Best Glamping near Sandy River, ME

Northeast Whitewater is a mix of guide service, moose viewing tours, whitewater rafting, and camping. The camping options are yurts and primitive tent camping. There are no RV/Van camping facilities. All camping is walk-in as you can’t drive to your site but most campsites and yurts are not too far away. There are six yurts all with varying configurations, sleeping anywhere from 1-2 people (with king sized bed) up to up to six people (with bunk beds). All yurts have electricity and come equipped with heaters and fans; in addition, pillows, bedding and linens are supplied. Depending on the particular yurt you choose, some have small refrigerators, table and chairs, and nightstands. 

Tent sites are primitive with fire pits and picnic tables. The ground is level and cleared so there is no problem finding a place to put your tent. The sites are fairly close together so you will definitely hear and see your neighbor. There is no water or port-a-potties at camping sites. One bathhouse is located adjacent to the main building and there is a dish washing station located there as well. The bathhouse was clean when we visited (but we were not there during the busy summer season as there are many rafting trips and those customers share the same bathroom). The bathhouse is pretty far away from the camping area which is inconvenient when you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. All yurts and campsite have trash cans located at the site. Each site has a large fire pit and removable cooking grates are available. There are rustic log benches around the fire pits. 

Yurts and campsites are located behind the main building/office but you still get some road noise as Route 6 is a heavily traveled road. As far as amenities, there is a volleyball net and corn holes. A covered pavilion is located between the campsites and the main building and has a few picnic tables underneath. The main building has a gift shop stocked with moose gifts, apparel, snacks, drinks, and an assortment of “camp stuff.” This is also where you can book a moose tour, rafting trip, or inflatable kayaks if you are feeling adventurous. 

The campground is located between the towns of Monson and Greenville. The Monson General Store is a great little store with an assortment of grocery items and makes really good sandwiches and the nearby Lakeshore House Lodge and Pub has the most wonderful pot roast. Greenville has a larger grocery/trading post which has pretty much everything you need from shoes to lettuce. Hiking in the area is great! You can pick up the Appalachian Trail or head to Little Wilson Falls for a nice, wooded walk along a stream to a pretty waterfall. Borestone Mountain is nearby and provides amazing views.

We discovered this campsite in 2020 and just returned from our third year in a row camping here with 2 kids. We have only tented, but hope to bring a small camper next year. There is a small arcade, store, and 24/7 laundry. Bathrooms/showers are clean and not very busy as most guests are in RVs. Activities started up again this year, with events such as kids’ crafts, a kids vs adults water gun fight, cornhole competition, and a DJ for an evening of dancing - just on the weekend we were there. We love the proximity to the lake with easy access for kayaking and swimming. New ownership this year resulted in some updates, as well as the addition of glamping tents near the beach. The sites are a decent size and the campground is fairly quiet at night.

This campground on the shore of Flagstaff Lake features large level sites nestled among towering pines, both with and without hookups (w/e; dump station available). There are clean showers, flush toilets, laundry, wifi in some locations, a campers only and a public beach, opportunities for canoeing and kayaking Flagstaff lake with rentals available if you didn't bring your own. Get a lakeside site to watch the sunrise, but know that the sites don't necessarily provide easy access for launching a canoe or kayak. I've used this campground as a basecamp as I was bagging the Maine 4000-footers in the area. It's a great place to return and relax after climbing the Bigelow range, Sugarloaf & Spaulding, the Crockers, even Saddleback, although that's a little farther away. If riding an ATV on the many area trails is your thing, just be aware that ATVs can't be ridden in the campground. In the evenings or early mornings you can explore the area in search of moose. There's a small rec hall as well as a cabin for games/reading/puzzles on a rainy day. There's also a playground and you'll often see kids riding around. It's a gated campground, so you'll get a gate pass for a $10 deposit, refundable upon return. There's a gas station/general store nearby. Group camping sites are separate from the individual sites. Reservations are low-tech…although you can inquire about availability via email, give them a call to make the reservation (or send a letter) because deposit is required at time of reservation. This is a beautiful non-profit campground I've returned to each time I'm in the area.

Beaver Brook in Monmouth Maine is a must stay if you have kids from babies to teens. Our family has been going annually for the last five years. We meet up with a couple Moms and their children who we don’t get to see too often and make it a “girls and kids” trip and have a blast making memories and gives us moms a well deserved break. This year we opted for a small group site with a centrally located fire pit and spent our days in the lake, pool, or just hanging out while our kids (ranging from 8-12) rode their bikes, made friends at the playground or participated in the activities that the camp had to offer. Sites are all big with plenty of room between the sites for the perfect amount of privacy. Hook ups for water/electric/sewer but also tons of tent sites too. Staff is friendly and helpful, kids loved the big red and blue slides at the pool, restaurant, ice cream and store all in the same area.

For parents; live entertainment with local bands on Saturday nights, an adult only swim nightly. (Playground is close enough to the pool to actually enjoy this while listening to my kids play), candy bar bingo (where you can play bingo WITH your kids and was quite fun) and just a nice atmosphere all around between all the other families there.

Will definitely be back next year!

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.

After spending 3 nights at this campground - I’ll never go back again. Noise levels were at the top and one night until 4am with music and loud voices. 

Arrived on Fri evening - the bathrooms were clean. By Sat afternoon there was no paper towels in the ladies restroom and the big trash can was filled to top and was never emptied. There was dirt and water ( maybe pee) the entire weekend on the floor in one of the stalls. For this Covid season , this bathroom was not cleaned throughout the day at all. Finally on Sunday afternoon there were more paper towels but the trash can still full and the stall still dirty. Left on Monday morning... no change.