Best Campgrounds near Andover, ME
Campgrounds in the Andover, Maine area provide a mix of developed and primitive camping opportunities nestled in western Maine's mountains and forests. Lone Mountain River Front Campground in Andover offers tent, RV, and cabin accommodations with both hookup and primitive riverside sites. South Arm Campground, situated on the shores of Lower Richardson Lake, provides boat-in access and waterfront camping about 8 miles northwest of Andover. Several campgrounds in the area feature sites for both tent and RV camping, with some offering full hookups and others maintaining a more rustic experience.
Most campgrounds in the Andover region operate seasonally from May through September or early October, with peak season during July and August. The area experiences cool mountain weather that can change rapidly, particularly at higher elevations. Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with limited coverage at many campgrounds. Water and electric hookups are available at several facilities, though primitive riverside sites without amenities remain popular for their natural setting. A camper noted that "As most campers know, last summer was about as wet as it gets so mosquito population was a little bothersome. Camp fire wood was also very damp."
Riverside camping represents a distinctive feature of the Andover area experience, with Ellis River access available at Lone Mountain and other waterways accessible from various campgrounds. Campers particularly appreciate the clean facilities and quiet atmosphere at smaller campgrounds like Grafton Notch, where one visitor described it as "a small, fifteen site campground located on the Bear River, and it is immaculate." The proximity to hiking trails, including sections of the Appalachian Trail and Grafton Notch State Park, makes these campgrounds popular bases for outdoor exploration. The area provides good dark sky viewing opportunities for astronomy enthusiasts, with one camper mentioning, "on the one night we saw clear sky I was amazed how a dark sky looks being from Boston area."
