RV camping in Maine is amazing!! I mean, the whole state is called Vacationland, right?
There are so many amazing places to explore like Acadia National Park, Mount Katahdin, Kennebunkport, Boothbay Harbor, and Cobscook Bay State Park, but have you ever heard of Aroostook State Park?
We had never heard of it until we ended up without a place to stay on a major holiday weekend.
Let me tell you, I’m so glad we stumbled upon this amazing park.
So, here are our reasons why you need to add this one to your bucket list!
Budget Friendly
Ok, we are big on saving a buck, even if we are going to be RV camping in Maine (aka Vacationland).
We are non-residents, so it was $25/night versus the Cobscook Bay State Park camping fees in the $30/night range…
But Jessica, that’s only saving $5/night... I know, but $5 here and $5 there really add up after awhile. I mean, those $5 could go towards a coffee…
Are you really into budget friendly RVing? Check out our “How to RV on the Cheap” post.
It’s Beautiful
I know what you are thinking – Of course, it’s beautiful. It’s MAINE!
Seriously though, Aroostook State Park has been listed as one of the best Maine state parks for nature lovers (along with Baxter State Park and Sebago Lake State Park, just to name a few)!!
The campsites are spacious with plenty of trees to provide privacy and shade. Of course in winter (yes, if you want to do some RV camping in Maine, in the winter, this is the place for you!) there will be less privacy, but still, the sites are nicely sized.
The campground only has 30 sites…this means fewer tents, fewer RVs, fewer people, and more nature.
It was the First
That’s right, this is Maine’s first state park! It officially opened in 1939 with just a 100 acre land donation from the citizens of Presque Isle. Now it’s up to 800 acres!!
Street Cred
Camping in Maine, it’s like a cool thing to do, but this park is full of locals!
So you can find out about the area and what to do, plus you can pick on the lingo.
Aroostook State Park is in Aroostook County, but the locals simply call it “The County”.
They also pronounce it differently, so if you know how to pronounce it…it will impress the locals.
4 Season RV Camping in Maine
In case you missed it before, this park is open all year long!
In the summer you can go hiking up the twin peaks of Quaggy Jo Mountain (trail details here), kayaking and swimming on Echo Lake.
Quaggy Jo is an alteration of the native word for the mountain, “Qua Qua Jo,” which translates to “twin-peaked,” according to the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.
Here’s some raw footage from our hike up Quaggy Jo Mountain
In the winter you can go snowshoeing (trail details here) and ice skating.
They even have warming huts during the winter to give folks a chance to rest and warm up by the fire.
And if you just want to sit around your campsite and have a campfire, well you can do that any time you want!!
It’s almost Canada
This is “The Rooftop of Maine” according to John Steinbeck. It is less than 30 miles to the Canada Border crossing.
I mean, you can SEE Canada from the top of Quaggy Jo Mountain (or at least I think you can)!
That’s the closest I’ve been to Canada since the Niagara Falls 1989 visit I had with my family.
So you can grab a latte in Canada and be back to your campsite in less than 2 hours. That’s pretty cool…
Brush up on your RV Dry Camping Skills
So, here’s your chance to go dry camping in a place with immaculate showers.
Seriously, these things are new and they are singles – so you don’t have to worry about that ridiculously tiny public shower curtain that’s never wide enough.
Anyway, I digress. There’s a place to fill up your water jugs and there is even a kitchen where you can do your dishes.
Ok – If I lost you on the Dry Camping…
Dry camping means – no hookups at your site.
If you can’t deal, there are plenty of other campgrounds in Maine with full hookups, but they will cost you! Like $45 to $60 a night…and they probably won’t be open all year long…
Want to know more about dry camping? Check out our 5 RV Boondocking and Dry Camping Tips!
It’s Peaceful
It was a huge holiday weekend and this place wasn’t even at capacity.
Our neighbors had classic rock tunes throughout the day, but you didn’t hear a peep from these folks past sunset.
There were kids movies every night at the campground host camping site, but again, it was quiet come 9 pm.
Fun Nearby Local Attractions
Again, this is not a tourist hang out.
There aren’t lobster stands and ice cream shops all over the place.
Things here a bit more unique.
Here are some of Aroostook’s attractions:
Double Eagle II Memorial Park, the launch site for the first successful trans-Atlantic balloon flight in August 1978, crossing from the United States to Miserey, France
The Maine Solar System Model is a 40 mile-long scale model of the solar system, built at a scale of 1 mile equaling the distance from earth to the sun
Nordic Heritage Center with 20 miles of single-track mountain biking trails (free) and sauna (not so free)!
Crown of Maine Balloon Fest is held every summer. It is smaller than the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, but I’m betting it has a much cooler local vibe.
Historic Self-guided walking tours for the history lovers. Tours that can be accessed from the Presque Isle Historic Society’s website. Tours include historic homes, railroad depot, and the oldest public building in the city. There are also narrated tours covering 30 historic sites.
Ready to find out more?? Visit the official site here!!
Final Thoughts
This is one of the reasons we don’t always plan ahead.
If we had, we would have missed this gem.
So…what do you think?
Have you been to Aroostook State Park?
Awesome. Maine is on my bucket list fir next year. I’m from Farmington but haven’t there but once since I was 10 days old. Good Lord willing and the Camper holds together I’ll make. Loved your recommendations. And pics.
Thank you!! We will need to come back. Like with so many other places, there is never enough time to see it all, even with us traveling slowly and deliberately. Look forward to hearing of your Maine visit next year!! Whoop whoop!!
I was born in “The County” and moved to Phoenix at age 8. Now I’m older and a travel nurse looking at an assignment in caribou. Is this the nicest one that’s closest to Caribou? Thank you for the post!
Hi Cheryl – This is really the only campground we visited in that part of Maine. We think it is pretty amazing, but the max stay is 14 days. That may not fit your needs, totally depends on if you are looking for long-term or just a place to stay while you are visiting the area.