Best Camping in (and Near) Acadia National Park

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Acadia National Park is one of the top 10 visited national parks in the United States. It’s definitely a bucket list-worthy national park, so you’ll want to spend multiple days at the park to see it all. If you choose to camp, you’ll want to find the best camping in Acadia National Park for your once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Keep in mind that backcountry camping and overnight parking are not allowed anywhere within Acadia National Park, so if you want to camp, you’ll need to stay at one of these campgrounds.

Ready to pick your campground? Here are the places with the best camping in Acadia National Park.

Best camping in Acadia National Park

Can’t find a campsite in one of the best Acadia campgrounds? Try a service like Campnab which sends you alerts when a reservation is canceled and a campsite becomes available.

Blackwoods Campground

Blackwoods Campground is one of Acadia’s two campgrounds on Mount Desert Island, the main section of the national park.

This campground offers the best camping in Acadia National Park if you want stay near the park’s most visited spots. I recommend this as it makes it easy to hit the highlights early in the day before the crowds form.

Blackwoods Campground is the most popular campground in Acadia as it’s located near the town of Bar Harbor and many of the park’s popular destinations.

It is also the largest campground with over 250 campsites. Most of the sites are designated for tents, but there are also sites that can accommodate RVs. All of these sites are in the woods and within a 10-minute walk of the Atlantic Ocean.

The campground’s amenities include flush toilets, running water, and a dump station, as well as picnic tables and fire rings at each site.

The Island Explorer shuttle stops at Blackwoods Campground, making it even easier to explore Acadia National Park from here.

Campsites at Blackwoods Campground are reservable up to 2 months in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at Blackwoods Campground.

Seawall Campground

Seawall Campground is Acadia National Park’s other campground on Mount Desert Island. It is on the west side of the island (commonly called the “quiet side” of the island) near the small town of Southwest Harbor.

Seawall Campground provides the best camping in Acadia National Park if you want to stay a bit further from the largest crowds but still be within a reasonable drive from the park’s most popular attractions.

The campground has over 200 sites that are predominantly for tent camping. There are some RV sites as well, but note that sites can only accommodate RVs up to 35 feet long and that the campground was not designed to accommodate large RVs.

As with Blackwoods Campground, Seawall Campground has flush toilets, potable water and a dump station. All of the campsites are wooded and within a short walk to the ocean.

The Island Explorer bus stops at Seawall Campground and runs to Bar Harbor, where visitors can connect to the shuttle’s other routes to explore the east side of Mount Desert Island.

Campsites at Seawall Campground are reservable up to 2 months in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at Seawall Campground.

Schoodic Woods Campground

Schoodic Woods Campground is located on the Schoodic Peninsula, about an hour east of the main section of the park.

Because it is in a different section of the park, Schoodic Woods Campground can be the best camping in Acadia National Park if you want separation from the crowds but still want to car camp and be within driving distance of Mount Desert Island.

The campground has about 90 campsites, including 9 waterfront hike-in sites and 2 group sites. As with Blackwoods and Seawall Campgrounds, the majority of these sites are designated for tents, though there are sites for RV camping too.

Schoodic Woods Campground has the same amenities as Blackwoods and Seawall Campgrounds with the addition of electric at all sites (except for the hike-in and group sites). Note that the hike-in campsites also lack fire rings, as campfires are prohibited at these sites.

The Island Explorer bus provides shuttle service around the peninsula, but it does not shuttle guests between the Schoodic Peninsula and Mount Desert Island. You will have to make the hour-long drive yourself or take a passenger ferry between Winter Harbor and Bar Harbor to enter the main section of Acadia National Park.

Campsites at Schoodic Woods are reservable up to 2 months in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at Schoodic Woods Campground.

Duck Harbor Campground

Duck Harbor Campground offers the closest thing to backcountry camping in the park. It is the best camping in Acadia National Park if you want to explore a less-visited section of the park, or if you value the experience of a unique camping trip over being close to the top attractions.

Duck Harbor Campground is located on Isle au Haut. Isle au Haut can only be accessed by boat; you cannot bring a car to the campground. Duck Harbor Campground has few amenities so bring everything you need AND be prepared to hike in with all your belongings.

To get to Duck Harbor Campground, take the mail boat from Stonington, ME to Isle au Haut. Click here to check the boat’s schedule; plan to arrive at least half an hour before your chosen time because the boat does not accept reservations. Note that at some times of year the ferry only stops at Isle au Haut Town Landing and does not continue on to Duck Harbor, in which case you’ll have to hike 4-5 miles to the campground.

The campground only has five sites, each with a lean-to shelter, a fire ring, and a picnic table. There are three composting toilets at the campground and a hand pump for water 0.3 miles away.

Each year, campsite reservations can be made for the season on a 7-month rolling basis starting April 1. Click here to reserve a campsite at Duck Harbor Campground.

Best camping near Acadia National Park

Didn’t snag a spot in one of Acadia National Park’s campgrounds? Luckily, there are plenty of other campgrounds near the park.

Campgrounds on Mount Desert Island are the best campgrounds to stay at because they are a quick drive to the park’s highlights even though they aren’t technically within the park’s boundaries.

Other campgrounds on Mount Desert Island

Hadley’s Point Campground: Located at the northernmost point of Mount Desert Island, Hadley’s Point Campground is a short drive from Hulls Cove Visitor Center and the start of the Park Loop Road.
Bar Harbor Campground: Bar Harbor Campground does not accept advance reservations or payment by credit cards, so it’s a great place to check out if you do not have a campsite secured before your trip. There are 300 sites for tents and RVs, and the Island Explorer shuttle has a stop at the campground.
Mount Desert Campground: This campground is in the heart of Mount Desert Island; its central location provides easy access to both the east and west sides of the island. Note that dogs are not allowed here during peak season.
Somes Sound View Campground: Just a few minutes south of Mount Desert Campground, this campground is also centrally located on Acadia’s main island, making it conveniently located to tour most of the park.
Smuggler’s Den Campground: Located along the western shore of Somes Sound, nearby attractions include Echo Lake Beach and 25 miles of Acadia National Park’s hiking trails.
Bass Harbor Campground: This campground is near the southern end of the island in Bass Harbor, ME. It’s conveniently located near the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse and the Acadia Seawall.
Quietside Campground and Cabins: Quietside Campground is a smaller campground with only 37 campsites for tents and RVs up to 22 feet. They pride themselves on creating a private camping experience with spacious campsites and no organized events. It’s the best place to stay outside Acadia National Park’s boundaries if you’re looking for seclusion and solitude.

More great campgrounds near Acadia National Park

Although I recommend reserving a campsite close to Acadia National Park’s highlights so you can beat the crowds to these popular spots, here are two more campgrounds that stand out if you plan to visit multiple sections of the park or if the campgrounds on Mount Desert Island are booked up.

Acadia Seashore Camping & Campgrounds: Along US 1 between Mount Desert Island and the Schoodic Peninsula, Acadia Seashore is a great option if you want to access both sections of the park. The campground mostly has RV sites but there are a few tent sites there as well.
Acadia East Campground: Acadia East Campground only has five tent sites, but it’s the best option if you’re seeking a rustic camping experience within driving distance of the national park. It is a self-serve campground (no office on site) near the Schoodic Peninsula.

Need more help planning your trip to Acadia National Park? Check out these related articles:

As always, enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Leave no trace on all of your adventures.