RV camping opportunities near Bar Harbor allow visitors to access both the main section of Acadia National Park and the less crowded Schoodic Peninsula area. The region experiences significant tidal changes of 10-12 feet, affecting waterfront camping and water activities. Most campgrounds in the area remain open seasonally from May through October with varying amenities and proximity to park entrances.
What to do
Kayaking at low tide: From West Bay Acadia RV Campground, you can explore the coastline when tides cooperate. "They were super smart and put in an outdoor shower so you can rinse the salt water off. Rental kayaks and paddle boards are available or you can bring your own and leave it down at the waters edge. Just make sure you paddle around high tide or else you will be slogging your watercraft through a soft mucky clam flat," notes one visitor.
Stargazing: West Bay Acadia offers certified dark sky viewing opportunities not mentioned at other campgrounds. "Another great thing about this park is that it is a certified dark sky park. Campers are asked to turn outside lights off so there is no light noise to interfere with the beautiful sky full of stars, planets, and meteor showers," according to a camper.
Explore less-crowded Acadia sections: The Schoodic Peninsula section of Acadia National Park provides a quieter alternative to the main park. "Just ten minutes away is the Schoodic Woods section of Acadia– a less busy and equally beautiful area of the National Park. Plus, there are many nearby nature preserves and public lands that have great hiking," reports a West Bay Acadia visitor.
What campers like
Private, spacious sites: Greenlaw's RV Park & Campground offers more seclusion than many Bar Harbor area campgrounds. "This is a small, wooded campground with large private sites. They are working to improve the campground everyday," states one reviewer. Another adds, "This is a wonderful campground with sites with lots of privacy. We stayed for a month and were very happy with our stay."
Community garden access: Some campgrounds offer unique amenities beyond standard hookups. "We love the free community garden which has a wonderful selection of produce including strawberries, tomatillos, fresh herbs, beans, lettuces, etc. Feel free to pick whatever you will eat, just leave some for others," notes a West Bay Acadia camper.
Ferry access to Bar Harbor: Mainstay Cottages & RV Park provides water transportation options. "Located on Winter Harbor, great views. Steps away from the small ferry that goes to Bar Harbor and a few minutes to Schoodic Peninsula. Couple of nice restaurants close by," explains one visitor seeking alternatives to driving into busy Bar Harbor.
What you should know
Waterfront site limitations: Oceanfront sites at Narrows Too Camping Resort come with tradeoffs. "We upgraded to the oceanfront sites and though we enjoy camping on the water, the waterfront sites are very expensive and very close together. Also, while the tide is out it's just a gross area of mud, muck, and rocks. We couldn't even kayak because the tide is that dramatic," reports one camper.
Variable cell and internet coverage: Cell phone reception varies between campgrounds. "Our Verizon phone got good reception and our hot spot worked well. The campground wi-fi was decent at our site but that depends on where you are in the park and what time of day you are using it," notes a reviewer at Pumpkin Patch RV Resort.
Reservation policies differ: Some campgrounds use honor-based booking systems. "Once your reservation is made (we texted the owner to make ours) reservations are on the honor system that you show up. No prepayment was required. An invoice is emailed to you with payment options the morning after you check in. It was refreshing to be trusted, like campgrounds used to be run," explains a Greenlaw's RV Park camper.
Tips for camping with families
Limited kid-friendly options: Pumpkin Patch RV Resort caters more to adults. "This campground caters more to adults and does not have too much for kids to do. Most of the campers were seasonals whose campsites were well-kept and they were quiet," notes one visitor. Similarly, another campground receives this feedback: "I would primarily recommend this campsite for retirees and couples without children. The park doesn't offer many kid-friendly amenities beyond the pool, so families with young children might find it lacking in entertainment options."
Swimming options vary: Pool availability differs between campgrounds. "The rust level is high in this campground so I didn't feel comfortable washing laundry. The pool is ok but no beverages of any kind are allowed," mentions a Narrows Too camper, highlighting facility restrictions.
Tent camping limitations: Not all RV parks welcome tent campers. "The campground has some 200 sites for RVs and cabins and cottages for rent but they DO NOT allow tents," explains a Narrows Too visitor, an important consideration for families with mixed camping preferences.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Timberland Acres RV Park offers convenient access to Acadia National Park but with some site limitations. "Pros: 30 minutes from Acadia National Park, 50 AMP, sewer & water hookup, Nice amenities. Cons: Gravel site, No shade," notes one RVer, highlighting the tradeoff between convenience and comfort.
Grocery and supply options: RVers recommend specific shopping locations. "Tip: Grab groceries in Ellsworth if you want to save $," advises a Mt Desert Narrows camper. Another Timberland Acres visitor adds, "They have a store with basically anything you need. There's a Walmart down the road. It's 30 min from Acadia NP, 15-20 min from Bar Harbor and about 15 min from Ellsworth."
Road access considerations: Some RV sites have challenging access. "The site isn't even in the main campground area. I would have stayed somewhere else if I knew that's where our site was located. No privacy and it lots of road noise," warns a visitor about roadside sites at Narrows Too, highlighting the importance of researching specific site locations when booking rv sites near Bar Harbor.
