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Searsport Shores Ocean Campground welcomes pets but requires them on a leash at all times. Several pet-friendly campgrounds near Thorndike offer diverse accommodation options including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabins that accept dogs. Skowhegan Kennebec Valley KOA maintains clean facilities with ample space for children to enjoy biking around the grounds while pets accompany families. Camden Hills State Park Campground provides waterfront campsites where dogs can join their owners with proper restraint. The majority of campgrounds in this region allow pets with specific guidelines—pets cannot be left alone in vehicles or RVs at some locations. Sennebec Lake Campground and Fogg Brook Resort both accommodate pets with well-maintained grounds and full hookup sites, creating a practical environment for RV camping with dogs.
Many campgrounds in the Thorndike area feature ocean and lake access points where dogs can enjoy water activities under supervision. The Moorings Oceanfront RV Resort offers stairs leading down to the water where dogs can run and swim when the tide is out. At Lake St. George State Park, campers experience peaceful nights listening to loons while their pets rest nearby. Most facilities maintain clean bathroom and shower buildings with regular maintenance throughout the day. Seasonal considerations include peak times from May through October when pet-friendly sites fill quickly, especially waterfront locations. The campgrounds' proximity to hiking trails in areas like Moose Point State Park (two miles from some campgrounds) provides additional exercise opportunities for dogs. Quiet hours are strictly enforced at all locations, with particular attention to barking policies to maintain the peaceful camping atmosphere that makes these Maine destinations popular with pet owners.
"Pet friendly BUT must be in leak at all times. Cannot be left alone in RV or vehicle. No sewer. Friendly atmosphere"
"beautiful campground with a lot of space for kids and/or dogs to run around, including a jungle gym, basketball court, volley ball, and a dog run. they have a garden of veggies, and flowers, a stage for"
from $14 - $168 / night
Check Availability"Camden Hills SP is a no contest campground if you are visiting Camden and surrounding MidCoast areas. 9 out of 10 times I visit Camden (one of my favorite places in Maine), I stay at this campground."
"As with all real estate, location, location ! The camp is well situated amongst many Maine towns all of which are worth a visit to."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $69 / night
"Truck camp and tenter) Located between RT. 3 and the banks of Lake St George. Most of the campground is situated around an open grassy field."
"I love to visit Lake Saint George! As a state park it’s nice and clean and offers several comforts like a bathhouse with flushing toilets and showers."
"Overall, this is a great little private RV park with awesome views (from some sites) and great access to the ocean. "
"This is a great location from which to explore Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor and towns of Belfast, Rockland and Camden."
"Sennebec Lake Campground provided a blend of relaxation and adventure for the kiddos and the campground's commitment to modern conveniences is evident, with amenities that bring together comfort and wilderness"
"We love the proximity to the lake with easy access for kayaking and swimming. New ownership this year resulted in some updates, as well as the addition of glamping tents near the beach."
from $56 - $219 / night
Check Availability"Stayed Here for one night after picking up a new travel trailer nearby. The staff and campers were all very friendly and welcoming."
"Snowmobile trails behind the campground lead to a walking path that connects the high school and elementary school for a pleasant walk in the woods."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"they were renovating the pool surround while we were there but they are very friendly..quiet at night..we will be there for July 4th week."
from $25 - $150 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $35 - $60 / night
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ScoutStayed Here for one night after picking up a new travel trailer nearby. The staff and campers were all very friendly and welcoming. Much of the population consists of seasonal campers with huge RVs and Motor Homes. It’s very adult oriented, super quiet, and super clean. There are nice little walking trails and a small fenced in dog park where dogs can play. Would definitely stay here again if in the area!
Legend**Campground Review: **
Hadley’s Point Campground is located on the north side of Mt Desert Island and just a short distance from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Hadley’s Point is a large private campground that has tent, water& electric RV, and full hook up sites, as well as Cabins. The campground is broke up in to multiple loops (campground map can be found in my pictures) with some loops in open areas with little shade and sites close together, and other loops have more wooded sites that have some shade and privacy. All style sites include a picnic table and fire ring.
Reservations are site type, not site specific, so a little bit of a gamble. We were assigned site B27 on this visit. This site was partially shade depending on the time of day and very close to our neighbors. Other sites in the B loop did have more trees and more private, but they were full on this stay. Check-in was easy and the staff was very helpful in providing info and answering questions about the area. A host guides you to your site and assist you in positioning if needed.
The bathroom on B-loop does not have showers so we had to hike to other loops to shower. The Bathrooms and showers were very clean. The showers are metered and cost $0.50 per 7 minutes, so don’t forget your quarters!
Firewood and limited supplies were available at the office. There is a full grocery store about 10 minutes away.
We found good cell phone service with Verizon throughout the property. The campground did not have wi-fi.
The campground also has a heated pool, playground, and laundry.
With Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park close by, there is so much to do and see in the area. One of the best benefits of the area is that there is a free shuttle with multiple routes around the island, so you can leave the car and parking hassles behind and just shuttle everywhere. The Shuttle has a stop right on the campground and is dog friendly (on leash and if your dog is friendly).
Speaking of dog friendly, I’ve never been to an area that is so dog friendly. The campground staff was very forthcoming with dog friendly info and I have to mention Bark Harbor in downtown Bar Harbor. Bark Harbor is a pet store that bakes their own treats, has toys and gifts, and tons of info on dog friendly areas on the island. They have pre-printed lists of dog friendly hotels, restaurants, on and off leash hiking trails, and dog parks. Super friendly crew that keyed us into an off leash hiking area that our dogs loved!
Pro Tip: A short ¼ mile walk from the campground is an off leash dog friendly beach that you can also launch your kayak or canoe from or have a sunset beach campfire. We really enjoys this beach after a long day of hiking all around the national park.
With all the outdoor activities of the national park, kayak and boat cruises in the ocean, lobster, lobster, lobster, you’ll need a full week to explore this island. Hadley’s Point made it a perfect place for us to take it all in.
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**Product Review: **
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products. At this campground, I tested the Morsel Spork. This spork from Morel is very handy to have in your gear list. We are teardrop campers, so our space is limited. Everything has to have a purpose and be compact. Items like the Morsel Spork, that serves multiple functions, fit right into our needs. We purchased both the mini and the XL. Both are the same (spork on one end, spoon/scraper on the other end), but the XL is a little longer. We found this very functional for regular eating from plates or bowls, or eating directly from food packets. I also found the scraper spoon side useful in cleaning out our french press carafe. Easy to clean, easy to use, comes in multiple colors, and happy to have it a part of our camping equipment.
LegendOverall, this is a great little private RV park with awesome views (from some sites) and great access to the ocean. The park is conveniently located just a few miles from downtown Belfast (a sweet little Maine town) which offers plenty to do and see. Plus, you are just five miles from the cute town of Searsport which houses the wonderful Penobscot Marine Museum and two miles from Moose Point State Park with hiking trails, picnic areas, and more gorgeous views.
The park offers a variety of sites (44 total) depending on if you want oceanfront, ocean view, or a pull-thru. All sites have electric (50 or 30 amp), water, cable and wifi. The five pull-thru sites also include sewer. A mobile sewer pump-out service is available for guests staying one week or longer and there is a dump station. Roads and sites are gravel with grass patios and level. All sites have a fire ring and picnic table. Our Verizon 4G phone and Hotspot worked great but we mostly used the free wifi which worked very well.
Park amenities include private ocean access, horseshoes, playground, laundry, showers/bathrooms, free coffee in the morning, free weekend papers delivered to your site, free donuts on Sunday mornings, and a restaurant on-site. The park organizes a lot of group activities including pot lucks, lobster shore dinners, and free wine and beer during Friday Happy Hours. The laundry has two wash machines/dryers and was clean and tidy.
The Moorings is in a great location. It is just a few miles from downtown Belfast where you will find restaurants, a brewery, boutiques, a movie theater, art galleries, historic museums/sites, and plenty of water-related activities. Grocery stores and fuel stations are within a few miles of the RV Park. Just a mere 20 miles away is the popular coastal town of Camden.
What we liked about this park is the town of Belfast and how close the RV park is to downtown. Also, the parks small size and friendly people make this an enjoyable place to stay. We like the fact that they had social activities (like free happy hour and donuts) that bring people together. The ocean access in this park is great! A short set of stairs takes you down to the water which is great for exploring, launching kayaks, and letting the dog run/swim when the tide is out.
The biggest downside for us was the price and lack of sewer and 50 amp at some sites. Our site was $66/night for a FHU (50 amp) pull-thru on the hill in the front of the park without much in the way of a water view. Premier oceanfront sites (with no sewer and 30 amps) are $72/night during high season. That being said, there are not too many options for campgrounds in the Belfast area and we really did like staying here.
From a dog owners perspective this park gets mixed reviews. The rules ask that dogs be on a 4’ or less lease, you may only have two pets (unless you get prior approval), they must do their business in one small area and are not allowed on most grassy areas throughout the park. We make a consorted effort not too let our dog pee or poop in others yards but we don’t always have control over where that happens. We did like the fact that you could take them down to the ocean to play in the water and on the beach when the tide was out. Within two miles of the RV park is Moose Point State Park with a few miles of hiking trails, picnic area and water access (a daily use fee is charged). Downtown Belfast does have a fenced off-leash 1.4 – acre dog park with water for dogs and benches for owners.
GuideMy family and I stayed at this KOA this past week. It was agreat experience! That staff was awesome and over the top accommodating. We had a pull through site with full hook up right across from the on site Lobster Trap Cafe. The site was spacious and comfortable. The whole campground was neat and clean. Staff members pick up trash throughout the day at all of the sites. The Lobster Trap had a good menu, and great customer service. They are mainly open in the evenings but also appear to serve lunch and breakfast on the weekends.
The camp store was well stocked also. There is also an island shuttle bus stop right at the entrance to the campground. There is a gas station and take out restaurant ( Island Take Out) right across from the entrance as well. There was a nice dog park as well. Cell service with AT&T was great. Cell service with T-Mobile was spotty. We did not try the campground wifi. The only down side to the trip was gnats and mosquitos, but that was all over the island and no fault of the KOA. This was one of the best KOA's we have visited and we will definitely stay there again when we visit Acadia.
GuideWe camped for years and years at Mount Desert Campground with our four children and my Sister-in-Law and her two sons. The kids are all grown now and are taking their own camping trips to this amazing place. It is a family run campground with immaculate grounds and bathroom facilities on Somes Sound in Mt. Desert, Maine which is right next to the fabulous town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Forest. There are so many activities and amenities just minutes from this lovely campground but, if you choose to stay put...you will not be disappointed. There are lovely camp roads to walk, run, or bike. Fresh air to breathe, an epic long dock to catch and release crabs near, kayak or canoe rentals, and so much more. The Camp store has wonderful provisions including homemade bear claws in the am to enjoy with coffee or tea. It is above and beyond a family favorite place to camp in Maine.
GuideHadley's Point is a private campground just outside Acadia National Park. This campground prides itself on being family-friendly and welcoming to pets.
Children are allowed to bike throughout the campground until dusk. While we stayed, there was a campground-wide Fourth of July bike parade. The kids loved it.
Pets are welcome but cannot be abandoned in the motorhome when you leave. Plan to take your pet with you everywhere.
Hadley's Point offers laundry facilities, showers, a heated pool, cornhole, and shuffleboard. While the pool is heated, it is not hot -- or even very warm. But this is Maine we are talking about, and I'm sure that the water was warmer than it would otherwise have been.
The campground is primarily designed to accommodate RVs and motorhomes. The large fields and open lots for RVs provide ample parking and the campground offered electricity as well as other hookups.
Cute cabins offer cozy sleeping (but no running water) for visitors without tents or RVs.
We brought our tent and felt a little like second-class citizens at this RV-focused campground. The tent sites were tiny. Our large van, tent, and screened-in pavilion covered the entire site, leaving very little walking space. Our site also lacked trees for shade and hammocks.
Worse yet, the campground has an infestation of Black-Legged Deer Ticks -- the ticks responsible for Lyme disease. We found two on our son during our stay. I hope they treat for these ticks soon because it poses a huge risk to their campers.
There is a lot of potential for this campground but they need to spray the grounds for ticks and create more comfortable sites. They could be awesome if they shifted their focus from trying to fit as many people as possible to creating a comfortable camping experience for all.
Pros:
- Heated pool
- Bathrooms cleaned regularly
- Laundry
- Good price
- Good location
- Playground
- Kid and pet friendly
- Island Explorer Bus stops at the campground
Cons:
- Cramped sites
- Ticks
- Crowded
TravelerPerfect pet friendly campground near Acadia but far enough away from it all. Friendly staff, peaceful nature setting on the water, and starry nights. Clean bathrooms and large campsites. Couldn’t have asked for more. Great also if you love kayaking or paddling!!
TravelerWe just spent the weekend here and were very impressed with the water views and the size of the sites. The campground is pet friendly- I think almost everyone we saw had a dog. The facilities were clean although I did not use the showers as we have a travel trailer.There are many sites along the river that flows with the tide. Overall a great place to stay!
GuideGreat place to camp outside the crazy tourist packed Acadia but only a 25 minute drive to the park. Very nice sites, flush toilets and showers. I got a lake view site but also forested sites available. Pet friendly camping. Would definitely go back!
Camping options near Thorndike, Maine sit in central Maine's rolling hills, approximately 25 miles inland from Penobscot Bay. Most campgrounds in this region operate from May through mid-October, with average summer temperatures ranging 55-80°F. The mixed forest landscape transitions from pine stands to hardwoods, creating diverse camping environments within relatively short distances of town.
Nature trails at Camden Hills State Park: The park contains over 30 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy forest walks to moderate summit climbs. A visitor from Camden Hills State Park Campground shared, "There are hiking trails just outside our doorstep. One of the real pluses of this park were the miles and miles of hiking trails just outside our doorstep."
Kayaking at Sennebec Lake Campground: Launch directly from the campground's shoreline onto the 537-acre lake. "We love the proximity to the lake with easy access for kayaking and swimming," notes one camper, highlighting how convenient water access makes bringing personal watercraft worthwhile.
Garden tours and artist workshops: Searsport Shores Ocean Campground offers artistic experiences unique to the region. "It's also a treasure trove of arts of all kinds - fiber arts, metal sculptures, carvings, paintings, and music," explains a visitor, mentioning that the owners "jump into the arts, music, and other activities right alongside their guests."
Golf at nearby courses: Some campgrounds like Fogg Brook Resort incorporate golf facilities. A visitor noted, "The golf course was in Great shape. They had live music and lots of activities for all ages." Tee times typically run from 7am to 5pm during peak season.
Oceanfront camping views: Waterfront sites offer direct ocean access and panoramic views. A camper at Moorings Campground shared, "The ocean access in this park is great! A short set of stairs takes you down to the water which is great for exploring, launching kayaks, and letting the dog run/swim when the tide is out."
Quiet camping atmosphere: Many campgrounds maintain peaceful environments, especially midweek. "Very peaceful at night listening to the loons," noted one Lake St. George visitor, while another mentioned, "We stayed here in a 40 foot Motorhome. Many sites (not all) can accommodate bigger rigs."
Community social activities: Organized events bring campers together. One guest at Searsport Shores described, "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."
Clean facilities: Campgrounds maintain their restroom and shower facilities throughout the day. A visitor to Pumpkin Patch RV Resort commented, "Clean bathroom, friendly staff. The park is nice and clean with just a few amenities but just an average campground."
Reservation timing: For summer weekends, book at least 3-4 months ahead. At Camden Hills, "We arrived just a few days after the park opened for the season so the campground was especially quiet... I would advise making reservations if you want to stay over a weekend or during the summer season as this park really fills up."
Site selection considerations: Tent campers face different constraints than RVers at some locations. A camper noted about Searsport Shores, "The tents 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."
Water access limitations: Not all "waterfront" sites offer swimming beaches. "There's a tiny very rocky beach, not really somewhere to swim, just to enjoy the scenery and look for cool rocks," explained one visitor about shoreline conditions.
Pet policies vary by campground: While most campgrounds allow pets, specific rules differ. At Camden Hills State Park Campground, pets must remain leashed at all times, including on trails, and owners must clean up after their animals.
Playground options: Skowhegan Kennebec Valley KOA offers "a great playground, tractor rides. Store was well stocked. Had an awesome time, met lots of awesome people!" Sites near playgrounds fill quickly during school vacation weeks.
Kid-friendly beach areas: Some lakefront properties feature gradual entry points. At Sennebec Lake, one family reported, "We have only tented, but hope to bring a small camper next year. There is a small arcade, store, and 24/7 laundry. Bathrooms/showers are clean and not very busy as most guests are in RVs."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Dawn and dusk offer the best wildlife spotting times. "Peaceful nights listening to loons" was highlighted by visitors to several lake campgrounds in the region.
Rainy day options: Indoor facilities can save a wet camping trip. "The rec room is a large but cozy place to hang out if/when it rains, with a fireplace and cozy couches," mentioned one visitor to Searsport Shores, where arts and crafts activities often continue regardless of weather.
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds feature uneven terrain. "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," reported one RVer at Pumpkin Patch Resort.
Dump station access: Most campgrounds offer either full hookups or dump stations. A visitor to Sennebec Lake noted, "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."
Seasonal site availability: Many campgrounds offer both seasonal and short-term sites. "Most of the campers were seasonals whose campsites were well-kept and they were quiet," observed a visitor at Pumpkin Patch RV Resort, highlighting the community atmosphere at many parks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Thorndike, ME?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Thorndike, ME is Searsport Shores Ocean Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 17 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Thorndike, ME?
TheDyrt.com has all 92 dog-friendly camping locations near Thorndike, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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