Camping near Mars Hill, Maine ranges from rustic tent sites to full-service RV accommodations in northern Maine's Aroostook County. Winter temperatures regularly drop below zero, with summer highs averaging 75-80°F. The region's elevation varies from 400 to 1,700 feet, with Mars Hill Mountain standing as the first point in the United States to see sunrise for half the year.
What to do
Hiking trails: Aroostook State Park offers multiple hiking options including paths up Quaggy Jo Mountain. "We love to camp in State Parks, and the North East has plenty of them to try. For many years, I have looked at a spot on my Maine map called Aroostook State Park, way up north near the great city of Presque Isle," writes Gary G.
Water activities: Rent canoes or kayaks at Shin Pond Village Campground for exploring nearby lakes. "Shin Pond rents Polaris UTV and snowmobiles, canoes, and kayaks in the summer and snowmobiles in the winter. We went on a UTV ride one day and were treated to some beautiful views," notes Nancy W. in her review of Shin Pond Village Campground.
Balloon festivals: Visit during the Crown of Maine Balloon Festival for a unique experience. "I came here to attend the Crown of Maine Balloon Festival, which occupied my early mornings and evenings. During the day I would explore on foot or take the car through the countryside and enjoy the Amish farmlands," reports Jean C. from Aroostook State Park.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer large, grassy sites with good separation. "There are HUGE, level, terraced sites stretching up the hill. My site(74) was so large that there could have been 4 vehicles with teardrops and had space left over," notes Jean C. about Arndt's Aroostook River Lodge & Campground.
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention well-maintained bathrooms and shower houses. "Bathroom/showers are free and spotless. I didn't have time to hike but there are lots of options. Very quiet, although I was one of two camping parties in the place," reports Dan R. about Aroostook State Park.
Riverside locations: Several campgrounds offer river access for fishing or kayaking. "The Aroostook river was down the hill and across the street. Swimming, kayaking, canoeing, ATVing, fishing, biking, and hunting are all activities to keep you busy," notes a reviewer at Arndt's Aroostook River Lodge.
What you should know
Site conditions: Spring rain can create muddy conditions at some campgrounds. "Sites can be very soft. Sites are grass with very little gravel and, as we found out, they can be very soft. We pulled into our site (#21) and before we knew it our 45' (47,000 lbs) RV was stuck," cautions Nancy W. about Shin Pond Village Campground.
Limited connectivity: Cell service is spotty throughout the region. "No cell or internet reception with our Verizon phone. The campground does have wifi but the signal was not strong enough to get reception reliably at our site," reports a reviewer about Shin Pond Village.
Seasonal limitations: Many campgrounds have limited facilities during shoulder seasons. The camping season generally runs May through October, with some facilities closing after Labor Day weekend due to rapidly cooling temperatures.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. "We have kids so we opted for a site close enough to watch them play on the playground. The pull-through sites are long and have trees in between and around so still gives a feeling of privacy," says Kasey M. about Houlton/Canandian Border KOA.
Mining activities: Some KOAs offer gem mining experiences for children. "They have recently installed a new pool here so if it gets hot you have that great amenity. They also have the mining for gems activity that you see at some KOA's and all my kids enjoyed that," notes Truthseeker C. about Houlton/Canadian Border KOA.
Nature exploration: Kids enjoy the natural surroundings and wildlife. "Kids enjoyed finding frogs in all their ponds," mentions one reviewer about the best places to camp near Mars Hill, Maine.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Consider site leveling needs when booking at campgrounds in the area. "The 'pull-through' sites are literally on a hill. The sites are SUPER unlevel. We had to use so many leveling blocks to assist our auto-leveling system!" warns J B. about Birch Point Lodge Campground.
Dump station access: Plan ahead for sewage dumping as locations and costs vary. "Nothing special except they are the only dump station in the area... and take advantage of this. They charge 3 times more than all others to dump," cautions sheila about Neil E Michaud Campground.
Site types: Many campgrounds near Mars Hill offer both back-in and pull-through options. "Many of the sites are pull-through, which means the hook-up location is not an issue, but for the back-in sites on the hill, the hookups are on the 'wrong' side," notes a reviewer about camping options in the region.
