Camping sites near Thorndike, Maine sit within Waldo County's rolling hills at approximately 400 feet above sea level. The region features typical northern New England weather patterns with warm days and cool nights during the May-October camping season. Many campgrounds in this area connect to extensive hiking trail networks and offer both wooded and waterfront accommodations.
What to do
Water activities on Lake St. George: Visitors to Lake St. George State Park Campground can enjoy swimming with lifeguards, boating, and fishing. "There is a day park for swimming with a life guard and an impressive playground for little ones. A lot of the campsites are waterfront and flat for tents. Very peaceful at night listening to the loons," notes a camper.
Explore art and culture: The Searsport Shores Ocean Campground offers unique cultural experiences beyond typical camping. "It's also a treasure trove of arts of all kinds - fiber arts, metal sculptures, carvings, paintings, and music. We got lucky and stayed on a lovely weekend in September that featured a small, intimate festival and workshop of fiddlers, banjos, ukuleles, mandolins, and guitars jamming with old time and blue grass music," shares one visitor.
Hiking at Camden Hills: The Camden Hills State Park Campground provides direct trail access to Mount Megunticook and Mount Battie with varying difficulty levels. "The park has around 100 sites that are categorized by size, and allows rvs and tents. The top portion of the park, where all the campsites are, has direct access to Mount Megunticook, and Mount Battie, and offers easy to advanced hikes. It's great to be able to do numerous hikes without having to leave the park," reports a camper.
What campers like
Ocean access and community atmosphere: Campers consistently praise the waterfront access at Searsport Shores Ocean Campground. "The gardens, grounds and bathroom/laundry amenities that are offered are kept in beautiful clean condition. The rec room is a large but cozy place to hang out if/when it rains, with a fireplace and cozy couches. Just an all around great Maine experience. And the views!! I can't even begin to describe the views over the bay."
Family-friendly environment: Sennebec Lake Campground receives high marks for its family accommodations. "We discovered this campsite in 2020 and just returned from our third year in a row camping here with 2 kids. Activities started up again this year, with events such as kids' crafts, a kids vs adults water gun fight, cornhole competition, and a DJ for an evening of dancing - just on the weekend we were there."
Quiet and clean facilities: The Pumpkin Patch RV Resort earns consistent praise for its maintenance. "Sites are very clean and the park is well-groomed with maintenance people always mowing or cleaning sites. There is pretty good space between sites so you don't feel cramped or right on top of your neighbor. Most sites are level and there are long pull thrus so you don't have to unhitch if you are only staying one night."
What you should know
Tent site restrictions: Some campgrounds have specific tent size restrictions. At Searsport Shores Ocean Campground, "The tent sites aren't accessible by car though, so you need to put all your camping equipment into a wagon and pull it to your site."
Reservation timing considerations: For Camden Hills State Park, "Reservations can be made on-line but only about half of the sites are reservable leaving the other half for walk-ups. I would advise making reservations if you want to stay over a weekend or during the summer season as this park really fills up."
Varied hookup availability: Fogg Brook Resort offers different sections with varying amenities. "Plenty of full hookup sites and also another section with just W/E," according to a recent visitor. This pattern is common at campgrounds throughout the region.
Tips for camping with families
Look for recreation programs: Sennebec Lake Campground offers organized activities for kids. "There is a small arcade, store, and 24/7 laundry. Activities started up again this year, with events such as kids' crafts, a kids vs adults water gun fight, cornhole competition, and a DJ for an evening of dancing - just on the weekend we were there."
Find playgrounds for downtime: Camden Hills State Park provides basic play equipment. "There is a day park for swimming with a life guard and an impressive playground for little ones," notes one visitor, though another mentions the main campground has only "a swing set from the 1970s."
Consider proximity to town amenities: According to a Camden Hills visitor, "It's a great location, close to Camden, Maine, and not far from other attractions. The sites are large and have nice privacy. And the price was right at $27/night."
Tips from RVers
Check site leveling before setup: Sebasticook Lake Campground requires careful site selection. "The roads are narrow and full of bumps, mud, etc. The site, 34 was on the water, but was so bumpy and sloped it would be impossible to get level. The site was so un-level that our refrigerator stopped functioning," warns one RVer.
Expect varying road conditions: Access roads vary widely between campgrounds. At Pumpkin Patch RV Resort, "The roads in and out and around the park are wide and easy to maneuver around. Our site was a full hook-up pull thru which was perfect for our one-night stay. All the hook-ups were well-placed and we did not need extensions to connect."
Verify Wi-Fi and cell coverage: Connectivity varies widely between camping sites near Thorndike. At Pumpkin Patch, "Our Verizon phone got good reception and our hot spot worked well. The campground wi-fi was decent at our site but that depends on where you are in the park and what time of day you are using it."
