Sleep Under the Stars in MidCoast Maine

The loveliest season of the year for sleeping and stargazing outdoors is finally here. Autumn nights in Maine’s MidCoast are still long and warm, and the sky is brilliantly clear. The summer crowds are gone, the lakes are ‘warmish,’ and you couldn’t choose a better time to play and sleep outside. Here are some of our favorite places for watching the stars overhead. If camping isn’t your thing, watching the Harvest Moon rise from the deck of an oceanfront inn is just as spectacular.

 

Great Places to Camp, Glamp, RV, or Snuggle in a Sleeping Bag

If you want to set up a tent, car camp, or park an RV next to a lake or the ocean, your choice of campgrounds in the MidCoast is terrific. If you’re looking for truly quiet nights under the stars, you can hike, kayak, take a water taxi, or a ferry to some spectacular remote sites.

 

 

 

Classic Maine State Park Campgrounds

For generations, families have come to the MidCoast to camp, play, and toast marshmallows at Maine State Parks. Three parks offer overnight camping in some of the most beautiful locations imaginable. Paddle a canoe at Lake St. George State Park. Enjoy views of Penobscot Bay from Mt. Battie above Camden Hills State Park.

 

Or to experience one of America’s very few offshore state parks, visit Warren Island State Park, near the town of Lincolnville. It can only be reached by water. Visitors can use their own boats or book a local charter to reach the island. With just 12 campsites and several lean-tos, it’s a magical, unforgettably quiet place.

 

 

 

Rocky Coastline and Lakefront Campsites

Many lake and oceanfront campsites offer everything you need to make your stay relaxing. From basic amenities to small stores and kayak or canoe rentals, you’ll find many great campgrounds for tents, car campers, and RVs.

Some of our favorites include Chewonki Campground in Wiscasset with its saltwater pool, Hermit Island Campground in Phippsburg offers, slow-paced island camping, Lake Pemaquid Campground is a favorite for enjoyable lakeside activities, Searsport Shores is a great place to camp and rent a kayak, and the MidCoast Conservancy has cabins, a few campsites, and a yurt in the 1,000 acre Hidden Valley Nature Center. And few places offer as many oceanfront tent sites as Sagadahoc Bay Campground in Georgetown.

 

 

 

The Rustic Luxury of Yurts and Platform Tents

Round hut-like yurts and sturdy platform tents, offer more comfort that a tent you set up yourself, but they still offer outdoor serenity. Stockton Harbor Yurts is a wonderful place for stargazing from its private oceanfront beach with five yurts. This is true glamping with queen-size beds, full baths, and even a French Press. TENTRR has over a dozen platform tent campsites throughout the MidCoast. You’ll find their single campsite retreats in Owls Head, Camden Hills, Sandy Pond in Freedom, North Haven Island, and other idyllic spots. Have a treehouse in mind? The large tree house at Porcupine Creek Camping in Liberty can sleep up to six people with a large deck for watching the stars.

 

 

 

Walking Under the Stars

Over fifty miles of walking trails maintained by the Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust are popular for night excursions under the stars. This vast area in the Damariscotta-Pemaquid region has little to no light or artificial light pollution. No matter what your hiking or stargazing experience level is, you’ll find many options to marvel at the brilliant stars overhead. Some ideal trails are at Salt Bay Farm, Huston Landing, and Bass Rock Preserve on the shore of Muscongus Bay.

 

 

To discover more ways to enjoy the last remnants of summer, read Our Favorite Summer Detours.