Best Campgrounds near Hancock, ME

Camping near Hancock, Maine centers around Acadia National Park, with several established campgrounds spread across the park's distinct regions. The area includes three National Park Service campgrounds (Blackwoods, Seawall, and Schoodic Woods), each offering different experiences within Acadia's boundaries. Lamoine State Park Campground, located about 30 minutes from Acadia's main attractions, provides a quieter alternative with waterfront sites. Private campgrounds like Mount Desert Campground, Bar Harbor Campground, and Acadia Seashore Camping and Cabins complement the public options, offering varying levels of amenities. Most camping options are concentrated on or near Mount Desert Island and the Schoodic Peninsula, providing strategic access to Acadia's hiking trails, rocky coastline, and harbor towns.

Most campgrounds in the Hancock area operate seasonally from May through October, closing during Maine's harsh winter months. Reservations are essential during peak summer season (July-August) when campgrounds regularly reach capacity. According to reviews, Schoodic Woods Campground fills up "as soon as the reservations open (60 days in advance of your start date)." Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with the Schoodic Peninsula having particularly limited coverage. Internet access is minimal at National Park campgrounds, though some private facilities offer WiFi. Weather is typically mild in summer with daytime temperatures in the 70s-80s°F, while spring and fall bring cooler conditions and fewer crowds. Fire regulations are strictly enforced within Acadia National Park, with some campgrounds restricting open fires to designated sites.

The camping experience varies considerably between locations. National Park campgrounds provide basic amenities (vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings) but lack showers and hookups. As one camper noted, "Blackwoods Campground is a large campground in Acadia National Park with 306 sites, none of which have electrical hookups." Private campgrounds generally offer more amenities, including full hookups for RVs, showers, and camp stores. Families with children might prefer campgrounds like Bar Harbor Campground with its pool and playground, while those seeking seclusion might opt for Schoodic Woods, described by visitors as "the quieter side of Acadia" where "the Milky Way was visible around 10pm on a clear night." Most campgrounds accommodate both tents and RVs, though site sizes and privacy levels vary considerably.

Best Camping Sites Near Hancock, Maine (125)

    1. Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park

    96 Reviews
    Seal Harbor, ME
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 288-3274

    $30 - $60 / night

    "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."

    "quiet, wooded, relatively secluded. good spot at 111 where we stayed. nice places for tents. private showers outside main camping area were a positive since none in camping area itself."

    2. Bar Harbor Campground

    32 Reviews
    Salsbury Cove, ME
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 288-5185

    $60 - $81 / night

    "We love the state parks and unorganized, off the beaten path camping. This is definitely not that!"

    "This is a nice campground located close to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park."

    3. Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA

    37 Reviews
    Salsbury Cove, ME
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 288-3520

    "This campground has beautiful tent sites along the waters edge."

    "It 11 miles to Bar Harbor town proper and only 8.7 miles to the Hulls Cove Acadia National Park visitors center and the entrance to the Cadillac Mountain Summit Road."

    4. Hadley's Point Campground

    29 Reviews
    Salsbury Cove, ME
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 288-4808

    $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."

    5. Mount Desert Campground

    37 Reviews
    Mount Desert, ME
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 244-3710

    "Desert, Maine which is right next to the fabulous town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Forest."

    "Our site was right next to a potable water spigot, and within easy walking distance to a bathroom building which includes full plumbing and metered showers (4 quarters for 5 minutes)."

    6. Schoodic Woods Campground — Acadia National Park

    36 Reviews
    Winter Harbor, ME
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 288-1300

    $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"

    "Although it is quite a ways off the beaten path, Schoodic Woods Campground is well worth the travel time. The campground is new, so it is sparkling clean."

    7. Mt Desert Narrows Camping Resort

    22 Reviews
    Salsbury Cove, ME
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "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."

    "Showers rooms are every other for social distance are clean and like bathrooms cleaned daily. It is a great convenience to Acadia Nat’l Park."

    8. Lamoine State Park Campground

    14 Reviews
    Lamoine, ME
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 667-4778

    "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."

    "Another awesome state park in Maine! We loved the location; so easy to get to Acadia National Park but well out of the fray. We had site 42: not right on the Frenchman Bay (a gorgeous thing!)"

    9. Seawall Campground — Acadia National Park

    53 Reviews
    Bass Harbor, ME
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 244-3600

    $22 - $60 / night

    "This campground is quiet, walking distance to the ocean. Family oriented. There are however, no showers. Most of the walk in campsites are only steps away from the parking lot."

    "We stayed at the tent walk in sites (D25) The sites are close together but otherwise, well maintained."

    10. Acadia Seashore Camping and Cabins

    12 Reviews
    Sorrento, ME
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 233-0099

    $35 - $125 / night

    "Mountain View is beautiful. it captures Maine very well!"

    "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."

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Recent Reviews near Hancock, ME

688 Reviews of 125 Hancock Campgrounds


  • B
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park

    Great campground

    quiet, wooded, relatively secluded. good spot at 111 where we stayed. nice places for tents. private showers outside main camping area were a positive since none in camping area itself.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA

    Nice location, actually on the ocean

    A bit pricey, but it is a nice location and the free island bus stops right at the KOA

  • Jenna L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park

    Beautiful campground and a beautiful park!

    A good campground in a absolutely wonderful park. There's a lot of trees around so even though the campsites are close together they feel very private. Good amount of bathrooms, trash cans, and water spickets

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Smuggler's Den Campground

    Great place

    We stayed here one night in mid September without a reservation. Helpful staff, clean and tidy campground. There is a new bathhouse by the tents which I used - very nice! I would come again!

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Schoodic Woods Campground — Acadia National Park

    Lovely

    We got a last minute site here in mid September. Lovely campground, new bathrooms with dishwashing sink. Quiet and peaceful. Plenty of space and privacy between sites

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Quietside Campground

    Quiet

    We stayed here one night in mid September in a non electric site. Quiet place. Cute cabins and hobbit huts! The bath house we went into had one shower for the men and one for the women. The toilet and sinks were combined into one stall with 2 stalls for the men and 2 stalls for the women. Nice owner and we paid less than for a comparable site at a Maine state park.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Bass Harbor Campground

    Potting Shed

    We stayed in the Potting Shed cabin for 3 nights. Bathroom was clean and had plenty of sinks, toilets and showers. Water was hot for showers and there was a nice dressing area. We were there on a weekend in mid September and it seemed busy but not full. Can buy a cup of coffee in the camp store in the morning

  • R
    Sep. 12, 2025

    HTR Acadia

    Quarry Ledge Campground by Modern America

    As of 9/25 address is not in Apple Maps, we had to enter Somes Sound View Campground. Nice campground, sites are nice size, fairly private and mostly level. Our site has water and electric on the wrong side. Excellent shower house.


Guide to Hancock

Camping spots near Hancock, Maine provide access to rocky beaches and inland waterways, including Somes Sound, the only true fjord on the U.S. East Coast. The region experiences significant tidal fluctuations, with differences of up to 11 feet between high and low tide affecting water access at certain campgrounds. Most camping facilities operate from mid-May through mid-October when average daily temperatures range from 45°F to 75°F.

What to do

Kayaking in Somes Sound: Visitors at Mount Desert Campground can rent kayaks and explore the protected waterway. "We rented double kayaks from the front office for 2 hours and kayaked Somes Sound - it was beautiful water & amazing exploring! A bit more difficult with the ocean currents vs lake kayaking, so keep that in mind with kids," notes Whitney W.

Tide pool exploration: The low tide reveals marine habitats within walking distance of several campgrounds. At Seawall Campground, campers have direct access to natural formations. "With coastal hikes so close, sunrise hikes and exploring the tide pools were outstanding!" shares Steve M.

Winter Harbor excursions: The quieter Schoodic Peninsula section offers less crowded alternatives to Bar Harbor. A camper at Schoodic Woods described the experience: "Surrounding the campground are miles of biking and hiking trails that are easily accessible from your campsite. There is a six-mile loop that takes you along the beautiful rocky coast with views of lighthouses, islands, forests, and wetlands."

Crabbing from floating docks: Children enjoy catching marine life at some waterfront locations. "We purchased a crab bucket with net from the coffee shop one morning for around $10-12. It was well worth it as my kids crab gigged for HOURS off the docks every day!" explains a Mount Desert Campground visitor.

What campers like

Less crowded camping options: Areas outside Mount Desert Island provide quieter alternatives. "Lamoine State Park is a great option if you want to be close to Acadia but away from the crowds," notes Heather C. from Lamoine State Park Campground.

Convenient shuttle service: The Island Explorer bus connects many campgrounds to park attractions. At Hadley's Point Campground, "The campground is on the Island Explorer bus loop, which is the bus that takes you all around Mount Desert Island, to Acadia, and Bar Harbor. We used the bus almost every day, and it was super helpful because you do not want to try and find parking in Acadia in the peak season," explains Jenna L.

Waterfront camping: Sites along the water offer special experiences unavailable at inland locations. "Our waterfront site 344 was terrific - gorgeous view, and one of the larger waterfront spots. We could launch our kayaks directly from the site," shares a Bar Harbor KOA visitor.

Quality bathroom facilities: Clean facilities matter to campers, with notable variations between campgrounds. "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," reports Melissa W. about Mount Desert Campground.

What you should know

Reservation timing strategy: Some campgrounds fill extremely quickly. For Mount Desert Campground, "I woke up at 5am to reserve a site months in advance for the '24 camping season," explains a camper, while for waterfront sites, "They let the families book them year over year so it's hard to get an opening to reserve those sites."

Shower facilities vary: Many campgrounds charge for showers or lack them entirely. Seawall Campground has "restrooms in the campground, but no shower houses. The shower house is located in a separate facility about a mile from the campground entrance... the showers in the separate facility up the road are expensive."

Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies dramatically by location. One Seawall Campground visitor noted: "We didn't have reliable cell service. The shuttle bus takes 50 minutes to get to Bar Harbor, by car it's closer to 30."

Bug preparedness: Insects can be problematic in wooded areas. A Schoodic Woods camper advised: "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."

Tips for camping with families

Campground layout considerations: Some facilities are better designed for children than others. "The sites were very close together, no privacy. But it was a big RV Park, close to Acadia, hot showers, playground with views of the bay. Not all bad," notes Ashley J. about Bar Harbor Campground.

Kid-friendly amenities: Certain campgrounds offer specific activities for children. "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," explains Melissa N.

Child safety considerations: Campground terrain varies in suitability for young children. "The grounds are kept in immaculate shape. It's away from Bar Harbor but close enough to go visit. We liked going to the Winter Harbor area to hike and ride bikes," reports Lawrence P. about Acadia Seashore Camping and Cabins.

Local family attractions: Sites beyond the national park appeal to families. "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," shares Balon N. about Acadia Seashore Camping and Cabins.

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions: Many campgrounds limit RV sizes. Mount Desert Campground "limits occupants to RVs less than 20' in length and have about a 50/50 mix of tent campers and small RV campers," explains Danielle V.

Dump station access: Limited facilities can create bottlenecks. "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," notes Rick C. about Schoodic Woods.

Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain. At Lamoine State Park, "Many sites are not flat and require significant leveling if in an rv. Some sites have more buffer than others, but in general I would not say that there is great privacy between sites."

Water quality issues: Some locations have water concerns. A Mt. Desert Narrows visitor reported: "There is definitely an issue with the water. When we turned in the tap the water ran brown."

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Hancock from Acadia National Park?

Hancock is approximately 30-40 minutes from the main sections of Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island. The Schoodic Peninsula section of Acadia is actually closer, about 20-25 minutes away. Schoodic Woods Campground offers newer, well-maintained facilities on this quieter side of Acadia, making it a good option for those staying near Hancock. Alternatively, Mount Desert Campground is located on the main island about 40 minutes from Hancock, offering a family-friendly base with immaculate grounds for exploring the more popular areas of the park.

What campgrounds are available in Hancock?

While Hancock itself has limited camping options, the surrounding area offers excellent alternatives. Lamoine State Park Campground is a nearby option with tent and RV sites, clean facilities, and regular maintenance—perfect for those wanting to be close to Acadia but away from crowds. Another option is Narrows Too Camping Resort, which provides convenient access to Acadia National Park while offering a quieter experience away from the busier areas. Both campgrounds serve as great basecamps for exploring the Hancock region and nearby attractions.

What camping is available near Hancock, ME?

According to TheDyrt.com, Hancock, ME offers a wide range of camping options, with 125 campgrounds and RV parks near Hancock, ME and 6 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Hancock, ME?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hancock, ME is Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 96 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Hancock, ME?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 free dispersed camping spots near Hancock, ME.