Camping options surrounding Monmouth, Maine provide access to over 15 miles of lakeshores across several connected bodies of water including Annabessacook Lake, Cobbossee Stream, and Androscoggin Lake. The region features sandy shores, forest camping, and water recreation during the summer season, with most campgrounds operating from May through mid-October when temperatures range from 60-80°F during peak camping months.
What to do
Water activities beyond swimming: Sebago Lake State Park offers diverse fishing opportunities. According to Joshua B., "Sebago lake is a great spot for all types of fishing. From bass to landlocked salmon. And you can take the boat up river through the songo locks. All the way up to long lake."
Disc golf courses: Beaver Brook Campground (now Jellystone Park Androscoggin Lake) features an on-site disc golf course along with many other recreation options. Peter F. notes the campground "has a lot of stuff for kids including playground, pool, water slides, canoeing, kayaking, mini golf and disc golf."
Explore local farms: Wolfe's Neck Oceanfront Campground offers a unique camping experience on an organic farm. Michele S. explains, "My kids enjoyed visiting with the farm animals and walking along the rocky shore each day. Plenty to do between biking, kayaking, farm experience and visiting downtown Freeport close by."
What campers like
Clean facilities with modern amenities: The Augusta/Gardiner KOA maintains well-kept facilities despite challenges. One camper notes, "Owners are super nice, but the campground could use a little love. Bathrooms and amenities are a little tired. There's potential though, and some really cute details, like a little fairy house and homemade, bear-carved benches around a KOA-community fire pit."
Diverse site options for different camping styles: Poland Spring Campground offers varied camping experiences with both wooded and waterfront sites. Jean C. says, "We tent camped in a loop where the sites were wooded and close together, but others are well suited to larger rigs and offer full hookups... If you're tenting and don't need electric, sites 101-106 offer slightly more seclusion and are close to the water."
Waterfront camping with boating access: Birches Lakeside Campground caters to water enthusiasts with direct lake access. Samantha N. shares, "Really cute campground. It's perfect if you have a motor boat, pontoon, jetski, or even a kayak! I wouldn't suggest learning to paddle board on the lake but it's still a great spot for experienced paddleboarders."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds in the Monmouth area operate from May through mid-October, with peak season in July and August. The Augusta/Gardiner KOA has a specific season from "May 8 to October 13."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The region offers excellent wildlife viewing for early risers. Jean C. from Poland Spring Campground describes, "A friend and I camped here not for the family fun, but because we wanted to be able to slip into our kayaks for an early paddle with the loons, bald eagles, and herons. Had an amazing experience when loons took off from the far end of the lake and came in right beside and over us for a landing."
Terrain challenges: Some campgrounds have challenging terrain that impacts accessibility. At Two Lakes Camping, Claire T. notes, "Getting into your site with a camper requires maneuvering no matter how you come into the campground. We had a few sites higher up in the campground and had a tent site right on the water near the 'boat ramp'."
Tips for camping with families
Look for structured activities: Beaver Brook Campground (Jellystone Park) organizes numerous family-focused events. Angela M. shares, "For parents; live entertainment with local bands on Saturday nights, an adult only swim nightly (Playground is close enough to the pool to actually enjoy this while listening to my kids play), candy bar bingo (where you can play bingo WITH your kids and was quite fun)."
Book early for holiday weekends: Holiday periods fill quickly at area campgrounds. One visitor to Freeport/Durham KOA mentioned, "This visit we had our hybrid camper in one of the wooded sites. The Halloween celebration is really well done- campers decorate their sites, there is an in-costume parade, and the central, bigger rigs are set up for trick or treating. The campground fills up for this event so make reservations early."
Consider comfort for multi-day stays: For extended stays, look for campgrounds with a balance of activities and amenities. Diana A. from Poland Spring Campground states, "We stayed for July 4th week and had a blast! Daily activities for adults & kids. The pool is nice and has a great little playground next to it. It has a very rustic feel but the facilities are clean, updated and inviting."
Tips from RVers
Site selection based on size needs: When glamping in Monmouth, Maine with larger RVs, consider specific campground areas. At Chewonki Campground, Jennifer B. notes, "Campsites are large and if you don't have a camper are outstanding. Camper sites in the field have the best views!"
Understand hookup limitations: Check for electrical capacity when planning luxury camping trips. Nancy W. from Freeport/Durham KOA explains, "The park has nice super long 50 amp FHU pull-thrus in the front of the park which will fit any length RV and tow vehicle. Some of these sites are 'buddy' sites with a shared patio, but are so wide that even if you don't know your neighbors, it would not be a bother because you are far enough apart."
Consider road conditions: Recent weather can affect campground accessibility. Ron from Augusta/Gardiner KOA shares, "There were very heavy rains the night before we arrived that washed out some of the roads. Our site was quite wet."
