Pine State News

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) reported that Maine State Parks received 3.12 million visitors in 2024. This marks the third time in four years that visitation exceeded three million, with a 6.5% increase over 2023 figures. Day-use visitation rose by 7.3%, while camping attendance experienced a slight decrease of 0.8%, partly due to the early closure of Cobscook Bay State Park for construction work.

Among park-specific trends, Reid State Park saw an 18% increase in attendance, whereas Popham Beach State Park had a 7% decline, likely caused by beach erosion from January storms.

The BPL has announced the opening dates for the 2025 campground reservations: February 3 and February 6 at 9:00 AM EST. Reservations can be made online at CampWithME.com or by contacting parks directly for group camping and picnic shelter bookings.

Maine State Parks provide various outdoor activities across more than 30 parks and historic sites, including hiking, camping, water sports, winter sports like snowshoeing and ice fishing, wildlife watching, and cultural events.

For more information about planning a visit to Maine State Parks, individuals can access CampWithME.com or contact Jim Britt via email at Jim.Britt@maine.gov.