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Camping in Maine: campsites, permits and passes

Camping in Maine starts in one of a few places: Maine State Parks for state park campsites, Recreation.gov for federal campgrounds, or free dispersed camping on National Forest land. Here's where to book each, plus permits, passes and licences.

Most people go to:

State park campsites

Maine state park campgrounds are booked through Maine State Parks ↗. Book as early as you can for summer and holiday weekends, and check each park's page for cabins, yurts, group sites and pet rules.

National parks in Maine

• Acadia National Park

Campgrounds in national parks are booked on Recreation.gov. See every park, monument and historic site in Maine on the National Park Service Maine page ↗.

National forests and free camping

Maine's national forests include White Mountain (part). Developed campgrounds are booked on Recreation.gov (some are first-come, first-served), and most national forest land allows free dispersed camping away from developed sites, usually for up to 14 days. Check the forest's rules and any fire restrictions first.

Permits and lotteries

• Acadia's Cadillac Summit Road has required a vehicle reservation in peak season; check the park's current rules.

Fishing and hunting licences

Licences for Maine are sold by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife ↗, online or at local retailers. Rules and seasons differ by species and water, so check before you go.

Passes

The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at national parks and many federal lands in Maine. State parks usually sell their own day or annual passes; see Maine State Parks.

Best time to camp in Maine

June to mid-October. Peak foliage weekends in late September and October sell out first; black-fly season can affect late spring.

Questions

Packing checklists

Nearby states (Northeast)