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."

Best Camping Sites Near Andover, Maine (201)

    1. Coos Canyon Campground and Cabins

    19 Reviews
    Byron, ME
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 364-3880

    $30 - $210 / night

    "Nice trail to the river next to our site. Dog friendly. Fun little scavenger hunt for kids of all ages. Short walk over to Coos Canyon rest area with great swim holes."

    "We stayed at the main campground in 2021. The campground was a nice place and the sites are generally under shaded trees and included electric and water."

    2. Grafton Notch Campground

    13 Reviews
    Newry, ME
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 824-2292

    $28 / night

    "This campground is privately owned and is situated in an amazing spot in the mountains of Western Maine."

    "This small, private campground just outside Grafton Notch State Park offers clean, level, quiet sites with hot showers. If you don’t need wi-fi and hook-ups, this is the place for you!"

    3. Mount Blue State Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    Weld, ME
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 585-2347

    $20 - $30 / night

    "Our camp sites were next to each other but also very private. No water or electricity except at the main bathrooms where there are showers, toilets and a dish wash station. Beautiful lake!"

    "Mount Blue is an awesome Maine State Park about 2 hrs. north-west of Portland, 1hr from the White Mts. in NH and 1.5 hours from the Quebec border. "

    4. Stony Brook Recreation and Campground

    9 Reviews
    Newry, ME
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 824-2836

    "Very nice has a pool close to grafton state park"

    "Sites are a little close to each other, but they're very long. Great pool, fun rec room area (we learned how to play shuffleboard!) We were the 2nd tiny house there!"

    5. Base Camp — Umbagog Lake State Park

    13 Reviews
    Errol, NH
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 482-7795

    $45 - $80 / night

    "This campground is right on the lake with access to boating and fishing. The bathrooms are clean and also nice showers. The overall layout of the sites is a little weird as you pull around."

    "In addition, there are a few pit toilets scattered around. Sites are generally small and wooded, but sites 1a-d and 3-4 are open/sunny and near the beach."

    6. Lone Mountain River Front Campground

    3 Reviews
    Andover, ME
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (207) 392-0019

    "This is my 2nd year returning to lone mountain river front camping in Andover Maine. The peace and tranquility here is tough to beat."

    "This location has stunning landscape, but getting there is somewhat difficult. I used a Google map to find the path, but it didn't take me to the exact address I was looking for."

    7. South Arm Campground

    3 Reviews
    Andover, ME
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 364-5155

    "We've been wilderness camping on Lake Richardson with South Arm Campground for many, many years. "

    "There remote campsites along the lake. The campground is very dog friendly and being a dog owner I found that great."

    8. Mollidgewock State Park Campground

    14 Reviews
    Errol, NH
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 482-3373

    $29 - $40 / night

    "Absolutely beautiful positioning next to a river. Clean sites - many covered in grass with wildflowers which were stunning."

    "It is also near Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge where you can view moose and loons galore! I've enjoyed kayaking and photography there. "

    9. Rangeley Lake State Park Campground

    13 Reviews
    Rangeley, ME
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 864-3858

    $20 - $40 / night

    "Access to park amenities like lake and hiking trails. Have camped here in summer (be prepared for bugs) and winter (no services) and enjoyed every visit."

    "The sites closer to the lake have some standing water surrounding the sites. Stayed in 5 and it was super dry."

    10. Bethel Outdoor Adventure and Campground

    6 Reviews
    West Bethel, ME
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 824-4224

    "It is very close to the highway so there there is some traffic noise but not bad. Tents are in a different area."

    "There was a very cool suspension bridge to take you to on a walk to a private island. I definitely plan on visiting again!"

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Recent Reviews near Andover, ME

831 Reviews of 201 Andover Campgrounds


  • Mark W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Aziscoos Valley Camping Area

    Great campground near great fishing

    I've camped here several times (June, July, August, September, and October) over the last couple years--usually at no-hookup sites. Most of the sites get enough sun to keep batteries charged and most of the sites are free of Starlink obstructions. I usually stay there mid-week and it's very quiet.

    It's an easy drive to some of the best trout fishing in Maine and New Hampshire.

    The grounds and facilities are extremely well maintained. The staff is great, and I've met some fabulous people camping there. 

    It's Maine so the blackflies and mosquitoes can be a challenge early in the season. And toward the end of the season, you'll want a vacuum cleaner to deal with the Asian lady beetles that have invaded all of northern New England.

  • Marc D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Crawford Notch Campground

    Beautiful area

    Beautiful campground. Large secluded sites. Forested. Beautiful fall colors. Coin operated showers. Access to nearby trails.

  • R
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Riverside Camping & RV Resort

    Impeccibly Maintained

    Easily one of the most well maintained sites we have visited. The host was attentive and gracious. Beautiful nature trails behind the campground. I found one that lead to a beach by the river, perfect for reading and relaxing.

  • Oksana S.
    Oct. 8, 2025

    Jellystone Park™ Glen Ellis

    Read before booking

    PLEASE READ BEFORE GOING We went to Jellystone Park at in Glen NH. We originally booked from Sunday to thursday. We left on Tuesday due to several issues with the cabin that the office staff refused to fix. Issues we had was 1. Cabin was filthy and had bugs inside. 2. Stove top wasnt working. 3. Fridge smelled so bad I had to wash it with warm water and dish soap. 4. Our cabin reeked like cigarettes to the point I couldn't bath my kids because when the bathroom got steamy the smell got sooo bad. I tried to adress the issues and was told they had a no smoke policy so its not their issue if it smelled because they did their part in putting a policy down. For it being filthy I was told they trust their cleaner so it qas me that made it filthy..(attached is one picture that I have this is just the bathroom on our first day their. Everything was covered in dirt, sand and soo dusty and bugs everywhere). I first spoke to James who yelled and was saying ridiculous excuses as to why its ok. Then the manager(dont remember name but she was older and blonde hair) screamed at me while I had my 2 year old with me. I was telling her calmly and very nice my concerns to which she was yelling to get out of the office. Then I was threatened to have the cops called if I complained again. I lost alot of money I cant afford to loose. But most important I was want to make people aware. I told them the website should state these things to be fair cause if I knew this i wouldn't have paid since they said its normal for stoves not to work and its out of their controll if someone smokes in the cabin. They said no one would stay if they posted those things. I left litterally shaking and crying because I couldn't believe it. They are nice if you dont complain. Discusting customer service horrendous management. Will be reporting everywhere already let my friends know so they dont go next year.

  • Yung H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Coos Canyon Campground and Cabins

    Fantastic

    Its a really cool spot to explore. I went when the water was low and was able to adventure where youre not meant to and man was it a blast.Found my own pride rock(lion king) and was able to meditate in silence and be away from all the boaters and atvs was super peaceful with a water near by. The tent campers around me were really solid people aswell.

  • S
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Crocker Pond

    Beautiful spot!!

    7 campsites in a really beautiful place!! We went in early October and about half the sites were full. It was very peaceful and great hiking nearby!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Jefferson Campground

    Great Mountain Campground

    Nice campground in a beautiful location. This place is a bit off the beaten path of White Mountain tourist areas but is still within easy drive to all the major attractions. We picked this spot for that exact reason. Open field camping in the middle with wooded sites on the edges of the park. I originally chose a site that was a bit too small to properly unhook the trailer but staff helped me get a better location. Site 17 was too tight for 44 ft total length. Switched to site 5 pull through. Some sites face each other for camping with friends. Follow their map to pull in correctly. Staff is excellent and very helpful. Small store on site with necessities and fire wood. FYI Amenities: pool, playground, laundry (affordable) hot showers. Off season so the place was not busy, very quiet. This is on our short list for when we return next year.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Grafton Notch Campground

    Amazing place!

    We stayed here 2 nights in late September. The campground is very neat and tidy with lots of nice touches like flowers and seasonal decorations. The sites are gravel & the paths are covered in wood chips - both make walking cleaner because you are out of the dirt and mud. There is a path to the river and 2 picnic tables by the river. The bathhouse is clean and has a large shower with plenty of places to put your soap, shampoo, etc. There are also lots of hooks in the shower and bathroom for your stuff and the shower has a large bench to sit on as you get dressed. There are 2 dishwashing stations outside the bathhouse. Horseshoes and corn hole are on site and there is a well stocked camp store. Lots of information and brochures on the area. The owner is very kind and personable - I am looking forward to coming back!

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Town Hall Road Dispersed

    Few Solar/Starlink Options

    If all we needed was a campsite with no solar or starlink, this would be 5 star review. Lots of options, great hiking in the area. But if you need solar or starlink, there’s only 1 or 2 viable spots. We were lucky to snag on one a Monday afternoon (last site before turnaround on FR38) and stayed all week.


Guide to Andover

Camping spots near Andover, Maine provide access to some of North America's darkest night skies, with elevations ranging from 700 to 1,000 feet in the region. Mountain weather patterns can change rapidly, with July and August temperatures typically ranging from 50-80°F but capable of dropping into the 40s overnight. The surrounding region features numerous ATV trails connecting directly to several campgrounds.

What to Do

Gold panning adventures: Coos Canyon offers unique prospecting opportunities for campers. "Rent a pan or sluice from the coos canyon rock and gem shop a 3 min walk from the office and pan for gold in the river right from the campground!" notes David B. from Coos Canyon Campground and Cabins.

Waterfall exploration: The region features numerous accessible waterfalls within short driving distances. A visitor at Grafton Notch Campground shares that "Angel Falls was amazing, Coos Canyon is awesome, and the local views are stunning." Several falls offer swimming opportunities during summer months.

Dark sky astronomy: The limited light pollution creates excellent stargazing conditions. Jeffrey S. at Lone Mountain River Front Campground notes, "On the one night we saw clear sky I was amazed how a dark sky looks being from Boston area." Bring binoculars or telescopes to take advantage of these viewing opportunities.

Paddling options: The interconnected waterways provide various difficulty levels for paddlers. "Ellis pond and Webb lake were close and great to take to canoe out. Worth the trip up to rangeley roughly 40 miles from the camp," recommends Matthew H. Many campgrounds rent equipment, and some offer shuttles to facilitate river trips.

What Campers Like

Wildlife viewing: The region hosts diverse wildlife, particularly at dawn and dusk. A visitor to Mount Blue State Park Campground notes, "I would hear loons in the early mornings and go down to watch the sunrise." Moose sightings are possible throughout the area, especially near water sources.

Trailhead proximity: Many Andover area camping locations provide convenient access to hiking networks. A camper at Mount Blue State Park Campground shares that it's "Literally 5 minutes down the road to the turnout for Tumbledown and Little Jackson Mountains. Short drive to Weld and the rest of Mt. Blue State Park hiking and blueberry picking."

Clean facilities: Despite the rustic setting, campgrounds maintain well-kept amenities. A visitor to Grafton Notch Campground praises that "Bathrooms are spacious and spotless. We got lots of great recommendations for hikes and swimming holes." Several campgrounds feature free hot showers, while others use coin operation.

River access: Streamside camping provides both scenic value and recreational opportunities. "Our site was right next to the river and was fantastic," shares a camper about Coos Canyon. Many riverside sites allow direct water access for swimming and fishing without leaving your campsite.

What You Should Know

Cell coverage limitations: Service varies significantly by carrier and location. At Stony Brook Recreation and Campground, a visitor notes "There was no cell service but wifi was available at the office." Many campgrounds provide Wi-Fi access near the main office or store only.

Limited provisioning options: Stock up before arrival as local stores have restricted hours and inventory. In Errol near Mollidgewock State Park, "many places are closed Sundays and Mondays. Make sure you plan ahead!" A small number of campgrounds maintain stores with basic necessities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Andover, ME?

According to TheDyrt.com, Andover, ME offers a wide range of camping options, with 201 campgrounds and RV parks near Andover, ME and 15 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Andover, ME?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Andover, ME is Coos Canyon Campground and Cabins with a 4.5-star rating from 19 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Andover, ME?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 free dispersed camping spots near Andover, ME.