The Naples, Maine region sits at approximately 400 feet elevation with hills rising to 1,000 feet surrounding Long Lake and Sebago Lake. While lacking dedicated horse facilities at nearby campgrounds, several sites offer accommodations suitable for general camping with tent, RV, and cabin options. Winter camping is available at some locations, with seasonal closures at others from late October through April.
What to do
Winter camping adventures: Hancock Campground remains open year-round, offering a unique off-season experience. "Stayed here for two nights in late December. Site #40 along the river was close to the bathroom yet had plenty of privacy from other sites. The campgrounds were well cared for and the staff was friendly," shares Heather B., who also notes that water availability would have earned the site five stars.
Mountain activity access: Gunstock Campground provides easy access to hiking trails and seasonal mountain activities. "The lot I was in was not wooded but still quiet. Check in was quick and friendly. All other guests were friendly as well," reports Ryan F. The campground also features "an aerial obstacle course and a mountain coaster, places to swim, music festivals, hiking, etc.," according to Kasey H.
River swimming spots: Located along the Kancamagus Highway, riverside camping offers natural swimming opportunities. "There is also a fabulous swimming hole. Clear, cold and deep just off the car camping area," writes Tara S. about Hancock Campground, making it a good alternative to equestrian camping near Naples for water enthusiasts.
What campers like
Spacious, clean campsites: KOA campgrounds near the region are known for site quality. "There are lots of site choices, cabins, yurts, and tent sites to choose from. The owners and work campers are very friendly and super welcoming," explains Nancy W., who stayed at Freeport/Durham KOA.
Pet-friendly amenities: Dog owners appreciate dedicated spaces at campgrounds. "We give this park two thumbs up for their dog park which is ten times the size of the average KOA dog park. My lab had plenty of room to run and chase a ball," says Nancy W. Similarly, at Gunstock, Melissa B. notes the "fenced in dog park, playground, showers, clean bathrooms, and laundry facilities."
Fall foliage views: Autumn camping provides spectacular seasonal colors. "Beautiful fall colors," remarks Marc D. about his October stay at Gunstock Campground. While not offering horse-riding facilities like equestrian campgrounds near Naples, Maine would, the sites compensate with natural beauty.
What you should know
Seasonal pest issues: Bees can be problematic in summer months. "Our site was completely swarmed with bees. We checked a few vacant sites to see if maybe it was just our site, but we found them all around," warns Lindsey M. after her experience at Hancock Campground.
Site selection matters: For privacy and noise considerations, campground location within a property is important. "I recommend getting a site in the river side away from the street. Absolutely beautiful!" advises Lisa S. about Hancock Campground. At Gunstock Campground, Melissa B. recommends: "I recommend the sites back in Breezy Knolls (K01-K17 I think?) and then I believe sites 203 and 205 were nice and tucked away in the trees as well."
Varying Wi-Fi quality: Internet connectivity fluctuates by location. "WiFi and cell service are both spotty," notes Iris A. about her stay at Freeport/Durham KOA. Lynn T. similarly found "bad WiFi and poor Verizon reception" during her visit to the same campground.
Tips for camping with families
Halloween events: Several campgrounds host special Halloween festivities. "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," says Rebus B. about Freeport/Durham KOA, adding that "the campground fills up for this event so make reservations early."
Kid-friendly activities: Scheduled programming keeps children entertained. "Kid and pet friendly. Lots of activities for kids including a flashlight candy hunt, water slide, and s'more roast," shares Rebus B. Iris A. notes that at the same KOA, "There is a pool with slide, a playground, a basketball hoop, a disc golf net. They have hayrides and a nightly train ride for younger visitors."
Bear-aware camping: Some sites provide bear boxes for food storage. "We appreciated having a bear box on our site, especially since we couldn't keep anything in our car. It was big enough to fit our grill, cooler, trash, and bag of groceries," explains Lindsey M. about her riverside tent site at Hancock.
Tips from RVers
Pull-through site availability: Large RVs have accommodations at select campgrounds. "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," explains Nancy W. about her stay at Freeport/Durham KOA, though she notes "the only downside to these pull thrus is there is no shade."
Buddy site options: Some campgrounds offer shared spaces for groups. "We were in a buddy site with our friends and liked the shared patio. Since we were in the open area, we were able to get both satellite with our roof-mounted dome and some over-the-air channels from Portland," shares Nancy W., providing an option for those seeking alternatives to equestrian camping facilities near Naples.
Dusty road conditions: Unpaved access roads can affect RV exteriors. "Some of the cons for this park are the lack of cable, so-so wifi, and the dusty gravel roads and pot holes," notes Nancy W., reminding RVers to prepare for these conditions.
