Notable Campgrounds
- Best for hikers: From Blackwoods Campground, campers can hike to the coast and Cadillac Mountain.
- Best for bicycling: Schoodic Woods Campground borders a one-way, scenic loop road.
- Best for families: South of Southwest Harbor, Seawall Campground offers picnic tables and is great for hiking, biking, kayaking, and swimming.
Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
- Reservations are required for all four campgrounds in the park. There are no first-come, first-served walk-in campsites.
- Make reservations online through the National Park Service up to three months in advance for Blackwoods, Seawall, and Schoodic Woods campgrounds.
- Blackwoods is open from early May, while Seawall and Schoodic Woods open in late May.
- Reservations for the five tent sites at Duck Harbor Campground on Isle au Haut (reached by mailboat) are available beginning April 1 every year. Duck Harbor campsites are open from mid-May.
When to Go
High season is July and August, when the weather is warmest, up to 90°F, and kids are on summer vacation. Spring and falls are also pleasant, but temperatures are about 10 to 20 degrees cooler. Leaves typically change color in mid-October. All campgrounds close in mid-October, and the Park Loop Road closes by December 1. Two short sections that can be reached from outside the park—Jordan Pond Road and Ocean Drive—remain open. In winter, visitors can cross-country ski and snowshoe the carriage roads but hiking trails can be icy and treacherous.
Know Before You Go
- The bulk of the park is located on Mount Desert Island, also home to the town of Bar Harbor.
- The Schoodic Peninsula is part of the mainland. It is an hour’s drive between the peninsula and Mount Desert Island (and there are no shuttles).
- Island Explorer operates 10 shuttle routes between the park and local communities from late June through mid-October.
- A commercial ferry travels between Bar Harbor and the village of Winter Harbor on the Schoodic Peninsula. In summer, the Island Explorer shuttle picks up visitors in Winter Harbor and carries them to sites along the Park Loop Road on the peninsula.
- The Bicycle Express shuttle runs from Bar Harbor to the park carriage roads from late June through late August.
Acadia National Park
Full immersion is easy in Acadia, where rugged, coastal beauty and outdoor recreation coexist.
Driving the 27-mile Park Loop Road as it curves along the Maine coast and swoops past Cadillac Mountain is a “choose your own adventure” situation. Shall you scramble up a lofty “ladder trail” or hike to an island across a sand bar with ocean views? Or simply go tide-pooling in a rocky cove? The upper-crusty influence of the park’s founders is most evident on the 45 miles of finely graveled carriage roads, now hosting bicycles instead of horse-drawn buggies. For an ever-classy end to a day, visit the Jordan Pond teahouse at the base of Mt. Penobscot for tea and a popover.
Driving the 27-mile Park Loop Road as it curves along the Maine coast and swoops past Cadillac Mountain is a “choose your own adventure” situation. Shall you scramble up a lofty “ladder trail” or hike to an island across a sand bar with ocean views? Or simply go tide-pooling in a rocky cove? The upper-crusty influence of the park’s founders is most evident on the 45 miles of finely graveled carriage roads, now hosting bicycles instead of horse-drawn buggies. For an ever-classy end to a day, visit the Jordan Pond teahouse at the base of Mt. Penobscot for tea and a popover.
Activities in the park
4 campgrounds in Acadia National Park
This newcomer was built in 2015 to attract overnight visitors to the beautiful Schoodic Peninsula. It’s far from the hustle and bustle of Mount Desert Island, and offers a more intimate and secluded camping experience. Sites are wooded and private, with ample room for tents or RVs, but several roads on the peninsula are not suitable for RV travel, Read more...
Take a ride on the quiet side—Seawell Campground is tucked away in the far southern end of the park, a full 18-miles from the most popular sites and attractions of the park loop road. What this area lacks in popularity, it makes up for in rugged beauty. You’ll find quiet hiking trails, the beautiful Bass Harbor Lighthouse, and the perfect lake for Read more...
Acadia is your spot for rugged adventure and ocean-side relaxation. It is one of the most visited National Parks in the United States, where you can take care of all your vacationing needs in one spot. Meander along the towering cliffs and sandy beaches, hike the miles of trail, bike the tree-lined carriage roads, or kayak the peaceful ponds and l Read more...
Leave your car and other modern technologies behind and head out to Isle au Haut where you will find the very best of primitive camping at Duck Harbor Campground. Ferry service from the mainland will drop you and your gear in Duck Harbor, and from there, you’re on your own. Explore the wild, rocky shores, hike the 18-miles of trails, or just kick Read more...
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Notable Campgrounds
Notable Campgrounds
Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
When to Go
High season is July and August, when the weather is warmest, up to 90°F, and kids are on summer vacation. Spring and falls are also pleasant, but temperatures are about 10 to 20 degrees cooler. Leaves typically change color in mid-October. All campgrounds close in mid-October, and the Park Loop Road closes by December 1. Two short sections that can be reached from outside the park—Jordan Pond Road and Ocean Drive—remain open. In winter, visitors can cross-country ski and snowshoe the carriage roads but hiking trails can be icy and treacherous.
Know Before You Go