Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Pembroke, ME

This primitive campground is part of the Cobscook Shores Land Trust which operates 15 parks and preserves in the eastern portion of Maine near the town of Lubec. This campground is for tent camping only with five tent sites and does not even allow RVs in the parking lot. There are no reservations(first come, first served) with a maximum stay of three nights. Some campsites have some trees for shade and others are in an open sunny meadow. There is a picnic table and gravel camping pad at each site. Fires are not permitted on Cobscook property so there are no fire pits. Dogs are permitted in the campground and on most trails but there is one section where they are prohibited due to shorebird nesting habitat and they must be leashed and picked up after. There is a centrally located hand pump water spigot and two port-a-potties near the parking lot. One thing that is a little weird is there is a cemetery nearby so if you are disturbed by sleeping near dead people nearby you may want to go somewhere else. There is no parking at your campsite so you have to carry your gear for the parking lot which is a short walk away. You can also paddle into this campground but you will have to carry your gear about a hundred yards. The preserve has an expansive gravel beach and hard pack sand when the tide goes out. Be mindful of the tides which are some of the highest in the country of nearly 20 feet. If you come in at low tide you will have a very long way to carry your canoe/kayak. This is a carry in/carry out park so don’t forget to take your trash with you. The closest town is Lubec which is about a fifteen-minute drive away. There is a convenient store and a restaurant/seafood market nearby(about a five minute away). This is a beautiful part of Maine where you are surrounded by lots of bays and lakes and just a short trek to what is called“the Bold Coast” of Maine where there are dramatic rocky cliffs and magnificent ocean views. Nearby are plenty of other nature preserves, West Quoddy State Park, and Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge.

One of the best campgrounds we’ve been to in America, beautiful views, close to amazing hiking (highly recommend bold coast trail). Fisherman’s wharf 20 mins away has great lunch with amazing view and service. Site 66 is very private with a short walk to site from your parking spot. We loved the little walk to get a more private feel away from the road and other campers. We were right on the water which gave a beautiful view of the sunset. We were even able to walk down on the rocks along the water to get a completely clear view of the stars and Milky Way. Couldn’t ask for a better campground 12/10 recommend for anyone looking to see scenic Maine!

One could easily break an ankle or leg here trying to scramble to your assigned campsite. These are not drive in sites-- with isolated exceptions.

These are mainly walk-in sites which, here, means that you park near the road and have to scramble down a hill or up a hill on a trail which was never prepared for foot traffic. Some sites have steep drops to the bay - really steep: a concern at night particularly.

Some normal drive-in sites are #53, 54, 63, 64, 66, 68. My site 68 was excellent but unusual in its normalcy.

I had one of the very rare sites in which you can pull in next to your campsite but most sites are really  "walk-in". There is no grading and apparently no such thing as trail prep here to mitigate the exposed roots and hazards. It is wild.

Toilets are outhouses only. Wifi does not exist here. Staff not friendly.

Most sites are for tents--- but there is an industrial RV section high on the hill (sites 1-27) with good sized parking on a loop furthest from the campground entrance. The tides are extreme--- take care.

This spot is situated right along the Maine coast and has one heck of a view, not to mention a nice gravel beach! While the water is quite cold in Maine any time of the year, the beach is a nice spot to relax in the afternoon sun. Note: the campsites are NOT located on the beach but on the cliffs just above it. 

While these sites (all 5 of them in the area) were originally designed for a single party (4 individuals or less) this is the one area along the Bold Coast that you could pitch more than a single tent. There are several flat and impacted sites. There is also a bit of a makeshift "wind screen" on the point that a few individuals had their tents pitched behind. I'm sure it makes a bit of difference if the wind is blowing...which on the coast is most of the time. 

Like the other sites, there is a small wooden "toilet" that consists of: a wooden frame, toilet seat and some hardware cloth wire. These are not pit toilets and the human waste and whatever else folx decide to toss in, simply sit on top of the ground. While enclosed in the hardware cloth, you can see and smell everything that's left behind. Given the popularity of this destination, I have no doubt these get full quickly. Regardless of the poor design, please utilize these "toilets."

The Bold Coast is a mixture of bogs and wetlands, rocky and craggy coast line and pretty amazing maritime fir forests. The terrain is moderate in difficulty as it undulates, with several amazing overlooks. We did this with our two fit dogs but be advised, this may not be appropriate for all canine friends. 

The views from this spot won't disappoint and there are several options to hike in and out depending on the amount of time you have. There isn't much fresh water available even in the rainy season, so be prepared to carry in water.

This is probably the most beautiful coastal location in the state of Maine. The campsites are very limited and this is a popular spot. Show up early to get one!

We did it as a weekend backpacking trip with the dog. Campsites are all located in gorgeous spots, but there is very little running water. We did find some to filter but would recommend bringing at least 5L per person and another 2L or more depending on the size of your dog. We have a cocker spaniel so she’s not huge but she’s black and over heats easily so she did drink a fair amount of our water. there is a commode of sorts at each campsite but you can’t be shy! It’s definitely not enclosed. Just a toilet seat in the woods. I think our neighbors kids saw my butt. There were no signs about alcohol but keep in mind you have to pack everything out. We packed in a beer each for a wonderful backpacking treat. Worth the weight.

There are a ton of resources and write ups, check out the website and do your homework.

This is a small, well-run campground with lots of amenities. All but the tent sites have E/W. There is a dump station, restrooms/showers, and 3 sets of basic (but efficient) washers and dryers. ($1.50 each). Each site has table/fire pits, and firewood is plentiful and only $3/bundle. WiFi is weak and slow, but free and usable. We have great Verizon signal, so didn’t really need it. The grounds are well cared for, with lots of grassy spaces. They also maintain a mowed pathway down to the “beach” for water access and to launch a kayak. There is a broad variety of sites, so be sure to check out the campground map as well as satellite view when requesting a reservation. The tent sites are great — right on the water’s edge — and much more spacious and private than the hookup sites. Of the RV sites (E/W), some are MUCH more desirable than others. 12A and 12B are close to the water with great views, but only suitable for smaller camper vans and trailers. Of the other RV sites, 12, 13, and 16 are nice because they are at the end of their rows so there are neighbors on only one side. 13 is next to the pond, but still has a good view of the bay, and the added bonus of a million frogs serenading throughout the night. (This may not be a positive thing for some.). The rest of the E/W sites are side-by-side RV park style where the only view (from inside) is the side of your neighbor’s RV just a few feet away. The town of Lubec is tiny without a lot of charm, but the waterfront area provides a nice view of the rushing tide and Canada across the narrow channel. Nearby Quoddy Head State Park has a picturesque lighthouse and a couple of nice hiking trails. Antique lovers should visit the nearby Clutter Shop. HD&Sons about a mile west sells freshly caught lobster for about $10/pound and will cook them up for $5/pot. The campground is on a peninsula, and there was never a day without a nice breeze.

The easiest directions from the southern part of the state would be to drive north on I95 to Bangor, then take a right and go east until you run out of US soil. That is correct, this is some of the most eastern parts of the United States. A nearby state park holds the official title but we will chat about that later. On our way up, we counted over 30 licence plates from different states, plus another 4 provinces from Canada during this road trip. You would have thought the parents in the car were a couple kids every time we saw a new plate. There are even Apps you can download that help keep track while also providing trivia on each state. We truly live in the Vacation State and lots of people were trying to soak up what’s left of summer, including us.

This trip was our 3rd camping trip as a family and we spent 2 nights, 3 days away. We also brought our dog Baxter on this one but not because we 100% wanted to. Bax is what some would call high maintenance and he’s a hard one to find a sitter for on long weekends. Our dog Braddock on the other hand has a fan club but that doesn’t mean he’s less work. He’s just not 75lbs of pure muscle and is twice Baxter’s age. You might say we failed in some areas at training our pups over the years but we love em both, warts and all. So, we took a leap of faith now that we had a couple trips under our belt with the baby and added Baxter to the mix. Not only did it work out, but the monster was given an overall B for the weekend. He crushed it! You have to realize a B for Baxter is pretty much an A for other dogs. Bax is not much of cuddler but he snuggled up both nights in the tent. He looked peaceful all weekend and really seemed to love the experience. We underestimated this city dog for sure.

Either people have never heard of Cobscook Bay or they say it’s one of the best parks in Maine. With that in mind we had some high expectations before spending the weekend there. We chose August for this trip a while back because the weather can be tricky in this part of Maine and we figured mid-August would be ideal temperature wise; we ended up hitting the nail on the head. When it comes to picking parks to camp at, we are shooting for at least 4 a year, but also being mindful of average weather, black flies, etc. For example, in June we chose Camden Hills because after a very buggy spring we figured the closer to the coast the better, and it worked out perfectly.

Machias is the last town with large stores before you get to the park and it’s about 35 minutes away. There are some gas stations closer to the park, but we decided to hit up Hannaford while driving through. We didn’t expect the couple minutes of bumper to bumper traffic for the annual Machias “Wild Blueberry Festival.” It was cute and it looks like the whole town comes out for it. While checking out at Hannaford, the bagger stated that the “Black Fly Dance” was the real party of the weekend. Temping, but we took a raincheck on the festivities. This might be a good time to say that we started to get a little smarter budgeting for these trips. On our first camping trip, we spent just over $200 at the grocery store. This camping trip we spent just over $200 for the entire weekend! That’s gas, food, firewood and our camping reservation. This summer has brought some big changes for our family and working off a tighter budget has become a priority. What’s funny is that zero sacrifices were made by following a budget, it just came down to a little extra planning and not being wasteful. Something as simple as bringing condiments and snacks from home and building a shopping list according to our meals which we planned out. Also, why buy a 12 pack of beer when you have a stocked beer fridge at home leftover from summer gatherings? To look back on the weekend, what we ended up having for $200 is mind-blowing. We didn’t skimp on the good stuff either. We bought all-natural meats and produce from Pineland Farms and splurged for the wild Maine blueberries.

It would be hard to find a bad site at Cobscook Bay State Park. This park is around and on a peninsula so there are a lot of sites on the water, and several with water on both sides. There are over 100 sites so odds are you would have your pick, especially if you planned ahead before summer started. Most sites are quite private with lots of shade, covered picnic tables, plus they are groomed and well cleaned. They were very flat and free of rocks and roots; which is a tenters dream. The one time we thought for a second, “maybe those two sites might not be the best to have”, we quickly realized how truly amazing this park was. There were two sites not far from us that were in the open and not as private. They are still near the water (with a view), had a bathroom next to them, were extremely flat and free of debris, had their own water stations, a fire place with higher walls and easy access to the road. After a closer look, we realized they were reserved handicap sites and they were designed perfectly for families that might need additional amenities, but still getting the full experience of the park without missing a beat. I’m sure many of you reading this can think of family and friends who are often limited to experiencing certain things based off lack of handicap accessibility. With all the beauty and wonder of this park, these site were a highlight for us. Kuddos to the park and their staff; hopefully it’s something we see more of as we travel around the state.

This park is on the ocean, I repeat, you are camping under tall trees on the ocean. It was a dream! Just an absolute treasure of a park. There are clam shells in the woods, I mean where are we? The trees are towering and thin, everything is super green from the moisture in the air. The tides will be like something you’ve never seen before, dropping in some areas up to 24 feet! You feel like you’re on the edge of the world and this isn’t the first time we experienced this. While our daughter, Eloise was still baking in the oven in April of 2016, we did a 10 mile, 1 night, 2 day hiking trip along the Cuter Preserve. It’s quickly becoming a popular hike after several publications have featured this area of Maine as must see for destination hikers. We won’t get into that trip, but all we will say is that it’s a bucket list type of hike. Cutler isn’t too far from this park so the terrain here brought back some wonderful memories. There is a perfect little hike on the Cobscook Bay State Park property called the “Nature Trail” that takes you along the water and into the woods. It’s ideal for kids but still challenging in a couple areas as you make your way up to the gorgeous scenic overlook.

Eloise passed out on our way back and it was enough to tire Baxter out so that he was more manageable on his leash about half way through. We spent just over an hour exploring on the trails before it emptied us out less than 100 yards from our site. Somehow, for the first time we were able to transfer a napping baby from one area to another. Eloise usually doesn’t allow this, but she went from passed out in the hiking pack to getting some extra Zs in the camper.

Not much more to say besides it’s a place you want more time at. We could have used another day there to be honest, but because of the drive up and back and everything in between, we could have used another day at home as well. We certainly felt pretty run down when we got home and even more so getting ready for work the next morning. It took a couple days for us to get back to our well-oiled routine, but that’s what trips like this are all about. They are made to derail your routine and slow life down to the point where the little things stand out and you don’t overlook or take them for granted. We had lots of firsts on this trip. Eloise tried and shared a vanilla soft serve with her mom. Mom, who doesn’t drink coffee, fell in love with black coffee and Dad was forced to master starting a fire with wet wood. Eloise also officially slept through the night for the first time. She made it to 6am! Never thought this day would come and especially in a camper.

We didn’t visit the two state parks (Shackford Head and Quoddy Head) that were within 30-45 minutes of Cobscook Bay State Park because this park shouldn’t have to share a weekend. Actually, we never plan to visit any two parks in one day but I’m sure we will have a few long weekends in which we will visit a couple. It just gives us a reason to come back another year as a family. We plan to lump in an overnight stay on Campobello Island in Canada during that visit as well. If it was good enough for FDR and his family, then I guess it’s good enough for the Rubys.

 With all the license plates we saw, Maine plates dominated in the park. It’s not a place you stumble upon and it’s certainly not one of the usual must-see attractions regurgitated in a Maine magazine. With that being said, the folks that we met at this park seemed to be on the same page as us. Everyone waves as they drive by, people take time to introduce themselves, and the park staff even offered to deliver our fire wood down to our site after check in. Our neighbors at a nearby site who also happened to live within a couple miles from us in Portland, checked in before going to the store to see if we needed anything after we were setting up on night #1. We had our space but when we were around people, they were the type of people we wanted to be around. Of course, going to a park way out in the middle of nowhere wasn’t easy and when you experience more wilderness you sacrifice some amenities, but all the good outweighed any little blemishes for us. This is the type of escape we prefer and what we want to expose Eloise to. We highly recommend you spend some time exploring this unique and less crowed part of Maine.

We love this campground because of the location and amazing views! Sunset Point is a small, family-owned campground that sits beautifully perched on Johnson Bay just minutes from downtown Lubec. After a busy morning of hiking or paddling we loved hanging out at our campsite in the afternoon and watching the seals, bald eagles, seabirds, and the tides come and go. 

This is one campground where the tent sites are actually in the best location in the campground as all of them have great unobstructed water views. (The only downside is they are farther away from the bathroom.) Some tent sites (A– D) have a wooden shade structure with picnic table and fire pit, the others just have a fire pit and picnic table. RV sites are 50-amp/ water and vary in length. Some are right on the water and others are in rows behind them. Warning: RV sites are very close together and there is not much space between you and your neighbor. The best sites are 12, 12A, 12B, and 16 which have the best views and are the largest sites. There are no sewer hook-ups but there is a dump station, a tote (a.k.a.,“blue boy”) that you are welcome to borrow, or you can schedule a pump out for$10/tank. Most motorhomes (in sites 16-29) choose to pull-in forward so they have a water view out of their front window and run the utilities under their RV to hook-up. Warning: do not leave your awning out while you are away from your camper as the winds can really pick up in the afternoon and damage them. 

The restrooms were super clean (although a little dated) and there is a laundry with three sets of washers and dryers for$1.50 each. Wood ($3) and ice are for sale in the camp store where they also have t-shirts/hats/post cards and a few other miscellaneous items. Wi-Fi at our site (#16) was pretty poor but worked very well near the office/laundry. We had a strong Verizon signal so we didn’t rely on their Wi-Fi. The grounds are manicured with nicely mowed grass. The only problem was that some people put out patio mats or screen rooms that killed the grass so the next camper has a big dead spot. There is a primitive kayak/canoe launch (which is basically a mowed path down to the water) which we used almost daily. It was so convenient to leave our boats down along path so we didn’t have to bring them back to our site every day. Beware that the tidal range is around 20 feet so make sure you paddle around high tide or you will have to cross a mucky, seaweed covered, rocky clam flat to get back to shore. There are lots of great places to paddle and downtown is about a 15-minute paddle and there are plenty of seals at high tide and the mackerel fishing is great. The campground has free use of lobster pots, burners, and propane tanks if you want to cook your own lobster and there is a seafood place right down the street that sells live lobster. Or you can drive about 25 miles to the town of Cutler and buy them fresh off the dock. 

Lubec is a cute little town with a few shops, restaurants, historical museum, a brewery, grocery, and a scenic view of the Passamaquoddy Bay. There is plenty of hiking on nearby nature preserves. Bring your passport and cross over to Campobello Island which was the summer home of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and is now a museum open for tours. There is also lots of hiking and two lighthouses on Campobello. Nearby is Quoddy Head State Park which has some beautiful oceanfront hiking trails and a picturesque lighthouse.