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Best Tent Camping near York Beach, ME

595 Reviews

Several established tent campgrounds provide camping opportunities within driving distance of York Beach, Maine. Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach, located in Saco approximately 30 minutes south of York Beach, offers reservable tent sites with access to drinking water, electric hookups, showers, and toilets. Huttopia Southern Maine in Sanford also accommodates tent campers with walk-in sites that include amenities such as drinking water, fire rings, picnic tables and access to showers and restroom facilities.

Most tent campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, typically from May through mid-October. Tent sites at Sun Outdoors feature graded terrain with nearby facilities including trash collection and sanitary dump stations. At Huttopia Southern Maine, the 107 sites are set among wooded terrain with firewood available for purchase on-site. Water access varies between locations, with some campgrounds offering hookups while others provide communal water sources. Fire regulations permit campfires at most established sites, though seasonal restrictions may apply during dry periods.

Tent campers often appreciate the forested settings and access to regional attractions. Sites at Sun Outdoors provide convenient access to Old Orchard Beach through a trolley service, allowing campers to visit the shore without moving their vehicles. The bathrooms at established campgrounds receive positive feedback for cleanliness and maintenance. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "The bathrooms were the cleanest I've seen camping and the staff was incredibly friendly." Tent sites with shade prove particularly valuable during summer months, with several reviewers noting the importance of securing wooded sites to avoid direct sun exposure. Morning traffic noise can affect tent campers at some locations near highways, particularly without the sound insulation RVs provide.

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Best Tent Sites Near York Beach, Maine (8)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near York Beach, ME

5 Photos of 8 York Beach Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near York Beach, ME

595 Reviews of 8 York Beach Campgrounds

  • Migdalia G.
    May. 29, 2019

    Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest

    Nice Wooded Campground in Awesome Area

    We stayed at Harold Parker State Forest Campground during Memorial Day Weekend. Reservation through Reserve America was a breeze. Check in till 9:00 pm was convenient. Checkout by 11:00 am but we paid for an additional night to be able to leave at night the day we checked out. Totally worth it!

    Nice large campsites. The sites’ privacy is very diverse. You could be tucked away from everyone or closer together depending on the site you choose but they are all pretty decent in size. All sites have water which is a plus. All have a fire pit/box, charcoal bbq and a picnic table. Most of them are drive in. 

    Quiet hours from 10 am to 7 am. No alcohol allowed (although I didn’t see an actual enforcement of this rule and guess it’ll happen only if people act out). Rangers are constantly patrolling. Felt pretty safe at night. You can’t bring wood. Bundles are $5 each and it burns really well. 

    Lots of biking/hiking/walking trails, a nice small pond/beach, boat access, a few basketball courts, a volleyball court and a common huge fire pit added to the fun. A ranger ran a program to teach about the area fauna which was pretty interesting for kids and adults alike. 

    Bathrooms were fairly clean although small and showers were free! Some sites were right in front of a lovely pond and there were many group sites available as well. 

    The location is pretty good. Salem, Andover, Boston Are accesible while staying here. Close proximity to Richardson Ice Cream which you CANT miss if you decide to stay.  They have cheap but amazing ice cream, mini golf and battling cages which was entertaining for my whole crew. 

    It rained a lot during one night of our stay and the site (301) did not flooded at all. All sites seemed in pretty good shape the morning after as well. 

    Beautiful and will recommend to families with small kids, groups and couples too.

  • d
    Aug. 19, 2025

    Cape Ann Camp Site

    25 cents for a shower

    The aerial photos of this place are very deceiving. This camp ground is the foreground of the main house which, is situated on the top of the hill. The sites are all dirt. There is no concrete pads. There is no WIFI. There is no sewer hook up however, near the street there is a "dump station."  The camp ground is run down and unmaintained. Our site had a fire ring which, was filled with ash. Our first night we woke up to a trailer filled with smoke because, someone near by had a fire in 92 degree heat. Most campers are full time residents. There is no sight of them during the day light hours but, at night they are up and about on bikes and mingling with each other. 

    25 cents per 5 minute hot shower is offered in the public restroom. Some shady people immediate started to hover near the public restroom once we drove up the hill to use the public restrooms. For $70/nite for a view it's not worth it. I was glad to leave- very creepy.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 15, 2021

    Tidewater Campground

    Large campground near, but not on the beach

    First of all, the location is a little quirky and I think I only arrived once without a wrong turn! Watch the GPS carefully. That said, it’s very close to Hampton Beach and you can easily drive or bike over. The campground is parallel to US1, so there is some road traffic noise. Some of the tent sites overlook the marsh. The tent sites are definitely tighter than trailer sites. Some sites back up to each other and it takes a moment to understand where one ends and the next begins. 

    I was here early in the season and placed in a seasonal site with water/electric. Site was level. Neighbors were friendly. The bathroom was a short walk away and spotless. I did notice that in the tent areas, the main bathrooms are supplemented with portable toilets. Sites are mostly wooded, which will offer nice relief from the heat. It's a nice base for exploring the area.

    There’s a gated entry and turtle-speed limit that they take seriously. The pool was not yet open. There’s a small store onsite for ice and essentials. All the big box stores and a number of restaurants are nearby. For a change of pace from seafood, I picked up Shane's Texas Pit BBQ and brought it back to my site. 

    You may request a reservation online, but you have to confirm and pay for it via the phone. You’ll need to arrive before 9pm to check in. Bring $10 for a cash deposit on the gate card. Only 1 vehicle and 1 camping unit (tent or trailer) allowed on a site.

    Downside: They charge for showers, the amount and duration is unclear and the duration varies depending on which shower you choose! Given the rates they charge, this seems petty.

  • Meg T.
    Jul. 30, 2025

    Salisbury Beach State Reservation

    Seagulls hungry for Egg Rolls and sunsets galore!

    Stayed here with my partner for her birthday while we were up in the Plum Island/Rockport area. Beautiful ocean access and great facilities. We stayed in a site right next to a large bathhouse with showers, plentiful stalls, and water bottle fill-up and rinse off station. We were situated next to a kind family who lent us fire starter and offered us some of their snacks they were making when we arrived, while we were setting up we did lose some egg rolls to a hungry seagull but I think he needed them more than we did. Not very private and sites are packed close together, but that is what I expected based off the map! I would absolutely return again, this time to check out the beach and surrounding area!

  • Sable W.
    May. 16, 2018

    Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest

    Spacious, Quiet, Clean and Conveniently Located

    Five friends and I decided to compete in Questival, which came to Boston for May 11-12, 2018. There aren't many campgrounds open in Massachusetts this early in the season, but Harold Parker State Forest was! I snagged a group campsite since we'd have four tents. We had to set up after dark, so we wound up congregating in one corner of the group site. When we woke up we could see just how HUGE the group site was! We had 4 two-person tents; you could easily fit 3x that number of tents. PLENTY of flat ground to set up on, and we were far enough back from the road that we never heard or saw other campers arriving, even though we know most other Questival competitors stayed at this campground. It was about a 5 minute walk to the bathrooms and showers, and potable water was available right on the site. Even though it was early in the season and not very leafy, we could only occasionally see our neighbors' headlamps. There were 4 or 5 fire pits, 5 large picnic tables, and 3 driveways that could fit two cars each. Great value for the cost! We were pleased with the privacy, space, cleanliness, and amenities.

  • k
    Aug. 15, 2019

    Dixons Coastal Maine Campground

    LOTS of people but lovely campground

    This is an extremely large campground.  It seems that most of them on the coast of Maine are.  We didn't get a very good sight, but the person who answered the phone basically told us that when we called and it was all they had, so I can't say too much about that either (#17).  The sight was small and between the two driveways.  All of the sights seem to have rocky ground, so I recommend a sleep pad and a footprint for your tent so you don't rip the bottom.  

    Now, on to the other stuff.  There is a small playground that is weathered but in decent shape.  The pool is lovely and meticulously kept.  The grounds, bathrooms and showers are spotless.  It's 50 cents for 5 minutes to take a shower (unheard of) with hot water.  There is even hot water to wash your dishes next to the bathrooms.

    They sell ice, wood ($7) and many "I forgots" in the store (bacon, milk, etc...).  They give you a security card to get into the grounds ($10 deposit).  The campground was SUPER quiet and quiet hours go to 8am (thank you)!  Only an RV about to leave made a ton of noise at 7.

    I would go there again.  It was a safe place close to so many things.  The beach and everything else is VERY close but not so close as to be annoying.... 5 minutes at most.

  • Anna C.
    Oct. 15, 2019

    Pawtuckaway State Park Campground

    Ranger Review: Red Ledge Rebel Shell Rain Pants at Pawtuckaway State Park

    *CAMPGROUND REVIEW*

    This campground is definitely a dazzler and I was fortunate to visit on a quieter weekend. I was able to enjoy an especially picturesque sunset over the lake and I would definitely visit this spot again, especially with how accessible the campground is. There is a nice stretch of sandy beach at the campground as well as canoes and kayaks for rent. The convenience store at the campground had essentially everything you would need for a good camping trip. Definitely do your research on the different site numbers because some sites are much more private and scenic than others. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and fire pit as an added bonus.

    Pros: 

    -Within a short driving distance from the Boston area 

    -Lakefront sites available 

    -Canoe and kayak rentals available 

    -Well stocked convenience store 

    -Reasonable cell reception

    Cons: 

     -Can get busy during peak camping times 

     -Some sites have a lack of privacy

    *PRODUCT REVIEW*

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. During this trip, I took out a pair of Red Ledge Rain Pants. While it didn’t rain during my camping stay (great from a camper perspective, not so great from a reviewer perspective), I was able to try out the general fit of the pants. They have a nice stretch fit to them and a certainly one of the more stylish options as far as rain pants go. As is true for most waterproof gear, they run on the warmer side and don’t have a ton of ventilation so they may not be the best choice for hotter weather. Although I didn’t get to test out the pants in a camping setting, I did wear them a few days ago while making the 1.5 km evacuation route trek from my apartment to the flood shelter during one of the biggest typhoons to make landfall in Japan. After about 25-30 mins of walking in record breaking-ly heavy rain, the pants started to saturate around the knees and the upper thigh area started to get a bit soggy. That being said, this is probably the most extreme possible test setting and they did hold up reasonably well. Due to the aforementioned, I would recommend using these pants as a waterproof option when skiing/snowboarding in warmer weather where you still want a snow barrier but may not necessarily need the insulative warmth offered by actual snow pants.

    Pros: 

    -Stylish look 

     -Stretch fit 

     -Waterproof 

     Cons: 

     -Trap heat 

     -Not typhoon proof

  • M.A.D. P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 1, 2023

    Pawtuckaway State Park Campground

    Large and friendly park with plenty of water activity opportunities

    My first time experiencing a park in the New Hampshire Park system. We went down with a group. Pawtuckaway State Park offers a variety of landscapes, with something to do and see for everyone. The park includes a large family beach on the lake. There are many opportunities for hiking, with trails leading to many special points of interest, including a mountaintop fire tower; an extensive marsh where beavers, deer, and great blue herons may be seen.

    The park lines the shore of beautiful Pawtuckaway Lake.  The 192 sites are wooded and many provide views of the lake.  Each campsite has an open fire ring, picnic table, flat areas for a tent, and a parking space. The bathhouses are equipped with running water, flush toilets, and 24 hour showers.  There are no hook-ups at any of the campsites. The park also has a camp store where canoe and kayaks are available, as well as a plublic canoe and kayak launch. Five cabins are available; each sleeps six people, has electricity, and includes a fire ring and picnic table. Pets are not allowed in the campground or beach area of the park.

  • Sara D.
    Aug. 23, 2020

    Sun River Campground

    Pretty Happy with this Campground!

    Pros=rustic tent sites available on a River, very quiet nights, secluded campsites (however the 5 sites near us were empty so that likely has a little to do with noise level & space), playground available, pretty clean, the site we were on had plenty of elbow room and was spacious enough for our 12 person tent & bean bag toss game set up (site ground was a little uneven with minimal roots here & there), friendly staff, friendly owner when I booked that was very accommodating, they had a band on Saturday night in one of the common areas, site was shaded with lots of tall trees, $30/night = cheap, free showers, firewood & $2 bags of ice available to purchase at the office, lots of wildlife in campsite areas (not bears but more like birds and whatnot) & a small beach area.

    Cons=campground is a little hard to find off the main road so you really have to keep an eye out for the turn, only 1 main bathhouse but porta potties available throughout grounds, the beach water is connected to the river and a bit on the stagnant/murky side (I’m a little bit of a water snob & really only swim in fairly clear water), some tent sites are bundled together that seem to be best for group camping so if you’re only booking one site that might be a bummer if you like space from neighboring campers, no campground store available, didn’t seem like there was a lot of activities offered to do/amenities, seem to be very minimal staff but there was someone at the office upon our very late check-in.

    P.s. Dunk’s is a 7 minute drive if you are a must-have-dunkin’s every day person like my husband.

    Overall, good campground and we will be going again!😉

Guide to York Beach

Tent camping near York Beach, Maine offers campers easy access to the southern Maine coast without the crowds of more developed areas. Campsites in this region typically operate from mid-May through mid-October, with most sites requiring reservations during peak summer season. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during daytime hours with cooler 55-65°F evenings that can require extra layers for comfort.

What to do

Beach exploration: Visiting Long Sands Beach near Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach provides 4 miles of sandy coastline. According to Nancy W., "Rachael Carson National Wildlife Refuge has a small welcome center and trails that wind through the marsh with some beautiful views (and dog-friendly)."

Water activities: Paddling options abound within short drives from tent camping areas. Nancy W. notes, "If you like to paddle, head to the Saco River Marsh. Here you can put in your own boats or rent some and paddle through beautiful marsh – just watch the tides."

Local towns: Explore historic coastal communities like Kennebunkport and Ogunquit. Rachel P. mentions, "We definitely enjoyed our stay... we were within 20 minutes of Portland and 10 minutes to Old Orchard Beach."

What campers like

Family-friendly amenities: Salmon Falls River RV Resort and Family Campground receives high marks for recreational options. Samantha N. states, "If you have young kids this place is so fun! Multiple pools, a water slide, high ropes, a jump pad, mini golf and more!!! My niece had so much fun!"

Transportation services: Several campgrounds offer shuttle services to beaches. Jill P. notes, "Great location trolley will pick you up from the campground and take you to Old Orchard Beach. Very friendly staff."

Wooded privacy: Many tent campers appreciate sites with natural screening. Rachel P. explains, "We lucked out with our cabin and the cul-de-sac it was in. It overlooked the woods and was a bit more secluded than many of the other sites."

What you should know

Shower facilities: Bathhouse quality varies significantly between campgrounds. At Cape Ann Camp Site, Rebecca S. mentions, "Campground is clean but very rustic. Facilities are on the old side," while another camper notes pay showers require "25 cents per 5 minute hot shower."

Site selection: Request wooded areas when making reservations for natural cooling. According to Rachel P., "Tent sites 96, P5, P4, P3, P2 and P1 were also among the best spots, offering full shade and privacy."

Seasonal crowds: Summer weekends fill quickly at most campgrounds near York Beach. Della S. advises, "Call and they will help you find a spot if you have questions."

Tips for camping with families

Activity scheduling: Plan for both on-site and off-site entertainment options. Jill P. from Huttopia Southern Maine reports, "Kid activities were done regularly. Pizza and breakfast is very good if you do lunch want to cook. Outdoor movies were fun."

Beach alternative: When beaches are crowded, water parks provide another option. Nancy W. suggests, "If you have kids and like water parks, Funtown Splashtown USA is a popular place especially on warm days and just down the street."

Site location: Request sites away from campground entrances. Samantha N. observes, "Sites are close together and they are short staffed but other than that a great place! I loved the lazy river and had so much fun!"

Tips from RVers

Leveling requirements: Most tent sites require minimal leveling compared to RV spaces. Aaron G. from Viewland Campground notes, "Campsites are level and site is fairly easy to maneuver with bigger rigs."

Morning noise: Early departures and arrivals can impact tent campers more than RVers. Kirsten J. shares, "The road to get to Viewland Campground is very steep. The campground loop is a one-way loop that is not easily marked."

Weather protection: Tents provide less insulation than RVs during unexpected weather. Matt R. recalls, "Great campground. Sites are not too close, clean bathrooms, friendly service."

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at York Beach campgrounds for tent campers?

Tent campers at York Beach area campgrounds can expect a range of amenities to enhance their camping experience. Cape Ann Camp Site offers wooded tent sites with picnic tables, fire pits, clean bathrooms, and pay showers (5 cents). There's also a convenience store on-site for forgotten essentials. Many campgrounds in the region provide water hookups, toilets, and shower facilities. Some offer additional amenities like swimming pools, planned activities, and camp stores. Most tent sites come with the basics: a cleared area for your tent, parking space, picnic table, and fire ring. Bathhouses with hot showers are standard at established campgrounds, though some may charge a small fee for shower use.

Where can I find tent camping in York Beach, Maine?

For tent camping near York Beach, Maine, Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach is a popular option located just a short drive away. This family-friendly campground offers dedicated tent sites and is approximately 30 minutes from York Beach. It serves as an excellent base for exploring the entire southern Maine coast. Another good option is Huttopia Southern Maine near Sanford, which provides walk-in tent sites in a more natural setting. When planning your York Beach tent camping trip, consider making reservations well in advance, especially during the peak summer season when coastal Maine campgrounds fill quickly.

Are there oceanfront tent camping options in York, Maine?

Direct oceanfront tent camping in York Beach is limited, but there are options within short driving distance of the coast. Salmon Falls River RV Resort and Family Campground offers tent sites with easy access to coastal areas. While not directly on the ocean, many campgrounds in the York region provide shuttle services or are a quick drive to beach access points. For those seeking the closest experience to oceanfront camping, consider Crown Point Campground which has water views. Most coastal Maine campgrounds require reservations well in advance during summer months as oceanfront and water-adjacent sites are highly sought after.

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