Northern Maine RV campgrounds near Fort Kent sit along the Canadian border at the northeastern edge of the continental United States. The area features dense forests, rolling hills, and the confluence of the St. John and Fish Rivers. Winter temperatures frequently drop below -20°F, while summer days typically reach the mid-70s with cool evenings, creating a relatively short camping season for most facilities.
What to do
Hiking trails: Deboullie Public Lands offers excellent day hiking with unique features. "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," notes Tina D. at Deboullie Public Lands.
Water activities: The numerous lakes and rivers provide kayaking and canoeing opportunities. "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," explains Jean C.
Balloon festivals: Seasonal events attract visitors to Fort Kent and surrounding areas. "I stayed here for 4 nights and enjoyed the Crown of Maine balloon fest, geocaching, fishing, and exploring," notes a camper at Arndt's Aroostook River Lodge & Campground.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Campers consistently mention the generous spacing between sites in the area. "Sites are HUGE, level, terraced stretching up the hill. My site was so large that there could have been 4 vehicles with teardrops and had space left over," reports Jean C.
Trail access: Many campgrounds connect directly to recreational trails. "One of the pluses of this campground are the walking trails that are adjacent to the park. There is also a mowed path down to the Aroostook River," shares Nancy W.
Helpful staff: Campground operators provide assistance with regional navigation and activities. "Clare was quickly responsive to emails and friendly," notes one camper at Birch Haven Campground, where "nice owners in a mostly seasonal campground" help visitors get oriented.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly by location. "Cell service was pretty much non-existent, but there was free WiFi available that seemed to have good reach," explains Kevin at Lakeview Camping Resort.
Remote logistics: Some campgrounds require significant planning. "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. You must check in for arrivals and departure."
Site reservation challenges: At some public lands, site claiming practices can cause frustration. "Cross your fingers and hope people aren't occupying multiple sites or holding for others. We got there late morning on a Friday and grabbed the only site that was open after being told we'd have plenty to choose from when checking in."
Tips for camping with families
Poolside options: Some campgrounds offer swimming alternatives when river levels are low. "The pool was closed for renovation," notes one camper, suggesting calling ahead to confirm swimming availability during summer months.
Game facilities: Indoor recreation options provide alternatives during inclement weather. "A game room is also available with ping pong and foosball," mentions a visitor at one of the rv campgrounds near Fort Kent, Maine.
Social atmosphere: Family-friendly campgrounds foster community interaction. "Families here hang outside and interact with each other," reports Alexis K. at Grand Isle Campground, describing the "beautiful family campground" atmosphere.
Tips from RVers
Hookup logistics: Be prepared for unconventional utility placement. "For the back-in sites on the hill, the hookups are on the 'wrong' side. You'll either need to pull straight in, or run the cords under the trailer," advises one RVer.
Road navigation: Access roads can present challenges for larger vehicles. "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," cautions Nancy W.
Dump station planning: Not all rv parks near Fort Kent include dump services with site fees. "If you need to use the dump station, there's a charge for that. It's located just across from the office and can make for tight entry if someone is dumping while you're arriving."
