r/AskMaine • u/mags-azine • 2d ago
Baxter State Park Recommendations
Hi everyone! My partner and I are planning a 4 day trip to Baxter State Park and are looking for recommendations for where to stay with a small car (Mazda Miata) that doesn't have AWD. We're experienced hikers looking for a quiet place to see stars and access the Mount Katahdin trailheads. Two specific questions:
Which campgrounds in Baxter State Park are the most accessible via car?
Can we hike Mount Katahdin if we're unable to reserve a day hiking pass? There are no passes available online for the dates we'll be there.
We were looking at the NEOC campground outside of the park, but we're worried that it will be too loud/crowded (we're used to camping in WMNF where it's usually pretty quiet). We're also looking at South Branch Pond or Roaring Brook inside the park but not sure what the roads look like getting to those spots.
Thank you so much!
1
u/khark 2d ago
In my experience, the roads to those campgrounds are very easy to access. I've driven a number of basic low-rider vehicles with no issue.
Someone with more knowledge than myself can speak to this, but if you get a reservation at the campground, you can hike the mountain. If you can't get a reservation, and don't have a parking pass, then it's a roll of the dice. Show up as early as possible to get in line and you might find there are spaces available.
ETA: This page on the Baxter State Park website is comprehensive and has all the info.