Best Tent Camping near Waterville, ME

BF and I wanted a last minute fall weekend getaway in Maine, and ended up at the Augusta-Gardiner KOA. Generally tough to accomplish during leaf-peeping season, but we worked it out. We stayed at site T5, which was wooded but pretty open. Size was decent enough.

Overall, I’d say sites T8, T9, T10 are best if you’re tent camping. While all tent sites are tightly spaced next to one another, these 3 provide the most shade and privacy of the bunch.

Owners are super nice, but the campground could use a little love. Bathrooms and amenities are a little tired. There’s potential though, and some really cute details, like a little fairy house and homemade, bear-carved benches around a KOA-community fire pit, that make the campground endearing. Also, there’s a bunch to do during prime season, particularly for the kiddies- pool, mini-golf, bounce house, playground and space to runaround.

There's a handful of private tent sites with picnic tables. Some tent sites have ocean views. 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.

There's a small pavilion for campground-communal lobster/clam bakes. Showers, laundry, playground, and small camp store are all available.

I definitely like more backcountry camping, but this was the only available campground in the area. It was great for a one-night stay, but it was very busy and too touristy.

The owners are fabulous and friendly. Clean sites as well as facilities. Beautiful pool!! Tent site had a simple lean to that helped tremendously.

The staff/owners were very friendly and my tent site was right on the beach. The sunrise and sunset were absolutely gorgeous. The price was incredible given the proximity to the water. The only negative was that the RVs were pretty loud.

Basically this is a small independent RV park split between season RV campers and regular RV campers. The only reason for a tent camper to go is to take advantage of the laundry room and the nicely scrubbed showers. It’s 5 minutes from Skowhegan and a short 2 minutes from Kennebec Banks rest area on route 2.

There are about 5 tent sites– two of which are on a small point stretching into the confluence of the great Kennebec River and the small Wesserunsett River. 

The only two tent sites I would recommend are #50 & #51 on the point with # 51 being most desirable. I absolutely would not recommend any of the other tent sites for various reasons. I used site #51 and pitched my tent about 20ft from the Kennebec. At 6:45am  I saw two bald eagles patrolling the Kennebec. 

The RV sites that are interesting are the ones directly along the Kennebec. They are sites 39-45; 47A; 47B; 47C; 48; and, they park parallel to the river. Otherwise, it’s a very tight center filled with RV’s and very large motor homes. Sites # 52– 58 may look like they are water sites… but the water feature on the map is only a brushy swamp. 

The 2 showers are very good, clean and include a bench. There are 2 flush toilets also sparkling clean; but, they are some distance from The Point. The 24hour self-operated laundry is housed in a small, dedicated bungalow. There are 2-3 docks and canoes to use. 

At night, one can clearly hear the noise from route 2 just at the edge of the campground. The river amplifies the sound of cars passing by.

The check-in couple were awesome! Chatted for a while and made us feel welcomed. The campgrounds were very nice, and our tent site was the largest site on the grounds.

The loss of one star is the pricing. I guess the campgrounds were bought out by some corporate conglomerate last year, and the current pricing shows. We paid $75 for one night. There was water to the site, but no electricity.

Great campground. Bigger than we expected. Our site looked right over the water. Direct access to Maine's rocky shore. Everything you need to be comfortable including hot showers and bathrooms cleaned three times a day. A basic rec room, playground, beautiful gardens, clean sites. Rvs are so close together and some seasonal snobs, but also tent sites some drive up and some walk to more private/dispersed. Small store friendly staff. Some sites have a wooden deck for picnic area overlooking water. Laundry, wifi, made it an easy week. We had rain and wind a couple nights, tarp went over tent as not permitted in trees. Just fine. We will definitely be coming back.

Despite a very recent personal loss, the owners welcomed us with open arms and heartfelt greetings. The grounds and sites were well maintained. The bathrooms and showers were clean and well stocked.

When we arrived, we were given a map with available sites marked and free reign to pick the spot of our liking.

The pricing has increased from the dyrt's listed prices. We paid $40 for a tent site with elec. and water.

I would stay here again in a heartbeat!

First day, my wife was helping our 5 year old climb onto the float like the big kids. 5 minutes later, management came over and said, "I heard you were pulling my float in." No sense of customer relations, just rude. My wife clearly cannot move a float. Even if she could, shouldn't it be chained to the lake floor?

Pros: Water at all sites Lake swimming with float Events Family friendly Office folk are friendly

Cons: Many tent sites are tiny, ours wasn't too bad Live band went past quiet time Many rules are ignored by management Other camp crew unfriendly Playground not updated since the 80s Game room is 6 claw machines, 2 arcade games, and a broken jukebox packed in a tiny room

The camping was decent, but we will not be back.

This campground has numerous activities to keep the whole family occupied (pool, rec hall, volleyball, baketball, and bocce ball). The waterfront offers a beach and a place to put in your boat (paddle or <10hp). A friend and I camped here not for the family fun, but because we wanted to be able to slip into our kayaks for an early paddle with the loons, bald eagles, and herons. Had an amazing experience when loons took off from the far end of the lake and came in right beside and over us for a landing. We visited in late August and enjoyed seeing mature and immature bald eagles, too. In addition to kayaking in the morning, we also took a drive to Weld to hike Tumbledown Mountain.

We tent camped in a loop where the sites were wooded and close together, but others are well suited to larger rigs and offer full hookups. The noise you hear will largely be the sound of kids and families having fun. Generators are not permitted. Bathrooms are clean The gate is is secured; plan to arrive by 9pm for check-in. If you're tenting and don't need electric, sites 101-106 offer slightly more seclusion and are close to the water.

My family and I (two adults, 14 yo and a 9 yo) just visited Searsport Shores for the first time again since our kids were very little and were so happy to be back! We were there during high camping season/post Covid so it was very busy (especially the RV sites) but still very peaceful and quiet at night. The tent sites are completely seperate from the RVs and are in the woods, beautifully maintained. Only con is the sites are very close together so privacy is an issue sometimes, but the whole campground has a very community feel to it and we've always met some awesome strangers to hang out with. It makes it great for any age kid, there are always tons of kids around. 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. We've visited during two ful moons and it's breathtaking. We hope to return soon!

last year I bought a small camping trailer and picked it up one evening with no idea where I was going to spend the night. It was my first time towing, so I didn't want to travel very far. The friend who was with me called around and found More to Life campground in Winthrop. Best part? we got a pull-through site for the night, so I didn't have to figure out how to back up in the dark! They offer a selection of wooded, level to slightly sloped sites, with tent sites grouped together apart from the other sites. All sites offer electrical, only one offers sewer, but if an RV is your thing, they have a honey wagon for pump-outs. Bathrooms and showers are clean.

There's a pond with a private beach within walking distance and great for kayaking and swimming, etc. Additionally, you're only a few miles from public boat launches on the larger Cobboseecontee Lake. The campground abounds with places to play games and hang out, whether you're interested in ping pong, basketball, volleyball, horseshoes, or swings. They're are also weekly activities for the kids. They publish a weekly activities schedules online, both on the website and their Facebook page. There's a little camp store and laundry is also available.

Their website mentions that they want your  "stay here with us will be one of rest, relaxation, safely, and spiritual refreshment, They are open about their Christian faith, and services are available. They do have some guidelines around modest dress.

This was a great place and if I had a family, I expect they would have no problem keeping busy and finding fun things to do!