Blackwoods Campground and Bar Harbor Campground welcome pets at their established sites near Franklin, providing convenient access to Acadia National Park. Lamoine State Park Campground offers pet-friendly tent and RV sites with nearby water access, where dogs can explore the beach area with their owners. Most campgrounds require pets to be leashed at all times, with leashes typically limited to 6 feet in length. Many campsites feature picnic tables and fire rings, allowing pets and their owners to enjoy outdoor meals together. Dogs must never be left unattended at campsites. The family-owned Acadia Seashore Camping and Cabins maintains exceptionally clean facilities for both humans and pets, with grassy areas for walking dogs between scheduled activities.
Dog-friendly hiking trails surround the Franklin area campgrounds, with several accessible paths in Acadia National Park where leashed pets are permitted on most carriage roads and hiking trails. Schoodic Woods Campground provides direct access to pet-friendly hiking paths with beautiful coastal views. During summer months, early morning or evening walks help prevent paw pad burns on hot surfaces. Campground hosts at Wild Acadia Camping Resort offer maps marking pet-permitted trails and swimming areas. Many campers appreciate the quieter atmosphere at Lamoine State Park compared to the busier Acadia campgrounds, making it ideal for nervous dogs. Veterinary services are available in nearby Ellsworth and Bar Harbor for emergency situations. Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours starting at 9 PM, when excessive barking is prohibited to maintain peaceful conditions for all guests.
$30 - $60 / night
"The campsites are primitive (no electricity, water or sewer) and there are no showers on site - there is a pay shower close by outside the park."
"Close proximity to Bar Harbor and a lot of the main attractions of the national park. Showers are just outside of the entrance to the campground, coin operated."
$60 - $81 / night
"This is a nice campground located close to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park."
"We love the state parks and unorganized, off the beaten path camping. This is definitely not that!"
"They are mainly open in the evenings but also appear to serve lunch and breakfast on the weekends. The camp store was well stocked also."
"My cousins, my husband and our dog rented a deluxe cabin in September, and it was perfect."
$29 - $90 / night
"**Campground Review: ** Hadley’s Point Campground is located on the north side of Mt Desert Island and just a short distance from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park."
"There was a fire ring outside of the cabin and a picnic table. We purchased firewood at a stand close to the campground."
$22 - $60 / night
"Schoodic Loop Road -- less popular than the main park "Park Loop Road", provides access to gorgeous shore line views and more hiking trails, but RVs and trailers aren't allowed past the campground entrance"
"Very dog friendly and everyone seemed very responsible as far as no barking and picking up after their pets. At night we drove over to Fraser Point and took amazing photos of the northern lights."
"Pet friendly. They gave us a site under low hanging branches that were too low for our 5th wheel. They had no problem changing us to accommodate our rig! Very kind staff! 🙂"
"Some of the sites are very close to one another...we happened to get lucky with a site with more space. The proximity to Acadia and Bar Harbor was fantastic."
"Great place to camp outside the crazy tourist packed Acadia but only a 25 minute drive to the park. Very nice sites, flush toilets and showers."
"Lamoine State Park is a great option if you want to be close to Acadia but away from the crowds.
There are both tent and rv sites, which are intermingled in the campground."
$35 - $125 / night
"Many spots not as close to water as we were. Spot gravel and took us few extra minutes to move around to find most level Part . Owners great and on site."
"Mountain View is beautiful. it captures Maine very well!"
$47 - $70 / night
"Campground is VERY dog friendly! Lots of dogs being walked and on campsites. We would stay again for sure."
"Close to Acadia NP. Large number of LARGE (100' Plus) pull thru sites. Quite place. Wal Mart, Gas stations, Cell phone stores, Lobster pounds very close by."
"Here, hundreds of trails and gorgeous views abound. "
"11day trip to visit Maine ,Acadia National Park Campground nicely located close to park but away from much of the crowding"
ScoutStayed Here for one night after picking up a new travel trailer nearby. The staff and campers were all very friendly and welcoming. Much of the population consists of seasonal campers with huge RVs and Motor Homes. It’s very adult oriented, super quiet, and super clean. There are nice little walking trails and a small fenced in dog park where dogs can play. Would definitely stay here again if in the area!
Legend**Campground Review: **
Hadley’s Point Campground is located on the north side of Mt Desert Island and just a short distance from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Hadley’s Point is a large private campground that has tent, water& electric RV, and full hook up sites, as well as Cabins. The campground is broke up in to multiple loops (campground map can be found in my pictures) with some loops in open areas with little shade and sites close together, and other loops have more wooded sites that have some shade and privacy. All style sites include a picnic table and fire ring.
Reservations are site type, not site specific, so a little bit of a gamble. We were assigned site B27 on this visit. This site was partially shade depending on the time of day and very close to our neighbors. Other sites in the B loop did have more trees and more private, but they were full on this stay. Check-in was easy and the staff was very helpful in providing info and answering questions about the area. A host guides you to your site and assist you in positioning if needed.
The bathroom on B-loop does not have showers so we had to hike to other loops to shower. The Bathrooms and showers were very clean. The showers are metered and cost $0.50 per 7 minutes, so don’t forget your quarters!
Firewood and limited supplies were available at the office. There is a full grocery store about 10 minutes away.
We found good cell phone service with Verizon throughout the property. The campground did not have wi-fi.
The campground also has a heated pool, playground, and laundry.
With Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park close by, there is so much to do and see in the area. One of the best benefits of the area is that there is a free shuttle with multiple routes around the island, so you can leave the car and parking hassles behind and just shuttle everywhere. The Shuttle has a stop right on the campground and is dog friendly (on leash and if your dog is friendly).
Speaking of dog friendly, I’ve never been to an area that is so dog friendly. The campground staff was very forthcoming with dog friendly info and I have to mention Bark Harbor in downtown Bar Harbor. Bark Harbor is a pet store that bakes their own treats, has toys and gifts, and tons of info on dog friendly areas on the island. They have pre-printed lists of dog friendly hotels, restaurants, on and off leash hiking trails, and dog parks. Super friendly crew that keyed us into an off leash hiking area that our dogs loved!
Pro Tip: A short ¼ mile walk from the campground is an off leash dog friendly beach that you can also launch your kayak or canoe from or have a sunset beach campfire. We really enjoys this beach after a long day of hiking all around the national park.
With all the outdoor activities of the national park, kayak and boat cruises in the ocean, lobster, lobster, lobster, you’ll need a full week to explore this island. Hadley’s Point made it a perfect place for us to take it all in.
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**Product Review: **
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products. At this campground, I tested the Morsel Spork. This spork from Morel is very handy to have in your gear list. We are teardrop campers, so our space is limited. Everything has to have a purpose and be compact. Items like the Morsel Spork, that serves multiple functions, fit right into our needs. We purchased both the mini and the XL. Both are the same (spork on one end, spoon/scraper on the other end), but the XL is a little longer. We found this very functional for regular eating from plates or bowls, or eating directly from food packets. I also found the scraper spoon side useful in cleaning out our french press carafe. Easy to clean, easy to use, comes in multiple colors, and happy to have it a part of our camping equipment.
GuideWe stayed at this campground unexpectedly as two places I was looking at would not accept reservations less than 24 hours in advance. They had availability, offered wooded tent spots, and were affordable as some campgrounds anymore are charging an arm and leg to camp. When we arrived, the girls in the office were super sweet. They had the essentials needed if you are in a pinch, a cute gift shop for the Bass Harbor Lighthhouse (bring your lighthouse passport with you to get stamped here), have coffee/muffins in the morning, washrooms were very clean, laundry, dog park, dog run, small rec center, and pool. Tent sites are nicely wooded and spaced out, so you are not on top of one another. Quiet hours are between 10 PM and 7 AM, and it was so nice to camp in peace and quiet with others wanting the same thing. There are homes close by, but they are fenced off and really are out of sight, so it's not really an issue. The Bass Harbor Lighthhouse is literally 500 feet away. We could hear the bouy ding from our campsite. There are two beautiful hiking trails .7 miles away from the campgrounds: Ship Harbor and Wonderland, that bring you to beautiful ocean views. One of the Acadia Park entrances is 5 minutes away. Southwest Harbor is a short ride away to grab an ice cream or a nice dinner. There is a brand new mini golf center further down the road that is amazing!! The Acadia Mountain trail is not far nor is the Cranberry Island Ferry. This was a prime location to see another side of Bar Harbor, see beautiful sites and avoid the crowds of downtown Bar Harbor. So happy I stumbled across this campground by accident. I would highly recommend and will definitely return!
LegendOverall, this is a great little private RV park with awesome views (from some sites) and great access to the ocean. The park is conveniently located just a few miles from downtown Belfast (a sweet little Maine town) which offers plenty to do and see. Plus, you are just five miles from the cute town of Searsport which houses the wonderful Penobscot Marine Museum and two miles from Moose Point State Park with hiking trails, picnic areas, and more gorgeous views.
The park offers a variety of sites (44 total) depending on if you want oceanfront, ocean view, or a pull-thru. All sites have electric (50 or 30 amp), water, cable and wifi. The five pull-thru sites also include sewer. A mobile sewer pump-out service is available for guests staying one week or longer and there is a dump station. Roads and sites are gravel with grass patios and level. All sites have a fire ring and picnic table. Our Verizon 4G phone and Hotspot worked great but we mostly used the free wifi which worked very well.
Park amenities include private ocean access, horseshoes, playground, laundry, showers/bathrooms, free coffee in the morning, free weekend papers delivered to your site, free donuts on Sunday mornings, and a restaurant on-site. The park organizes a lot of group activities including pot lucks, lobster shore dinners, and free wine and beer during Friday Happy Hours. The laundry has two wash machines/dryers and was clean and tidy.
The Moorings is in a great location. It is just a few miles from downtown Belfast where you will find restaurants, a brewery, boutiques, a movie theater, art galleries, historic museums/sites, and plenty of water-related activities. Grocery stores and fuel stations are within a few miles of the RV Park. Just a mere 20 miles away is the popular coastal town of Camden.
What we liked about this park is the town of Belfast and how close the RV park is to downtown. Also, the parks small size and friendly people make this an enjoyable place to stay. We like the fact that they had social activities (like free happy hour and donuts) that bring people together. The ocean access in this park is great! A short set of stairs takes you down to the water which is great for exploring, launching kayaks, and letting the dog run/swim when the tide is out.
The biggest downside for us was the price and lack of sewer and 50 amp at some sites. Our site was $66/night for a FHU (50 amp) pull-thru on the hill in the front of the park without much in the way of a water view. Premier oceanfront sites (with no sewer and 30 amps) are $72/night during high season. That being said, there are not too many options for campgrounds in the Belfast area and we really did like staying here.
From a dog owners perspective this park gets mixed reviews. The rules ask that dogs be on a 4’ or less lease, you may only have two pets (unless you get prior approval), they must do their business in one small area and are not allowed on most grassy areas throughout the park. We make a consorted effort not too let our dog pee or poop in others yards but we don’t always have control over where that happens. We did like the fact that you could take them down to the ocean to play in the water and on the beach when the tide was out. Within two miles of the RV park is Moose Point State Park with a few miles of hiking trails, picnic area and water access (a daily use fee is charged). Downtown Belfast does have a fenced off-leash 1.4 – acre dog park with water for dogs and benches for owners.
GuideMy family and I stayed at this KOA this past week. It was agreat experience! That staff was awesome and over the top accommodating. We had a pull through site with full hook up right across from the on site Lobster Trap Cafe. The site was spacious and comfortable. The whole campground was neat and clean. Staff members pick up trash throughout the day at all of the sites. The Lobster Trap had a good menu, and great customer service. They are mainly open in the evenings but also appear to serve lunch and breakfast on the weekends.
The camp store was well stocked also. There is also an island shuttle bus stop right at the entrance to the campground. There is a gas station and take out restaurant ( Island Take Out) right across from the entrance as well. There was a nice dog park as well. Cell service with AT&T was great. Cell service with T-Mobile was spotty. We did not try the campground wifi. The only down side to the trip was gnats and mosquitos, but that was all over the island and no fault of the KOA. This was one of the best KOA's we have visited and we will definitely stay there again when we visit Acadia.
GuideWe camped for years and years at Mount Desert Campground with our four children and my Sister-in-Law and her two sons. The kids are all grown now and are taking their own camping trips to this amazing place. It is a family run campground with immaculate grounds and bathroom facilities on Somes Sound in Mt. Desert, Maine which is right next to the fabulous town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Forest. There are so many activities and amenities just minutes from this lovely campground but, if you choose to stay put...you will not be disappointed. There are lovely camp roads to walk, run, or bike. Fresh air to breathe, an epic long dock to catch and release crabs near, kayak or canoe rentals, and so much more. The Camp store has wonderful provisions including homemade bear claws in the am to enjoy with coffee or tea. It is above and beyond a family favorite place to camp in Maine.
GuideHadley'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
TravelerPerfect pet friendly campground near Acadia but far enough away from it all. Friendly staff, peaceful nature setting on the water, and starry nights. Clean bathrooms and large campsites. Couldn’t have asked for more. Great also if you love kayaking or paddling!!
GuideGreat place to camp outside the crazy tourist packed Acadia but only a 25 minute drive to the park. Very nice sites, flush toilets and showers. I got a lake view site but also forested sites available. Pet friendly camping. Would definitely go back!
Camping areas near Franklin provide convenient access to both Mount Desert Island and the mainland attractions of eastern Maine. The region experiences cool evening temperatures even in summer, with typical July lows around 55°F and highs around 75°F. Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from mid-May through mid-October due to Maine's northern climate.
Hike carriage roads with dogs: Many visitors with pets enjoy the historic carriage road system throughout the region. "We were able to walk to the shuttle pickup and ride it to all stops in the park, and to Bar Harbor. It was so convenient!" shares Roxanne R. from Bar Harbor Campground.
Kayak from waterfront campsites: Several campgrounds offer direct water access for personal watercraft. "You can launch your kayaks directly from the site. (If you don't have a waterfront site, there are 2 water access areas that anyone can launch from)," explains Heather C. from Bar Harbor Oceanside KOA.
Visit less crowded areas: Explore quieter sections of the region away from the main tourist centers. "This campground is a gem! It is located on the Schoodic Peninsula which is the quieter side section of Acadia National Park but no less breathtaking. Here you get to enjoy the hiking and biking trails, amazing coastal scenery, quaint towns, and a peaceful campground," notes Nancy W. about Schoodic Woods Campground.
Early season visits: Many experienced campers prefer the shoulder seasons. "We stayed early in the season, before Memorial Day, and there were very few camp sites that were occupied. The site we chose was one of the premium ocean front lots and it was beautiful," says Nancy P. from Narrows Too Camping Resort.
Vehicle-free exploration: The Island Explorer shuttle system gets high marks from visitors. "The shuttle has a bike rack so you can bring your bike and pets are allowed," notes Nancy W. when describing transportation options.
Sunrise opportunities: Early risers appreciate mountain-top views at dawn. "Be sure to go to Cadillac Mountain for a sunrise and bring warm clothes as the wind really whips up there," advises a camper, noting that proper layering is essential even in summer months.
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds and services operate on a limited schedule. "This campground is in a good location right off Route 3 and a short drive to Bar Harbor. There is the Island Explorer (free) shuttle that have various routes and stops on Mount Desert Island and Acadia NP. The shuttle stops at the campground but it runs from late June to mid-October," explains Nancy W.
Reservation systems vary: Some popular pet-friendly campgrounds don't take advance bookings. "The campground does not take reservations so you can pick whatever open site you want and if you want to extend your stay, you can," explains a visitor to Bar Harbor Campground.
Insect preparation: Bug protection is essential in some areas. "No matter if you wear long sleeves and long pants, plus use bug spray, the mosquitos are vicious. Between gnats and mosquitos, sitting outside to eat is nearly impossible," warns Rick C. about his experience camping in the region.
Choose campgrounds with kid activities: Several dog-friendly campgrounds near Franklin offer family programming. "My daughter begs to camp here. As with any KOA they have lots of activities throughout the day for families, and a pool, but she loves the ice pop contest. If you find a painted rock and bring it to the office you get a free ice pop," shares Melissa N. about staying at the KOA.
Consider proximity to attractions: Campgrounds farther from main tourist areas offer benefits for families. "This location is ideal for easy access to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, but away from much of the crowding," notes a visitor to a campground 15 minutes from the main park entrance.
Utilize campground maps: Many park hosts provide specialized information for families with dogs. "The owners were so incredibly nice and helpful! They not only surprised our girls with picks of their own antique dolls on arrival but they gave us their own brochure with hidden gems all around the area," reports Balon N. from Acadia Seashore Camping and Cabins.
Book waterfront sites early: Premium sites with ocean views fill quickly but offer special experiences. "Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. There are 3 buildings with flush toilets and showers (coin operated) and plenty of hot water," notes Gary G., adding that "sites are first come first serve and you must pay with cash or check. No credit cards are accepted."
Plan for dump station waits: During busy periods, sewage services can get congested. "There was only one dump station for Loop B. Each RV took about 15 minutes. If you are third in line, you will be waiting," advises Rick C. about his experience at Schoodic Woods Campground.
Consider site location carefully: Many RV parks have sections with different characteristics. "The sites on the water all have beautiful views. There is no power/sewer/water at any of the sites. There are water faucets around the campground, and a dump station near the entrance," explains Heather C. about Lamoine State Park Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Franklin, ME?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Franklin, ME is Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 98 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Franklin, ME?
TheDyrt.com has all 71 dog-friendly camping locations near Franklin, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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