Camping sites near Whitefield, Maine range from waterfront locations with docks to wooded retreats offering privacy between sites. The region sits about 200 feet above sea level and experiences typical New England seasonal transitions, with overnight temperatures dropping to the 40s even in summer months. The campground season typically extends from May through mid-October, with most parks offering different site types from primitive tent platforms to full hookup RV spaces.
What to do
Kayaking on nearby lakes: Duck Puddle Campground provides direct lake access for paddling. "The lake is great for swimming and paddling. The waterfront sites (61-66) offer direct access to the lake and have trees between the site for a more private feel. Some have a private dock for fishing or sitting, others have a small beach area," notes a camper at Duck Puddle Campground.
Hiking nearby trails: Camden Hills State Park offers trails directly from campsites. A visitor reports, "The park sits on both sides of Rt. 1, and the bottom side is more of a day use area with a pavilion and walking trails and sits on the water. 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."
Beach swimming: Several campgrounds maintain beach areas for summer swimming. "Great beach for swimming, playground for playing. We have already booked our next trip in a few weeks!" shares an enthusiastic visitor about Chewonki Campground, which features a salt water pool in addition to water activities.
What campers like
Large wooded sites: Shore Hills Campground offers spacious sites with natural separation. "We enjoyed our stay at Shore Hills Campground. Some of their 30-amp waterfront sites come with great views. They also have 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 one visitor to Shore Hills Campground.
Evening activities: Many parks organize community events throughout the summer. A visitor to Duck Puddle Campground noted, "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 Saturday night and large bonfire. Everyone was invited to attend if they wanted to."
Water views: Sennebec Lake Campground provides waterfront access. One camper shares, "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. The sites are a decent size and the campground is fairly quiet at night."
What you should know
Variable site terrain: Some parks have sloped sites that can be problematic after rain. "The lay of the land is sloped and they need to improve drainage of run off. The site was very wet with standing water making most of the site unusable," reports one camper about their experience at Duck Puddle Campground.
Reservation needs: Most campgrounds fill quickly from late June through August. "I was worried when I decided to come to this part of Maine in the fall without reservations. It's early October, and I learned that Maine State Parks are first come first serve at this point. I was pleasantly surprised to arrive and find plenty of vacant spots," shares a visitor to Camden Hills State Park Campground.
Payment options: Some smaller campgrounds have limited payment methods. A visitor to Town Line Camping notes, "We loved this campground, quiet, a lot of seasonal campers, the lake is a decent swimming temp. The bugs were kind of vicious. The bathrooms and showers were decent. People were friendly. It's tucked away in the woods, pretty cool spot, they only take cash or check so keep that in mind."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds maintain child-friendly play areas. "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 are better than most the way they are arranged. There is a place to put your boat in if you have it, laundry, dock, fishing, camp store and I thought a great playground and field are if you have kids with you and clean restrooms," notes a camper at Duck Puddle Campground.
Family activities: Many parks schedule kids' activities during summer weekends. A visitor to More to Life Campground shares, "Nice, clean, family friendly campground. Plenty to do with the family including a beach, playground, water activities, and crafts! Fun activities every week and a nice game room."
Swimming options: Multiple campgrounds feature swimming areas with varying depths. "We discovered this campsite in 2020 and just returned from our third year in a row camping here with 2 kids. There is a small arcade, store, and 24/7 laundry. Bathrooms/showers are clean and not very busy as most guests are in RVs. 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."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: RV campers should research specific site dimensions. "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," advises an RVer at Duck Puddle Campground, highlighting the trade-offs between views and hookups.
Access and navigation: Consider road conditions to campsites. "The roads to our site were easy to navigate with our 45' RV and tow car but the check-in area near the office is very small and tight and at times, it was very backed up and RV's were out on the main road," cautions a visitor to Shore Hills Campground.
Leveling requirements: Some sites require minimal setup for level placement. "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," reports a visitor to Sennebec Lake Campground.
