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.
A look at my 2017 visit to Sandy Pines Campground in Kennebunkport, Maine. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
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 general store carries everything from bug spray and beach towels to s’mores supplies and lobster rolls. Looking to bike, kayak, or paddleboard on vacation? You can rent what you need here. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerThe heated saltwater pool adjoins the Kids Kamp play area, where you’ll find classic board games, arts and craft offerings, and more. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
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.
Sandy Pines is home to 15 luxury glamping tents, each outfitted by a different local designer in styles ranging from nautical to whimsical to bohemian to rustic. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker“Nautical Nights” by Chatfield Design. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker“Coastal Comfort” by Huffard House. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
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.
“Coastal Comfort” by Huffard House. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker“Nomad: A Bohemian Retreat” by Antiques on Nine. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker“Base Camp” by Krista Stokes. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerThe inside of this kids’ tent (part of the “Base Camp” tent) was designed by Daytrip Society, a popular downtown Kennebunkport boutique. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
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.
Each of Sandy Pines’ 100 classic campsites comes with a picnic table and a new grill/fire pit. Pictured here: a site in the Salt Marsh section of the campground. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
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.
Goose Rocks Beach is just a few minutes’ drive from Sandy Pines Campground. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
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.comThis post was first published in 2017 and has been updated.
Aimee Tucker is Yankee Magazine’s Home Editor and the Senior Digital Editor of NewEngland.com. A lifelong New Englander and Yankee contributor since 2010, Aimee has written columns devoted to history, foliage, retro food, and architecture, and regularly shares her experiences in New England travel, home, and gardening. Her most memorable Yankee experiences to date include meeting Stephen King, singing along to a James Taylor Fourth of July concert at Tanglewood, and taking to the skies in the Hood blimp for an open-air tour of the Massachusetts coastline.
