Campgrounds near Houlton, Maine sit in Aroostook County's rolling terrain at around 400 feet elevation. The region experiences warm summers with temperatures averaging 75°F and cold winters dropping well below freezing. Most Houlton area rv campsites operate seasonally from May through October, with limited year-round options due to harsh Maine winters.
What to do
Hiking nearby mountains: Aroostook State Park offers multiple trail options with elevation gains for various skill levels. "There's a rickety tent platform with great views of the valley at that end and a lean-to on the other end of the ridge," notes a visitor to Aroostook State Park Campground.
Kayaking on local lakes: Several campgrounds provide direct water access or rentals. At Birch Point Lodge Campground, campers enjoy "Great place to spend time on the lake," according to Robert W.
Explore Baxter State Park: About 15 miles from Shin Pond Village Campground, visitors can access the northern entrance. "We chose to travel to South Branch Pond to spend the day kayaking. A great choice as you can see from the pictures," reports Gary G.
What campers like
Heated swimming pools: Katahdin Shadows offers a centrally located pool that's well-maintained. "Pool was clean and in a central location. Quick easy walk on a path to store and small restaurant," writes Denise W. about Katahdin Shadows Campground.
Clean bathroom facilities: Several campgrounds maintain good bathroom standards. At Houlton/Canadian Border KOA, a camper noted "The bathrooms were super clean. Kids enjoyed finding frogs in all their ponds."
Family activities: Organized events keep younger campers entertained. "Family hayride was fun. Kids enjoyed riding bikes and using the game room," mentions one camper about their experience at Katahdin Shadows.
What you should know
Seasonal closures: Most Houlton rv campgrounds operate from May through October. Katahdin Shadows runs "May 1 - Nov 1" while Houlton/Canadian Border KOA operates "May 10 to October 15."
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly by location. At Shin Pond Village Campground, campers report "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."
Variable site conditions: Some campgrounds have challenging terrain. "The sites are SUPER unlevel. Notice the photo in my review. We had to use so many leveling blocks to assist our auto-leveling system!!" warns a camper about Birch Point Lodge.
Tips for camping with families
Look for dedicated play areas: Campgrounds with playgrounds provide entertainment for children. "There's a playground for kids. Bring your kayak or canoe or they have some available to rent," mentions a visitor to Aroostook State Park.
Consider educational opportunities: The Lumberman's Museum in Patten (15 minutes from Shin Pond) offers historical exhibits. "The nearest town is Patten and has a hardware store, gift shop, full-service grocery, fuel, restaurants, and the Lumberman's Museum," notes Nancy W.
Book tents away from roads: Main routes can have logging truck traffic. At Neil E Michaud Campground, campers mention "It is by the main road, so you will hear road traffic."
Tips from RVers
Avoid recent rainfall when possible: Some sites become problematic after precipitation. "We pulled into our site and before we knew it our 45' RV was stuck. Unbeknownst to us, three inches of rain had recently fallen and our site which was downhill was saturated," cautions a Shin Pond Village visitor.
Confirm dump station availability: Facilities and costs vary significantly. "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," warns a camper about Neil E Michaud Campground.
Consider site privacy needs: Campground layouts vary from open fields to wooded sites. "The pull-through sites are long and have trees in between and around so still gives a feeling of privacy," notes a visitor to Houlton/Canadian Border KOA.