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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Roxbury
Roxbury, Maine
Roxbury is a quiet lake-and-forest stop for a half-day swim or a camping night, not a destination. Pass through on Route 17 between Mexico and Byron, or skip it for Bethel or Rumford.
Roxbury is a tiny town (population 369) in Oxford County, Maine, on Route 17. Its draw is Roxbury Pond (Silver Lake) for swimming and canoeing, and Bunker Rock for a cliff-jump into a deep pool. There is no restaurant, no lodging beyond a campground, and no shop except a convenience store. Most travellers use it as a 1–2 hour break on the drive between Mexico and Rangeley, or skip it for Bethel or Rumford with more services.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Roxbury, Maine
- Best months
- Jun–Aug (swimming weather)
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (cold, many facilities closed)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $0–10 (day use only) · Camping $30–50 (campground fee) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Campground fee (tent site) | $30–50 |
| Gas (Rumford) | check |
| Convenience store snacks | $2–10 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PWM · Portland International Jetport
- About 1.5 h drive; the nearest major airport with car rental.
- LEW · Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport
- Smaller airport, about 1 h drive; limited flights.
Typical fares
- Roxbury to Bethel (drive)
- about 30 min
- Roxbury to Rumford (drive)
- about 15 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
You need a car. Route 17 and Route 120 are the only roads; Roxbury Pond and Bunker Rock are a short drive or walk from the pavement.
See and do
Known for
- Roxbury Pond (Silver Lake)
- Bunker Rock swimming hole
- Route 17 scenic drive
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bethel | Drive south on Route 17 to Route 2, about 30 min | 30 min |
| Rumford | Drive east on Route 17, about 15 min | 15 min |
| Mexico, Maine | Drive east on Route 17, about 10 min | 10 min |
| Andover, Maine | Drive north on Route 120, about 15 min | 15 min |
| Byron | Drive west on Route 17, about 10 min | 10 min |
| Norway, Maine | Drive south on Route 117, about 45 min | 45 min |
Sleep
- Silver Lake Campground
- At Roxbury Pond; tent and RV sites, basic facilities. Check availability ahead.
Language
English everywhere, with strong regional accents; Spanish is the second language in the Southwest, Texas, Florida, California and New York. Some words differ from British English: restroom (toilet), check (bill), gas (petrol), trunk (boot), first floor (ground floor).
- Measurements are imperial: miles, Fahrenheit, gallons, pounds. 100 km ≈ 62 miles; 30 °C ≈ 86 °F.
- Small talk with strangers is normal and friendly; it is not a sales tactic.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- No restaurant or grocery store: bring food and water.
- Bunker Rock water depth varies with rainfall; check before diving.
- Cell service is patchy; download maps and directions before you arrive.
- The convenience store on Route 120 has limited hours — check.
Roxbury is very safe. The main risks are diving into unknown water at Bunker Rock, and limited cell service in an emergency.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Roxbury yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Roxbury Pond (Silver Lake)
- Bunker Rock swimming hole
- Route 17 scenic drive
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Roxbury (Maine), revision 5193743 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5193743
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
RoxburyRoxbury, Maine
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
No public transport; you need a car.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/roxbury-maine). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.