Start with a campsite in a naturally beautiful destination, like a National Park or on the outskirts of a scenic hamlet, then strip away all the rugged, hard parts: lugging the gear, eating instant oatmeal, and heeding the call of the wild in the wild. Add luxurious details like beds with fine linens and a hot shower in a ready-made tents or yurt and you’re glamping—outdoor adventure travel’s hottest trend.
Over the years, glamping has become immensely popular for its resort-style accommodations, high-quality amenities, and in some instances, established “glampgrounds” that offer on-site dining, activities, and everything you could need in some of the most sought-out places. Lodging is typically in a safari-inspired canvas tent, the kind that tracks back centuries when monarchs traveled the globe in lavish, palatial tents, or bougie colonizers from Europe and America went on safaris in Africa. These days, you can also getaway in yurts, bell tents, treehouses, and even converted Airstreams or tiny homes.
But it doesn’t always have to be uber-fancy, glamping in its humbler form is ideal for the outdoor-curious who wants to have a camping experience, but doesn’t have all the gear or means necessary to get out and do it. No judgment here. Doesn’t it sound nice to have hot coffee and breakfast delivered to your tent while you gaze out at the jewel-toned blue waters of the Atlantic? Yes, yes it does.
In a coveted adventure hub like Maine, you can do exactly that. With 3,478 miles of coastline (more than California), over 3,000 islands, a vibrant outdoor culture, and one of the most-visited National Parks in the country (Acadia), there’s plenty to see and do—including but not limited to those popular Bar Harbor campgrounds—while glamping in this northern state. Unless you prefer the snowier New England seasons, the best time to visit Maine is from June through September when you can take advantage of outdoor activities like hiking, biking, canoeing or kayaking in warm, sunny weather and enjoy a bounty of locally-grown food. Do it all from one of these top-notch glampsites in Maine.
The 12 Best Maine Glamping Spots
Under Canvas — Acadia National Park, ME
Vibe: Rocky Coast Luxury
Fewer things are more quintessentially Maine than a waterfront campsite in Acadia National Park. These safari-inspired canvas tents offer a cozy, upscale shelter with ocean views on 100 acres of private land, all within 30 minutes of downtown Bar Harbor and the coastal hiking and biking trails of Mount Desert Island. Catch one the nation’s first sunrise on Cadillac Mountain and try to plan your visits to Acadia National Park during non-peak hours to avoid crowds and degradation.
Rate: $272/night
Fortland — House Island, ME
Vibe: Island Time
Located in the watery heart of Casco Bay on House Island is Fortland, a unique glamping destination set in the restored civil war-era Fort Scammel, just a few minutes from Portland by boat. Way cooler than the average Maine campground (although, we love those too), visitors can choose between a yurt or a safari canvas tent with private beach access and all the amenities you need to relax— island style.
Rate: $450/night
Acadia Yurts — Acadia National Park, ME
Vibe: Home Sweet Yurt
Brightly-colored with a spacious interior that can sleep up to six glampers, Acadia Yurts has all the glamping amenities you need to feel at home without the ultra-luxe feel. Nestled in a wooded area on Mount Desert Island within Acadia National Park, it gives you easy access to hiking trails and is a short drive to downtown Bar Harbor.
Rate: $179/night
Terramor Outdoor Resort — Bar Harbor, ME
Vibe: Get Cozy
Terramor has five different types of stylish and inviting safari canvas tents to choose from, all built to withstand any of Maine’s harsh weather conditions, so you can feel totally at ease come rain or shine. There’s on-site dining for meals plus, electricity, heat, and WiFi in each glamping tent, complete with a screened-in porch to keep comfort in and pests out. When you’re ready to venture out of this peaceful seclusion, Acadia’s trails and the bustling downtown of Bar Harbor are only minutes away.
Rate: $350/night
Tops'l Farm — Waldoboro, ME
Vibe: Curated Camping
You might just be at one of the most idyllic campgrounds in Maine’s Midcoast when you stay in Tops’l Farm’s tiny wooden A-Frame cabins.The camp and farm retreat is open only for select weekends from May to October to provide guests with a one-of-a-kind stay that includes elevated picnics and barn dinners on the property prepared with local ingredients. Kick it at the cabin, meander around the woods, or head to the nearby coastal waters to paddle, swim, or beach it.
Rate: $800/weekend
Sandy Pines Campground — Kennebunkport, ME
Vibe: Choose Your Own Glampventure
Yes, you can call a safari-inspired canvas tent home for a few nights at Sandy Pines, but there’s also renovated Airstreams, campers, covered wagons, and upscale cabin rentals to stay in as well. Set back into a secluded wooded area, it’s also remarkably close to downtown Kennebunkport and Goose Rocks Beach, a local beach popular with sunbathers and surfers. Explore the area by day and make s'mores around the fire pit at night.
Rate: $259/night
Huttopia Southern Maine — Sanford, ME
Vibe: Refined and Rustic
Peaceful pine forests, plush king-sized beds, a heated pool, and beautiful sandy beaches. This campground in Maine gives glampers the best of both worlds, making it easy to be totally immersed in nature without having to sacrifice some of the finer things. This established “glampground” also offers daily activities, freshly-made meals, and of course, a canvas tent with fluffy pillows to rest your head on every night.
Rate: $105/night
Point Sebago — Casco, ME
Vibe: Two Beds, One Tent
Go ahead and enjoy a little bit of luxury in one of Point Sebago’s fully-furnished canvas tents. Complete with a king-size bed and bunk beds, a small private bathroom, kitchenette and (gasp) an electric fireplace for ultra cozy camp vibes, they also feature a spacious outdoor deck with a grill for the camp cooks among us. Gather around a communal campfire at night to hang out for some stargazing before heading back to camp — just make sure you call top bunk first.
Rate: $150/night
Turner Farm — North Haven, ME
Vibe: Coastal Farm Retreat
Get a laidback glamping experience with big ocean views at Turner Farm’s picturesque Tentrr site. To get there, take an hour-long ferry ride from the iconic seaside town of Rockland to your glampsite on the island of North Haven. There might not be any breakfast in bed or daily activity itinerary, but there’s nothing quite like staying on a working island farm off the coast of Maine.
Rate: $129/night
Tree Dwelling — Georgetown, ME
Vibe: Private Island Treehouse
Live out your Lord of the Flies fantasy at the dreamy Seguin Treehouse, tucked away on the Maine Midcoast. Located on a modest island seven miles out to sea, not one, but two separate structures (plus, a wood-fired hot tub) are connected by a rope-plank bridge, with south-facing picture windows that bring the outside in.
Rate: $268/night
Nomad's Rest — Ellsworth, ME
Vibe: Downeast Dreamin’
If geodomes are your thing, there’s no shortage of options in Maine, however, this bright and airy spherical shelter makes the top of the list for more than just its close proximity to Acadia. Inside, the spacious interior is cozy with clean, modern furnishings and a large wraparound deck for views of Branch Lake and the mountains of Acadia National Park in the distance. Secluded yet close to it all, it’s the perfect dome to call home in Downeast Maine.
Rate: $200/night
Floating Camp Roam — Bremen, ME
Vibe: Anchors Away
Swap the lakefront canvas tent for a houseboat that’s actually on the water. Camp Roam has a swim ladder and spacious sun deck that encourages you to explore, plus a grill for some seriously epic outdoor dining. A series of windows and portholes allow natural light to stream into the wood-paneled space for an authentic, nautical feel. And if you're feeling a bit sea sick, the charming town of Durham and Runaround Pond Recreation Area is close by for some on-land exploring. If Roam is booked, check out Camp Nomad for another unique houseboat stay.
Rate: $219/night
Published 04-07-2022
