Shore Hills Campground & RV Park

A pretty RV campground for all sizes of motor homes, trailers and campers, but it is especially peaceful for small trailers, pop-ups, tenters, and truck campers that can fit into the small spaces along the river at the back of this park. It is nice and quiet there along the tidal river. We stayed two nights as a ‘training’ trip with our neighbor who just bought a new truck camper—we live just a few miles away in Wiscasset, but felt like we were on a real trip. We liked the nice Rec Room and the pretty trees, soothing river landscape and individualized campsites. The restrooms aren’t too modern; stalls very cramped, but clean. Firewood was expensive given size of bundles. Park is super convenient to lovely Boothbay Harbor and to Wiscasset. We’d definitely go back. Check-in process rather antiquated. Recommend you check out your Space before driving to the end of the Road if you’re parking along the River!

The Check-in staff is very businesslike and, at times, borders on rude. It’s wham, bam thank you maam … next? This place stays busy. It’s a pretty big park with open sections and sections with many trees. Some treed sites are also on the tidal Black River - which has no water at low tide. There is fair spacing between sites, some better than others. There is no privacy in the open area with a bit more in the wooded areas. Not all sites in the open area are satellite friendly, and they don’t seem to know which ones are. We were able to get satellite in site 146. Most sites that we observed are not that level – we had to be satisfied with mostly level. Each site has its own trash can which is nice. They come around each morning to empty your bags which is also nice. They don’t remove and replace the liner in the can so if anything falls out of your trash bag it is left to rot in the bottom (think shrimp shells). So bag your trash with care! Cable worked fine. WII FI did not work at all. Verizon was 4g 2 bars so we were able to use our hot spots.. There was some traffic noise but mostly during the day. They have a shuttle that runs 3 times in/out each day to the harbor. There are 2 and 4 hour free parking spots a couple blocks from the harbor plus pay parking closer in. Several pay lots are available that run anywhere from $7-$20 a day. Obviously, this park is convenient to Boothbay Harbor. There is one way in and one way out so be prepared for lots of traffic! Oh and flies … lots of those boogers! As others have mentioned, it’s cash or check only.

If not for the particularly bad experience I personally had, we probably wouldn't have any issue with this campground. The sites are fine (full hook ups are in the open, while water/electric are in the trees and closer to the water), the location is pretty good, and everything worked as expected. But, unfortunately, their customer service, or lack thereof, is what stands out most about this campground and it is why we will never be back.

They are sticklers for their rules and if you have a cancellation, for any reason, expect your $50 deposit to go down the drain. In our case, in the summer of 2016, I broke my leg just days after mailing in our $50 deposit and well over two weeks before the reservation was to start. As soon as I realized we would not be able to make it, I notified them that we needed to cancel (again, more than two weeks before the beginning of the reservation). Instead of showing any compassion whatsoever, they told me our deposit would be forfeited. When I pressed the issue, they finally allowed us to reschedule our stay for the following summer. Given how other campgrounds handed my situation (with kindness and understanding and going out of their way to make sure we didn't lose our deposits), Shore Hills left a bad taste.

I would understand if we simply changed our mind about where we wanted to go, or waited until the last minute to cancel, but none of those things happened. I was laid up for 12 weeks after my injury and surgery, and I notified them a full two weeks before the reservation was to start. They would have had no problem filling our space. They have one of the harshest reservation policies I've seen in over a year of traveling. Most places don't forfeit your deposit unless you cancel within 24 or 48 hours of the expected start date.... These guys run off with it as soon as you make the reservation and send them the check. They get all the benefit and the customer takes on all the risk.

Additionally, they were simply not friendly. Both times I went into the office, I barely got a "hello." Prior to our arrival, I had read that they offered a shuttle downtown. At check in, I asked about it and the lady just handed me a business card with departure times. No explanation, no friendly conversation, no nothing. I've had friendlier interactions with DMV staff. They don't take credit cards or debit cards, they charge extra fees for random nonsense (washing your car onsite), there are a ton of posted rules and regulations for doing this or that. Everything benefits them and costs their customers. It just seemed like a joyless place.

We won't be back.

Having stayed in many RV camps on the east coast Shore Hills is one of the best. Why. Easy. Great access. Large sites. Close to town. 30 & 50 Amp. Cable TV that actually works. (80 Channels). Quiet. WIFI that works. Good water pressure. Gravel site pad. The park is spotless. There are plenty of trash cans.

The rate includes Good Sam Discount. PLease note They only take cash.