
Mount Desert Campground is located in the heart of world famous Mount Desert Island. Just minutes from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Spend your day sightseeing and shopping around the many local towns, rent a bike, sail on a schooner, go rock climbing in Acadia, or spend your afternoon at Sand Beach. Explore the extraordinary shopping and dining opportunities in Northeast Harbor or Southwest Harbor. You can even rent a kayak right here at the campground and explore the beautiful Somes Sound.

The Mount Desert Campground was conceived and created by Marie and Arnold Allen in 1958. The Allen's goal was to maintain a quiet, clean, tenting campground where families could come to relax, enjoy the natural beauty, and make memories. For the next 25 years, the Allens enjoyed a very loyal following of campers who returned here year after year. 

In early 1984, the Allens sold the campground to one of those long time campers of almost 20 years, the Craigheads. Now, all these years later, we Craigheads strive to maintain the very best campground we can- so the children of those long time campers from years past can, in turn, make new memories with their kids.

We do not offer lots of frills and gimmicks but we do provide the quietest campground with the cleanest, most up to date facilities anywhere. We look forward to welcoming you to the Mount Desert Campground and we will do our utmost to make your stay a pleasant one. 

On any given year, we do not allow dogs starting the Saturday on or before July 2 until Friday morning of Labor Day weekend. We certainly do allow dogs when the season is quieter during the months of May, June, September and October. 

We offer free Wi-Fi at the Gathering Place on the grounds.

Mount Desert Campground

Just spent a week here and we can not say enough good things about it.  I’ll start with the staff.  They were exceptional in every way.  Very friendly, including the children who seemed to be working there, and very responsive to any questions we had.  The facilities were immaculate.  Cleanest and most well designed bathrooms of any campsite we’ve been to, and we’ve been to a lot.  The sites are all very private and secluded and the quiet hours were well observed.  Due to our late booking we ended up at site C44.  I was a little worried I would be disappointed not being at one of the waterfront/water view site but once we arrived we soon realized that every site at this campground is special in its own way.  With that said, we will try for one of the waterfront sites next year but don’t be disappointed if they are not available.  Even though this campground is not directly in Acadia you are no more than a 15min drive to any of the sites in the park.  We were able to explore the park by day and enjoy the campgrounds at night.  Our only regret is that we didn’t have more time to spend at the campground.  The kids loved crabbing of the floating dock and riding bikes around the campgrounds all day.  Bikes are a must.  If you’re planning a visit to Acadia (which is well worth a visit) make Mount Desert Campground your home base.  You won’t be sorry.  Oh I almost forgot the amazing local ice cream served nightly at the meeting place.  Don’t miss it.

Can’t say enough!

Stayed at site D21.  They limit occupants to RVs less than 20’ in length and have about a 50/50 mix of tent campers and small RV campers.  Furthermore, about 2/3 of the tent sites have platforms to use for your tent, so it’s very convenient.  Facilities are top quality - extremely clean and convenient with quarter-showers.  They have a ‘gathering place’ building that is used for information, breakfast / ice cream treats / coffee, and free wifi access if you need to get connected.  The campground has amazing water sites right on Somes Sound, but my understanding is that they book fast and are reserved months in advance, typically by the same families who go back year after year (and understandably so!).  You can rent kayaks / canoes, etc along with all applicable gear and launch from their “floats” which is a long floating dock in between a few of the sites in the C area of the campground.  Absolutely wonderful, loved it!

Fantastic campground, perfect location on Mount Desert Island!

This idyllic campground is set in its own little bay with easy access to the water and stunning sites nestled along its edge. The campground was everything we could have asked for with a spacious tent platform, beautiful view of the water, and clean bathrooms with showers. The grounds also had some very nice hiking trails on them that provide a nice escape from the already very quiet camp.

Beautiful site with everything you need

We had a secluded oceanfront tent site that was absolutely beautiful. We had access to the water as well as some beautiful sunsets. It was 20 minutes to Bar Harbor and the most popular Acadia hikes. The shower house was very clean!

Awesome campground 

Absolutely love this campground! My aunt and I stayed for a week while visiting Acadia National Park. Sites right on the water. Woke up one morning to a bald eagle in a tree next to our site. Showers and toilets on site. Wifi available at one of the buildings where they also sell coffee in the morning. Close to hiking as well as lots of restaurants with great seafood. Would recommend to those looking for a nice campground for car camping while visiting Acadia.

Beautiful sites and close to Acadia NP

This is an absolutely beautiful campground with some tent sides literally on the sound. I woke up every morning to the loons calling under rolling fog. Just beautiful. The campsite strategically spaces sites apart both spacially and with elevation. It’s mostly covered with thick pines so even walking to the bathroom gives the illusion of a hike. The tent sites are beautiful with flat cedar pads built level for your tent(s). The bathrooms are also cedar making them smell amazing. I plan to go back there many times!!

Best Campground I’ve Seen

The campground was beautiful and had great amenities. the staff was very friendly. I took 2 stars away due to the very expensive price for tent sites. 

very clean but very expensive

Great stay! Bathrooms are clean and well maintained with showers. Campground within 15 minute drive from Bar Harbor and Park Loop Trail. Breathtaking views from the lake!  We stayed in a platform site. It was better than expected.. we’ll be back for sure! 

Beautiful campground within minutes from nearby sights. 

A nicely wooded campground. We had electric and water at our site; a simple luxury we're not used to. It's a big campground with a maze of well marked, one-way roads. We took advantage of the island shuttle which picked us up right at the campground.

Centrally located to access all of Acadia National Park

Had direct access to the ocean- brought our kayaks out. Also enjoyed riding our bikes around the campground. Many people were out early digging for clams. Close to Acadia- we drove in each morning to hike. Acadia is a dream- definitely recommend going. Campsites were spacious and private feeling despite being pretty open. Portapotties around if you can’t make it all the way to the bathrooms.

Beautiful views of the ocean

The location of this campground is perfect for a camping trip to see one of America’s most beautiful parks. Right outside the northern part of the park, you can easily get into the park without being right in the middle of the park where more people are. You have access to the water, the campsites are smaller but give you a great feeling of being in the woods. Showers and bathrooms are great too!

Great campground!

My husband and I stayed here in June 2018 in our popup. We had some trouble manuvering our camper into our spot because of the one way roads through the campground, but once we were in it was a perfectly cozy and private site! Bathhouses were nice and clean. Overall we loved our stay and can't wait to come back!

Perfect campground for exploring Acadia and Bar Habor!

I love this campground for tents or small trailers/vans. Most of the tent sites have wooden platforms!  The scenery is great and it’s close to the park. Showers are $1 in quarters for 5 min which is more than enough time. Hot and clean. 

Wonderful campground

Stayed here 2 nights in June. Large CG with many, many sites. Some waterside, others back up the hill a bit. The sites themselves were big and had trees enough for multiple hammocks. They also have wooden tent platforms at each; as most of the ground is rooted and uneven. Waterside sites are expensive, so keep that in mind. Each loop has its own bathhouse with showers that cost a dollar(in quarters) for 5 minutes. Fire ring and table at each site.

Central location on Mt Desert Island

While I prefer backcountry camping every once in a while car camping is required. In the case of this campground I’m not sure how it gets any better.

Our friends beat us to the campground and grabbed  one of the platform sites that overlooks the small lagoon. The car is within 30 to 40 yards of the campsite making it easy to go back for supplies. This platform site we rented in the beginning of September was one of the best views I’ve had camping.

While I did not interact with the camp ground staff or utilize their facilities, I have recommended this to many friends who are going to Acadia national Park. If you had kids this would be a great location as we saw many families.

Hard to Beat

I never thought I would spend 55$ a night for a campsite. There are sites that are more expensive, and sites that are cheaper but I figured why not spend the money to stay right on the water. Even sites that don't sit on the water have a great amount of space and trees. Due to Covid this was all I could find for a planned Acadia trip in the fall. After my stay, I can honestly say it was worth the cost and I would highly recommend the campground. 

  

Since the campground sits among the rocky and mountainous coast line, they have spent the time and money building leveled platforms for all the sites. Without the platforms, the campsites would be quite miserable. I have a hard time believing any other campgrounds in the area have invested so much to make their land so comfortable for their guests. 

  

The bathrooms are amazing. Built with wood and lots of ventilation, the open air prevents them from getting musty or moldy. Bathrooms have outlets (or at least the women's do). They are very clean and well kept. 

  

They sell firewood, ice, and have a coffee shop. Brilliantly, you get whatever you need and they simply use your campsite as a "tab". Usually they rent kayaks as well but this was on hold this year due to covid. 

  

Its a great location relative to Acadia. It's only about 15 minutes to popular areas of the park (Cadillac mountain, Jordan pond, etc.). Bar Harbor is also easily accessible. The campground is equally convenient to get to the less popular areas of the park such as the Schoodic region or Bass Head Island.

Worth the cost

We had originally booked a week stay here for July 2020, but then … you know.   They rescheduled us for July 2021 and we just got back.  I will first say that getting a site here is like registering for college classes in the 90's or getting Billy Joel tickets:  You have to get up at dawn on the day they release them in January and hope you get into the class you want.  It was wild and absolutely added to the excitement of this campground.  

Overall - it's a terrific campground and we will absolutely be back.  Not at our site though… not at our site… our site was not great.  A10 … it was small… covered in roots and I mean they were **everywhere** and you felt as if you were going to just trip at any moment.  It also rained our first day and our site flooded (see photo), it was not great at all.  The fire pit was also about 30' away  down a hill, which could be charming but you were just grateful to get down to  there without breaking your ankle on a root.    I know nature happens but with the price you pay for this campground - they should not have a tripping hazard flood zone for a site (#A10).   

Here are the pros / cons (there are way more pros)

**Pros**

*   You are right outside Acadia National Park.   It's amazing - and the hiking trails and lakes / ponds for kayaking are so beautiful, it's bananas. 
*   Great, friendly and efficient check-in process.  The office has wood and ice for sale and it's very convenient.   
*   There is a spot called 'The Gathering' place that has free wifi and great coffee and treats in the morning as well as ice cream in the evening.  It was nice on rainy day when we didn't feel like making coffee.  
*   Bathrooms and showers are clean, well maintained with a rustic cabin charm.  (hot water for shower is $1 \[4 quarters\] for 5 minutes). 
*   **Almost all the sites have tent platforms**, which is excellent … especially if your site is an uneven, root invested, flooding hell scape (#A10). 
*   The campsite is on Sommes Sound so there are incredible water views and kayak / canoe launches. 
*   It is, hands down, the most quiet place we have ever camped.   You can hear a bit of traffic from Route 3 where we were (#A10  #evil) but it was not too bad in my opinion. 
*   No animals allowed during peak season, which to me is a pro.  I like animals - but not running all over a campground. 

**Cons**

*   **There are no dedicated sinks to do your dishes.**  I was very surprised by this - as this campground is very expensive and I just assumed they would have them.  I double checked on their website and there is no mention of this that I can find.  It was very disappointing.  We made due - but I feel they should absolutely mention this on their site.  Again - I may just be inept and can't find it but I have now looked a few times.  
*   Some sites have water and electric, which is great!  Some have one or the other, which is great!  Some have neither, which is fine.   However, large sections of the the hoses and power cables run along the ground and through sites which is **not great at all.**   For our site (#A10  #evil  #floodzone) between the roots and the hoses, you felt as if you were auditioning for American Ninja Warrior.

Lives up to the hype ... mostly !

Super nice campground with plenty of space between sites. We had a site with water and electric hookups right along the water of Somes Sound. Our site had a deck, picnic table, and fire ring. Short drives to all the Acadia national park attractions and trails. Bathrooms were very clean. Check in and out was simple. Would definitely stay again.

Quiet and spacious

We reserved a site with a water view (all the waterfront tent sites were already reserved).  The tent platform was nice (they provided the nails for anchoring the tent corners.  By using platforms, they have allowed many more tent sites where terrain would have made it impossible.  Our site had electric (a potable water standpipe was across the street).

Restrooms were very clean and there was plenty of hot water for the coin operated showers.

Wifi is great at the Gathering Place 24/7.  Very intermittent at the tent site—but we’re camping so not an issue.  Gathering place had hot coffee and fresh baked goods in the am—but get there early as croissants and scones sold out quickly!

The shuttle was not operating when we were there (June 2021) but once operations return to normal, there is a shuttle to Acadia.  The location is great—both to visit the park and for access to Bar Harbor.  Camping is so reasonable that we felt eating out for dinner every other night was justifiable, given the cost of hotels in the area.

There is a kayak launch and floating dock.  But be very aware of tide schedule!

Small family operated campground

Wonderful spot right on the water. Super close to Bar Harbor an Acadia.