A Nostalgic Family-Friendly Campground In New England Has A Vintage Carousel, Mini-Golf, And A Beach

At some campgrounds, you're lucky to have a hot shower and a bathroom with flush toilets and fewer than 10 spiders. However, others offer so many luxe amenities, they feel more like amusement parks than campgrounds. Located in Western Maine's forested mountains, about 10 minutes from Waterford and a little over an hour from Portland, Papoose Pond Family Campground and Cabins truly wows guests with outlandish amenities and overall comfort.

For many families, the campground's main highlight is the antique carousel, a portable wood and metal merry-go-round from 1919 with leaping horses and beautifully painted chariots. Guests also have access to an 18-hole mini-golf course, laser tag, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, a baseball field, three playgrounds, and a recreation hall with four pool tables, ping pong, and arcade games.

Like the best-ranked campground in all of America, Papoose Pond has a massive pool — 30 feet by 60 feet – surrounded by sunbeds and places for parents to relax. Possibly the campground's best feature is its location on the banks of Papoose Pond. Here, guests can relax on the half-mile beach (all sand, no rocks), rent kayaks and canoes, swim, and participate in sandcastle building contests and even a cardboard boat race. The campground offers a weekly event schedule packed with old-school camp activities, ranging from tie-dyeing to kids vs. parents capture the flag to movie nights and barbecue beach parties.

Boasting a 4.6 rating on Google, the campground has welcomed guests since the early 1900s and strives to create an environment where families enjoy each other's company and, as cheesy as it sounds, make memories that last a lifetime. "Our family, a group of about 30, goes to Papoose Pond every year on the same weekend and it is such a blast," shared one return guest on Tripadvisor.

One of the ways the campground makes families comfortable is by offering multiple accommodation types, including 180 campsites and 55 cabins. Choose from lakefront campsites with full-hookup capabilities (water, electricity, and sewage), campsites with a private bathroom and outdoor kitchen, or ones with treehouses equipped with four kid-sized beds perfect for sleepovers. A note to pet-owners: although parts of the campground are pet-friendly, not all the sites or areas allow pets.

For those seeking a few more creature comforts, the cabins and park models are a convenient choice. Options range from rustic cabinettes with shared public bathrooms to a four-bedroom cottage overlooking the lake with a screened-in porch, living room, kitchen, cooking-ware, and private bathrooms. If you stay at the cabins, you must add sheets and towels to a list of items you'll want for a quick and easy camping retreat, as only blankets, bedspreads, and pillows are provided by the property.

Papoose Pond Family Campground and Cabins is open during the summer, from the Friday before Memorial Day to Columbus Day. It's divided between the "pond side" and the "pool side," with Route 118 cutting through the middle. Generally speaking, the pool side is quieter and less crowded because a lot of the outdoor activities happen by the lake. It's worth noting that although the quiet hours are from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., the campground isn't a completely silent getaway in nature — after all, it's a family destination with lots of kids.

You could spend your entire trip at the campground without getting bored once, but the surrounding area is also a treasure trove of activities. Head to Deepwood Farm to ride their horses through the foothills of the White Mountains, or check out the shops and restaurants in Norway, about 10 minutes from the campground. Highlights include Norway Brewing Company — don't miss the weekly trivia night — and the live music and entertainment at 290 Maine St., a gastro pub with incredible lobster rolls and huge appetizers.

If Papoose Pond Family Campground and Cabins is fully booked, consider a stay at Sandy Pines Campground in Kennebunkport, Maine, a beautiful East Coast Beach town about 35 minutes south of Portland. This campground has a similar family-friendly atmosphere and fully delivers the Maine camping experience; however, it leans into the shabby chic aesthetic with picture-perfect glamping tents, a glass house, and a Conestoga wagon.