Best Tent Camping near Medford, ME

Looking for the best campgrounds near Medford, ME? Medford is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Medford camping trip.

Best Tent Sites Near Medford, Maine (29)

    1. Soul Retrieve-Hill

    1 Review
    Brownville Junction, ME
    13 miles
    +1 (207) 279-6007

    $44 - $99 / night

    "Soul Retrieve Hill is new to the Dyrt and has an awesome location near Senebec Lake & features a communal area so you can meet other campers! "

    2. Johnston Pond in KIJO Mary Forest

    1 Review
    Brownville Junction, ME
    24 miles

    $25 - $30 / night

    "There are 5 campsites near Johnston Pond in the KI-JO-Mary multiuse forest."

    3. Katahdin Stream Campground — Baxter State Park

    12 Reviews
    Millinocket, ME
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 723-5140

    "It offers a few spots for small RV’s, tent sites, lean-tos, and a few camping cabins, each with a picnic table and fire ring. Our site even had a sheltered area over the picnic table."

    "The primitive sites are either AT style leantos or tent sites. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. There is NO potable water, electricity, showers or cell/internet service in the Park."

    4. Wilson Streams Area

    1 Review
    Willimantic, ME
    29 miles
    +1 (207) 852-1291

    "There are six primitive first come, first serve campsites near the trailhead of Little Wilson Falls."

    5. Big Pleasant Pond

    1 Review
    Frenchtown, ME
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 723-8944

    $25 - $30 / night

    "PP#1 is the better of the two, located right on the water, though the access is a little trickier than PP#2’s wide open area."

    6. Abol Campground — Baxter State Park

    9 Reviews
    Millinocket, ME
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 723-5140

    $32 / night

    "Though not open during the off season, this Baxter State Park campground offers tent sites and lean-tos, each with a picnic table and fire ring. There are no sites for RV's here."

    "There is NO electricity, no showers, no grocery store,  inside Baxter State Park. Those are available at the similarly named Abol Campground and General Store which neighbors Baxter State Park."

    7. Camp of the Woods

    Be the first to review!
    Dover-Foxcroft, ME
    21 miles
    +1 (207) 717-7118

    $25 - $35 / night

    8. Omaha Beach

    3 Reviews
    Millinocket, ME
    34 miles
    Website

    $7 - $13 / night

    "Worth the drive!! Didn’t see another person besides maintenance. 10 sites - 5 here, 2 at little Omaha and 3 beyond boat landing. Outhouse on site."

    "The road is bumpy but I cleared it driving slowly and carefully with my honda HRV 2019."

    9. The Hawnets Nest

    1 Review
    Stetson, ME
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 945-1944

    $60 / night

    10. Rum Pond Campsite

    1 Review
    Greenville, ME
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 778-8231

    "This primitive campsite is located at Rum Pond approximately nine miles to the east of downtown Greenville.  The road from Greenville is paved part of the way and then turns to gravel. "

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Tent Camping Reviews near Medford, ME

183 Reviews of 29 Medford Campgrounds


  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2021

    Lunksoos Campground — Katahdin Woods And Waters National Monument

    Brand new tent campground near the river

    Katahdin Woods and Waters is a young National Monument without much infrastructure. Recent construction and cooperation with corporate & charitable sponsors has led to development of the Lunksoos campground in July 2021. I approached via the turnoff from Swift Brook Rd to Sebois Rd, before you reach the loop road, but Sherman Lumber Co Rd is another option. You may encounter logging trucks. The road is not in great shape, but passable.

    A short walk from the East Branch of the Penobscot River boat launch, there are several free, walk-in sites. Two group sites allow nearby parking and provide tent platforms. The other 5 are on a small, walk-in loop through the woods; one is an accessible site. Vault toilets are provided. Sites come with bear boxes, picnic tables, and fire rings; fire permits are required (call Maine Forest Service 207-435-7693). Bring potable water or plan to treat it. Camping is free and there are no reservations. Midweek August I saw only 1 site occupied, but it's also a new campground. No cell service. Mosquitos and the occasional deer fly were annoying

    You can enjoy fishing (license required), boating, hiking, stargazing, and wild-life watching(I saw fresh bear scat on the road on the way in; moose also frequent the area and maybe you’ll even spy a lynx!). There are Junior-Ranger programs, including a Night Explorer one. Drive the loop road to some short hiking trails and look for moose. The information station at Sandbank Stream campsite just before the loop road often has some brochures, including a bird list and interpretive guide to the loop road, though I would consider downloading them from the Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters website.

    If you’ve forgotten anything, stop in Millinocket or Medway to pick them up before you get into the Monument; it’s a long drive out and back over these logging roads!

  • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2022

    Northeast Whitewater Lodge

    Yurts and Tent Camping

    Northeast Whitewater is a mix of guide service, moose viewing tours, whitewater rafting, and camping. The camping options are yurts and primitive tent camping. There are no RV/Van camping facilities. All camping is walk-in as you can’t drive to your site but most campsites and yurts are not too far away. There are six yurts all with varying configurations, sleeping anywhere from 1-2 people (with king sized bed) up to up to six people (with bunk beds). All yurts have electricity and come equipped with heaters and fans; in addition, pillows, bedding and linens are supplied. Depending on the particular yurt you choose, some have small refrigerators, table and chairs, and nightstands. 

    Tent sites are primitive with fire pits and picnic tables. The ground is level and cleared so there is no problem finding a place to put your tent. The sites are fairly close together so you will definitely hear and see your neighbor. There is no water or port-a-potties at camping sites. One bathhouse is located adjacent to the main building and there is a dish washing station located there as well. The bathhouse was clean when we visited (but we were not there during the busy summer season as there are many rafting trips and those customers share the same bathroom). The bathhouse is pretty far away from the camping area which is inconvenient when you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. All yurts and campsite have trash cans located at the site. Each site has a large fire pit and removable cooking grates are available. There are rustic log benches around the fire pits. 

    Yurts and campsites are located behind the main building/office but you still get some road noise as Route 6 is a heavily traveled road. As far as amenities, there is a volleyball net and corn holes. A covered pavilion is located between the campsites and the main building and has a few picnic tables underneath. The main building has a gift shop stocked with moose gifts, apparel, snacks, drinks, and an assortment of “camp stuff.” This is also where you can book a moose tour, rafting trip, or inflatable kayaks if you are feeling adventurous. 

    The campground is located between the towns of Monson and Greenville. The Monson General Store is a great little store with an assortment of grocery items and makes really good sandwiches and the nearby Lakeshore House Lodge and Pub has the most wonderful pot roast. Greenville has a larger grocery/trading post which has pretty much everything you need from shoes to lettuce. Hiking in the area is great! You can pick up the Appalachian Trail or head to Little Wilson Falls for a nice, wooded walk along a stream to a pretty waterfall. Borestone Mountain is nearby and provides amazing views.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 24, 2018

    Nesowadnehunk Field Campground — Baxter State Park

    Awesome location: dark skies, great hikes, Ledge Falls for cooling off

    I always struggle with the notion of rating a full amenities campground with a no-frills place like this, so when it comes down to it, I'm rating the experience. If you want to get off the grid (no wi-fi, cell service, or running water) to a quiet, dark campground with opportunities to bag some peaks, see some wildlife, and cool off in a river after a long day on the trail, and you don't mind traveling over miles of dirt roads to get there, then it is hard to beat Nesowadnehunk Field campground.

    I stayed in a lean-to, drove up to it and pitched my tent inside…grateful for a little extra protection in the tent as I listened to animals scratching around the lean-to at night. There was a large bush in front of the lean to and woods behind. I could see and hear my neighbors, but wasn't disturbed by them. The site also had a picnic table. Trails led to the river behind the lean tos. There are also a number of tent sites that you park and walk back to, plus a small bunkhouse.

    As the sun sets, it is the sky that catches your attention and doesn't want to let it go. Without light pollution, you'll see more than stars than you imagined you could see (tip: if you need a light, use the red setting on your headlamp so your eyes don't have to re-acclimate to the dark).

    I used this as a base for bagging Coe, South, and North Brother, finishing the Maine 4000-footers here. It was so windy I decided to forego the bushwhack to Fort. It's nice to be able to get an early start because you're already in the park.

    Things you need to know about low frills Baxter State Park:

    1. Make reservations online, though if you want a group site or a bunkhouse, give them a call or send a letter. Reservations open 4 months ahead of time.
    2. Plan to arrive before 8:30. It takes a while to get to the campgrounds from the gates, wildlife starts moving around at dusk, and you don't want to have to set up camp in the dark
    3. Bring either water or a filtration/treatment system so you can use surface water.
    4. Bring what you'll need…don't expect a convenient store to replace that missing item! It's a long way back to Millinocket. Pack out your trash.
    5. The general camping season is May-Oct, though winter camping (Dec-Mar) and activities are also possible. Snow may arrive early (which is why they sometimes have thru-hikers jump ahead to Katahdin and hike backwards if they aren't likely to make it to Katahdin ahead of the snow)
    6. No pets. No alcohol in public places (i.e. don't celebrate on a summit with a sip of your favorite beverage)
    7. There are a lot of rules, conditions of the donation. Take time to read the rules on the website.
  • R
    Oct. 14, 2020

    Pushaw Lake Campground

    Quick Trip

    I’ll preface this by saying that we got in after dark and left by 10am so this review is limited. First, while being very nice the front desk worker was not very helpful in helping us understand the layout and our best choice for tent camping that night. She was just not very communicative. After some prodding questions that felt like I was pulling teeth, we chose site 1 which was by the beach and the only tent site in that area of the campground. It was mid Sept on a particularly windy and unseasonably cold night. The wind was coming right off the lake which made it particularly hard to set up. Blocking the wind with our car was our only choice. After we got settled in, a nice fire and a little bourbon made it all worthwhile. While not very private because we were right next to an RV (all the RVs were lined up on the waterfront with little space between), it was still quite a lakefront spot. The site included a picnic table, a fire ring and a charcoal grill. Buckets of well seasoned wood were available at the camp store right next to us. It had a nice porch to sit on for the morning sun but unfortunately, that looked the opposite way from the lake toward the dense central campground. The camp store had a nice indoor dining area with views toward the lake that I believe was also closed for the season. All in all, I would recommend this if you’re not very concerned with privacy and want a beautiful lake to camp by.

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2018

    Katahdin Stream Campground — Baxter State Park

    Ant's Eye View of Mt. Katahdin!

    If you enjoy camping with a wonderful view of Mt. Katahdin, then this campground is for you. This is 1 of the 3 campgrounds in Baxter that stays open for a bit past the normal season. It offers a few spots for small RV’s, tent sites, lean-tos, and a few camping cabins, each with a picnic table and fire ring. Our site even had a sheltered area over the picnic table.

    There is no running/drinking water, but the stream nearby is perfect for filtering. The pit toilets are cleaned daily. There is no electricity, so bring your solar panel. Plan on packing out your trash. Rangers are assigned to each campground, so there is always someone to chat with if you have questions or emergencies while in the park.

    You can start the 8 to 12-hour round trip to the summit of Mt. Katahdin from this campground, as it sits right at the base of the mountain. Or, you can choose from a variety of other trail options if a 4000 ft elevation gain isn’t your thing. You are sure to see many Appalachian Trail thru-hikers as they use this campground as their final base camp before summiting.

    Fall is one of the best times to be here…no bugs, less people, and full of autumn color! Be ready for wind and cold days though.

    Your last stop for food and gas is in Millinocket, so be sure to stock up before you make your way to the park. Millinocket is about 18 miles from the main entrance to Baxter State Park.

    Note: Dogs are not allowed in the park, but Katahdin Kritters is a pet boarding facility located in East Millinocket.

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 29, 2018

    Abol Campground — Baxter State Park

    Easy access to Mt. Katahdin

    Though not open during the off season, this Baxter State Park campground offers tent sites and lean-tos, each with a picnic table and fire ring. There are no sites for RV's here.

    There is no running/drinking water, but the stream nearby is perfect for filtering. The pit toilets are cleaned daily. There is no electricity, so bring your solar panel. Rangers are assigned to each campground, so there is always someone to chat with if you have questions or emergencies while in the park. 

    You can start the 8-12 hour round trip to the summit of Mt. Katahdin from this campground, as it sits right at the base of the mountain.  Or, choose from variety of other trail options if a 4000 ft elevation gain hike isn’t your thing.

    Fall is one of the best times to be here…no bugs, less people, and full of autumn color! Be ready for wind and cold days though. You are sure to see many Appalachian Trail through hikers as they use this campground as their final base camp before summiting!

    Your last stop for food and gas is in Millinocket, so be sure to stock up before you make your way to the park. Millinocket is about 18 miles from the main entrance to Baxter State Park.

    Note: Dogs are not allowed in the park, but Katahdin Kritters is a pet boarding facility located in East Millinocket.

  • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2022

    Trout Pond Campsite

    Nice Secluded Campsite on a Beautiful Pond

    This primitive campsite is located in the Little Moose Public Lands area about five miles from downtown Greenville, Maine. The public lands area is approximately 15,000 acres. Access to the public lands and overnight camping are free and this is a first-come, first-served campsite with a 14-night maximum stay. Keep in mind this is a carry in, carry out site. A fire permit is required and can be sought by calling (207) 778-8231. 

    From the entrance of the public lands off Route 6, travel approximately 5½ miles along North Road to Trout Pond Road to the trailhead leading to the campsite (the area is well-marked). The campsite is located about a quarter of a mile away from the parking lot. The path to get to the campsite is relatively flat and easy to traverse except over some of the wooden planks which were slippery when I visited due to recent rain. The campsite is really large in a nice open cleared spot with some large trees for shade. A large picnic table and stone fire ring are present. There is a fully enclosed vault toilet that where someone left sanitary wipes, toilet paper, and fire wood inside. Based on the shredded toilet paper, it looks like a mouse uses it as well. The pond is beautiful, and you have water access from this campsite. There are some canoes and boats stashed in the woods and we saw a few people paddling and fishing while we visited so you may have company. 

    There is great hiking around Big and Little Moose Ponds with nice views. The Loop hike is about 4.4 miles with a 650’ elevation change. For a harder hike with great views of Moosehead Lake and Greenville, check out Big Moose Mountain which is about 4.4 miles with an elevation gain of 1,800’. Downtown Greenville has good restaurants, shopping, and a few shops. Moose and seaplane tours are very popular and there are plenty of guides if you are interested in hunting and fishing.

  • Gavin T.
    Oct. 23, 2017

    Abol Campground — Baxter State Park

    Site 6

    Accessible via the Baxter State Park Tote road, this is the first campground you will come upon if you enter the southern gate. Situated at the trailhead of Abol Trail, this campground offers lean-to and tent sites along a looped camp road. Sites consist of a picnic table and fire ring with grill top. Firewood is avaliable for purchase at the ranger station for $3.00. Sites are close to the camp road except lean-to site 3 which is a short walk in from it’s parking place. Site 6 may not look like the supiror site within Abol while driving by, but adventuring down into the site from the turn off, you will realize it’s speacial qualities. The lean-to is oriented in such a way that you do not realize it’s proximity to sites 5 and 7 or the campground road. Site 6 hugs the Abol stream providing beautiful scenery and the auidable noice which suppresses sounds coming from other campers. If you are hiking the Abol Trail, this is an easy option for spending the night before or after your hike. If I was to do an exstended stay within the park, I would recommend heading to the Northern portions of the park, as there are more special overnight options.

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 30, 2019

    Pleasant River (Katahdin Ironworks)

    Worth the hike-in, very close to the AT

    Beautiful hike-in sites located along the Pleasant River, and a great access point for hiking on the Appalachian Trail or in Gulf Hagas area!  We didn’t stay at these sites, but came across them while hiking just off the AT. 

    Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, with access to a clean latrine (with TP!).  No potable water is available, but the river is easily accessible for dishwashing and boiling/filtering. Firewood is available for purchase at the access gate at Katahdin Iron Works, but keep in mind you’ll have to carry it about ¾ of a mile, and across a river. 

    For safety, no bikes or ATV’s are allowed beyond the Katahdin Iron Works gate, as these roads belong to the logging companies in the area and there can be many fast-moving logging trucks. The town of Milo is where you’ll find the closest grocery stores and gas stations, but it’s a bit of a drive so come prepared. 

    Note about costs: Located in the Maine North Woods, getting here is quite a journey, but ooohh so worth it. It’s on the way to nowhere, you have to pay to get through the gate at Katahdin Iron Works, pay a daily access fee, and daily camping fee.  Note: If you are planning to backpack on the AT from this location, the pricing is very different, so be sure to ask!


Guide to Medford

Tent camping near Medford, Maine offers a variety of scenic spots where nature enthusiasts can enjoy the great outdoors. With options ranging from private campgrounds to more rustic settings, there's something for everyone.

Tips for tent camping near Medford

  • When visiting Johnston Pond in KIJO Mary Forest, remember to bring your own water, as there are no potable sources available on-site.
  • At Rum Pond Campsite, you can collect downed wood for your campfire, but be prepared for wet conditions as most wood may not be seasoned.
  • If you're heading to Wilson Streams Area, make sure to obtain a fire permit before starting a fire, as it's required for all campers.

Some prices for tent camping range from $6 to $13

  • Camping fees at Omaha Beach are $6.54 for Maine residents and $13.08 for non-residents, making it an affordable option for those looking to enjoy the outdoors.
  • At Big Pleasant Pond, expect to pay a day use fee along with a camping fee, which can add up quickly, especially for out-of-state visitors.
  • For a unique experience, Northeast Whitewater Lodge offers tent camping with fees that vary based on the amenities you choose, such as yurts or primitive sites.

Local activities to enjoy while tent camping

  • While staying at Soul Retrieve-Hill, take advantage of the nearby Senebec Lake for swimming and fishing.
  • Explore the hiking trails at Debsconeag Lakes Wilderness Area, which offer a variety of routes suitable for all skill levels, including scenic views and ice caves.
  • If you're near The Hawnets Nest, enjoy the communal area where you can meet fellow campers and share stories around the fire.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Medford, ME is Soul Retrieve-Hill with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 29 tent camping locations near Medford, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.