Best Tent Camping near Newcastle, ME

BF and I wanted a last minute fall weekend getaway in Maine, and ended up at the Augusta-Gardiner KOA. Generally tough to accomplish during leaf-peeping season, but we worked it out. We stayed at site T5, which was wooded but pretty open. Size was decent enough.

Overall, I’d say sites T8, T9, T10 are best if you’re tent camping. While all tent sites are tightly spaced next to one another, these 3 provide the most shade and privacy of the bunch.

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, that make the campground endearing. Also, there’s a bunch to do during prime season, particularly for the kiddies- pool, mini-golf, bounce house, playground and space to runaround.

There's a handful of private tent sites with picnic tables. Some tent sites have ocean views. The tents sites aren't accessible by car though, so you need to put all your camping equipment into a wagon and pull it to your site.

There's a small pavilion for campground-communal lobster/clam bakes. Showers, laundry, playground, and small camp store are all available.

I definitely like more backcountry camping, but this was the only available campground in the area. It was great for a one-night stay, but it was very busy and too touristy.

The staff/owners were very friendly and my tent site was right on the beach. The sunrise and sunset were absolutely gorgeous. The price was incredible given the proximity to the water. The only negative was that the RVs were pretty loud.

The check-in couple were awesome! Chatted for a while and made us feel welcomed. The campgrounds were very nice, and our tent site was the largest site on the grounds.

The loss of one star is the pricing. I guess the campgrounds were bought out by some corporate conglomerate last year, and the current pricing shows. We paid $75 for one night. There was water to the site, but no electricity.

Great campground. Bigger than we expected. Our site looked right over the water. Direct access to Maine's rocky shore. Everything you need to be comfortable including hot showers and bathrooms cleaned three times a day. A basic rec room, playground, beautiful gardens, clean sites. Rvs are so close together and some seasonal snobs, but also tent sites some drive up and some walk to more private/dispersed. Small store friendly staff. Some sites have a wooden deck for picnic area overlooking water. Laundry, wifi, made it an easy week. We had rain and wind a couple nights, tarp went over tent as not permitted in trees. Just fine. We will definitely be coming back.

Despite a very recent personal loss, the owners welcomed us with open arms and heartfelt greetings. The grounds and sites were well maintained. The bathrooms and showers were clean and well stocked.

When we arrived, we were given a map with available sites marked and free reign to pick the spot of our liking.

The pricing has increased from the dyrt's listed prices. We paid $40 for a tent site with elec. and water.

I would stay here again in a heartbeat!

A beautiful place with a farm, campground and state park all together! There are tenting spots, camper spots and field spots. I recommend any with tree coverage. There are bathrooms close by to all, the main lodge is nice and the food at the snack shack is sooo good!! burgers, pizza, salad- all local and from their gardens. The working farm is open to visit and walk around. Pet the baby cows and see the pigs and goats. they have a ton of activities going on through the summer. Our huge tent site was $60 for a busy August weekend. totally reasonable! we had a lovely time despite the rain and will try to go again next year! The grounds are a short drive to downtown Freeport for shopping at the outlets and LLBean.

Desert of Maine campground is an excellent choice just 4-5 miles from the heart of Freeport at interstate exit # 22. This campground is well-imagined. Sites are close together, and some are small. There are 2 hike-in sites which are set apart. Wifi is provided throughout the campground and most sites have power. They must have studied "best practices" when designing this lovely campground. 

I booked an extra night.

This is an outdoor experience campground- not a wilderness adventure -- but perfect for young families…especially for those new to camping or those for whom a very sanitary classic bathroom is needed.Children find and entertain each other in the common area.

Sites 19-27 face a shared square with excellent access to the modern and stylish bath house. Other sites have a somewhat further walk. Sites 17-27 are best for tents due to the configuration of the sites.. Tent sites # 2 & # 3 are short walk-in and very private, but lack easy access to the bath house. Almost all sites in this campground have shade and are under a beautiful canopy of old pine, maple and balsam.

Site 24 is lovely & slightly set apart and cars are parked close by but not on the tent site. Site 27 is located down a steep slope and is very private but has difficult access. I would categorize site 27 as a hike-in site, but not # 24.  All sites are generally level and have been graded. Sites have scant privacy in front, but back up to forest. Sites 4, 6,17, 19, 23 & 26 have slightly more space but space is not the defining issue in this campground. RV's that are large should not try this campground. The maintenance is superb; and the thoughtful design of the overall campground is aesthetically pleasing. 

This attractive campground is small-scale and personally managed. 

Ice is available for purchase…as is wood. 

Beware of speed trap on the 2 mile access road between the interstate & campground.

This campground is fantastic! My friend and I headed up to Freeport for some Bean gear and good times and we have since decided this should be on the list for a future trip. Some of the sites are close together so be sure to look at the map before booking (online booking is super easy). People working the store and registration were great as we came in late at night and they had everything waiting for us. The site we had was private and wooded, in my opinion a perfect tent site (nice and flat as well). From the Farm to walking the streets of Freeport nearby or going to the beach this is a great location right near the ocean.

First day, my wife was helping our 5 year old climb onto the float like the big kids. 5 minutes later, management came over and said, "I heard you were pulling my float in." No sense of customer relations, just rude. My wife clearly cannot move a float. Even if she could, shouldn't it be chained to the lake floor?

Pros: Water at all sites Lake swimming with float Events Family friendly Office folk are friendly

Cons: Many tent sites are tiny, ours wasn't too bad Live band went past quiet time Many rules are ignored by management Other camp crew unfriendly Playground not updated since the 80s Game room is 6 claw machines, 2 arcade games, and a broken jukebox packed in a tiny room

The camping was decent, but we will not be back.

This campground has numerous activities to keep the whole family occupied (pool, rec hall, volleyball, baketball, and bocce ball). The waterfront offers a beach and a place to put in your boat (paddle or <10hp). 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. We visited in late August and enjoyed seeing mature and immature bald eagles, too. In addition to kayaking in the morning, we also took a drive to Weld to hike Tumbledown Mountain.

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. The noise you hear will largely be the sound of kids and families having fun. Generators are not permitted. Bathrooms are clean The gate is is secured; plan to arrive by 9pm for check-in. If you're tenting and don't need electric, sites 101-106 offer slightly more seclusion and are close to the water.

Your stay at Recompense Campground supports Wolfe’s Neck Farm - a working organic farm and non-profit organization. Wolfe’s Neck Farm is set on 626 acres with four miles of coastline and is the legacy of a local family farming operation. The family donated the land to the community based on their belief in useful preservation and protection of open spaces. The farm is now open to the public, free of charge every day and is committed to continuing and improving upon the long tradition of sustainable agriculture, recreation and education while preserving its open space.

The campground has oceanfront campsites as well as sites nestled in wooded areas. There are RV sites (some with hookups), tent sites, and even three oceanfront cabins. The farm also has a dump station as well as free showers. You can freely roam the farm (or hike in the adjacent Wolfe’s Neck State Park) or rent a kayak/canoe and explore Casco Bay. Definitely a unique experience and great educational opportunities for families with kids!

My family and I (two adults, 14 yo and a 9 yo) just visited Searsport Shores for the first time again since our kids were very little and were so happy to be back! We were there during high camping season/post Covid so it was very busy (especially the RV sites) but still very peaceful and quiet at night. The tent sites are completely seperate from the RVs and are in the woods, beautifully maintained. Only con is the sites are very close together so privacy is an issue sometimes, but the whole campground has a very community feel to it and we've always met some awesome strangers to hang out with. It makes it great for any age kid, there are always tons of kids around. The gardens, grounds and bathroom/laundry amenities that are offered are kept in beautiful clean condition. The rec room is a large but cozy place to hang out if/when it rains, with a fireplace and cozy couches. Just an all around great Maine experience. And the views!! I can't even begin to describe the views over the bay. We've visited during two ful moons and it's breathtaking. We hope to return soon!