Best Cabin Camping near Calais, ME

Five cabin campground options exist near Calais, Maine, each offering unique accommodations. Keenes Lake Family Campground provides cabins with water and electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings. The facilities include showers, toilets, and a camp store for basic supplies. Pleasant Lake Camping Area offers more rustic cabin accommodations in a natural setting, while Seaview Campground provides cabins with ocean views and full hookup options. "What an awesome campground. We had site S11, one of the best for sure. Unobstructed view of the bay," noted one visitor about Seaview.

Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Cottonwood Camping & RV Park features unique cabin options including a "tiny bird cabin" and a treehouse accommodation alongside standard cabin rentals. Machias Rips Campsite offers a more primitive cabin experience with a lean-to shelter option. Most campgrounds in the region are seasonal, typically operating from May through October, with varying pet policies. A reviewer of Cottonwood described their experience: "This campground is absolutely adorable. RV, tent, Treehouse camping to camping out in a Teepee! I surprised my husband with the Teepee - we were not disappointed!"

Most cabins require visitors to bring their own bedding, towels and cooking supplies. On-site markets at Keenes Lake and Seaview Campgrounds offer basic provisions, though stocking up on groceries before arrival is recommended. Campgrounds with cabins generally provide fire rings and picnic tables, but amenities vary significantly between locations. Firewood is available for purchase at several campgrounds, including Seaview and Cottonwood Camping & RV Park. Bathroom facilities range from primitive outhouses at more remote locations to full shower buildings at established campgrounds.

Best Cabin Sites Near Calais, Maine (5)

    1. Keenes Lake Family Campground

    6 Reviews
    Calais, ME
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 454-2022

    "It is basic, but more like what you would find at national parks, which I prefer MUCH MORE."

    "For some reason our fire ring and table were missing when we arrived, and they had replacements at the site within 30 minutes."

    2. Seaview Campground

    5 Reviews
    Eastport, ME
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 853-4471

    "There is a wide grassy area across from the sites and right on the waters edge. Picnic tables and fire pits."

    "Location is good and if the border wasn't closed it would be closer to even more sights to see! The owners are nice and very responsive."

    3. Pleasant Lake Camping Area

    1 Review
    Meddybemps, ME
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 454-7467

    4. Machias Rips Campsite

    5 Reviews
    Beddington, ME
    34 miles
    Website

    "Great free off grid camping near Canadian border. The other previous reviewers did a great job explaining the campground."

    "This campground is one of my favorites in Maine! Sitting only an hour from Ellsworth and Bangor ME this is a nature lovers dream!"

    5. Cottonwood Camping & RV Park

    4 Reviews
    Addison, ME
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 598-8497

    "This is the first campground we have stayed at that has ATV trail access, horse friendly camping, full hookups, pull through sites, tent camping, tent rentals, teepee rentals, "tiny bird cabin", and a"

    "A huge Teepee with a very comfortable queen size bed- a couch, table, area animal rugs , coffee maker and a fan if needed."

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Recent Cabin Photos near Calais, ME

2 Photos of 5 Calais Campgrounds


Cabin Reviews near Calais, ME

21 Reviews of 5 Calais Campgrounds


  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2024

    Keenes Lake Family Campground

    Cute Area

    I stayed in a small site, just me and my vehicle. I asked for a quiet spot with elec and the site was perfect. It is basic, but more like what you would find at national parks, which I prefer MUCH MORE. My spot was shaded and level enough to have a tent, vehicle, chairs and table (not provided at my site), and they have a fire ring.

    It isnt the usual RV sites that are sterile and squished in like sardines, so if thats what you looking for, this isnt it.

    I paid $36 for my night, on par with national/ state parks, but much cheaper than most commerical camping grounds.  The area is a little overpriced, so it was nice to stay somewhere reasonable, especially at the end of the season.

    THere isnt wifi, my car (ATT) got better service than my phone (Tmobile).

    The road is decent, maybe a few spots to watch out for, and they ask you to keep the speed down (5mph) so they are trying to take care of it (or not let it get torn up too much)

    I didnt use the shower, but the bathroom was plumbed.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2023

    Machias Rips Campsite

    River in Maine

    Great free off grid camping near Canadian border. The other previous reviewers did a great job explaining the campground. The only exception is that we had 4 bars of LTE service (AT&T) which was nice. Camp sites today are very buggy- bring your repellent and/or netting.

  • John R.
    Aug. 20, 2022

    Machias Rips Campsite

    Amazing FREE Camp Site for All Types of Campers!

    This campground is one of my favorites in Maine! Sitting only an hour from Ellsworth and Bangor ME this is a nature lovers dream!

    The dirt road leading to the camp can be easily missed if not paying attention! But is clearly marked with a blue sign at the head of the road. Your GPS might not give you an “exact” location but i promise I found the place with no problem!

    The road has a few pot holes but nothing my stock (Low to the ground) Dodge Caravan couldn’t handle, There is about 4 Sites with river front views and trails leading to the water from each camp. There are also bigger sites for campers and RV’s. There is a site with a wooden protection shelter for tent campers as well!

    New style out houses are on site but other than that it’s completely off grid!

    Most Cell phone carriers won’t have service back at the camp, I myself had to drive 20 Minutes up the road for signal, A cell signal booster may work here. Radio signal is fine tho.

    Great spot to fish and swim! I’ve caught smallmouth bass, chubs and trout in the river so far! (Black and silver Jerk baits work great) The mosquitoes can get bad in the area but fire pits and fires are permitted in the camp and they helped keep me comfortable from bugs!

    There is also a marked trail in the camp that leads deep into the woods, I followed it for about a mile before it got too thick for my interest. Could be the trail that connects to the large pools of water up the river with ADDITIONAL camping there as well.

  • K
    Aug. 22, 2020

    Seaview Campground

    Seaview it is!

    It's all about the view! It's also a big rig haven. Sites are close together in a grassy area but all have views of the ocean. There is a wide grassy area across from the sites and right on the waters edge. Picnic tables and fire pits.

  • J B.
    Sep. 8, 2020

    Cottonwood Camping & RV Park

    ATV & Equestrian Fun

    This is the first campground we have stayed at that has ATV trail access, horse friendly camping, full hookups, pull through sites, tent camping, tent rentals, teepee rentals, "tiny bird cabin", and a tree house.  

    A must see!

  • C
    Aug. 10, 2020

    Cottonwood Camping & RV Park

    A Wild West experience!

    This campground is absolutely adorable. RV, tent , Treehouse camping to camping out in a Teepee! I surprised my husband with the Teepee- we were not disappointed! A huge Teepee with a very comfortable queen size bed- a couch, table, area animal rugs , coffee maker and a fan if needed. We were asked to bring our own bedding due to Covid regulations - which we did not mind at all. The very clean restrooms were located nearby , which was convient. The staff was so friendly and very accommodating. Sleeping in the TeePee was an incredible experience and we would definitely do it again - so fun! All we needed was a horse- haha! The owner also offers horseback riding lessons and trail rides.

  • Sarah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 22, 2021

    Machias Rips Campsite

    Not bad for free camping!

    Situated right off of Route 9 between Amherst and Wesley Maine, you can access the Machias River Corridor Public Lands. At this particular location, there are 2 RV sites, 3 tent sites and a lean-to shelter, all situated right on the bank of the river.

    We spent one night here in the lean-to on our way to the Cutler Coast. The lean-to was in decent shape but it's definitely been marked by its visitors and has quite the slope to it. It was large enough for us to pitch our 3 person tent in and it was pretty great to fall asleep to the sounds of the Machias River a stone's throw from our tent. 

    There was a massive fire pit at the lean-to that we didn't utilize. There was also a fair amount of trash in the site, and oddly enough a lot of chewed bubble gum. The sites are spaced out nicely and there's a fair amount of shade to be had. There is also a relatively new and quite clean pit toilet available for use. 

    All in all, it was a great stopping point that set us up well for our early morning departure to get to the Cutler Coast. I would certainly stay here again if I were in the area.

  • D
    Jul. 23, 2020

    Seaview Campground

    Nice full hookup

    Had a choice of 3 campgrounds in the Eastport area during Covid but we wanted full hookup for our little teardrop trailer. We are very happy with this place. Location is good and if the border wasn't closed it would be closer to even more sights to see! The owners are nice and very responsive. The site is plenty large (there are some BIG rigs here) and we can see the bay from it although we are maybe 150 feet away. Most campers seem to be here for a long term rental and they are a quiet group. I think there are many more amenities during ordinary time. There's an IGA grocery store nearby and that's been a bonus. I would definitely stay here again if visiting the area.

  • R
    Sep. 15, 2020

    Keenes Lake Family Campground

    Beautiful lake

    Camped during Covid restrictions. Everyone seemed to be following the guidelines that were clearly posted by the campsite. The snack bar in the office/shop area was a great fallback plan if we were too lazy to cook, but wasn’t needed. People who ran the place were very accommodating. For some reason our fire ring and table were missing when we arrived, and they had replacements at the site within 30 minutes. They also delivered our wood to our campsite when I asked about where to purchase it while they delivered the missing items. Campsites were roomy enough, but set a bit close together.


Guide to Calais

Cabin rentals near Calais, Maine provide access to the northeasternmost point of the United States, with the region experiencing cool summers averaging 75°F and cold winters dropping to 10°F. The area sits along the St. Croix River, which forms the international boundary between Maine and New Brunswick, Canada. Cabin camping season typically runs from late May through mid-October, with most facilities closing during winter months.

What to do

Paddling on Keenes Lake: Visitors to Keenes Lake Family Campground can enjoy water activities on the clean, accessible lake. "The lake was clean and we swam, kayaked and crossed the lake on paddle boards," notes reviewer Pamela H., who appreciated the waterfront accessibility from the campground.

Hiking at Shackford Head: Located near Eastport, the state park offers scenic trails with coastal views. A camper at Seaview Campground shared their experience: "We did a nice short hike in Shackford Head State Park" while enjoying the coastal amenities nearby.

Wildlife viewing: The Machias River corridor offers opportunities to spot native wildlife including eagles and beavers. A visitor to Machias Rips Campsite reported, "Sitting only an hour from Ellsworth and Bangor ME this is a nature lovers dream!" with multiple fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities along the river.

What campers like

Waterfront cabin locations: Many cabins provide direct water access or views. "Our site had an unobstructed view of the bay, right under a nice size pine tree," writes a camper at Seaview Campground, highlighting the premium waterfront cabin locations.

Unique accommodation options: Beyond standard cabins, some campgrounds offer distinctive sleeping quarters. At Cottonwood Camping & RV Park, one reviewer experienced their specialty lodging: "I surprised my husband with the Teepee- we were not disappointed! A huge Teepee with a very comfortable queen size bed- a couch, table, area animal rugs, coffee maker and a fan if needed."

Fishing access: Many cabin locations provide direct access to fishing spots. "Great spot to fish and swim! I've caught smallmouth bass, chubs and trout in the river so far! (Black and silver Jerk baits work great)," reports a Machias Rips visitor who enjoyed the direct river access from the campsites.

What you should know

Seasonal operation limitations: Most cabin facilities have restricted operational seasons. Keenes Lake Family Campground operates "May 1 to October 30" while Seaview Campground runs "May 15 - Oct 13," making advance planning essential for shoulder-season visits.

Ownership changes affect pricing: Recent management transitions have impacted some properties. A 2024 reviewer at Seaview noted: "Pay no attention to any reviews that are a year older as there are new owners now. The prices have tripled and there are 7 pages of rules you have to sign off on!"

Off-grid options available: Some cabin locations operate without full utilities. At Pleasant Lake Camping Area, facilities are more rustic with fewer amenities, offering a more natural experience for those seeking to disconnect.

Tips for camping with families

Bring mosquito protection: Insects can be problematic, particularly near water. "Camp sites today are very buggy- bring your repellent and/or netting," advises a Machias Rips visitor, emphasizing preparation for the local pest conditions.

Consider bathroom facility access: Comfort facilities vary widely between properties. A visitor to Keenes Lake mentioned the practicalities: "Showers and bathrooms could be better but all together a fun place to go," indicating families should check bathroom amenities when booking.

Pack supplemental bedding: Many cabins require guests to bring their own linens. One Cottonwood camper explained, "We were asked to bring our own bedding due to Covid regulations - which we did not mind at all," a practice that continues at many properties regardless of health protocols.

Tips from RVers

Size considerations for cabin parking: Access roads and parking areas vary in quality. A Machias Rips Campsite visitor noted access details: "The dirt road leading to the camp can be easily missed if not paying attention! But is clearly marked with a blue sign at the head of the road. The road has a few pot holes but nothing my stock (Low to the ground) Dodge Caravan couldn't handle."

Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly across the region. A Machias Rips camper detailed: "Most Cell phone carriers won't have service back at the camp, I myself had to drive 20 Minutes up the road for signal, A cell signal booster may work here. Radio signal is fine tho."

Level site availability: Finding level parking can be challenging at some locations. A 2025 reviewer at Keenes Lake mentioned, "It is hard to get a level site but the owner let us pick what was best for us based on what was available."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Calais, ME?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Calais, ME is Keenes Lake Family Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 6 reviews.

What is the best site to find cabin camping near Calais, ME?

TheDyrt.com has all 5 cabin camping locations near Calais, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.