Island Camping on Maine’s Midcoast
Orr’s Island Campground sits on one of the long, narrow islands that make up the town of Harpswell, a collection of peninsulas and islands that reach south from Brunswick into Casco Bay. With about 40 sites on a wooded property connected to the mainland by bridge, it offers a small-campground coastal experience within easy reach of Portland, Bath, and the entire midcoast region.
The Harpswell islands have a character distinct from the rest of the Maine coast. They are residential and unhurried, with winding roads past shingled cottages, lobster wharves, and rocky shoreline. Orr’s Island connects via bridge to Bailey Island, where the Giant’s Stairs trail walks you along some of the most dramatic coastal rock formations in southern Maine. The whole area feels like an older, quieter version of coastal Maine that the busier tourist towns have left behind.
The campground is modest in scale, which is exactly the point. With 40 sites, you know your neighbors by sight if not by name, and the evening atmosphere is campfire conversations and the sound of the ocean rather than amplified music and generator hum.
The Campground
The approximately 40 sites include tent sites in the wooded interior and sites with water and electric hookups for RVs and trailers. The campground occupies a wooded lot with mixed spruce, pine, and hardwood providing shade and privacy between sites. The property does not sit directly on the ocean, but the island is narrow enough that saltwater is never far away.
Sites have fire rings and picnic tables. Facilities include a bathhouse with hot showers and flush toilets, a small camp store with firewood, ice, and basics, a dump station, and a playground. The campground is well-maintained and family-run, with the attention to detail that comes from owners who live on the property.
The atmosphere is relaxed and family-oriented. This is not a resort campground with organized activities and entertainment schedules. The entertainment is the island itself: walking the shores, paddling the coves, exploring the tidepools, and watching the lobster boats work the bay.
Use the campground as a base to explore the entire Harpswell peninsula system. Route 123 runs down the main peninsula, and Route 24 takes you through Orr’s and Bailey Islands. Each road ends at water, and the drives are scenic with stops at local lobster pounds, fishing wharves, and rocky viewpoints along the way.
Things to Do
The Giant’s Stairs on Bailey Island is the must-do attraction. A short trail from the road leads to a series of massive natural stone steps carved by the ocean into the basalt shoreline. The formations are dramatic, with the surf crashing into the clefts and crevices below. At low tide, you can climb down onto the rocks and explore tidal pools. At high tide, the spray from waves hitting the cliffs can reach the trail.
Kayaking from the islands gives you access to the complex coastline of Casco Bay. The waters between Orr’s, Bailey, and the smaller islands nearby are protected enough for intermediate paddlers, with rocky coves, seal haul-outs, and working lobster harbors to explore. Guided kayak tours are available from outfitters in the area.
Fishing for striped bass, mackerel, and bluefish is productive from the rocks and from small boats in the channels between the islands. The waters around Harpswell are some of the most productive in Casco Bay.
For a lobster experience, visit one of the local lobster pounds. Cook’s Lobster and Ale House on Bailey Island is a classic, with outdoor dining overlooking the water. Several smaller operations sell live lobsters you can cook back at the campground.
Brunswick, about 15 minutes north, is a college town (home to Bowdoin College) with good restaurants, shops, and the Maine State Music Theatre. Bath, another 15 minutes beyond, has the Maine Maritime Museum and a charming downtown.
The roads on Orr’s and Bailey Islands are narrow, winding, and shared with pedestrians and cyclists. In summer, traffic can back up, especially near the Giant’s Stairs and at the lobster pounds. Drive slowly and be prepared for tight passing situations. Large RVs should be aware of the road width before driving out to Bailey Island.
When to Go
Spring
Opens mid-May. Cool and foggy, but the islands are quiet and the shore birds are active.
Summer
Warmest weather, lobster season in full swing, best conditions for kayaking and swimming. Reserve early for August.
Fall
September is excellent with warm days, cool nights, and fewer visitors. The islands are beautiful in early fall light.
Winter
Campground closes after Columbus Day.
Getting There
From Portland, take I-295 north to Exit 28 for Brunswick. Follow Route 24 south through Brunswick and onto Orr’s Island. The campground is on Route 24. The drive from Portland is about 40 minutes.
From Bangor, take I-95 south to I-295 south and follow signs to the Brunswick exits. Connect to Route 24 south as above. The drive is about two and a half hours.
Drive to the very end of Route 24 on Bailey Island and park at Land’s End. The view from the tip of Bailey Island looks out across the open ocean with Ragged Island visible in the distance. This was poet Edna St. Vincent Millay’s island. On a clear day, the panorama of ocean, islands, and lobster buoys is quintessential Maine. Stop at the gift shop for a coffee and sit on the rocks.
Camping Packing List
- Tent with rain fly (coastal fog and drizzle are common)
- Sleeping bag rated to 40F
- Camp stove and cookware
- Cooler for lobster and seafood from local pounds
- Kayak or paddleboard for island exploring
- Water shoes for rocky shore walking
- Binoculars for seals, ospreys, and eagles
- Rain jacket and warm layers for ocean evenings
- Bug spray for wooded sites
- Camera for the Giant's Stairs and island scenery
FAQ
Is Orr's Island Campground on the ocean?
The campground is on Orr's Island, surrounded by ocean, but the campsite property itself is set back in the woods. The ocean is a short drive or walk from the campground.
How do I get to the Giant's Stairs?
Drive south on Route 24 from the campground, across the bridge to Bailey Island. The Giant's Stairs trailhead is near the southern end of the island, just past the church. Look for a small parking area and trail sign.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, leashed dogs are welcome at the campground. Keep them on leash on island trails and clean up after them.
Can I buy lobster nearby?
Yes. Several lobster pounds operate on Orr's and Bailey Islands during the summer. You can buy live lobsters to cook at your campsite or eat at waterfront restaurants.
Is this campground good for big RVs?
The campground can handle moderate RVs with hookup sites. However, the island roads are narrow and winding. Very large motorhomes should check road conditions and campground restrictions before booking.
