We Toured the Ultimate Glamping Tents at Sandy Pines Campground in Kennebunkport, Maine

Do you love the rustic vibe of wilderness camping but prefer the comfort of a real mattress, the convenience of a mini-fridge, and close proximity to lobster rolls? The “glamping” (shorthand for “glamour camping”) experience at Sandy Pines Campground in Kennebunkport, Maine, just might be your new favorite outdoor vacation destination. Here’s a look at our visit in the summer of 2017 soon after Sandy Pines opened.

Sandy Pines Campground (formerly Salty Acres Campground) has been a Kennebunkport fixture for decades, but it was purchased and revamped by local hoteliers Tim Harrington and Debra Lennon. Offering a range of camping experiences with updated amenities in a prime Maine location, the vintage-inspired and family-friendly Sandy Pines opened in summer 2017 with a polished lodge and general store, heated saltwater pool, and brand-new bathhouses for its 320 sites.

The most buzzed-about update, however, is the selection of glamping tents, now available for rent.

Sandy Pines Campground Glamping Tents

The 15 luxe glamping tents at Sandy Pines (some with adjacent kid-friendly 8′ x 8′ tents) were each outfitted by a different local designer and come equipped with a king-size bed, mini-fridge, firepit, and AC.

What’s it look like inside? At a spacious 18 by 24 feet, the canvas-walled “tents” more closely resemble boutique hotel rooms than campsites, with a king-size bed, a seating/dining area, storage space for clothing, a front deck living space, a mini-fridge, and more.

Glamping is having a moment right now, and with Instagram-ready “tents” like these, it’s not hard to see why. But for those who like their camping with the challenge of setting up a tent and zipping into a sleeping bag, Sandy Pines has 100 classic campsites for rent, with (in my humble opinion) the valuable added benefit of brand-spanking-new bathhouses, complete with oversize sinks for washing dishes.

Sandy Pines also offers short-term and long-term RV sites for rent and park-model RV “tiny houses” for sale. Combine these with the tent sites and glamp sites, and you truly have something for every camper. Beyond the on-site fun at Sandy Pines, there’s also all that Kennebunkport, one of the prettiest coastal towns in New England, has to offer. Both Dock Square (including the famous Clam Shack fried clams and lobster rolls) and pristine Goose Rocks Beach are just minutes away.

Would you enjoy staying in a glamping tent, or is classic camping more your style? Let us know! Sandy Pines Campground. 277 Mills Road, Kennebunkport, ME. 207-967-2483; sandypinescamping.com This post was first published in 2017 and has been updated. 

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