The great outdoors is one of the countless reasons why we love Maine. While we celebrate sleeping under the stars, not everyone has all the gear, equipment, or inclination to “rough it” while camping. This is where the term “glamping” comes in: an experience combining “glamorous” and “camping,” complete with luxurious furnished tents or yurts (and many even offer electricity and WiFi) to bring the comforts of the inside out. We’ve highlighted a few of our favorite places in Maine that offer glamping, from a designer campground in Kennebunkport, to a historic island in Casco Bay, to a resort on Mount Desert Island.
Sandy Pines Campground
Kennebunkport, Maine
Sandy Pines Campground offers a whole slew of glamping experiences with designer furnishings, from canvas tents to cottages, A-frame “hideaway huts,” to retro Airstream vans and Wild West-inspired Conestoga wagons, all in a variety of sizes and amenities designed for either couples or whole families. Goose Rocks Beach is just one mile away, and the campground offers a heated saltwater pool, a playground, lawn games, and rentals including bikes, kayaks, paddleboards and more.
Learn more in this excerpt from sandypinescamping.com:
Camping at Sandy Pines Campground offers a relaxing respite in a tranquil part of coastal Kennebunkport, Maine. Tucked into a secluded beach forest, bordered by salt marsh, our setting is enhanced by ocean views and salty breezes. Minutes from Goose Rocks Beach and Dock Square, our Maine campground is the ideal summer vacation destination for those who want to get back to nature.
Open mid-May to mid-October.
Fortland
Fort Scammel, House Island, Portland, Maine
The southern half of House Island, located in the center of Portland’s harbor, is home to Fort Scammel, a fortress constructed in 1808 and used to protect Portland during the War of 1812 and the Civil War. The Portland Press Herald reported on the island’s military history: “Of all the forts in Casco Bay, Fort Scammell is the only one to have been involved in battle. In 1813, soldiers at the fort shot at British privateers who were stealing a private sloop.”
Here you will find Fortland, which opens for luxury camping in both yurts and tents Wednesdays through Mondays from May 27th through October 10th, 2022. According to the website, the experience includes “a boat ride for all guests to and from the island from Bug Light Park Marina in South Portland.”
Learn more about the unique glamping site at fortlandmaine.com.
Terramor Outdoor Resort
Bar Harbor, Mount Desert Island, Maine
This pet-friendly glamping resort on Mount Desert Island describes itself as “a designer hideaway in the woods” and includes a lodge, a pool, hot tub, and even complimentary yoga sessions. The lodge features a bar and lounge area, and offers in-house meals and to-go lunches (which they call “take-and-explore lunches”) for excursions in Acadia National Park. Learn more in this excerpt from terramoroutdoorresort.com:
Your tent is fully equipped to keep comfort in. Each tent is furnished with the Frette linens, Pendleton blankets, towels, and robes. Pour-over coffee, wine glasses and elegant toiletries are provided complimentary. You’ll find electricity and WiFi in each tent along with lanterns to help you navigate to your outdoor fire pit.
Terramor is open for the season May 13 through October 16, 2022.
Other Mount Desert Island area glamping options include Under Canvas and Woods of Eden Glampground.
