Camping options in northern Maine typically operate from mid-May through mid-October due to harsh winter conditions, with limited year-round facilities available. The region features terrain dominated by dense forests, hills, and river valleys with numerous ATV trails connecting campgrounds to wider trail networks. Fort Kent Mills sits at the northernmost point of US Route 1, making it a gateway for outdoor recreation along the St. John River valley and surrounding wilderness areas.
What to do
ATV trail access: Several campgrounds near Fort Kent Mills connect directly to Maine's extensive ATV trail system. At Arndt's Aroostook River Lodge & Campground, visitors appreciate the trail connections. "This campground is at the top of Maine and a top camping destination for ATV enthusiasts. The sites are spacious and inviting," notes camper J B.
River activities: The Aroostook and St. John Rivers offer fishing, kayaking and canoeing opportunities. Many campgrounds provide equipment rentals and shuttle services. "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. Don't have a canoe or kayak? They're available for rental at the campground," writes Jean C.
Hiking trails: Deboullie Public Lands features excellent hiking with scenic viewpoints. "The hiking trails are some of the best I have been on at such a site. They could use some more signs at intersections but with the trail map we got from the checkpoint we were able to figure them out. The view points you can hike up to are beautiful," states Tina D.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention the well-maintained bathrooms and shower facilities. A visitor to Birch Haven Campground noted, "Laundromat and restrooms are clean. For pay shower."
Spacious sites: Many RV sites in the region offer generous spacing between campsites. At Arndt's Aroostook River Lodge & Campground, one camper observed, "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."
Quiet atmosphere: Weekdays tend to be particularly peaceful at northern Maine campgrounds. "Seasonal campers make up about 50% of the park but most just come on weekends so the weekdays were pretty quiet," mentions Nancy W. regarding her stay at Arndt's Aroostook River Lodge.
What you should know
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies dramatically across northern Maine campgrounds. At Lakeview Camping Resort in St. Agatha, one visitor reported, "Cell service was pretty much non-existent, but there was free WiFi available that seemed to have good reach."
Remote location challenges: Many campgrounds require travel on logging roads or unpaved routes. For Deboullie Public Lands, a camper advised, "Access is gained by private gravel logging roads leaving Route 161 in St. Francis, or off Route 11 in Portage, Maine. There is a check point when you drive through the logging facility area at the start of the main logging roads."
Check-in procedures: Reservation systems vary widely among Fort Kent area campgrounds. For some public lands, campers must check in at forestry checkpoints and pay entrance fees, as Meghan B. explains: "Must check-in at a North Maine Woods checkpoint and pay the hefty entrance plus camping fees to stay in this public land."
Tips for camping with families
Recreational amenities: Some campgrounds offer additional recreational facilities for children. Arndt's Aroostook River Lodge includes a game room with activities. "A game room is also available with ping pong and foosball," notes Jean C.
Seasonal activities: Plan family trips around local events for added entertainment. The annual Crown of Maine balloon festival in Presque Isle provides unique viewing opportunities from several campgrounds. "I stayed here for 4 nights and enjoyed the Crown of Maine balloon fest, geocaching, fishing, and exploring," shares a visitor.
Community atmosphere: Neil E Michaud Campground offers a welcoming environment for families. "This was a great place to camp. Quiet at night. The woman that runs it is really nice. Cheap for RVs too. We had electric, Wi-Fi, and water on our tent site," reports Joy J.
Tips from RVers
Hookup positioning: Some sites have utilities positioned on the opposite side from standard RV connections. "For the back-in sites on the hill, the hookups are on the 'wrong' side. You'll either need to pull straight in (for many rigs, it looked like that was doable), or run the cords under the trailer," advises Jean C.
Road navigation: Access roads to hilltop campgrounds can present challenges for larger rigs. "There is a tight winding road that you must navigate to get up there. We were able to navigate it with our 45' RV and tow car but we had to go slow and take up the whole road," explains Nancy W.
Dump station availability: Limited dump stations in the Fort Kent Mills region may require advance planning. At Neil E Michaud Campground, one visitor observed, "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."
