Best Dispersed Camping in Maine
Dispersed camping in Maine offers several free primitive sites across public lands. The Cutler Coast Public Land features five oceanfront walk-in campsites with stunning coastal views, though sites fill quickly during peak season. Machias Rips Campsite provides riverside camping with a lean-to shelter and several tent sites. White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road contains approximately eight well-spaced sites along a dead-end dirt road, offering privacy and natural surroundings.
Most dispersed sites in Maine operate on a first-come, first-served basis with a 14-day stay limit. According to reviews, the Upper Gravel Pit site in Little Moose Public Lands features "a wide-open area with two fire pits" and provides "easy access to great hiking." The road to this site is "gravel and bumpy but you don't need a 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle," though the final approach is "quite steep with somewhat loose rocks." Visitors should note that most sites lack potable water, restrooms, and garbage facilities.
Fire regulations vary by location. Fires are prohibited at Cutler Coast but permitted at most other sites. Several campers noted that Machias Rips Campsite has "a massive fire pit" and "relatively new and quite clean pit toilet." Cell service is limited or non-existent at most locations. The Lazy Tom Bog Primitive Campsite is known as "a moose hot spot" where wildlife photographers often gather at dawn and dusk. Trout Brook Campground offers lake access but campers report "sites have no separation between them" with "zero privacy." Weather conditions can change rapidly, particularly at coastal sites where wind is common. Always practice Leave No Trace principles by packing out all trash and waste.
