Best RV Parks & Resorts near West Newfield, ME

We have stayed at Bayley's a lot over the years and have watched it grow into an RV Resort. 

If you're looking for all the bells and whistles, full amenities and location to town this is it. I saw a few other reviews noting the noise levels, I think this comes with the territory of staying at an RV Resort. It is family friendly, kids ride their bikes around the campground and you can hear your neighbors. 

Depending on your site location you may get more privacy than if you stay in the big rig sites. The wooded sites tend to be more private and less loud. Staying by any of the pools will be louder. The adults only area can get loud in the summer with music during the day. 

We stay on the event weekends, rent a golf cart and sit in the hot tubs for the duration of our stay and it couldn't be better.

Lots of good things to say about the campground. Slow river runs by the property, big pine trees throughout, store with reasonable prices, electric and water at all the sites we saw plus for those that want it, sewer hookups. It is also only a mile from the highway. We were happy to find it and it was the other reviewed that convinced us that this was a nice stopping point on the way to Acadia NP. Owner was great, showed us our campground and ready bacon for our slot. This campground also supports long term camping and those trailers seem to be mostly in the center area. We didn't use the shirts as our trailer is self contained, but we did walk into the bathrooms and they were spotless. There are kids games and a putt-putt course.

More of a festival than an RV resort. Extremely crowded, close sites, and heavy car traffic in walking and bike areas. Sun night was way quieter than Fri and Sat night. Park has great amenities, and well run but just be prepared for large groups, loud music and managed chaos. Not big rig friendly not overnight friendly. Trolley access to the beach area was great and people are friendly. Safe travels.

Very low key relaxed place. Facilities are new and clean! Staff is friendly and accommodating. Campsites are large. Full hook ups. Pool is clean and well maintained.

We visited Cozy Pond for the first time a few weeks ago. Nice-sized wooded sites. Quiet. Nice pool. Full hook-ups. Adult bingo and hay rides. We liked it so much we are going back again this weekend!

We used to come here every year but move on since. It’s been 7 years & we came back for Columbus Day weekend for an overnight. Maybe it was just this weekend but it was pricey at $45 per night. I’ll start with the bad first. The site are very close to each other. If you fart, all surrounding site will here you. Rain, yep, when it rains it floods the sites near the bathroom toward the beginning of the entrance. Big RV will have trouble maneuvering in here because it is tight. On to the good. Each site (except beach) has a wood canopy, picnic bench, electrical, water spigot & designated fire pit. Bathrooms are close to every site. The beaches along the Saco river is awesome but they took away the cliff jumps and put boulders there. I think the rope swings are still there. We used to stay here long term but now it just ehh. Funny fact: NH law says you can’t burn wood from out of state. But the wood that they sell is from Maine. LOL

I only stayed one night because I couldn’t find a spot anywhere close to 95 . The campground is huge and the spaces are very tight ,not to mention $148 for a full hook up pull thru site that my 42 ft 5w barley fit. I would not go back .

We had a beautiful waterfront campsite (Site 113). The lake is gorgeous. Rocks make direct access to the water from the site difficult, but there is a beach for water access not too far away. The staff was extremely nice and helpful. The only cons: The sites are a little small and do not have any trees between them to shield you from those next to you. It appears that a majority of the tenants who were there during our visit were long term tenants so it has a bit of a different feel than some of the other campgrounds we’ve visited. Also, the road is tight so be prepared to drive close to trees. :) You’re within 30 minutes to White Mountain National Forest, which is gorgeous!

This RV area was great for families, there were a lot of kids which was nice and it felt very safe. Checking in was super easy and the lady that helped us was super sweet and informative. We had wood delivered to our campground and the guy who delivered the wood it was really nice as well. There were a lot of large parties that can get a little bit loud but quiet hours are 10 o’clock and it settles right down. We have just gotten a new camper van and wanted to test it out and this was a great spot to start. Super easy full hook ups!

The camping is a large open area (no shade) with RVs lined up. There are full hook-ups and if you plan to only use the bathroom and shower in your RV it is likely fine. The showers are horrific. There are two different shower rooms, with two showers each. While we were there one whole room was labeled “out of order”. In the other, only one of the coin operated showers was working. So, only one shower for the entire campground. The shower area was FILLED with with bugs and spiders. We unfortunately had to kill one spider that was dangling from the ceiling into the shower we were trying to use. The kids screamed the whole time.

The lake water was deemed to high in bacteria to swim in while we were there, but the natives were swimming anyway, so we did too. The beach was nice and if it wasn’t for the bacteria concern we’d have enjoyed it even more. (Bacteria is why we didn’t skip the shower.)

The view was gorgeous.

Stayed here in early August during a heat-wave. River was too low for tubing but much appreciated for swimming. Site were large and easy to pull through. Great sites on the river but prefer the full hook-ups. Most the staff was pleasant and helpful. another camper even offered me a ride to my site when I was carrying my propane tank. If there was one con it was the overzealous Security guard. He had a screaming fit after he cut off my son in his golf-cart for driving too fast. How fast could he be going to get cut-off by a 10mph cart? Turned what should have been a simple warning to a major affair.

We've stayed at Tidewater a number of times including short stays as we were looking for a house in the area. The short version of this review is that it is a very, very nice campground and we strongly recommend it. 

It's hard to believe that this has been in business as long as it has. I grew up spending summers at a campground in Maine that is just about as old. I've gone back there a couple of times to revisit old memories. What a mistake. That place has not aged well. On the other hand Tidewater is almost immaculate: Clean bathrooms, very well maintained grounds, nice pool and more. There's always someone working to keep things in great condition. 

Maybe my favorite part of Tidewater is Theresa, the owner and manager. She's friendly, helpful and very easy to work with. She even remembers me when I come in after months away. 

On the other hand...: Maybe you'd better find some other place to stay if you don't like rules. You know-- the kind of rules that basically remind you not to be a selfish jerk. No dogs, because so many people don't seem to care about bothering neighbors when their dog barks. A very strict(and slow) speed limit throughout the campground, to try and keep kids from getting run over. If you like to get drunk and noisy, again I'd urge you to go somewhere else. We've stayed at countless(literally; I have no idea) campgrounds and RV parks all across the country. The parks with firm, fair rules-- like Tidewater-- are so much more enjoyable than the parks that are poorly run, and where the management clearly just cares about renting every site, no matter how people behave. 

So look at the rules on the Tidewater site. To me they seem logical and reasonable. But I've seen negative reviews by people who feel they can do whatever they please, no matter how it affects those around them. I don't know about you, but to me that's pretty annoying. 

By the way, I've seen reviews claiming that there are a lot of permanent residents here.  I haven't seen that.  There are certainly a number of units that have been there for years, but as far as I know they're seasonal visitors who just like the place.  This is definitely Nothing like a trailer park, which is what the "permanent resident" description sounds like.

Tidewater is in a great location, just off a major highway but far enough away so you don't hear anything. Very close to Hampton and Hampton Beach, and almost as close to Portsmouth. Read between the lines of the negative reviews. And keep in mind that Good Sam rates Tidewater highly. It's a great place to stay.

Great seasonal RV park with enough tent sites to satisfy demand. Steps from Short Sands Beach and within ear-shot of the animals in York’s Wild Kingdom. Truly a unique experience.

Personal Connection 

Baker River Campground will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s where I was first introduced to camping as a child. My first visit was in 1969 when I was eight years old. Last year, I returned for the first time in over 50 years. While much has changed, the basic layout of the camp remains the same, and it’s still family-owned, which is wonderful. 

Current Stay 

I stayed on site#20 with my class B van. Here are some highlights and details of my experience: Site Location: Conveniently near the road going out and to the beach. Amenities: Electrical and water hookup, a well-placed fire pit, and a bathroom/shower house right across from my site. The facilities were very clean, thanks to regular cleaning. Campground Condition: Maintained excellently, largely due to Reno, the full-time staff member who oversees the place. He was outstanding. The only reason I gave it a 5 was because of him. Environment: Located on the Baker River with a cozy beach. Limited amenities(horseshoe pit and a small playground), but both were in excellent condition. The campground is perfect for those who prefer a traditional camping experience without additional frills. During the week, the campground was quiet, but it got crowded on the weekends with seasonal campers and tent setups closer to the river. I appreciate the layout and the ambiance of the campground. 

Negative Aspects 

Unfortunately, a recent change in ownership to a corporation has brought noticeable changes: Loss of Personal Touch: The campground has lost its personal feel. Reno is still a lifesaver, but he’s the only one maintaining the old charm. Neglect by Management: The focus has shifted to another campground, Riverbrook, which is evident from their social media presence and activities. Baker River is largely neglected, and even basic acknowledgments from the management are lacking. Lack of Engagement: The director of both campgrounds visited but did not engage with campers. When Reno was on vacation, there was no other staff available to assist. Seasonal Campers' Discontent: Long-term campers have noticed the decline and are considering not returning next year. Corporate Focus: The corporation seems more interested in raising prices and saving money rather than maintaining and improving Baker River Campground. 

Final Thoughts 

I write this review out of a deep passion for Baker River Campground. It’s painful to see the decline in care and attention. I believe each campground should be treated as a separate entity with full-time events and dedicated management. The current corporate approach appears to prioritize profit over the well-being of the campground and its community. It’s a shame to see such a beloved place being neglected. I hope the management will take these concerns seriously and work towards restoring the charm and personal touch that made Baker River Campground special.

Mike Weild

Weild on Wheels