The campground at the Desert of Maine has recently been renovated so it lives up to its magical surroundings. This quiet and luxurious campground is nestled in among tall Northern Pine trees, on the edge of the dunes. It is close to Freeport and Portland but it feels like it is a world away from everything. We have a variety of luxury cabins and glamping tents to choose from.
Accommodations
Choose from one of our three different sizes and styles of cabins and enjoy a luxurious experience with all the essentials included. Or get a little cozy with nature and opt for one of our two glamping tents.
All Stays Include:
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Bed linens, blankets, pillows
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Hand and bath towels
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Keurig, electric kettle, coffee pods, tea, sweeteners, and creamers
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Mini fridge
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Fan and heater (depending on time of year)
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Electricity & Wifi
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Private outdoor seating area with adirondack chairs and fire pit
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EO Bath products in cabins with showers and our communal bath house
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1 designated parking spot at or near your site (note that more secluded sites have a short walk to and from your parking spot)
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Self-service camp store available 24x7 to purchase bundled firewood, ice cream, snacks, drinks, ice, and other essentials. Credit cards, cash, and ApplePay/GooglePay accepted
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Microwave available for guest use in the camp store
Add-Ons
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Dog-friendly! $20 per night per dog, up to 2 dogs
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Free early check in available when requested in advance
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Late checkout: $25 for 11am, $50 for 12pm
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Up to 2 additional people : $20 per night
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Special Requests
On-Site Fun
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Recently renovated bath house with cedar-clad restrooms and 3 individually locking shower rooms
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Lawn games (cornhole, jenga, bocce, horseshoes, connect 4)!
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Enjoy 15% off general admission to the Desert of Maine and 15% off at our mini golf course
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Stroll the dunes after hours, hike the trail around the dunes, or stargaze at night
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Play on our one-of-a-kind natural playground
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Indulge in ice cream, hot dogs, and snacks at the Oasis Snack Bar
Image Gallery
Know Before You Go
What to bring, guest expectations, and policies
Packing List
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Layers: Maine can be chilly at night, even in the summer. Check the weather before you come and bring an extra layer, extra blankets, cozy socks etc. if needed.
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Flashlight or lantern - great to have if you want to go for a night walk on the dunes
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Outdoor cookware - if you want to cook over the fire pit, bring your own pots and pans
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Snackies and food: Our Camp Store has essentials (drinks, smores kits, granola), and our Snack Bar serves hot dogs and ice cream, but plan your getaway meals accordingly!
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Toiletries - While we provide EO bath products in the cabins and bath house showers, we get it that having your own stuff is sometimes a must.
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Entertainment - games, books, cards, journals, etc!
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Chargers - We provide electrical outlets but not chargers
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A compass in case you get lost in the desert
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Bear spray (just kidding, there are no bears)
Guidelines & Policies
CHECK IN / CHECK OUT: Check in time is from 3pm to 10pm, check out time is 10am, unless early check in or late check out have been arranged. Check in and check out are contactless and self-serve. All instructions are sent electronically.
AGE RESTRICTIONS: Reservations will not be issued to anyone under 21 years of age.
QUIET TIME: We want to maintain a quiet, serene campground; quiet hours are from 10pm-8am.
DOGS: We allow dogs, and they must be registered ($20/night per dog, max is 2 per site), ADA-designated service dogs are exempted from the nightly fee. Please keep dogs leashed, clean up after them, and never leave them unattended. Other types of pets are not allowed. Guests who bring other types of pets may be asked to leave without a refund.
SMOKING & ALCOHOL: Smoking or vaping of any kind is not permitted on the premises. The Desert of Maine is a tobacco-free and smoke-free campus. Alcohol is permitted within assigned sites for guests of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly; guests who do not will be asked to leave.
CLEANING: Daily housekeeping services are not included in the rental rate. Fresh towels and other cabin supplies can be requested as needed.
FIREARMS: Firearms are prohibited on the premises. Fireworks are prohibited on the premises.
CANCELLATION: Cancellations made prior to 14 days in advance of your stay (3pm the day your reservation begins) will receive a full refund. Cancellations made less than 14 days before the beginning of the stay will not receive a refund regardless of weather or other circumstances. Requests to change the reservation dates within 14 days of your original arrival date (e.g., shortening your stay or shifting the arrival date) will be at the discretion of the Desert of Maine.
Our Area
Freeport
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Things to do in Freeport: Shops in Freeport, including LL Bean flagship store and outlets
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Freeport restaurants and breweries: Maine Beer Company, Mast Landing Brewing Company, Nighthawks Kitchen, Tuscan Brick Oven Bistro
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Places to explore near Freeport: Wolfe's Neck Center, Bradbury Mountain State Park
Portland
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Things to do in Portland: Stroll through the Portland Old Port, visit the Portland Museum of Art
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Portland restaurants and breweries: There are so many great options in Portland, you can't go wrong!
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Places to explore near Portland: Portland Head Light and Fort Williams Park, Two Lights State Park, Mackworth Island, Peaks Island
Campground FAQ
RESERVATIONS
Do you allow seasonal camping or reservations for someone to stay the entire season?
No, our longest stay someone can book with us is for 7 days.
Do you allow winter or year-round rentals?
Our camping season is May through October!
Where do I check in for my reservation?
Our campground is self-serve. You can head directly to your site anytime after 3pm on the day of your reservation. You do not need to stop at our Welcome Center to check in or check out. If you have questions or concerns about your reservation, message us or called 207-250-2550 ext 3.
Can I request an early check in or a late check out?
In most cases we can accommodate these requests. We will send you a link to request early check in prior to your arrival, and we will message you when your tent/cabin is ready. Late checkout is available for a small fee, and we also send a link to request this after you have made your reservation.
Do you accommodate reservations for groups for multiple cabins or glamping tents?
Each type of cabin and glamping tent has a maximum occupancy based on comfort and space, however, you can book multiple sites by making multiple reservations. Please be aware that we take our quiet hours seriously here (10pm-8am), and while we love to have a good time, we want all of our guests to be able to come here, fully relax, and enjoy some peace and quiet, which includes being able to fall asleep and stay asleep without interference! We may not be the best fit for every type of group.
Will I be refunded if I cancel my reservation?
Cancellations made prior to 14 days in advance of your stay (3:00 pm the day your reservation begins) will receive a full refund. Cancellations made less than 14 days before the beginning of the stay will not receive a refund regardless of weather or other circumstances. Changes to the reservation dates within 14 days of your arrival (eg. shortening your stay or shifting the arrival date later) will be at the discretion of the Desert of Maine.
CAMPGROUND INFO
Are the cabins accessible?
Our Haven cabins #17 and #5 are accessible, including an accessible entrance, kitchenette, layout, and bathroom. One of our Luxe tents, #13 includes a ramp for entry and has a very spacious layout, though guests must use our shared bath house, which is not fully accessible. The Cozy and Escape cabins do not have an accessible entrance or layout. Each requires going up several steps to get into the cabin. The Cozy cabin, as it is named, is quite small on the inside, and also requires guests to use the nearby bath house. The Escape cabins are more spacious and each have a toilet and sink.
Is the bath house accessible?
The original structure of the bath house is several decades old and the dimensions of individual restroom stalls in the bath house do not meet ADA guidelines. The private showers require a step up and down to enter and exit. Each shower has grab bars, a portable stool, and a detachable sprayer.
Is there a dump station in the campground?
No, there is not.
If I stay in the campground, can I explore the dunes and play mini golf too? What about the playground?
Our campground guests receive a 15% discount on general admission and mini golf tickets during our operating hours. You will be given a coupon code at the time of your reservation, along with other information about visiting and accessing the Desert of Maine. In addition, campground guests are invited to stroll the dunes after 6pm for free. Access to the playground is always free.
Do you have spots for trailers, personal tents, and RVs?
We no longer have spots for guests to set up their own tents, trailers, or RVs. As of the 2024 season, our campground solely provides cabins and glamping tents.
Do all glamping tents and cabins have WiFi?
Yes, the campground has excellent WiFi.
What is the “Camp Store” and what are its hours?
Our Camp Store is a self-serve store in our campground where our guests can buy firewood, ice, small snacks, and other essentials. The Camp Store is open 24/7 and has both a self-checkout kiosk that accepts credit cards and cash.
POLICIES
Are pets allowed in the campground?
We allow dogs in the campground, but other types of pets are not permitted. If you do bring a dog, please help us in keeping barking to a minimum, and please make sure to clean up after your dogs. There is a $20 per night fee per dog that is included in the booking process.
Can I bring my own firewood?
If you are bringing properly treated wood from within the state of Maine then yes. In Maine, you are not allowed to bring in firewood from out of state. Bundled firewood, fire starters, and matches are available for purchase at our self-serve camp store.
How many cars can park at each campsite?
Our campsites can only accommodate one car per site. If you have a second car, please park it in our lower parking lot (the lot that you drive through on your way into the campground).
I have a question that is not listed here, how do I get in touch with the campground office?
We do not have a physical campground office. Our Welcome Center on site operates provides information primarily for our tourist attraction and mini golf. If you want more information about the campground, email stay@desertofmaine.com or call 207-250-2550 ext 3.