Camden Hills State Park Campground provides a centrally located base for exploring the Maine coastline, featuring 5,700 acres of woodland just three miles from downtown Camden. The campground offers approximately 100 sites categorized by size, with both wooded and open sites available. Camping season runs from mid-May through mid-October, with walk-in availability only starting in early September. The park's direct trail access to Mount Megunticook and Mount Battie makes it popular with hikers seeking coastal views without driving to trailheads.
What to do
Kayak from harbor areas: Rockport Marine Park offers easy kayak launch access and a small beach area primarily used for children to splash around. Camden City Park, 2.5 miles from Camden Hills State Park, provides another good launch point. One visitor notes that Duck Puddle Campground offers "great waterfront sites" with "direct access to the lake" where "the lake is great for swimming and paddling."
Visit nearby coastal attractions: The mid-coast area contains numerous museums, lighthouses, and historic sites within short driving distance. "Within 10 miles are great museums like the Farnsworth Art Museum, the Maine Lighthouse Museum, the Sail, Power, and Steam Museum, and others," mentions a camper at Camden Hills State Park Campground.
Enjoy fresh seafood: Local lobster pounds and seafood restaurants represent a highlight for many campers. "The owners host a Lobster bake on Saturdays and it was so good," writes a visitor to Megunticook by the Sea Campground. McLoons Lobster Pound receives particular praise from visitors as "the best lobster pound in the world" with "the best food and most amazing views."
What campers like
Ocean viewpoints: Several campgrounds feature dedicated areas for enjoying water views. At Megunticook by the Sea Campground, "the views of the ocean are amazing! so peaceful for sunset and morning coffee," according to one camper. Another notes "the ocean views are drop dead gorgeous. You can see the lighthouse of Rockport harbor not seen from the harbor itself."
Wooded campsites: Many campgrounds balance access to water with forested sites. "The sites are nicely wooded and have a decent amount of separation between most of them," writes a reviewer about Camden Hills RV Resort. Another camper appreciates that at Sennebec Lake Campground, "the tent sites are completely separate from the RVs and are in the woods, beautifully maintained."
Cedar showers: The unique shower facilities at several coastal campgrounds receive frequent mention. "The bathrooms are clean and the cedar showers are awesome!" writes a camper about Megunticook by the Sea. Another notes they "made use of the cedar showers for a long hot shower- awesome! Crystal clean bathrooms."
What you should know
Varying site privacy levels: Some campgrounds feature more open layouts than others. At Lobster Buoy Campsites, "the ocean views are great" but "the RVs were pretty loud." Tent campers should note that at many area campgrounds, "privacy is an issue sometimes, but the whole campground has a very community feel to it."
Road noise concerns: Proximity to Route 1 affects some campgrounds more than others. "The only downside to this campground is traffic noise from Route 1. Not bad at night but it does start early in the morning," reports a Camden Hills RV Resort visitor. Another notes that at Megunticook Campground, "with the exception of sites 84-87 and cabins 8-10, you will hear road noise in your site."
Extra fees at some locations: Several campgrounds charge additional fees beyond the base site rate. One camper noted, "I thought $50 for a tent site was a little steep but it was all the potential extra fees that irked me" including "$30 site lock to ensure you get the site you want when you reserve" and "$7.95 if you need to hook up to WiFi."
Tips for camping with families
Look for dedicated kid-friendly areas: Some campgrounds provide specific spaces designed for children. A camper at Searsport Shores Ocean Campground notes, "There is a place to put your boat in if you have it, laundry, dock, fishing, camp store and I thought a great playground and field area if u have kids with u."
Consider seasonal activities: Many campgrounds offer special events during peak season. Duck Puddle Campground visitors mention that "the weekend we stayed they happened to be celebrating 'Christmas in July' and so a lot of the campers had put up lights and decorated. They had a band play on Saturday night and large bonfire."
Check playground conditions: Playground equipment varies significantly between campgrounds. One family noted, "Playground is a bit of a stretch. Firewood was a bit pricey at $7 a bundle," while another mentioned a campground having a playground "not updated since the 80s."
Tips from RVers
Watch for tree branches: The heavily wooded nature of Maine campgrounds can present navigation challenges. At Continuous Harmony Farm, campers note "the space is gorgeous, right next to a pond" but warn that "sites are not marked at all." Another RVer mentioned, "We had to go pretty slow to avoid hitting tree branches. Parking under the pines also meant a lot of sap on our roof which was a bear to remove."
Check site leveling: Many coastal campgrounds feature uneven terrain. "Luckily our site was level but some are not very level and would have been a problem for us," reports one RVer. Another recommends: "We are in a 35ft RV, and we faced no issues getting in and out of the property and the sites across the water were level, with no extra leveling needed."
Verify hookup types: Available utilities vary widely between campgrounds and sites. A reviewer notes: "About half the sites have water and 30/50 amp electric and the others are no hookups." Another points out that at some locations, "options are 10 rustic cabins, tent sites, partial and FHU sites," so checking available connections before booking is essential.
