During the warmer months, Maine is an outdoor enthusiasts dream. With rocky rivers, glossy ponds, beautiful beaches, and lovely wooded areas, there is no shortage of places to explore, and the abundant wildlife add to the incredible outdoor expereinces you can have there. Since it’s such an amazing place to expereince the great outdoors, we highly recommend RV camping in Maine.
All that said, it’s always good to head into any RV camping trip with a plan, and RV camping in Maine is no exception. Therefore, we;ve put together this state travel guide. Use the information below during the planning process and your trip should easily go off without a hitch.
Preparing for RV Camping
First, you’ll need to do a bit of prep work. You’ll need to find a good camper that suits your needs, something that may require you to look for a Maine RV rental. Of course, you’ll also need to pack the RV with all of the camping essentials that make a trip comfortable and fun.
Choosing the Right RV for Your Needs
If you plan on renting a rig for RV camping in Maine, there are some things you’ll want to keep in mind. First, if you aren’t comfortable driving an RV, there is the option of having it delivered. Feel like you would like to drive? We recommend taking a close look at the tow capacity of your vehicle and going with a motorhome if the number is on the low side.
Another factor to consider? The size of the RV. Obviously, you want something that can comfortably sleep your entire party, but when it comes to driving to remote places and parking in many campgrounds, smaller is better. Think about what’s most important to you and decide from here.
Once all those things are settled, you can think about things like floor plan and amenities that are included.
Packing Essentials for a Successful Trip
Anything that isn’t included with your rental (some include basic necessities) will need to be packed by you. Obviously, you’ll need the usual clothing and soap, but you’ll also want to pack things like linens and dishes.
Use the basic list below to begin gathering items for your trip.
- Clothes
- Toiletries
- Medications
- First aid kit
- Bug spray and sunscreen
- Tools
- Entertainment (books, games, movies, toys for kids)
- Outdoor recreation gear
- Electronics and chargers
- Pots, pans, and dishes
- Paper towels
- Groceries
- Flashlights
- Folding chairs
- Bed sheets
- Pillows
- Blankets
- Pet gear
- RV leveling blocks
- Sewer hose and adapter
- Freshwater hose
- RV surge protector
If you need more packing suggestions, be sure to check out this RV packing list.
Considerations for Camping in Maine
It’s always a good idea to find out the rules and laws surrounding RVing in the states you plan to visit. Generally, they are similar from one state to the next, but it never hurts to confirm.
In Maine, the total length of any rig may not exceed 65 feet. Trailers should always be 48 feet or less and motorhomes should stay at or below the 45 foot mark. All rigs should be no more than 8.5 feet wide and 13.5 feet high.
Triple towing (towing one trailer behind another) is not allowed in Maine and passengers may not ride in towed RVs or truck campers. Some state rest areas do allow overnight parking, but be sure to check signage to be sure.
Finding Campgrounds
Clearly, you will need someplace to park your RV once you get to Maine. The good news? There are lots of options throughout the state. From amazing luxury campgrounds to campgrounds set right in the middle of the city to remote campgrounds far from civilization, there truly is something for every type of camper in this beautiful state.
Exploring Public Campgrounds in Maine
Let’s use this first section to talk about public campgrounds in Maine. Typically, these campgrounds are more budget friendly, and often they are set in absolutely gorgeous natural areas. They include state parks, national parks, and more.
National Park Camping
Maine is home to the absolutely stunning Acadia National Park. This park features a dramatic, rocky coastline with tide pools, sea caves, an amazing sandy beach, and hiking trails galore. It is easily one of the best parks in the country, and might just be our favorite park on the east coast.
There are two RV camping camping options in Acadia National Park: Seawall Campground and Schoodic Woods Campground. Both are lovely camping areas, but only Schoodic Woods Campground offers RV hookups. Reservations are available at both campgrounds 60 days out.
National Forest Camping
In addition to the amazing Acadia National Park, Maine also plays host to the wonderful White Mountain National Forest. This forest is home to beautiful mountain scenery, crystal clear lakes and streams, and lots of outdoor recreation opportunities.
As far as camping goes, you have the option of dispersed camping or campground camping. Hastings Campground in Bethel is one national forest campground that we definitely recommend. While you won’t find any hookups here, you will find a wonderful chance to escape into nature.
State Park Camping
Maine state parks are another excellent choice. These parks are set in lovely natural areas that highlight the beat of Maine’s scenery, wildlife, and outdoor recreation.
One of our favorite Maine state parks for RV camping is Aroostook State Park. Not only does the campground in this park provide water and electric hookups, but you’ll also find some beautiful, challenging hikes here, so finding something to do during your visit is a cinch.
Exploring Private Campgrounds and RV Parks
Public campgrounds are great, but they are far from the only option in the state. Maine also plays host to a wide variety of lovely private campgrounds. Here, you’ll find glamping sites, simple, natural campgrounds with little more than a dump station, and everything in between.
One of our favorite private campgrounds in Maine is Fogg Brook Resort. This gorgeous Rv park is just minutes from I-95, making it easy to get anywhere you’d want to go. You’ll have easy access to Moosehead Trail as well as Acadia and Bar Harbor. Amenities at this park include a pool, a golf course, shuffleboard, ping-pong, an onsite restaurant, and more.
We also recommend Balsam Woods Campground, which is located about30 minutes south of Moosehead Lake and within 60 miles of the famous Mt. Katahdin. Visitors to this park enjoy a pool, camp store, and playground.
Boondocking in Maine
Want to wander deep into the wilderness to find a site? Just hoping to save a few bucks? You can do both when you choose boondocking in Maine.
There are a number of great boondocking spots in Maine. These include the primitive camping sites in Flagstaff Lake and Bigelow Preserve Public Lands as well as the primitive sites found on the public lands along the shore of Moosehead Lake.
Get out there and see what other gems you can find in the Maine wilderness!
Researching Campground Options and Making Reservations
Looking for even more excellent options for camping in Maine? Be sure to check out sites like RoverPass, Campspot, BookOutdoors, and The Dyrt for info on sites as well as opportunities to book online. You might also look at Harvest Hosts and Hipcamp if you wish to meet people while staying in interesting places or KOA or Jellystone if you’re taking the kids along.
Planning Your Itinerary
Next, you need to decide what you want to do while in Maine. Obviously, there are tons of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors (and we highly recommend doing so), but you’ll also find awesome historic sites, landmarks, museums, and more. Below are the top things to do in Maine.
Features and Attractions in Maine
Maine is such a beautiful place that it should come as no surprise that it is home to some seriously stunning scenic byways. We recommend driving one of these gorgeous roads to get acquainted with the state. Schoodic National Scenic Byway and Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway are two of our favorites.
Obviously, you’ll also want to include some of Maine’s iconic landmarks in your itinerary. Portland Observatory is a must-see, as is the lovely Victoria Mansion. You might also want to make time to see the Nubble Lighthouse.
National sites are also worth checking out during your time in Maine. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is 100% worth your time, as is a walk along the famous Appalachian Trail.
Festivals, Fairs, and Events in Maine
It’s always fun to add an event to your trip itinerary. Fortunately, Maine has a variety of wonderful events happening throughout the year (especially the warmer months).
Some of the best events in Maine include Maine Restaurant Week in Portland in March, Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland in August, Wilton Blueberry Festival in Wilton in August, and Maine Potato Blossom Festival in Fort Fairfield in summer.
Exploring Outdoor Activities
Have a hankering to head outside? Maine has you covered. Whether you prefer hiking, cycling, rock climbing, kayaking, swimming, or fishing, there is something for you to do in this beautiful state.
Hiking, Biking and Nature Trails
Let’s start by discussing the trails that wind their way throughout Maine. From simple strolls through the woods to hardcore bike rides, we’re betting you easily find a trail that suits your needs.
For hikers and walkers, we recommend the following.
- The Beehive Loop in Acadia National Park – Hard
- Jordan Pond Path in Acadia National Park – Easy
- Gorham Mountain Loop in Acadia National Park – Moderate
- Pleasant Mountain via Ledges Trail in Pleasant Mountain Preserve – Hard
- Scenic Trail Cut-Off and Maiden Cliff Trail in Camden Hills State Park – Moderate
Looking to do some cycling? The trails below will be good for you.
- Eagle Lake Carriage Road Trail in Acadia National Park
- Fore River Sanctuary White Trail in Fore River Sanctuary
- Witch Hole and Pond Carriage Trail to Eagle Lake in Acadia National Park
- Mount Battie Trail in Camden Hills State Park
- Bradbury Mountain Park Boundary Trail in Bradbury Mountain State Park
Want something other than what we’ve listed above? Head over to AllTrails and use their filters to run a search and find trails that suit your style.
Fishing, Boating, and Water Activities
Maine is home to a whole lot of water. Therefore, it only makes sense to use the water to have a bit of fun. From fishing spots to swimming beaches, be sure to enjoy some of Maine’s bodies of waters during your visit.
Anglers will appreciate the huge number of amazing fishing spots in Maine. Belgrade Lakes is located just 10 miles outside of Augusta and offers great fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Meanwhile, Sebago Lake can be found 20 miles outside of Portland and offers fish in the 2-3 pound range.
Want to go for a swim? There are several great beaches that offer swimming, sunbathing, sand play, and more in the state of Maine. One of our favorites is Sandy Beach in Acadia National Park. Longs Sands Beach in York is pretty fantastic as well.
Maine is also home to some pretty great waterfalls. If you were hoping to catch a glimpse of a scenic waterfall during your visit, we recommend heading to Houston Brook Falls where you can take a short hike to see a beautiful cascade.
Wildlife Viewing and Photography
As mentioned before, there is no shortage of wildlife in the state of Maine. In fact, we can’t imagine visiting the state and not seeing some sort of wildlife. While in Maine, you might see otters, moose, foxes, and even black bears.
The state parks and national park already mentioned are great places to look for critters, but Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge and Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge offer even more great wildlife viewing opportunities.
Family-Friendly Activities and Attractions
Bring in the kids along? Great news, there are tons of awesome things for them to see and do. Besides the wonderful outdoor activities mentioned above, they might also like the museums, amusement parks, and other attractions listed below.
Historical Sites and Museums
We love adding a bit of learning to our trips, especially when the kids are in tow. This is super easy to do by visiting places like historic sites and museums.
In Maine, you’ll find history lessons at Saint Croix Island International Historic Site and social studies lessons at the Maine Acadian Culture site. As far as museums go, we highly recommend Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine in Portland, and Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland.
Amusement Park, Zoos, and Wildlife Refuges
Amusement parks provide a wonderful way for the whole family to have a blast together. Why not plan to add one of Maine’s amusement parks to your list of things to do. Funtown Splashtown USA in Saco is a great pick, as is Palace Playland in Old Orchard Beach.
Want even more family fun? Zoos are another attraction that can keep everyone entertained. York’s Wild Kingdom Zoo and Fun Park in the town of York is one of the best in the state. We also love Maine State Aquarium in Boothbay Harbor.
Safety and Preparedness When RV Camping in Maine
Obviously, you will want to stay safe and sound while RV camping in Maine. Generally, this is easy enough to do with a basic first aid kit and some common sense. However, there are a few things you should know about going in.
Weather Conditions and Natural Disaster Preparedness
As far as natural disasters go, the one that is most likely to come up during your visit to Maine is flooding. This usually happens during the spring when snowmelt and rain cause rivers and streams to overflow. That said, it can happen anytime.
To avoid problems with flooding, we recommend parking far from rivers and streams during the spring and when lots of rain is expected. It’s also a good idea to download a weather app with push notifications so you know if a flash flood warning is issued for your area. If this happens and you can drive away safely, do so. If you can’t drive safely, get to higher ground by foot.
Winter weather is also pretty rough in Maine, but we actually recommend against visiting the state during the winter months anyway, so this shouldn’t be a problem.
Wildlife Encounters and Precautions
We’ve mentioned animals in Maine a couple of times. While these creatures are absolutely beautiful to watch from a distance, you do definitely want to make sure you give them their distance. Avoid approaching wild animals and never feed them.
Make plenty of noise when hiking in order to scare bears and carry bear spray while outdoors in case of an animal attack. If you do come face-to-face with a bear, raise your arms to make yourself tall and slowly back away. If a moose charges or chases you, hide behind something solid.
More Inspiration for Your Maine Travels
Obviously, RV camping in Maine is an incredible way to get away. Want even more ideas for things to do? The links below will give you some awesome options to choose from!
