Best Dispersed Camping in Maine

Recent Dispersed Reviews in Maine

34 Reviews of 22 Maine Campgrounds

• 

  Thomas B.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 2, 2024

  Upper Gravel Pit - Dispersed

  Great Views

  Great spot is you don't mind dry camping. Amazing views of the surrounding mountains. There are two sites and plenty of space between them. When I went (labor day weekend) there was a porta-potty about 1.5 miles down the road. Plenty of trail heads nearby. About 30 mins to downtown Greenville.

• 

  Miccal M.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 8, 2024

  Trout Brook Campground

  Primitive Camping at it's most Public

  This location is Beautiful, but it comes at the cost of privacy.  When I first discovered this spot, it wasn't an official campsite, people just came here to swim and there was a fire ring. That was over 20yrs ago.

  There are 4 sites, 3 have no separation between them, 1 is at the entrance, all are on the access road with 0 privacy.  This area is overused, and it shows, sites are warn in and if there was room relocating fire pits and allowing some nature to come back would be nice.  I managed to tuck myself into a private alcove of trees on the #1 site, but still was in full view of headlights and people driving in to see if there was space.  The site I had was big enough that I shared it with a couple that had a small child, and they had their own section. 

  There are no service, no water, no electricity, no to little cell coverage.  There is one pit toilet.  

  The access road in is rough, not for normal street cars.

  Did I mention lack of privacy?

  See pics.

• 

  A M.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 18, 2023

  Trout Brook Campground

  Drove there, but didn't stay

  Went there looking for privacy with our dogs to camp overnight. There are about 4 total spots, but only 1 of the four is truly enjoyable/private. It was taken and we didn't want to be that close to the people that were there, so we moved on. So, it's a hit or miss, but I wouldn't travel there again.

• 

  Sarah C.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 6, 2023

  Raven

  Super Impacted

  This site, while in a beautiful spot perched above Cupsuptic Lake, it is so impacted that in the rain it was a literal mud pit. While there was a picnic table to get up off the ground, finding a spot to pitch a tent where water wouldn't puddle would be impossible. We hiked in, but you can paddle into the site just know that the exit/entry to the water is a bit tricky and not as easy as some of the other sites available along the way. 

  There is a large fire pit, also a mess in the down pours. The picnic table is in far better shape here than the one in Eagle Cove (rotting) and Cedar Bay (non-existent). The site is quite small and wouldn't be able to accommodate more than two small tents. I wouldn't make a special trip to stay here.

• 

  Sarah C.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 6, 2023

  Eagle Cove

  Not good in the rain

  We stayed here during a torrential downpour and it was tough to find a spot to pitch the tent that wasn't going to put us in a puddle. The site has very little clear flat area for an established campsite and it took a little bit of strategy to find a spot where we could actually sleep and stay relatively dry given the circumstances.

  This is a waterfront site but there isn't super easy access to the lake, but the view is pretty amazing! There is a rough fire pit that had a stack of wood next to it that was clearly part of an old picnic table. The picnic table that was in the site was, well...let's call it a "living picnic table." It was not in great shape and was actively rotting. We made it work because we had already traveled through the other available sites and they were in worse shape than this one. It did the trick for an evening but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to stay here.

• 

  Sarah C.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 6, 2023

  Smudge Cove

  A Favorite Spot

  This campsite is along the Forest Legacy Trail and while the trail is managed by one entity, the remote campsites are managed by another. The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust maintains the trails in and out while Cupsuptic Campground manages the campsites.

  There is a tent platform at Smudge Cove but it is in desperate need of repair and it sounds like that's in the plans for next summer. There is a nice picnic table available as well as an established fire ring. The site is just off the water and there is a nice long dock that makes it super easy to boat into and unload. You can also backpack in and enjoy some pretty cool Maine forests along the way. There is also relatively easy access to the water by way of the rocks, beside the dock.

  These sites are secluded and offer a lovely amount of privacy and rest assured, the only sounds you will hear at night are the loons!

• 

  GoWhereYouAreDraw N.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 27, 2023

  Rangeley - Stratton Road Camp

  GPS coordinates: 45.004911,-70.578276

  There are three free campsites off Route 16 between Rangeley and Stratton, ME, located on the Dead River. Head northeast out of Rangeley toward Stratton. They are located just after you cross the bridge over the Dead River on the left side of the road. You only need a permit if you plan to have a fire.

• G

  Gary

  Scout

  

  Aug. 17, 2023

  Machias Rips Campsite

  River in Maine

  Great free off grid camping near Canadian border. The other previous reviewers did a great job explaining the campground. The only exception is that we had 4 bars of LTE service (AT&T) which was nice. Camp sites today are very buggy- bring your repellent and/or netting.

• r

  ryan

  Scout

  

  Aug. 13, 2023

  Bull Brook Road: Dispersed Campsite

  Closed

  Closed due to logging

• 

  Chris T.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 5, 2023

  Trout Brook Campground

  Dispersed site with lake access

  Very wooded. Road is passable for most any vehicle. Not larger RV friendly but was comfortable enough to get the 27' foot trailer in. Some fire rings and tables available. Cannot be beat for zero dollars. Posted up to 14 days max. Even an out-house.

• 

  Jillian B.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 13, 2023

  Machias Rips Campsite

  Clean but popular

  Beautiful place. Clean sites. Easy to find and right off rt 9. Seems to be a bathroom pit-stop for travelers on rt 9 due to having the maintained bathroom. So lots of traffic driving in, using the toilet and then driving right back out.

• 

  Nancy W.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 29, 2022

  Upper Gravel Pit - Dispersed

  Nice Views, no Facilities

  Dispersed Gravel Pit This is a large mowed area on top of a gravel pit. There are two fire pits but plenty of room for more than two campers. We drove up in our car before bringing our motorhome because we were a little suspicious of the site and didn’t want to get stuck in an inappropriate place. The gravel pit is located in Little Moose Public Lands on North Road. After the intersection of Big Squaw Road, continue on North Road for another half mile and the pit is on your right. The road to the pit is gravel and bumpy but you don’t need a 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle. The short road up to the camping area is quite steep with somewhat loose rocks. There are no utilities, potable water, restroom, or garbage facilities so bring the water your need and carry out your trash. (There is a dump station at the nearby Moosehead Family Campground.) 

  Basically, it is a wide-open area with two fire pits.  You are permitted to collect downed wood for fires or there are numerous places to purchase bundles in town. The camping area is level and roomy with some pretty views of the surrounding mountains. The best thing about camping here is the easy access to the great hiking in Little Moose Public Lands. Great views are found along the Little Moose Pond Trail for people looking for a decent hike but not too much elevation change (approximately 4.3 miles and 650 feet of elevation change). Or hike up Big Moose Mountain for expansive views of Moosehead Lake and the surrounding mountains (approximately 4.4 and 1,800 feet of elevation change). This campsite is just a few miles from downtown Greenville where you will find a well-stocked large grocery, restaurants, outdoor oufitters, fuel, and a couple of small museums.

• 

  Zachary S.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 23, 2022

  Bull Brook Road: Dispersed Campsite

  Currently closed.

  Well drove all the way out here. And it's closed. Gonna look for something else

• 

  John R.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 20, 2022

  Machias Rips Campsite

  Amazing FREE Camp Site for All Types of Campers!

  This campground is one of my favorites in Maine! Sitting only an hour from Ellsworth and Bangor ME this is a nature lovers dream!

  The dirt road leading to the camp can be easily missed if not paying attention! But is clearly marked with a blue sign at the head of the road. Your GPS might not give you an “exact” location but i promise I found the place with no problem!

  The road has a few pot holes but nothing my stock (Low to the ground) Dodge Caravan couldn’t handle, There is about 4 Sites with river front views and trails leading to the water from each camp. There are also bigger sites for campers and RV’s. There is a site with a wooden protection shelter for tent campers as well!

  New style out houses are on site but other than that it’s completely off grid!

  Most Cell phone carriers won’t have service back at the camp, I myself had to drive 20 Minutes up the road for signal, A cell signal booster may work here. Radio signal is fine tho.

  Great spot to fish and swim! I’ve caught smallmouth bass, chubs and trout in the river so far! (Black and silver Jerk baits work great) The mosquitoes can get bad in the area but fire pits and fires are permitted in the camp and they helped keep me comfortable from bugs!

  There is also a marked trail in the camp that leads deep into the woods, I followed it for about a mile before it got too thick for my interest. Could be the trail that connects to the large pools of water up the river with ADDITIONAL camping there as well.

• 

  Paula C.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 8, 2022

  Cutler Coast Public Land — Cutler Coast Ecological Reserve

  A quiet night

  There were a lot of vehicles in and out to the trailheads, but after dark it was very quiet. We got up at 5am to have the trails to ourselves. It was a peaceful night.

• 

  Paula C.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 8, 2022

  Lazy Tom Bog Primitive Campsite

  Nice and easy stay

  Easy to find. This wasn't a private area, but was easy to find, park and spend an evening. Not far from Kokadjo. A short distance down the dirt roads north of town and known for moose. A few cars in and out checking for moose, but a peaceful night's sleep.

• T

  Tiffany

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 5, 2022

  Cutler Coast Public Land — Cutler Coast Ecological Reserve

  Missing child & mom

  Please keep an eye out and call 911 if seen.

• M

  Michael L.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 4, 2022

  Cutler Coast Public Land — Cutler Coast Ecological Reserve

  Amazing Views

  We stayed at Fairyhead 1 and it was Awesome! The view right outside your tent is Amazing! If you take the coastal trail to get there, you will have to work for it. The trail gets fairly rugged once you get to the coast, but the payoff is worth it!

• 

  Sarah C.

  Legend

  

  Apr. 12, 2022

  Philbrick Landing

  Secluded spot along the NFCT

  This is a small impacted spot along the Dead River along the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT). The site is not easily visible from the river and there is a steep bank you have to navigate to unload and pull your canoe or kayak up for the evening. That being said, it is a nice spot to spend an evening.

  When we were there, there was a small bench and a few stumps that were nice for seating. The campsite is at the end of an old logging road that you can walk down quite a ways. In the summer months, you will find an abundance of blueberries! 

  This is a primitive backcountry site so pack it in, pack it out. And maybe take a few extra pieces of trash with you! There is a large fire ring and a little gravel area we used to cook. There's plenty of flat space for a couple of 2-3 person tents. The stars are beautiful to boot! Definitely bring everything you need with you because there's nothing anywhere around.

• H

  Hannah

  Guide

  

  Sep. 19, 2021

  Bull Brook Road: Dispersed Campsite

  White Mountain Dispersed

  We arrived pretty late on June 22 and got one of the last available spots for the night. There were a number of decently spaced out sites. We drive an e150 and had no trouble getting to the site, and we saw some other vans, along with RVs and tents. Be careful of ticks! We woke up to one in our bed and had to shake everything out. It wasnt an issue in the end but you do need to be aware of them. It was a quiet and peaceful night there otherwise, even with all the other sites full.

• 

  Jean C.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 31, 2021

  Seboeis Public Lands

  Small primitive campground on a large lake

  There's no fee to camp on Seboeis public lands and you can stay up to 14 days. That said, because it’s free and extended(14-day) stays are permitted, it can be hard to snag a drive-in, lakefront site. I returned on 3 consecutive weekdays and the only drive-in sites were occupied by the same campers. 

  There is some slope to the lakefront sites, but there seemed to be relatively level space to pitch a tent. In addition to a couple of drive-in lakefront sites, there is another one where you park on the road and walk down to, also along the waterfront. 

  There are two sites in the‘pit,’ and one of those emptied out the first day I visited, but it wasn’t an appealing area. It is very large and flat, however, so if you have a group or a lot of gear, this may be the best option. If you’re in a tent, be sure to bring a groundcloth to protect the tent, a mattress to cushion your sleep. 

  The other sites are accessible by boat with parking available near the boat launch, but there’s not extensive parking here, so plan to arrive early to ensure you get a spot on busy weekends. There’s a boat ramp with a small dock. Latrines provide toilet facilities. Cell phone coverage(Verizon) is spotty once you turn off the main road, but you may be able to find a place to send texts; you can definitely text from the main road and get intermittent data.

  Activities include boating (can get choppy when it's windy), fishing, hunting, ATV riding.

  The campground is open year round, but you’ll need a snowmobile or skis to get in during the winter. The road starts out paved, then switches into a graded gravel road.

• m

  marcus

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 1, 2021

  Bull Brook Road: Dispersed Campsite

  Beautiful view

  Went for a couple night, was real comfortable and relaxing.

• 

  Sarah C.

  Legend

  

  Apr. 30, 2021

  Long Point — Cutler Coast Ecological Reserve

  Beautiful and it has its own beach!

  This spot is situated right along the Maine coast and has one heck of a view, not to mention a nice gravel beach! While the water is quite cold in Maine any time of the year, the beach is a nice spot to relax in the afternoon sun. Note: the campsites are NOT located on the beach but on the cliffs just above it. 

  While these sites (all 5 of them in the area) were originally designed for a single party (4 individuals or less) this is the one area along the Bold Coast that you could pitch more than a single tent. There are several flat and impacted sites. There is also a bit of a makeshift "wind screen" on the point that a few individuals had their tents pitched behind. I'm sure it makes a bit of difference if the wind is blowing...which on the coast is most of the time. 

  Like the other sites, there is a small wooden "toilet" that consists of: a wooden frame, toilet seat and some hardware cloth wire. These are not pit toilets and the human waste and whatever else folx decide to toss in, simply sit on top of the ground. While enclosed in the hardware cloth, you can see and smell everything that's left behind. Given the popularity of this destination, I have no doubt these get full quickly. Regardless of the poor design, please utilize these "toilets."

  The Bold Coast is a mixture of bogs and wetlands, rocky and craggy coast line and pretty amazing maritime fir forests. The terrain is moderate in difficulty as it undulates, with several amazing overlooks. We did this with our two fit dogs but be advised, this may not be appropriate for all canine friends. 

  The views from this spot won't disappoint and there are several options to hike in and out depending on the amount of time you have. There isn't much fresh water available even in the rainy season, so be prepared to carry in water.

• 

  Sarah C.

  Legend

  

  Apr. 22, 2021

  Machias Rips Campsite

  Not bad for free camping!

  Situated right off of Route 9 between Amherst and Wesley Maine, you can access the Machias River Corridor Public Lands. At this particular location, there are 2 RV sites, 3 tent sites and a lean-to shelter, all situated right on the bank of the river.

  We spent one night here in the lean-to on our way to the Cutler Coast. The lean-to was in decent shape but it's definitely been marked by its visitors and has quite the slope to it. It was large enough for us to pitch our 3 person tent in and it was pretty great to fall asleep to the sounds of the Machias River a stone's throw from our tent. 

  There was a massive fire pit at the lean-to that we didn't utilize. There was also a fair amount of trash in the site, and oddly enough a lot of chewed bubble gum. The sites are spaced out nicely and there's a fair amount of shade to be had. There is also a relatively new and quite clean pit toilet available for use. 

  All in all, it was a great stopping point that set us up well for our early morning departure to get to the Cutler Coast. I would certainly stay here again if I were in the area.

• 

  Sarah C.

  Legend

  

  Apr. 22, 2021

  Cutler Coast Public Land — Cutler Coast Ecological Reserve

  Fairy Head Campsite- 4 Stars for the Site itself but 5 stars for the views

  Hiking along the Cutler Coast is a unique opportunity that if you get the chance to explore, you absolutely should. There are only 5 campsites total available along the Cutler Coast, 3 of them are at the Fairy Head. We approached the area via the Inland Trail, about a 5.5 mile hike from the trial head (trail signs are inaccurate, they don't account for the recent re-route). From this direction, sites were a little challenging to find but we managed. Just be aware that these three sites are NOT well marked and you have to hike up a wooden ladder to get to at least 2 of the 3. There isn't much fresh water around either, so we hiked in enough for dinner and breakfast the following day.

  The site we stayed in, site 1 (at least we think it's site 1) was perched on a beautiful cliff top in the trees. The area is very small and fitting anything larger than a 4 person tent might be difficult (we had a 3 person). While there was a make-shift fire ring, fires are NOT allowed in the public land reserve here. Sites also have very rudimentary privies but these are not pit toilets, far from it. They are quite pathetic and gross consisting of a toilet seat sitting on a wooden frame, caged in by hardware wire. You can see everything and the odor isn't masked at all. I'm not sure why this design is in use. Not to mention that folx can't be bothered to pack out their trash. 

  This site gets hit by first light and you can watch the sun rise right out of your tent just by sitting up in your sleeping bag. The views are incredible but these are very high impacted sites. There was a sheet of paper completely full at the trail head that serves as a register for folx to sign in, in order to avoid hiking in and not finding a site. We scrounged up a sheet of paper from our car and put it on the clipboard for folx to use. It was an old Amazon receipt but it's all we had. I was hesitant to put where we were camping exactly just for security reasons as two female hikers. But it was helpful to see that there was space for us when we arrived. 

  All in all, it was a beautiful night!

• 

  Sarah C.

  Legend

  

  Feb. 1, 2021

  Mosquito Rips

  Another Moose Bow Loop Camping Option

  Another small site at one of the rapids on the Moose River. Depending on the water level and your skill, you can paddle the rapid or line your boat. We chose to line given we were traveling with our dogs. Depending on your plans, this site may be a good stopping point for the day. The site is small and impacted but has a nice picnic table, fire pit and outhouse. It isn’t the best site along the Moose Bow Loop but it fits the bill if you just need a place to sleep for the night and isn’t already occupied.

  Note: you need a fire permit in order to have a fire. You can obtain a permit at the Fire Department in the town of Jackman.

• 

  Shari G.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 31, 2019

  Cutler Coast Public Land — Cutler Coast Ecological Reserve

  Gorgeous Coastal Backpacking along the Gulf of Maine

  The coast of Maine offers very few places for overnight backpacking or even just seaside hiking. The Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land is one great option. The length of the hiking trails makes this the ideal, weekend getaway location for a two-night campout– just get there early. The sites are few in number, small and difficult to get to, but oh-so-worth-it! 

  As backcountry sites, there are no picnic tables or fire rings, but each has a clean and convenient composting toilet with a stunning view of the Gulf of Maine.  Each campsite is located close to a freshwater source and a few are within site of a small pebble beach– perfect for swimming if you don’t mind the chilly water.  But, come prepared for bugs -- mosquitoes and black flies are impressive in the late spring and summer!   And, the trails can be quite muddy and soggy.  There is a price for this much beauty in one place!

  Located 16 miles east of East Machias, the closest town with gas and a convenience store. Five miles further west along route 1 the town of Machias offers a wider selection of restaurants, farmers markets and grocery stores.