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."
