Are you planning a tent camping trip to Sandy River? We've got you covered. The Dyrt is an easy way to find tent camping spots near Sandy River. Each spot offers quick access to one or more of Sandy River, Maine's most popular destinations.
Tiny Cabins of Maine is on 100 acres of wooded land on a 25 acre pond. On the property are two tiny cabins (Roxie and Maybelle) and one tent site. Each cabin is fully insulated and has a tiny wood stove to make it comfortable all 4 seasons!
Each cabin has a comfortable fully sized bed, a mini woodstove, a composting toilet, kitchen essentials, an outside firepit, and plenty of wood. The tent site is a clearing in the woods with a popup tented porta-potty, and a firepit.
2 kayaks, a yak board, 2 paddleboards and a canoe are at the dock for guests to use. There is an outside Pizzeria with a woodfired pizza oven and table for two, an axe throwing target with 6 axes and directions to play as well as a clearing by the water called the Pub. There, guests can sit at a high top table, relax in a hammock, play corn hole or have a fire in the chimenea. There are currently about 1.5 miles of trails cleared, with more added each week!
The pond is surrounded by wooded area and it feels remote but road noise can still be heard.
$50 - $120 / night
$100 - $150 / night
The Firewarden's Trail (4.6 miles) intersects the Appalachian Trail at Bigelow Col (the lowest point between two peaks) and provides the shortest route to Avery Peak or West Peak from the south side of the Bigelow Range. Follow Stratton Brook Pond Road 0.4 mile east to Stratton Brook, the outlet of the pond, and another 0.4 mile east to the fork. Take the north fork (left) 0.3 miles to the old trailhead clearing. The trail bears northeast along an old tote road and ascends gradually 1.2 miles until the Horn's Pond Trail diverges left. Moose Falls Campsite is located about 1 mile further up the Firewarden's Trail. Shortly after this the trail ascends steeply for the last 0.7 mile until the Firewarden's Trail ends at the Bigelow Col (3815').
67 waterfront campsites including mainland, Students Island, Toothaker Island and Western Shore. Wilderness Campsites are located on the Mainland, Students Island, Toothaker, and along the Western Shore. All sites include water views, a picnic table, a fire pit and access to an outhouse.
MAINE APPALACHIAN TRAIL
Welcome to our cozy and charming mini A-frame cabins and Tent Sites! Nestled on our homestead initiative here in our small town located in the southern Maine Highlands, this unique accommodation is the perfect retreat for those seeking a peaceful experience a short distance from some of Maines premier Rivers, Mountains, and Coastal towns.
$60 / night
Located in western Maine just east of the village of Stratton about 40 miles north of Farmington, Bigelow Preserve includes over 36,000 acres of public land. The preserve encompasses the entire Bigelow Range, which includes seven summits. The highest of these at 4,150 feet is West Peak, one of only 10 Maine summits over 4,000 feet in elevation. Bounded on the north by 20,000-acre Flagstaff Lake, the preserve offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Flagstaff Lake is part of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is an historic 740-mile watertrail through New York, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire, and Maine. https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parksearch/PropertyGuides/PDF_GUIDE/bigelow-preserve-flagstaff-lake.pdf
Ranger
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.
Scout
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. Despite some distant road noise at night, the overall ambiance was serene and beautiful. The tent camping amenities, including the pop-up toilet and sturdy wooden platform, were thoughtfully provided. The fire pit and picnic table were perfect for evening gatherings, and the hammock added an extra touch of relaxation. We enjoyed the pub's games and even tried our hand at axe throwing. Kayaking in the pond was a highlight, thanks to the convenient dock. While the trails required attention to follow, the directional signs helped. Overall, I highly recommend Tiny Cabins of Maine for a memorable small family retreat, and we're already looking forward to returning in the future.
Legend
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.
LegendJake from the Dyrt here! This smaller campground offers great privacy on a large pond in the Maine forests. They recently added a tent site alongside the cabins for those looking to bring their tents into this awesome location! Make sure to post some pictures on the Dyrt when you stay there!
TravelerRoom for a few vehicles. Small sandy stream bank, right next to the road. More flat camping tucked in back... possibly a tent site or two.
Scout
We've stayed at Duck Puddle several times over the years. The sites have always been tidy and staff friendly. Tent sites are close together but comfortable and the location is very convenient to Damriscotta and other downeast towns.
Scout
Round barn campsites offers a dozen or so tent sites with two big group sites. It will pretty consistently have some campers, but I've never seen all the sites full before. It is right next to the stafford brook trail to hike to the top of Bigelow and you can easily hike from your campsite to the top of the mountain and back within a day. Multiple sites including both group sites are right on the water and there is a nice beach area big enough to accomodate however many people you bring. The best tent site is on the island just offshore accessible by sandbar which is usually just knee deep. The cove makes for safe swimming away from the wind and waves offshore. Great secluded spot where you won't feel crowded like at Baxter or Grafton notch areas.
Legend
Basically this is a small independent RV park split between season RV campers and regular RV campers. The only reason for a tent camper to go is to take advantage of the laundry room and the nicely scrubbed showers. It’s 5 minutes from Skowhegan and a short 2 minutes from Kennebec Banks rest area on route 2.
There are about 5 tent sites– two of which are on a small point stretching into the confluence of the great Kennebec River and the small Wesserunsett River.
The only two tent sites I would recommend are #50 & #51 on the point with # 51 being most desirable. I absolutely would not recommend any of the other tent sites for various reasons. I used site #51 and pitched my tent about 20ft from the Kennebec. At 6:45am I saw two bald eagles patrolling the Kennebec.
The RV sites that are interesting are the ones directly along the Kennebec. They are sites 39-45; 47A; 47B; 47C; 48; and, they park parallel to the river. Otherwise, it’s a very tight center filled with RV’s and very large motor homes. Sites # 52– 58 may look like they are water sites… but the water feature on the map is only a brushy swamp.
The 2 showers are very good, clean and include a bench. There are 2 flush toilets also sparkling clean; but, they are some distance from The Point. The 24hour self-operated laundry is housed in a small, dedicated bungalow. There are 2-3 docks and canoes to use.
At night, one can clearly hear the noise from route 2 just at the edge of the campground. The river amplifies the sound of cars passing by.
Guide
Really loved the scenery....canoe around the lake, visit 1Big Sustainable island. Lot of tent sites on the water, we had #24, with loud family of 6 children 10’ away. Friday night 3am train is loud. Sunrise on the water beautiful, which gives this site an extra star
Guide
This place is amazing!! Nice tent sites. Rv sites. There are electric and water hook ups. Nice pool and clean bathrooms with showers!! Playground for the kids and a rec hall with games and TV. There is a volleyball net as well. They have tiny home rentals also through airbnb. My family loves this place!! They even have a small restaurant/store on site!! Amazing staff!!!!
Legend
I've stayed here a number of times and have enjoyed my stays. This is a good campground to use as a base location when doing other things. It is a small campground, but the tent sites are nicely dispersed in a small field. In the late summer the grass will be 4' tall, it's a fun location.
The RV sites are stacked about as tight as I've ever seen them though. Facilities are dated, but there are outhouses at the tent group sites.
If you stay here check out the suspension bridge and the island.
Guide
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!
Guide
My wife and I stayed for 3 nights in late June. New campground and new owners. Bathrooms and showers were very clean and well maintained, a must on the list for my wife. We stayed at the far end of the campground on the river. Although there had been such little rain it was more of a stream, but non the less nice to stay on the water. I will say those tent sites are every close with very little trees separating the site. When we stayed there was no other tent campers. Ellis pond public beach is fantastic and only 10 minutes or so drive away.
Guide
Truly nice folks who built this campground 39 years ago, still run it. Well maintained and full of nice folks. Mostly rv camping with some tent sites. A lot of seasonal rv occupants. Great for families with children but nice for all folks. Two bath areas and a laundry room. Free baths and inexpensive laundry prices. There must be many atv trails nearby as plenty of campers had theirs up and running. About 12 miles south of a point on the AT so plenty of hiking nearby as well. Lots of planned activities and live entertainment on Saturday night. A warm community environment.
GuideWe spent the second week of May at this lovely campground. It’s a campground in its second year. The owners and the nicest people. There are hookups: water and electric available on some sites. There is a dump station with water. The bathrooms and showers are new and beautiful. There are tent sites under the trees and a little beach along the river. They do have a cabin tent which is fully furnished in the field. This is an equestrian campground as well. Pets are welcomed. There is plenty of areas, caves and hiking trails to explore. There is a diner down the street that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Appalachian Trail runs through this area. We look forward to spending a week here in July. Come and partake of all this beauty in Andover, Maine. Check out their website. They have 30 & 50 amp power available. We were in a pull through site. We really appreciated having hookups!
ScoutFirst 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.
LegendStopped in to try and camp here, all the spots were taken. There were even people camping in their rooftop tents.
Sites that I saw looked great, trails need some maintenance though, and some of the sites need clean up.
The Road is rough, but with care you can get there, just go slow.
There are pit toilets, but no running water or electricity.
All of the sites are walk-in sites.
Bussy place!
Guide
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!
Legendlast year I bought a small camping trailer and picked it up one evening with no idea where I was going to spend the night. It was my first time towing, so I didn't want to travel very far. The friend who was with me called around and found More to Life campground in Winthrop. Best part? we got a pull-through site for the night, so I didn't have to figure out how to back up in the dark! They offer a selection of wooded, level to slightly sloped sites, with tent sites grouped together apart from the other sites. All sites offer electrical, only one offers sewer, but if an RV is your thing, they have a honey wagon for pump-outs. Bathrooms and showers are clean.
There's a pond with a private beach within walking distance and great for kayaking and swimming, etc. Additionally, you're only a few miles from public boat launches on the larger Cobboseecontee Lake. The campground abounds with places to play games and hang out, whether you're interested in ping pong, basketball, volleyball, horseshoes, or swings. They're are also weekly activities for the kids. They publish a weekly activities schedules online, both on the website and their Facebook page. There's a little camp store and laundry is also available.
Their website mentions that they want your "stay here with us will be one of rest, relaxation, safely, and spiritual refreshment, They are open about their Christian faith, and services are available. They do have some guidelines around modest dress.
This was a great place and if I had a family, I expect they would have no problem keeping busy and finding fun things to do!
LegendThis is a small privately owned campground located at the confluence of the Kennebec and the Wesserunsett Rivers just a few minutes from downtown Skowhegan. Campers are a mix of seasonals and transients with sites varying from pull-thru, back-in, tent and one rental cabin.
We had a long pull-thru site that was located under pine trees which provided welcomed shade since the temperatures were in the high 80’s. The first site we were assigned was in the direct sun so we asked to move to a shady site and they were very accommodating. Some of the RV sites are located parallel to the river so your patio is open to the river and you have an unobstructed water view. However, these sites are fairly short and would not accommodate larger RVs. All other sites are pretty close to each other without much privacy between them. RV sites have cable with 70+ channels. There are a handful of tent sites at the far end of the campground set off on their own and right along the river. The only downside is that they are pretty far away from the bathrooms. The restrooms and laundry were spotless and cleaned daily.
There is a small playground and a nice swimming pool which was clean and had lots of chairs around it for relaxing. There is a nice dock along the river where you can tie up boats and launch a kayak or canoe. One of the nice features is that they offer free use of their canoes/kayaks/peddle boats. You reserve a 2-hour time slot, and they provide you with the paddles and life jackets. There is a game room/arcade for kids to hang out in and there is a pavilion that is open to the public for gathering. One of the downsides is the loud road noise from Route 2. The other thing we didn’t like was that our patio was a mix and sand and dirt which made for a mess in the RV and not a great place for our dog to lay in. We paid$59/night for our full hook-up site which seems a little high for the area, but it was a full hookup site with cable and (pretty poor Wi-Fi).
Overall, we liked this campground and it was a good three-night stay for us as we were traveling through Maine. Downtown is interesting with restored historic buildings housing antique shops, artisan galleries, and restaurants. There is a grist mill and restaurant located in an old jail that sells a wide variety of grains and other Maine-made products. We especially loved the Bankery which is a bakery located in an old bank. Just outside of town is Bigelow Brewery which we recommend visiting. There are a few nature preserves in the area that offer hiking if you are looking for a nice short walk in the woods.
LegendWe chose to stay at this campground because it was close to downtown Bethel, had river access, and had a full hook-up site for our 45’ RV. Campsites vary from full hook-up pull through to grassy shaded private sites perfect for tent camping. The sites are pretty close together and ours was a buddy site which meant our patio faced our neighbor’s patio. Since the sites were so close, we were practically sitting next to them. Luckily, they were nice people and we enjoyed talking to them.
Not all sites are level and we found it difficult to get into because of the tight roads and dangling tree limbs. Some of the best sites are unfortunately reserved for work campers. These are pull-ins with a view of a grassy field. The wifi at our site (#21) was horrible and we never used it. There is no cable and we were not able to pick up any over-the-air television channels. The campground is pretty wooded which was nice for the shade but meant we were not able to get satellite reception with our dome mounted receiver. We ended up using our portable receiver and after two days of moving the unit we were finally able to lock into the satellites.
We selected a 50-amp full hookup pull through site which was $46/night. Our sewer was uphill at our site which is a big pet peeve of ours and super annoying when it comes to empty the tanks. The 50-amp worked well and it was well-placed in the site as was the water. The roads and campsites are gravel and the patios are a mix of gravel and grass. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. The campground is adjacent to a paved walking/biking path that leads to downtown Bethel. We used the path to walk over to the farmers market and found it very convenient to walk our dog. There is also a mowed path through a field that we also liked for walking our dog.
The best aspect of this campground is the access to the Androscoggin River. The park rents kayaks, canoes, and tubes and has a shuttle service that will take you up river for so you can float back to the campground. We used the campgrounds shuttle livery service to take our kayak and paddleboard up river for a leisurely float down the river so we could enjoy the scenery, have a picnic, and fish. (Since we used our own boats, the coast was cheaper.) The campground offers this service to non-campers which meant there were a lot of people walking through the campground. The bathroom in the campground was old and tired and heavily used by people floating the river which and was pretty dirty. They also have a sluice on the property, where (for a fee) you can get a bucket of mined material and get to sort through it looking for minerals and gems. Whatever you find, you keep.
The campground is located off Route 2 which is fairly convenient but the road noise was pretty loud as this is a heavily trafficed road. Downtown Bethel is just a few minutes away and has a brewery, grocery, restaurants, shops, and the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum. About five miles away is Sunday River which is a ski area. We took the chair lift up the mountain so we could hike around and take in the beautiful views. On the way, we stopped at Sunday River Brewery and had a delicious meal and great beer.
Guide
We took our camper and camped with another family who had just tents. Our camp sites were next to each other but also very private. No water or electricity except at the main bathrooms where there are showers, toilets and a dish wash station. Beautiful lake! We had to walk a few mins from our site to get to the lake. Overall very peaceful!
GuideMount Blue is an awesome Maine State Park about 2 hrs. north-west of Portland, 1hr from the White Mts. in NH and 1.5 hours from the Quebec border.
Chock full of activities from lakefront lounging, swimming, dark sky stargazing, fishing, biking, hiking, paddling and boating all from your campsite or nearby within the park.
Our group had the South Shelter group camping area, lakefront with small beachfront where you can have a decent sized bonfire and keep kayaks, SUPs, etc.
View is amazing, looking out across lake to Mount Blue and Tumbledown. Took the quick but steep hike up to the fire tower at Mount Blue's summit, about 3.5 miles RT.
Also really liked:
new and clean showers (individual shower rooms with hot water, are free!)
trails that link all campsites to the lake
super friendly staff
log cabin shelter at lake with a huge stone fireplace - didn't use it but this would be great for a group dinner
group site was spacious and slopes up from lake with plenty of shaded tent areas - we had about 8 tents and didn't feel crowded in the least
group site also has a spacious shelter and fire pit area at the top of the slope, with 4 picnic tables - cool for the showers we experienced when several people could fit inside under the roof, play games and wait out the storms.
Of note:
The shower house is located a good ways off from the group sites, over in the tent and RV/trailer site area. Some of us walked ands others biked or drove over.
At the group site there is a decent outhouse but no running water - so plan for that.
Showers were diagonal from site 9 in the camping area.
Def. check this beautiful state park out, and you can support Maine State Parks by purchasing an annual pass for around $105.
Traveler
If your looking for a great little get away where you can get unplugged from society, then this is the place for you. Has a great place to go four wheeling. A place to enjoy the lake and all the fun activities that go along with it. As well as a bathroom facility for showering and all your tolitere needs. The kids can also enjoy the playground, and the various activities they provide. And you may even be visited by the campgrounds own family cat. This place is not only a great place to go tenting, but can also be a place where you can hook up your camper. This beautiful place sits in the woods off the maine road. It gives you the real feel of being out in the woods. It is a very secluded place.
ScoutTiny turn off with spots for a few cars and a few tents. No amenities. Riverbank access
Guide
My fiancé and I tented here over the weekend and although it was chilly at night (33F!) we had a blast having water access right from our site and the ability to park within steps of our tent. Bigelow Preserve offers several free first come first serve sites, some of them require a small hike to get in but they all have a fire ring and outhouse which is an excellent amenity for dispersed camping. Overall it was a nice, sandy, fairly level site with access to some hiking trails and AMAZING water and mountain views.
Traveler
Wonderful water access. Cabins, RVs and tents all welcome. Clean facilities and a nice store making it so you don't have to leave! Staff does a very good job at planned activities to keep children entertained.
Tent camping near Sandy River, Maine, offers a blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, making it a perfect getaway for nature enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Sandy River, ME?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Sandy River, ME is Boothby's Orchard with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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