Best Campgrounds near Stratton, ME

May Camping Weekend Recap – Moose Alley Magic (Even in a Cold Snap!) ❄️🏕️

We weren’t expecting a cold spell this late in May, but Mother Nature had her own plans! Even with the surprise chill, we had such a wonderful time at our campsite nestled along Moose Alley. While it’s near a road, don’t worry—it’s not a main highway, just a quiet local path that adds to the peaceful vibe of the area.

Though the moose kept their distance, we did spot some fresh footprints—which made the search feel extra magical! The surrounding views of the mountains and water were breathtaking, and there were plenty of short and long hikes to explore for all experience levels.

We brought my Grandma and Service Dog along, and both were welcomed with kindness. The folks who braved the cold weather like us were so sweet, and the community feel at the campground made the chilly temps totally worth it. Huge shoutout to the park rangers—they’re around, approachable, and truly there to help, so don’t hesitate to ask them anything you need.

Pro tip: Buy those fire starters! They’re a lifesaver in cold, damp weather and made our fires easy and cozy every night.

All in all, cold weather or not, it was a heartwarming weekend surrounded by nature, lovely people, and good vibes. Moose Alley—we’ll definitely be back (hopefully next time with a moose sighting too)!

#CampingInMay #MooseAlley #ColdSnapAdventure #CampfireVibes #NatureLovers #MountainViews #FamilyCamping #AccessibleAdventures #ServiceDogFriendly #CampgroundCommunity #MemorialWeekend

I was shocked to find Deer Mountain mostly empty in the middle of summer.  It doesn’t have the amenities of some state parks, but nearby Lake Francis SP is available for showers, etc.  This is a great location for those who want to get away from the crowds and noise.  There’s a wide variety of birds for those who are interested.

Site 28 is worth the short hike to get there.  Don’t be put off if you don’t have backpacking gear:  there is a wagon to help haul stuff to the site and back.  

A few things to know, though:  the trees have grown and the view from the tent platform no longer looks like the photos on ReserveAmerica.  It’s a much more limited water view, but still gorgeous.  There are no trees suitable for hammock camping with a view.  And much of the site and surrounding area is a giant Canada Goose latrine.  (Imagine a dog park where no one has ever cleaned up after their pets.)

We had a great stay at coos canyon campground! Didn't have too much interaction with staff, but when we did they were very friendly. We had site 7. Sites are good size, and not super close to neighbors. Wifi only works at the camp store, there are extenders throughout the camp, and it worked at our site the first day but didn't after that. The office was surprised it worked for us on day 1 and said they couldn't fix it because it wasn't supposed to work. There isnt any activities like some other campgrounds we've been to, just a small playground, but the canyon and the river give you lots of outdoor things to do. Rent a pan or sluice from the coos canyon rock and gem shop a 3 min walk from the office and pan for gold in the river right from the campground! Fishing, hiking, cliff jumping, and swimming can all be done with a quick walk all while staying in the campground. The camp store has some bare necessities, but did not have any bug swatters (the horse flys can get crazy here) but a spatula from the camp store worked OK. We will definetly be back for some more gold prospecting!

This is private land that the owner rents to campers.  It is a lovely single camp site with great views and fields. It is relatively close to the road but there is very little traffic and no noise. The space is level.  There is a picnic table, fire ring, full hook ups, and box with an information sheet that includes things to do and places to eat for the surrounding area. The view was expansive and beautiful, with wonderful sunsets. The walking trails that have been cut are lovely, and a great place for a short walk, or to walk with your dog.  The owner met us immediately upon our arrival and was very friendly. The only challenge is we stayed in July, and the horse flys were viscous. They were not by the campsite, but were abundant on the trails, and I literally had to run to get back to the camper to minimize the bites. If you are susceptible to horse fly bites, be aware during the horse fly season. My husband did not get bit.

This area is very rural.  Skowhegan, which is just over 20 minutes away, is the closest town, and has a few restaurants and a nice farmers market.  There are many hiking  and atv trails in the general area.  I would recommend this spot for a weekend in the area, or passing through for the night.

General: Small (15-site) campground near Grafton Notch State Park (but not IN the park). No hookups. Not all will agree with me, but I am glad no generators are allowed.

Site Quality: Sites are gravel, level, and have enough trees to afford privacy between sites. 

Bath/Shower House: It is immaculately clean. Each gender has two stalls and one ADA-accessible shower. The shower has nice warm water and a great flow. There is also a very clean vault toilet. 

Activities/Amenities: Horseshoes and cornhole in the lawn area in the center. Information on many local hikes. Rocky beach has tables where you can sit and relax. There are two dishwashing sinks, potable water, and a dump station. 

What makes this campground shine is the owner, Mo. We’ve stayed in many campgrounds but hands down, Mo takes more pride in her campground than any other we’ve been in. Seasonal decorations, flower pots, and Mo is an on-site presence to answer questions, engage in conversation, and make sure the sites and all facilities are pristine. We stayed here five years ago and look forward to hopefully staying again in the future. About the only thing I can find fault with is the proximity to the road but even at that, road noise is minimal.

My husband and I camped at one of three tent sites that are located right on the lake. There is a new (or at least very clean) Porta-Potty for these three sites to share. There was also a VERY outdated/pieced together shower house near the office--something is better than nothing, I suppose. Back to the campsites: private, good amount of space, a picnic table, a firepit, and a trash can provided at each site. We did have some cleaning up to do when we arrived--bottle caps and even some Mich Ultra bottles littered the ground. But overall we had a pleasant stay--being on the lake was enough for us to overlook the litter we had to pick up when settling in.