Campsites near Presque Isle, Maine offer tent camping and RV options within the northernmost region of Maine. Elevations in the area range from approximately 450 to 1,700 feet, with camping areas primarily clustered around lakes, river systems, and state parkland. This region experiences warm summer days with temperatures averaging 75-80°F and cool nights that can drop into the 40s even during summer months.
What to do
Hiking opportunities: Aroostook State Park Campground offers several trail options including the climb up Quaggy Jo Mountain. "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 camper Jean C., who appreciated the hiking options near the campground loop.
Kayaking and canoeing: Shin Pond Village Campground provides access to both Upper and Lower Shin Ponds for paddling. "Shin Pond is between upper and lower Shin Ponds, with easy boat access to both," mentions reviewer Gary G., who found it a good basecamp for accessing both Katahdin Woods and Water National Monument and Baxter State Park.
Balloon viewing: Visit during the annual Crown of Maine Balloon Festival in August for aerial displays. Camper Jean C. notes, "I was in Presque Isle for the annual Crown of Maine balloon festival and for future reference I wanted to check out area campgrounds." Several campgrounds offer accommodations during this popular event.
Riverside exploration: Check out the picnic areas and boat launches along the St. John River at Fort Kent RV Park at Riverside Park. "There are steps down to a picnic area and boat launch on the St John River," reports Jean C., who also notes the park "serves as the eastern terminus of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, running 740 miles between Fort Kent, ME and Old Forge, NH."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campers consistently praise the washroom facilities at Aroostook State Park. "Bathroom/showers are free and spotless," notes Dan R., who also appreciated the "huge site" with "good space between neighbors" at this quiet state park.
Wooded sites: Aroostook State Park Campground gets high marks for its natural setting. "Sites are more or less level and wooded with some privacy," reports Jean C., though she cautions there's "less privacy if you are located in the middle of the loop and people take trails to the latrine in the middle."
Lake access: Birch Point Lodge Campground offers direct access to Pleasant Lake. "Great place to spend time on the lake," says Robert W., highlighting the main draw of this waterfront campground.
Affordable rates: Neil E Michaud Campground receives praise for budget-friendly costs. Joy J. writes, "This was a great place to camp. Quiet at night. The woman that runs it is really nice. Cheap for RVs too. We had electric, Wi-Fi, and water on our tent site."
What you should know
Weather preparedness: Northern Maine camping requires preparation for temperature swings. Sites can become problematic after rain, with soft ground affecting setup and departure.
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies dramatically between rv parks in Presque Isle, Maine and surrounding areas. "No cell or internet reception with our Verizon phone," reports Nancy W. about Shin Pond Village. She adds, "The campground does have wifi but the signal was not strong enough to get reception reliably at our site."
Site conditions: Some campgrounds have challenging terrain. At Birch Point Lodge Campground, J B. warns, "The 'pull-through' sites are literally on a hill. The sites small and there is no privacy from your neighbors... We had to use so many leveling blocks to assist our auto-leveling system!"
Seasonal timing: Most rv campgrounds near Presque Isle remain open from mid-May through mid-October, with limited options for shoulder season camping. Peak foliage viewing typically occurs in late September.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Houlton/Canadian Border KOA (formerly My Brother's Place) offers dedicated children's activities. "We have kids so we opted for a site close enough to watch them play on the playground," mentions Kasey M., who appreciated the layout of the campground for families.
Gem mining activities: Look for campgrounds with structured children's programs. "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," reports Truthseeker C. about the Houlton KOA.
Nature exploration: Choose sites with nearby wildlife viewing opportunities. "Kids enjoyed finding frogs in all their ponds," notes Truthseeker C., highlighting natural activities that engage children without structured programming.
Swimming options: Verify swimming facilities before booking. Lakeview Camping Resort offers water access with "campsites that had great views of the lake," according to Kevin, though he notes many premium spots are "mostly occupied by seasonal campers."
Tips from RVers
Level site selection: Request specific sites at Lakeview Camping Resort if traveling with larger rigs. Kevin notes, "We were there for the long Labor Day weekend and took one of the only full spots available which unfortunately was in one of the areas of the campground where sites were very small and close together."
Dump station availability: Most rv parks near Presque Isle, Maine offer dump stations, but locations and fees vary. Dick B. at Birch Haven Campground reports "Laundromat and restrooms are clean. For pay shower," indicating additional services may come with extra costs.
Road access considerations: Consider your route when selecting campgrounds. The Birch Point Lodge Campground dump station is "on the side of the public roadway, at the entrance of the park...which is on the top of a huge hill," according to J B., making departure potentially challenging for heavier rigs.
Utility connections: Confirm the exact hookups available before booking. Joy J. appreciated that Neil E Michaud Campground provided unexpected amenities: "We had electric, Wi-Fi, and water on our tent site," demonstrating that some campgrounds offer more than their basic descriptions suggest.
