10 acres hosted by Gary A.
6 tent sites
Amazing views
Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.
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Gary is a Star Host
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Boat-in sites
Some sites are accessible by boat.
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Reviews
98% Recommend64 ratings · 61 reviews
Gary's campsite on Cranberry Island offers an inviting and serene escape, characterized by its stunning natural beauty and a strong sense of community. The host, Gary, is consistently praised for his warmth and helpfulness, often going out of his way to ensure guests have a memorable visit. The island itself is a tranquil haven, with opportunities for kayaking, exploring beaches, and enjoying communal bonfires under the stars. While the absence of water on-site may require some preparation, the overall experience is marked by relaxation and camaraderie.
Summary AI-generated from real reviews
The land was exceptional, the history was amazing and the company was grand! I cannot say enough about how fun this camp was. Not to mention that you are walking distance from some of the prettiest beaches near Acadia. Gary made us never want to leave. We will absolutely be back to see him and the island he showed to us.
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Hannah R.
3 reviews
Recommends
· July 2025
Tent ·
Camp #6 Forests
Gary's land and vibe were awesome! The island was welcoming and beautiful, and there was plenty of fun and relaxing things to do.
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Hannah A.
2 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
Tent ·
Camp #4 Meadow
We had an incredible time at Gary’s camp! We walked from the ferry to the site (only about 3/4 of a mile) with our things in a wagon that we brought. We took the golf cart on our way back - which was great! The island is an incredible and absolutely beautiful place, and Gary’s was a fantastic host. He had everything set up for us, including a large bonfire to share with other campers and a shared greenhouse space to cook and eat. If you’re looking for a peaceful and quiet retreat, I’d highly recommend.
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Gretchen A.
4 reviews
Would absolutely recommend camping on Gary’s land! Gary was an awesome host, having generations of family dating back to the area. We had a great bondfire, time exploring the island, and kayaking around in the bay. Cranberry Island is such a little gem, away from fuss of Acadia. The locals are extremely welcoming and friendly, and there are great places to eat nearby on both Great and Little Cranberry.
The campsites themselves seemed nice and protected from the elements
Gavin R.
4 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
Tent · Group trip ·
Camp #3 Meadow
Loved it, Gary is awesome! Bring bug spray. Gary really took care of us and the island was very beautiful.
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Sage G.
3 months on Hipcamp
Gary's land is beautiful and he is incredibly welcoming. Everyone ate together under the lit community pavillion and fireflies were all around. Kayaking basically steps away was a DREAM (go at 7pm during the summer, trust me.) Cranberry Island itself is also adorable and stunning. The ferry trips were a highlight! We were super glad we booked. The only warning is there is no water available at the site, only at the general store by the dock when you arrive. Check the store hours and come prepared!
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Casey G.
2 reviews
Recommends
· May 2025
Tent ·
Camp #3 Meadow
Such a beautiful campsite! There was a pit toilet and a covered group gathering where you can eat/ hang out with other campers. We camped in the late spring so there were very few people we saw on the island and the only ones at the site. Very quiet and a great atmosphere to relax. The golf cart was so helpful to get to and from the dock! We took the paid ferry and everyone was very welcoming and helpful to make sure we got off on the right island. Highly recommend!
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Kyla M.
4 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2025
Tent ·
Camp #1 Ocean
Gary was so generous and kind, the site was beautiful and we had a wonderful time exploring the different beaches on the island. Thank you for a lovely stay, hope to return soon!
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Elina Z.
1 year on Hipcamp
Had the most perfect two nights here! The golf cart was so helpful and instructions were very clear. So nice to have access to water at the community center. Even on the winter schedule no problems with the ferry— very timely. Gary’s suggestions were great— got engaged on the beach he recommended! Loved our view from site #1, very quiet and serene. We will most definitely be back.
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Madeline B.
10 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2024
Tent ·
Camp #3 Meadow
Gary’s place and personality were amazing! What could have been a rocky start when we found out the morning if that the ferry was closed due to weather turned right around because Gary immediately chartered everyone staying there a boat to get to the island which was so cool and fun. He and a friend greeted us at the dock with golf carts and smiles, took us to the site which was so intentionally set up and he told us all about how it came to be and had a bonfire already going. We wandered around the beach and then got back from a lovely community potluck dinner that the island just so happened to be throwing and Gary graciously invited us to - much better than our planned beans and rice dinner! We hopped on the golf cart with them back to the site and he pulled out the lasers and speakers while all the campers chatted around the fire. It takes a special person and place to be able to create community as quickly as Gary did and seems to do regularly. In the morning, he woke up early and made sure to help us all get our things on the early ferry back with the golf carts. Truly a perfect stay and we cannot wait to return!
Elizabeth M.
2 reviews
Gary’s site by the ocean was incredible. A lovely view of the water during sunrise. Campsite was clean and comfortable. Great Cranberry Island was quiet and welcoming. It was chilly in October but so worth it to experience the season surrounded by changing leaves, crashing water, and kind people. Gary’s instructions were clear and had some great tips of things to see on the island. We would absolutely recommend camping here to experience Maine in another way.
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Kathreena F.
2 reviews
Recommends
· October 2024
Tent · Group trip ·
Camp #2 Ocean
Staying at Gary's was the best choice we made in our trip to Acadia. It was a unique, amazing experience! We will definitely return!!!
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Hunter R.
10 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2024
Tent ·
Camp #1 Ocean
Camping at Gary's property was great! There were high winds the day we were heading out and he helped us find alternative boat transportation when the ferry was cancelled. The golf cart was really helpful for getting to camp and the shared use covered cooking area was a great place to make dinner. Everything was true to the listing.
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Grace H.
10 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2024
Tent · Group trip ·
Camp #3 Meadow
Had an amazing experience camping at Great Cranberry Island with my friends!! Truly a magical little place. Gary was really helpful too. Thanks a lot!! I definitely recommend and would like to come back.
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Emma J.
9 months on Hipcamp
First off - Gary is great. Secondly, Cranberry (and really all of the Maine islands from what I can gage) is a beautiful, enchanting, and one of a kind place.
I loved the community space on the property, access to the kayaks, and the fire pit worked perfectly for cooking.
I felt at home. My favorite animal is a Doe - and to my amazement there are deer families all over the island. Who acted completely un-frightened and un-threatened by me.
Will be back for a longer stay.
Campers bring your gear! Extra water and food - especially if arriving on a later ferry when the general store is closed.
Cranberry is truly one of my favorite places I’ve stayed and would recommend it to anyone looking for a coastal/ un-plugged experience.
Good people on the island is a plus. And like I mentioned before Gary is great , and a fantastic host.
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Matthew G.
11 months on Hipcamp
Amazing! Incredible! This place was magical. Gary made us feel so welcome and was so very helpful and fun!! The community areas that Gary set up were amazing...from the string light covered space to the bonfire that Gary had ready for us when we arrived! Gary was so fun to hang out with felt like we'd been friends for years. He's the kind of host that is totally down to hangout or tell you want you need to know and then give you your space. Just a few steps away from any of the camp sites and you can take the beautiful view of the ocean and you can see isles ford (little cranberry island) in the distance. The outhouse was nice, in a great location and was always stocked with TP and hand sanitizer!
The island was so fun to explore, we were there for 4 nights and still didn't see everything. The general store was great too it had everything from fresh produce to prepared sandwiches. I highly recommend Gary's land to anyone that wants to experience something very unique and have a great time!
a few tips: be prepared with food and water and I highly recommend arriving on an earlier ferry ride so you are not setting up on the dark(like we did)! Gary had the camp's community golf cart waiting for us upon arrival to bring our gear to the campsite. There are no street signs on the island. Cell service at the dock is great but pretty limited at the campsite (I have Verizon -not sure about others) Thanks Gary, you are the best!
Kara F.
2 reviews
We had so much fun visiting the island! The campsite was beautiful (loved the views of the water and sunset), Gary was a wonderful host and great to chat with, and the vibe of the whole site was very welcoming. Would definitely recommend! The shared golf cart and communal bonfire were much appreciated.
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Grace M.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent · Group trip ·
Camp #2 Ocean
Cranberry Island was beautiful! Lots to explore. Gary was a very generous host and gave us lots of suggestions for where to go. There's a nice covered greenhouse- type thing where we cooked and ate, which was good for too much sun or rain. Big bonfire every night. Beautiful stars!
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Sonia S.
4 reviews
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent ·
Camp #1 Ocean
We loved our brief 2 night stay at Ocean #1! We booked a last minute trip to Acadia - but there was really limited availability on MDI. Luckily, we found Gary's listing and we're so glad we did.
Getting to the campsite was pretty easy - we parked in the overflow overnight lot by the police station, took the Beal and Bunker to Greater Cranberry, and enjoyed the 15 minute walk to the site where we met Gary. As everyone has mentioned, Gary is such a nice person and made us feel right at home. The hipcamp is amazing.
The Ocean #1 spot was great for us. There was a nice wood chipped area for us to setup our tent and we slept well to the sound of bell buoys. One note: spots #1 and #2 are near a pond that got a little buggy while we were there.
We didn't spend much time on GCI and mostly used it as a campsite while we went to MDI - but it was perfect. We loved the amenities (HUGE bonfire, community cooking/eating space, outhouse, golf cart) and we had no problem filling up waters at the community center or taking the ferry to and from the island. Be sure to get a breakfast sandwich at the general store - they're delicious. We also were able to leave our bikes locked up in Northeast harbor so that we didn't have to ferry them back and forth and we could just grab our bikes and hit the carriage roads.
Oh yeah, one highlight: apparently we were camping during Aurora borealis.. what a treat! Gary gave us a ride to the dock to get the best vantage point to see the Aurora - lovely!
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Brandon M.
6 years on Hipcamp
Awesome space. Gary is a great host and the island is beautiful. You do have to pay for parking and for the ferry to and from but it is worth it for such a serene place.
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Emma H.
1 year on Hipcamp
Gary's camp is absolute paradise. The ocean side campsite was pristine with both privacy and views of the ocean inlet. Gary was a generous and gracious host with excellent suggestions for hikes and beaches to visit on the island. He made huge fires every night and was available for all our questions. Cranberry Island is a truly special place and was certainly the highlight of our trip to Maine. Worth the extra planning to get out on the island for a few nights - truly relaxing with stunning beaches and views.
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Eve G.
5 reviews
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent ·
Camp #3 Meadow
Really fun place to stay! Quick ferry ride to the island, plenty of amenities once you’re on the island if you arrive before things close down. Beautiful sunset and cool atmosphere. Our pup loved the freedom to run around. Gary is great and the other campers seemed really happy with their stay too. The meadow site #3 can get a little busy situated next to the greenhouse and community fire pit but everyone was very considerate.
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Lindsey M.
10 reviews
What a magical place with a magical host ! Gary was such a kind and considerate host, preparing a fire for a us every night and checking on us. The site was beautiful, with enough privacy and the melody of frogs to lull us to sleep. The ferry instructions were clear and helpful and helped us get onto ‘cranberry time’. Our dog loved meeting the other campers dog and having a nice space to roam around. The island has beautiful beaches and lots of walks and kind people. Would return in a heartbeat.
L
Lucy B.
10 reviews
Big fans! We felt so welcomed by the island residents and my partner and I loved staying on Gary’s land. We got to experience the natural flows of the island and fun loving local culture. Gary was a super attentive host and his approach to life resonated deeply with us. We definitely want to return.
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Elena B.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent ·
Camp #3 Meadow
Gary has a great set up that allows people to enjoy the best of what island life has to offer. My wife and I had the great pleasure of chatting with Gary around the bonfire. He is a welcoming, warm, friendly host. We can't recommend this hipcamp enough.
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Jared H.
2 reviews
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent · Group trip ·
Camp #1 Ocean
The place was really nice. Easy to follow directions to the campsite. The golf cart was very useful to transport our gear from the dock to the site. We met Gary our first night, very nice host. He was very helpful, and gave us great tips.
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Mikhaela C.
5 reviews
Mixed feelings
· August 2024
Tent · With kids ·
Camp #1 Ocean
It is a beautiful island, very little to do except look for rocks and shells. Gerry was very cool. With that being said it is a very rustic camp site. Site one is over looking a nice bay, but also a frog pond. The only running water and bathroom is a mile up the road. The outhouse on property has not been emptied in too long. There are no showers available at all on the island. The cost to get to the island is very expensive so if your going to be going to explore Acadia its not worth the hassle of staying on the island.
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Skyler S.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent · Group trip ·
Camp #1 Ocean
It was great, the island was a complete culture shock, everybody was so nice and welcoming plus the amenities on site were just awesome and I loved the art all over the island
C
Caleb R.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent ·
Camp #1 Ocean
A great experience. The directions were clear. The campsite was clean.
J
John J.
4 years on Hipcamp
All I can really say is WOW!!!! Gary, the Island, the property, the people, everything was just perfect. If I had to imagine heaven on earth, I would imagine GCI and Cabin Creek Farm. The picturesque view of the ocean, the stillness of nature, the smell of evergreens, the kind, welcoming and fun nature of our host Gary (who is absolutely amazing in so many ways). Thank you Gary for making our vacation such a memorable one, can't wait to visit you again!
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Rebecca D.
8 reviews
Location
Cranberry Isles, Hancock, Maine, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Gary A.
Joined in May 2023Things to do nearby
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