Like most people, I love a good water view campsite. However, I don’t always want to pay the premium price that goes along with those views.
As we planned our route up the Maine coast this summer, I experienced severe sticker shock when looking at campgrounds with waterfront sites. Most sites with views of the water started around $50/night, and went up from there – to well past $100/night. At these prices I was afraid we wouldn’t be able to experience any of those great views without busting the budget.
And then I stumbled across the Winslow Memorial Park and Campground. For $35 a night we were able to secure a waterfront site with a gorgeous view. Perfect!
About Winslow Memorial Park Campground
Winslow Memorial park has 100 sites located on a small parcel of land alongside the picturesque Casco Bay. Some of the sites are tucked back in the forest, while the rest are located on a grassy strip of land with wide open views of the bay.
This is what I would call a “no frills” kind of park. First of all, there are no utility hook-ups at Winslow Memorial — which probably explains the lower price as compared to nearby full-hook up campgrounds.
It’s not completely without services, however, as there is an onsite dump station, free hot showers, and numerous fresh water spigots located around the campground.
Since we have solar panels on our roof, and are experienced dry campers, we didn’t find the lack of hook-ups to be an inconvenience. In fact, we often prefer not to pay for hook-ups that we don’t need.
For those who don’t have solar power, Winslow Memorial allows the use of generators, although they do have strict generator hours that limit use to three two-hour periods each day. This rule seems fair as it allows enough time to charge batteries, while maintaining the peaceful, quiet nature of the park.
Amenities Around the Park
While there is no pool or hot tub, the park does have a small sandy beach for swimming (if you are hearty enough to brave the chilly Maine water).
There is also a boat ramp and two sets of stairs near the waterfront sites that lead down to the rocky shore. We used this area several times during our stay to launch our kayaks.
We paddled around the bay and explored several small islands, including Lanes Island, where we beached on the sandy shore and hiked around the nature preserve.
Aside from water activities, the park also has a large playground for the kids and a pavilion area where they hold free weekly music concerts.
In the area
Winslow Memorial Park is located about a 10 minute drive from downtown Freeport, Maine. Here you will find the famous L.L. Bean Flagship store, along with a variety of other outlet and local shops.
Freeport also has some great restaurants where you can get your lobster fix or indulge in any number of other local culinary delights.
About 20 minutes south of Winslow Memorial Park lies the city of Portland. This mid-size city offers numerous
indoor or outdoor activities including:
- A walk along the working waterfront on Commercial Street, or down the cobblestone streets of Old Port
- A visit to the Portland Museum of Art
- A drive out to the famous Portland Head Lighthouse and Museum
- A tour and tasting at the Shipyard Brewing Company
Coastal Camping for Less
Winslow Memorial Park is a quiet, reasonably priced, city-run campground with gorgeous views of the water. This park is a great choice if you value nature over amenities, and quiet over convenience. We loved our week-long stay here so much that we already booked another week for later in the summer!
