Best Tent Camping near Stratton, ME

Primitive tent camping in the forests surrounding Stratton, Maine offers a mix of established tent sites and remote wilderness experiences. Bigelow Col Campsite in Bigelow Ecological Reserve provides free, hike-in tent camping with minimal amenities, while Maine Huts & Trails offers a network of backcountry tent sites accessible by boat or hiking trails. Round Barn Campsites features walk-in tent sites with varying levels of privacy and water access, including some sites directly on the shoreline.

Many tent sites in the region feature basic amenities like fire rings and picnic tables, though facilities vary considerably between locations. The Bigelow Preserve area offers several free first-come, first-served tent sites, some requiring short hikes to reach. Most locations have pit toilets or outhouses, but drinking water is rarely available at primitive sites. Fire permits are required at certain locations, particularly within ecological reserves. Access roads to many tent camping areas can be rough and may require careful navigation, especially after rain. According to one visitor, "The road is rough, but with care you can get there, just go slow."

Tent campers frequent these sites for their seclusion and natural beauty. Walk-in tent sites at Round Barn Campsites provide excellent privacy and direct water access, with some tent platforms available. One camper noted that the cove "makes for safe swimming away from the wind and waves offshore." Sites at Stephen Phillips Memorial Preserve Wilderness offer exceptional seclusion for tent camping, with mainland and island options available. Many tent sites feature views of surrounding mountains or lake access, creating ideal conditions for paddling, fishing, or swimming. The Moose Falls Campsite area provides tent platforms and proximity to hiking trails, making it a good base for exploring the surrounding wilderness. In autumn, tent camping areas throughout the region offer vibrant foliage viewing with fewer crowds than summer months.

Best Tent Sites Near Stratton, Maine (31)

    1. Bigelow Col Campsite — Bigelow Ecological Reserve

    1 Review
    Stratton, ME
    3 miles
    Website

    "Despite contending with a fair share of mosquitoes, the tranquility of the location made it all worthwhile. The campsite, offering access to the lake, was a real gem."

    2. Myer's Lodge East

    2 Reviews
    Stratton, ME
    4 miles
    Website

    "we had a blast having water access right from our site and the ability to park within steps of our tent."

    3. Round Barn Campsites

    2 Reviews
    Carrabassett Valley, ME
    10 miles
    Website

    "There were even people camping in their rooftop **tents.

    Sites** that I saw looked great, trails need some maintenance though, and some of the sites need clean up."

    "Round barn campsites offers a dozen or so tent sites with two big group sites. It will pretty consistently have some campers, but I've never seen all the sites full before."

    4. Moose Falls Campsite — Bigelow Ecological Reserve

    1 Review
    Stratton, ME
    7 miles
    Website

    "My daughter and I stayed there last Friday night and shared the site with some wonderful people. Site was quiet and really felt like one was “in” the Maine woods. 4 platforms and a privy."

    5. Maine Huts & Trails

    1 Review
    Caratunk, ME
    13 miles
    Website

    $100 - $150 / night

    "What an impressive set up. Multiple huts laid out over 35 square miles in the heart of the Carrabasset Valley."

    6. Stealth Site

    2 Reviews
    Rangeley, ME
    12 miles

    7. Cupsuptic Lake Park & Campground

    4 Reviews
    Oquossoc, ME
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 864-5249

    "Very nice being several miles out on logging roads away from any towns or noise.

    Incredibly buggy. Site was advertise as next to the river, but had to walk through heavy vegetation to even see it."

    "It's a nice place on the lake. Nice beach with little seating coves along the waters edge, offers a little privacy. There is a tiny marina, docks for small boats. There are a lot of seasonal campers."

    9. Stephen Phillips Memorial Preserve Wilderness

    4 Reviews
    Oquossoc, ME
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 864-2003

    "It's a rare treat to be in a location where sight and sound of others are absent. While a few sites might have a neighbor in view, most offer exceptional privacy."

    "Can rent canoes to take out to the sites on islands and across the lake. There are water refills at the office available

    Farrington island is my favorite spot. There are 2 sites."

    10. Cupsuptic Campgrounds

    2 Reviews
    Oquossoc, ME
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 864-5249

    "There are cabanas and swings next to the water. Moose come right through the campground at night. it’s amazing."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Stratton, ME

290 Reviews of 31 Stratton Campgrounds


  • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2022

    Northeast Whitewater Lodge

    Yurts and Tent Camping

    Northeast Whitewater is a mix of guide service, moose viewing tours, whitewater rafting, and camping. The camping options are yurts and primitive tent camping. There are no RV/Van camping facilities. All camping is walk-in as you can’t drive to your site but most campsites and yurts are not too far away. There are six yurts all with varying configurations, sleeping anywhere from 1-2 people (with king sized bed) up to up to six people (with bunk beds). All yurts have electricity and come equipped with heaters and fans; in addition, pillows, bedding and linens are supplied. Depending on the particular yurt you choose, some have small refrigerators, table and chairs, and nightstands. 

    Tent sites are primitive with fire pits and picnic tables. The ground is level and cleared so there is no problem finding a place to put your tent. The sites are fairly close together so you will definitely hear and see your neighbor. There is no water or port-a-potties at camping sites. One bathhouse is located adjacent to the main building and there is a dish washing station located there as well. The bathhouse was clean when we visited (but we were not there during the busy summer season as there are many rafting trips and those customers share the same bathroom). The bathhouse is pretty far away from the camping area which is inconvenient when you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. All yurts and campsite have trash cans located at the site. Each site has a large fire pit and removable cooking grates are available. There are rustic log benches around the fire pits. 

    Yurts and campsites are located behind the main building/office but you still get some road noise as Route 6 is a heavily traveled road. As far as amenities, there is a volleyball net and corn holes. A covered pavilion is located between the campsites and the main building and has a few picnic tables underneath. The main building has a gift shop stocked with moose gifts, apparel, snacks, drinks, and an assortment of “camp stuff.” This is also where you can book a moose tour, rafting trip, or inflatable kayaks if you are feeling adventurous. 

    The campground is located between the towns of Monson and Greenville. The Monson General Store is a great little store with an assortment of grocery items and makes really good sandwiches and the nearby Lakeshore House Lodge and Pub has the most wonderful pot roast. Greenville has a larger grocery/trading post which has pretty much everything you need from shoes to lettuce. Hiking in the area is great! You can pick up the Appalachian Trail or head to Little Wilson Falls for a nice, wooded walk along a stream to a pretty waterfall. Borestone Mountain is nearby and provides amazing views.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 18, 2024

    Grafton Notch Campground

    Five years later, still five stars!

    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.

  • Sarah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 1, 2021

    Portage Site

    2 out of 5 because of human impact

    This is a large site that sits on the eastern side of Holeb Pond, at one end of the canoe portage between Attean and Holeb Ponds on the Moose Bow Loop. This is a conveniently located spot, however, it is very impacted and often full of trash(human and otherwise). It really is an amazing location but was really gross when we were there in October of 2020. One of the fire rings, of which there are many, was full of eggshells and other food waste. The outhouse wasn’t awful but certainly heavily used. There are a lot of rocks and stumps in the sites but level ground can be found to pitch a few tents. There are some picnic tables dispersed in the area as well. I wouldn’t stay here but if you have a larger group, it may be a good fit. All in all, if you could skip this site I would.

  • Miccal  M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2024

    Trout Brook Campground

    Primitive Camping at it's most Public

    This location is Beautiful, but it comes at the cost of privacy.  When I first discovered this spot, it wasn't an official campsite, people just came here to swim and there was a fire ring. That was over 20yrs ago.

    There are 4 sites, 3 have no separation between them, 1 is at the entrance, all are on the access road with 0 privacy.  This area is overused, and it shows, sites are warn in and if there was room relocating fire pits and allowing some nature to come back would be nice.  I managed to tuck myself into a private alcove of trees on the #1 site, but still was in full view of headlights and people driving in to see if there was space.  The site I had was big enough that I shared it with a couple that had a small child, and they had their own section. 

    There are no service, no water, no electricity, no to little cell coverage.  There is one pit toilet.  

    The access road in is rough, not for normal street cars.

    Did I mention lack of privacy?

    See pics.

  • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2022

    Trout Pond Campsite

    Nice Secluded Campsite on a Beautiful Pond

    This primitive campsite is located in the Little Moose Public Lands area about five miles from downtown Greenville, Maine. The public lands area is approximately 15,000 acres. Access to the public lands and overnight camping are free and this is a first-come, first-served campsite with a 14-night maximum stay. Keep in mind this is a carry in, carry out site. A fire permit is required and can be sought by calling (207) 778-8231. 

    From the entrance of the public lands off Route 6, travel approximately 5½ miles along North Road to Trout Pond Road to the trailhead leading to the campsite (the area is well-marked). The campsite is located about a quarter of a mile away from the parking lot. The path to get to the campsite is relatively flat and easy to traverse except over some of the wooden planks which were slippery when I visited due to recent rain. The campsite is really large in a nice open cleared spot with some large trees for shade. A large picnic table and stone fire ring are present. There is a fully enclosed vault toilet that where someone left sanitary wipes, toilet paper, and fire wood inside. Based on the shredded toilet paper, it looks like a mouse uses it as well. The pond is beautiful, and you have water access from this campsite. There are some canoes and boats stashed in the woods and we saw a few people paddling and fishing while we visited so you may have company. 

    There is great hiking around Big and Little Moose Ponds with nice views. The Loop hike is about 4.4 miles with a 650’ elevation change. For a harder hike with great views of Moosehead Lake and Greenville, check out Big Moose Mountain which is about 4.4 miles with an elevation gain of 1,800’. Downtown Greenville has good restaurants, shopping, and a few shops. Moose and seaplane tours are very popular and there are plenty of guides if you are interested in hunting and fishing.

  • Justin P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 14, 2021

    Rudys Cabins and Campground

    Great stop along a Cohos Trail thru-hike

    Rudy's looked mostly to be an RV park, so my stop was maybe not the usual for this campground. I stopped for one night while I was thru-hiking the Cohos Trail in New Hampshire and had a great experience. There seemed to be much more space at this campground for RV and van travelers, though I didn't check out that part of the facility

    I booked a tent site beforehand and on arrival had the choice of right next to Clarksville Pond or another area that I didn't check out since pondside sounded amazing, so my review is specific to the tenting experience.

    I stopped by Rudy's before my hike, and they held onto a food drop for me (in a sealed big plastic container) for free, and held onto some extra gear for me so that I didn't need to carry it 

    There are maybe ~3-4 tent sites right along the edge of the pond, in front of a few permanent cabins. They are basic tent sites right on the grass, with a fire ring and a picnic bench. The sites were flat and the views were amazing along the pond. 

    I was able to get in a morning fly fishing session 5 feet from my tent! The wind was a bit high so no luck for me, but I saw the fish jumping when I stopped by after my hike to pick up some gear I left. Kathleen, the owner of the property, offered a free fly fishing lesson during my stay, but I had to decline to keep up the pace of my hike.

    There was also access to the bathhouse with free heated showers, full bathrooms, and coin-op laundry. This was a great free amenity after 7 days on my hike for a necessary refresh.

    The owner and other residents of the campground were super friendly. This was a great stop along my hike to refresh and connect with a few folks along the way.

  • Sarah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2023

    Smudge Cove

    A Favorite Spot

    This campsite is along the Forest Legacy Trail and while the trail is managed by one entity, the remote campsites are managed by another. The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust maintains the trails in and out while Cupsuptic Campground manages the campsites.

    There is a tent platform at Smudge Cove but it is in desperate need of repair and it sounds like that's in the plans for next summer. There is a nice picnic table available as well as an established fire ring. The site is just off the water and there is a nice long dock that makes it super easy to boat into and unload. You can also backpack in and enjoy some pretty cool Maine forests along the way. There is also relatively easy access to the water by way of the rocks, beside the dock.

    These sites are secluded and offer a lovely amount of privacy and rest assured, the only sounds you will hear at night are the loons!

  • Tina D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2018

    Lone Jack Campground — Cold Stream Forest

    Nice little site

    15-site primitive campground with fire rings. We saw cross bill birds there eating the pinecone sap. They also came down and ate ash from our fire pit in the morning. The BEST site in my opinion was ours. It's right next to the dock area and no other sites can go next to it, only across the lot.

    This site has picnic tables, and 3 outhouses, located along Cold Stream east of Lone Jack Pond. There is a small floating dock on the stream. Four additional roadside shoreline campsites were established next to Durgin Pond, and several others in scattered locations near to roads.

    There's a 0.4 mile walk-in trail into Lang Pond, and a 0.5 mile trail into Big Berry Pond. People can fish here, it's supposed to be a hidden jem or hot spot. There are some additional trails into Snake and/or Fernald Pond, and into Cold Stream downstream of the headwaters area. You can also walk down the roads, there's old logging roads that split off here and there from what it seemed like.

    Great kayaking up and down the stream and pond area. The roads were a bit crazy as you can see in my pictures. A bunch of warblers were there too. We drove into Jackman one day when the weather wasn't so great. Cute little town.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 23, 2023

    Base Camp — Umbagog Lake State Park

    Gorgeous sunsets!

    General: 27 sites with electricity and water, two cabins, 33 remote campsites, and four remote cabins in isolated locations around Umbagog Lake accessible only by boat. 

    Site Quality: Some sites have a lake view while some are tucked in among the trees. Site 1A was the fourth up from the lakeshore but still gave us a decent view of the lake. A fire ring and picnic table were at the site. My one complaint is that the electric hookup was so far from where we had to park that we were unable to access it without a very long extension cord (which we did not have). Fortunately, we did not need electricity.

    Bathhouse: Quite possibly the most immaculate campground bathroom I’ve ever encountered! They are cleaned at 8 am but when we arrived at 6:30 pm, they were still very clean. Soap and paper towels are appreciated. There was also a vault toilet closer to the wooded sites, although it would not be an unreasonable walk to the main bathhouse. 

    Activities/Amenities: Boat launch and slips, fishing, and swimming. Canoe and kayak rentals are available. The building that has restrooms, laundry, and showers also has a large deck with chairs so you can enjoy the view. The sunsets can be spectacular! There is a small store at the office. 

    Although just an overnight stay for us, it was very enjoyable. We conversed with a ranger in the morning, and he told us that even when the campground was full (in the summer months), it is a very quiet campground.


Guide to Stratton

Stratton, Maine, offers a fantastic backdrop for tent camping enthusiasts, with a variety of campgrounds that provide unique experiences in nature.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Local attractions for outdoor enthusiasts

  • The stunning Mooselookmeguntic Lake near Cupsuptic Lake Park & Campground is perfect for canoeing and exploring the surrounding wilderness.
  • Hikers will appreciate the proximity of Bigelow Col Campsite to trails leading to breathtaking mountain views and serene lake access.
  • The Maine Huts & Trails network provides extensive hiking and biking trails, along with the opportunity to stay in cozy huts or camp nearby.

Tips for tent camping near Stratton

  • Be prepared for quick weather changes, especially at sites like Raven, where conditions can shift rapidly, and pack accordingly.
  • For a more secluded experience, consider the Smudge Cove site, which offers privacy and beautiful water access, but check the condition of the tent platform before your visit.
  • If you're camping at Eagle Cove, be mindful of the terrain and plan your tent placement carefully, especially during rainy weather to avoid puddles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Stratton, ME?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Stratton, ME is Bigelow Col Campsite — Bigelow Ecological Reserve with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Stratton, ME?

TheDyrt.com has all 31 tent camping locations near Stratton, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.