Are you a loner? An active family? These are our favorite camping spots in New England, depending on what you like.

There are thousands of places to camp in New England. There are campgrounds surrounded by forests and mountains, and along rivers, lakes, and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. There are remote, secluded sites and amenity-filled, action-packed resort campgrounds — and everything in between. In other words, there’s something for everyone. Here are some favorite spots to check out in New England — depending, of course, on what you like.

For families who like a lot of action

Beach games, arts and crafts, parties, contests, pickleball, bingo, live music, and more, Point Sebago Campground in Maine screams fun, fun, fun! Set on 775 acres along Sebago Lake, there are a variety of accommodations and amenities galore at this bustling campground, located about two hours from Boston. Cabins and cottages sleep four to six people, and have living rooms, full kitchens, and outdoor seating areas. Glamping tents and tiny homes have small kitchenettes. There are also 100 RV and tent sites. Settle in and then join the party. There’s a large sandy beach, pool, beach games, and an 18-hole golf course. Not into cooking on your vacation? No worries: There are two restaurants serving casual American fare, two indoor lounges, a Tiki Bar, a snack bar, and an ice cream shop. Of course, the lake, one of Maine’s largest, is the big draw. There’s a marina where you can rent boats to explore the more than 55 miles of waterways.

Get Starting Point

A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.

Enter Email

Other contenders: Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Glen Ellis, N.H., set along the Saco and Ellis rivers, has a large waterpark, two additional swimming pools, mini-golf, gem mining, sports courts, and a full calendar of activities. There’s river swimming, fishing, and tubing, also. Normandy Farms Campground in Foxborough has four pools, including an indoor pool, two playgrounds, an art center, arcade, fitness center, sports courts, nature trails, horseback riding, and a farm full of goats, donkeys, lambs, horses, and bunnies. It’s consistently ranked as one of the top campgrounds in New England.

For ocean views

You won’t find better in-your-face water views than at Hermit Island Campground in Phippsburg, Maine, set on a sandy spit of land in the open Atlantic. You can camp amid the sand dunes with surf and sky views, or among the groves of birch and spruce trees. Waterfront sites include some prime spots on Casco Bay, or sites on The Branch, an inlet near Small Point Harbor. This is a slow down and smell the rosa rugosas camping experience, days spent exploring the seven beaches, walking the trails, or canoeing in the surf. At night, get lost in the Milky Way. It’s best for tents or small pop-up trailers (they don’t accept RVs or hard-top travel trailers), and facilities are minimal, but include a snack bar, store, bathrooms with hot showers, and canoe and rowboat rentals. Tip: Bring insect repellent; if it’s been wet, the mosquitoes will be out.

Other contenders: The longstanding, family-owned Searsport Shores Campground in midcoast Maine has some 1,200 feet of ocean shoreline, with spectacular views of picturesque coves, Sears Island, and open ocean. There’s a long stretch of private beach, ocean viewing decks and seating areas, and an oceanfront tenting area. Facilities are top-notch. Horseneck Beach Reservation in Westport juts into Buzzards Bay, with campsites right on the beach or nestled in the dunes. Not much in the way of facilities, but the beaches and water views are big draws.

For solitude (and you need a boat)

If you’re looking for privacy and a lot of peace and quiet, you’ll find it at Green River Reservoir in Hyde Park, Vt. The state park encompasses 5,503 wild and largely undeveloped acres. Paddle the sinewy Green River, covering some 653 acres with 19 miles of shoreline. There are 27 designated campsites along the reservoir, some located a 1- to 2-mile paddle from the launch area located at the southern end of the reservoir. All are primitive and remote, with a fire pit and shared access to an outhouse, and only accessible by boat (only human-powered craft or small boats with electric motors up to 5 mph are allowed). Spend the days paddling, swimming, enjoying the views and the sought-after serenity.

Other contenders: Lake Umbagog State Park, straddling the northern New Hampshire-Maine border, is wild and remote. For ease, you can camp at the base campground with 27 sites, including electrical and water hook-ups. There are even two cabins for rent, a beach area for swimming, a small park store, and canoe and kayak rentals. But for ultimate privacy, rent a boat and paddle to one of the 33 remote campsites scattered around the nearly 11-mile lake. Watch as osprey dive for fish, moose feed in the shallows, and bald eagles soar above. Selden Neck State Park in Lyme, Conn., was once a farm and granite quarry. Today, the 607-acre park, located on an island in the lower Connecticut River, is a lush uninhabited hideaway. There are four primitive (firepits and outhouses) camping areas, accessible only by boat. It’s a great base for exploring the picturesque Connecticut River.

An island unto yourself

It’s just a 10-minute boat ride from Portland, Maine, but when you land at Fortland, you’ll feel worlds away. This rustic chic campground, located on the site of historic 1808 Fort Scammel on House Island in Casco Bay, sits on 16 beautiful acres with spectacular views of Maine’s rocky coastline, pretty coves, islands, lighthouses, and Portland’s skyline. There are seven yurts and tent cabins, with luxury bedding and shared bathrooms. You’ll need to bring coolers full of food, drinks, and ice, but there’s a community kitchen with grills, cooktops, utensils, and cookware. The campground provides boat transportation from South Portland, and overnight parking.

Other contenders: For camping close to home and views of the Boston skyline, check out Peddock’s Island, part of Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park. There are basic tent and yurt sites set on a hill, and composting toilets. Explore Fort Andrew ruins and abandoned military buildings, spend time on the small beach, and walk the island trails. Tip: If you’re a light sleeper, bring earplugs as Logan Airport is close. The Maine Island Trail Association is a 375-mile water trail that connects 227 sites on both private and public lands from the New Hampshire border to the Canadian border. There is camping at several sites, rustic and generally first-come, first-served.