Camden Hills State Park Campground sits 3 miles from downtown Camden, spanning 5,700 acres of Maine coastal woodland. The campground operates seasonally from mid-May through mid-October, with walk-in only access starting in early September. Winter temperatures in the Spruce Head region typically range from 10°F to 30°F, while summer brings milder 60°F to 80°F conditions ideal for yurt camping and outdoor exploration.
What to do
Hiking nearby trails: At Camden Hills State Park Campground, multiple hiking trails start directly from the campground. "The sites are large and well spaced apart. Definitely check out the trails along the ocean," notes Jacki B. Another camper adds, "The park sits on both sides of Rt. 1, and the bottom side is more of a day use area with a pavilion and walking trails and sits on the water."
Paddling opportunities: Sennebec Lake Campground provides direct water access for kayakers. "We love the proximity to the lake with easy access for kayaking and swimming," shares Pam A. The campground is positioned for water sports with rentals available at some locations.
Explore coastal towns: Day trips from camping areas near Spruce Head allow you to visit multiple charming locations. "Camden should be on everyone's list of places to see if you are traveling the Maine coast. Within 10 miles are great museums like the Farnsworth Art Museum, the Maine Lighthouse Museum, the Sail, Power, and Steam Museum, and others," recommends a visitor to Camden Hills.
What campers like
Private waterfront sites: Duck Puddle Campground offers sites with direct lake access. "The waterfront sites (61-66) offer direct access to the lake and have trees between the site for a more private feel. Some have a private dock for fishing or sitting, others have a small beach area," explains K R. These waterfront options provide quieter alternatives during shoulder seasons.
Yurt camping accommodations: Shore Hills Campground & RV Park features yurts with modern amenities. "Shore hills has good prices and great views. The sites are large. The people are nice. It is the only place we have stayed at more than once," reports Shawn M. Yurt camping near Spruce Head, Maine gives visitors a comfortable alternative to tent camping while maintaining a natural experience.
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness ranks highly in camper priorities. "Bathrooms were dated but clean," notes rachel S. from Shore Hills. Another camper mentions, "The bathhouse was very clean (coin-operated showers), and the sites were spacious," when describing their experience at Sherwood Forest Campsite.
What you should know
Reservation timing: For popular campgrounds like Camden Hills, planning ahead is essential. "We are here in early October, and I learned that Maine State Parks are first come first serve at this point. I was pleasantly surprised to arrive and find plenty of vacant spots," shares Missy R. However, she cautions: "Beware of weekend campers. I had no problem getting a first come first serve spot on Wednesday, but by Friday, it was busy."
Payment options: Some smaller campgrounds have limited payment methods. At Town Line Camping, "they only take cash or check so keep that in mind," advises a camper. This applies to several smaller operations in the region.
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds near Spruce Head operate May through October. "The lake is great for swimming and paddling," notes a camper about Duck Puddle, but water activities depend on seasonal temperatures. Glamping accommodations including yurts may offer heating for extended season comfort.
Tips for camping with families
Playground facilities: Searsport Shores Ocean Campground offers kid-friendly amenities. "It has a play room and play ground that kept my children entertained for hours so I could read," shares Ashley L. Another visitor notes, "It makes it great for any age kid, there are always tons of kids around."
Beach access: Sandy beaches provide easier water access for children. "Great beach for swimming, playground for playing," reports a Duck Puddle visitor. Sherwood Forest Campsite offers proximity to Pemaquid Beach: "This campground is also very close to a public beach and a very short drive to Darmascota."
Seasonal activities: Many campgrounds schedule family-oriented events during peak season. "The weekend we stayed they happened to be celebrating 'Christmas in July' and so a lot of the campers had put up lights and decorated. They had a band play on Sat night and large bonfire," shares rachel S. about Shore Hills Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Look for campgrounds with level sites to minimize setup time. "The site we had was on the water and had great views. It was surrounded by trees and had decent spacing between neighbors," notes rachel S. about Shore Hills. At Sennebec Lake Campground, an RVer reported, "We have a 35ft RV, and we faced no issues getting in and out of the property and the sites across the water were level, with no extra leveling needed."
Hookup options: Camden Hills offers partial hookups at approximately half their sites. "Approximately half the sites have water and 30/50 amp electric and the others are no hookups," explains a camper. For longer stays, Duck Puddle Campground offers alternatives: "We could have chosen lakefront but they were just water and electric and since we were staying 4 days we chose the full hookup in a nicely wooded site."
