RV Rentals near Portland, Maine for less

Portland, Maine is the smaller and lesser known Portland city in the US that has been gaining in popularity in recent years amongst young adults and families. With its vibrant restaurant and craft beer scene, and its amazing location on the water and close to fabulous beaches and hiking trails, it’s not difficult to see why. Portland has the quaint charm that New England is famous for with a food and drink industry that’s innovative and pushing the city further and further onto the map. Maine is a camping paradise, and perfectly suited to RVing, while Portland keeps the city close nearby.

Campgrounds and RV Parks near Portland

When it comes to RVing near Portland, most options will be located outside of the city. That being said, they’re also only 13 minutes away! So enjoy your time out in nature while you relax in the mornings and at night, and then explore Portland and its nearby cities during the day from your jumping off base. Bayley’s Camping Resort/a> Bayley’s Camping Resort is located in nearby Scarborough, to the south of Portland, and offers its guests a little bit of everything. The park is pet friendly and supports electric 30-15 and 50 amp, and comes with the full range of basic amenities: showers, restrooms, and laundry facilities. There’s a pool, hot tub, and convenience store on site, and a sandy playground for children near the entrance. In the summer, two trolleys bring guests to local beaches, and on July 4th, the campground is excellently situated for viewing fireworks right overhead! Wassamki Springs If you’re looking to stay as close to Portland’s city center as possible in your RV, then Wassamki Springs is ideal for you. Located just on the edge of Scarborough and Portland, this campground gives you the opportunity to RV along the shores of a peaceful lake for swimming and boating. The park also features a volleyball court, playground, and all the basic amenities (full electric hook-ups, showers/restrooms, and laundry). The site is pet friendly and great for camping with children. Wild Duck Campground & Resort For those that prefer to stay in adults-only parks, Wild Duck Campground & Resort has got you covered. The resort is located in Scarborough Marsh, where you can camp beneath the trees, watch for wildlife in the water, and gather around your personal firepits at night. The site is pet friendly and has a number of hiking trails through its woods, and supports full electric hook-ups. It has showers, restrooms, and laundry facilities, and makes for a great option if you’re looking to camp out in nature.

National Parks and State Parks near Portland

As a coastal New England city, Portland has access to the best of both worlds in terms of outdoor experiences. If you venture outside of the city to the south, the shoreline changes from Portland’s iconic sloping rocks to perfect sand beaches. Drive north, and you’ll find yourself at the foot of mountain trails. Scarborough Beach State Park The beach at Scarborough Beach State Park is that of classic Southern Maine coastline; golden sand for sunbathing and relaxing, and steady blue waves that are perfect for surfing. With a snack shack, plus food and ice cream trucks on the grounds seasonally, it’s no wonder that it’s considered to be one of Maine’s best beaches. Also on the grounds of the park to explore are marsh trails, and in the offseason the park allows for dogs to accompany you on your walks. Bradbury Mountain State Park To the north of Portland, in the small town of Pownal, is Bradbury Mountain State Park. Here, you’ll find numerous hiking trails, picnic tables for lunch, and fire pits for tent camping. The pet friendly, woodland park is gorgeous New England outdoors, and the summit of the mountain trail brings you to a grand rocky overlook to take in the sweeping views from. Although the woods are lovely in all seasons, visit in mid-October for peak fall foliage, and make sure to hike to the top of Bradbury Mountain to see Maine in all of its autumnal glory.

Portland Attractions

Portland is a great place to visit for families and for craft beer enthusiasts. Its proximity to wooded state parks and beautiful beaches makes it a great place to reconnect with nature during the day while its bustling downtown scene will keep you busy all through the night. Fort Williams Park Spend the day at Cape Elizabeth’s idyllic Fort Williams Park, just below Portland and home to its iconic cliffside lighthouse. The grounds of the park cover the ruins of Fort Williams and Goddard Mansion, the stone framework of which has been remarkably preserved over the centuries and sits nestled in the woods upon a tranquil, grassy hill. Elsewhere in the park, visitors can walk along the cliffs and down to the rocky beach, or through grass fields of wildflowers in the spring. Picnic tables and new bbq grills are laid out for visitors to enjoy in the spring, summer, and fall. Palace Playland in Old Orchard Beach From June-September, the beachfront of Old Orchard Beach transforms into a sprawling wonderland of carnival rides and arcade games. Only 25 minutes from Portland center, the arcade itself is over 24,000 square feet in size and houses over 250 games. The adjourning fair is a bonafide amusement park right on the beach— in fact, it's the only beachfront amusement park in all of New England! The cherry on top is the park’s fireworks show, which occurs every Thursday night throughout the entire season. Palace Playground and the beautiful water of Old Orchard Beach are an amazing day-trip for the entire family from Portland. Enjoy a factory tour of Allagash Brewing Company Popular craft beer company Allagash has its homebase in Portland, and a visit to its factory is a must-do for any beer lovers visiting the area. In fact, if you’re a craft beer fan (or even just a casual drinker of beer in general), then you’ve definitely come to the right place. Portland has become a hub for microbreweries in the last decade, with rising stars like Shipyard Brewing Company and Rising Tide Brewing Company also claiming the city as their home. To experience some incredible international beers in a wholly unique establishment, venture off the beaten path to Novare Res Bier Café. Novare Res is located in a renovated grouping of horse stables and features a rotating collection of international craft imports in addition to local favorites. As always, make sure to drink responsibly.

Events in Portland

Portland is a top foodie destination in addition to its craft beer scene. With numerous festivals occurring throughout the year in celebration of Portland’s cuisine, you’re bound to always arrive at a time when the festivities are occurring! Maine Restaurant Weekl Each year in March, many of the restaurants of Portland participate in Maine Restaurant Week. During this time, specially priced menus featuring multiple courses (and wine pairings) are offered by participating vendors for guests to enjoy. Appearances are also made by top chefs and food bloggers. While many cities have their own Restaurant Weeks, Portland’s feels particularly authentic due to the tight knit community within the city. Portland’s Restaurant Week deliberately takes place during March, near the close of winter when many restaurants in tourist towns typically feel off-season squeezes the hardest. To this end, Maine Restaurant Week is also a celebration of the city coming together to give back to its many fabulous bakeries and dining establishments. Portland On Tap Beer Festival Similarly themed, Portland’s On Tap Beer Festival takes place each year in January. During this week, the local breweries and beer gardens of Portland are filled with people, but it’s not entirely for the drinks themselves. In the midst of winter, the community embraces coming together and cozying up indoors with plenty of food and drinks to go around— just for the sake of coming together and supporting local businesses in such a fashion.