The central Maine region surrounding Dover-Foxcroft sits at approximately 370 feet above sea level within the Piscataquis River watershed. This transitional zone between Maine's coastal regions and the North Woods features a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold, snowy winters. Camping opportunities range from primitive tent sites with lake access to full-service RV resorts with modern amenities, most open from late May through early October.
What to do
Mountain biking trails: 20+ miles of trails accessible from Spacious Skies Balsam Woods campground. The campground provides direct access to ATV trails that connect to wider trail networks. "This gampground has the access to snowmobile trail in the winter as well as the ATV trails. It has it's own parking lot for your atvs," notes Brianna M.
Seaplane events: September fly-in festival at Moosehead Lake. The annual International Seaplane Fly-in attracts aviation enthusiasts each September. "In early September, Greenville hosts the International Seaplane Fly-in where planes from all over descend on the lake participating in competitions," according to Nancy W.
Shoreline hiking: 2-3 mile trail system at Dunn Point Campground. Follow the lakeside path for moderate hiking with water views. "The park features multiple hiking trails suitable for leashed dogs, with the shoreline trail offering excellent exercise opportunities," explains a recent visitor. "There is a nice, fairly short (2-3 mile) hiking trail along the shoreline and through the woods," notes Nancy W.
Wildlife viewing: Early morning moose spotting at Lazy Tom Bog. Visit nearby ponds at dawn or dusk for best wildlife viewing opportunities. "Rum Pond is a nice place to hike if you are interested in seeing moose. We saw tons of droppings along the trail and finally saw a beautiful bull moose in one of the ponds," reports a camper.
What campers like
Waterfront camping sites: Direct lake access for swimming and kayaking. The region offers multiple options for camping directly on Moosehead Lake. "The sites are beautifully arranged along the cove, with almost every outside site with water access. Not as private due to the terrain (trees are less dense in the waters edge) but nonetheless a gorgeous place to camp. Put kayaks in right from the campsite," writes Alexis K. about Rowell Cove Campground.
Clean facilities: Recently upgraded shower buildings. Several campgrounds have invested in modern bathroom facilities. "The shower house was newly remodeled and very clean, as was the laundry facility with dishwashing/utility sink," notes Shari G. about Balsam Woods.
Family-friendly activities: Organized weekend events. Many campgrounds schedule regular activities for children. "Their is a inground outdoor heated pool, a great big playground, basketball court, volleyball net, arcade, ice cream, outdoor projector for Saturday night movie," reports Brianna M. about weekend programming.
Dark skies: Minimal light pollution for stargazing. The remote location provides excellent night sky viewing. "The campground is heavily treed and gets pretty dark so a flashlight or headlamp is a good thing to bring along," advises Nancy W., highlighting the opportunity for stargazing.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Spotty coverage throughout region. Plan for limited connectivity, especially in more remote campgrounds. "2-bar cell service on Verizon at some areas in the campground (I had coverage at my campsite, but not in the more central locations and not on Lily Bay Rd)," reports Jean C.
Pet policies: Most campgrounds pet-friendly with restrictions. Dog friendly campgrounds near Dover-Foxcroft typically allow pets with proper supervision. "Campground over all is a great place for both old and young to enjoy. I highly recommend this place," notes Brianna M. about Moosehead Family Campground, which allows pets with normal restrictions.
Access roads: Some unpaved or narrow access routes. Be prepared for gravel roads to some campgrounds. "The road to get to the campground is gravel. We drove slowly as there were some ruts," cautions Cynthia K.
Limited services: Stock up in larger towns. Many campgrounds are remote with few nearby stores. "Grocery, gas, restaurants, etc. are located about 10 miles away in the town of Greenville," notes a camper about supplies near Lily Bay.
Tips for camping with families
Early reservations: Book waterfront sites months in advance. Popular waterfront locations fill quickly, especially for summer weekends. "Reservations start early in the year online and waterfront sites sell out fast," advises J T. about planning ahead.
Kid-friendly campgrounds: Look for dedicated play areas. Several campgrounds offer comprehensive family amenities. "We are a full-time traveling family (2 kids - 8 & 13) and 2 English Bulldogs. We have a Class A motorhome and flat tow a Jeep. We stayed here in June for 11 nights in site B6 and loved it! Owners Matt & Jamie are wonderful and we left feeling like we had stayed at a friend's place. Our site was great because we could see the kids at the playground and the pool," shares Jen O. about Soul Retrieve-Hill.
Outdoor movie nights: Saturday evening entertainment. Check campground schedules for special events. "The kids also loved the Saturday night movie they would play on the big screen as well as the movie rental options available for personal use while there," adds Jen O.
Local wildlife education: Learn about moose safety. Teach children about appropriate wildlife viewing distances. "We did not use the ATV trails that are directly off the campground, but they were great! We did, however, rent an ATV from Northwoods Outfitters in Greenville (just 20 minutes away) and it was our favorite activity yet!" recommends a family visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: Check for low-hanging branches. Some campgrounds have mature trees that may pose challenges for larger rigs. "While most of the RV tent sites are long enough to fit big-rigs, beware that park staff does very little in the way to trim trees along the roads and at the sites and you will scratch your rig navigating around the loops," warns Nancy W.
Dump station timing: Plan for Sunday morning crowds. Schedule departures to avoid peak times at single-outlet dump stations. "There is a dump station with potable water and non-potable water to flush your tanks before you leave but there is only one sewer outlet so it gets pretty busy when there are a lot of check-outs on Sunday morning so you may have a bit of a wait to dump," advises a camper.
Generator restrictions: Check noise policies. Some campgrounds have specific hours for generator use. "Generators are allowed so if you are tenting you may want to book a walk-in site away from where RVs park," suggests Nancy W.
Premium sites: Worth the upgrade for larger rigs at Moose Creek RV Resort. Newer campgrounds offer better accommodations for big rigs. "The sites are good size, roomier than most rv parking lots as I call them. They have planted some evergreens so in a few yrs they'll be some trees, but the way the spots are placed makes u not on top of your neighbor. The premiums are better," writes Carol C.
