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Best Dispersed Camping near Sumner, ME

27 Reviews

Several dispersed camping areas exist within driving distance of Sumner, Maine, primarily in the White Mountain National Forest region that extends into both Maine and New Hampshire. Town Hall Road Dispersed in New Hampshire offers multiple primitive sites along a forest road, while White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road provides tent camping opportunities on a dead-end dirt road in Maine. Additional options include Hogan Road Pulloff near the Appalachian Trail and remote sites like Smudge Cove and Eagle Cove, which require boat or hike-in access. Most sites are free with no permits required for camping, though some areas may have restrictions on fires.

Access roads to these dispersed sites vary considerably in quality and difficulty. Town Hall Road transitions from residential areas to gravel forest roads with multiple pull-offs for camping. Little Larry Road features an uphill dirt road with approximately eight spread-out sites. Many locations require slow, careful navigation, though most are accessible without specialized vehicles. The remote sites on Cupsuptic Lake (Smudge Cove, Eagle Cove, and Raven) require either hiking in via the Forest Legacy Trail or boat access. No amenities are provided at most locations beyond basic fire rings, though Smudge Cove does feature a picnic table, dock, and primitive toilet facilities.

These primitive camping areas attract visitors seeking quiet, natural settings away from developed campgrounds. Sites along Town Hall Road are particularly popular for their riverside locations. According to one visitor, "The sites are well spread out so it felt pretty private. We stayed two nights at two different sites; enjoyed both." Little Larry Road campsites offer a similarly secluded experience, with a review noting, "Beautiful serene and quiet. Site 4 and 5 get some cell service." Weather conditions can significantly impact the camping experience, especially at the more remote lake sites. A camper at Eagle Cove reported, "It was tough to find a spot to pitch the tent that wasn't going to put us in a puddle" during heavy rain.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Sumner, Maine (7)

    1. White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road

    6 Reviews
    Gilead, ME
    27 miles

    "We pulled in around 7:30 pm on a Sunday night and there were plenty of open spots. We took a huge one. Found a fairly flat area and stayed for the night."

    "8 huge, beautiful campsites in the heavily wooded Evans Notch section of The White Mountains National Forest."

    2. Town Hall Road Dispersed

    18 Reviews
    Chatham, NH
    36 miles

    "My first ever dispersed camping experience. So freaking amazing and unbelievable. It was pouring rain when we came to NH so we tried to wait out the rain, but it was getting dark."

    "Awesome boondocking in New Hampshire, what a treat in the east coast! Just beautiful scenery, with trees, rivers, creeks, hiking trails with a pond- we absolutely loved our time here. "

    3. Hogan Road Pulloff near Appalachian Trail

    2 Reviews
    Gorham, NH
    34 miles

    "amazing lil spot, a pull off the wild rocky road. very private. right next to a serene view of the lake. very mild highway traffic sounds in the distance. there was another spot at the posted coordinates"

    "Would be really quiet if not for the road across the lake. I saw one truck in the evening and one in the morning."

    4. Smudge Cove

    1 Review
    Oquossoc, ME
    46 miles
    Website

    $28 / night

    "This campsite is along the Forest Legacy Trail and while the trail is managed by one entity, the remote campsites are managed by another."

    5. Eagle Cove

    1 Review
    Oquossoc, ME
    44 miles
    Website

    6. Rangeley - Stratton Road Camp

    1 Review
    Rangeley, ME
    43 miles

    7. Raven

    1 Review
    Oquossoc, ME
    45 miles
    Website

    $28 / night

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Sumner, ME

18 Photos of 7 Sumner Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Sumner, ME

27 Reviews of 7 Sumner Campgrounds

  • Atlas W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 30, 2023

    Town Hall Road Dispersed

    SO AMAZING!!

    My first ever dispersed camping experience. So freaking amazing and unbelievable. It was pouring rain when we came to NH so we tried to wait out the rain, but it was getting dark. We followed the directions given by previous reviews. Turn onto town hall rd. and keep going past the residential area until you get to gravel road. keep going straight until you see the national forest sign. about a mile later us when campsites started popping up. the first few were full since it was 7pm but we came across one right around where the pin is dropped for this location. the cliff wasn’t too steep here (i passed up a campsite before this one bc it seemed too steep for my liking) and pretty large. beautiful view of the water and even a path down to swim. 10/10 experience and i cant wait to go back.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 28, 2023

    Town Hall Road Dispersed

    Awesome Boondocking

    Awesome boondocking in New Hampshire, what a treat in the east coast! Just beautiful scenery, with trees, rivers, creeks, hiking trails with a pond- we absolutely loved our time here. 

    Town Hall Rd is a long road with many designated dispersed sites, all far apart from each other and all varying in levelness and size. We got lucky and snagged a perfect spot 2 miles in from the entrance sign- completely level (didn’t even need our leveling blocks) and big enough for our 26ft class c. Each site is different, but there were plenty that could fit a medium sized RV like ours. I wouldn’t recommend a giant 5th wheel or class A to come here looking for a spot. The road is dirt, but it’s hard packed and smooth, with a few dips and holes here and there. A little narrow but it’s manageable. The downside of a great road is the speeding cars and trucks- very annoying but thankfully there wasn’t much traffic in early October. I’d say more than half the sites were open when we stayed there mid-week. 

     No amenities here, just a rock fire pit to designate that it’s a spot. Please pack out your trash. Zero cell service in this whole area, but some messages popped through while we were hiking. weBoost did not help. Heavily wooded area, so it’s not so great for solar panels and probably not starlink either (we don’t have starlink so I can’t report on that).

  • Josie W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2024

    Town Hall Road Dispersed

    Great location!

    We loved this spot. There were plenty of sites to choose from and most (not all) had access to the river as well as a fire ring. Sites were on a dirt road, but it was quiet for the most part. Sites were also a good distance from each other so it felt pretty private. We stayed two nights and at two different sites; enjoyed both. Would love to return here in the future.

  • candice J.
    Aug. 11, 2021

    Town Hall Road Dispersed

    Perfect spot!

    Town Hall Rd off 302 just keep going past houses until you see the National forest sign. 6-8 spots some big enough for med. camper.

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

    Raven

    Super Impacted

    This site, while in a beautiful spot perched above Cupsuptic Lake, it is so impacted that in the rain it was a literal mud pit. While there was a picnic table to get up off the ground, finding a spot to pitch a tent where water wouldn't puddle would be impossible. We hiked in, but you can paddle into the site just know that the exit/entry to the water is a bit tricky and not as easy as some of the other sites available along the way. 

    There is a large fire pit, also a mess in the down pours. The picnic table is in far better shape here than the one in Eagle Cove (rotting) and Cedar Bay (non-existent). The site is quite small and wouldn't be able to accommodate more than two small tents. I wouldn't make a special trip to stay here.

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

    Eagle Cove

    Not good in the rain

    We stayed here during a torrential downpour and it was tough to find a spot to pitch the tent that wasn't going to put us in a puddle. The site has very little clear flat area for an established campsite and it took a little bit of strategy to find a spot where we could actually sleep and stay relatively dry given the circumstances.

    This is a waterfront site but there isn't super easy access to the lake, but the view is pretty amazing! There is a rough fire pit that had a stack of wood next to it that was clearly part of an old picnic table. The picnic table that was in the site was, well...let's call it a "living picnic table." It was not in great shape and was actively rotting. We made it work because we had already traveled through the other available sites and they were in worse shape than this one. It did the trick for an evening but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to stay here.

  • Laurel P.
    Jul. 28, 2024

    Hogan Road Pulloff near Appalachian Trail

    Quick Saturday Night with my pup

    amazing lil spot, a pull off the wild rocky road. very private. right next to a serene view of the lake. very mild highway traffic sounds in the distance. there was another spot at the posted coordinates for this area but someone got to it before me last night. no fires allowed here. only saw one biker and one truck full of local boys pass by in the last 16 hrs

  • 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!

  • Mark M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 28, 2021

    Town Hall Road Dispersed

    Peaceful camping

    GPS initially took me on the wrong road - make sure you stay on Town Hall Rd no matter what the GPS says.

    After getting past the resident area you'll find a bunch of different pull outs to camp at. Really peaceful and the sites are well spread out.

    There's a hiking trail up the road if you go to the very top (I think for Mirror Lake?) otherwise you won't have anything else to see that far up.

Guide to Sumner

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Sumner, Maine, where nature lovers can find serene spots away from the crowds. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, this area is perfect for those seeking adventure and tranquility.

Dispersed campers should check out White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road

  • This location offers a peaceful retreat with beautiful, flat sites surrounded by trees, making it ideal for tent camping. Check it out at White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road.
  • Visitors have noted the serene atmosphere, with some sites providing cell service, which can be a bonus for those wanting to stay connected while enjoying nature.
  • Be mindful of wildlife, as some campers have reported bear activity in the area, particularly near the upper sites.

Tips for free and dispersed camping near Sumner, Maine

  • Consider visiting Town Hall Road Dispersed, where you can find amazing river sites and enjoy the natural beauty without any fees.
  • Arrive early, as some spots can get busy, especially during weekends. First-come, first-served is the norm here, so plan accordingly.
  • Keep an eye out for local wildlife, as moose sightings have been reported near the river sites, adding to the charm of your camping experience.

Hogan Road Pulloff near the Appalachian Trail for dispersed campers

  • This secluded spot is perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle, with enough space for multiple tents and plenty of trees for hammock hanging. Explore it at Hogan Road Pulloff near Appalachian Trail.
  • While fires are not allowed, the tranquil setting by the lake makes it an excellent choice for a quiet night under the stars.
  • The access road is manageable for most vehicles, but be prepared for some rough patches as you get closer to the site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Sumner, ME?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Sumner, ME is White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road with a 5-star rating from 6 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Sumner, ME?

TheDyrt.com has all 7 dispersed camping locations near Sumner, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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