Best Campgrounds near Bernard, ME
Bernard, Maine provides access to several established campgrounds within Acadia National Park and surrounding areas. Blackwoods Campground and Seawall Campground are two National Park Service options with tent and RV sites, while private operations like Mount Desert Campground, Smuggler's Den, and Bass Harbor Campground offer additional amenities. The campground landscape includes a mix of waterfront sites, wooded settings, and both primitive and developed facilities. Most campgrounds in the region accommodate tents and RVs, with several also offering cabin rentals and some featuring glamping options or yurts, particularly at Bass Harbor Campground and HTR Acadia.
Seasonal operation significantly affects camping availability, with most facilities open from May through October. Blackwoods operates May 1 to October 31, while Seawall has a shorter season from May 25 to September 5. Advance reservations are essential during peak summer months, especially for waterfront sites and holiday weekends. The National Park campgrounds typically require reservations 60 days in advance and fill quickly. Facilities vary considerably between locations - National Park campgrounds lack showers but provide toilets and drinking water, while private campgrounds offer more amenities including electric hookups, showers, and camp stores. A camper noted, "Schoodic Woods Campground is well worth the travel time. The campground is new, so it is sparkling clean. The sites are good size, with enough distance between sites for privacy."
Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors, with Mount Desert Campground earning particular praise for its location on Somes Sound. Campers report varying levels of privacy between sites, with Schoodic Woods offering more spacious and secluded options compared to the denser layouts at Blackwoods and Seawall. Several reviews mention the excellent hiking opportunities directly accessible from campgrounds. One visitor described Mount Desert Campground as "just as beautiful and spectacular as the actual Acadia National Park," noting that "each site had its own privacy - that was our favorite part - you felt like it was just you and nature, but in reality you were surrounded by people." The proximity to Acadia National Park's attractions represents a major draw, though campgrounds on the "quiet side" of Mount Desert Island offer a more peaceful experience away from the crowds of Bar Harbor.
