Join the fun near North Turner. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. North Turner is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your North Turner camping trip.
"However, it is a beautiful space and well worth checking out for weddings or other get togethers. They also have cabins you can stay in as an alternative but those are limited."
$40 - $45 / night
"Mac's camping has large RV Sites with access to their private beach & boat launch! Make sure to check them out and leave a review on the Dyrt about your stay!"
$40 - $80 / night
"The only thing I regret not bringing with me is a table to put my camp stove on."
"These campsites are located on a dead end dirt road. The campsites are spread out so you are not on top of each other (I think there are only 8 sites on the road.) "
$50 - $120 / night
"I recently stayed at the Tiny Cabins of Maine with my family for two nights, opting for their tent camping site. From the moment we arrived, the host's warm welcome made us feel right at home."
"This smaller campground offers great privacy on a large pond in the Maine forests. "
$40 / night
"Be aware: the main campground (on the mainland) is closed for the 2017 season for renovations. However, backcountry sites are open for the 2017 season.
I love coming here!"
"The remote campsites have pit toilets in an outhouse, fire pits with heavy gril and picknick table w extension for camp stove. There are tent platforms."
"The Wild River Wilderness is a relatively newly designated tract of land."
LegendThis Camping Park has something for just about everyone. Whether you have an RV (small, medium or large), tent, are looking for a cabin or want a little more of a wilderness feel, this place has something to offer.
While the campground looks to be primarily RV camping from the road, there are many tent sites tucked away in the trees and even two sites that are walk-in only and are situated right on the Androscoggin River. Additionally, the campground has several nice cabins available as well.
Let's start with the RV sites: there are a bunch! This campground also hosts many seasonal campers who have sites situated around the perimeter of both sides of the campground (split by Route 2). Seasonal campers have some pretty sweet set-ups for sure. The only downside to some of the RV spots is that they can be in the sun almost all day which can be a bit much in the heart of the summer. Otherwise, sites are well maintained and have all the normal hookups for RVs.
Tent sites are well spaced and almost all of them are in the shade which is a huge bonus! Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and nice level spot to pitch your tent. Bath houses are conveniently located throughout the campground and are well maintained.
The two walk-in tent sites are very secluded and offer fire rings, picnic tables, a bear box and one of the two sites has a wooden tent platform. The second site's tent platform is currently being built (July 2020) and should be at the site and ready for use soon. These sites sit right on the beautiful Androscoggin River, offering a serene backdrop for your camping adventure.
The campground is situated in-between two large tracts of the White Mountain National Forest. Great hiking is available at the campground as well as a short drive away. If hiking is a hobby of yours, look no further! This is a great location to base yourself out of to get some solid miles under your belt. There is a campground office that has a small store as well as laundry facilities. They also offer an AT Hiker Hostel. They also have a nice heated swimming pool, playground and many other amenities. When there isn't a global health pandemic, they have a bouncy house for the kids. They often show movies on the lawn when the weather cooperates. They also rent kayaks and you can launch from the campground or they will shuttle you some place near by.
It really is a campground with a little bit of everything! Owned by locals of the community who have run the place for over 25 years.
LegendThis is a perfectly situated campground. Just off the main road connection Gorham and North Conway (Route 16), this campground is just minutes from town but has a wonderful wilderness feel. While this is a relatively large campground, a significant portion of it is under construction currently (Summer 2017).
There are several loops of sites here but each site is spacious and wooded, with lot's of shade. There are flush toilets (no showers) and water spigots throughout the campground. Some sites do experience a bit of foot traffic if they are on the way to one of the restrooms.
There is a small welcome/registration building where you stop to register on your way in. Be careful driving through the campground, the roads are in rough shape due to the construction.
Sites have very clean fire pits, picnic tables and plenty of space for pitching a tent or two. There are several sites here that cater more to RVs but many of the sites are very tent friendly (soft, non-gravel real estate). Sites are $22/night and $5 for each additional vehicle.
This is a popular spot with lot's of amazing hiking in the vicinity so reserve early!
LegendThis quiet spot is perfect for late season camping in the fall in New England. It is relatively small but there is a host on site who was incredibly friendly and attentive. Situated just off the Wild River and off of major roads, Hastings was incredibly peaceful while we were there. The sites are nicely spaced out and most have small wooded sections in between them for privacy. Additionally, sites are meticulously kept as are the two pit toilets available.
There is a water spogit a short walk from most campsites. Each site has a fire ring with grate, clear flat spots for pitching a tent or backing in an RV. Since I'm not an RV camper, I didn't pay much attention to those ameneties. Sites have a nice picnic table as well. There is plenty of space at each site to pitch a tent or two as well as a canapoy of some sort if you want.
While this place can get busy in the summer season, it's perfect for those in between seasons and super close to some great hiking in the White Mountains!
LegendGeneral: Small (15-site) campground near Grafton Notch State Park (but not IN the park). No hookups. Not all will agree with me, but I am glad no generators are allowed.
Site Quality: Sites are gravel, level, and have enough trees to afford privacy between sites.
Bath/Shower House: It is immaculately clean. Each gender has two stalls and one ADA-accessible shower. The shower has nice warm water and a great flow. There is also a very clean vault toilet.
Activities/Amenities: Horseshoes and cornhole in the lawn area in the center. Information on many local hikes. Rocky beach has tables where you can sit and relax. There are two dishwashing sinks, potable water, and a dump station.
What makes this campground shine is the owner, Mo. We’ve stayed in many campgrounds but hands down, Mo takes more pride in her campground than any other we’ve been in. Seasonal decorations, flower pots, and Mo is an on-site presence to answer questions, engage in conversation, and make sure the sites and all facilities are pristine. We stayed here five years ago and look forward to hopefully staying again in the future. About the only thing I can find fault with is the proximity to the road but even at that, road noise is minimal.
LegendDesert 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.
TravelerNext to river and had a major flood this spring. I was tent camping on motorcycle and tent site are on dirt due to flood. Tent Site consists of picnic table. No water or sewer or electrical. $43 a night and bring quarters for shower. Clean restrooms and showers but I feel way over priced for what was offered. Should have looked for alternate.
LegendThe Wild River Wilderness area spans both New Hampshire and Maine and can be accessed by multiple trail heads in either state. Route 113 (open seasonally late May/early June until the snow begins to fall) travels through the Evans Notch in the White Mountain National Forest and has multiple trail heads that enable you to access the Wild River Wilderness Area. This wilderness area is relatively new and is one of my favorites in the country.
There are several established campsites in the Wilderness Area, most of which had shelters at one point that were taken down once it received the Wilderness designation. However, the areas are still established camping areas with tent cribbing and many have established fire rings and National Forest Service signage. I will try to add those camping areas and review them based on their names and not lump them into one review.
That being said, this particular review is focused on camping in the Wilderness outside of designated sites. In our household, we call this "bush crashing." In May of this year, the Dyrt magazine published a helpful article about this very thing and you can check it out here: https://thedyrt.com/magazine/lifestyle/free-camping-national-forests/
There is plenty of "dispersed" (aka bush crashing) available in the Wild River Wilderness. Just keep in mind that some areas are not open to camping, mainly Forest Protection Areas that are generally located within a 1/4 mile from trail heads and established designated campsites. Otherwise, just find a spot 100-200 feet from water and the trail and you're golden. On this particular trip we parked at the Wild River Campground (fee required to park here) and headed into the woods via the Wild River Trail. Once you're in the wilderness area, keep your eyes pealed for any flat-ish spot up from the river and you won't be disappointed.
Just remember, dispersed camping can be a little bit of a shock if you're used to rolling up to an established and/or maintained camping area. It will not look like what you may expect, so don't be disheartened or deterred. You can still make a cozy home for the night. Be sure to bring a stove to cook one, as fires are not permitted outside of designated sites. Also be prepared to dispose of your solid human waste per Leave No Trace principles (back a WAG bag or trowel). There's a lot to explore and with the ability to camp just about anywhere you want, there's no need to worry about mileage or a camp site being full. The world is your oyster when you hone the art of bush crashing!
LegendAbsolutely beautiful spot! This campground has a day use area with a boat launch and picnic area on the right as you drive in. Non-motorized boats are allowed on the water and it’s a great swim spot in the summer. The water is surrounded by beautiful cliffs with hiking opportunities readily available. The water is a short walk from all of the sites, some are obviously closer than others.
The sites are well spaced and quite large. I greatly appreciated the crushed rock vs. sandy soil especially given the amount of rain we got during our stay. The camp hosts were helpful and definitely out and about throughout the day.
Sites have fire rings and large picnic tables, as well as flat space to pitch a tent or two depending on the size. There was some variance in the size of the sites, some of which required walking up a few steps from the parking spot to the site. Not a big deal but helpful to know if negotiating stairs is an issue for you.
Fresh water spigots are spaced between sites and there is one bath house with flush toilets. Note: there is no soap or paper towels/hand dryer in the restroom. Be prepared and bring your own.
LegendThis U.S. Forest Service campground is small but meticulously maintained. It is clear that the USFS and campground hosts care about this space. Our campsite was freshly raked in and around the picnic table and fire ring. The entire campground and facilities are pristine. I especially appreciated the clear but non-passive aggressive signs throughout the campground.
Most sites are nicely shaded with nice tall hardwoods, though some times have more sun than shade. Our site had an exceptionally long picnic table which was nice. There are two vault toilet buildings and a large old fashioned water pump to get fresh water. This campground is bare bones but still close enough (about a 25 minute drive) to the nearest town in case you need access to supplies.
There is one small loop with 24 campsites, some of which are reservable online. Sites are $18/night and there is a self pay station as you enter the campground. This campground is located right off route 113 so can be a little bit loud especially during foliage on their motorcycles. So if you want more peace and quite check out the Wild River campground (it's 5.5 miles down a USFS dirt road).
The campground was virtually empty but I imagine it might get busy in the summer!
Tent camping near North Turner, Maine, offers a blend of natural beauty and outdoor activities, making it an ideal getaway for nature enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near North Turner, ME?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near North Turner, ME is Boothby's Orchard with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find tent camping near North Turner, ME?
TheDyrt.com has all 23 tent camping locations near North Turner, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
