Best Cabin Camping near Blue Hill, ME

our family of four (my Husband and I and our 2 boys) stayed in a camping cabin for 5 days at the end of June. The cabin contained a queen sized bed and a set of bunk beds. It also had a private bathroom with metered shower. 50 cents got you a hot, 7 minute shower, which was plenty of time! You need to supply your own linens and towels. Toilet paper, garbage bags and a broom/dustpan are supplied. There was a fire ring outside of the cabin and a picnic table. We purchased firewood at a stand close to the campground. We found the cabins to be spaced far enough apart that we had peace and quiet and privacy. If you had wanted to make friends with your neighbors, you could. We noticed lots of families with children staying in the cabins area. The campground itself had a heated swimming pool. Best of all, the campground was on the Island Explorer bus route, which is a series of busses that take you to different areas of Acadia National Park and into the surrounding towns. Once you arrive at the campground, you wouldn’t need to use your car again!

Gear Review

As Rangers for The Dyrt, we often receive gear to review. My husband is passionate about being out on the water in any way possible, and this wetsuit is helping him enjoy being there even when it’s cold, or in this case, in Maine’s frigid gulf waters. While on the coast of Maine this summer, he's been learning how to surf a stand-up paddle board on the wave created during the tide change at Blue Hill Falls. Let's just say, this wetsuit has kept him trying to master it! Enjoy the video below…

What he likes about this product:

• Very comfortable, and very warm, the 4 /3 mil neoprene is soft and thick enough for most days during the summer in the Gulf of Maine.
• Simple design and easy zip-in closure. The zipper is short and easy to access, you don’t need a friend or zipper pull tether to close yourself in.
• Flexible enough to move around and swim in without feeling constrained.
• Reinforced knee pads and chest area which take a beating when surfing.

What could be improved:

• All wetsuits are difficult to get into, and the Siroko is no different. It manages to maximize performance and comfort when wearing it while sacrificing the ease of getting it on your body.
• The cinch helps keep the zippered flap tight against the body, I wish there was an adjustment for the neck gasket, as sometimes a little cold water comes into the front of the suit while swimming.

Product Link: https://www.bodyglove.com/collections/mens-wetsuits/products/16111-blu-siroko-4-3mm-slant-zip-fullsuit

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnvqTGLchw8

Campground Review

What an unbelievably beautiful, comprehensive campground and activity center! The campground is small and quaint and sits right on Webb Cove near Stonington Harbor. Each site is equipped with a picnic table, fire ring, and some lawn chairs…a nice bonus! The bathrooms are clean and showers are nice and hot. There is also a quality dishwashing sink behind the bathrooms. There are also bunkhouses, suites, and bunk rooms for those who want to enjoy the activities without sleeping in a tent.

The grounds are spectacular and well kept, with gorgeous flowering bushes as well as spruce, pine, and hardwoods. Most sites are very private, with just a few that experience walk-by traffic. Three sites are dedicated to RV’s which need water and electrical hook-ups and there are a handful of waterfront sites. Picnicking areas are scattered throughout the campground and down by the waterfront next to the boat ramp. It’s also a great campground to start/end from if you are camping along the Maine Island Trail. Check out our article on Sea Kayak Camping.

In addition to an adorable campground, Captain Bill offers everything from kayak rentals and guided trips to ferry service to Isle au Haut (part of Acadia National Park) to puffin and eco-boat tours to sailing lessons. If it can be done on water or land, this place rents it, guides it, and/or teaches you how to do it.

This campground is located near the quaint village of Stonington which has most things you might need for your camping trip. It also has relatively comprehensive camp store and a small kitchen which will make you everything from lobster to an egg sandwich.

While you can walk-in without a reservation in the off season, this place books up in the summer (July 1 through Labor Day), so reserve early and be sure to get on a guided trip or charter boat tour if you plan to come during the silly season.

Love the location of this park. You are just a few miles from the bridge that takes you to Mt. Desert Island where you have Acadia National Park (NP) and the towns of Bar Harbor, Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor, and a few other quaint little towns at your fingertips. But, drive the other way and you will get to explore Ellsworth, Blue Hill, Surry, Schoodic Peninsula and much more. 

This area has so much to offer - the highlight being Acadia NP. Here, hundreds of trails and gorgeous views abound. Trails range from easy to strenuous with some taking you on a nice walk around a lake or pond where others guide you along steep ledges and up with ladders and rungs. Be aware that hiking during or after a rain can be quite treacherous because of slippery footing. The island is known for their granite and rock faces that are common on the trails which can be very slippery. I advise walking or biking a carriage road (which is crushed gravel) when the ground is wet to avoid slipping. The carriage roads are amazing for biking and walking and link 46 miles of the park.  If you like to kayak, there are plenty of free public boat ramps – Long Pond, Eagle Lake, and Jordan Pond being some of the prettiest.  Many of these water bodies are off limits to swimming as they are the public water supply but personal watercraft are allowed. Fishing with a state license is permitted in many of the lakes and ponds. Many were stocked years ago but I never had any luck catching in the few lakes I fished. 

The shoulder season here is the best time to come. Preferably in the spring before mid-June or the fall when the leaves are changing color. Not all businesses and restaurants will be open before mid-June but you will have far less crowds than in the busy summer months. During the summer season, there is a free shuttle taking you (and bikes and dogs) to various locations throughout the island and within the park. If you are planning on hiking some of the popular trails (like Precipice, Dorr Mountain, Cadillac Mountain, and the Beehive) definitely take the shuttle. The parking lots are really small and you will not find a spot.  Be sure to go to Cadillac Mountain for a sunrise and bring warm clothes as the wind really whips up there. Fall is a beautiful time to visit but be aware that many cruise ships frequent Bar Harbor. Some days will find over 6,000 cruise ship passengers and staff flooded into the downtown. Hiking amongst the fall colors is beautiful but we made sure to go early to avoid the crowds. 

The smaller island towns of Northwest Harbor and Southwest Harbor were more our style than the touristy Bar Harbor. Check out the farmers market in Northwest Harbor and the Common Ground Soup Kitchen in Southwest Harbor for hot delicious popovers. C-Ray Lobster offers a good lobster dinner in a casual atmosphere that is much less expensive than lobster pounds downtown Bar Harbor (and it is BYOB). Downeast Lobster Pound is our favorite place to buy lobster. We would buy them live and steam them at our campsite or you can have them cook them (for a nominal fee) and eat there or take them to go.   

The campground has some 200 sites for RVs and cabins and cottages for rent but they DO NOT allow tents. Prices range from the $30’s to over $100 depending on where you want to camp. The waterfront sites (“300’s” section) have great views but are very pricey. Some of the “800” and “600” section sites are cheaper than the 300’s and still have partial water views. The cheapest sites (the 100’s and 200’s) are near Route 3 which is a very busy road. Park staff is very accommodating and will let you move sites if you decide you prefer something different. (Be aware the park charges an additional $4/night resort fee on sites that are booked less than 30 days.) All sites have full-hookup and cable. The wifi was hit or miss. All sites and patios are gravel with some grass between them. 

There is a swimming pool, horseshoes, volleyball, laundry, and bathrooms. The bathrooms and showers were cleaned daily and in good condition when we were there. (The bathroom nearest the entrance is the newest and gets the least amount of use and was always clean.) There is a kayak/canoe rental in the park which was nice but there is no designated parking there so we had to take the car back to our site. The camp store rents two-person kayaks and canoes for a very reasonable price of ($10/hour and $5 for additional hours). However, you have about a four-hour window to paddle because of the tides. You will be left walking across muddy soft clam flats if you are not mindful of the 10-12 foot tides. There was a free ice cream social when we were there which had four different varieties and toppings and very filling. There is no off-leash dog park but we were told by work campers that we could let our dog off-leash in one of the leach fields to throw a ball for her. Super cool.

The park was clean and staff friendly and very helpful. There are some brochure racks in a community building and laundry and the office has a variety of maps for the island and will let you look through some hiking guide books as well as restaurant menus. We would definitely come back here again. The only downside is that it is a little pricier than other parks but the location is ideal.

we stayed here last year on our vacation to maine,we actually made a wrong turn,ended up getting there very late,they left the key for us to find and were very hospitable the entire visit. we stayed for 2 days,ready to go back again,we stayed in a cabin,it was very clean...the park was very quiet and they had all the supplies we needed... excellent campground!!

Great camp ground all the host we’re great and pleasant. We sleep in a tent the first year, site was good size with good fire place placement. The second time we rented a cabin. Clean and hey it was very clean and comfortable.

Stayed in one of their cabins out of season and really enjoyed it. Not far from the best Acadia hiking (like 20 minutes), has a nice view of the ocean, and the campground is well maintained and clean and everyone is very friendly. Would stay again. Tip: Don’t buy their firewood ($8), there’s tons of bundles being sold on the side of the road for half the price and double the wood!

We stayed May--October 31 2018 ( spouse is a Travel Nurse) It is a great place to stay, quiet and they have events during holidays ( fireworks, food truck and live music) This is a family owned & operated campground, they are very helpful and accommodating to their long staying RV'ers. Full hookups and they also offer tent campers, and have 1 cabin. Shower house and laundry onsite. There is a pond and also a swimming pool and playground, also a little store in the office.

My wife and I stayed at Somes Sound for 4 nights on our Maine honeymoon trip in July. We absolutely loved our stay. We set up at camp site 9. Incredible view of the sound/water. Our site was large enough for a 12 person tent with plenty of room for pop up canopy and other gear. We had electricity and water right at the site. The staff is very friendly and informative. The campground has a heated pool which was nice after hikes and being out all day. The grounds also have a small quarry with a paddle boat you can use for free! It's a older boat but was nice to have for a quick boat ride. The bathrooms were some of our favorite we have used, the toilets are separated into their own rooms for maximum privacy. Hot showers are $1 for 5 minuets and were separated into their own rooms as well. Very clean. The campground also offers yurt camping and water sites, which are extremely close to the water and beautiful. We went down to the water at night and sat on the dock, it was an amazing experience with the stars and sky so clear. Kayak rentals are located right at the campground which was so convenient, the views were insane! The campground is located outside of Bar Harbor and is on the quiet side which we enjoyed just as much as Bar Harbor and Acadia. Highly recommend this campground for a getaway or family trip!

You should know that the view is not an ocean view. This campgrounds view is a bay view. The beach is a rocky small beach. Good for the kids to go exploring but you wouldn't want to swim in it. We stayed for 6 nights at this KOA as we used it as a basecamp to tour Bar Harbor and Acadia National park. Instead of bringing our camper we actually stayed in the cabins this time. They were air conditioned. You didn't need the air for how hot it was but it was humid and loud. Seemed like every few days this KOA had campers depart and another crew came in. Where we were was in the middle of it all. The employees were very nice and helpful to get information and maps. The store was great. Had lots of supplies in case you forgot and pretty good prices.

Hadley's Point is a private campground just outside Acadia National Park. This campground prides itself on being family-friendly and welcoming to pets.

Children are allowed to bike throughout the campground until dusk. While we stayed, there was a campground-wide Fourth of July bike parade. The kids loved it. 

Pets are welcome but cannot be abandoned in the motorhome when you leave. Plan to take your pet with you everywhere.

Hadley's Point offers laundry facilities, showers, a heated pool, cornhole, and shuffleboard. While the pool is heated, it is not hot -- or even very warm. But this is Maine we are talking about, and I'm sure that the water was warmer than it would otherwise have been. 

The campground is primarily designed to accommodate RVs and motorhomes. The large fields and open lots for RVs provide ample parking and the campground offered electricity as well as other hookups. 

Cute cabins offer cozy sleeping (but no running water) for visitors without tents or RVs. 

We brought our tent and felt a little like second-class citizens at this RV-focused campground. The tent sites were tiny. Our large van, tent, and screened-in pavilion covered the entire site, leaving very little walking space. Our site also lacked trees for shade and hammocks. 

Worse yet, the campground has an infestation of Black-Legged Deer Ticks -- the ticks responsible for Lyme disease. We found two on our son during our stay. I hope they treat for these ticks soon because it poses a huge risk to their campers. 

There is a lot of potential for this campground but they need to spray the grounds for ticks and create more comfortable sites. They could be awesome if they shifted their focus from trying to fit as many people as possible to creating a comfortable camping experience for all. 

Pros:

- Heated pool

- Bathrooms cleaned regularly

- Laundry

- Good price

- Good location

- Playground

- Kid and pet friendly

- Island Explorer Bus stops at the campground

Cons:

- Cramped sites

- Ticks

- Crowded

The Maine Island Trail offers 200 islands in which to sea kayak camp and Saddleback Island is one of the many gorgeous options in the Deer Isle Archipelago. The free camping spots and beaches are maintained by the Maine Island Trail Association (MITA), which is a non-profit membership organization. This island is perfect for a few small tents or you can rent the island’s cabin through MITA.

The camping spot is simple and similar to most backcountry sites: a flat space to pitch your small tent, no toilet, no drinking water, no picnic table, and no reservations possible.  But, what this island lacks in “amenities” is made up for in beauty all around! With a deep, rocky shore, it’s the perfect place to make dinner and watch the sunrise or set, all with beautiful views of Mount Desert Island, the home of Acadia National Park.

The closest town is Stonington, which has all the things you will need for an island camping adventure. You can even rent kayaks and nearly all the gear you need at Old Quarry Ocean Adventures.

Things to consider when sea kayak camping in this area:  1) the fog can roll in at any minute so come prepared with a chart, compass, bearings between islands/markers and a marine radio, 2) you are required to use Wag Bags instead of digging a cat hole to dispose of human waste, 3) since all of the islands are first-come, first-served, have a back-up plan for camping on another island, 4) there are no docks, so the islands are not accessible to large boats, 5) you may get awakened by the sound of lobster boats motors, as they start their day pretty darn early; bring ear plugs if you are light sleeper, 6) the tide in this area is significant (9-14 vertical feet), and landing at high tide is nearly impossible on Saddleback (and many other islands), and 7) file a float plan before you go out (Old Quarry Ocean Adventures is the perfect spot to do this, as well as launch and park for a small fee).