Whatever a gay campground costs, it's worth it. I have been listening to my members talk about the campgrounds they visit up and down the eastern seaboard for years now, and I have almost never heard a truly bad review. Everyone has their favorites. Everyone has a wish list — an amenity they'd love to see, something they think could be done better somewhere — but "I'll never go back there" is almost never part of the conversation. Gay campgrounds, as a category, deliver. They deliver community, they deliver a sense of belonging, they deliver weekends that people talk about for years. Whatever one costs, that's what you're buying, and it's real.
So how much does one actually cost? The honest answer is: it depends on where you go, and the range is wider than you might expect. Day passes at gay campgrounds can run as low as $15. Tent sites can be $20 or $25 a night. Cabin accommodations start around $100 at some places. At Twin Ponds Lodge our day passes run $35 on weekdays and $45 on weekends and holidays, with overnight accommodations ranging from tent sites to fully furnished cabins and glamping tents. We're not the least expensive option out there, and we're not the most expensive either. Our rates reflect the cost of running a 9,000 square foot lodge with a full bar, an indoor pool, a hot tub, a steam room, a sauna, and amenities that take real money to keep going. That's what the day pass buys you access to, every single day you're here.
Here's how I'd think about planning your first visit, wherever you decide to go. If there's a gay campground within a reasonable drive, start with a day pass. It's the lowest commitment and the fastest way to know whether this kind of place is for you — and I'm betting it will be. If you want to stay overnight, tent sites are almost always the most affordable option, but only if you already have the gear. If you don't own a tent, a sleeping bag, and all the rest of it, that low nightly rate starts looking a lot less like a deal once you factor in buying equipment you might never use again. In that case, a cabin is almost always the smarter first move. You show up, your room is ready, and you spend your energy enjoying the weekend instead of figuring out how to stake a rainfly in the dark. At Twin Ponds Lodge our cabins start at $189 on weekdays and $229 on weekends, which includes linens, a TV, a mini fridge, a microwave, and full access to everything in the lodge. If you want something in between — the experience of sleeping under canvas without any of the setup — our Never Tents are worth a look. They're fully outfitted glamping tents with a real queen bed, comfortable mattress, electricity, and plenty of outlets, all set up and waiting for you when you arrive. Starting at $119 on weekdays and $154 on weekends, they're one of my favorite options to recommend to first-timers who aren't sure how they feel about camping.
Before you book anywhere, read the fine print on fees. Campgrounds have real operating costs, and sometimes those costs show up as charges you weren't expecting — parking fees, linen fees, towel fees, activity fees, cleaning fees. None of those are unreasonable on their own, but they can add up quickly and turn a weekend that fit your budget into one that didn't. If you're working with a specific number, go through the website carefully before you commit. At Twin Ponds Lodge we've tried to keep things as simple as possible — your day pass covers access to everything in the lodge, linens and towels are always included, and the only additional fee we charge is a one-time $25 pet cleaning fee if you're bringing a furry travel companion to one of our pet-friendly accommodations. We'd rather you know exactly what you're spending before you get here so you can just relax when you arrive.
But here's something I genuinely believe, as someone who owns one of these places: if you've never been to a gay campground before, go to the one closest to you. Keep it simple for your first trip. The campground down the road from you may not have everything TPL has, but I promise you the community will be there, and the fun absolutely will be. Every gay campground I've heard about has that in common. Once you've had your first experience and caught the bug — and you will catch the bug — then start exploring. Road trip around New England. Try a few different places. Figure out what you love. We'll be here when you're ready to make Maine part of the rotation.
The membership at Twin Ponds Lodge is $40 a year, which is required to visit and keeps this a private, intentional space. Beyond that, what you spend is up to you and how you like to travel. Check our current rates and availability on the website, and reach out
if you have questions. We're easy to talk to.
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