and it shows, sites are warn in and if there was room relocating fire pits and allowing some nature to come back would be nice. I managed to tuck myself into a private alcove of trees on the #1 site, but still was in full view of headlights and people driving in to see if there was space. The site I had was big enough that I shared it with a couple that had a small child, and they had their own section.
There are no service, no water, no electricity, no to little cell coverage. There is one pit toilet.
The access road in is rough, not for normal street cars.
Did I mention lack of privacy?
See pics.
GuideWent there looking for privacy with our dogs to camp overnight. There are about 4 total spots, but only 1 of the four is truly enjoyable/private. It was taken and we didn't want to be that close to the people that were there, so we moved on. So, it's a hit or miss, but I wouldn't travel there again.
Legend
This site, while in a beautiful spot perched above Cupsuptic Lake, it is so impacted that in the rain it was a literal mud pit. While there was a picnic table to get up off the ground, finding a spot to pitch a tent where water wouldn't puddle would be impossible. We hiked in, but you can paddle into the site just know that the exit/entry to the water is a bit tricky and not as easy as some of the other sites available along the way.
There is a large fire pit, also a mess in the down pours. The picnic table is in far better shape here than the one in Eagle Cove (rotting) and Cedar Bay (non-existent). The site is quite small and wouldn't be able to accommodate more than two small tents. I wouldn't make a special trip to stay here.
Legend
We stayed here during a torrential downpour and it was tough to find a spot to pitch the tent that wasn't going to put us in a puddle. The site has very little clear flat area for an established campsite and it took a little bit of strategy to find a spot where we could actually sleep and stay relatively dry given the circumstances.
This is a waterfront site but there isn't super easy access to the lake, but the view is pretty amazing! There is a rough fire pit that had a stack of wood next to it that was clearly part of an old picnic table. The picnic table that was in the site was, well...let's call it a "living picnic table." It was not in great shape and was actively rotting. We made it work because we had already traveled through the other available sites and they were in worse shape than this one. It did the trick for an evening but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to stay here.
LegendThere are three free campsites off Route 16 between Rangeley and Stratton, ME, located on the Dead River. Head northeast out of Rangeley toward Stratton. They are located just after you cross the bridge over the Dead River on the left side of the road. You only need a permit if you plan to have a fire.
ScoutVery wooded. Road is passable for most any vehicle. Not larger RV friendly but was comfortable enough to get the 27' foot trailer in. Some fire rings and tables available. Cannot be beat for zero dollars. Posted up to 14 days max. Even an out-house.
LegendDispersed Gravel Pit This is a large mowed area on top of a gravel pit. There are two fire pits but plenty of room for more than two campers. We drove up in our car before bringing our motorhome because we were a little suspicious of the site and didn’t want to get stuck in an inappropriate place. The gravel pit is located in Little Moose Public Lands on North Road. After the intersection of Big Squaw Road, continue on North Road for another half mile and the pit is on your right. The road to the pit is gravel and bumpy but you don’t need a 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle. The short road up to the camping area is quite steep with somewhat loose rocks. There are no utilities, potable water, restroom, or garbage facilities so bring the water your need and carry out your trash. (There is a dump station at the nearby Moosehead Family Campground.)
Basically, it is a wide-open area with two fire pits. You are permitted to collect downed wood for fires or there are numerous places to purchase bundles in town. The camping area is level and roomy with some pretty views of the surrounding mountains. The best thing about camping here is the easy access to the great hiking in Little Moose Public Lands. Great views are found along the Little Moose Pond Trail for people looking for a decent hike but not too much elevation change (approximately 4.3 miles and 650 feet of elevation change). Or hike up Big Moose Mountain for expansive views of Moosehead Lake and the surrounding mountains (approximately 4.4 and 1,800 feet of elevation change). This campsite is just a few miles from downtown Greenville where you will find a well-stocked large grocery, restaurants, outdoor oufitters, fuel, and a couple of small museums.
Legend
This is a small impacted spot along the Dead River along the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT). The site is not easily visible from the river and there is a steep bank you have to navigate to unload and pull your canoe or kayak up for the evening. That being said, it is a nice spot to spend an evening.
When we were there, there was a small bench and a few stumps that were nice for seating. The campsite is at the end of an old logging road that you can walk down quite a ways. In the summer months, you will find an abundance of blueberries!
This is a primitive backcountry site so pack it in, pack it out. And maybe take a few extra pieces of trash with you! There is a large fire ring and a little gravel area we used to cook. There's plenty of flat space for a couple of 2-3 person tents. The stars are beautiful to boot! Definitely bring everything you need with you because there's nothing anywhere around.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Madison, Maine, where nature meets tranquility. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, outdoor enthusiasts can find the perfect spot to unwind and connect with the great outdoors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Madison, ME?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Madison, ME is Dead River Access on Long Falls Dam Road with a 4-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Madison, ME?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 dispersed camping locations near Madison, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.
