Best Campgrounds near Houlton, ME

Campgrounds near Houlton, Maine range from developed RV parks to remote wilderness tent sites, with most facilities operating seasonally from May through October. The Houlton/Canadian Border KOA offers full-hookup RV sites, tent camping, and glamping options near the Canadian border, while Aroostook State Park Campground provides more rustic experiences about 45 miles north of Houlton with wooded tent and RV sites. Several campgrounds in the area feature water access, including Birch Point Lodge Campground on Island Falls and Arndt's Aroostook River Lodge which offers canoe and kayak rentals for exploring the Aroostook River.

Northern Maine's camping areas typically close during winter months, with most opening from mid-May through mid-October due to harsh winter conditions. Roads to more remote camping locations like those in Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument may require high-clearance vehicles, especially after rain. Cell service becomes increasingly limited the further you travel from towns, with many campgrounds offering limited or no connectivity. Facilities range from basic (vault toilets, no showers) to full-service campgrounds with laundry and camp stores. When visiting Baxter State Park, travelers should note vehicle size restrictions and pet prohibitions. A recent review noted, "Sites are more or less level and wooded with some privacy, but there's less privacy if you are located in the middle of the loop and people take trails to the latrine in the middle."

Waterfront access represents a significant draw for many campgrounds in the region. Shin Pond Village Campground provides access to both Upper and Lower Shin Ponds, while Aroostook State Park features lake swimming and boat rentals. Several visitors mentioned the area's outstanding hiking opportunities, with trails leading to mountain views and waterfalls. The region's public lands support wildlife viewing, with moose, bear, and lynx sightings possible. Campers report that weekdays offer quieter experiences at most campgrounds, while weekends see an increase in seasonal campers and day visitors. A review highlighted, "The campground is between upper and lower Shin Ponds, with easy boat access to both. We were about 15 miles from the northern entrance of Baxter State Park, so we chose to travel to South Branch Pond to spend the day kayaking."

Best Camping Sites Near Houlton, Maine (28)

    1. Houlton/Canandian Border KOA

    3 Reviews
    Houlton, ME
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 975-8966

    "KOA’s are not always known for their tent sites but this one has a decent amount of them and the DMZ area between the RV’s and the tents is adequate so your not pitching your tent right next to an RV:"

    "There are many little areas to walk and explore in the campground.

    We have a TT and our campsite had wifi, a fire ring, and full hookups."

    2. Birch Point Lodge Campground and Cottage Resort

    2 Reviews
    Houlton, ME
    18 miles

    "Great place to spend time on the lake"

    3. Debs Place

    Be the first to review!
    Houlton, ME
    9 miles
    +1 (207) 694-4048

    $35 / night

    4. Aroostook State Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    Presque Isle, ME
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 768-8341

    "It's quite a trek to Aroostock State Park, nearly to the Canadian border, but it's worth the journey."

    "For many years, I have looked at a spot on my Maine map called Aroostook State Park, way up north near the great city of Presque Isle."

    5. Shin Pond Village Campground

    3 Reviews
    Stacyville, ME
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 528-2900

    "Chase on the way to the northern entrance of BSP.

    The campground is right off Route 159, which is now a scenic by way in the KAWW National Monument."

    "Shin Pond is this sprawling mix of campground, cabins, restaurant, event space, gas station, convenient store, and off-road vehicle rentals."

    6. Greenland Cove Campground

    1 Review
    Danforth, ME
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 448-2863

    "Called and got a reservation day-of as my husband and I were driving through. We had a pleasant stay on a great site with a beautiful view and managed to get showers in and laundry done, too!"

    7. Neil E Michaud Campground

    4 Reviews
    Presque Isle, ME
    37 miles
    +1 (207) 769-1951

    8. Arndt's Aroostook River Lodge & Campground

    5 Reviews
    Presque Isle, ME
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 764-8677

    $28 - $60 / night

    "One of the pluses of this campground are the walking trails that are adjacent to the park."

    "This campground is at the top of Maine and a top camping destination for ATV enthusiasts. 

    The sites are spacious and inviting. Truly a nice place to stay."

    9. Katahdin Shadows Campground

    9 Reviews
    Millinocket, ME
    49 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 746-9349

    "Pool was clean and in a central location. Quick easy walk on a path to store and small restaurant."

    "Close to interstate 95."

    10. Lunksoos Campground — Katahdin Woods And Waters National Monument

    3 Reviews
    Stacyville, ME
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 456-6001

    "A short walk from the East Branch of the Penobscot River boat launch, there are several free, walk-in sites. Two group sites allow nearby parking and provide tent platforms."

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Recent Reviews near Houlton, ME

44 Reviews of 28 Houlton Campgrounds


  • Semoo A.
    Nov. 2, 2024

    Katahdin Shadows Campground

    Doraemon X

    I really enjoyed playing Doraemon X! The gameplay is super fun and full of surprises. The colorful graphics and engaging challenges make it a great experience!

  • Steve P.
    Oct. 2, 2024

    Lunksoos Campground — Katahdin Woods And Waters National Monument

    Nice location, still has the feel of being newly constructed

    Checked out these sites for an upcoming visit. Stayed down the road at Sandbank this time. If you are tenting this is preferable as Sandbank is open to RV's and is noisier.

    Some changes to regulations since Jean's review in 2021.

    No fire permit is needed if you use the fire ring provided

    First-come-first-served only for a single night. Reservations from recreation.gov are recommended for longer stays or on weekends. $8 reservation fee, free camping up to 14 days, no refunds.

    Her photo of the campground map is still accurate.

  • Meghan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2024

    Greenland Cove Campground

    Greenland Cove Campground

    Called and got a reservation day-of as my husband and I were driving through. We had a pleasant stay on a great site with a beautiful view and managed to get showers in and laundry done, too!

  • Douglas O.
    Sep. 21, 2024

    Katahdin Shadows Campground

    Nice camp ground

    Nice big camp ground, clean bathroom and shower. Close to interstate 95.

  • Meghan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2024

    Shin Pond Village Campground

    Shin Pond Village

    Nice, quiet stay in an RV site along the woods. Washed off in the showers then enjoyed tasty food and beverages at the restaurant/bar on site. Despite what the website says, there was no laundry here--an employee said it's been a few years since they had that available, unfortunately.

  • Meghan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2024

    Sandbank Stream — Katahdin Woods And Waters National Monument

    Sandbank Stream Campground

    I wouldn't call this a campground--more like a spot for 3 vehicles to park overnight. Quite a few logging trucks zooming by and kicking up dust during our stay. One pit toilet. Conveniently close to the start of Loop Road.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 6, 2024

    Katahdin Shadows Campground

    Friendly But Very Close

    What others have said is true. The staff were all very friendly and the pool and playground are well maintained. However, the spaces are very close together and there are no scenic views. The other drawback is the number of seemingly full time units. These units had wooden “improvements” over and around the campers indicating the RVs haven’t moved in a while and won’t move any time soon. Overall, it didn’t “feel” like a campground. It felt more like a mobile home park


Guide to Houlton

The Houlton region of Maine sits within Aroostook County at elevations ranging from 400-700 feet, with camping options spanning a 50-mile radius from the Canadian border. Camping sites near Houlton, Maine typically experience summer daytime temperatures in the 70s-80s°F, dropping into the 50s at night. Most campgrounds in this area open mid-May through mid-October with limited winter operations.

What to do

Kayaking and canoeing opportunities: The Arndt's Aroostook River Lodge & Campground offers canoe and kayak rentals with shuttle service for exploring the Aroostook River. "We drove 5.5 hours to get to this campground. It was worth the drive. Presque Isle is a gem that should not overlooked," notes one camper.

UTV and off-road adventures: Shin Pond Village Campground rents Polaris UTVs for exploring local trails. "We went on a UTV ride one day and were treated to some beautiful views. Just a few miles down the road is a short hiking trail leading to Shin Pond Falls and another trail that runs along the Seboeis river which is a beautiful hike," shares a visitor.

Local balloon festival: Several campgrounds serve as ideal bases for the annual Crown of Maine balloon festival held in Presque Isle. "I was in Presque Isle for the annual Crown of Maine balloon festival and for future reference I wanted to check out area campgrounds," explains a camper at Neil E Michaud Campground.

What campers like

Spacious, grassy sites: Many campgrounds offer unusually large sites compared to more crowded destinations. At Arndt's Aroostook River Lodge & Campground, "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," according to one reviewer.

Quiet atmosphere: The remote location means minimal crowds, especially midweek. "This was a great two day tent camping trip. KOA's are not always known for their tent sites but this one has a decent amount of them and the DMZ area between the RV's and the tents is adequate so your not pitching your tent right next to an RV," reports a visitor at Houlton/Canadian Border KOA.

Walking trails: Several campgrounds feature hiking paths directly from the property. "There is a really good store and a great diner attached to the main office building. Campfire wood was abundant (and for sale by the campground) and each site had a picnic table, fire ring, and fire place to cook on," mentions a visitor at Shin Pond Village.

What you should know

Site placement challenges: At some locations, sites can present setup difficulties. At Birch Point Lodge Campground, "The 'pull-through' sites are a joke! There are six sites per road. There is literally no where to pull off of the camp road to set up your RV site. The RVs must be set up in the road!"

Ground conditions: Following rain, soft soil can create problems. "We pulled into our site (#21) and before we knew it our 45' (47,000 lbs) RV was stuck. Unbeknownst to us, three inches of rain had recently fallen and our site which was downhill was saturated," explains a camper at Shin Pond Village.

Limited connectivity: Prepare for spotty or non-existent cell service. "No cell or internet reception with our Verizon phone. The campground does have wifi but the signal was not strong enough to get reception reliably at our site," notes a visitor.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Katahdin Shadows Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "LOVED this place. SUPER friendly staff. Arcade and well stocked store. Heated pool, campfires, tractor rides," shares one family camper.

Kid-friendly activities: Some campgrounds organize regular activities for children. "We went on a holiday weekend with lots of events planned. Family hayride was fun. Kids enjoyed riding bikes and using the game room. Pool was clean and in a central location," notes a visitor.

Nature exploration for children: Several campgrounds have nature programs or wildlife viewing opportunities. "I have stayed here twice and loved it both times. The first time I went as a family the second alone and took in the views of the beautiful trails they had to offer," reports a visitor at Arndt's Aroostook River Lodge.

Tips from RVers

Hookup configurations: At Neil E Michaud Campground, RVers should note the site layout. "Cheap for RVs too. We had electric, Wi-Fi, and water on our tent site," shares a recent camper, showing the flexible setup options.

Dump station access: Some campgrounds have less convenient dump station locations. "The dump station for the campground is on the side of the public roadway, at the entrance of the park...which is on the top of a huge hill," notes one RVer about Birch Point Lodge.

Leveling challenges: Pack extra leveling blocks for uneven sites. "The 'pull-through' sites are literally on a hill. The sites small and there is no privacy from your neighbors," warns an RVer. Another notes, "Some of the sewer connections are not conveniently located so you may need extra sewer hose."

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a KOA campground in Houlton, Maine?

Yes, there is a KOA campground near Houlton, Maine. The Houlton/Canadian Border KOA serves travelers in the area, particularly those crossing between the US and Canada. While not directly in downtown Houlton, it's conveniently located for accessing the border crossing. For alternatives, consider Neil E Michaud Campground in nearby Presque Isle, which offers camping facilities and is known to host visitors during the annual Crown of Maine balloon festival. The KOA provides the standard amenities typically found at KOA locations, making it suitable for both overnight stays and longer visits.

Can I rent an RV in Houlton, Maine for camping?

While dedicated RV rental services directly in Houlton are limited, some alternatives exist in the region. Shin Pond Village Campground in nearby Mt. Chase offers various services including off-road vehicle rentals, though you should contact them specifically about RV rental availability. Another option is to check with Katahdin Shadows Campground, which has family-friendly facilities and might offer rental information. For most visitors, renting an RV from larger towns like Bangor (about 2 hours south) before traveling to Houlton is more practical. Alternatively, many campgrounds in the area accommodate RVs, so you could rent from a statewide service and drive to your desired camping location.

Where are the campgrounds near Houlton, Maine?

Several campgrounds are located within driving distance of Houlton, Maine. Arndt's Aroostook River Lodge & Campground is a highly-rated private campground in the area offering spacious grassy sites with shade trees. Another option is Aroostook State Park Campground, Maine's first state park, located near Presque Isle about 45 minutes from Houlton. The region also offers camping opportunities at Katahdin Woods And Waters National Monument and Baxter State Park, though these are further away. Most campgrounds in this northern Maine region provide basic amenities like water and toilets, with varying levels of facilities depending on whether they're private or public operations.