Camping spots near Waldoboro, Maine range from basic tent sites to full-service RV parks at elevations typically under 300 feet, with many locations nestled along the region's numerous lakes and tidal rivers. The area experiences significant seasonal population changes, with campgrounds operating primarily from May through mid-October when average temperatures range from 60-80°F during summer months. Waldoboro's location between inland forests and coastal peninsulas creates diverse camping environments within a 20-mile radius.
What to do
Hiking at Camden Hills: Camden Hills State Park Campground offers direct access to multiple hiking trails ranging from easy to advanced difficulty. "We arrived just a few days after the park opened for the season so the campground was especially quiet. One of the real pluses of this park were the miles and miles of hiking trails just outside our doorstep," notes Nancy W.
Kayaking from coastal campsites: Paddle directly from Lobster Buoy Campsites where some campsites provide water access. "We booked a campsite here to do some kayaking. We fell in love with this place! No generators, no air conditioners allowed, it's kind of like being back at camp. Rustic but everything you need. Some campsites are right on the water and the kayaking from here is awesome," shares Annie G.
Swimming in lakes: Town Line Camping provides lake swimming opportunities with water that reaches comfortable temperatures by mid-summer. A camper reports, "The lake is a decent swimming temp. The bugs were kind of vicious. The bathrooms and showers were decent. People were friendly."
Attending seasonal events: Duck Puddle Campground organizes themed weekend activities throughout their season. "The weekend we stayed they happened to be celebrating 'Christmas in July' and so a lot of the campers had put up lights and decorated. They had a band play on Sat night and large bonfire. Everyone was invited to attend if they wanted to," according to Rachel S.
What campers like
Waterfront views: Megunticook Campground offers scenic coastal views from a dedicated overlook area. "The ocean overlook is beautiful in the morning sunrise," notes Jess Y., while Cheryl R. adds, "The ocean view was beautiful! Picnic tables and several chairs and benches to sit and watch the ocean scenery - porpoises and seals and the sunrise was amazing!"
Privacy between sites: Shore Hills Campground & RV Park features wooded sites with good spacing. "This is a nice place to visit... I am not an rv parking lot kind of person so I really like this campground. It looks like the sites are on top of each other online but they r better than most the way they are arranged," explains Carol C.
Clean facilities: Sennebec Lake Campground maintains well-kept bathrooms and showers. "The grounds are well kept and the facilities were clean and inviting. The shop was amazingly well stocked," reports Suetta T., while another camper adds, "Bathrooms/showers are clean and not very busy as most guests are in RVs."
Shoulder season tranquility: Many campers prefer visiting in late spring or early fall to avoid summer crowds. "We love coming to Duck Puddle in the shoulder season (spring and fall) when it's quiet. The waterfront sites (61-66) offer direct access to the lake and have trees between the site for a more private feel," explains K R.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds require advance booking, especially for premium sites. At Megunticook by the Sea Campground, "Corporations are buying up the private campgrounds and charging ridiculous prices. The three around Campden, ME have 4 day minimums making the most basic RV site $225 to $260 per stay," warns Mike V.
Road noise considerations: Several campgrounds have sites affected by traffic sounds. "The campground is located too close to the road and, with the exception of sites 84-87 and cabins 8-10, you will hear road noise in your site," cautions Lee D. about Megunticook Campground.
Insect preparation: Biting insects can be intense, particularly in early summer. "The bugs were kind of vicious," notes a camper at Town Line Camping, requiring visitors to bring adequate repellent supplies.
Water access timing: Tidal changes affect swimming and boating at coastal campgrounds. At Shore Hills, "The river is tidal and so unless you want to wade threw mud there is not access beyond a couple hours around high tide," explains rachel S.
Cash-only policies: Some smaller campgrounds don't accept credit cards. Town Line Camping "only take cash or check so keep that in mind," advises one camper, making advance planning necessary.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Camden Hills State Park Campground offers basic play equipment. "There's quite a few hiking trails located in the town around the campground," notes Becky T., though another camper mentions the "'Playground' is a bit of a stretch."
Scheduled activities: Duck Puddle Campground provides organized events for children. "Many kid's activities... great live music with large bonfire with many kid's activities," shares Andrew G., making it ideal for families seeking structured entertainment.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds feature dedicated swimming areas with gradual entry points. "Nice family friendly campground... Great beach for swimming, playground for playing," observes Andrew G. about Duck Puddle.
Family-sized sites: Look for campgrounds with larger sites for multiple tents or equipment. Shore Hills offers "some sites tucked in the woods that are super wide with huge patios and lots of privacy between you and your neighbor and great for families or large gatherings," according to Nancy W.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling requirements: Check individual site reviews for leveling information. At Lobster Buoy Campsites, "Not all sites in the campground are level and the roads were in pretty bad shape so plan on going slow through the potholes," warns Nancy W.
Water and electric availability: Many campgrounds offer partial hookups but limited full-hookup options. "We could have chosen lakefront but they were just water and electric and since we were staying 4 days we chose the full hookup in a nicely wooded site," explains Carol C. about Duck Puddle Campground.
Dump station fees: Be aware that some campgrounds charge additional fees for using dump stations. At Megunticook Campground, there's a "$10 to use the dump station (we found another place that charged $5)," notes Lee D.
Size restrictions: Larger RVs face limitations at several area campgrounds. Nancy W. cautions that Lobster Buoy Campsites "is really tight for big rigs and many of the sites are just o.k. being too close, unlevel, or with no view," making advance research essential.
