Best Dispersed Camping near Sorrento, ME
Dispersed camping near Sorrento, Maine is primarily concentrated on coastal islands accessible by boat. The Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) maintains several free primitive campsites on islands in the Deer Isle Archipelago, including Marshall Island, Buckle Island, Wheat Island, and Doliver Island. For mainland options, campers can access Machias Rips Campsite near Wesley, approximately 70 miles northeast of Sorrento. This site sits along the Machias River Corridor Public Lands and provides a more accessible alternative to the boat-in island sites.
Access to the island campsites requires watercraft, typically sea kayaks or small boats. Marshall Island features two designated sites near Sand Cove with tent platforms and picnic tables. Buckle and Wheat Islands each offer two primitive sites, while Doliver Island has limited space for just one tent. The mainland Machias Rips Campsite is accessible via a dirt road off Route 9 with some potholes but passable for standard vehicles. Island sites are completely undeveloped with no services, while Machias Rips includes a maintained pit toilet. None of these areas provide drinking water, requiring campers to bring their own supplies.
The island campsites offer exceptional stargazing opportunities and coastal solitude. Marshall Island is noted for its relative lack of mosquitoes compared to other islands in the archipelago. A camper noted, "Sand Cove is perfect for a beach fire and stargazing on a clear night—some of the best stargazing spots we've ever seen." At Machias Rips, visitors appreciate the riverside setting and free, primitive camping experience close to major routes. According to one visitor, "This campground is one of my favorites in Maine! Sitting only an hour from Ellsworth and Bangor ME, this is a nature lover's dream." Mosquitoes can be problematic, particularly at Doliver and Wheat Islands, even into early September. Cell service is generally unavailable at these remote sites, though some AT&T users report connectivity at Machias Rips.
