Travel Guides
Travel Guides
Go RVing to Libby's Oceanside Campground
Libby's Oceanside Campground is also one of the oldest campgrounds in the country that’s still owned and operated by the same family. Check it out!
Overview
Libby's Oceanside Campground in York, ME offers a spectacular setting with 45 RV sites perched on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Libby’s is also one of the oldest campgrounds in the country that’s still owned and operated by the same family. The campground was established in 1923 by Fred and Lilla Libby. That was back in the days when many people camped in army surplus tents and homemade trailers.
Even a century ago, the campground’s location was so popular that the Libbys wanted to expand their park and expand their business. Today, the 3.5-acre campground co-owned and operated by the Libbys’ grandson, Norm Davidson, who grew up working at the campground with his parents, Archie and Cora Davidson.
Libby’s is open from mid-May to mid-October. However, according to the park’s website, reservations must be made from Sunday to Sunday between June 2 and October 15, unless arriving within 10 days of the arrival date.
Libby’s has 83 campsites, the most sought-after being the 45 grassy campsites that are on the bluff overlooking the water. Each oceanfront campsite has full hookups, cable TV and WiFi, plus a picnic table and fire ring. Most of the other campsites have full hookups as well. Pets are allowed and must be on a leash at all times.
While Libby’s is a great destination simply to relax and enjoy the ocean view, the campground is about a mile away from Long Sands Beach and five minutes away from York Harbor and Short Sands beaches. There’s also historical attractions. York itself is wrapped in history. The town is the second-oldest in Maine, having incorporated in 1652.
York is also just 2.8 miles from the historic Nubble Lighthouse at Cape Neddick, one of the most photographed lighthouses in Maine. Additionally, Libby’s is a short 20-minute drive from the Mt. Agamenticus region, which offers beautiful scenery and more than 40 miles of hiking trails.
Here’s a sample itinerary of things to see and do during a five-day stay at Libby’s:
Day 1
Long Sand Beach
Kick back and relax at Long Sand Beach, which offers one mile of sandy beach with some tide pools and rocky areas. The beach can be very busy in summer with 3,000 to 5,000 visitors daily during the peak summer season. Popular activities include swimming, sunbathing, and surfing.
There is a public restroom facility located at the half way point of the beach and metered parking is available along Long Beach Avenue. Accessible parking and access ramps are located near the bathhouse. Surfing is allowed in “mixed use zones” delineated by orange buoys. Dogs are prohibited from 8:00am to 6:00pm.
Day 2
Explore Historical Sites
Check out York’s historical sites, unique stores and town area. The Old York Historical Society oversees sites and exhibits including “The Old Burying Ground,” with graves going back to the 1690s; a warehouse once owned in part by John Hancock; The Old Gaol, built in 1719; colonial-era houses and a school.
Other attractions in York include The Goldenrod, a candy store and café open that dates back to 1896. Salt-water taffy is made on-site, with more than eight million pieces produced annually. Grain Surfboards is another unique local shop, which makes handmade surfboard using local woods. The store selfs do-it-yourself surfboard kits and also offers workshops to help you craft your own surfboard.
Stonewall Kitchen, a nationally known specialty food company, is also located in York and has a showroom and cafe. Sometime after lunch or in late afternoon, head over to the historic Nubble Lighthouse at Cape Neddick, which was built in 1879. It features a Victorian keeper’s house with gingerbread trim and a lantern with miniature cast-iron lighthouses on its railing.
Day 3
Short Sands Beach
Spend a day relaxing at Short Sands Beach in Ellis Park. This beach is a quarter-mile-long sandy pocket beach tucked between rocky cliffs in the village of York Beach. Short Sands offers public restrooms, seasonal lifeguards, paid parking, a large sandy playground, basketball courts, a gazebo, a large grassy park area, and an old- fashioned arcade.
A promenade walkway runs along the beach and has many conveniently located benches. A summer concert series also takes place at this beach with nearly nightly entertainment. A concert schedule is available here.
Day 4
York's Wild Kingdom
Visit York's Wild Kingdom, New England’s only combination zoo and amusement park. It includes the interactive “Butterfly Kingdom,” animals such as lions, zebras and macaws and an amusement area with mini-golf, bumper cars, and lots of rides for kids.
Day 5
Visit Mt. Agamenticus
Explore the beautiful hiking trails in the Mt. Agamenticus region. The 10,000-acre Mount Agamenticus Conservation Region provides more than 40 miles of hiking trails, with hikes ranging from easy walks through Steedman Woods and across the Wiggly Bridge. A more challenging hike leads to the top of 692-foot Mount Agamenticus, which offers a beautiful view. Some trails are also open to equestrians and ATV enthusiasts.
Final Thoughts
In sum, whether you’re looking to park your RV and enjoy one of the best oceanfront views in Maine or wanting to travel back into Maine’s early history, York is a worthwhile destination, and Libby's Oceanside Campground is a great base camp to enjoy all of these attractions.
