Tent and RV camping near Mars Hill, Maine primarily centers around the Presque Isle area, approximately 15 miles north. The region sits in Aroostook County, known for its potato farming and proximity to the Canadian border. Winters can be severe with temperatures dropping below -30°F, while summer camping season brings pleasant 70-80°F days from late May through September when most campgrounds operate.
What to do
Hiking trails: Aroostook State Park Campground offers several hiking options including a trail to Quaggy Jo Mountain. "Lots of trails to hike," notes Sean M., while another camper adds, "Near the back of the loop a trail heads up south peak for a short scrabble and nice loop hike. There's a rickety tent platform with great views of the valley."
Water activities: Shin Pond Village Campground is positioned between Upper and Lower Shin Ponds with boat access to both. "We were interested in kayaking on ponds and streams in the KAWW or Baxter State Park," shares Gary G. "The campground is between upper and lower Shin Ponds, with easy boat access to both."
Geocaching: The area around Arndt's Aroostook River Lodge & Campground provides opportunities for this outdoor treasure hunting activity. "I stayed here for 4 nights and enjoyed the Crown of Maine balloon fest, geocaching, fishing, and exploring," reports Jean C., who appreciated the varied outdoor activities available.
Balloon festivals: Time your visit during the Crown of Maine Balloon Festival 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," shares one camper who visited Neil E Michaud Campground during the event.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Aroostook State Park Campground maintains well-kept bathroom facilities. "Bathroom/showers are free and spotless," notes Dan R. "Very quiet, although I was one of two camping parties in the place. Close to town. Very relaxing."
Spacious sites: Campers frequently mention the generous site sizes at campgrounds throughout the region. "Sites the sites are more or less level and wooded with some privacy," reports Jean C. about Aroostook State Park, while another camper notes, "Most sites are very spacious. Only 30 sites."
Walking paths: Birch Point Lodge Campground and other area campgrounds offer walking opportunities. "Great place to spend time on the lake," mentions Robert W. The surrounding area features numerous trails for exploring the natural landscape of northern Maine.
Wildlife viewing: The ponds and wooded areas near campgrounds provide opportunities to observe local wildlife. "Kids enjoyed finding frogs in all their ponds," shares a camper who visited Houlton/Canadian Border KOA with their family.
What you should know
Seasonal limitations: Most campgrounds in the Mars Hill area operate from May through mid-October. "The campground has about 30 campsites and is separated into two sections bisected by Route 159 (which is busy with logging trucks and UTV's)," notes Nancy W. about Shin Pond Village.
Ground conditions: Wet weather can create challenges at grass sites. "Sites are grass with very little gravel and, as we found out, they can be very soft," explains Nancy W. "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."
Cell service: Connectivity varies across campgrounds. "No cell or internet reception with our Verizon phone," reports a camper about Shin Pond Village. "The campground does have wifi but the signal was not strong enough to get reception reliably at our site."
Pet policies: Houlton/Canadian Border KOA and most private campgrounds welcome pets, but Aroostook State Park Campground does not allow them. Check individual campground rules before bringing animals.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Consider sites near play areas when traveling with children. "We have kids so we opted for a site close enough to watch them play on the playground," shares Kasey M. about Houlton/Canadian Border KOA, adding, "The pull-through sites are long and have trees in between and around so still gives a feeling of privacy."
Mining activities: Neil E Michaud Campground and some KOAs offer gem mining activities. "They have recently installed a new pool here so if it gets hot you have that great amenity. They also have the mining for gems activity that you see at some KOA's and all my kids enjoyed that," notes a camper.
Basic facilities: Some campgrounds offer limited amenities. "Just a basic field that can accommodate tents & big RVs. Big field in the back that my dog loved to run around in. Water & electrical hookups," explains Kelly B. about Neil E Michaud Campground, which has "a little bathhouse with toilets & a shower."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: For RV camping near Mars Hill, Maine, choose pull-through sites when possible. "There are HUGE, level, terraced sites stretching up the hill," notes Jean C. about Arndt's Aroostook River Lodge, while another camper adds, "These buddy sites are ideal if you are traveling with friends."
Dump station locations: Position varies by campground. "The dump station is at the back of a busy parking lot that serves the restaurant, laundry, bath/shower house, and the fuel pump so it can be quite busy and congested," reports Nancy W. about one location, while another camper notes some dump stations can be challenging to access.
Hookup considerations: Pay attention to hookup placement when selecting sites. "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.
Leveling challenges: Bring adequate leveling equipment. "The sites are SUPER unlevel," reports one RVer at Birch Point Lodge Campground. "We had to use so many leveling blocks to assist our auto-leveling system!"
