Camping near South Windham, Maine offers sites across varied terrain with elevations ranging from 300-450 feet above sea level. The region experiences humid continental climate with warm summers averaging 75°F and cold winters typically reaching 15°F. Seasonal campgrounds generally operate from May through October, though some sites like Sebago Lake State Park remain accessible year-round with reduced services during winter months.
What to do
Water activities on Sebago Lake: Sebago Lake State Park Campground provides excellent swimming and paddling opportunities with clean, sandy beaches. A camper noted, "Sebago lake is beautiful. Sites are very close together. Luckily many of the sites around me were not occupied but I get the feeling that is rare."
Farm exploration: Wolfe's Neck Oceanfront Campground combines camping with agricultural experiences. "This campground is located on an organic dairy farm. There is a farm cafe on site with local food. We loved that! We went into Freeport and did a lobster charter on the Jenny ellen boat," reports one visitor.
Hiking nearby trails: Bradbury Mountain State Park Campground offers direct trail access from campsites. "Lots and LOTS of trails surrounding the campground. Great for biking and trail running," writes a camper. Another mentions the "Nice trail that borders campground. Saw group of cyclists and hikers use it during stay."
Kayaking in Scarborough Marsh: Wild Duck Adult Campground provides marsh access. "It is within a mile of the Audubon center office, where you can either put in your own kayak/canoe or rent one," states a camper, though they caution about culvert hazards under Rt 9.
What campers like
Free beach shuttles: Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach offers transportation to nearby attractions. "Great location trolley will pick you up from the campground and take you to Old Orchard Beach," shares one camper. Another adds, "In the summer there is a shuttle that takes you to the beach which is convenient."
Clean facilities: Bayley's Camping Resort maintains high cleanliness standards despite its size. A camper reports, "Shower and bathrooms extremely clean, water very hot, and dish washing stations behind the bathroom which strangely have no signs to let you know they're there."
Adult-only sections: Several campgrounds offer quieter areas for adults. Wild Duck Adult Campground is "peaceful and quiet, with the sounds of birds and the trees being the main thing you hear," according to one review. Another camper appreciates that "the 'south section' tends to have less kids because it is farther away from the 'action'" at Bayley's Camping Resort.
Water views: Oceanfront camping offers unique perspectives. At Winslow Park And Campground, "The bay view sites are our favorite, we get front row seats every morning to the sunrise on the water, we just have to peek outside our tent."
What you should know
Site privacy variations: Campground layouts differ significantly. At Wild Duck Adult Campground & RV Park, "the sites that face the marsh are the best sites - they have some grass and lovely views." However, most campgrounds have limited privacy between sites.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, especially during peak season. At Sebago Lake State Park, visitors note being "lucky to score a nice site mid week just before the 4th of July."
Bug preparation: Several campgrounds report significant mosquito issues. One camper at Wild Duck warned, "They were TERRIBLE. In the time it took after we parked the camper, to when I could dig the bug spray out of our truck I was covered in bites."
Noise considerations: Campground noise levels vary widely. At Winslow Park, a camper noted it was "very quiet" despite an "extreme lack of privacy," while others report issues with after-hours noise from golf carts at Acres Of Wildlife, where "there was a lot that went buzzing by after quiet hours & kept us awake."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Acres Of Wildlife Family Campground offers extensive children's programming. "There are three (!!) playgrounds, a swimming lake, kayaks, canoes, paddleboats, tie-dying, a great camp store, a bar for adults, ice cream bar for kids and nightly firetruck rides," reports one enthusiastic parent.
Beach access options: Several campgrounds provide easy access to swimming. At Wassamki Springs, "The pond is warm water and sandy entrances although a little mucky further in from fallen pine needles. Water shoes suggested."
On-site food services: Some campgrounds offer food options for families. At Desert of Maine Campground, "The store also has a small ice cream shop and an amazing playground for the kids," while Wolfe's Neck has "a snack shack with sooo good food!! burgers, pizza, salad - all local and from their gardens."
Pet considerations: Many campgrounds accommodate pets with specific requirements. At Acres Of Wildlife, "they tag your pets incase they get loose somehow then they can be returned to you. They also gift them nice milk bones."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for privacy: RV sites have varying privacy levels. At Desert of Maine Campground, "Sites are small and wooded" and "this campground is small. It is for tents and SMALL campers or RVs."
Hookup locations: Some campgrounds have inconveniently placed utility connections. At Acres Of Wildlife, "Be sure to bring extensions for electrical and sewer as a lot of sites are set up with difficult connection spots."
Leveling challenges: Terrain can create setup difficulties. At Desert of Maine, one RVer reported "Site 18 was not level and we had difficulty leveling our small motorhome."
Seasonal sites: Many campgrounds host long-term residents. At Wassamki Springs Campground, "There are a lot of seasonal or full time campers there so some sites are a little junky because of that but for the most part it looks pretty clean."
