Cabin camping near Dexter, Maine offers visitors access to the Moosehead Lake region and the western Maine mountains where elevation ranges from 300-400 feet in Dexter to over 1,500 feet in surrounding areas. Winter temperatures can drop below zero while summer highs typically reach the 70s with occasional 80-degree days, making cabin rentals particularly popular during the May-October season when most facilities operate.
What to do
Explore ATV trails: Spacious Skies Balsam Woods provides direct access to over 1,000 miles of ATV trails with a dedicated parking lot for vehicles. "This campground has the access to snowmobile trail in the winter as well as the ATV trails. It has its own parking lot for your atvs," notes a visitor who appreciates the extensive trail system.
Canoe local rivers: Two Rivers Campground offers free canoe and kayak use with 2-hour reservation slots. "Took a canoe up the river for a couple hours. Kind people. Clean. Would definitely stay again," shared one camper who enjoyed the peaceful water experience.
Visit Moosehead Lake: Cabins provide convenient access to Moosehead Lake, approximately 20 minutes from some properties. A visitor at Spacious Skies Balsam Woods mentioned, "The campground is within 20 minutes drive or so to Hannaford grocery and there is a great little market, Whitney's Market, even closer in Guilford. Greenville is also about 20 minutes away and is a wonderful little town."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the cleanliness of bathrooms and common areas at cabin properties. "Large, clean shared bathrooms with good water pressure," reported one visitor at Spacious Skies Balsam Woods, highlighting features beyond the cabin itself.
Family activities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park offers numerous scheduled events for children throughout the season. "The themed weekends are a neat concept and enjoyable," noted one father who visited during a special event weekend, appreciating how the activities kept his family entertained.
Quieter options: Pumpkin Patch RV Resort caters more to adults seeking a peaceful stay with fewer children's activities. "This campground caters more to adults and does not have too much for kids to do. Most of the campers were seasonals whose campsites were well-kept and they were quiet," explained a reviewer who appreciated the calm atmosphere.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most cabin properties require advance bookings, especially during summer weekends and holiday periods. Peak booking periods run May through October with many facilities closing after Columbus Day weekend.
Amenity variations: The Hawnets Nest offers more basic A-frame cabins with communal facilities, while other properties provide fully-equipped options. Cabins range from rustic structures with outdoor facilities to units with electricity, heat, and private bathrooms.
Seasonal limitations: Several campgrounds including Sebasticook Lake Campground operate seasonally from mid-May through early October. Winter cabin options are limited in the region, with only a few properties remaining open year-round.
Supplies needed: Visitors typically need to bring their own bedding, pillows, and cooking equipment unless explicitly stated that these are provided. Most cabins include beds but require guests to supply linens and personal items.
Tips for camping with families
Pool access: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort features water slides and swimming pools that appeal to children. "The swimming pool was awesome as well as the water slides. The fireworks on July 4th could match Disney World!" raved one family who visited during a holiday weekend.
Playground options: Several properties offer playground equipment for various age groups. One camper at Two Rivers Campground appreciated that "This campground offers a game room area, horseshoes, a pool and playground," providing multiple entertainment options for children.
Special events: Many campgrounds host themed weekends throughout the season. A visitor to Jellystone Park noted, "Every week is themed. My family goes every year for magic pumpkin week which includes TRICK OR TREATING IN SEPTEMBER. My nieces and nephews love it!"
Evening activities: Some properties offer evening entertainment like outdoor movies. Spacious Skies Balsam Woods provides "outdoor projector for Saturday night movie" along with an arcade and ice cream counter for after-dinner activities.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: For RVers who want waterfront views, choose river-facing sites at Pleasant Hill Campground. "Sites are spacious! Connections are well placed and in good repair. Most sites are pull-through. No huge hills, several trash dumpsters conveniently located," notes one RVer who appreciated the layout.
Connectivity options: Internet access varies significantly between properties. At Pleasant Hill Campground, "if you want internet you must buy a package. Upside to purchased package - there are very little slow downs. Just be sure to only use the number of devices you purchased. We paid $69 for 3 devices for 30 days."
Pull-through availability: Several campgrounds offer pull-through sites that accommodate larger rigs without unhitching. A visitor to Pumpkin Patch RV Resort mentioned, "Most sites are level and there are long pull thrus so you don't have to unhitch if you are only staying one night."
Road conditions: Access roads to some properties may present challenges for larger RVs. Consider calling ahead to confirm road conditions and turning radius requirements, especially during spring months when roads may be muddy.
