Leighton O.
Guide
GuidePawtuckaway State Park Campground
Very nice campground! Some sites right on the lake. Have camped there several times. Lots of space between sites.
Tent Camping near South Berwick, ME
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Tent camping options near South Berwick, Maine include several established campgrounds within reasonable driving distance. Huttopia Southern Maine in Sanford offers walk-in tent sites with seasonal operation from Mother's Day to Columbus Day. Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach provides tent-specific camping areas with a season running from May 1 to October 15, approximately 30 miles northeast of South Berwick.
Most tent sites in the region feature dirt pads surrounded by tall pine trees providing natural shade. Campers will find basic amenities at established campgrounds, including drinking water, picnic tables, and fire rings. At Huttopia Southern Maine, tent campers have access to showers and toilets but should note that water hookups are not available at all sites. A camper noted that at Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach, "the free showers, nice laundry facility, and even breakfast in the morning" enhance the camping experience, though tent campers may experience road noise at night from nearby highways.
The tent camping experience in this region offers varying levels of seclusion depending on the chosen campground. Areas with walk-in tent sites generally provide more privacy than drive-in locations. Tent sites at established campgrounds near South Berwick typically include fire pits, though fire regulations may vary seasonally. A recent review mentioned that "the tall trees are lovely" at Sun Outdoors Saco, highlighting the natural shade available at many sites. For primitive tent setups, campers may need to venture further from South Berwick into New Hampshire, where places like Squam Lakes Association offer more rustic experiences with composting toilets and no drinking water available on site. Most tent campgrounds in the region remain busy during summer months, with fall offering decreased crowds and cooler temperatures.
Best Tent Campgrounds near South Berwick (13)
1. Salmon Falls River RV Resort and Family Campground
"Multiple pools, a water slide, high ropes, a jump pad, mini golf and more!!! My niece had so much fun! Sites are close together and they are short staffed but other than that a great place!"
2. Huttopia Southern Maine
Check Availabilityfrom $248 - $374 / night
3. Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach
"The campground sits among tall pine trees which offer nice shade helps alleviate some of the feel of a crowded campground. "
"We tent camped at Saco/Old Orchard Beach KOA. The staff was very friendly and when I called to book the site, they assisted in helping us pick out the nicest campsite."
4. Crown Point Campground
5. Cape Ann Camp Site
"Beautiful rural setting w/ open & tree shaded sites. Full, partial & no hook-up sites for rv’s & tent camping."
"Location works well. Very narrow road coming in after 128. More for smaller RVs and tent camping. Picnic tables could be replaced."
Check Availabilityfrom $36 - $44 / night
6. Viewland Campground
7. Lost Boys Hideout
Check AvailabilityAvailable this weekend
from $49 - $149 / night
8. Military Park New Boston Air Force Station New Boston Recreation Area
9. Squam Lakes Association
"The association maintains about a dozen campsites in the Squam Lake area -- some hike-in and others boat-in only."
"We really enjoyed our stay here - we prefer tent camping and like to be secluded; we are not into RV parks. This was fantastic. Beautiful trails, excellent kayaking, quiet and serene."
Check Availabilityfrom $50 - $110 / night
10. Country Barn Motel & Campground
Drive Time
- 48 min from Manchester, NH
- 1 hr from Portland, ME
- 1 hr 8 min from Lewiston, ME
- 1 hr 19 min from Boston, MA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near South Berwick, ME
9 Photos of 13 South Berwick Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near South Berwick, ME
838 Reviews of 13 South Berwick Campgrounds
- Leighton O.Guide
Salisbury Beach State Reservation
Great location if you find a site within walking distance of the beach. Sites are very close together and get pretty noisy. You have to really like people to enjoy this camping area. Bathrooms and shower are very clean though.
- Leighton O.Guide
Winter Island Park
Nice location if enjoy walks by the ocean. Staff is very friendly. Bathrooms and showers could use some work.
- PPatrick
TravelerPawtuckaway State Park Campground
Great spot with all types of different campsites.
Nancy W.
LegendWinter Island Park
Basically a parking lot but with great views!
I’m not going to lie this was a little tricky for big rigs to get to, but with lots of patience and skillful driving, it is doable. Salem is an old New England town so there are many narrow streets and some low clearances. Follow the directions on the parks website as they are designed for RVs– don’t use Google Maps unless you are a small camper. Even getting into the park is kind of challenging because of the way the entrance is laid out with the entrance booth and some low hanging trees. This campground is in a municipal park with a marina, beach, a short walking trail, and picnic areas. The campground has different sections and totally different feels to them. We arrived on a weekend and section we were in the section which is in the parking lot of a busy marina. The parking lot was half full which made for navigating our 45’ bus into our site pretty hard.
No sites have fire pits but you can have a fire if you bring your own above ground pit. Tent sites have picnic tables but nothing else. Some sites you can drive to and have a car onsite and others are non-vehicle access sites (11, 17, 18, 25, 26, 27& 38) in which you have to park in a parking lot. Some RV sites have great water views and others are in a back gravel lot. In my opinion, the best RV sites are 12-16(A-D) because they have a water view. Sites 16B-D are a little tricky for big-rigs to get into because of the tight space. Our site (#13) had a slight downhill slope. We pulled in forward so we could have a view of the harbor which meant the utilities (water electric only) were in the front of our site but we were able to reach without an extension cord. We loved watching the action in the harbor. There is a gazebo by the water which we enjoyed siting under and watching boats go in and out of the harbor while it rained.
There is a nice sandy beach onsite which attracts a lot of day use vistors. The grounds are interesting to walk around as the water views are nice and there is an old fort to explore. Nearby town of Salem Willows is(about½ mile away) is a cute old seaside town with restaurants and arcades. They have a Bluebike rental station which is an easy way to get downtown and explore the area if you don’t have a car.
Rebecca W.
ScoutBearcamp River Campground
Bearcamp River Campground
Bear camp River campground is a great place to camp for a weekend or be a seasonal. You can walk 6/10 of a mile to the covered bridge nearby and float right down to the beach at the campground or you can start on one side of the campground and float to the other via river for a good 30 minute float!! You get to Camp right on the Riverside. Owners (Mike and Tabby ) are great. Good place for the kids to run around and explore. The Camp store has sweatshirts and sweatpants , candy and snacks ,s’mores kits, and much much more. They also sell wood and ice on site. There is also hot showers for free, and bathrooms. Two thumbs up from this happy camper.
- Nancy W.Legend
Sea-Vu West Premier RV Resort
Pleasantly surprised.
This campground is mostly seasonal, privately owned park models, but has 45 spaces for RV’s. I was a little skeptical about staying at this campground with so many park models and seasonals but was pleasantly surprised at how nice, clean, and tidy all the sites were. They obviously take pride in how things look because the grounds and campsites were very well-kept.
All campsites are 50/30-amp full hook-up with level gravel pads with grassy patios, a picnic table, and fire pit. We stayed in site#702 which was long enough for our 45’ motorhome and tow car. All the utilities were easy to reach and the electric worked well. The only problem was that we were parked under a large oak tree that was profusely shedding large acorns. There are some sites that are in the open which I would definitely choose, if I came back in the fall. The campground is gated which is a nice feature. It is located a mile or so off Route 1 which means you don’t get the road noise and traffic, but still conveniently located near shops and restaurants.
One nice feature are the shaded walking trails in the park. While they are not super long, it is a nice change from walking the roads (which are paved). Other amenities include a decent size swimming pool (closed while we were there), a basketball court, playground, laundry, and camp store. I thought it was a little expensive at $75/night (for full hook-up) at the end of the season, especially since the pool was closed.
- Nancy W.Legend
Sun Outdoors Wells Beach
Tight sites and expensive, busy area along the Maine coast
We stopped here in the summer to check out the coastal towns in southern Maine. There are many campgrounds in the area and we chose this one because they had a 25% off coupon (on a 7-night stay) which gave us the best nightly price in the area. However, the nightly rate was still$74/night, one reason being they charge a “resort fee” of$15/day which is ridiculous. This is a typical resort-style campground with lots of amenities (most of which we never use). But, for some people, this is a destination campground because of all the amenities- a large heated swimming pool, basketball courts, sand volleyball, bocce, fitness center, two playgrounds, 18-hole minigolf (that you pay extra for), and more.
The campsites in the front of the park are sandwiched between the swimming pool and Route 1 which is very busy and noisy. Campsites in the far back portion of the campground are shaded and a much quieter section. Camping pads and patios are a mix of gravel and sand. Many sites have shade and some have an astroturf patio (I think those are “premium” sites). Our campsite was in the middle section which was fairly quiet but the sites are close together with no privacy. The site was a long and level pull thru with a gravel pad and gravel/sand patio. All sites have a picnic table and fire pit.
There is a tent-only section and they have renal cabins. There is lots to do for families in the area including the beach and amusement and water parks. Restaurants of all sorts are nearby. You can easily walk to Congdon’s Donuts which is a Maine classic.
- Nancy W.Legend
Seacoast Camping and RV Resort
Nice Campground, Love the area!
This is a nice, clean, well-maintained campground for RV and tenting. The campground is located on Route 1 which means you are convenient to a lot of things but there is lots of traffic. Half the campground is seasonal/long term campers and the other side is mostly transients. The roads and campsites are fine crushed gravel with nice grassy patios. The campground is very well maintained (the best part being that the mower collects they cut the grass so no clippings get tracked in your camper). There are some mature trees that provide shade but don’t impede navigating in and out of sites or impacting slide outs.
Campsites range from tent with water/electric to RV water/electric and RV full hook-up 50-amp and full hook-up 30-amp. There are three bathhouses on the property (one of which has a dishwashing sink) and laundry. Tent sites 50-55 are in an are set away from RV sites and more private. They are also close to a large bathhouse with multiple toilets and showers. Tent sites 90-100 are across from a large playground which can be quite chaotic, but if you have kids, this is a great spot.
Our site (#147) was a long pull-thru with a descent amount of space between our neighbors. We got about half a dozen over-the-air channels (one being a major network station) and were able to connect with eastern arc satellites with our Dish Satellite. The 50A electric was good as was the water pressure.
The campground does not have much in the way of amenities except for a game room, basketball court, and playground. The game room is pretty cool with lots of arcade-style games, a pool table, foosball, and table tennis. While we were there, they just finished putting in all new playground equipment and enlarged the size making it really big and a hit with the kids in the park. Once convenience is that maintenance picks up garbage at your site (between 8am– 3pm). Unfortunately, people leave them out after hours and animals got into them and scattered garbage everywhere. We've stayed here before and always enjoy being in the area as it is close to the fun cities of Portsmouth and Newburyport.
Guide to South Berwick
Tent camping near South Berwick, Maine offers access to diverse terrain from coastal sites to inland forested campgrounds. Most sites within 30 miles of South Berwick maintain camping seasons from May through October, with average summer temperatures ranging from 55°F to 78°F. Fall camping brings temperatures dropping to 40°F overnight, making proper sleeping gear essential for comfort.
What to do
Beach access: Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach provides a shuttle service to Old Orchard Beach during summer months. "There is a shuttle that takes you to the beach which is convenient. During the shoulder season dogs are allowed on the beach but not the summer," notes camper Nancy W.
Wildlife exploration: The Rachael Carson National Wildlife Refuge near Saco offers walking trails through coastal marshes with educational opportunities. "A great place to explore is Rachael Carson National Wildlife Refuge. There is a small welcome center and trails that wind through the marsh with some beautiful views (and dog-friendly)," according to reviews.
Water activities: Lost Boys Hideout in New Hampshire, about 55 miles from South Berwick, offers access to water recreation. Recent upgrades include "improvements to the firepit, area all mulched, even some games and water are provided," according to Steve K.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathroom facilities. At Squam Lakes Association, campers appreciate the "composting toilets were clean" as noted by Jen S., who described it as a "lovely slice of nature" with "beautiful trails, excellent kayaking, quiet and serene."
Family entertainment: Salmon Falls River RV Resort in Lebanon, approximately 12 miles from South Berwick, offers extensive water recreation options. One camper stated it has "2 pools 2 hot tubes, a giant water slide that is even fun for the adults!!! Campsites are level and site is fairly easy to maneuver with bigger rigs."
Natural surroundings: Many campgrounds feature wooded settings. At Cape Ann Camp Site, campers mention "beautiful tent sites" with one noting, "The camp ground is full of beautiful boulders and fire pits. We were tent camping and were very happy with our site."
What you should know
Reservation timing: The best tent camping near South Berwick fills quickly during summer months. At Squam Lakes Association, sites "fill up quickly when reservations open for the year on Feb 15, but the money supports the conservation of the area."
Water availability: Not all campgrounds provide water hookups at individual sites. Bring containers or filters, particularly for primitive camping. "There is no picnic table or drinking water. Come prepared with your own water...or a filter," advises Shari G. about Squam Lakes sites.
Shower facilities: Cape Ann Camp Site offers pay showers that require quarters. "The showers require payment with quarters. I don't know how many quarters it takes because I don't carry change. So I washed my hair in the sink," notes Ben E.
Site variations: Tent camping options range from developed to primitive. One camper at Cape Ann Camp Site noted, "The campground is clean but very rustic. Facilities are on the old side. Great beach access and friendly staff."
Tips for camping with families
Water attractions: Kids enjoy the water-based recreational options at several campgrounds. Samantha N. says about Salmon Falls River RV Resort, "If you have young kids this place is so fun! Multiple pools, a water slide, high ropes, a jump pad, mini golf and more!!! My niece had so much fun!"
On-site food options: Some campgrounds offer food service, reducing cooking needs. At Sun Outdoors Saco, one camper enjoyed "the on-site restaurant which claims to be famous for their 'blueberry pancakes' and also offers Belgian waffles, pizza, hamburgers, and hot dogs."
Entertainment planning: Campgrounds within 30 minutes of South Berwick schedule regular children's activities. One camper at Sun Outdoors Saco noted, "Kid activities were done regularly. Pizza and breakfast is very good if you don't want to cook. Outdoor movies were fun."
Site selection: For families seeking privacy, request wooded sites. At Sun Outdoors Saco, "The campground sits among tall pine trees which offer nice shade helps alleviate some of the feel of a crowded campground."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: At Military Park New Boston Air Force Station, located about 40 miles from South Berwick, campers note the importance of leveling equipment. While offering "nice scenery with fresh air and freedom sunshine," the natural terrain requires proper setup.
Access considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads. At Viewland Campground, "The road to get to Viewland Campground is very steep. The campground loop is a one-way loop that is not easily marked."
Hookup availability: Many campgrounds near South Berwick offer partial hookups. At Cape Ann Camp Site, they have "water, sewer, and electric hookups. No wifi. There is a nice little store on-site for anything you forgot."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near South Berwick, ME?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near South Berwick, ME?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near South Berwick, ME is Salmon Falls River RV Resort and Family Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
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tent camping near
South Berwick, ME?
What is the best site to find tent camping near South Berwick, ME?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 tent camping locations near South Berwick, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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