AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Bureau of Parks and Lands Director Andy Cutko announced a slight decline in visitation to Maine State Parks during 2023, with 2.93 million visitors spending time at the bureau’s 48 state parks and historic sites (2.64 million day-use visitors and 291,000 campers).
While visitation fell below the record-breaking years of 2022 and 2021, with 3.28 million and 3.3 million visits, the slight 2023 decrease was attributed to poor weather. Maine State Parks welcomed 319,000 campers in 2022 and 315,000 in 2021. Despite this decrease, BPL anticipates a continued upward trend in visitation.
“The parks are an amazing value, and we thrive because of the talented staff who welcome millions of outdoors enthusiasts who love and care for these treasured places,” said Cutko, according to a news release from the department. “Another and lesser-known contributor to our success are the many partnerships that continue to emerge, such as our work with L.L. Bean, which provides loaned equipment stored in ‘Beach Boxes,’ Maine Cancer Foundation and Impact Melanoma sunscreen dispensers, collaboration with Trail Monster on bike, snowshoe, and running races, and the Portland Museum of Art ‘Art on the Trail’ installations.”
The BPL is infusing $50 million in Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan investments in Maine state parks. Completed projects include improved roads at Sebago Lake, Peaks-Kenney, Camden Hills, Rangeley Lake, and Lily Bay State Park, a renovated bridge at Reid State Park, and numerous equipment purchases. Ongoing architecture and design work includes park entrance stations, washrooms and plumbing improvements, and campsite redesigns.
Maine State Park Camping Reservation Center is scheduled to open Thursday, Feb. 1.
On Feb. 1, starting at 9 a.m., BPL will accept reservations for Lily Bay State Park and Sebago Lake State Park. (The storm date if state offices are closed is Feb. 2.)
On Tuesday, Feb. 6, starting at 9 a.m., BPL will accept reservations for all parks. (The storm date if closed is Feb. 7.)
The BPL Campground Reservation Center accepts phone and online reservations for all 12 Maine State Park campgrounds.
Book camping reservations at CampWithME.com and reach the camping reservation call center by calling 800-332-1501 from a Maine (207) area code, or 207-624-9950. Seasonal reservation call center hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays.
Group campsite and picnic shelter reservations are by phone only and begin Feb. 1. Find park phone lines, instructions, and fees on BPL’s Group Camping and the Group Shelters web pages.
Campers are encouraged to read the Reservation Tips and FAQs before reserving.
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